Each year ElectWomen’s bipartisan list of political women to watch includes prominent women candidates and a few lesser known women with interesting backgrounds and showing great potential to win their races and make a difference.  This year is no different. Here is our 2016 list:

1.  Hillary Clinton – Running to become the first female  President of the United States.
2. Kamela Harris – California Attorney General running to replace Senator Barbara Boxer in the U.S. Senate
3. Melissa Gilbert – Former Little House on the Prairie actress for U.S. Rep. from Michigan
4. Val Demings – Orlando police chief running for U.S. Rep. from Florida
5. Nancy Jo Kemper – Clergymember, social justice activist running for U.S. Rep. from Kentucky
6. Catherine Hanaway – Conservative prosecutor running for Governor of Missouri
7. Teresa Hensley – Former prosecutor running for Missouri Attorney General
8. Maggie Hassen – One of three Democratic women governors; running for U.S. Senate in New Hampshire
9. Linda Coleman – Former state representative running for Lt. Governor of North Carolina for the 2nd time
10. Kate Brown – Appointed Oregon governor in 2015, now running to hold position
11. Katie McGinty – Former gubernatorial candidate, McGinty now running for U.S. Senate from PA
12. Sue Minter – Vermont Secretary of Transportation and former state rep., running for VT governor
13. Liz Cheney – Daughter of former VP Dick Cheney; running for Congress in Wyoming
14. Darlene Rogers – Attorney, Human Rights Campaign activist, former teacher running for judge in Hamilton County, OH
15. Catherine Pugh – Majority Leader, Maryland State Senate, running for mayor of Baltimore
16. Brigid Kelly – UFCW member and labor leader, running for Ohio House of Representatives