List of female speakers of legislatures in the United States

Last updated

This is a list of women who have served as speakers and leaders of federal, state, and territorial legislatures in the United States.

Contents

Congress

  Denotes incumbent speaker
NameImageCountryLegislative BodyPartyMandate startMandate endTerm length
Nancy Pelosi Official photo of Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2019.jpg Flag of the United States.svg United States House of Representatives Democratic January 4, 2007 [1] [2] January 3, 2011 [2] 3 years, 364 days
January 3, 2019 [3] January 3, 2023 [4] 4 years, 0 days

State

  Denotes incumbent speaker
NameImageStateLegislative BodyPartyMandate startMandate endTerm length
Minnie D. Craig Flag of North Dakota.svg North Dakota House of Representatives Republican/NPL January 3, 1933January 8, 19352 years, 5 days
Consuelo N. Bailey Consuelo N. Bailey.jpg Flag of Vermont.svg Vermont House of Representatives Republican January 8, 1953January 6, 19551 year, 363 days
Marion West Higgins Flag of New Jersey.svg New Jersey General Assembly Republican January 12, 1965January 11, 1966364 days
Edness Kimball Wilkins "Coin Collector." Washington, D.C., April 11. Mrs. Edness Wilkens, Secretary to Nellie Tayloe Ross, Director of the Mint, for the last four years has been collecting coins as a hobby, thru LCCN2016873388.jpg Flag of Wyoming.svg Wyoming House of Representatives Democratic May 30, 1966January 9, 1967224 days
Verda James Flag of Wyoming.svg Wyoming House of Representatives Republican January 14, 1969January 12, 19711 year, 363 days
Vera Katz Vera Katz.jpg Flag of Oregon.svg Oregon House of Representatives Democratic January 14, 1985November 10, 19905 years, 300 days
Debra R. Anderson Flag of South Dakota (1963-1992).svg South Dakota House of Representatives Republican January 13, 1987January 12, 1988364 days
Jane Dee Hull Jane Dee Hull by Gage Skidmore.jpg Flag of Arizona.svg Arizona House of Representatives Republican January 2, 1989July, 19923 years, 181 days
Dee Long Representative Dee Long, 1991-1992 Legislative Session, Minnesota Legislature,(1991).jpg Flag of Minnesota (1983-2024).svg Minnesota House of Representatives Democratic–Farmer–Labor January 6, 1992September 15, 19931 year, 252 days
Ramona Barnes Ramona Barnes.jpg Flag of Alaska.svg Alaska House of Representatives Republican January 11, 1993January 16, 19952 years, 5 days
Gail Phillips Gail Phillips (cropped).jpg Flag of Alaska.svg Alaska House of Representatives Republican January 16, 1995January 19, 19994 years, 3 days
Jo Ann Davidson Flag of Ohio.svg Ohio House of Representatives Republican January 3, 1995December 31, 20005 years, 363 days
Bev Clarno Bev Clarno (cropped).jpg Flag of Oregon.svg Oregon House of Representatives Republican January 9, 1995January 13, 19972 years, 4 days
Doris Allen [a] Flag of California.svg California State Assembly Republican June 5, 1995September 14, 199570 days
Libby Mitchell Flag of Maine.svg Maine House of Representatives Democratic December 4, 1996December 2, 19981 year, 363 days
Donna Sytek Flag of New Hampshire.svg New Hampshire House of Representatives Republican December 4, 1996December 6, 20004 years, 2 days
Moira K. Lyons Flag of Connecticut.svg Connecticut House of Representatives Democratic January 6, 1999January 5, 20055 years, 365 days
Lynn Snodgrass Flag of Oregon.svg Oregon House of Representatives Republican January 11, 1999January 8, 20011 year, 363 days
Janet Wentz Flag of North Dakota.svg North Dakota House of Representatives Republican January 7, 2003September 15, 2003251 days
Catherine Hanaway Catherine Hanaway Gov. Debate.jpg Flag of Missouri.svg Missouri House of Representatives Republican January 8, 2003January 5, 20051 year, 363 days
Lola Spradley Lola Spradley.JPG Flag of Colorado.svg Colorado House of Representatives Republican January 8, 2003January 12, 20052 years, 4 days
Karen Minnis Flag of Oregon.svg Oregon House of Representatives Republican January 13, 2003January 3, 20073 years, 355 days
Gaye Symington Gaye Symington (cropped).jpg Flag of Vermont.svg Vermont House of Representatives Democratic January 5, 2005January 8, 20094 years, 3 days
Terie Norelli First Press Brief4 (cropped).jpg Flag of New Hampshire.svg New Hampshire House of Representatives Democratic December 6, 2006December 1, 20103 years, 360 days
December 5, 2012December 3, 20141 year, 363 days
Margaret Anderson Kelliher MAK Headshot (cropped).jpg Flag of Minnesota (1983-2024).svg Minnesota House of Representatives Democratic–Farmer–Labor January 3, 2007January 4, 20114 years, 1 day
Barbara Buckley Barbara Buckley 2009.jpg Flag of Nevada.svg Nevada Assembly Democratic February 5, 2007February 7, 20114 years, 2 days
Karen Bass [b] Mayor Karen Bass official portrait (alt crop).jpg Flag of California.svg California State Assembly Democratic May 13, 2008March 1, 20101 year, 292 days
Hannah Pingree Hannah Pingree (cropped).jpg Flag of Maine.svg Maine House of Representatives Democratic December 3, 2008December 6, 20102 years, 3 days
Sheila Oliver Lt. Governor Oliver Portrait.jpg Flag of New Jersey.svg New Jersey General Assembly Democratic January 12, 2010January 14, 20144 years, 2 days
Beth Harwell Beth Harwell 2018.jpg Flag of Tennessee.svg Tennessee House of Representatives Republican January 13, 2011January 8, 20197 years, 360 days
Rebecca D. Lockhart Rebecca D. Lockhart, 2014.jpg Flag of Utah (2011-2024).svg Utah House of Representatives Republican January 24, 2011January 17, 20153 years, 358 days
Tina Kotek [c] Tina Kotek, 2021 (cropped).jpg Flag of Oregon.svg Oregon House of Representatives Democratic January 14, 2013January 16, 20229 years, 2 days
Marilyn Kirkpatrick Marilyn Kirkpatrick, Chairwoman, Clark County Commission - Cropped.jpg Flag of Nevada.svg Nevada Assembly Democratic February 4, 2013February 2, 20151 year, 363 days
Toni Atkins Flag of California.svg California State Assembly Democratic May 12, 2014March 7, 20161 year, 300 days
Dickey Lee Hullinghorst Flag of Colorado.svg Colorado House of Representatives Democratic January 7, 2015January 11, 20172 years, 4 days
Linda Upmeyer Linda Upmeyer official photo.jpg Flag of Iowa.svg Iowa House of Representatives Republican January 14, 2016January 13, 20203 years, 364 days
Sara Gideon Flag of Maine.svg Maine House of Representatives Democratic December 7, 2016December 2, 20203 years, 361 days
Mitzi Johnson (Ms.Mitzi Johnson).jpg Flag of Vermont.svg Vermont House of Representatives Democratic January 4, 2017January 6, 20214 years, 2 days
Crisanta Duran [d] Crisanta Duran.JPG Flag of Colorado.svg Colorado House of Representatives Democratic January 11, 2017January 4, 20191 year, 358 days
KC Becker KC Becker, 2018.png Flag of Colorado.svg Colorado House of Representatives Democratic January 4, 2019January 13, 20212 years, 9 days
Melissa Hortman Melissa Hortman at One Minnesota Budget Bill Signing (cropped).jpg Flag of Minnesota.svg Minnesota House of Representatives Democratic–Farmer–Labor January 8, 2019January 14, 20256 years, 6 days
Adrienne A. Jones Adrienne Jones.jpg Flag of Maryland.svg Maryland House of Delegates Democratic April 7, 2019Incumbent6 years, 84 days
Eileen Filler-Corn Eileen Filler-Corn (cropped).jpg Flag of Virginia.svg Virginia House of Delegates Democratic January 8, 2020January 11, 20222 years, 3 days
Laurie Jinkins Laurie Jinkins.jpg Flag of Washington.svg Washington House of Representatives Democratic January 13, 2020Incumbent5 years, 168 days
Jill Krowinski JillKrowinski.png Flag of Vermont.svg Vermont House of Representatives Democratic January 6, 2021Incumbent4 years, 175 days
Louise Stutes Louise Stutes (cropped).jpg Flag of Alaska.svg Alaska House of Representatives Republican
(Bipartisan Coalition)		February 11, 2021January 17, 20231 year, 340 days
Jan Jones Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg  Georgia House of Representatives Republican November 16, 2022January 9, 202354 days
Rachel Talbot Ross TalbotRossheadshot.jpg Flag of Maine.svg Maine House of Representatives Democratic December 7, 2022December 4, 20241 year, 363 days
Julie McCluskie Flag of Colorado.svg Colorado House of Representatives Democratic January 9, 2023Incumbent2 years, 172 days
Cathy Tilton Cathy Tilton (cropped).jpg Flag of Alaska.svg Alaska House of Representatives Republican January 18, 2023January 21, 20252 years, 3 days
Joanna McClinton Joanna McClinton - Gov. Wolf Joins Educators in Celebrating Historic Education Funding for Public Schools (52311414245) (cropped).jpg Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Pennsylvania House of Representatives Democratic February 28, 2023Incumbent2 years, 122 days
Valerie Longhurst Valerie Longhurst at State of the Delaware National Guard Networking Breakfast (cropped).jpg Flag of Delaware.svg Delaware House of Representatives Democratic June 30, 2023November 5, 20241 year, 128 days
Julie Fahey Julie Fahey Official Head Shot (cropped).jpg Flag of Oregon.svg Oregon House of Representatives Democratic March 7, 2024 [5] Incumbent1 year, 115 days
Nadine Nakamura Nadine Nakamura.png Flag of Hawaii.svg Hawaii House of Representatives Democratic November 6, 2024Incumbent236 days
Melissa Minor-Brown Flag of Delaware.svg Delaware House of Representatives Democratic January 14, 2025 [6] Incumbent167 days
Lisa Demuth Lisa Demuth January 12, 2023 Minnesota bill signing (cropped).jpg Flag of Minnesota.svg Minnesota House of Representatives Republican February 6, 2025 [7] Incumbent144 days

Territorial and the District of Columbia

  Denotes incumbent speaker
NameImageTerritoryLegislative BodyPartyMandate startMandate endTerm length
María Libertad Gómez Garriga Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Puerto Rico House of Representatives Liberal 19451945 ?
Ruby M. Rouss Flag of the United States Virgin Islands.svg United States Virgin Islands Legislature Democratic January 12, 1981January 11, 1982364 days
January 12, 1987March 9, 198756 days
Lorraine Berry Flag of the United States Virgin Islands.svg United States Virgin Islands Legislature Democratic January 13, 1997January 12, 1998364 days
January 10, 2005January 8, 20071 year, 363 days
Linda W. Cropp Linda Cropp (cropped).jpg Flag of Washington, D.C.svg District of Columbia Council Democratic July 22, 1997January 3, 20079 years, 165 days
Judith Won Pat Judith Won Pat Portrait (cropped).jpg Flag of Guam.svg Guam Legislature Democratic March 7, 2008January 2, 20178 years, 301 days
Jenniffer González Official portrait of Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez.jpg Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Puerto Rico House of Representatives New Progressive/ Republican January 12, 2009January 1, 20133 years, 355 days
Tina Rose Muña Barnes Tina Rose Muna Barnes President Lai (cropped).jpg Flag of Guam.svg Guam Legislature Democratic January 7, 2019January 4, 20211 year, 363 days
Therese M. Terlaje Therese M. Terlaje President Lai (cropped).jpg Flag of Guam.svg Guam Legislature Democratic January 4, 2021January 6, 20254 years, 2 days
Donna Frett-Gregory Flag of the United States Virgin Islands.svg United States Virgin Islands Legislature Democratic January 11, 2021January 13, 20232 years, 2 days

Notes

  1. ↑ First woman elected Speaker across party lines; she took a position with the support of Democrats, acting as a proxy to tip control away from the Republicans who held a one seat majority
  2. ↑ First African-American woman elected Speaker of a state legislative body
    First woman of color elected Speaker of a state legislative body
  3. ↑ First openly LGBT (lesbian) woman elected Speaker of a state legislative body
  4. ↑ First Hispanic and Latina American woman elected Speaker of a state legislative body

References

  1. ↑ Benenson, Bob (January 4, 2007). "Pelosi Officially Elected Speaker of the U.S. House". The New York Times . Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "The hand-off: How Speakers Ryan to O'Neill came to power". CNN . October 29, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  3. ↑ Foran, Clare; Killough, Ashley (January 3, 2019). "Nancy Pelosi elected House speaker, reclaims gavel to lead Democrats' new majority". CNN . Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  4. ↑ Hulse, Carl (January 3, 2023). "The Pelosi Era Comes to a Close". The New York Times . Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  5. ↑ Shumway, Julia (March 7, 2024). "In a departure from last year, Oregon Legislature wraps up session in high spirits". Oregon Capital Chronicle. Retrieved June 30, 2025. In a final act, the House elected Julie Fahey, D-Eugene, as its next speaker,...
  6. ↑ Petree, Rob (January 14, 2025). "Delaware lawmakers return to Dover for the start of the 153rd General Assembly". WMDT . Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  7. ↑ Walker, Tim (February 6, 2025). "Full House convenes for first time in 2025, elects Demuth speaker". Minnesota House of Representatives . Retrieved June 30, 2025.
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