Female governors 2025/ Kelly Ayotte New Hampshire/ record women governors/ U.S. female leadership/ political gender representation/ Newslooks/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ With Kelly Ayotte’s election as New Hampshire governor, 2025 will see a record-breaking 13 women serving as governors across the United States. This milestone reflects women’s growing representation in executive roles, though challenges persist in achieving full equality in political leadership.
Historic Record for Women Governors Set in 2025 Quick Looks
- Record female governors: Kelly Ayotte’s win in New Hampshire brings the number of women governors to a historic 13.
- Women in executive roles: Female governors help normalize women in top state leadership positions.
- Party breakdown: The new record includes five Republican and eight Democratic women governors.
- Continued gender disparities: Despite progress, women remain underrepresented, with 18 states yet to elect a female governor.
Kelly Ayotte’s Election Sets Record for 13 Female Governors in U.S.
Deep Look
In a historic milestone for women in U.S. politics, a record 13 female governors will serve across the country in 2025, following Republican Kelly Ayotte’s victory in New Hampshire. Ayotte, a former U.S. senator, defeated Democratic opponent Joyce Craig to become New Hampshire’s governor, making her the third woman to hold the position in the state’s history. This new record surpasses the previous high of 12 female governors, set in 2022, marking another step forward for women in American executive leadership.
Female Governors’ Growing Influence
Governors wield significant power in shaping state policies and can use their visibility to launch campaigns for higher office. Having women in these roles contributes to normalizing female leadership, especially in executive positions, where they serve as the primary decision-makers. “It matters to have women in those roles to normalize the image of women in political leadership,” says Kelly Dittmar, director of research at the Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics. Dittmar emphasizes that representation in executive roles is essential, as it challenges traditional views of leadership associated with masculinity.
New Hampshire’s Legacy of Female Leadership
New Hampshire has a strong history of electing women. Ayotte’s previous tenure in the Senate was part of the nation’s first all-female congressional delegation, and New Hampshire was the first state to have a female governor, Senate president, and House speaker simultaneously. Ayotte’s election maintains this legacy, though gender did not play a major role in her campaign. Both Ayotte and Craig largely avoided framing their candidacies around their gender, focusing instead on policy issues, particularly reproductive rights, which were frequently debated on the campaign trail. Ayotte ultimately stated she would veto any bill that further restricts abortion in New Hampshire, where abortion is legal up to 24 weeks.
Gender Representation in Politics: Gains and Gaps
Despite this progress, women remain significantly underrepresented in executive leadership. With 13 women holding governorships, 37 states will still be led by men, and 18 states have yet to elect a female governor. Political experts note that women continue to face unique challenges when running for high-level executive roles, often facing intense scrutiny over factors such as intelligence, appearance, and personal history, factors that male candidates are less likely to encounter. Dittmar points out that these biases often shape the campaign experience, especially for women running for governor or president.
Impact on Party and National Politics
The current wave of female governors includes a mix of political affiliations, with five Republicans and eight Democrats. Republican Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota was considered a potential running mate for President-elect Donald Trump, while Michigan’s Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was speculated as a presidential contender when President Joe Biden decided not to run. Having women in high-profile state roles is significant for both parties as they look to elevate leaders who can resonate with voters nationwide.
Barriers Women Face in Executive Roles
Executive positions, particularly the presidency, often carry masculine stereotypes, which can make it challenging for women to overcome societal expectations of leadership. Dittmar notes that roles associated with authority and command, like governor or president, frequently involve qualities stereotypically perceived as masculine, requiring women to work harder to validate their credentials. While women are advancing in leadership roles within state legislatures, with many becoming speakers and committee chairs, the path to executive offices like governor remains more complex.
Experts acknowledge that gender is not the sole factor influencing voters’ decisions but emphasize that biases around sexism, racism, and misogyny can impact perceptions of female candidates. “Sexism, racism, misogyny, it’s never the silver bullet. It’s never why one voter acts one way or another,” says Erin Vilardi, CEO of Vote Run Lead, an organization that supports women running for state office. Vilardi believes these biases are deeply embedded in cultural perceptions of leadership, which female candidates must navigate in every election cycle.
Looking Forward: The 2026 Gubernatorial Elections
While the record set for 2025 is a notable achievement, more progress could be made in 2026, when 36 states will hold gubernatorial elections. Observers are hopeful that continued gains in female representation in governorships will help address the disparities in executive roles and inspire more women to run. With women advancing in both Democratic and Republican ranks, future elections could further reshape the political landscape.
As the U.S. sees more women ascend to influential positions, the hope is that the barriers female candidates face will diminish, fostering a political environment where gender is less of a factor in leadership roles.
