More than 20 states have never had a woman as governor

October 29, 2018

Collins Parker,

By CHRISTINA A. CASSIDY
Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) – The record number of women running for governor this year highlights a surprising fact – some of the largest and most progressive states have never elected a woman to the job.

That includes California and New York.

Several conservative states, such as Arizona, Kansas and Texas, have elected women to the top state executive position more than once. Women lost their bids for governor this year during the primaries in California, Florida and New York.

The Center for American Women and Politics says 39 women in 28 states have served as governor.

____

Tennessee: 2 women (Diane Black & Beth Harwell) ran for governor and lost the Republican primary this year. Diane Black was a Congress member and Beth Harwell was speaker of the house in the state legislature.

Tennessee has never elected a female governor.

___

Georgia: Karen Handel lost a Republican primary runoff to eventual Governor Nathan Deal in 2010. Handel is currently serving in Congress.

Stacy Adams is currently the Democratic nominee for governor.

Georgia has never elected a female governor.

___

Alabama: Kay Ivey is currently serving as Governor, after being appointed to finish the term of Robert Bentley. She is currently running for re-election.

But the first woman elected governor of Alabama was Lurleen Wallace in 1966. She followed her husband, George Wallace who planned to run for President instead. However she died of cancer just 16 months into her administration.

Item Title
Official photograph of Governor Lurleen Wallace.
Description
Lurleen Wallace was governor from January 1967 until her death on May 7, 1968.
Date
1967