The Executive Branch: The Mayors of the 50 largest US cities
Mr. Mayor?
39 men and 11 women are the Mayors of America’s 50 largest cities.
As of 2022, women account for 11 out of the Mayors of America’s 50 largest cities (by population), or 22%. Lori Lightfoot’s term as Mayor of Chicago will run until 2023, and Kate Gallego’s term as Mayor of Phoenix will run until 2025.
Barack Obama answering questions during a U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in the East Room of the White House, January 21, 2010. (Official WH photo by Pete Souza)
Lori Lightfoot addressing crowd on night of historic victory as Chicago’s first black female and first openly gay mayor on April 3rd, 2019 [Photograph: Kamil Krzaczyński/AFP/Getty Images]
Michelle Wu, first female mayor of Boston, and first person of color in the role, ‘ending the city’s 200-year history of electing white men.’ November 2021. (NBC News. Photo: AP)
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.
What will it take for women to get into the Power Percentage of the Mayors of the 50 largest US cities?