Historical Summary of Women in Statewide Elective Executive Office: 1969-Current
Note: These figures do not include: officials in appointive state cabinet-level positions (unless the appointment is to an elected position); officials elected to executive posts by the legislature; members of the judicial branch; or elected members of university boards of trustees or boards of education. Numbers reflect end of year counts.
"NP" indicates an officeholder elected in a nonpartisan race; "I" indicates an independent; “RP” indicates Reform Party; "IP" indicates Independence Party. The Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party is included in the Democratic (D) figures; the Minnesota Independent Republican (IR) Party is included in the Republican (R) figures.
Year |
Total Women |
Total Women (party breakdown) |
Total Positions | Percent Women | |||||
2021 |
94 | 51D, 41R, 2NP | 310 | 30.3 | |||||
Includes Shirley Weber (D-CA) who was appointed Secretary of State on 1/29/21 and Holli Sullivan (R-IN) who was appointed Secretary of State on 3/16/21. Does not include Gina Raimondo who resigned as governor to become Secretary of Commerce on 3/2/21 or Connie Lawson (R-IN who resigned as Secretary of State on 3/15/21. | |||||||||
2020 |
90 | 48D, 40R, 2NP | 311 | 28.9 | |||||
2019 |
91 | 48D, 41R, 2NP | 311 | 29.3 | |||||
2018 |
74 | 28D, 44R, 2NP | 311 | 23.8 | |||||
2017 | 71 | 27D, 43R, 1NP | 311 | 22.8 | |||||
Does not include Nikki Haley (R-SC) who resigned as governor to become UN Ambassador in January 2017. |
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2016 |
78 | 35D, 42R, 1NP | 311 | 25.1 | |||||
2015 |
79 | 36D, 42R, 1NP | 311 | 25.4 | |||||
2014 |
72 | 36D, 35R, 1NP | 318 | 22.6 | |||||
2013 |
70 | 34D, 35R, 1NP | 318 | 22.0 | |||||
2012 |
71 | 37D, 34R | 320 | 22.2 | |||||
2011 |
70 | 37D, 32R, 1NP | 317 | 22.1 | |||||
2010 |
70 | 48D, 21R, 1NP | 314 | 22.3 | |||||
2009 | 71 | 49D, 21R, 1NP | 314 | 22.6 | |||||
Does not include Elizabeth Burmaster (NP-WI) who resigned as superintendent of public instruction on 07/06/09; does not include Sarah Palin (R-AK) who resigned as governor on 7/26/09. |
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2008 | 72 | 42D, 27R, 3NP | 315 | 22.9 | |||||
Does not include Catherine Baker Knoll (D-PA) who passed away; does not include Nancy Rogers (D-OH) who stepped down as interim attorney general; does not include Kathleen Sebelius, who resigned 4/28/09. |
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2007 | 74 | 43D, 28R, 3NP | 315 | 23.5 | |||||
Does not include Denise Bode (R-OK) who resigned in 2007. |
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2006 | 77 | 35D, 38R, 3NP, 1I | 315 | 24.4 | |||||
Does not include Kathy Augustine (R-NV) who died in office 7/12/06 while serving as state controller. |
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2005 | 79 | 35D, 40R, 3NP, 1I | 315 | 25.1 | |||||
Gigi Dennis (R-CO) was appointed secretary of state in 2005 to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Donnetta Davidson. |
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2004 | 80 | 38D, 38R, 3NP, 1I | 315 | 25.4 | |||||
Includes M. Jodi Rell (R-CT), who was originally elected lieutenant governor and became governor on 6/22/04 following the resignation of Governor John Rowland; and Patricia Willoughby (D-NC), who was appointed to fill a vacancy as state superintendent of education on 9/7/04. Does not include Lorelee Byrd (R-NE) who resigned as state treasurer on 1/2/04. |
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2003 | 80 | 36D, 40R, 3NP, 1I | 316 | 25.3 | |||||
Includes Olene Walker (R-UT), who became governor 11/5/03 following the resignation of Governor Mike Leavitt. Also includes Katherine Davis (D-IN) who was appointed lieutenant governor 10/3/03. |
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2002 | 86 | 43D, 38R, 3NP, 1I, 1RP | 323 | 26.6 | |||||
2001 | 87 | 44D, 38R, 3NP, 1I, 1RP | 323 | 26.9 | |||||
Does not include Christine Todd Whitman (R-NJ), who resigned as governor on 1/31/01. |
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2000 | 89 | 46D, 39R, 2NP, 1I, 1RP | 323 | 27.6 | |||||
Includes Karen Freeman-Wilson (D-IN), who was appointed attorney general and took office 2/16/00; Judi Dutcher, Minnesota's state auditor, changed parties from Republican to Democratic Farmer-Labor (DFL) on 5/2/00. |
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1999 |
86 | 43D, 39R, 1RP, 2NP, 1I | 323 | 26.6 | |||||
1998 |
78 | 32D, 43R, 3NP | 323 | 24.1 | |||||
1997 | 79 | 33D, 43R, 3NP | 323 | 24.5 | |||||
Includes Jane Dee Hull (R-AZ), elected as secretary of state who became governor in 9/97 through constitutional succession; as well as Betsey Bayless (R-AZ) who Hull appointed as secretary of state in 9/97, and Denise Bode (R-OK) who was appointed to the Public Service Commission in 10/97. Does not include Gloria Tristani (D-NM), who resigned to take a post with the Federal Communications Commission in 11/97. |
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1996 | 78 | 33D, 42R, 3NP | 324 | 24.1 | |||||
Does not include Frances Jones Mills (D-KY), who died in office 1/15/96 while serving as state treasurer. Does not include Martha Whitehead (D-TX), who abolished her office of state treasurer 10/20/96, thereby fulfilling a campaign promise. |
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1995 |
85 | 38D, 44R, 3NP | 324 | 26.2 | |||||
1994 |
72 | 38D, 31R, 2NP, 1I | 324 | 22.2 | |||||
1993 | 73 | 41D, 29R, 2NP, 1I | 324 | 22.5 | |||||
Does not include Mary Sue Terry (D-VA), who resigned as attorney general 1/28/93 to run for governor, or Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), who resigned as state treasurer 6/14/93 after she won a special election to the U.S. Senate. Does include Martha Whitehead (D-TX), who was appointed state treasurer and took office 7/6/93; and Kim Robak (D-NE), who was appointed lieutenant governor and took office on 10/4/93. |
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1992 | 60 | 34D, 23R, 2NP, 1I | 324 | 18.5 | |||||
Does not include Lena Guerrero (D-TX), who resigned as railroad commissioner 9/25/92. |
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1991 | 59 | 33D, 23R, 2NP, 1I | 324 | 18.2 | |||||
Includes Lena Guerrero (D-TX), who was appointed to the Railroad Commission and took office 1/23/91; and Susan Loving (D-OK), who was appointed attorney general and took office 6/21/91. Does not include Mary Stallcup (D-AR), who was appointed attorney general 1/1/91 and, who left office 1/14/91. |
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1990 | 48 | 34D, 12R, 2NP | 323 | 14.9 | |||||
Includes Norma Paulus (NP-OR), who was appointed superintendent of public instruction 10/1/90. |
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1989 | 46 | 33D, 12R, 1NP | 322 | 14.3 | |||||
Includes Clarine Nardie Riddle (D-CT), who was appointed attorney general and took office 10/27/89. |
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1988 | 43 | 32D, 10R, 1NP | 322 | 13.4 | |||||
Includes Rose Mofford (D-AZ), who became governor 4/5/88 following the impeachment and conviction of Governor Evan Mecham (R). She had been serving as secretary of state when she became governor by constitutional succession. Does not include Clarine Nardie Riddle (D-CT), who was appointed acting attorney general 12/22/88. |
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1987 | 46 | 36D, 10R | 323 | 14.2 | |||||
Includes Mary Landrieu (D-LA), who was elected state treasurer in November 1987. Voters cast two ballots; one to finish an unexpired term for which she took office 11/30/87; the other for her own four year term which began 3/14/88. Does not include Mary Evelyn Parker (D-LA), who retired as state treasurer 1/15/87 or Ruth Meiers (D-ND), who died in office 3/19/87 while serving as lieutenant governor. |
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1986 | 45 | 33D, 12R | 323 | 13.9 | |||||
Includes M.K. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), who was appointed tax commissioner and took office 2/2/86. |
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1985 |
43 | 31D, 12R | 323 | 13.3 | |||||
1984 | 38 | 25D, 13R | 323 | 11.8 | |||||
Includes Margaret Kelly (R-MO), who was appointed state auditor and took office 5/30/84. |
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1983 |
34 | 23D, 11R | 324 | 10.5 | |||||
1982 | 35 | 24D, 11R | 324 | 10.8 | |||||
Includes Maura Melley (D-CT), who was appointed secretary of state and took office 1/29/82. Does not include Barbara Kennelly (D-CT), who left her position as secretary of state 1/12/82 to assume her seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. |
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1981 | 34 | 24D, 10R | 324 | 10.5 | |||||
Includes Kay Orr (R-NE), who was appointed state treasurer and took office 6/15/81. |
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1980 | 36 | 28D, 7R, 1NP | N/A | N/A | |||||
Includes Mary Jane Odell (R-IA), who was appointed secretary of state 11/3/80. Does not include Juanita McDaniel (D-AL), who resigned as public service commissioner 2/80. |
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1979 | 37 | 30D, 6R, 1NP | 327 | 11.3 | |||||
Does not include Paula Hawkins (R-FL), who resigned as public service commissioner 3/21/79. |
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1978 | 31 | 24D, 6R, 1NP | N/A | N/A | |||||
Includes Annie Laurie Gunter (D-AL), who was appointed state treasurer 6/78. Does not include Elwill Shanahan (R-KS), who retired as secretary of state 5/10/78 or Melba Till Allen (D-AL), who left office as state treasurer 6/78. |
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1977 | 33 | 25D, 7R, 1NP | 333 | 9.9 | |||||
Includes Rose Mofford (D-AZ), who was appointed secretary of state and took office 10/20/77. |
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1976 |
33 | 25D, 7R, 1NP | N/A | N/A | |||||
1975 |
33 | 25D, 7R, 1NP | 337 | 9.8 | |||||
1974 |
27 | 18D, 8R, 1NP | N/A | N/A | |||||
1973 |
26 | 18D, 7R, 1NP | 342 | 7.6 | |||||
1972 |
24 | 18D, 6R | N/A | N/A | |||||
1971 |
24 | 18D, 6R | 343 | 7.0 | |||||
1970 |
25 | 16D, 9R | N/A | N/A | |||||
1969 | 23 | 14D, 9R | 346 | 6.6 | |||||
Does not include Sarah Folsom (R-AZ), who died in office 6/11/69 while serving as superintendent of public instruction. |
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