Americans elected a record number of women to Congress on Tuesday. But in the nations gubernatorial offices, the picture is more complicated and less encouraging.

On election night, women picked up three more governorships than they had going in. But the number of female governors is still tiny: There are now nine women set to run states, tying the previous record set in 2004. (There were 16 women in the running this year.) Though its possible that Democrat Stacey Abrams will ultimately prevail in her bid for the governors seat in Georgia, the number of women running states will still be small.

Its been painstakingly slow to get women elected as governor, said Deborah Walsh, the director of the Center for Women and Politics at Rutgers University.