In every issue of Ms., we track research on our progress in the fight for equality, catalogue can’t-miss quotes from feminist voices and keep tabs on the feminist movement’s many milestones. We’re Keeping Score online, too—in this twice-a-month roundup.
Lest We Forget
Democratic Women Won Big on Tuesday
“Women notched huge victories in this election and led the fight for democracy itself. Restrictions on freedoms over their own bodies, corruption around the Epstein files and zero accountability for Epstein’s inner circle, seeing families and children detained in their neighborhoods and setbacks to their healthcare—to name a few—turned women’s organizing into fury. Everyday women showed up at the ballot box and told the country exactly which issues impact their everyday lives—and the action they want to see on them immediately, not over the next two years. We won’t stop fighting for their rights until those who now hold power wield it for the women who put them in office.”
—Rachel O’Leary Carmona, executive director of Women’s March.
“Republicans’ main strategy for winning the midterms was cheating, through gerrymandering and voter suppression and Americans rejected it outright. Our mamas stepped up to run, worked their butts off and didn’t take a single thing for granted.
“Mamas like Dr. Annie Andrews, Juliana Stratton, Pia Dandiya, Dr. Jasmine Clark, Paige Cognetti and Rebecca Bennett spoke truth to power about what it’s like being a mom in this country. They ran on the issues families lie awake thinking about: the cost of groceries, gas, childcare and so much more.
“When I ran for Congress, people told me a mama with young kids can’t win. Tonight, our mamas proved that wrong and they’re projected to be the majority makers for Democrats. We look forward to more of our mamas winning and we can’t wait to see how they deliver for American families when they’re sworn in.”
— Liuba Grechen Shirley, Vote Mama PAC founder and CEO
The Trump Administration Plans to Rollback Workplace Pregnancy Protections
“[The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act] was a badly needed, hard-fought, long-overdue step forward for our country. It meant that the right of pregnant workers to reasonable workplace accommodations were—at long last—spelled out and the days when pregnant people had to choose between keeping their jobs and having healthy pregnancies were ending. America’s moms were especially pleased that the final rule rightly prohibited discrimination against workers related to miscarriage, abortion care and lactation, as well as pregnancy.
“Gutting this law by slashing the list of ‘related medical conditions’ and creating more exemptions would cause real harm and would put low-income women and women of color at particular risk. It would make our nation less healthy, make moms and families less economically secure and make our economy less successful. Congress must step in.”
—Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, executive director and CEO of MomsRising
“I’ve represented countless pregnant women who have been forced out of their jobs simply because they were following doctor’s orders. Rolling back pregnancy protections is a blatant attempt to push women out of the workforce at the expense of the children and families who count on them.”
—Noreen Farrell, Equal Rights Advocates executive director
Voters Support Abortion Rights Measures in Nevada, Missouri and Virginia; Protections in Idaho Fail to Pass
“Nevadans have affirmed that decisions about pregnancy and abortion deserve permanent protection under our state’s Constitution, making it harder for future legislation to undermine those rights. This is a crucial step towards protecting reproductive freedom and shows that Nevada voters feel strongly about ensuring people can get the abortion care they need.”
“But protecting the right to abortion must go hand in hand with ensuring people can actually get care. At Silver State Hope Fund, we see firsthand how financial barriers, including the cost of care, transportation, lodging and childcare, can put abortion out of reach. We will continue working to ensure that every Nevadan has the resources and support they need to access abortion care, however much money they have.”
—Erin Bilbray, executive director of Silver State Hope Fund
“Politicians thought they could silence us. Overturn our votes. Take away our rights to our own bodies and lives. And tonight we showed them—when Missourians tell them something, they better listen. Missouri families are working harder than ever but still struggling to keep up with the cost of housing, childcare, healthcare, gas and groceries. All the while Jeff City has been wasting our time and our money to play the same games over and over again. Tonight Missourians said no more.”
—Mallory Schwarz, Abortion Action Missouri executive director
“Voters sent a clear, resounding message about the Virginia we want to live in: one where reproductive freedom is protected for generations to come. At Blue Ridge Abortion Fund, we see firsthand why strong protections for the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare–from abortion to contraception to fertility care–are so critical in Virginia, as we help thousands of people access abortion care amid growing barriers, including surging travel costs.
“This election is a reminder of our collective power and the future we can build when we all show up. As we celebrate this victory, we also know that the fight for reproductive freedom is far from over. Constitutional protection doesn’t guarantee access. It will take every one of us to make reproductive freedom a reality for all Virginians and all who come here for care.”
—April Greene, executive director of Blue Ridge Abortion Fund
“Today’s results mean Idaho’s near-total abortion ban will remain in place, leaving people across the state with limited options for accessing abortion care. For many, that means traveling hundreds of miles to neighboring states, while also navigating the costs of transportation, lodging, childcare and healthcare, creating additional barriers particularly for those in rural areas. These restrictions don’t eliminate the need for abortion care, they make getting it more difficult and place an even greater burden on families in Idaho.”
—Dara Snyder, executive director of Northwest Abortion Access Fund
Trump Prioritizes Military Spending Over Daycare and Healthcare
“We can’t take care of daycare. We’re fighting wars. It’s not possible for us to take care of daycare, Medicaid, Medicare, all these individual things.”
—President Trump
Milestones
2026 Election Firsts
Candidates broke records and barriers across the country last Tuesday as Democrats took control of both the House and Senate with dominant margins. Here are just some of the many “firsts” that we’re celebrating after the 2026 midterm elections:
- Deb Haaland became the first Native American woman elected governor.
- Keisha Lance Bottoms became the U.S.’ first Black woman governor and Georgia’s first female governor.
- Amy Acton defeated Vivek Ramaswamy, becoming Ohio’s first Jewish governor and first woman elected governor.
- Peggy Flanagan will be the first Native American woman in the Senate.
- With the election of Juliana Stratton, three Black women will work together in the Senate for the same time. Illinois will also be the first state to be represented by two women of color senators.
- Marsha Blackburn will be the first woman governor of Tennessee.
- Amy Klobuchar will be the first woman governor of Minnesota.
- Annie Andrews was the first woman elected to the Senate from South Carolina.
- Gina Hinojosa will be the first Latina governor of Texas.
- For the first time, a majority of the Texas Supreme Court will be women. Four Democratic challengers unseated Republican incumbents, bringing the number of women to seven out of nine.
- Bentley Hudgins will be the first nonbinary and first Japanese-American lawmaker in Georgia.
- Allison Montgomery will be Alabama’s first trans lawmaker.
- Jaelynn Scott will be Washington’s first trans state lawmaker and the first Black trans state lawmaker in the country.
- Rep. Chris Pappas (N.H.) will be the first out gay man in the Senate.
- Josh Turek (Iowa) will be the first former Paralympian elected to the Senate.
- Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) lost his seat after allegations of domestic violence against him.
- Vermont expanded equal protection guarantees to explicitly include sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability.
- Virginia voted to remove the state’s (unenforced) ban on same-sex marriages.
- Nevada voters affirmed their support for abortion rights for the second time, as part of the state’s process for constitutional amendments.
- Fifty-five percent of Missouri voters once again defeated Republicans attempt to reinstate an abortion ban and enshrine restrictions on gender-affirming care into the state constitution.
- Virginia established constitutional protections for abortion, contraception, miscarriage care and fertility treatment.
- However, Proposition 1 failed to pass in Idaho. As a result, the state’s strict abortion ban will remain in place.
- Arizona, Nebraska and Washington voters approved restrictions on trans athletes playing school sports. In Washington, the new restrictions may require invasive medical checks for all female athletes.
+ The State Department plans to use $125 million in foreign aid funding to cover rising energy costs, including almost $50 million dedicated to contraception access in low-income countries.
“President Trump and Secretary Rubio are raiding funding Congress set aside to support family planning and lower maternal and child mortality, all so they can pretend they are trying to stem some of the bleeding they’ve caused by starting a reckless war and creating a global energy crisis,” said Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.).
+ Oren, Alon and Tal Alexander were each sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for sex trafficking. More than 70 women accused the brothers of abuse, drugging and rape.
+ The Trump administration is preparing to limit the protections of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act by preventing the Act from covering accommodations needed for abortion care, fertility treatments, endometriosis and more.
+ Over 50 members of Congress wrote to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to oppose starting to ask about citizenship on federal tax forms.
“The citizenship question lacks any tax purpose and the IRS has failed to offer any rationale for it. It would also be counter to the IRS’s mission, as it would discourage filing by noncitizen taxpayers, including Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) filers, who owe federal taxes under the Internal Revenue Code,” they wrote.
+ Comedian Russell Brand was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. He was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison.
+ A federal court ruled that ICE can hold undocumented immigrants without bond until they’re deported, even if they’ve made a life in the U.S. for years and don’t have a criminal history.
+ Pittsburgh nurses led a successful fight for 12 weeks of paid parental leave. The new policy is the first county-level paid leave program in the U.S. and covers birthing and non-birthing parents, adoption, foster placement and stillbirth.
Across the U.S., two-thirds of people support requiring paid parental leave, including a majority of Republicans and Democrats.
+ Proposed changes to the U.S. census would restrict counting to only citizens and people with green cards, and not ask about race or ethnicity for the first time since 1790. This would undercount over 15 million people, which could impact state and local funding and the number of congressional seats for each state. It could also impact a number of programs for Native Americans that rely on census data.
How We’re Doing
+ A record number of women, at least 136, will serve in the House of Representatives in 2027. For the first time ever, more than 100 Democratic women will be in the House simultaneously.
+ At least 17 women will be governors in 2027, another new record.
+ Before the midterm elections, Gen Z voters predicted voter suppression tactics including gerrymandering and unfair redistricting would impact results. But they were still motivated to vote on the issues that matter to them, especially affordability of housing and other basic needs. Climate change, abortion bans, discrimination against transgender people and immigrants were also major concerns for over 75 percent of Gen Z voters.
+ In the 2026 primary elections, more women ran for office than ever before. Women made up 45 percent of Democratic primary winners, but just 18 percent of Republican primary winners. In total 434 Democratic women and 221 Republican women ran in 2026, compared to 330 and 187 in 2024.
+ Fifty-nine percent of women voted for Democrats, compared to 50 percent of men. In key states like South Carolina, Ohio, Michigan, Iowa, Maine, Kansas, New Hampshire and Minnesota, significant gender differences in exit polls show Republicans would have won if only men voted.
+ After shield laws were enacted to protect medical providers, more abortion ban patients began to use telehealth abortion care instead of traveling out of state. By 2025, most abortions for people in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas were through telehealth. But more than 60,000 people in abortion ban states still traveled for care in 2025.
+ The 2024 homicide risk for women and girls rose by 15 percent in states with abortion bans, compared to those without. Women and girls aged 15 to 29 were particularly vulnerable, mirroring statistics that show the leading cause of death among pregnant people is homicide, often by an intimate partner.
+ Most people ages 18 to 49 have looked for health information online and 40 percent have used an AI tool or social media. Over 40 percent of young women have seen information on contraception on social media in the past year and about 10 percent of those have made a change to their birth control usage.
+ Over half of reproductive-age women have seen false or misleading information about contraception on social media. Healthcare providers are still the most trusted source of information for reproductive-age women. Just 26 percent trust HHS lead RFK Jr, but Republican women are more likely to trust RFK Jr. and AI tools for healthcare information than Democratic women.
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A note from Ms. editors: We want to hear from you for The Majority, a new campaign collecting stories about how reproductive freedom has enabled readers to build the lives they want and need.
Poll after poll shows a majority of Americans support reproductive healthcare access. Yet public debate overlooks the lives shaped by abortion access, contraception, IVF, miscarriage care, maternal healthcare or comprehensive sex education—countless women who chose to pursue an education, have children, not have children, protect their health and chart their own future. What’s your reproductive freedom story? Add your voice. Together, these stories will help show not only why reproductive freedom remains a majority value, but also what it makes possible.
