As of January 20, 2026, there are 21 women currently serving (excluding acting capacity) as lieutenant governors in the United States. Overall, 128 women have served (including acting capacity).

Women have been elected lieutenant governor in 40 of the 50 states. The states that have the position of lieutenant governor and have not yet elected a woman are Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia. The states that do not have the position of lieutenant governor are Arizona (until January 2027), 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.

Thirteen female lieutenant governors have become governors of their respective states, and six female secretaries of state have become governors of their respective states.

Nancy Dick is the oldest living former female lieutenant governor, at the age of 96.

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. The first woman elected as lieutenant governor was Consuelo N. Bailey (R) of Vermont, who was elected in 1954.

In 1978, Jean King (D) was elected as the first female Asian American lieutenant governor, when she was elected lieutenant governor of Hawaii. In 2002, Jennette Bradley (R) was elected as the first female African American lieutenant governor, when she was elected lieutenant governor of Ohio. In 2014, Evelyn Sanguinetti (R) was elected as the first female Hispanic or Latino lieutenant governor, when she was elected lieutenant governor of Illinois.

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.

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.

No state ever had both a female governor and permanent female lieutenant governor at the same time until Arkansas and Massachusetts achieved this feat as a result of the 2022 gubernatorial elections. In New York, Andrea Stewart-Cousins became acting Lieutenant Governor on Kathy Hochul's succeeding Governor Andrew M. Cuomo of New York during his third term on August 24, 2021. On December 16, 2024, Chris Cournoyer was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Iowa by Kim Reynolds, succeeding acting Lieutenant Governor Amy Sinclair following the resignation of Adam Gregg. In 2025, Virginia elected Democrat Abigail Spanberger while simultaneously electing Democrat Ghazala Hashmi. As of , four states have both a female governor and lieutenant governor: Arkansas, Iowa, Massachusetts, and Virginia.

From 1997 to 2009, Arizona had two female governors and two concurrently serving female secretaries of state.

List of female lieutenant governors

Italics denotes acting lieutenant governor

Name(lifespan)ImageStatePartyTerm startTerm endLength ofserviceLeft forRetiredRetiredRetiredRetired to run for the Democratic nomination for governor in 1978 (defeated in primary)Retired to run for the Democratic nomination for governor in 1979 (defeated in primary)Retired to run for the Democratic nomination for governor in 1979 (defeated in primary)Retired to run for the Democratic nomination for governor in 1982 (defeated in primary)RetiredRetired to run as the Democratic nominee for governor in 1982 (defeated)RetiredRetired to run as the Democratic nominee for governor in 1983 (elected); Governor of Kentucky (1983–1987)RetiredDemocratic (DFL)Lost reelectionDemocratic–NPLDiedRetiredRetired to run for the Democratic nomination for governor in 1990 (dropped out of primary)Lost reelectionRetiredRetired to run for the Republican nomination for governor in 1998 (dropped out of primary)ResignedRetired to run for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in 1994 (defeated in primary)RetiredA Connecticut PartyRetired to run as the A Connecticut Party nominee for governor in 1994 (defeated)Retired to run for the Democratic nomination for governor in 1995 (defeated in primary) 3–4 monthsRetiredRetiredRetiredBecame Governor of Utah (2003–2005)Term-limited and ran as the Democratic nominee for governor in 2000 (elected); Governor of Delaware (2001–2009)RetiredTerm-limited and ran as the Democratic nominee for governor in 2002 (defeated)Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for governor in 2002 (defeated)RetiredRetired to run for the Democratic nomination for governor in 1998 (defeated in primary)Retired to run for Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Guam (2003–2019)Retired to run for the Republican nomination for governor in 1998 (defeated in primary)Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for governor in 1998 (defeated)Became Governor of Connecticut (2004–2011) Became Governor of Ohio (1998–1999)Resigned to become U.S. senator from Kansas (1996)Retired to become the U.S. representative from Oklahoma 5th (2007–2011)Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for governor in 2002 (defeated)Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for governor in 2003 (elected); Governor of Louisiana (2004–2008)Retired to run as the Republican nominee for governor in 2000 (elected); Governor of Montana (2001–2005)Retired to become a judge of the New York Court of ClaimsRetired to run for the Republican nomination for governor in 2006 (defeated in primary)RetiredIndependenceBecame Acting Governor of Massachusetts (2001–2003)Retired to run for the Republican nomination for governor in 2002 (defeated in primary)Retired to run as the Republican nominee for Associate Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court (elected)RetiredRetiredRetired to run as the Democratic nominee for governor in 2008 (elected); Governor of North Carolina (2009–2013)Lost reelectionRetired to run as the Democratic nominee for governor in 2010 (defeated)Retired to run as the Republican nominee for governor in 2006 (defeated)RetiredRetired to run for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2010 (dropped out of primary)Resigned to become Ohio State TreasurerRetiredRetired to run as the Democratic nominee for governor in 2006 (defeated)DiedRetiredLost reelectionRetiredRetiredRetired to run as the Democratic nominee for governor in 2010 (defeated)RetiredLost reelectionRetiredTerm-limited and ran as the Republican nominee for governor in 2017 (defeated)Lost reelectionDemocratic (DFL)RetiredResignedRetiredRetired to run for the Republican nomination in 2018 (defeated in primary)Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for Illinois Comptroller in 2014 (defeated)Became Governor of Iowa (2017–present)Became Governor of Alabama (2017–present)ResignedResignedRetiredBecame Governor of New York (2021–present) Democratic (DFL)Resigned to become U.S. senator from Minnesota (2018–present)RetiredLost reelectionRetiredRetired to run for the Democratic nomination in 2018 (defeated in primary)Retired to run for the Republican Nomination for Governor in 2024 (defeated in primary)Term-limited and ran for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2024 (defeated in primary) Became Governor of Delaware (January 7–21, 2025)RetiredDiedRetiredRetired to run for the Republican nomination in 2022 (defeated in primary) Democratic (DFL)IncumbentServingIncumbentServingResigned to serve as Senior Advisor to Governors in the White House Office of Intergovernmental AffairsResigned to serve as Interim President of Florida International UniversityIncumbentServingIncumbentServingIncumbentServingIncumbentServing IncumbentServing IncumbentServing IncumbentServing Retired to run for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives (defeated in primary) Incumbent Serving New lieutenant governor appointed Lost reelection Retired to run as the Republican nominee for governor in 2025 (defeated) Incumbent Serving Incumbent Serving Retired to run for the Republican nomination for governor in 2024 (defeated in primary) Incumbent Serving) New lieutenant governor sworn in Incumbent Serving Incumbent Serving Incumbent Serving) RetiredNew lieutenant governor sworn inIncumbent ServingIncumbent ServingIncumbent Serving Incumbent Serving IncumbentServing

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.

NameImageStatePartyMandate startMandate endTerm lengthNotesThyra ThomsonRetiredNorma PaulusRetired to run as the Republican nominee for governor in 1986 (defeated)Rose MoffordSucceeded as governor upon the impeachment and conviction of Governor Evan MechamBarbara RobertsRetired to run as the Democratic nominee for governor in 1990 (elected)Kathy KarpanRetired to run as the Democratic nominee for governor in 1994 (defeated)Sila María Calderón1 yearRetiredDiana OhmanRetiredJane Dee HullSucceeded as governor upon the resignation of Governor Fife SymingtonNorma Burgos4 yearsRetired to become a member of the Puerto Rico SenateBetsey BaylessRetired to run for governor in 2002 (defeated in primary)Jan BrewerSucceeded as governor upon resignation of Governor Janet NapolitanoMarisara Pont Marchese5 monthsRetiredKate BrownSucceeded as governor upon the resignation of Governor John KitzhaberMichele ReaganLost renominationJeanne AtkinsRetiredKaren WheelerActing period endedKatie HobbsRetired to run as the Democratic nominee for governor in 2022 (elected)Leslie CummingsActing period endedBeverly ClarnoRetiredMaría Marcano de LeónActing period endedShemia FaganResignedCheryl MyersActing period endedLaVonne Griffin-ValadeAppointment endedVerónica FerraiuoliResignedNarel ColónActing period endedRosachely RiveraIncumbent Serving

List of female Senate presidents Two states – Maine and New Hampshire – 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.

NameImageStatePartyMandate startMandate endTerm lengthNotesVesta M. RoyServed as Acting Governor of New Hampshire from December 29, 1982, to January 6, 1983. RetiredBeverly HollingworthParty lost Senate majorityBeverly DaggettTerm-limited from the SenateBeth EdmondsTerm-limited from the SenateSylvia LarsenParty lost Senate majorityLibby Mitchell Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for governor in 2010(defeated)Donna SoucyParty lost Senate majorityMattie Daughtry IncumbentServingSharon CarsonIncumbentServing

List of female federal district council chairs In the District of Columbia, the chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia is first in line of succession in the event of a vacancy in the office of mayor of the District of Columbia. NameImageStatePartyMandate startMandate endTerm lengthNotesLinda W. Cropp10 yearsNamed acting Chair of D.C. Council, following the death of David A. Clarke in 1997. Elected D.C. Council Chair in the 1997 special election. Retired to run as the Democratic nominee for Mayor in 2006 (defeated)

See also List of female governors in the United States

Notes

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