List of female lieutenant governors in the United States
As of January 2019, there are 15 women currently serving as lieutenant governors in the United States. 100 women have served overall. Women have been elected lieutenant governor from 43 of the 50 states. The states that have not elected a woman are Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia.
History
The first woman to become lieutenant governor was Matilda Dodge Wilson (R), who was appointed lieutenant governor of Michigan in 1940 by Luren Dickinson.
In 1978, Jean King (D) was elected as the first female Asian-American lieutenant governor, when she was elected lieutenant governor of Hawaii.
In 2002, Jennette Bradley (R) was elected as the first female African-American lieutenant governor, when she was elected lieutenant governor of Ohio.
In 2010, Jennifer Carroll (R) was elected as the first female military veteran lieutenant governor, when she was elected lieutenant governor of Florida.
In 2014, Evelyn Sanguinetti (R) was elected as the first female Hispanic or Latino lieutenant governor, when she was elected lieutenant governor of Illinois.
Kentucky was the first state to hold a transfer of power from one female lieutenant governor to another, when Martha Layne Collins was elected to succeed Thelma Stovall in 1979.
Minnesota has had the most female lieutenant governors or other deputy leaders of any state in the Union, with nine consecutive female lieutenant governors since 1983. However, no female politician has been nominated for governor by any major statewide party in any of Minnesota's gubernatorial elections.[1]
No state has or ever had both a female governor and female lieutenant governor at the same time. From 1997 to 2009, Arizona had two female governors and two concurrently serving female secretaries of state.
To date, in states without a lieutenant governor, no woman has ever changed parties during her term as a secretary of state or a state senate president, or been elected as a third party member or an independent.
List of female Lieutenant Governors
- Italics denotes acting lieutenant governor
Name (lifespan) |
Portrait | State | Party | Term start | Term end | Length of service |
Left for |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Matilda Dodge Wilson (1883–1967) |
Republican | January 1, 1940 | January 1, 1941 | 1 year, 0 days | Retired | ||
Consuelo N. Bailey (1899–1976) |
Republican | January 8, 1955 | January 10, 1957 | 2 years, 2 days | Retired | ||
Maude Frazier (1881–1963) |
Democratic | January 1, 1962 | January 1, 1963 | 1 year, 0 days | Retired | ||
Mary Anne Krupsak (born 1932) |
Democratic | January 1, 1975 | December 31, 1978 | 3 years, 364 days | Retired to run for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 1978 (Defeated in primary) | ||
Thelma Stovall (1919–1994) |
Democratic | December 9, 1975 | December 11, 1979 | 4 years, 2 days | Retired to run for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 1979 (Defeated in primary) | ||
Evelyn Gandy (1920–2007) |
Democratic | January 20, 1976 | January 22, 1980 | 4 years, 2 days | Retired to run for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 1979 (Defeated in primary) | ||
Jean King (1925–2013) |
Democratic | December 2, 1978 | December 2, 1982 | 4 years, 0 days | Retired to run for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 1982 (Defeated in primary) | ||
Nancy E. Dick (born 1930) |
Democratic | January 10, 1979 | January 13, 1987 | 8 years, 0 days | Retired | ||
Madeleine Kunin (born 1933) |
Democratic | January 10, 1979 | January 10, 1983 | 4 years, 0 days | Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for Governor in 1982 (Defeated). Later Governor of Vermont (1985–1991) | ||
Nancy Stevenson (1929–2001) |
Democratic | January 10, 1979 | January 12, 1983 | 4 years, 2 days | Retired | ||
Martha Layne Collins (born 1936) |
Democratic | December 11, 1979 | December 13, 1983 | 4 years, 2 days | Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for Governor in 1983 (Elected). Governor of Kentucky (1983–1987) | ||
Martha Griffiths (1912–2003) |
Democratic | January 1, 1983 | January 1, 1991 | 8 years, 0 days | Retired. Previously U.S. Representative from Michigan 17th (1955–1974) | ||
Marlene Johnson (born 1946) |
Democratic–Farmer–Labor | January 3, 1983 | January 7, 1991 | 8 years, 4 days | Lost reelection | ||
Ruth Meiers (1925–1987) |
Democratic–NPL | January 1, 1985 | March 19, 1987 | 2 years, 77 days | Died | ||
Harriett Woods (1927–2007) |
Democratic | January 14, 1985 | January 9, 1989 | 3 years, 361 days | Retired | ||
Evelyn Murphy (born 1940) |
Democratic | January 1, 1987 | January 1, 1991 | 4 years, 0 days | Retired to run for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 1990 (Dropped out of primary) | ||
Jo Ann Zimmerman (1936-2019) |
Democratic | January 1, 1987 | January 1, 1991 | 4 years, 0 days | Lost reelection | ||
Connie Binsfeld (1924–2014) |
Republican | January 1, 1991 | January 1, 1999 | 8 years, 0 days | Retired | ||
Joy Corning (1932–2017) |
Republican | January 1, 1991 | January 15, 1999 | 8 years, 14 days | Retired to run for the Republican nomination for Governor in 1998 (Dropped out of primary) | ||
Maxine Moul (born 1947) |
Democratic | January 1, 1991 | October 5, 1993 | 2 years, 277 days | Resigned | ||
Joanell Dyrstad (born 1942) |
Republican | January 7, 1991 | January 3, 1995 | 3 years, 361 days | Retired to run for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in 1994 (Defeated in primary) | ||
Sue Wagner (born 1940) |
Republican | January 7, 1991 | January 2, 1995 | 3 years, 360 days | Retired | ||
Eunice Groark (born 1938) |
A Connecticut Party | January 9, 1991 | January 4, 1995 | 3 years, 360 days | Retired to run as the A Connecticut Party nominee for Governor in 1994 (Defeated) | ||
Melinda Schwegmann (born 1946) |
Democratic | January 13, 1992 | January 8, 1996 | 3 years, 360 days | Retired to run for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 1995 (Defeated in primary) | ||
Rosemarie Myrdal (born 1929) |
Republican | December 15, 1992 | December 15, 2000 | 8 years, 0 days | Retired | ||
Barbara Snelling (1928–2015) |
Republican | January 1, 1993 | January 1, 1997 | 4 years, 0 days | Retired | ||
Olene Walker (1930–2015) |
Republican | January 4, 1993 | November 5, 2003 | 10 years, 305 days | Became Governor of Utah (2003–2005) | ||
Ruth Ann Minner (born 1935) |
Democratic | January 19, 1993 | January 3, 2001 | 7 years, 350 days | Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for Governor in 2000 (Elected). Became Governor of Delaware (2001–2009) | ||
Kim M. Robak (born 1955) |
Democratic | October 5, 1993 | January 7, 1999 | 5 years, 98 days | Retired | ||
Mazie Hirono (born 1947) |
Democratic | December 2, 1994 | December 2, 2002 | 8 years, 0 days | Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for Governor in 2002 (Defeated). Later served as U.S. Representative from Hawaii 2nd (2007-2013) & U.S. Senator from Hawaii (2013–present) | ||
Fran Ulmer (born 1947) |
Democratic | December 5, 1994 | December 2, 2002 | 7 years, 362 days | Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for Governor in 2002 (Defeated) | ||
Gail Schoettler (born 1943) |
Democratic | January 3, 1995 | January 12, 1999 | 4 years, 11 days | Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for Governor in 1998 (Defeated) | ||
Carole Hillard (1936–2007) |
Republican | January 1, 1995 | January 1, 2003 | 8 years, 0 days | Retired | ||
Betsy McCaughey (born 1948) |
Democratic | January 1, 1995 | December 31, 1998 | 3 years, 364 days | Elected as a Republican in 1994, but switched to Democratic in 1997. Retired to run for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 1998 (Defeated in primary) | ||
Joanne Benson (born 1943) |
Republican | January 3, 1995 | January 4, 1999 | 4 years, 1 day | Retired to run for the Republican nomination for Governor in 1998 (Defeated in primary) | ||
Jodi Rell (born 1946) |
Republican | January 4, 1995 | July 1, 2004 | 9 years, 179 days | Became Governor of Connecticut (2004–2011) | ||
Nancy Hollister (born 1949) |
Republican | January 9, 1995 | December 31, 1998 | 3 years, 356 days | Became Governor of Ohio (1998–1999) | ||
Sheila Frahm (born 1945) |
Republican | January 9, 1995 | June 11, 1996 | 1 year, 154 days | Resigned to become U.S. Senator from Kansas (1996) | ||
Mary Fallin (born 1954) |
Republican | January 9, 1995 | January 2, 2007 | 11 years, 358 days | Retired to become the U.S. Representative from Oklahoma 5th (2007-2011). Later became Governor of Oklahoma (2011–2019) | ||
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend (born 1951) |
Democratic | January 18, 1995 | January 15, 2003 | 7 years, 362 days | Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for Governor in 2002 (Defeated) | ||
Kathleen Blanco (1942-2019) |
Democratic | January 8, 1996 | January 12, 2004 | 8 years, 4 days | Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for Governor in 2003 (Elected). Governor of Louisiana (2004–2008) | ||
Judy Martz (1943–2017) |
Republican | January 6, 1997 | January 1, 2001 | 3 years, 361 days | Retired to run as the Republican nominee for Governor in 2000 (Elected). Governor of Montana (2001–2005) | ||
Mary Donohue (born 1947) |
Republican | January 1, 1999 | December 31, 2006 | 7 years, 364 days | Retired to become a Judge of the New York Court of Claims | ||
Lorraine Hunt (born 1939) |
Republican | January 4, 1999 | January 20, 2007 | 8 years, 16 days | Retired to run for the Republican nomination for Governor in 2006 (Defeated in primary) | ||
Mae Schunk (born 1934) |
Independence Party of Minnesota | January 4, 1999 | January 6, 2003 | 4 years, 2 days | Retired | ||
Jane Swift (born 1965) |
Republican | January 7, 1999 | January 2, 2003 | 3 years, 360 days | Became Governor of Massachusetts (2001–2003) | ||
Corinne Wood (born 1954) |
Republican | January 11, 1999 | January 13, 2003 | 4 years, 2 days | Retired to run for the Republican nomination for Governor in 2002 (Defeated in primary) | ||
Maureen O'Connor (born 1951) |
Republican | January 11, 1999 | December 31, 2002 | 3 years, 354 days | Retired to run as the Republican nominee for Associate Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court (Elected) | ||
Sally Pederson (born 1951) |
Democratic | January 15, 1999 | January 12, 2007 | 7 years, 362 days | Retired | ||
Amy Tuck (born 1963) |
Republican | January 11, 2000 | January 10, 2008 | 7 years, 364 days | Elected as a Democrat in 1999, but switched to Republican in 2002. Retired | ||
Bev Perdue (born 1947) |
Democratic | January 6, 2001 | January 10, 2009 | 8 years, 4 days | Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for Governor in 2008 (Elected). Governor of North Carolina (2009–2013) | ||
Margaret Farrow (born 1934) |
Republican | May 9, 2001 | January 6, 2003 | 1 year, 242 days | Lost reelection | ||
Diane Denish (born 1949) |
Democratic | January 1, 2003 | January 1, 2011 | 8 years, 0 days | Retired to run as the Democrat nominee for Governor in 2010 (Defeated) | ||
Kerry Healey (born 1960) |
Republican | January 2, 2003 | January 4, 2007 | 4 years, 2 days | Retired to run as the Republican nominee for Governor in 2006 (Defeated) | ||
Carol Molnau (born 1949) |
Republican | January 6, 2003 | January 3, 2011 | 7 years, 362 days | Retired | ||
Barbara Lawton (born 1951) |
Democratic | January 6, 2003 | January 3, 2011 | 7 years, 362 days | Retired to run for the Democrat nomination for Governor in 2010 (Dropped out of primary) | ||
Jennette Bradley (born 1952) |
Republican | January 13, 2003 | January 5, 2005 | 1 year, 358 days | Resigned to become Ohio State Treasurer | ||
Jane E. Norton (born 1954) |
Republican | January 13, 2003 | January 9, 2007 | 3 years, 361 days | Retired | ||
Lucy Baxley (1937–2016) |
Democratic | January 20, 2003 | January 15, 2007 | 3 years, 360 days | Retired to run as the Democrat nominee for Governor in 2006 (Defeated) | ||
Catherine Baker Knoll (1930–2008) |
Democratic | January 21, 2003 | November 12, 2008 | 5 years, 296 days | Died | ||
Toni Jennings (born 1949) |
Republican | March 3, 2003 | January 2, 2007 | 3 years, 305 days | Retired | ||
Kathy Davis (born 1956) |
Democratic | October 20, 2003 | January 10, 2005 | 1 year, 82 days | Lost reelection | ||
Becky Skillman (born 1950) |
Republican | January 10, 2005 | January 14, 2013 | 8 years, 4 days | Retired | ||
Elizabeth H. Roberts (born 1957) |
Democratic | January 2, 2007 | January 6, 2015 | 8 years, 4 days | Retired | ||
Jari Askins (born 1953) |
Democratic | January 2, 2007 | January 10, 2011 | 4 years, 8 days | Retired to run as the Democrat nominee for Governor in 2010 (Defeated) | ||
Barbara O'Brien (born 1950) |
Democratic | January 9, 2007 | January 11, 2011 | 4 years, 2 days | Retired | ||
Patty Judge (born 1943) |
Democratic | January 12, 2007 | January 14, 2011 | 4 years, 2 days | Lost reelection | ||
Mona Pasquil (born 1962) |
Democratic | November 4, 2009 | April 27, 2010 | 174 days | Retired | ||
Kim Guadagno (born 1959) |
Republican | January 19, 2010 | January 16, 2018 | 7 years, 362 days | Retired to run as the Republican nominee for Governor in 2017 (Defeated) | ||
Rebecca Kleefisch (born 1975) |
Republican | January 3, 2011 | January 7, 2019 | 8 years, 4 days | Lost reelection | ||
Yvonne Prettner Solon (born 1946) |
Democratic–Farmer–Labor | January 3, 2011 | January 5, 2015 | 4 years, 2 days | Retired | ||
Jennifer Carroll (born 1959) |
Republican | January 4, 2011 | March 12, 2013 | 2 years, 67 days | Resigned | ||
Nancy Wyman (born 1946) |
Democratic | January 5, 2011 | January 9, 2019 | 8 years, 4 days | Retired | ||
Mary Taylor (born 1966) |
Republican | January 10, 2011 | January 14, 2019 | 8 years, 4 days | Retired to run for Republican nomination for 2018 Ohio gubernatorial election (Defeated in primary) | ||
Sheila Simon (born 1961) |
Democratic | January 10, 2011 | January 12, 2015 | 4 years, 2 days | Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for Illinois Comptroller in 2014. (Defeated) | ||
Kim Reynolds (born 1959) |
Republican | January 14, 2011 | May 24, 2017 | 6 years, 130 days | Became Governor of Iowa (2017–present). | ||
Kay Ivey (born 1944) |
Republican | January 17, 2011 | April 10, 2017 | 6 years, 83 days | Became Governor of Alabama (2017–present). | ||
Sue Ellspermann (born 1960) |
Republican | January 14, 2013 | March 2, 2016 | 3 years, 48 days | Resigned | ||
Angela McLean (born 1970) |
Democratic | February 17, 2014 | January 3, 2016 | 1 year, 320 days | Resigned | ||
Crit Luallen (born 1952) |
Democratic | November 13, 2014 | December 8, 2015 | 1 year, 25 days | Retired | ||
Kathy Hochul (born 1958) |
Democratic | January 1, 2015 | Incumbent | 5 years, 179 days | Serving. Former U.S. Representative from New York 26th (2011–2013) | ||
Tina Smith (born 1958) |
Democratic–Farmer–Labor | January 5, 2015 | January 2, 2018 | 2 years, 362 days | Resigned to become U.S. Senator for Minnesota (2018–present) | ||
Karyn Polito (born 1966) |
Republican | January 8, 2015 | Incumbent | 5 years, 172 days | Serving | ||
Evelyn Sanguinetti (born 1970) |
Republican | January 12, 2015 | January 14, 2019 | 4 years, 2 days | Lost reelection | ||
Jenean Hampton (born 1958) |
Republican | December 8, 2015 | December 10, 2019 | 4 years, 203 days | Retired | ||
Donna Lynne (born 1953) |
Democratic | May 12, 2016 | January 8, 2019 | 2 years, 241 days | Retired to run for Democratic nomination for 2018 Colorado gubernatorial election (Defeated in primary) | ||
Suzanne Crouch (born 1952) |
Republican | January 9, 2017 | Incumbent | 3 years, 171 days | Serving | ||
Bethany Hall-Long (born 1963) |
Democratic | January 17, 2017 | Incumbent | 3 years, 163 days | Serving | ||
Michelle Fischbach (born 1965) |
Republican | January 3, 2018 | January 7, 2019 | 1 year, 4 days | Retired | ||
Sheila Oliver (born 1952) |
Democratic | January 16, 2018 | Incumbent | 2 years, 164 days | Serving | ||
Valerie Davidson (born 1967) |
Independent | October 16, 2018 | December 3, 2018 | 48 days | Retired | ||
Janice McGeachin (born 1963) |
Republican | January 6, 2019 | Incumbent | 1 year, 174 days | Serving | ||
Peggy Flanagan (born 1979) |
Democratic–Farmer–Labor | January 7, 2019 | Incumbent | 1 year, 173 days | Serving | ||
Eleni Kounalakis (born 1966) |
Democratic | January 7, 2019 | Incumbent | 1 year, 173 days | Serving | ||
Kate Marshall (born 1959) |
Democratic | January 7, 2019 | Incumbent | 1 year, 173 days | Serving | ||
Jeanette Núñez (born 1972) |
Republican | January 8, 2019 | Incumbent | 1 year, 172 days | Serving | ||
Dianne Primavera (born 1950) |
Democratic | January 8, 2019 | Incumbent | 1 year, 172 days | Serving | ||
Susan Bysiewicz (born 1961) |
Democratic | January 9, 2019 | Incumbent | 1 year, 171 days | Serving | ||
Pamela Evette (born 1967) |
Republican | January 9, 2019 | Incumbent | 1 year, 171 days | Serving | ||
Juliana Stratton (born 1965) |
Democratic | January 14, 2019 | Incumbent | 1 year, 166 days | Serving | ||
Jacqueline Coleman (born 1982) |
Democratic | December 10, 2019 | Incumbent | 201 days | Serving |
List of female Secretaries of State
Certain states do not have a lieutenant governor; instead they have a Secretary of State next in line for succession of governor.
- Italics denotes acting Secretary of State
Name | Image | State | Party | Mandate start | Mandate end | Term length | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thyra Thomson (1916–2013) |
Republican | January 7, 1963 | January 5, 1987 | 23 years, 363 days | Retired | ||
Norma Paulus (1933-2019) |
Republican | January 3, 1977 | January 7, 1985 | 8 years, 4 days | Retired to run as the Republican nominee for Governor in 1986 (Defeated) | ||
Rose Mofford (1922–2016) |
Democratic | October 20, 1977 | April 4, 1988 | 10 years, 167 days | Succeeded as governor upon impeachment and conviction of Governor Evan Mecham | ||
Barbara Roberts (born 1936) |
Democratic | January 7, 1985 | January 14, 1991 | 6 years, 7 days | Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for Governor in 1990 (Elected) | ||
Kathy Karpan (born 1942) |
Democratic | January 5, 1987 | January 3, 1995 | 7 years, 363 days | Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for Governor in 1994 (Defeated) | ||
Diana J. Ohman (born 1950) |
Republican | January 3, 1995 | January 3, 1999 | 4 years, 0 days | Retired | ||
Jane Dee Hull (born 1935) |
Republican | January 2, 1995 | September 5, 1997 | 2 years, 246 days | Succeeded as governor upon resignation of Governor Fife Symington | ||
Betsey Bayless (born 1944) |
Republican | September 5, 1997 | January 6, 2003 | 5 years, 123 days | Retired to run for Governor in 2002 (Defeated in primary) | ||
Jan Brewer (born 1944) |
Republican | January 6, 2003 | January 21, 2009 | 5 years, 350 days | Succeeded as governor upon resignation of Governor Janet Napolitano | ||
Kate Brown (born 1960) |
Democratic | January 5, 2009 | February 18, 2015 | 6 years, 44 days | Succeeded as governor upon resignation of Governor John Kitzhaber | ||
Michele Reagan (born 1969) |
Republican | January 5, 2015 | January 7, 2019 | 4 years, 2 days | Lost-renomination | ||
Jeanne Atkins (born 1949/1950) |
Democratic | March 11, 2015 | January 2, 2017 | 1 year, 297 days | Retired | ||
Katie Hobbs (born 1969) |
Democratic | January 7, 2019 | Incumbent | 1 year, 173 days | Serving | ||
Beverly Clarno (born 1936) |
Republican | March 31, 2019 | Incumbent | 1 year, 89 days | Serving |
List of female Senate Presidents
Two states — Maine and New Hampshire — do not have a Lieutenant Governor, and do not have the Secretary of State as first in the line of succession to the Governor. In these two states, the President of the State Senate is first in line to succeed the Governor.
- Italics denotes acting Senate President
Name | Image | State | Party | Mandate start | Mandate end | Term length | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vesta M. Roy (1925–2002) |
Republican | December 1, 1982 | December 3, 1986 | 4 years, 2 days | Served as Acting Governor of New Hampshire from December 29, 1982 to January 6, 1983. Retired | ||
Beverly Hollingworth (born 1935) |
Democratic | August 26, 1999 | December 6, 2000 | 1 year, 102 days | Party lost Senate majority | ||
Beverly Daggett (1945–2015) |
Democratic | December 4, 2002 | December 1, 2004 | 1 year, 363 days | Term-limited from the Senate | ||
Beth Edmonds (born 1950) |
Democratic | December 1, 2004 | December 3, 2008 | 4 years, 2 days | Term-limited from the Senate | ||
Sylvia Larsen (born 1949) |
Democratic | December 5, 2006 | December 1, 2010 | 3 years, 361 days | Party lost Senate majority | ||
Libby Mitchell (born 1940) |
Democratic | December 3, 2008 | December 1, 2010 | 1 year, 363 days | Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for Governor in 2010 (Defeated) | ||
Donna Soucy (born 1967) |
Democratic | December 5, 2018 | Incumbent | 1 year, 206 days | Serving |