The U.S. Will Break Its Record for Most Female Governors Serving at Once: Meet the 13 Women Sharing the Win

For the first time in history, the United States will soon have 13 female governors serving at the same time — a significant feat in a nation whose executive roles have long been dominated by men.

The proportion of women at the head of the American federal states gradually increased in the last elections. For about 15 years, the record was nine women ruling at the same time. After the 2022 midterm elections, when women carried the major party primary in 20 of the 36 gubernatorial races, the new record became 12 women holding the office simultaneously.

After the 2024 election, one new woman is set to join the ranks when she takes office in January.

Here are 12 female governors and one governor-elect sharing a historic moment.

Kay Ivey (Alabama)

Kay Ivey. OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR OF ALABAMA/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

At 80, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey is currently the oldest serving US governor. She is the second woman to serve as Alabama governor — the first was for just 16 months in the 60s — and the first Republican woman to do so. She has held the position since 2017, when she was dismissed from the post of deputy governor following the resignation of her boss.

Katie Hobbs (Arizona)

Governor-elect Katie Hobbs. Kevin Dietsch/Getty

Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, emerged victorious in her 2022 gubernatorial race against far-right challenger Kari Lake, who baselessly claimed the election was rigged. Hobbs (54) is the first social worker to be the governor of the USA and the fifth governor of Arizona. Before taking office, she served in the Arizona State Senate and as the Arizona Secretary of State.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders (Arkansas)

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, 42, was sworn in as Arkansas’ first female governor, following in the footsteps of her father, former Gov. Mike Huckabee (and President Bill Clinton, who held the title twice before running for higher office). The governorship is Sanders’ first elected position, made possible by connections she made while supporting her father’s campaigns and defending President Donald Trump at press briefings.

Kathy Hochul (New York)

New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, 66, made history in 2021 as New York’s first female governor, though she first took office as Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s deputy when he resigned amid scandal. In 2022, Hochul became the state’s first elected governor, cementing her seat in Albany.

Kim Reynolds (Iowa)

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds. Charlie Neibergall/AP/REX/Shutterstock

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, 65, was promoted from lieutenant governor in 2017, when her predecessor resigned to become ambassador to China under Trump. After spending the rest of her term as the state’s first female governor, Reynolds was elected to the position in 2018 and re-elected in 2022, extending the GOP’s control of Iowa’s highest office.

Laura Kelly (Kansas)

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly. Mark Reinstein/Shutterstock

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly won her 2022 re-election bid in Republican Kansas, earning an additional four years at the helm of the Sunflower State. The former Kansas state senator, now 74, began her career as a recreational therapist.

Janet Mills (Maine)

Maine Governor Janet Mills. Gregory Rec/Portland Press Herald via Getty

Democrat Janet Mills, 76, paved the way for women to hold Maine’s highest office when she became the state’s first female governor in 2019. The former Maine attorney general, who also served in the state House of Representatives, is now in her second term.

Maura Healey (Massachusetts)

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey. Nicolaus Czarnecki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty

Democrat Maura Healey, 53, was the first openly lesbian attorney general in the United States, and now touts a greater achievement in LGBTQ+ visibility as the nation’s first openly lesbian governor, sharing the title of Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, who was also elected in 2022. She is the first female governor Massachusetts.

Gretchen Whitmer (Michigan)

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, 53, burst into the national consciousness in 2020 when, in short order, she feuded with Trump over her COVID-19 work stoppages and became Joe Biden’s shortstop for vice president. She quickly became a divisive figure—Biden’s fans developed an affection for her and Trump’s fans emulated his anger toward her—and in the fall of 2020, it was revealed that the FBI had foiled a plot to kidnap Whitmer and overthrow the Michigan government. She was re-elected for her second term in 2022.

Kelly Ayotte (New Hampshire)

Kelly Ayotte. Allison Shelley/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Republican Kelly Ayotte, 56, will become the nation’s newest female governor in January 2025 after defeating Democratic candidate Joyce Craig in the 2024 New Hampshire gubernatorial election. Ayotte is a former attorney general who became New Hampshire’s first and only female attorney general before that she served one term in the US Senate.

Michelle Lujan Grisham (New Mexico)

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. Getty Images

Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (65) completed her second term. The former U.S. representative and New Mexico health minister was up for re-election in 2022, allowing her to continue serving the land she says her ancestors inhabited for 12 generations.

Tina Kotek (Oregon)

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek. Sara Cline/AP/Shutterstock

Oregon won its second straight governor in 2022 after Democrat Tina Kotek, now 58, won an unusually close race between her and two other women. Kotek — who previously earned the title of first openly lesbian to serve as Speaker of the State House — took representation to a new level by sharing the title of first openly lesbian elected US governor with Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey.

Kristi Noem (South Dakota)

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem. Polaris/SIPA/Shutterstock

Republican Kristi Noem, South Dakota’s first governor, is serving her second and final term after easily winning re-election in 2022. The former U.S. representative, 52, was once rumored to have considered a 2024 presidential run, eventually giving up and deciding would support the winner of her party’s primaries.

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Source: HIS Education