Honestly, if you looked at the American political landscape just twenty years ago, the idea of having a dozen women running states at the same time felt like a distant "maybe." But fast forward to now, and the list of female governors 2024 has actually hit a historic high-water mark. We're talking about a record-breaking 12 women currently holding the top executive spot in their respective states. Well, technically it was 13 for a hot minute after the 2024 elections, but politics is nothing if not a game of musical chairs.
It’s kind of wild to think that for most of U.S. history, this list would have been a blank page.
The Big Number: Who is Actually in Charge?
Right now, as we move through 2024 and into the early bits of 2026, the count stands at 12. For a brief window, we hit 13 when Kelly Ayotte won in New Hampshire, but then Kristi Noem stepped down in South Dakota to join the federal cabinet. So, we're back to a dozen. It’s a mix—8 Democrats and 4 Republicans.
This isn't just a "diversity win" or a checkbox. These women are managing billion-dollar budgets and national guard units. They're making the calls on everything from reproductive rights to tax cuts. You’ve got people like Gretchen Whitmer in Michigan, who’s become a household name, and Kay Ivey in Alabama, who’s currently the oldest governor in the country. It’s a broad spectrum.
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Breaking Down the List of Female Governors 2024
If you're looking for the specifics, here is how the map looks. It’s not just blue states or red states; it’s a total patchwork.
- Alabama: Kay Ivey (R). She’s a fixture in Alabama politics. She took over in 2017 and hasn't let go, proving that the South is perfectly comfortable with female leadership, provided it's the "right kind" of conservative.
- Arizona: Katie Hobbs (D). Hobbs had a grueling 2022 election. A former social worker, she’s the first one of those to lead a state. She’s also the fifth woman to lead Arizona—Arizona actually holds the record for the most female governors of any state.
- Arkansas: Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R). You probably remember her from the White House briefing room. She made history as the first female governor of Arkansas, following in her dad's footsteps.
- Iowa: Kim Reynolds (R). Reynolds is another one who started as Lieutenant Governor and then won the seat in her own right. She’s a powerhouse for the GOP in the Midwest.
- Kansas: Laura Kelly (D). Winning as a Democrat in Kansas is basically like winning a marathon in a blizzard. She’s managed to hold onto that seat in a deeply red state, which says a lot about her "get-it-done" vibe.
- Maine: Janet Mills (D). The first woman to lead Maine. She was the state's Attorney General before this, so she knows where the bodies are buried, legally speaking.
- Massachusetts: Maura Healey (D). History-maker here—she and Tina Kotek were the first openly lesbian governors in the U.S.
- Michigan: Gretchen Whitmer (D). "Big Gretch." She’s been at the center of national news for years, especially after that kidnapping plot was thwarted. She’s a heavy hitter for the Democrats.
- New Hampshire: Kelly Ayotte (R). The newest addition to the club. She's a former Senator who won a tough race in 2024 to keep New Hampshire in the Republican column.
- New Mexico: Michelle Lujan Grisham (D). She’s been a major voice in the West, particularly on healthcare and energy.
- New York: Kathy Hochul (D). She stepped in after Andrew Cuomo resigned and then won a full term. She’s the first woman to lead the Empire State.
- Oregon: Tina Kotek (D). Like Healey, she’s a pioneer for the LGBTQ+ community. Oregon is used to female governors, but Kotek brings a very specific legislative background to the role.
Why Does This List Matter?
Experts at places like the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) at Rutgers will tell you that while 12 or 13 is a record, it’s still only about 24-26% of the country. We’re nowhere near parity.
There are still 18 states that have never had a female governor. Not one. Places like California, Florida, and Pennsylvania—massive states with huge populations—have only ever seen men in the big office. It’s a weird blind spot in American politics. You'd think by now someone would have broken through there.
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The Power of the "First"
Many of the women on the list of female governors 2024 are "firsts."
Sarah Huckabee Sanders is the first in Arkansas.
Janet Mills is the first in Maine.
Kathy Hochul is the first in New York.
When you’re the first, you don't just get a plaque; you get a microscope. Every decision is analyzed through the lens of gender, whether they like it or not. Kelly Ayotte, for instance, had to navigate a very tricky path on reproductive rights during her 2024 campaign, eventually promising to veto more restrictive bans to match New Hampshire's "consensus."
Looking Toward 2026
The 2024 cycle was relatively quiet for governors—only 11 seats were up. But 2026? That’s going to be a bloodbath. 36 states are going to the polls. That’s when we’ll see if this "record" of 12 or 13 is a ceiling or just a stepping stone.
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Candidates like Deb Haaland in New Mexico have been floated as potential names to watch. The momentum is there, but as we saw with the 2024 presidential race, executive leadership is still the hardest glass ceiling for women to crack in the U.S.
Actionable Insights for Following State Leadership
If you're keeping an eye on these leaders, don't just look at the party label. Watch their legislative agendas.
- Check the Vetoes: Governors like Laura Kelly in Kansas or Katie Hobbs in Arizona use the veto pen constantly because they are working with legislatures controlled by the opposite party. This is where their real power is.
- Follow the Budgets: A governor’s power is in the purse strings. Look at how Kathy Hochul handles New York's transit funding or how Kim Reynolds approaches Iowa's tax structure.
- Watch the 2026 Primary Filings: If you want to see if the list of female governors will grow, start looking at state-level filings in late 2025. That’s when the next wave of challengers will emerge.
The reality is that state-level executive power is often more impactful on your daily life than what happens in D.C. Whether it's the roads you drive on or the schools your kids attend, these 12 women are the ones signing the bills. The list is growing, but it's a slow climb.
Keep an eye on the 2026 election cycle. It's the next big test for whether "13" was a fluke or the new normal.