Women in Statewide Elective Executive Office 2025

Kelly Ayotte, a New Hampshire Republican, was elected to an open seat in 2024. She served as a U.S. Senator from 2011-2017 and Attorney General of new Hampshire from 2004-2009.

Maura Healey, a Massachusetts Democrat, was elected to an open seat in 2022. She served as Attorney General from 2015 until she became governor.

Katie Hobbs, an Arizona Democrat, was elected to an open seat in 2022. She served as Secretary of state from 2019 until she became governor. She served in the Arizona Senate and House of Representatives.

Kathy Hochul, a New York Democrat, was lieutenant governor and became governor when the elected governor resigned. She served as U.S. Representative from 2011-2013 and was elected lieutenant governor in 2014.

Kay Ivey, an Alabama Republican, was lieutenant governor and became governor when the elected governor resigned. She was elected state treasurer in 2002 and re-elected in 2006; she won office as lieutenant governor in 2010 and was re-elected in 2014.

Laura Kelly, a Kansas Democrat, was elected to an open seat in 2018. She served as a Kansas State Senator from 2005 until she became governor. 

Tina Kotek, an Oregon Democrat, was elected to an open seat in 2022. She served in the Oregon House of Representatives, becoming the speaker of the house.

Michelle Lujan Grisham, a New Mexico Democrat, was elected to an open seat in 2018. She served as U.S. Representative from 2013 until she became governor. From 2004-2007 she was the New Mexico Secretary of Health. 

Janet Mills, Maine Democrat, was elected to an open seat to become the state’s first woman governor in 2018. She served as Attorney General of Maine from 2009 to 2011 and then 2013 until she became governor.

Kristi Noem, a South Dakota Republican, was elected to an open seat to become the state’s first woman governor in 2018. She served as U.S. Representative from 2011 until she became governor. From 2007-2011 she served in the South Dakota House of Representatives.

Kim Reynolds, an Iowa Republican, was appointed governor in 2017 when the incumbent left office to serve as U.S. Ambassador to China. In 2018, she became the first woman elected as governor in Iowa. She served as lieutenant governor from 2011 until becoming governor. Prior to her election as lieutenant governor, she served in the Iowa State Senate and as Clarke County treasurer.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, an Arkansas Republican, won an open seat in 2022. Previously, she served in the Trump administration.

Gretchen Whitmer, a Michigan Democrat, won an open seat in 2018. She served in the Michigan House of Representatives and Michigan State Senate, becoming senate minority leader.