Women in Statewide Executive Offices
While only five women won in the 36 races for governor in 2014 (including four incumbents and Gina Raimondo of Rhode Island), the appointment of Kate Brown to replace governor-elect John Kitzhaber in Oregon, means six state governors are women. This is an increase from 2014, when women were governors led by female governors. Furthermore, twenty-three states have never had a female governor. Mississippi is the only state that has never elected a woman to the governor’s mansion or to the U.S. Congress.
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The percentage of statewide elected executive positions, like governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state and attorney general, held by women has barely increased since 1993, from 22.2% to 24.5% after the 2014 election.
Proportion of Women Among Statewide Elected Officials
Ross and Ferguson, First Women Governors
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In 1924 women’s participation in politics took a huge step forward. Wyoming (Nellie Tayloe Ross, Democrat) and Texas (Miriam A. “Ma” Ferguson, Democrat) were the first States to have female Governors. Both women succeeded their husbands in office. Read More...
Women Governors Throughout History By State
Current Women Governors
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Unless otherwise specified, our data on women in state and national government is sourced from the Center for American Women and Politics (May 2014).