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.
"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  
 

2019

   91   48D, 41R, 2NP   311   29.3
  2018
 		   74   28D, 44R, 2NP   311   23.8
  Includes Barbara Underwood (D-NY) who is currently serving as acting Attorney General.      
  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.
 
  2016
 		   75   33D, 41R, 1NP   311   24.1
  2015
 		   77   35D, 41R, 1NP   311   24.8
   2014
 		      73      36D, 37R    318    23.0
  2013
 		   73   37D, 36R   318   23.0
  2012
 		   75   38D, 36R, 1NP   320   23.4
  2011
 		   71   39D, 31R, 1NP   317   22.4
  2010
 		   71   50D, 20R, 1NP   314   22.6
  2009   71   50D, 20R, 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.
 
  2008   73   43D, 27R, 3NP   315   23.2
  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.
 
  2007   76   45D, 28R, 3NP   315   24.1
  Does not include Denise Bode (R-OK) who resigned in 2007.
 
  2006   78   35D, 39R, 3NP, 1I   315   24.8
  Does not include Kathy Augustine (R-NV) who died in office 7/12/06 while serving as state controller.
 
  2005   81   35D, 43R, 3NP   315   25.7
  Gigi Dennis (R-CO) was appointed secretary of state in 2005 to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Donnetta Davidson.
 
  2004   81   38D, 40R, 3NP   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.
 
  2003   81   35D, 43R, 3NP   316   25.6
  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.
 
  2001   89   45D, 41R, 1IP, 2NP   323   27.6
  Does not include Christine Todd Whitman (R-NJ), who resigned as governor on 1/31/01.
 
  2000   92   47D, 42R, 1IP, 2NP   323   28.5
  Includes Karen Freeman-Wilson (D-IN), who was appointed attorney general and took office 2/16/00; Mae Schunk, Minnesota's lieutenant governor changed from Reform Party to the Independence Party on 2/5/00; Judi Dutcher, Minnesota's state auditor, changed parties from Republican to Democratic Farmer-Labor (DFL) on 5/2/00.
 
  1999
 		   89   45D, 41R, 1RP, 2NP   323   27.6
  1998
 		   82   34D, 45R, 3NP   323   25.4
  1997   82   34D, 45R, 3NP   323   25.4
  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.
 
  1996   80   33D, 44R, 3NP   324   25.6
  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.
 
  1995
 		   84   36D, 45R, 3NP   324   25.9
  1994
 		   73   40D, 30R, 2NP, 1I   324   22.5
  1993   72   42D, 27R, 2NP, 1I   324   22.2
  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.
 
  1992   60   35D, 22R, 2NP, 1I   324   18.5
  Does not include Lena Guerrero (D-TX), who resigned as railroad commissioner 9/25/92.
 
  1991   59   34D, 22R, 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.
 
  1990   47   34D, 11R, 2NP   323   14.6
  Includes Norma Paulus (NP-OR), who was appointed superintendent of public instruction 10/1/90.
 
  1989   46   34D, 11R, 1NP   322   14.3
  Includes Clarine Nardie Riddle (D-CT), who was appointed attorney general and took office 10/27/89.
 
  1988   41   32D, 9R   322   12.7
  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.
 
  1987   45   36D, 9R   323   13.9
  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.
 
  1986   45   34D, 11R   323   13.9
  Includes M.K. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), who was appointed tax commissioner and took office 2/2/86.
 
  1985
 		   43   32D, 11R   323   13.3
  1984   38    26D, 12R   323   11.8
  Includes Margaret Kelly (R-MO), who was appointed state auditor and took office 5/30/84.
 
  1983
 		   34   24D, 10R   324   10.5
  1982   34    25D, 9R   324   10.5
  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.
 
  1981   34    25D, 9R   324   10.5
  Includes Kay Orr (R-NE), who was appointed state treasurer and took office 6/15/81.
 
  1980   34    26D, 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.
 
  1979   35    28D, 6R, 1NP   327   10.7
  Does not include Paula Hawkins (R-FL), who resigned as public service commissioner 3/21/79.
 
  1978   32    25D, 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.
 
  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.
 
  1976
 		   32   24D, 7R, 1NP   N/A   N/A
  1975
 		   33   25D, 7R, 1NP   337   9.8
  1974
 		   26   18D, 7R, 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
 		   24   15D, 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.