Democratic officials say they are increasingly confident of a record number of women serving in the House next year, after the party backed women in competitive districts they now expect to win.

The projections follow two cycles in which the number of Democratic women in the chamber rose. This year’s field is larger, and several of its members are contesting seats that were long considered unwinnable.

A significant strategic element has been the party’s willingness to clear primary challenges to incumbent women, an obstacle that removed several potential nominees in previous cycles.

Even so, descriptive representation lags badly: the parties have not closed the gender gap in Congress, and leadership posts remain overwhelmingly male.