Year of the Woman Governor?

For years, even as women made steady advances into the US Senate and House, the office of governor has remained far more elusive, with most voters continuing to prefer men as their state's chief executive.

But this year, the gubernatorial glass ceiling may be about to crack open. With women leading the field in two states with gubernatorial primaries Tuesday, and nearly a dozen credible female candidates in other states, this fall's elections could produce a record number of women governors.

In part, the sudden surge is the direct result of opportunity. Of the 36 governorships up this year, 20 are open seats – meaning no incumbent is running – which makes them easier targets for newcomers.

Women have also made recent gains in many of the offices that act as steppingstones to governorships. This year's candidates include several state attorneys general and state treasurers, who are noticeably portraying themselves as tough on crime and capable budget stewards, areas where women have traditionally been seen as weaker.

Interestingly, analysts also suggest that this year, women candidates for governor may not suffer from perceptions that they simply aren't "executive" material – since the image of the corporate chief executive has been so tarnished. The unfolding scandals in business, the Catholic Church, and the FBI – and the critical role played by women as whistle-blowers – could all work to give female candidates an advantage: Voters may seek leaders who will crack down on errant CEOs and those who abuse power, rather than appearing to be one of them.

"People view women as more moral and ethical," says Karen O'Connor, director of the Women & Politics Institute at American University in Washington. "We really could see a Year of the Woman on the state level."

The original Year of the Woman, of course, was 1992, when the number of women in Congress jumped from 28 to 42. That's unlikely to happen this year, however, largely because the redistricting process – the redrawing of congressional lines to conform with new census data – created just 42 open House seats this year, compared with 93 in 1992. Likewise, there are only four open Senate seats. But analysts say the lack of opportunity at the congressional level this year may have persuaded more women to seek governorships.

While the cost of running statewide has often made it difficult for women to mount gubernatorial campaigns in the past, several groups dedicated to advancing women in politics – such as the Democratic fundraising group Emily's List, its GOP counterpart the Wish List, and the nonpartisan White House Project – have devoted particular attention to governorships lately, after initially focusing on Congress. This reflects a growing recognition that governors' seats can lead to higher positions.

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