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Women making themselves heard in governor's races across nation in 2018

The voice of Stacey Abrams is not the only woman to be heard in a governor's race this year.
Stacey Abrams makes victory speech after Georgia primaries on May 22.

ATLANTA -- On the heels of the worldwide #MeToo movement, women are taking charge around the world. This is becoming very evident at the ballot box.

The Democratic governor's race in Georgia was significant evidence in that regard, with the so-called "Battle of the Staceys." In it, Stacey Abrams resoundingly defeated Stacey Evans to become the Democratic nominee going into fall's general election. But Abrams is not the only female candidate making major political inroads into governor's races across the nation.

In Alabama, incumbent Republican female governor Kay Ivey is facing significant competition from former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice and Democratic candidate Sue Bell Cobb. Alabama's primary is on June 5.

Georgia governor race results

Election night timeline of results

Two women -- one Republican and one Democrat -- ran for the governor's mansion in Arkansas, Jan Morgan and Leticia Sanders. Both lost out during their primary election bids on May 22.

Democrat Kelly Fryer is facing an uphill battle in Arizona where business owner Steve Farley is the Democratic front-runner. Farley has got a rough road in the Republican stronghold of Arizona, where incumbent Doug Ducey, the former CEO of Cold Stone Creamery, is expected to hold on to his seat in November. The Arizona primary is next Tuesday, May 30.

Three women -- two Democrats and one Republican -- are running for governor in California's open primary among a very broad field. None of the three women, Democrats Delaine Eastin and Amanda Renteria or Republican Yvonne Girard, are considered to be among the front-running candidates for the governor's mansion in Sacramento. The California primary will be decided on June 5.

In Colorado, current Lieutenant Governor Donna Lynne and former Colorado State Treasurer Cary Kennedy are fighting a contentious battle with ex-state Senator Mike Johnston and U.S. Rep. Jared Polis for the Democratic nomination for governor. That primary comes up on June 26.

Two of the four women that had been running for the governor's mansion in Connecticut have since withdrawn from that race -- Republicans Toni Boucher and Themis Klarides. Democrats Jacey Wyatt and Lee Whitnum remain in that race, which has its primary on Aug. 14.

Florida Republicans Ellen Marie Wilds and Usha Jain are running for the governor's mansion in Florida, as is Democratic U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham. The Florida primary does not happen until Aug. 28.

In Hawaii, Democratic U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, and Republican State Rep. Andria Tupola are both running for the governor's mansion in a primary that is set for June 5.

In New York state, 'Sex and the City' actress and progressive activist Cynthia Nixon is challenging incumbent Gov. Andrew Cuomo for the Democratic nomination.

In Rhode Island, Democratic incumbent Gina Raimondo is facing a possible challenge from Republican Patricia Morgan.

A broad field in Tennessee exists on the Republican side of the ticket with Beth Harwell, Kay White and Diane Black having filed for the Aug. 2 primary there. Mezianne Payne will run on the Democratic side there.

Other female gubernatorial candidates with races ahead of them include Kim Reynolds (R), Andy McGuire (D) and Cathy Glasson (D) in Iowa, Laura Kelly (D) in Kansas, Kim Driscoll (D) in Massachusetts, Krishanti Vignarajah (D) and Valerie Erwin (D) in Maryland, Mary Mayhew (R), Janet Mills, (D), Betsy Sweet (D), Diane Russell (D) and Donna Dion (D) in Maine, Gretchen Witmer (D) in Michigan, Krystal Gabel (R) and Vanessa Gayle Ward (D) in Nebraska, Molly Kelly (D) in New Hampshire, Michelle Luijan Grisham (D) in New Mexico, Chirstina Giunchigliani (D) and Stephanie Carlisle (R) in Nevada, Constance Johnson (D) in Oklahoma -- and in Wyoming, Mary Throne (D) and Harriet Hageman (R) have both declared themselves eligible for upcoming gubernatorial races.

In addition to these races, many other state and local races are seeing a huge influx of women who have said they want to have their voices heard in the halls of power and that they want to provide a level of influence across the nation.

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