List of first ladies of Minnesota

Last updated
The Minnesota Governor's Mansion typically also is the residence of the First Spouse MN Governor's Residence.jpg
The Minnesota Governor's Mansion typically also is the residence of the First Spouse

The spouse of the governor of Minnesota is given an honorary position, styled as First Lady or First Gentleman of the State of Minnesota. To date there have been no female governors of the State of Minnesota, and all first spouses have been first ladies. [1]

The current first lady is Gwen Walz, wife of Governor Tim Walz.

NameImageTerm in officeBirth-DeathSpouse ofNotes
Sarah Jane Steele Sibley Firstlady 04-full.jpg 1858-18601823-1869 Henry Sibley
Anna Earl Jenks Ramsey1860-18631826-1884 Alexander Ramsey
Ruth Livingston Swift1863-18641827-1881 Henry Swift
Margaret Funk Miller1864-18661816-1879 Stephen Miller
Abby Langford Marshall1866-18701826-1893 William Marshall
Mary Angelina "Lena" Morrill Austin1870-18741835-1910 Horace Austin
Laura Bowman Davis1874-1876c.1839-Unknown Cushman Davis
Mahala Fisk Pillsbury1876-18821832-1910 John S. Pillsbury
Amelia Thomas Hubbard1882-18871843-1923 Lucius Hubbard Born in Canada
Mary Elizabeth Wilson McGill1887-18891853-1932 Andrew McGill
Laura Hancock Merriam1889-18931850-1943 William Merriam
Nicolina Jacobsen Nelson1893-18951846-1922 Knute Nelson Born in Norway
Addie Barton Clough1895-18991850-1929 D.M. Clough
Alice Shepard Lind1899-19011859-1942 John Lind
Ruth Hall Van Sant1901-19051848-1928 Samuel Van Sant
Elinore "Nora" Preston Johnson1905-1909c.1874-1955 John Johnson
Adele O. M. Koke Eberhart1909-19151874-1945 A.O. Eberhart First First Lady born in Minnesota.
Vacant1915-1915 Winfield Scott Hammond Governor Hammond was not married.
Mary Louise Cross Burnquist1915-19211880-1966 J.A.A. Burnquist
Idelle Louise Haugen Preus1921-19251884-1968 J.A.O. Preus
Ruth E. Donaldson Christianson1925-19311886-1944 Theodore Christianson
Ada A. Krejci Olson1931-19361893-1969 Floyd B. Olson
Medora B. Grandprey Petersen1936-19371896-1997 Hjalmar Petersen
Frances Lillian Miller Benson1937-19391896-1990 Elmer Benson
Esther G. Glewwe Stassen1939-19431906-2000 Harold Stassen worked as a secretary in a downtown St. Paul law office
Myrtle Ennor Oliver Thye1943-19471895-1972 Edward Thye
Irene Annet Engdahl Youngdahl1947-19511896-1992 Luther Youngdahl
Lillian Otterstad Anderson1951-19551913-1998 C. Elmer Anderson
Jane C. Shields Freeman1955-19611921-2018 Orville Freeman
Eleanor A. Johnson Andersen1961-19631911-2011 Elmer Andersen
Florence Boedeker Rolvaag1963-19671921-1983 Karl Rolvaag worked as a secretary at the literary journal "Southwestern Review"and taught at a business school
Iantha Powrie LeVander1967-19711913-2009 Harold LeVander
Mary Christine McKee Anderson1971-19761939-2018 Wendell Anderson Architect
Delores "Lola" Helen Simich Perpich1976-19791931- Rudy Perpich
Gretchen Marie Hansen Quie 1979-19831927-2015 Al Quie
Delores "Lola" Helen Simich Perpich1983-19911931- Rudy Perpich
Susan Shepard Carlson1991-19991949- Arne Carlson
Theresa "Terry" Masters Janos "Ventura"1999-20031955- Jesse Ventura
Mary Anderson Pawlenty Mary-Pawlenty-Gilbert-Law.jpg 2003-20111961- Tim Pawlenty state court judge
Vacant2011-2019 Mark Dayton Governor Dayton was unmarried while governor
Gwen Walz Gwen Walz 2019 (cropped).jpg 2019-present1966- Tim Walz

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Lady of the United States</span> Hostess of the White House, usually the presidents wife

First Lady of the United States (FLOTUS) is the title held by the wife of the president of the United States, concurrent with the president's term in office. Although the first lady's role has never been codified or officially defined, she figures prominently in the political and social life of the United States. The First Lady of the United States is the hostess of the White House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First lady</span> Honorary title of the wife of a president or head of state

First Lady or First Gentleman is an unofficial title usually used for the spouse, and occasionally used for the offspring or other relative, of a non-monarchical head of state or chief executive. The term is also used to describe a person seen to be at the top of her profession or art.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Governor of Minnesota</span> Head of government of the U.S. state of Minnesota

The governor of Minnesota is the head of government of the U.S. state of Minnesota, leading the state's executive branch. Forty people have been governor of Minnesota, though historically there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory. Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial governor, also served as state governor several years later. State governors are elected to office by popular vote, but territorial governors were appointed to the office by the United States president. The current governor of Minnesota is Tim Walz of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Republican Party of Minnesota</span> Political party which is the Minnesota state affiliate of the US Republican Party

The Republican Party of Minnesota is the state affiliate of the Republican Party in Minnesota and the oldest active political party in the state. Founded in 1855, the party is headquartered in Edina, and the current chairman is David Hann.

Second lady and second gentleman are honorary titles often used in reference to the spouse of a vice president, or spouse of a lieutenant governor or other second-ranked government official. The title is styled after first lady or first gentleman, which are used to describe the spouse of a president or governor. In discussing both spouses, they may be referred to as the second couple, and if they have children, they are known collectively as the second family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Walz</span> Governor of Minnesota since 2019

Timothy James Walz is an American politician, former educator, and retired United States Army non-commissioned officer who has served as the 41st governor of Minnesota since 2019. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 2007 to 2019, and the ranking member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee from 2017 to 2019. Walz is the Democratic nominee for vice president in the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First ladies and gentlemen of the Philippines</span> Courtesy title given to the host of the Malacañang Palace, usually the spouse of the president

The first lady or first gentleman of the Philippines is the courtesy title given to the host or hostess of Malacañang Palace, the residence of the head of state and head of government of the Philippines.

The following is a list of the spouses of Wisconsin governors from 1933 to present, a position that is styled as First Lady or First Gentleman of the State of Wisconsin. As of 2017, there have been no female governors of the State of Wisconsin, and all first spouses have been first ladies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First ladies and gentlemen of Oklahoma</span> Spouses of the governors of Oklahoma

First Lady or First Gentleman of Oklahoma is the title held by the spouse of the sitting governor of Oklahoma. The first lady or first gentleman serves as the official host of the Oklahoma Governor's Mansion. As of 2011, there have been 26 first ladies and one first gentleman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second ladies and gentlemen of the United States</span> Spouse of the vice president of the United States

The second lady of the United States or second gentleman is the informal title held by the spouse of the vice president of the United States, concurrent with the vice president's term of office. Coined in contrast to "first lady" – albeit used less commonly – the title "second lady" was apparently first used by Jennie Tuttle Hobart to refer to herself. The first second gentleman of the United States is Doug Emhoff, the husband of Kamala Harris, the current vice president and first woman in the position, since January 20, 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First ladies of Maryland</span> Wives of governors of the U.S. state of Maryland

The spouse of the governor of Maryland is given an honorary position, styled as First Lady or First Gentleman of the State of Maryland. To date there have been no female governors of the State of Maryland, and all first spouses have been first ladies.

The first lady of the State of Nevada is the honorary position of the spouse of the governor of Nevada. The first lady serves as the official host of the Nevada Governor's Mansion. To date there have been no female governors of the State of Nevada, and all first spouses have been first ladies. In cases where the governor has been a widower or unmarried, a daughter or mother has filled the role of official host.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Minnesota gubernatorial election</span>

The 2018 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 6, to elect the 41st Governor of Minnesota as incumbent Democratic (DFL) Governor Mark Dayton chose not to run for re-election for a third term. The Democratic nominee was U.S. Representative Tim Walz from Minnesota's 1st congressional district while the Republican Party nominated Hennepin County commissioner Jeff Johnson for a second consecutive time. The Independence Party of Minnesota did not field a candidate for the first time since 1994. Going into the election polls showed Walz ahead; the race was characterized as lean or likely DFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First ladies and partners of California</span> Spouse of the governor of California

The first lady of California or first partner of California is the spouse of the governor of California. The role of the spouse of the governor of California has never been codified or officially defined. The spouse figures prominently in the social life of the state, and some spouses have been assisted with a staff in the Executive Office of the Governor. As of 2023, all the state's governors have been men, and not all of them were married while in office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Minnesota gubernatorial election</span>

The 2022 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Minnesota. Incumbent Democratic (DFL) Governor Tim Walz defeated the Republican nominee, former state senator Scott Jensen, winning a second term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota</span>

The COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota is part of an ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the state of Minnesota. The first confirmed case was reported on March 6, 2020. Governor Tim Walz declared a state of emergency on March 13.

The first lady or gentleman of Oregon is the spouse of the Governor of Oregon, if they have one. The role of the spouse of the governor of Oregon has never been codified or officially defined. The spouse figures prominently in the social life of the state, and some spouses have been assisted with a staff in the Office of the Governor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Lady of Virginia</span> Wives of governors of the U.S. state of Virginia

The spouse of the Governor of Virginia is given an honorary position, styled as First Lady or First Gentleman of the State of Virginia. To date there have been no female governors of the State of Virginia, and all first spouses have been first ladies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gwen Walz</span> First Lady of Minnesota since 2019

Gwen Walz is an American educator and public school administrator. She is the 39th and current First Lady of Minnesota as the wife of Governor Tim Walz. In 2024, her husband was announced as the Democratic vice presidential candidate for the 2024 United States presidential election; if his party wins, she would become Second Lady of the United States.

References

  1. "Governors of Minnesota: First Ladies". Minnesota Historical Society . Retrieved 24 December 2018.