This is a list of First women who have been elected or appointed governor and/or chief minister of their respective states, provinces or dependent territories.
Name | Image | Country | Continent | Office | Mandate start | Mandate end | Term length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nellie Taylor Ross | United States | America | Governor of Wyoming | 5 January 1925 | 3 January 1927 | 1 year, 363 days | |
Miriam A. Ferguson | United States | America | Governor of Texas | 20 January 1925 | 17 January 1927 | 1 year, 362 days | |
Lurleen Wallace | United States | America | Governor of Alabama | 16 January 1967 | 7 May 1968 | 1 year, 362 days | |
Ella T. Grasso | United States | America | Governor of Connecticut | 8 January 1975 | 31 December 1980 | 5 years, 358 days | |
Imelda Marcos | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Metro Manila [lower-alpha 1] | 27 February 1975 | 25 February 1986 | 10 years, 363 days | |
Dixy Lee Ray | United States | America | Governor of Washington | 12 January 1977 | 14 January 1981 | 4 years, 2 days | |
Vesta M. Roy | United States | America | Acting Governor of New Hampshire | 29 December 1982 | 6 January 1983 | 8 days | |
Martha Layne Collins | United States | America | Governor of Kentucky | 13 December 1983 | 8 December 1987 | 3 years, 360 days | |
Madeleine Kunin | United States | America | Governor of Vermont | 20 January 1985 | 20 January 1991 | 6 years, 0 days | |
Iolanda Fleming | Brazil | America | Governor of Acre | 14 May 1986 | 15 March 1987 | 305 days | |
Kay A. Orr | United States | America | Governor of Nebraska | 9 January 1987 | 9 January 1991 | 4 years, 0 days | |
Rose Mofford | United States | America | Governor of Arizona | 4 April 1988 | 6 March 1991 | 2 years, 336 days | |
Rosemary Follett | Australia | Oceania | Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory | 11 May 1989 | 5 December 1989 | 208 days | |
6 June 1991 | 2 March 1995 | 3 years, 269 days | |||||
Carmen Lawrence | Australia | Oceania | Premier of Western Australia | 12 February 1990 | 16 February 1993 | 3 years, 4 days | |
Joan Kirner | Australia | Oceania | Premier of Victoria | 10 August 1990 | 6 October 1992 | 2 years, 57 days | |
Sharon Pratt | United States | America | Mayor of the District of Columbia | 2 January 1991 | 2 January 1995 | 4 years, 0 days | |
Joan Finney | United States | America | Governor of Kansas | 14 January 1991 | 9 January 1995 | 3 years, 360 days | |
Barbara Roberts | United States | America | Governor of Oregon | 14 January 1991 | 9 January 1995 | 3 years, 360 days | |
Rita Johnston | Canada | America | Premier of British Columbia | 2 April 1991 | 5 November 1991 | 217 days | |
Nellie Cournoyea | Canada | America | Premier of Northwest Territories | 14 November 1991 | 22 November 1995 | 4 years, 8 days | |
Catherine Callbeck | Canada | America | Premier of Prince Edward Island | 25 January 1993 | 9 October 1996 | 3 years, 258 days | |
María Antonia Martínez | Spain | Europe | President of the Region of Murcia | 28 April 1993 | 26 June 1995 | 2 years, 59 days | |
Laurette Onkelinx | Belgium | Europe | Minister-President of the French Community | 6 May 1993 | 13 July 1999 | 6 years, 68 days | |
Heide Simonis | Germany | Europe | Minister-President of Schleswig-Holstein | 19 May 1993 | 27 April 2005 | 11 years, 343 days | |
Christine Todd Whitman | United States | America | Governor of New Jersey | 18 January 1994 | 16 January 2001 | 6 years, 364 days | |
Roseana Sarney | Brazil | America | Governor of Maranhão | 1 January 1995 | 5 April 2002 | 7 years, 94 days | |
17 April 2009 | 10 December 2014 | 5 years, 237 days | |||||
Waltraud Klasnic | Austria | Europe | Governor of Styria | 23 January 1996 | 25 October 2005 | 9 years, 275 days | |
Valentina Bronevich | Russia | Asia | Governor of Koryak Autonomous Okrug | 17 November 1996 | 3 December 2000 | 4 years, 16 days | |
Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri | South Africa | Africa | Premier of Free State | 18 December 1996 | 15 June 1999 | 2 years, 179 days | |
Jeanne Shaheen | United States | America | Governor of New Hampshire | 9 January 1997 | 9 January 2003 | 6 years, 0 days | |
Dipuo Peters | South Africa | Africa | Premier of the Northern Cape | 11 May 1998 | 6 May 2009 | 10 years, 360 days | |
Nancy Hollister | United States | America | Governor of Ohio | 31 December 1998 | 11 January 1999 | 11 days | |
Fusae Ohta | Japan | Asia | Governor of Osaka | 5 February 2000 | 4 February 2008 | 7 years, 364 days | |
Yoshiko Shiotani | Japan | Asia | Governor of Kumamoto | 16 April 2000 | 15 April 2008 | 7 years, 365 days | |
Pat Duncan | Canada | America | Premier of Yukon | 6 May 2000 | 30 November 2002 | 2 years, 208 days | |
Akiko Dōmoto | Japan | Asia | Governor of Chiba | 2001 | 2009 | 8 years, 0 days | |
Judy Martz | United States | America | Governor of Montana | 1 January 2001 | 3 January 2005 | 4 years, 2 days | |
Sila María Calderón | United States | America | Governor of Puerto Rico | 2 January 2001 | 2 January 2005 | 4 years, 0 days | |
Ruth Ann Minner | United States | America | Governor of Delaware | 3 January 2001 | 20 January 2009 | 8 years, 17 days | |
Teresita S. Lazaro | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Laguna | 31 January 2001 | 30 June 2010 | 9 years, 150 days | |
Jane Swift | United States | America | Governor of Massachusetts | 10 April 2001 | 2 January 2003 | 1 year, 267 days | |
Clare Martin | Australia | Oceania | Chief Minister of Northern Territory | 18 August 2001 | 26 November 2007 | 6 years, 100 days | |
Dalva Figueiredo | Brazil | America | Governor of Amapá | 5 April 2002 | 1 January 2003 | 271 days | |
Benedita da Silva | Brazil | America | Governor of Rio de Janeiro | 6 April 2002 | 1 January 2003 | 270 days | |
Linda Lingle | United States | Oceania | Governor of Hawaii | 2 December 2002 | 6 December 2010 | 8 years, 4 days | |
Wilma de Faria | Brazil | America | Governor of Rio Grande do Norte | 1 January 2003 | 31 March 2010 | 7 years, 89 days | |
Jennifer Granholm | United States | America | Governor of Michigan | 1 January 2003 | 1 January 2011 | 8 years, 0 days | |
Harumi Takahashi | Japan | Asia | Governor of Hokkaido | 23 April 2003 | 22 April 2019 | 15 years, 364 days | |
Valentina Matviyenko | Russia | Europe | Governor of Saint Petersburg | 15 October 2003 | 22 August 2011 | 7 years, 311 days | |
Olene Walker | United States | America | Governor of Utah | 5 November 2003 | 3 January 2005 | 1 year, 59 days | |
Esperanza Aguirre | Spain | Europe | President of the Community of Madrid | 8 November 2003 | 26 September 2012 | 8 years, 323 days | |
Kathleen Blanco | United States | America | Governor of Louisiana | 1 January 2004 | 1 January 2008 | 4 years, 2 days | |
Catherine Mabuza | South Africa | Africa | Acting Premier of Limpopo | 22 April 2004 | 26 April 2004 | 4 days | |
Nosimo Balindlela | South Africa | Africa | Premier of Eastern Cape | 26 April 2004 | 25 July 2008 | 4 years, 90 days | |
Gabi Burgstaller | Austria | Europe | Governor of Salzburg | 28 April 2004 | 19 June 2013 | 9 years, 52 days | |
Edna Molewa | South Africa | Africa | Premier of North West | 30 April 2004 | 6 May 2009 | 5 years, 6 days | |
Gwendolyn Garcia | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Cebu | 30 June 2004 | 30 June 2013 | 9 years, 0 days | |
Grace Padaca | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Isabela | 30 June 2004 | 30 June 2010 | 6 years, 0 days | |
Ratu Atut Chosiyah | Indonesia | Asia | Governor of Banten | 20 October 2005 | 13 May 2014 | 8 years, 205 days [lower-alpha 2] | |
Maria de Lourdes Abadia | Brazil | America | Governor of the Brazilian Federal District | 31 March 2006 | 1 January 2007 | 276 days | |
Yukiko Kada | Japan | Asia | Governor of Shiga | 20 July 2006 | 19 July 2014 | 7 years, 364 days | |
Sarah Palin | United States | America | Governor of Alaska | 4 December 2006 | 26 July 2009 | 4 years, 2 days | |
Ana Júlia Carepa | Brazil | America | Governor of Pará | 1 January 2007 | 1 January 2011 | 4 years, 0 days | |
Yeda Crusius | Brazil | America | Governor of Rio Grande do Sul | 1 January 2007 | 1 January 2011 | 4 years, 0 days | |
Jum Jainudin Akbar | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Basilan | 30 June 2007 | 30 June 2016 | 9 years, 0 days | |
Vilma Santos | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Batangas | 30 June 2007 | 30 June 2016 | 9 years, 0 days | |
Anna Bligh | Australia | Oceania | Premier of Queensland | 13 September 2007 | 26 March 2012 | 4 years, 195 days | |
Lynne Brown | South Africa | Africa | Premier of Western Cape | 25 July 2008 | 6 May 2009 | 1 year, 11 days | |
Eva Aariak | Canada | America | Premier of Nunavut | 19 November 2008 | 19 November 2013 | 5 years, 0 days | |
Bev Perdue | United States | America | Governor of North Carolina | 10 January 2009 | 5 January 2013 | 3 years, 361 days | |
Mieko Yoshimura | Japan | Asia | Governor of Yamagata | 14 February 2009 | Incumbent | 12 years, 279 days | |
Nomvula Mokonyane | South Africa | Africa | Premier of Gauteng | 6 May 2009 | 21 May 2014 | 5 years, 15 days | |
Christine Lieberknecht | Germany | Europe | Minister-President of Thuringia | 30 October 2009 | 5 December 2014 | 5 years, 36 days | |
Kristina Keneally | Australia | Oceania | Premier of New South Wales | 4 December 2009 | 28 March 2011 | 1 year, 114 days | |
Natalya Komarova | Russia | Asia | Governor of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug | 1 March 2010 | Incumbent | 11 years, 264 days | |
Imee Marcos | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Ilocos Norte | 30 June 2010 | 30 June 2019 | 9 years, 0 days | |
Carmencita Reyes | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Marinduque | 30 June 2010 | 7 January 2019 | 8 years, 191 days | |
Lilia Pineda | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Pampanga | 30 June 2010 | 30 June 2019 | 9 years, 0 days | |
Sharee Ann Tan | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Samar | 30 June 2010 | 30 June 2019 | 9 years, 0 days | |
Hannelore Kraft | Germany | Europe | Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia | 14 July 2010 | 27 June 2017 | 6 years, 348 days | |
Kathy Dunderdale | Canada | America | Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador | 3 December 2010 | 24 January 2014 | 3 years, 52 days | |
Susana Martinez | United States | America | Governor of New Mexico | 1 January 2011 | 1 January 2019 | 8 years, 0 days | |
Mary Fallin | United States | America | Governor of Oklahoma | 10 January 2011 | 14 January 2019 | 8 years, 4 days | |
Nikki Haley | United States | America | Governor of South Carolina | 12 January 2011 | 24 January 2017 | 6 years, 12 days | |
Lara Giddings | Australia | Oceania | Premier of Tasmania | 24 January 2011 | 31 March 2014 | 3 years, 66 days | |
María Dolores de Cospedal | Spain | Europe | President of the Government of Castilla–La Mancha | 22 June 2011 | 1 July 2015 | 4 years, 9 days | |
Yolanda Barcina | Spain | Europe | President of the Government of Navarre | 23 June 2011 | 20 July 2015 | 4 years, 27 days | |
Luisa Fernanda Rudi | Spain | Europe | President of the Government of Aragon | 13 July 2011 | 3 July 2015 | 3 years, 355 days | |
Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer | Germany | Europe | Minister-President of Saarland | 10 August 2011 | 28 February 2018 | 6 years, 202 days | |
Alison Redford | Canada | America | Premier of Alberta | 7 October 2011 | 23 March 2014 | 2 years, 167 days | |
Marina Kovtun | Russia | Europe | Governor of Murmansk Oblast | 13 April 2012 | 21 March 2019 | 7 years, 8 days | |
Pauline Marois | Canada | America | Premier of Quebec | 19 September 2012 | 23 April 2014 | 1 year, 216 days | |
Malu Dreyer | Germany | America | Minister-President of Rhineland-Palatinate | 16 January 2013 | Incumbent | 8 years, 308 days | |
Kathleen Wynne | Canada | America | Premier of Ontario | 11 February 2013 | 29 June 2018 | 5 years, 138 days | |
Angelica Amante | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Agusan del Norte | 30 June 2013 | 30 June 2019 | 6 years, 0 days | |
Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Cotabato | 30 June 2013 | Incumbent | 8 years, 143 days | |
Rebecca Ynares | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Rizal | 30 June 2013 | Incumbent | 8 years, 143 days | |
Daisy A. Fuentes | Philippines | Asia | Governor of South Cotabato | 30 June 2013 | Incumbent | 8 years, 143 days | |
Susana Díaz | Spain | Europe | President of the Government of Andalusia | 5 September 2013 | 18 January 2019 | 5 years, 135 days | |
Svetlana Orlova | Russia | Europe | Governor of Vladimir Oblast | 23 September 2013 | 8 October 2018 | 5 years, 15 days | |
Nicola Sturgeon | United Kingdom | Europe | First Minister of Scotland | 20 November 2014 | Incumbent | 7 years, 0 days | |
Suely Campos | Brazil | America | Governor of Roraima | 1 January 2015 | 10 December 2018 | 3 years, 343 days | |
Gina Raimondo | United States | America | Governor of Rhode Island | 6 January 2015 | 2 March 2021 | 6 years, 55 days | |
Rhodora Cadiao | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Antique | 29 January 2015 | Incumbent | 6 years, 295 days | |
Francina Armengol | Spain | Europe | President of the Government of the Balearic Islands | 2 July 2015 | Incumbent | 6 years, 141 days | |
Arlene Foster | United Kingdom | Europe | First Minister of Northern Ireland | 11 January 2016 | 9 January 2017 | 364 days | |
11 January 2020 | 14 June 2021 | 1 year, 154 days | |||||
Natalia Zhdanova | Russia | Asia | Governor of Zabaykalsky Krai | 18 February 2016 | 11 October 2018 | 2 years, 235 days | |
Nang Khin Htwe Myint | Myanmar | Asia | Chief Minister of Kayin | 30 March 2016 | 1 February 2021 | 4 years, 308 days | |
Lae Lae Maw | Myanmar | Asia | Chief Minister of Tanintharyi | 30 March 2016 | 11 March 2019 | 2 years, 346 days | |
Maria Jocelyn Bernos | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Abra | 30 June 2016 | Incumbent | 5 years, 143 days | |
Marilou Cayco | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Batanes | 30 June 2016 | Incumbent | 5 years, 143 days | |
Maria Luisa Romualdo | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Camiguin | 30 June 2016 | Incumbent | 5 years, 143 days | |
Imelda Dimaporo | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Lanao del Norte | 30 June 2016 | Incumbent | 5 years, 143 days | |
Bedjoria Soraya Adiong | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Lanao del Sur | 30 June 2016 | Incumbent | 5 years, 143 days | |
Czarina Umali | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Nueva Ecija | 30 June 2016 | 30 June 2019 | 3 years, 0 days | |
Susan Yap | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Tarlac | 30 June 2016 | Incumbent | 5 years, 143 days | |
Yuriko Koike | Japan | Asia | Governor of Tokyo | 1 August 2016 | Incumbent | 5 years, 111 days | |
Johanna Mikl-Leitner | Austria | Europe | Governor of Lower Austria | 19 April 2017 | Incumbent | 4 years, 215 days | |
Kim Reynolds | United States | America | Governor of Iowa | 24 May 2017 | Incumbent | 4 years, 180 days | |
Manuela Schwesig | Germany | Europe | Minister-President of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | 4 July 2017 | Incumbent | 4 years, 139 days | |
Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane | South Africa | Africa | Premier of Mpumalanga | 20 March 2018 | Incumbent | 3 years, 245 days | |
Cida Borghetti | Brazil | America | Governor of Paraná | 6 April 2018 | 1 January 2019 | 270 days | |
Janet Mills | United States | America | Governor of Maine | 2 January 2019 | Incumbent | 2 years, 322 days | |
Kristi Noem | United States | America | Governor of South Dakota | 5 January 2019 | Incumbent | 2 years, 319 days | |
Lou Leon Guerrero | United States | Oceania | Governor of Guam | 7 January 2019 | Incumbent | 2 years, 317 days | |
Khofifah Indar Parawansa | Indonesia | Asia | Governor of East Java | 13 February 2019 | Incumbent | 2 years, 280 days | |
Bai Mariam Mangudadatu | Philippines | Asia | Governor of Maguindanao | 30 June 2019 | Incumbent | 2 years, 143 days | |
Liesbeth Homans | Belgium | Europe | Minister-President of Flanders | 2 July 2019 | 1 October 2019 | 91 days | |
Concha Andreu | Spain | Europe | President of La Rioja | 29 August 2019 | Incumbent | 2 years, 83 days | |
Kathy Hochul | United States | Europe | Governor of New York | 24 August 2021 | Incumbent | 88 days | |
Julie Thomas | Saint Helena | Africa | Chief Minister | 25 October 2021 | Incumbent | 26 days |
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