List of female lieutenant governors in the United States

As of September 2021, there are 18 women currently serving (excluding acting capacity) as lieutenant governors in the United States. Overall, 107 women have served (including acting capacity). Women have been elected lieutenant governor from 38 of the 50 states. The states that have not elected a woman are Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia. Virginia will be the 39th state to elect a woman to its lieutenant governorship for the first time on November 2, 2021. She will become the 108th overall to serve, beginning in January 2022.

Some states do not have the position of lieutenant governor: Arizona, Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon and Wyoming. The holders of the first in line to the governorship there, either the secretary of state or senate president, are listed here separately.

History[]

The first woman to become lieutenant governor was Matilda Dodge Wilson (R), who was appointed lieutenant governor of Michigan in 1940 by Luren Dickinson.^{[citation needed]}

In 1978, Jean King (D) was elected as the first female Asian-American lieutenant governor, when she was elected lieutenant governor of Hawaii.^{[citation needed]}

In 2002, Jennette Bradley (R) was elected as the first female African-American lieutenant governor, when she was elected lieutenant governor of Ohio.^{[citation needed]}

In 2010, Jennifer Carroll (R) was elected as the first female military veteran lieutenant governor, when she was elected lieutenant governor of Florida.^{[citation needed]}

In 2014, Evelyn Sanguinetti (R) was elected as the first female Hispanic or Latino lieutenant governor, when she was elected lieutenant governor of Illinois.^{[citation needed]}

Kentucky was the first state to hold a transfer of power from one female lieutenant governor to another, when Martha Layne Collins was elected to succeed Thelma Stovall in 1979.^{[citation needed]}

Minnesota has had the most female lieutenant governors or other deputy leaders of any state in the Union, with nine consecutive female lieutenant governors since 1983. However, no female politician has been nominated for governor by any major statewide party in any of Minnesota's gubernatorial elections.^[1]

No state has or ever had both a female governor and permanent female lieutenant governor at the same time. In New York, Andrea Stewart-Cousins became acting Lieutenant Governor on Kathy Hochul's succeeding Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York during his third term on August 24, 2021.

From 1997 to 2009, Arizona had two female governors and two concurrently serving female secretaries of state.^{[citation needed]}

To date, in states without a lieutenant governor, no woman has ever changed parties during her term as a secretary of state or a state senate president, or been elected as a third party member or an independent.^{[citation needed]}

List of female lieutenant governors[]

• Italics denotes acting lieutenant governor

Name (lifespan)	Portrait	State	Party	Term start	Term end	Length of service	Left for
Matilda Dodge Wilson (1883–1967)		Michigan	Republican	January 1, 1940	January 1, 1941	1 year, 0 days	Retired
Consuelo N. Bailey (1899–1976)		Vermont	Republican	January 8, 1955	January 10, 1957	2 years, 2 days	Retired
Maude Frazier (1881–1963)		Nevada	Democratic	July 4, 1962	January 1, 1963	181 days	Retired
Mary Anne Krupsak (born 1932)		New York	Democratic	January 1, 1975	December 31, 1978	3 years, 364 days	Retired to run for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 1978 (Defeated in primary)
Thelma Stovall (1919–1994)		Kentucky	Democratic	December 9, 1975	December 11, 1979	4 years, 2 days	Retired to run for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 1979 (Defeated in primary)
Evelyn Gandy (1920–2007)		Mississippi	Democratic	January 20, 1976	January 22, 1980	4 years, 2 days	Retired to run for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 1979 (Defeated in primary)
Jean King (1925–2013)		Hawaii	Democratic	December 2, 1978	December 2, 1982	4 years, 0 days	Retired to run for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 1982 (Defeated in primary)
Nancy E. Dick (born 1930)		Colorado	Democratic	January 10, 1979	January 13, 1987	8 years, 0 days	Retired
Madeleine Kunin (born 1933)		Vermont	Democratic	January 10, 1979	January 10, 1983	4 years, 0 days	Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for Governor in 1982 (Defeated)[a]
Nancy Stevenson (1929–2001)		South Carolina	Democratic	January 10, 1979	January 12, 1983	4 years, 2 days	Retired
Martha Layne Collins (born 1936)		Kentucky	Democratic	December 11, 1979	December 13, 1983	4 years, 2 days	Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for Governor in 1983 (Elected). Governor of Kentucky (1983–1987)
Martha Griffiths (1912–2003)		Michigan	Democratic	January 1, 1983	January 1, 1991	8 years, 0 days	Retired.[b]
Marlene Johnson (born 1946)		Minnesota	Democratic–Farmer–Labor	January 3, 1983	January 7, 1991	8 years, 4 days	Lost reelection
Ruth Meiers (1925–1987)		North Dakota	Democratic–NPL	January 1, 1985	March 19, 1987	2 years, 77 days	Died
Harriett Woods (1927–2007)		Missouri	Democratic	January 14, 1985	January 9, 1989	3 years, 361 days	Retired
Evelyn Murphy (born 1940)		Massachusetts	Democratic	January 1, 1987	January 1, 1991	4 years, 0 days	Retired to run for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 1990 (Dropped out of primary)
Jo Ann Zimmerman (1936–2019)		Iowa	Democratic	January 1, 1987	January 1, 1991	4 years, 0 days	Lost reelection
Connie Binsfeld (1924–2014)		Michigan	Republican	January 1, 1991	January 1, 1999	8 years, 0 days	Retired
Joy Corning (1932–2017)		Iowa	Republican	January 1, 1991	January 15, 1999	8 years, 14 days	Retired to run for the Republican nomination for Governor in 1998 (Dropped out of primary)
Maxine Moul (born 1947)		Nebraska	Democratic	January 1, 1991	October 5, 1993	2 years, 277 days	Resigned
Joanell Dyrstad (born 1942)		Minnesota	Republican	January 7, 1991	January 3, 1995	3 years, 361 days	Retired to run for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in 1994 (Defeated in primary)
Sue Wagner (born 1940)		Nevada	Republican	January 7, 1991	January 2, 1995	3 years, 360 days	Retired
Eunice Groark (1938–2018)		Connecticut	A Connecticut Party	January 9, 1991	January 4, 1995	3 years, 360 days	Retired to run as the A Connecticut Party nominee for Governor in 1994 (Defeated)
Melinda Schwegmann (born 1946)		Louisiana	Democratic	January 13, 1992	January 8, 1996	3 years, 360 days	Retired to run for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 1995 (Defeated in primary)
Rosemarie Myrdal (born 1929)		North Dakota	Republican	December 15, 1992	December 15, 2000	8 years, 0 days	Retired
Barbara Snelling (1928–2015)		Vermont	Republican	January 1, 1993	January 1, 1997	4 years, 0 days	Retired
Olene Walker (1930–2015)		Utah	Republican	January 4, 1993	November 5, 2003	10 years, 305 days	Became Governor of Utah (2003–2005)
Ruth Ann Minner (born 1935)		Delaware	Democratic	January 19, 1993	January 3, 2001	7 years, 350 days	Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for Governor in 2000 (Elected). Became Governor of Delaware (2001–2009)
Kim M. Robak (born 1955)		Nebraska	Democratic	October 5, 1993	January 7, 1999	5 years, 98 days	Retired
Mazie Hirono (born 1947)		Hawaii	Democratic	December 2, 1994	December 2, 2002	8 years, 0 days	Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for Governor in 2002 (Defeated)[c]
Fran Ulmer (born 1947)		Alaska	Democratic	December 5, 1994	December 2, 2002	7 years, 362 days	Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for Governor in 2002 (Defeated)
Gail Schoettler (born 1943)		Colorado	Democratic	January 3, 1995	January 12, 1999	4 years, 11 days	Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for Governor in 1998 (Defeated)
Carole Hillard (1936–2007)		South Dakota	Republican	January 1, 1995	January 1, 2003	8 years, 0 days	Retired
Betsy McCaughey (born 1948)		New York	Republican	January 1, 1995	December 31, 1998	3 years, 364 days	Retired to run for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 1998 (Defeated in primary)[d]
			Democratic
Madeleine Bordallo (born 1933)		Guam	Democratic	January 2, 1995	January 6, 2003	8 years, 4 days	Retired to run for Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Guam (2003–2019).
Joanne Benson (born 1943)		Minnesota	Republican	January 3, 1995	January 4, 1999	4 years, 1 day	Retired to run for the Republican nomination for Governor in 1998 (Defeated in primary)
Jodi Rell (born 1946)		Connecticut	Republican	January 4, 1995	July 1, 2004	9 years, 179 days	Became Governor of Connecticut (2004–2011)
Nancy Hollister (born 1949)		Ohio	Republican	January 9, 1995	December 31, 1998	3 years, 356 days	Became Governor of Ohio (1998–1999)
Sheila Frahm (born 1945)		Kansas	Republican	January 9, 1995	June 11, 1996	1 year, 154 days	Resigned to become U.S. Senator from Kansas (1996)
Mary Fallin (born 1954)		Oklahoma	Republican	January 9, 1995	January 2, 2007	11 years, 358 days	Retired to become the U.S. Representative from Oklahoma 5th (2007-2011).[e]
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend (born 1951)		Maryland	Democratic	January 18, 1995	January 15, 2003	7 years, 362 days	Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for Governor in 2002 (Defeated)
Kathleen Blanco (1942–2019)		Louisiana	Democratic	January 8, 1996	January 12, 2004	8 years, 4 days	Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for Governor in 2003 (Elected). Governor of Louisiana (2004–2008)
Judy Martz (1943–2017)		Montana	Republican	January 6, 1997	January 1, 2001	3 years, 361 days	Retired to run as the Republican nominee for Governor in 2000 (Elected). Governor of Montana (2001–2005)
Mary Donohue (born 1947)		New York	Republican	January 1, 1999	December 31, 2006	7 years, 364 days	Retired to become a Judge of the New York Court of Claims
Lorraine Hunt (born 1939)		Nevada	Republican	January 4, 1999	January 20, 2007	8 years, 16 days	Retired to run for the Republican nomination for Governor in 2006 (Defeated in primary)
Mae Schunk (born 1934)		Minnesota	Reform	January 4, 1999	January 6, 2003	4 years, 2 days	Retired[f]
			Independence Party of Minnesota
Jane Swift (born 1965)		Massachusetts	Republican	January 7, 1999	January 2, 2003	3 years, 360 days	Became Acting Governor of Massachusetts (2001–2003)
Corinne Wood (born 1954)		Illinois	Republican	January 11, 1999	January 13, 2003	4 years, 2 days	Retired to run for the Republican nomination for Governor in 2002 (Defeated in primary)
Maureen O'Connor (born 1951)		Ohio	Republican	January 11, 1999	December 31, 2002	3 years, 354 days	Retired to run as the Republican nominee for Associate Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court (Elected)
Sally Pederson (born 1951)		Iowa	Democratic	January 15, 1999	January 12, 2007	7 years, 362 days	Retired
Amy Tuck (born 1963)		Mississippi	Democratic	January 11, 2000	January 10, 2008	7 years, 364 days	Retired[g]
			Republican
Bev Perdue (born 1947)		North Carolina	Democratic	January 6, 2001	January 10, 2009	8 years, 4 days	Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for Governor in 2008 (Elected). Governor of North Carolina (2009–2013)
Margaret Farrow (born 1934)		Wisconsin	Republican	May 9, 2001	January 6, 2003	1 year, 242 days	Lost reelection
Diane Denish (born 1949)		New Mexico	Democratic	January 1, 2003	January 1, 2011	8 years, 0 days	Retired to run as the Democrat nominee for Governor in 2010 (Defeated)
Kerry Healey (born 1960)		Massachusetts	Republican	January 2, 2003	January 4, 2007	4 years, 2 days	Retired to run as the Republican nominee for Governor in 2006 (Defeated)
Carol Molnau (born 1949)		Minnesota	Republican	January 6, 2003	January 3, 2011	7 years, 362 days	Retired
Barbara Lawton (born 1951)		Wisconsin	Democratic	January 6, 2003	January 3, 2011	7 years, 362 days	Retired to run for the Democrat nomination for Governor in 2010 (Dropped out of primary)
Jennette Bradley (born 1952)		Ohio	Republican	January 13, 2003	January 5, 2005	1 year, 358 days	Resigned to become Ohio State Treasurer
Jane E. Norton (born 1954)		Colorado	Republican	January 13, 2003	January 9, 2007	3 years, 361 days	Retired
Lucy Baxley (1937–2016)		Alabama	Democratic	January 20, 2003	January 15, 2007	3 years, 360 days	Retired to run as the Democrat nominee for Governor in 2006 (Defeated)
Catherine Baker Knoll (1930–2008)		Pennsylvania	Democratic	January 21, 2003	November 12, 2008	5 years, 296 days	Died
Toni Jennings (born 1949)		Florida	Republican	March 3, 2003	January 2, 2007	3 years, 305 days	Retired
Kathy Davis (born 1956)		Indiana	Democratic	October 20, 2003	January 10, 2005	1 year, 82 days	Lost reelection
Becky Skillman (born 1950)		Indiana	Republican	January 10, 2005	January 14, 2013	8 years, 4 days	Retired
Elizabeth H. Roberts (born 1957)		Rhode Island	Democratic	January 2, 2007	January 6, 2015	8 years, 4 days	Retired
Jari Askins (born 1953)		Oklahoma	Democratic	January 2, 2007	January 10, 2011	4 years, 8 days	Retired to run as the Democrat nominee for Governor in 2010 (Defeated)
Barbara O'Brien (born 1950)		Colorado	Democratic	January 9, 2007	January 11, 2011	4 years, 2 days	Retired
Patty Judge (born 1943)		Iowa	Democratic	January 12, 2007	January 14, 2011	4 years, 2 days	Lost reelection
Mona Pasquil (born 1962)		California	Democratic	November 4, 2009	April 27, 2010	174 days	Retired
Kim Guadagno (born 1959)		New Jersey	Republican	January 19, 2010	January 16, 2018	7 years, 362 days	Retired to run as the Republican nominee for Governor in 2017 (Defeated)
Rebecca Kleefisch (born 1975)		Wisconsin	Republican	January 3, 2011	January 7, 2019	8 years, 4 days	Lost reelection
Yvonne Prettner Solon (born 1946)		Minnesota	Democratic–Farmer–Labor	January 3, 2011	January 5, 2015	4 years, 2 days	Retired
Jennifer Carroll (born 1959)		Florida	Republican	January 4, 2011	March 12, 2013	2 years, 67 days	Resigned
Nancy Wyman (born 1946)		Connecticut	Democratic	January 5, 2011	January 9, 2019	8 years, 4 days	Retired
Mary Taylor (born 1966)		Ohio	Republican	January 10, 2011	January 14, 2019	8 years, 4 days	Retired to run for Republican nomination for 2018 Ohio gubernatorial election (Defeated in primary)
Sheila Simon (born 1961)		Illinois	Democratic	January 10, 2011	January 12, 2015	4 years, 2 days	Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for Illinois Comptroller in 2014. (Defeated)
Kim Reynolds (born 1959)		Iowa	Republican	January 14, 2011	May 24, 2017	6 years, 130 days	Became Governor of Iowa (2017–present)
Kay Ivey (born 1944)		Alabama	Republican	January 17, 2011	April 10, 2017	6 years, 83 days	Became Governor of Alabama (2017–present)
Sue Ellspermann (born 1960)		Indiana	Republican	January 14, 2013	March 2, 2016	3 years, 48 days	Resigned
Angela McLean (born 1970)		Montana	Democratic	February 17, 2014	January 3, 2016	1 year, 320 days	Resigned
Crit Luallen (born 1952)		Kentucky	Democratic	November 13, 2014	December 8, 2015	1 year, 25 days	Retired
Kathy Hochul (born 1958)		New York	Democratic	January 1, 2015	August 23, 2021	6 years, 234 days	Became Governor of New York (2021–present)[h]
Tina Smith (born 1958)		Minnesota	Democratic–Farmer–Labor	January 5, 2015	January 2, 2018	2 years, 362 days	Resigned to become U.S. Senator from Minnesota (2018–present)
Karyn Polito (born 1966)		Massachusetts	Republican	January 8, 2015	Incumbent	6 years, 250 days	Serving
Evelyn Sanguinetti (born 1970)		Illinois	Republican	January 12, 2015	January 14, 2019	4 years, 2 days	Lost reelection
Jenean Hampton (born 1958)		Kentucky	Republican	December 8, 2015	December 10, 2019	4 years, 2 days	Retired
Donna Lynne (born 1953)		Colorado	Democratic	May 12, 2016	January 8, 2019	2 years, 241 days	Retired to run for Democratic nomination for 2018 Colorado gubernatorial election (Defeated in primary)
Suzanne Crouch (born 1952)		Indiana	Republican	January 9, 2017	Incumbent	4 years, 249 days	Serving
Bethany Hall-Long (born 1963)		Delaware	Democratic	January 17, 2017	Incumbent	4 years, 241 days	Serving
Michelle Fischbach (born 1965)		Minnesota	Republican	January 3, 2018	January 7, 2019	1 year, 4 days	Retired[i]
Sheila Oliver (born 1952)		New Jersey	Democratic	January 16, 2018	Incumbent	3 years, 242 days	Serving
Valerie Davidson (born 1967)		Alaska	Independent	October 16, 2018	December 3, 2018	48 days	Retired
Janice McGeachin (born 1963)		Idaho	Republican	January 6, 2019	Incumbent	2 years, 252 days	Serving
Peggy Flanagan (born 1979)		Minnesota	Democratic–Farmer–Labor	January 7, 2019	Incumbent	2 years, 251 days	Serving
Eleni Kounalakis (born 1966)		California	Democratic	January 7, 2019	Incumbent	2 years, 251 days	Serving
Kate Marshall (born 1959)		Nevada	Democratic	January 7, 2019	Incumbent	2 years, 251 days	Serving
Jeanette Núñez (born 1972)		Florida	Republican	January 8, 2019	Incumbent	2 years, 250 days	Serving
Dianne Primavera (born 1950)		Colorado	Democratic	January 8, 2019	Incumbent	2 years, 250 days	Serving
Susan Bysiewicz (born 1961)		Connecticut	Democratic	January 9, 2019	Incumbent	2 years, 249 days	Serving
Pamela Evette (born 1967)		South Carolina	Republican	January 9, 2019	Incumbent	2 years, 249 days	Serving
Juliana Stratton (born 1965)		Illinois	Democratic	January 14, 2019	Incumbent	2 years, 244 days	Serving
Jacqueline Coleman (born 1982)		Kentucky	Democratic	December 10, 2019	Incumbent	1 year, 279 days	Serving
Deidre Henderson (born 1974)		Utah	Republican	January 4, 2021	Incumbent	254 days	Serving
Kristen Juras (born 1955)		Montana	Republican	January 4, 2021	Incumbent	254 days	Serving
Molly Gray (born 1984)		Vermont	Democratic	January 7, 2021	Incumbent	251 days	Serving
Sabina Matos (born 1974)		Rhode Island	Democratic	April 14, 2021	Incumbent	154 days	Serving
Andrea Stewart-Cousins (born 1950)		New York	Democratic	August 24, 2021	September 9, 2021	16 days	Acting spell ended

List of female secretaries of state[]

Certain states do not have a lieutenant governor; instead they have a Secretary of State next in line for succession of governor.

• Italics denotes acting Secretary of State

Name	Image	State	Party	Mandate start	Mandate end	Term length	Notes
Thyra Thomson (1916–2013)		Wyoming	Republican	January 7, 1963	January 5, 1987	23 years, 363 days	Retired
Norma Paulus (1933–2019)		Oregon	Republican	January 3, 1977	January 7, 1985	8 years, 4 days	Retired to run as the Republican nominee for Governor in 1986 (Defeated)
Rose Mofford (1922–2016)		Arizona	Democratic	October 20, 1977	April 4, 1988	10 years, 167 days	Succeeded as governor upon impeachment and conviction of Governor Evan Mecham
Barbara Roberts (born 1936)		Oregon	Democratic	January 7, 1985	January 14, 1991	6 years, 7 days	Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for Governor in 1990 (Elected)
Kathy Karpan (born 1942)		Wyoming	Democratic	January 5, 1987	January 3, 1995	7 years, 363 days	Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for Governor in 1994 (Defeated)
Diana J. Ohman (born 1950)		Wyoming	Republican	January 3, 1995	January 3, 1999	4 years, 0 days	Retired
Jane Dee Hull (1935–2020)		Arizona	Republican	January 2, 1995	September 5, 1997	2 years, 246 days	Succeeded as governor upon resignation of Governor Fife Symington
Betsey Bayless (born 1944)		Arizona	Republican	September 5, 1997	January 6, 2003	5 years, 123 days	Retired to run for Governor in 2002 (Defeated in primary)
Jan Brewer (born 1944)		Arizona	Republican	January 6, 2003	January 21, 2009	5 years, 350 days	Succeeded as governor upon resignation of Governor Janet Napolitano
Kate Brown (born 1960)		Oregon	Democratic	January 5, 2009	February 18, 2015	6 years, 44 days	Succeeded as governor upon resignation of Governor John Kitzhaber
Michele Reagan (born 1969)		Arizona	Republican	January 5, 2015	January 7, 2019	4 years, 2 days	Lost renomination
Jeanne Atkins (born 1949/1950)		Oregon	Democratic	March 11, 2015	January 2, 2017	1 year, 297 days	Retired
Karen Wheeler (born 19??)		Wyoming	Republican	February 9, 2018	March 1, 2018	20 days	Acting spell ended
Katie Hobbs (born 1969)		Arizona	Democratic	January 7, 2019	Incumbent	2 years, 251 days	Serving
Beverly Clarno (born 1936)		Oregon	Republican	March 31, 2019	January 4, 2021	2 years, 168 days	Retired
Shemia Fagan (born 1981)		Oregon	Democratic	January 4, 2021	Incumbent	254 days	Serving

List of female Senate presidents[]

Three states — Maine, New Hampshire, and Tennessee — do not have a Lieutenant Governor, and do not have the Secretary of State as first in the line of succession to the Governor. In these two states, the President of the State Senate is first in line to succeed the Governor.

• Italics denotes acting Senate President

Name	Image	State	Party	Mandate start	Mandate end	Term length	Notes
Vesta M. Roy (1925–2002)		New Hampshire	Republican	December 1, 1982	December 3, 1986	4 years, 2 days	Served as Acting Governor of New Hampshire from December 29, 1982 to January 6, 1983. Retired.
Beverly Hollingworth (born 1935)		New Hampshire	Democratic	August 26, 1999	December 6, 2000	1 year, 102 days	Party lost Senate majority
Beverly Daggett (1945–2015)		Maine	Democratic	December 4, 2002	December 1, 2004	1 year, 363 days	Term-limited from the Senate
Beth Edmonds (born 1950)		Maine	Democratic	December 1, 2004	December 3, 2008	4 years, 2 days	Term-limited from the Senate
Sylvia Larsen (born 1949)		New Hampshire	Democratic	December 5, 2006	December 1, 2010	3 years, 361 days	Party lost Senate majority
Libby Mitchell (born 1940)		Maine	Democratic	December 3, 2008	December 1, 2010	1 year, 363 days	Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for Governor in 2010 (Defeated)
Donna Soucy (born 1967)		New Hampshire	Democratic	December 5, 2018	December 2, 2020	1 year, 363 days	Party lost Senate majority

See also[]

• List of female governors in the United States

Notes[]

References[]