In 2025, Virginia will Elect its First Woman Governor. How Many Other States Have Achieved that Milestone?
Only 32 U.S. states have had a woman governor. Virginia will mark the 33rd when either Democrat Abigail Spanberger or Republican Winsome Earle-Sears wins the gubernatorial election in November. To date, 51 (31D, 20R) women have served as state governors. In addition, women have served as governors of Guam and Puerto Rico.
The first woman governor in 17 states was a Democrat and in 15 states was a Republican. The first woman governor of Guam is a Democrat, and the first woman governor of Puerto Rico represented the Partido Popular Democratico.
The first woman governor entered office 100 years ago. Nellie Tayloe Ross (D-WY) won a special election to fill a vacancy caused by the death of her husband. Fifty years later, Ella Grasso (D-CT) became the first woman governor elected in her own right (not following her husband). All but three women governors have entered office since 1975.
Four of the twelve current women governors are the first women governors of their state: Kathy Hochul (D-NY), Janet Mills (D-ME), Kimberly Reynolds (R-IA), and Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-AR). The current Governor of Guam, Lou Leon Guerrero, is also the first woman to serve in that role.
The first Asian American (Nikki Haley, R-SC) and Latina (Susana Martinez, R-NM) women became governors in 2011. They are the first women of color governors in U.S. history. If Republican nominee Winsome Earle-Sears wins Virginia’s gubernatorial election in November 2025, she will become the first Black woman governor in U.S. history. To date, no Black, Middle Eastern/North African (MENA), or Native woman has served as governor.
Eleven states have had more than one woman governor in their history. Arizona marks the highest with five women governors in their history. If Democratic nominee Mikie Sherrill wins New Jersey’s gubernatorial election in November 2025, she will become the second woman governor (and first Democratic woman governor) of New Jersey.
For more information on women governors, see CAWP's resources on women governors and women in statewide elective executive office.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |