List of female governors in the United States

Map of current governors by gender
Number of female governors by state/territory:
  •   1
  •   2
  •   3
  •   4 or more

As of May 2017, forty-two women have served or are serving as the governor of a U.S. state (including one from the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, two Mayors of the District of Columbia and two acting governors due to vacancies). Currently, six women are serving as governors of U.S. states, along with Mayor of the District of Columbia Muriel Bowser.

History

The first woman to act as governor was Carolyn B. Shelton, who served as acting governor of Oregon for one weekend – 9 a.m. Saturday, February 27, through 10 a.m. Monday, March 1, 1909. The outgoing governor, George Earle Chamberlain, had been elected to the Senate and had to leave for Washington, D.C., before his term was over, and the incoming governor, Frank W. Benson, had gotten sick and couldn't assume office early. Chamberlain left Shelton, his secretary, in charge for the weekend.[1] It was another three and a half years before women were allowed to vote in Oregon.[2] (As a side note, Chamberlain and Shelton married each other 17 years later.[3])

The first acting governor to be entrusted with substantial duties while in office was Soledad Chávez de Chacón, who held the powers and duties of Governor of New Mexico for 2 weeks in 1924 while Governor James F. Hinkle attended the Democratic Convention in New York. Lieutenant Governor Jose A. Baca had died unexpectedly in May, so Chacón, the Secretary of State, filled the position. Chacón said she believed that her 1924 elevation was the first time in the U.S. that a woman had been called on to assume the responsibilities of governor.[4]

The first woman to assume office as governor pursuant to a special election was Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming (widow of late Governor William B. Ross, served January 1923 to October 1924), who was elected on November 4, 1924, and sworn in on January 5, 1925.[5] Wyoming was the first state to provide women's suffrage[6] after New Jersey had abolished it in 1807. Elected on the November 3, 1924 general election, and sworn in on January 20, 1925, was Miriam A. Ferguson of Texas, whose husband, Governor James Edward Ferguson, had previously held the office but been impeached and removed from office in 1917.[7] The first female governor elected without being the wife or widow of a past state governor was Ella T. Grasso of Connecticut, elected in 1974 and sworn in on January 8, 1975.[8]

Demographics

Connecticut and Arizona are the only two states to have elected female governors from both major parties. New Hampshire and Alabama also had female governors from both parties. In New Hampshire, Republican Vesta M. Roy only served in the acting capacity for a short time. Arizona was the first state where a woman followed another woman as governor (they were from different parties). Arizona also has had the most female governors with a total of four, and is the first state to have three women in a row serve as governor.

On two different occasions, a record nine out of 50 state governorships were held by women: first, between December 4, 2006, when Sarah Palin was inaugurated as the first female governor of Alaska, and January 14, 2008, when Kathleen Blanco left office as governor of Louisiana, and second, between January 10, 2009, when Beverly Perdue was inaugurated as governor of North Carolina, and January 20, 2009, when Ruth Ann Minner retired as governor of Delaware.

The U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, though not states, have also had female chief executives: Governor Sila María Calderón and Mayors Sharon Pratt Kelly and Muriel Bowser, respectively.

As of 2018, a total of 22 states have never had a female governor. Those states are: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Six of these states (Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, and Utah) have never even seen a major party nominate a female candidate in a gubernatorial election, even though eight consecutive female lieutenant governors have served in Minnesota, from 1982 to the present day.[9]

There have only been two ethnic minority female governors of states: Susana Martinez of New Mexico (Hispanic) and Nikki Haley of South Carolina (Indian American). All three territorial female governors have been ethnic minority: Sharon Pratt and Muriel Bowser of Washington, D.C. (both African American), and Sila María Calderón of Puerto Rico (Hispanic).

List of female state governors

Picture Name
(Lifespan)		 State Term start Term end Party Notes Departure Ref
Nellie Ross
(1876–1977)		 Wyoming January 5, 1925 January 3, 1927 Democratic Widow of Governor William B. Ross.
First, and to date, only female Governor of Wyoming.
First woman elected in a special election.		 Lost reelection [10]
Miriam A. Ferguson
(1875–1961)		 Texas January 20, 1925 January 17, 1927 Democratic Wife of Governor James E. Ferguson.
First female Governor of Texas.
First woman elected in a general election.		 Retired [11]
January 17, 1933 January 15, 1935 Retired
Lurleen Wallace
(1926–1968)		 Alabama January 16, 1967 May 7, 1968 Democratic Wife of Governor George Wallace.
First female Governor of Alabama.
First, and to date, only female governor to die in office.		 Died in office
Ella T. Grasso
(1919–1981)		 Connecticut January 8, 1975 December 31, 1980 Democratic First female governor not a wife or widow of a previous governor.
First female Governor of Connecticut
First female governor to resign, due to terminal ovarian cancer.		 Resigned [12]
Dixy Lee Ray
(1914–1994)		 Washington January 12, 1977 January 14, 1981 Democratic First female Governor of Washington. Lost renomination [13]
Vesta M. Roy
(1925–2002)		 New Hampshire December 29, 1982 January 6, 1983 Republican First female Acting Governor of New Hampshire.
 Term ended [14]
Martha Collins
(born 1936)		 Kentucky December 13, 1983 December 8, 1987 Democratic First and to date, only female Governor of Kentucky. Retired [15]
Madeleine Kunin
(born 1933)		 Vermont January 10, 1985 January 10, 1991 Democratic First, and to date, only female Governor of Vermont. Retired [16]
Kay A. Orr
(born 1939)		 Nebraska January 9, 1987 January 9, 1991 Republican First Republican woman elected governor.
First woman elected governor over another female major party nominee.
First, and to date, only female Governor of Nebraska.		 Lost reelection [17]
Rose Mofford
(1922–2016)		 Arizona April 4, 1988 March 6, 1991 Democratic First female Governor of Arizona.
Elevated from Secretary of State when Evan Mecham was impeached and convicted.		 Retired [18]
Joan Finney
(1925–2001)		 Kansas January 14, 1991 January 9, 1995 Democratic First female Governor of Kansas.
First woman to defeat an incumbent governor in a general election.		 Retired [19]
Barbara Roberts
(born 1936)		 Oregon January 14, 1991 January 9, 1995 Democratic First woman elected Governor of Oregon. Retired
Ann Richards
(1933–2006)		 Texas January 15, 1991 January 17, 1995 Democratic Lost reelection [20]
Christine Todd Whitman
(born 1946)		 New Jersey January 18, 1994 January 31, 2001 Republican First, and to date, only woman elected Governor of New Jersey. First female governor elected to two consecutive terms. [lower-alpha 1]
First Republican woman to defeat an incumbent governor in a general election.
 Resigned to become Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Jeanne Shaheen
(born 1947)		 New Hampshire January 9, 1997 January 9, 2003 Democratic First woman elected Governor of New Hampshire. Retired
Jane Dee Hull
(born 1935)		 Arizona September 5, 1997 January 6, 2003 Republican First Republican female Governor of Arizona.
Elevated from Secretary of State when Fife Symington resigned.
Later elected in her own right.		 Term limited
Nancy Hollister
(born 1949)		 Ohio December 31, 1998 January 11, 1999 Republican First, and to date, only female Governor of Ohio.
Elevated from Lieutenant Governor when George Voinovich became U.S. Senator from Ohio.		 Term ended
Judy Martz
(1943–2017)		 Montana January 1, 2001 January 3, 2005 Republican First, and to date, only female Governor of Montana. Retired
Ruth Ann Minner
(born 1935)		 Delaware January 3, 2001 January 20, 2009 Democratic First, and to date, only female Governor of Delaware. Term limited
Jane Swift
(born 1965)		 Massachusetts April 10, 2001 January 2, 2003 Republican First female Acting Governor of Massachusetts.
First governor to give birth while in office (to twins).
Youngest female governor to date at age 36.[22]		 Retired
Linda Lingle
(born 1953)		 Hawaii December 2, 2002 December 6, 2010 Republican First, and to date, only female Governor of Hawaii. Term limited
Jennifer Granholm
(born 1959)		 Michigan January 1, 2003 January 1, 2011 Democratic First, and to date, only female Governor of Michigan. Term limited
Janet Napolitano
(born 1957)		 Arizona January 6, 2003 January 21, 2009 Democratic First woman to succeed another female Governor in the United States.
First woman to be elected to two terms as Governor of Arizona.		 Resigned to become Secretary of Homeland Security
Kathleen Sebelius
(born 1948)		 Kansas January 13, 2003 April 28, 2009 Democratic Daughter of former Ohio governor John J. Gilligan (1971–75), combining with Gilligan to become first, and to date only, father-daughter duo to serve as governors. Resigned to become Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Olene Walker
(1930–2015)		 Utah November 5, 2003 January 3, 2005 Republican First, and to date, only female Governor of Utah.
Elevated from Lieutenant Governor of Utah when Mike Leavitt became Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.		 Lost nomination for full term
Kathleen Blanco
(born 1942)		 Louisiana January 12, 2004 January 14, 2008 Democratic First, and to date, only female Governor of Louisiana Retired (did not run for reelection in 2007)
Jodi Rell
(born 1946)		 Connecticut July 1, 2004 January 5, 2011 Republican Elevated from Lieutenant Governor when John G. Rowland resigned.
Later elected in her own right.		 Retired
Christine Gregoire
(born 1947)		 Washington January 12, 2005 January 16, 2013 Democratic Retired
Sarah Palin
(born 1964)		 Alaska December 4, 2006 July 26, 2009 Republican First, and to date, only female Governor of Alaska (also its youngest governor).
First female governor to appear on a major party presidential ticket, as the 2008 Republican nominee for Vice President of the United States.
First elected governor to give birth while in office.		 Resigned
Bev Perdue
(born 1947)		 North Carolina January 10, 2009 January 5, 2013 Democratic First, and to date, only female Governor of North Carolina. Retired
Jan Brewer
(born 1944)		 Arizona January 21, 2009 January 5, 2015 Republican Elevated from Secretary of State when Janet Napolitano became Secretary of Homeland Security.
Later elected in her own right.		 Term limited
Susana Martinez
(born 1959)		 New Mexico January 1, 2011 Incumbent Republican First, and to date, only female Governor of New Mexico. First Hispanic-American female Governor. Serving
Mary Fallin
(born 1954)		 Oklahoma January 10, 2011 Incumbent Republican First, and to date, only female Governor of Oklahoma. Serving
Nikki Haley
(born 1972)		 South Carolina January 12, 2011 January 24, 2017 Republican First, and to date, only female Governor of South Carolina. First Asian-American female governor. Resigned to become United States Ambassador to the United Nations
Maggie Hassan
(born 1958)		 New Hampshire January 3, 2013 January 2, 2017 Democratic Resigned to become U.S. Senator from New Hampshire.
Gina Raimondo
(born 1971)		 Rhode Island January 6, 2015 Incumbent Democratic First, and to date, only female Governor of Rhode Island. Serving [23]
Kate Brown
(born 1960)		 Oregon February 18, 2015 Incumbent Democratic First, and to date, only bisexual governor and first openly LGBT elected governor. Elevated from Secretary of State when John Kitzhaber resigned.
Later elected in her own right.		 Serving
Kay Ivey
(born 1944)		 Alabama April 10, 2017 Incumbent Republican Elevated from Lieutenant Governor when Robert Bentley resigned. Serving [24]
Kim Reynolds
(born 1959)		 Iowa May 24, 2017 Incumbent Republican Elevated from Lieutenant Governor when Terry Branstad became Ambassador to China. First, and to date, only female Governor of Iowa. Serving [25]

Territories and the District of Columbia

Picture Name
(Lifespan)		 Jurisdiction Term start Term end Party Notes Departure
Sharon Pratt
(born 1944)		 District of Columbia January 2, 1991 January 2, 1995 Democratic First African American female mayor of a major city.
First female Mayor of the District of Columbia.		 Lost renomination
Sila Calderón
(born 1942)		 Puerto Rico January 2, 2001 January 2, 2005 Popular Democratic/
Democratic		 First female Governor of Puerto Rico. Retired
Muriel Bowser
(born 1972)		 District of Columbia January 2, 2015 Incumbent Democratic Serving

Timeline of female U.S. Governors

Kim ReynoldsKay IveyKate BrownGina RaimondoMuriel BowserMaggie HassanNikki HaleyMary FallinSusana MartinezJan BrewerBev PerdueSarah PalinChristine GregoireJodi RellKathleen BlancoOlene WalkerKathleen SebeliusJanet NapolitanoJennifer GranholmLinda LingleJane SwiftRuth Ann MinnerSila María CalderónJudy MartzNancy HollisterJane Dee HullJeanne ShaheenChristine Todd WhitmanAnn RichardsBarbara RobertsJoan FinneySharon Pratt KellyRose MoffordKay OrrMadeleine KuninMartha Layne CollinsVesta M. RoyDixy Lee RayElla T. GrassoLurleen WallaceMiriam A. FergusonMiriam A. FergusonNellie Tayloe Ross

Pregnancies

There have been two female governors who were pregnant and gave birth during their tenure.

Governors who have been pregnant while in office
Governor State Date of delivery Mother's age Notes
Jane Swift Massachusetts May 14, 2001 36 Gave birth to twin girls one month into her term of office[26]
Sarah Palin Alaska April 18, 2008 44 First elected governor to give birth while in office.[27]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ As lieutenant governor, Kim Guadagno served as Acting Governor of New Jersey when Chris Christie was out of the state.[21]

References

  1. ↑ Long, James Andrew (1994). Oregon Firsts: Past and Present. North Plains, Ore.: Oregon Firsts Media. p. 57. ISBN 1-882635-00-0.
  2. ↑ Kessler, Lauren (1983). "The Ideas of Woman Suffrage and the Mainstream Press". Oregon Historical Quarterly. 84: 257–76.
  3. ↑ "Milestones: Jul. 26, 1926". Time. July 26, 1926. Retrieved March 27, 2011.
  4. ↑ Albuquerque Journal, October 24, 2010, reporting on an article from Albuquerque Morning Journal, June 21, 1924.
  5. ↑ "Today in History". Library of Congress. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
  6. ↑ http://www.nellietayloeross.com/Virginia%20Scharff%20Article.pdf%5Bpermanent+dead+link%5D
  7. ↑ "Governors of Texas, 1846–present". Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Ella Grasso: First Woman Elected State Governor". Essortment. May 16, 1986. Archived from the original on March 28, 2010. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Minnesota: Where Female Lieutenant Governors Reign | Smart Politics". editions.lib.umn.edu. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
  10. ↑ Rea, Tom. "The Ambition of Nellie Tayloe Ross". Wyoming State Historical Society. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  11. ↑ Huddlston, D. John (June 12, 2010). "Ferguson, Miriam Amanda Wallace [Ma]". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  12. ↑ Wald, Matthew L. (February 6, 1981). "Ex-Gov. Grasso of Connecticut Dead of Cancer". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  13. ↑ "From Mt. Rainier to the Governorship of Washington, Dixy Lee Ray Was a Climber". American Association of University Women. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Vesta Roy, 76, New Hampshire Ex-Governor". The New York Times. Associated Press. February 22, 2002. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  15. ↑ Crawford, Allison (March 29, 2016). "Former Kentucky Governor Martha Layne Collins Partners with Baptist Health Paducah". Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Once a Refugee from Nazi Europe, Madeleine Kunin Takes Charge as Vermont's First Woman Governor – Vol. 23 No. 13". People. April 1, 1985. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  17. ↑ Hickey, Donald R.; Wunder, Susan A.; Wunder, John R. (2007-01-01). Nebraska Moments. U of Nebraska Press. p. 340. ISBN 080321572X.
  18. ↑ Bland, Karina; Harris, Craig (September 16, 2016). "Rose Mofford, first woman to serve as Arizona governor, has died". azcentral. Retrieved 2017-04-12.
  19. ↑ Myers, By Roger (July 29, 2001). "Trailblazer did it her way". cjonline.com. Archived from the original on 2001-08-01. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  20. ↑ Ratcliffe, R.G.; Kilday, Ann Marie (September 13, 2006). "Former Texas Gov. Ann Richards dies at 73". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  21. ↑ The Associated Press (February 21, 2017). "Lieutenant governor gets resignation letter _ from husband". ABC News. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  22. ↑ "Swift's Unusual Ride to the Governor's Office". Boston Globe. April 8, 2001. Retrieved October 3, 2008.
  23. ↑ Herbst-Bayliss, Sva (November 4, 2014). "Democrat Gina Raimondo becomes Rhode Island's first female governor". Reuters. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  24. ↑ NBC, AP,. "New Information: Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey sworn in as Alabama's 54th governor". Retrieved 2017-04-11.
  25. ↑ Noble, Jason (May 24, 2017). "Kim Reynolds becomes Iowa's first female governor". Des Moines Register. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  26. ↑ http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/05/15/governor.birth/
  27. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20100920195152/http://www.adn.com/2008/04/21/382560/palin-confirms-baby-has-down-syndrome.html
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