The first three women governors of any American states replaced their husbands. Many later women governors have been elected in their own right or have succeeded an incumbent. Here's a list of the women governors in the United States:
1925-1927
- Nellie Tayloe Ross
Wyoming, Democrat
replaced late husband, winning special election
1925-1927, 1933-1935
- Miriam "Ma" Ferguson
Texas, Democrat
surrogate for her husband who was prohibited by law from succeeding himself
1967-1968
- Lurleen Wallace
Alabama, Democrat
surrogate for her husband who was prohibited by law from succeeding himself
1975-1980
- Ella Grasso
Connecticut, Democrat
first woman governor who did not succeed her husband; resigned for health reasons
1977-1981
- Dixy Lee Ray
Washington, Democrat
defeated in the primary when she was running for a second term
1982-1983
- Vesta Roy
New Hampshire, Republican
served seven days after death of incumbent
1984-1987
- Martha Layne Collins
Kentucky, Democrat
chairperson of the 1984 Democratic National Convention
1985-1991
- Madeleine Kunin
Vermont, Democrat
later Ambassador to Switzerland
1987-1991
- Kay Orr
Nebraska, Republican
first Republican woman elected governor; first woman governor elected by defeating another woman
1988-1991
- Rose Mofford
Arizona, Democrat
succeeded an incumbent who was impeached and then convicted
1991-1995
- Joan Finney
Kansas, Democrat
first woman governor who won election against an incumbent
1991-1995
- Ann Richards
Texas, Democrat
defeated by George W Bush
1991-1995
- Barbara Roberts
Oregon, Democrat
did not seek reelection in 1994
1994-2001
- Christine Todd Whitman
New Jersey, Republican
resigned for appointment as commissioner, Environmental Protection Agency
1997-2003
- Jane Dee Hull
Arizona, Republican
succeeded incumbent who resigned; subsequently elected to a full term
1997-2003
- Jeanne Shaheen
New Hampshire, Democrat
ran unsuccessfully for US Senate in 2002, successfully in 2008
1998-1999
- Nancy Hollister
Ohio, Republican
served 11 days when predecessor moved to US Senate and before an appointment was made
2001-2003
- Jane Swift
Massachusetts, Republican
succeeded incumbent who resigned to become an ambassador
2001-2005
- Judy Martz
Montana, Republican
member of the 1964 US Olympic Speed Skating Team
2001-2005
- Sila Maria Calderon
Puerto Rico, Popular Democratic Party
former mayor of San Juan
2001-2009
- Ruth Ann Minner
Delaware, Democrat
served two terms as lieutenant governor
2002-
- Linda Lingle
Hawaii, Republican
former mayor of Maui County
2003-
- Jennifer M. Granholm
Michigan, Democrat
former prosecutor
2003-2009
- Janet Napolitano
Arizona, Democrat
first Arizona woman governor to win reelection; became Secretary of Homeland Security under President Obama
2003-
- Kathleen Sebelius
Kansas, Democrat
daughter of an Ohio governor (male)
2003-2005
- Oline Walker
Utah, Republican
succeeded incumbent who took federal position
2004-2008
- Kathleen Blanco
Louisiana, Democrat
was governor at the time of Hurricane Katrina
2004-
- M. Jodi Rell
Connecticut, Republican
succeeded incumbent who resigned
2004-
- Christine Gregoire
Washington, Democrat
former director of the Washington Department of Ecology
2006-
- Sarah Palin
Alaska, Republican
former mayor of Wasilla; first female governor of Alaska; first female governor to run for vice president as the candidate of a major party (2008)
2009-
- Beverly Perdue
Nirth Carolina, Democrat
former lieutenant governor; first woman governor of North Carolina
2009-
- Jan Brewer
Arizona, Republican
Arizona Secretary of State when she succeeded Gov. Janet Napolitano, who became Secretary of Homeland Security; third consecurite woman to serve as Arizona governor
Women's history biographies, by name:
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P/Q | R | S | T | U/V | W | X/Y/Z
