Appendix I: History of Women Governors from
1925 to 2011

Thirty-four women (nineteen Democrats, fifteen  Republicans) have served as governor in twenty-six states. Of those, twenty-six  were elected: twenty-three were first elected in their own right; the other  three first became governor by constitutional succession before being elected  to the office. Of the remaining eight, three followed their husbands into  office, and five became governor by constitutional succession and served  briefly.

Nellie Tayloe Ross, Democrat—Wyoming: (served from 1925 to1927).  She was elected to fill deceased husband’s seat and was one of the first two women in the nation to become a state governor.

Miriam “Ma” Ferguson, Democrat—Texas: (served from 1925 to 1927 and again from 1933 to 1935). She followed her impeached husband into office with a campaign slogan: “Two for the Price of One.” She was one of the first two women in the nation to become a state governor.

Lurleen Wallace, Democrat—Alabama: (served from 1967 to 1968). She followed her term-limited husband in office, with a campaign slogan: “Let George Do It.”

Ella Grasso, Democrat—Connecticut: (served from 1975 to 1981). She was the first woman in  the country to be elected a state governor in her own right. She was reelected in 1978. She stepped  down due to failing health.

Dixy Lee Ray, Democrat—Washington: (served from 1977 to 1981). Elected in her own right, Dixy was Washington’s first woman elected governor. She lost a primary bid for reelection in 1980.

Vesta Roy, Republican—New Hampshire: (1982). As president of the New Hampshire Senate, she was appointed acting governor to serve after the governor died and before the newly elected  governor was inaugurated. She served one week.

Martha Layne Collins, Democrat—Kentucky: (served from 1983 to 1987). She was Kentucky’s first and only woman to be elected governor. Limited to one term of office.

Madeleine Kunin, Democrat—Vermont: (served from 1985 to 1991). Vermont’s first and only woman to be elected governor, she was also the first Jewish female governor of any state. Elected to three 2-year terms, she chose not to run for reelection in 1990.

Kay Orr, Republican—Nebraska: (served from 1987 to 1991). Nebraska’s first and only woman to be elected governor, she was also the first Republican woman in the country to be elected state governor. It was also the first gubernatorial race between two women. She was defeated in her reelection bid in 1990.

Rose Mofford, Republican—Arizona: (served from 1988 to 1991). Elected secretary of state, she succeeded the impeached governor in 1988 and chose not to run for governor in 1990.

Ann Richards, Democrat—Texas: (served from 1991 to 1995). She was Texas’s first and only  woman governor to be elected in her right. She was defeated in her reelection bid in 1994 by George W. Bush.

Barbara Roberts, Democrat—Oregon: (served from 1991 to 1995). Oregon’s first and only woman to be elected governor, she chose not to run for reelection in 1994.

Joan Finney, Democrat—Kansas: (served from 1991 to 1995). Kansas’s first woman to be elected governor, she was also the first woman in the nation to defeat an incumbent governor. She chose not to run for reelection in 1994.

Christine Todd Whitman, Republican—New Jersey: (served from 1994 to 2001). New Jersey’s first and only woman to be elected governor, she was also the first Republican woman to beat an incumbent governor. She was reelected in 1997 and resigned in 2001 to take a position in the Bush administration.

Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat—New Hampshire: (served from 1997 to 2003). First and only woman to be elected governor of New Hampshire; she was reelected in 1998 and 2000. In 2008 she became the first woman governor to be elected to the U.S. Senate.

Jane Hull, Republican—Arizona: (served from 1997 to 2003).  Elected as secretary of state, she succeeded governor who resigned due to a felony conviction. She was then elected to the position in 1998. She was term limited and could not run in 2002.

Nancy Hollister, Republican—Ohio: (1998). Elected lieutenant governor; served as governor when predecessor took a U.S. Senate seat and the successor had not yet been sworn in. She served eleven days.

Jane Swift, Republican—Massachusetts: (served from 2001 to 2003). Elected as lieutenant  governor, succeeded governor who resigned. She chose not to run for election in 2002. First governor to give birth while in office.

Judy Martz, Repubican—Montana: (served from 2001 to 2005). Montana’s first and only woman to be elected governor. She did not seek reelection.

Ruth Ann Minner, Democrat—Delaware: (served from 2001 to 2009). Delaware’s first and only woman to be elected governor. She won reelection in 2004 and stepped down in 2009.

Linda Lingle, Republican—Hawaii: (served from 2002 to 2010). Hawaii’s first and only woman elected governor. She won reelection in 2006, and stepped down in 2010.

Jennifer Granholm, Democrat—Michigan: (served from 2003 to 2011). Michigan’s first and only woman to be elected governor. She won reelection in 2006 and stepped down in 2011.

Janet Napolitano, Democrat—Arizona: (served from 2003 to 2009). Arizona’s second woman elected governor and the first woman in the nation to immediately succeed another woman governor. She won reelection in 2006. She stepped down in 2009 to join the Obama administration.

Kathleen Sebelius, Democrat—Kansas: (served from 2003 to 2009). She was the second woman elected governor of Kansas. She won reelection in 2006 and stepped down in 2009 to join the Obama administration.

Olene Walker, Republican—Utah: (served from 2003 to 2005). Elected as lieutenant governor, she succeeded governor who resigned to take a federal appointment. She did not seek election.

Kathleen Blanco, Democrat—Louisiana: (served from 2004 to 2008). Louisiana’s first and only woman to be elected governor. She chose not to seek reelection in 2008.

M. Jodi Rell, Republican—Connecticut: (served from 2004 to 2011). Elected as lieutenant governor, succeeded governor who resigned during a corruption investigation. She won election in 2006, becoming Connecticut’s second woman governor. She chose not to run for reelection in 2010.

Christine Gregoire, Democrat–Washington: (served from 2005 to present). She is Washington’s second woman governor. She was reelected in 2008.

Sarah Palin, Republican—Alaska: (served from 2007 to 2009). She is Alaska’s first and only woman to be elected governor of Alaska. In 2008 she became the first female governor of any  state to run as a major party vice presidential candidate. She resigned in 2009.

Beverly Perdue, Democrat—North Carolina: (served from 2009 to present). She is North Carolina’s first and only woman to be elected governor.

Jan Brewer, Republican—Arizona  (served from 2009 to present). As secretary of state, she succeeded to the office when Governor Janet Napolitiano resigned. She won election in 2010, becoming Arizona’s third consecutive woman governor.

Mary Fallin, Republican—Oklahoma: (served from 2011 to present).  She is Oklahoma’s first and only woman to be elected governor. She won against another female candidate.

Nikki Haley, Republican—South Carolina: (served 2011 from to present).  She is South Carolina’s first and only woman to be elected governor. She is the nation’s first female Indian-American governor.

Susana Martinez, Republican—New Mexico: (served from 2011 to present). She is New Mexico’s first and only woman to be elected governor, and the nation’s first female Hispanic-American governor. She won against another female candidate.

Sources:

Center for the American Woman and Politics (CWAP).
National Information Bank on Women in Public Office. Eagleton Institute of Politics,
Rutgers University.  http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/.

The Barbara Lee Family Foundation. “Turning Point.”
http://www.barbaraleefoundation.org.