From Jone Johnson Lewis,
Your Guide to Women's History.
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The first three women governors of any American states replaced their husbands. 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

Jeanne Shaheen
New Hampshire, Democrat
ran unsuccessfully for US Senate in 2002

1997-2003

Jane Dee Hull
Arizona, Republican
succeeded incumbent who resigned; subsequently elected to a full term

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

2003-2005

Oline Walker
Utah, Republican
succeeded incumbent who took federal position

2001-

Ruth Ann Minner
Delaware, Democrat
served two terms as lieutenant governor

2003-

Jennifer M. Granholm
Michigan, Democrat
former prosecutor

2003-

Linda Lingle
Hawai'i, Republican
former mayor of Maui County

2003-

Janet Napolitano
Arizona, Democrat
first Arizona woman governor to win reelection

2003-

Kathleen Sebelius
Kansas, Democrat
daughter of an Ohio governor (male)

2004-

Kathleen Blanco
Louisiana, Democrat
is not running in 2007

2004-

M. Jodi Rell
Connecticut, Republican
succeeded incumbent who resigned

2004-

Christine Gregoire
Washington, Democrat
former director of the Washington Department of Ecology

2007-

Sarah Palin
Alaska, Republican
former mayor of Wasilla