The Executive Branch: The 50 Governors
State of Affairs: Female Governors Across the Nation
Only 45 women have ever served as a Governor in the history of America in any of the 50 states. 30 of these women were elected; 3 replaced their husbands; 11 took interim office as a matter of constitutional succession.
In 2022, there are currently nine women governors serving among all 50 states, or 18% of the total. This matches the record set in 2004, 2007, 2019 and 2021, according to the Center for American Women and Politics
9 out of 50 = 18%
Six of the current Governors are Democrats, while three are Republican. They are the Chief Executives of States across the Union: from Western and Midwestern states (Oregon, New Mexico, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and Michigan), to Southern states (Alabama), to East Coast states (New York and Maine) These demographics suggest that voters across the country, and across political parties, respond positively to the messages of female gubernatorial candidates. Arizona is the first state to have had four female governors, and the first to have a woman succeed another woman as governor.
In addition to the 50 states, one woman served as Governor of Puerto Rico from 2001-2005, and Guam elected a woman Governor in 2018.