List of current United States first spouses

In the United States, the first spouse (first lady for women, first gentleman for men) is the term used to refer to the spouse of a chief executive - that is, of the spouse of the President of the United States (the First Lady of the United States and the First Gentleman of the United States) and the spouses of the governors of the 50 U.S. states and U.S. territories (Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the United States Virgin Islands) and the spouse of the mayor of the District of Columbia. (The spouses of many mayors are often called the "first lady" or "first gentleman" of the city as well, and the use of the terms sometimes extends even to the spouses of college presidents).

Since 1985, the National Governors Association has encouraged state First Ladies and Gentlemen to pursue their own, distinct causes and public agendas.[1] The public role of the first spouse is traditionally ceremonial. Like the First Ladies of the United States, state and territorial first spouses are not elected and earn no government salary. However, traditionally first spouses also champion important causes either nationally or within their individual states or territories,[2] such as charitable and humanitarian work. First spouses are often seen as high profile individuals who can direct public awareness towards a particular cause or campaign.[2] For example, the nation's first spouses launched a nationwide national breast cancer awareness campaign in conjunction with the National Governors Association in 1994.[2] In collaboration with the breast cancer initiative, some First Spouses participated in media campaigns, public relations, chaired statewide breast cancer awareness committees, and even spearheaded the creation of a specific women's departments within state health departments.[2] Diverse initiatives championed by individual current First Spouses have included advocacy against drunk driving,[3] heart disease in women,[4] the Special Olympics, and development assistance projects in Rwanda.[5]

Most first spouses have pursued their own careers before entering the public arena when their husbands or wives assumed the governor's mansion. For example, Lou Rell, former first gentleman of Connecticut, is a former naval pilot and commercial airline pilot with TWA.[6]

Currently, five states (Alabama, Colorado, Minnesota, New York, and Vermont), along with the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not have a First Lady or a First Gentleman.

Current First Ladies and Gentlemen

United States

Current First Lady President Past First Spouse since
Michelle Obama Barack Obama List January 20, 2009

States

Current First Lady or First Gentleman State Governor Past First Spouse since
divorced[7] Alabama Robert Bentley List
Donna Walker Alaska Bill Walker List December 1, 2014
Angela Ducey Arizona Doug Ducey List January 5, 2015
Susan Hutchinson Arkansas Asa Hutchinson List January 13, 2015
Anne Gust California Jerry Brown List January 3, 2011
Robin Pringle Colorado John Hickenlooper List January 16, 2016
Cathy Malloy Connecticut Dan Malloy List January 5, 2011
Carla Markell Delaware Jack Markell List January 20, 2009
Ann Scott Florida Rick Scott List January 4, 2011
Sandra Deal[8] Georgia Nathan Deal List January 10, 2011
Dawn Ige Hawaii David Ige List December 1, 2014
Lori Easley Idaho Butch Otter List January 1, 2007
Diana Rauner Illinois Bruce Rauner List January 12, 2015
Karen Pence Indiana Mike Pence List January 14, 2013
Chris Branstad Iowa Terry Branstad List January 14, 2011
Mary Brownback Kansas Sam Brownback List January 10, 2011
Glenna Bevin Kentucky Matt Bevin List December 8, 2015
Donna Hutto Louisiana John Bel Edwards List January 11, 2016
Ann LePage Maine Paul LePage List January 5, 2011
Yumi Hogan Maryland Larry Hogan List January 21, 2015
Lauren Baker Massachusetts Charlie Baker List January 8, 2015
Sue Snyder Michigan Rick Snyder List January 1, 2011
divorced Minnesota Mark Dayton List
Deborah Hayes Bryant Mississippi Phil Bryant List January 10, 2012
Georganne Nixon Missouri Jay Nixon List January 12, 2009
Lisa Bullock Montana Steve Bullock List January 7, 2013
Susanne Ricketts Nebraska Pete Ricketts List January 8, 2015
Kathleen Sandoval[9] Nevada Brian Sandoval List January 3, 2011
Thomas Hassan New Hampshire Maggie Hassan List January 3, 2013
Mary Pat Christie New Jersey Chris Christie List January 19, 2010
Chuck Franco New Mexico Susana Martinez List January 1, 2011
divorced New York Andrew Cuomo List
Ann McCrory North Carolina Pat McCrory List January 5, 2013
Betsy Dalrymple[10] North Dakota Jack Dalrymple List December 7, 2010
Karen Waldbillig Kasich Ohio John Kasich List January 10, 2011
Wade Christensen Oklahoma Mary Fallin List January 10, 2011
Dan Little Oregon Kate Brown List February 18, 2015
Frances Wolf Pennsylvania Tom Wolf List January 20, 2015
Andrew Kind Moffit Rhode Island Gina Raimondo List January 6, 2015
Michael Haley South Carolina Nikki Haley List January 12, 2011
Linda Daugaard South Dakota Dennis Daugaard List January 8, 2011
Crissy Haslam[11] Tennessee Bill Haslam List January 15, 2011
Cecilia Phalen Abbott Texas Greg Abbott List January 20, 2015
Jeanette Herbert Utah Gary Herbert List August 11, 2009
divorced[12] Vermont Peter Shumlin List
Dorothy McAuliffe[13] Virginia Terry McAuliffe List January 11, 2014 [14]
Trudi Inslee Washington Jay Inslee List January 16, 2013
Joanne Jaeger Tomblin West Virginia Earl Ray Tomblin List November 15, 2010
Tonette Walker Wisconsin Scott Walker List January 3, 2011
Carol Mead Wyoming Matt Mead List January 3, 2011

Territories

Current First Lady or First Gentleman Territory Governor Past First Spouse since
Malala Moliga, CynthiaCynthia Malala Moliga American Samoa Matalasi Moliga, Lolo LetaluLolo Letalu Matalasi Moliga List January 3, 2013
never married District of Columbia Bowser, MurielMuriel Bowser List
Calvo, ChristineChristine Calvo Guam Calvo, EddieEddie Calvo List January 3, 2011
Mendiola Tudela, DiannaDianna Mendiola Tudela Northern Mariana Islands Torres, RalphRalph Torres List December 29, 2015
Pastrana, WilmaWilma Pastrana Puerto Rico García Padilla, AlejandroAlejandro García Padilla List January 2, 2013
never married U.S. Virgin Islands Mapp, KennethKenneth Mapp List

See also

References

  1. ↑ Miller, John (2006-10-27). "Beauty queen, civil rights marcher could be first lady". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. Retrieved 2015-05-23.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "More About Governors' Spouses: A Tradition of Helping Others" (PDF). National Governors Association. Retrieved 2009-04-26.
  3. ↑ "First Lady Maryann Tulafono appeals to the general public". Government of American Samoa. Archived from the original on November 27, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-26.
  4. ↑ "Learn More about First Lady Cheri Daniels". State of Indiana. Retrieved 2009-04-26.
  5. ↑ "Rwanda Project: Who We Are: Cecile de Jongh - Vice President and Co-Founder". Rwanda Project USVI. Retrieved 2009-04-26.
  6. ↑ Leigh Cowen, Alison (2004-06-22). "Connecticut's Governor steps down: A New Leader Carrying Hope -- M. Jodi Rell". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-04-26.
  7. ↑ Divorce between Robert, Dianne Bentley finalized (Montgomery Advertiser article-September 29, 2015)
  8. ↑ Few, Jenel (6 November 2013). "Georgia's First Lady Sandra Deal promotes Governor Nathan Deal's grade level reading initiative". savannahnow.com. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  9. ↑ Doughman, Andrew (2 October 2013). "First lady Kathleen Sandoval to speak at mental health walk". lasvegassun.com. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  10. ↑ Schatz, Amber (22 January 2013). "First Lady Betsy Dalrymple Promotes Reading in Classrooms". kxnet.com. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  11. ↑ Jett, Tyler (17 August 2013). "Tennessee first lady Crissy Haslam christens new ferry". timesfreepress.com. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  12. ↑ "Gov. Shumlin divorce finalized". wcax.com. wcax. 5 April 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  13. ↑ Sullivan, Heather (9 January 2014). "Meet Virginia's new First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe". nbc12.com. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  14. ↑ Vozzella, Laura; Weiner, Rachel; Berman, Mark (11 January 2014). "McAuliffe sworn in as Virginia governor". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 13 January 2014.

External links

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