List of female governors in the United States

As of 2018, more than forty women were Governors of U.S. States or Puerto Rico. They had been state or U.S. territory Governors.

Past United States Governors include Nellie Tayloe Ross, Ella T. Grasso, Judy Martz, Kay A. Orr, Barbara Roberts and Ann Richards.

States that have never had a female Governor are: California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

As of 2019, the states of Alabama, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, the territories of Guam and Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia all have female Governors or executives.

List Of Female Governors In The United States Media

• United States Governor gender map.svg

  Map of all states based on whether their governors are male or female as of January 2025*     Male     Female

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  The number of female governors every state has had as of January 2025. Gray denotes 0.*     1*     2*     3*     4*     5

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  NellieTayloeRoss

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  Miriam Amanda Wallace Ferguson (1875 - 1961), American politician. This image was taken of Miriam Amanda Wallace Ferguson when she was First Lady of Texas, prior to her being elected Governor in her own right.

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  Lurleen Wallace, Governor of Alabama (1967–68)

• Ella T. Grasso (1919-1981) — the first woman elected Governor of Connecticut (1975–1980).* * The first female to be elected governor of a U.S. state "in her own right" (not married to and surviving a former governor). * A Congressional representative from the state, and

• Photo of Dixy Lee Ray, Governor of Washington from 1977–1981.

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  Vesta Roy Portrait NH Statehouse 02

• Lt. Governor Martha Layne Collins (cropped)

• Big Strides, Diverse Paths: Women's Journeys to Political Leadership. Madeleine Kunin, former Governor of Vermont and author.