This is a list of political offices which have been held by a woman, with details of the first woman holder of each office. It is ordered by the countries in North and Central American and the Caribbean and by dates of appointment. Please observe that this list is meant to contain only the first woman to hold of a political office, and not all the female holders of that office.

Anguilla

* Minister of Social Services –

Albena Lake-Hodge Albena Lake-Hodge (1920 – October 22, 1985) was an educator and politician in Anguilla. She was known as "Teacher Albena". She was head of the Valley Girls' School in Anguilla. In 1970, she guided the amalgamation of the Valley Girls' Schoo ...

– 1976 *

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

– Christina Scott – 2013

Antigua and Barbuda

* Parliamentary Secretary of Women’s Affairs – Gwendolyn Tonge – 1994 * Member (Cabinet) - Gertel Thom - 2001 * Governor-General – Dame Louise Lake-Tack – 2007

Aruba

* Minister Plenipotentiary in The Hague –

Ella Tromp-Yarzagaray Alicia Angela Tromp-Yarzagaray, known as Ella Tromp-Yarzagaray, is an Aruban former politician of the People's Electoral Movement party. She was the first woman to hold the positions of Minister of Finance and Minister Plenipotentiary in the coun ...

– 1991 *

Minister of Finance A finance minister is an executive or cabinet position in charge of one or more of government finances, economic policy and financial regulation. A finance minister's portfolio has a large variety of names around the world, such as "treasury", " ...

–

– 1993 * President of Parliament – Mervin Wyatt-Ras – 2005 *

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister i ...

–

Evelyn Wever-Croes Evelyna Christina "Evelyn" Wever-Croes (born 5 December 1966) is an Aruban politician and current Prime Minister of Aruba, serving since November 2017. She is the first woman to hold this office. She is a member of the People's Electoral Movemen ...

– 2017

The Bahamas

* Minister of Transport – Doris Louise Johnson – 1969 * Foreign minister –

Janet Bostwick Dame Janet Gwennett Bostwick (née Musgrove; born 30 October 1939) is a Bahamian lawyer and politician. She entered politics in 1977 with an appointment to the Senate. She was the first woman to serve as acting Prime Minister, first woman Attorne ...

– 1994 * Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs -

- 1995 * Governor-General – Dame Ivy Dumont – 2001 *

(acting) – Cynthia Pratt – 2005

Barbados

* Minister of Parliament (House of Assembly) – Dame Edna ("Ermie") Bourne – 1951 * Health minister –

Billie Miller Dame Billie Antoinette Miller, DA, OOC (born 8 January 1944) is a Barbadian politician who served as Deputy Prime Minister. Miller is a member of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP). Early life and education Billie Miller's father, the late F ...

– 1976 * Governor-General – Dame Nita Barrow – 1990 * Foreign minister – Dame Billie Miller – 1994 * Attorney-General and Minister of Home Affairs –

Mia Mottley Mia Amor Mottley, (born 1 October 1965) is a Barbadian politician and attorney who has served as the eighth prime minister of Barbados since 2018 and as Leader of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) since 2008. Mottley is the first woman to hold ...

– 2001 * Leader of the Opposition –

– 2008 *President of the Senate – Sen.

Kerry-Ann Ifill Kerryann F. Ifill (born 20 December 1973)"Alumnus of the month: July 2 ...

– First woman and blind person – 2012 *

–

– 2018 *

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

–

Sandra Mason Dame Sandra Prunella Mason (born 17 January 1949) is a Barbadian politician, lawyer, and diplomat who is serving as the first president of Barbados since 2021. She was previously the eighth and final governor-general of Barbados from 2018 to ...

– Inaugural President– 2021

Belize

* Minister of Education and Housing and Social Service –

Gwendolyn Lizarraga Gwendolyn Margaret Lizarraga, MBE (11 July 1901 – 9 June 1975) commonly known as Madam Liz, was a Belizean businesswoman, women's rights activist and politician. She was the first woman elected to the British Honduras Legislative Assembly (now t ...

– 1965 * Governor-General – Dame Minita Gordon – 1981 *Ambassador of Belize to the U.S. -

Lisa Shoman Lisa Shoman, SC (born 1964) is a Belizean lawyer and politician and the Foreign Minister of Belize from 2007 to 2008. She was previously the Permanent Representative of Belize to the Organisation of American States and served concurrently as A ...

– 2000 *

Mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...

Belize City Belize City is the largest city in Belize and was once the capital of the former British Honduras. According to the 2010 census, Belize City has a population of 57,169 people in 16,162 households. It is at the mouth of the Haulover Creek, w ...

–

Zenaida Moya Zenaida Victoria Moya is a former mayor of Belize City, Belize, first elected in elections held in March 2006. She is a former member of the United Democratic Party (UDP). Moya was Belize City's first female mayor. Childhood and education Moya ...

– 2006 * Foreign minister –

– 2007 * President of Senate – Andrea Gill – 2008

Bermuda

* Minister of Health and Social Affairs – Gloria Juanita McPhee – 1968 * Premier – Pamela F. Gordon – 1997 *

–

Rena Lalgie Rena Lalgie is a British civil servant serving as Governor of Bermuda since 2020. She is the first woman, and the first person of African-Caribbean heritage, to be appointed governor of Bermuda.Paula F. Beaubrun – 1971 *

House of Assembly of the British Virgin Islands The House of Assembly of the British Virgin Islands, until 2007 known as the Legislative Council, has 15 members: 13 directly elected for four-year terms (nine in single-seat constituencies and four "at large"), and two ''ex officio'' members ...

Members – Ethlyn Smith and Eileene L. Parsons – 1995 * Speaker of the House of Assembly – V. Inez Archibald – 2003 *

(acting) –

Dancia Penn Ruth Dancia Penn, (born 1951) is a British Virgin Islands politician and former Deputy Governor of the British Virgin Islands from 20 September 2004 to 1 April 2007. She also formerly served as the Attorney General of the British Virgin Island ...

– 2006

Canada

Monarch A monarch is a head of stateWebster's II New College DictionarMonarch Houghton Mifflin. Boston. 2001. p. 707. for life or until abdication, and therefore the head of state of a monarchy. A monarch may exercise the highest authority and power i ...

–

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previo ...

– 1867 *

City council A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, rural counc ...

lor and first woman elected to any political office in Canada –

Hannah Gale Hannah "Annie" Elizabeth Rolinson Gale (December 29, 1876 – August 7, 1970) was a British-born Canadian politician who was one of the first women to hold an elected political position in Canada. She served as an Alderman on Calgary City Council ...

– 1917 * Member of a provincial legislature –

Louise McKinney Louise McKinney (; 22 September 186810 July 1931) was a Canadian politician, temperance advocate, and women's rights activist. She was the first woman elected into the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and the first woman to serve in a legislatur ...

(

Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...

) – 1917 (first female legislator in the

British Empire The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts e ...

) *

Member of Parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members o ...

– Agnes Macphail – 1921 * Senator –

Cairine Wilson Cairine Reay Mackay Wilson (February 4, 1885 – March 3, 1962) was Canada's first woman to become Senate of Canada, senator. She served as a Senator for Quebec from 1930 until her death. Personal life Cairine Reay Mackay was born in Montrea ...

– 1930 *

–

Barbara Hanley Barbara McCallum Hanley ( Smith,
''

Webbwood, Ontario – 1936 * Leader of a political party at the provincial level –

Thérèse Casgrain Marie Thérèse Casgrain, ., née Forget (10 July 1896 – 3 November 1981) was a French Canadian feminist, reformer, politician and senator. She was a leader in the fight for women's right to vote in the province of Quebec, as well as the first ...

(

Parti social démocratique du Québec The Parti social démocratique du Québec (PSD; ) was the Quebec wing of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation. It was founded in 1939 as the Fédération du Commonwealth Coopératif and was led by Romuald-Joseph Lamoureux in the 1944 general e ...

) – 1951 * Cabinet minister –

Ellen Fairclough Ellen Louks Fairclough (née Cook; January 28, 1905 – November 13, 2004) was a Canadian politician. A member of the House of Commons of Canada from 1950 to 1963, she was the first woman ever to serve in the Canadian Cabinet. Early life and c ...

– 1958 * Candidate for the leadership of a federal political party –

Mary Walker-Sawka Mary Walker-Sawka (born c. 1916)"Diefenbaker Blasts Party's Policy on '2-Nation' Canada", ''Chicago Tribune'', September 9, 1967 was a Canadian film producer,Sylvia Bashevkin, ''Opening Doors Wider: Women's Political Engagement in Canada''.

UBC Press The University of British Columbia Press (UBC Press) is a university press that is part of the University of British Columbia. It was established in 1971. The press is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and has editorial offices in Kelo ...

, 2010. . *

Speaker of the Senate of Canada The speaker of the Senate of Canada (french: président du Sénat du Canada) is the presiding officer of the Senate of Canada. The speaker represents the Senate at official functions, rules on questions of parliamentary procedure and parliament ...

–

Muriel McQueen Fergusson Muriel McQueen Fergusson, (May 26, 1899 – April 11, 1997) was a Canadians, Canadian activist, judge and politician. Fergusson served in the Senate of Canada and the first woman Speaker of the Senate of Canada, Speaker of the Senate. She is ...

– 1972 * Leader of a political party which won an election –

Hilda Watson Hilda Pauline Watson (January 13, 1922 – July 14, 1997) was a Canadian schoolteacher and politician from the Yukon Territory. She was the first woman in Canadian history to lead a political party which was successful in having its members elec ...

– 1978Watson led the

Yukon Progressive Conservative Party The Yukon Progressive Conservative Party (french: Parti progressiste-conservateur du Yukon) was a conservative political party in Yukon, Canada. It was succeeded by the Yukon Party. History The Yukon Progressive Conservative Party was founded in ...

into the territory's first-ever partisan legislative election; although her party won the election, Watson failed to win her own seat and thus did not become government leader. *

Secretary of State for External Affairs The Minister of Foreign Affairs (french: Ministre des Affaires étrangères) is the minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for overseeing the Government of Canada's international relations and is the lead minister respo ...

–

Flora MacDonald Flora MacDonald ( Gaelic: ''Fionnghal nic Dhòmhnaill'', 1722 - 5 March 1790) was a member of Clan Macdonald of Sleat, best known for helping Charles Edward Stuart evade government troops after the Battle of Culloden in April 1746. Her famil ...

– 1979 *

Speaker of the House The speaker of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body, is its presiding officer, or the chair. The title was first used in 1377 in England. Usage The title was first recorded in 1377 to describe the role of Thomas de Hungerf ...

–

Jeanne Sauvé Jeanne Mathilde Sauvé (; April 26, 1922 – January 26, 1993) was a Canadian politician and journalist who served as Governor General of Canada, the 23rd since Canadian Confederation. Sauvé was born in Prud'homme, Saskatchewan, and educate ...

– 1980 * Leader of a political party with seats in a provincial legislature – Alexa McDonough (

Nova Scotia New Democratic Party The Nova Scotia New Democratic Party is a social-democratic, progressive provincial party in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the provincial entity of the federal New Democratic Party (NDP). It was founded as the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (C ...

) – 1980 *

Governor General Governor-general (plural ''governors-general''), or governor general (plural ''governors general''), is the title of an office-holder. In the context of governors-general and former British colonies, governors-general are appointed as viceroy ...

–

– 1984 * Leader of a political party at the federal level – Kathryn Cholette (

Green Green is the color between cyan and yellow on the visible spectrum. It is evoked by light which has a dominant wavelength of roughly 495570 nm. In subtractive color systems, used in painting and color printing, it is created by a combi ...

) – 1988 * Leader of a political party with representation in the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of parliament. T ...

–

Audrey McLaughlin Audrey Marlene McLaughlin (née Brown; born November 8, 1936) is a Canadian politician and former leader of the New Democratic Party from 1989 to 1995. She was the first female leader of a political party with representation in the House of Co ...

(

NDP NDP may stand for: Computing * Neighbor Discovery Protocol, an Internet protocol * Nortel Discovery Protocol, a layer two Internet protocol, also called SONMP * Nondeterministic programming, a type of computer language Government * National ...

) – 1989 *

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada The minister of justice and attorney general of Canada () is a dual-role portfolio in the Canadian Cabinet. The officeholder in the role of Minister of Justice () serves as the minister of the Crown responsible for the Department of Justice an ...

Kim Campbell Avril Phaedra Douglas "Kim" Campbell (born March 10, 1947) is a Canadian politician, diplomat, lawyer, and writer who served as the 19th prime minister of Canada from June 25 to November 4, 1993. Campbell is the first and so far only female ...

- 1990-1993 * Premier of a province –

Rita Johnston Rita Margaret Johnston (born April 22, 1935; née Leichert) is a Canadian politician in British Columbia. Johnston became the first female premier in Canadian history when she succeeded Bill Vander Zalm in 1991 to become the 29th premier of Brit ...

( BC) – 1991Johnston became premier by winning the leadership of the governing party, but lost the subsequent election. Callbeck was the first female premier to win the office via her party winning a general election. * Premier of a territory –

Nellie Cournoyea Nellie Cournoyea (born March 4, 1940 in Aklavik, Northwest Territories) is a Canadian politician, who served as the sixth premier of the Northwest Territories from 1991 to 1995. She was the first female premier of a Canadian territory and the sec ...

( NWT) – 1991 *

–

– 1993 * Leader of the Government in the Senate – Joyce Fairbairn – 1993 * Premier of a province in a general election –

Catherine Callbeck Catherine Sophia Callbeck (born July 25, 1939) is a Canadian retired politician and the current and ninth Chancellor of the University of Prince Edward Island. She was the 28th premier of Prince Edward Island from 1993 to 1996, the third fema ...

(

PEI PEI or Pei may refer to: Places *Matecaña International Airport, Pereira, Colombia, IATA code PEI *Pei County (沛县), Jiangsu, China *Pei Commandery (沛郡), a commandery in Chinese history *Prince Edward Island, a province of Canada *Pei, T ...

) – 1993 * Deputy Prime Minister of Canada –

Sheila Copps Sheila Maureen Copps (born November 27, 1952) is a former Canadian politician who also served as the sixth deputy prime minister of Canada from November 4, 1993, to April 30, 1996, and June 19, 1996, to June 11, 1997. Her father, Victor Copps, ...

– 1993 * Leader of the Opposition in the

–

Deborah Grey Deborah Cleland Grey, (born July 1, 1952) is a retired Canadian member of Parliament from Alberta for the Reform Party of Canada, the Canadian Alliance, and the Conservative Party of Canada. She was the first female leader of the Opposition i ...

– 2000 * Leader of the Opposition in the Senate –

Céline Hervieux-Payette Céline Hervieux-Payette, (born April 22, 1941, L'Assomption, Quebec) is a former Canadian Senator and the former Leader of the Opposition in the Senate of Canada (2007–2008), the first woman ever to hold this position. She was previously ...

– 2007

Ontario

* Federal Member of Parliament – Agnes Macphail – 1921 * Member of Provincial Parliament – Agnes Macphail and

Rae Luckock Margaret Rae Morrison Luckock (October 15, 1893 – January 24, 1972) known as Rae Luckock was a feminist, social justice activist, peace activist and, with Agnes Macphail, one of the first two women elected to the Legislative Assembly of ...

– 1943 *

Deputy Premier A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some countries, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, ...

–

Bette Stephenson Bette Mildred Stephenson Pengelly (July 31, 1924 – August 19, 2019) was a Canadian medical doctor and politician in Ontario. She served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1975 to 1987, and was a cabinet minister in the Progressive Co ...

– 1985 *

Mayor of Toronto The mayor of Toronto is the head of Toronto City Council and chief executive officer of the municipal government. The mayor is elected alongside city council every four years on the fourth Monday of October; there are no term limits. While in ...

–

June Rowlands June Rowlands (née Pendock; May 14, 1924 – December 21, 2017) was a Canadian politician who was the 60th mayor of Toronto from 1991 to 1994. She was the first woman to serve as Toronto's mayor. Rowlands also served as a city councillor and wa ...

– 1991 * Leader of a political party –

Lyn McLeod Lyn McLeod (born ) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. She served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1987 to 2003. McLeod was a cabinet minister in the Liberal government of David Peterson from 1987 to 1990, and served as leader ...

– 1992 * Leader of the Opposition – Lyn McLeod – 1992 * Premier –

Kathleen Wynne Kathleen O'Day Wynne ( ; born May 21, 1953) is a Canadian former politician who served as the 25th premier of Ontario and leader of the Ontario Liberal Party from 2013 to 2018. She was elected to the Legislative Assembly in 2003 and sat as the ...

– 2013

Manitoba

Member of the Legislative Assembly A member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to a legislative assembly. Most often, the term refers to a subnational assembly such as that of a state, province, or territory of a country. ...

– Edith Rogers – 1920 *

Winnipeg City Council The Winnipeg City Council (french: Conseil municipal de Winnipeg) is the governing body of the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Council is seated in the Council Building of Winnipeg City Hall.Jessie Kirk Jessie Lennox Kirk (1877 — 2 December 1965) was a Canadian alderwoman. In 1920, Kirk became the first ever woman to be elected in the Winnipeg City Council. After her defeat in 1922, she ran for re-election multiple times from the 1920s to 1940 ...

– 1920 * Federal Member of Parliament – Margaret Konantz (Rogers' daughter) – 1963 *

Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Speaker of the Legislative Assembly is a title commonly held by Speaker (politics), presiding officers of parliamentary bodies styled Legislative Assembly, legislative assemblies. The office is most widely used in state and territorial legislatures ...

–

Thelma Forbes Thelma Bessie Forbes (September 26, 1910 – January 5, 2012) was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. She was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1959 to 1969, and served as a cabinet minister in ...

– 1963 * Member of the Executive Council – Thelma Forbes – 1966 *

First Nations First Nations or first peoples may refer to: * Indigenous peoples, for ethnic groups who are the earliest known inhabitants of an area. Indigenous groups *First Nations is commonly used to describe some Indigenous groups including: **First Natio ...

band Band or BAND may refer to: Places *Bánd, a village in Hungary *Band, Iran, a village in Urmia County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran * Band, Mureș, a commune in Romania *Band-e Majid Khan, a village in Bukan County, West Azerbaijan Province, I ...

chief – Jean Folster (as Chief of

Norway House Cree Nation The Norway House Cree Nation ( cr, Kinosao Sipi, ᑭᓄᓭᐏ ᓰᐱᐩ. SRO: kinosêwi-sîpiy) is based at Norway House, Manitoba, which is located on the Playgreen Lake section of the Nelson River system. The people are Swampy Cree from the Ro ...

) – 1971 *

–

Muriel Smith Muriel Smith may refer to: * Muriel Smith (politician) * Muriel Smith (singer) Muriel Burrell Smith (February 23, 1923 – September 13, 1985) was an American singer. In the 1940s and 1950s, she was a star of musical theater and opera, and w ...

– 1971 * Lieutenant Governor –

Pearl McGonigal Pearl Kathryne McGonigal (born June 10, 1929) is a retired Manitoba politician and office-holder. She was a prominent Winnipeg-area municipal politician from 1969 to 1981, and served as the province's 19th Lieutenant Governor from October 23, 1 ...

– 1981 * Leader of a political party –

Sharon Carstairs Sharon Carstairs (born April 26, 1942) is a Canadian politician and former Senator. Early life Carstairs was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the daughter of former Nova Scotia Premier and federal Senator Harold Connolly and his wife Vivian. She ...

– 1984 * Leader of the Opposition – Sharon Carstairs – 1988 *

Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749, ...

– Susan Thompson – 1992

Saskatchewan

–

Sarah Ramsland Sarah Katherine Ramsland, née McEwen (July 19, 1882 – April 4, 1964) was a Canadian politician, the first woman ever elected to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. She was born in Boon Lake, Minnesota, the daughter of local politician ...

– 1919 * Federal Member of Parliament –

Dorise Nielsen Dorise Winifred Nielsen (30 July 1902 – 9 December 1980) was a Canadian communist politician, feminist and teacher. Biography Before politics Born in London, England, Doris Webber arrived in Canada and settled in Saskatchewan in 1927 to work ...

– 1940 * Leader of a political party –

Lynda Haverstock Lynda Maureen Haverstock ( Ham; born September 16, 1948) is the former leader of the Saskatchewan Liberal Party, was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, and served as the 19th Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan from 2000 un ...

– 1989

New Brunswick

* Federal Member of Parliament –

Margaret Rideout Margaret Isabel Rideout (née Saunders; June 16, 1923 – May 12, 2010) was a Canadian politician, who represented the electoral district of Westmorland in the House of Commons of Canada from 1964 to 1968. She was the first woman elected to t ...

– 1964 *

–

Brenda Robertson Brenda Mary Robertson (née Tubb, May 23, 1929 – September 23, 2020) was a Canadian politician who served as Senator. She was the first woman elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick and the first woman to become a cabinet ministe ...

– 1967 * Cabinet minister – Brenda Robertson – 1970 * Leader of a political party –

Elizabeth Weir Elizabeth Jane Weir (born February 20, 1948) is a Canadian lawyer and politician in New Brunswick. She was elected leader of the New Democratic Party of New Brunswick in June 1988 and became an opposition voice to the Liberal government, whic ...

and

Barbara Baird Barbara Lilian Baird, , (born October 1, 1952) also known as Barbara Baird-Filliter, was the first female leader of the Progressive Conservative Party in the Canadian province of New Brunswick, serving from 1989 to 1991. She led the party durin ...

– 1989

Quebec

* Leader of a political party –

– 1951 *

Member of the National Assembly In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the rep ...

–

Marie-Claire Kirkland Marie-Claire Kirkland-Casgrain, (September 8, 1924 – March 24, 2016) was a Quebec lawyer, judge and politician. She was the first woman elected to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec, the first woman appointed a Cabinet minister in Quebec, ...

– 1961 * Federal Member of Parliament –

Monique Bégin Monique Bégin, (born March 1, 1936) is a Canadian academic and former politician. Early life Bégin was born in Rome and raised in France and Portugal before emigrating to Canada at the end of World War II. She received a MA degree in soc ...

Albanie Morin Albanie Morin (April 30, 1921 – September 30, 1976) was a Canadian politician, who represented the electoral district of Louis-Hébert in the House of Commons of Canada from 1972 to 1976. Morin, Monique Bégin and Jeanne Sauvé, all elected ...

and

– 1972 * Leader of the Opposition –

Monique Gagnon-Tremblay Monique Gagnon-Tremblay (born May 26, 1940 in Plessisville, Quebec) is a politician in Quebec, Canada. She was the MNA for the riding of Saint-François in the Estrie region from 1985 to 2012. She served as Liberal leader of the Opposition in ...

– 1998 * Speaker of the National Assembly –

Louise Harel Louise Harel (born April 22, 1946) is a Quebec politician. In 2005 she served as interim leader of the Parti Québécois following the resignation of Bernard Landry. She was also interim leader of the opposition in the National Assembly of Qu ...

– 2002 * Mayor of

Quebec City Quebec City ( or ; french: Ville de Québec), officially Québec (), is the capital city of the Canadian province of Quebec. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 549,459, and the metropolitan area had a population of 839,311. It is t ...

–

Andrée Boucher Andrée Plamondon Boucher (January 31, 1937 – August 24, 2007) was a Canadian politician from the province of Quebec. She was the mayor of Quebec City from November 19, 2005 until her death. Previously, she had been the mayor of the city of Sa ...

– 2005 * Leader of a political party with representation in the legislature –

Pauline Marois Pauline Marois (; born March 29, 1949) is a retired Canadian politician, who served as the 30th premier of Quebec from 2012 to 2014. Marois had been a member of the National Assembly in various ridings since 1981 as a member of the Parti Québ ...

– 2007 * Premier – Pauline Marois – 2012 * ''Elected'' Mayor of

Montreal Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple ...

–

Valérie Plante Valérie Plante (born June 14, 1974) is a Canadian politician serving as the 45th and current mayor of Montreal since 2017.

– 2017

Alberta

–

and Roberta MacAdams – 1917 * Federal Member of Parliament –

Cora Taylor Casselman Cora Taylor Casselman (October 18, 1888 – September 6, 1964) was a Canadian federal politician. She was elected to represent the electoral district of Edmonton East in the House of Commons of Canada from 1941 to 1945. A member of the Liberal ...

– 1941 *

Edmonton Edmonton ( ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. The city ancho ...

–

Janice Rhea Reimer Janice Rhea Reimer (born May 23, 1952) is a Canadian politician and the first female mayor of Edmonton, Alberta, having served in that capacity from 1989 until 1995. Highlights of her time in office included the inception of a new waste managemen ...

– 1989 * Leader of a political party – Pam Barrett – 1996 * Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly – Nancy MacBeth – 1998 *

Premier of Alberta The premier of Alberta is the first minister for the Canadian province of Alberta, and the province's head of government. The current premier is Danielle Smith, leader of the United Conservative Party, who was sworn in on October 11, 2022. The ...

–

Allison Redford Alison Merrilla Redford (born March 7, 1965) is a Canadian lawyer and former politician. She was the 14th premier of Alberta, having served in this capacity from October 7, 2011, to March 23, 2014. Redford was born in Kitimat, British Columbia ...

– 2011

Nova Scotia

–

Gladys Porter Gladys Muriel Porter, MBE, née Richardson, daughter of Walter Richardson and Christina Macpherson, (August 4, 1893, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada – April 30, 1967, Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada) was the first woman in the Maritimes to be ...

– 1960 * Federal Member of Parliament –

Coline Campbell Coline M. Campbell (born 26 September 1940) is a former member of the House of Commons of Canada The House of Commons of Canada (french: Chambre des communes du Canada) is the lower house of the Parliament of Canada. Together with the Cro ...

– 1974 * Leader of a political party – Alexa McDonough – 1980

British Columbia

–

Mary Ellen Smith Mary Ellen Spear Smith (October 11, 1863 – May 3, 1933) was a politician in British Columbia, Canada. She was the first female Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, * Cabinet minister –

– 1991 * Premier –

– 1991 * Leader of the Opposition –

Joy MacPhail Joy Kathryn MacPhail (born March 6, 1952) is a Canadian former politician in British Columbia. A longtime member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party, she served as a member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from 1991 to 2005 and as a ...

– 2001

Prince Edward Island

* Candidate for the Legislative Assembly – Hilda Ramsay – 1951 * Federal Member of Parliament –

Margaret Mary Macdonald Margaret Mary Macdonald was a Canadian politician. On May 29, 1961 she became the first woman to represent Prince Edward Island in the House of Commons of Canada. She first won representation for the electoral district of King's at the House o ...

– 1961 *

–

Jean Canfield Ella Jean Canfield, née Garrett (October 4, 1919 – December 31, 2000) was a Canadian politician."Involvement's the thing: minister". ''Ottawa Citizen'', April 12, 1973. She was the first woman ever elected to the Legislative Assembly of Pr ...

– 1970 * Cabinet minister – Jean Canfield – 1972 * Leader of a political party –

Pat Mella Patricia Janet Mella (born August 29, 1943) is a Canadian politician and former teacher. Mella was Prince Edward Island Progressive Conservative Party (PC) leader from 1990 to 1996 and an elected member of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edwar ...

– 1990 * Premier –

– 1993

Newfoundland and Labrador

* Member of the House of Assembly of Newfoundland (pre-

Confederation A confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a union of sovereign groups or states united for purposes of common action. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issu ...

) – Helena Squires – 1930 * Member of the House of Assembly (post-Confederation) – Hazel McIsaac – 1975 * Cabinet ministers –

Lynn Verge Lynn Verge is a Canadian lawyer and politician from Newfoundland and Labrador. She represented the Corner Brook electoral district of Humber East in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 1979 to 1996. As of 2016, she serves as th ...

and

Hazel Newhook Hazel Rose Newhook (December 24, 1914 – June 26, 2016) was a Canadian politician, who sat in the Newfoundland House of Assembly from 1979 to 1985 as a member of the Progressive Conservatives. where she represented the electoral district o ...

– 1979 * Federal Member of Parliament –

Jean Payne Jean Payne (12 May 1939 – 4 March 2020) was a member of the House of Commons of Canada from 1993 to 1997. She was born in St. John's, Newfoundland, and was a businessperson by career. She was elected in the 1993 federal election at the St. ...

and

Bonnie Hickey Patricia "Bonnie" Hickey (born 5 March 1955) is a Canadian former politician. Hickey was a member of the House of Commons of Canada from 1993 to 1997. Born in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Hickey was elected in the 1993 federal ele ...

– 1993 * Leader of a political party –

– 1995 * Premier –

Kathy Dunderdale Kathleen Mary Margaret "Kathy" Dunderdale (née Warren; born February 1952) is a politician and former MHA who served as the tenth premier of Newfoundland and Labrador from December 3, 2010, to January 24, 2014. Dunderdale was born and raised in ...

– 2010

Yukon

* Federal Member of Parliament –

Martha Black Martha Louise Munger Black OBE (February 24, 1866 – October 31, 1957) was a Canadian politician. Black was the second woman elected to the House of Commons of Canada. Biography Martha was born in on February 24, 1866 in Chicago, Illinois ...

– 1935 *

– G. Jean Gordon – 1967 * Leader of a political party –

– 1978 * Premier –

Pat Duncan Pat Duncan (born April 8, 1960) is a Canadian politician from Yukon. Duncan served as leader of the Yukon Liberal Party from 1998 to 2005 and as the sixth premier of Yukon from 2000 until 2002. Duncan was the first Liberal premier of the Yukon ...

– 2000

Northwest Territories

–

Lena Pedersen Lena (Elizabeth Magdalena) Pedersen or Lena Pederson (born 1940, Greenland) is a politician and social worker from Nunavut, Canada. In 1959, she moved from Greenland to the Northwest Territories and lived in Coppermine (Kugluktuk), Pangnirtung an ...

(Pederson) – 1970 * Federal Member of Parliament –

Ethel Blondin-Andrew Ethel Dorothy Blondin-Andrew (born 25 March 1951) is a Canadian politician, educator, and public servant. She became the first Indigenous woman to be elected to the Parliament of Canada in 1988 when she became a member of Parliament for the di ...

– 1988 * Premier –

– 1991

Nunavut

* Federal Member of Parliament – Nancy Karetak-Lindell – 1999 *

– Manitok Thompson – 1999 * Premier –

Eva Aariak Eva Qamaniq Aariak ( iu, ᐄᕙ ᐋᕆᐊᒃ, ; born January 10, 1955) is a Canadian Inuk politician, who was elected in the 2008 territorial election to represent the electoral district of Iqaluit East in the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut ...

– 2008

Cayman Islands

* Speaker of the National Assembly - Sybil McLaughlin - 1991 * Minister of Education – Sybil McLaughlin – 1996 * Premier – Julianna O'Connor-Connolly – 2012 *

– Helen Kilpatrick – 2013

Costa Rica

* Minister of Education – Estela Hernández Quezada de Niño – 1958 * Interior minister – Janina del Vecchio Ugalde – 2008 *

–

Laura Chinchilla Laura Chinchilla Miranda (; born 28 March 1959) is a Costa Rican politician who was President of Costa Rica from 2010 to 2014. She was one of Óscar Arias Sánchez's two Vice-Presidents and his administration's Minister of Justice. She was t ...

– 2010 *Minister of Justice - Cecilia Sánchez Romero - 2017

Cuba

* Minister without Portfolio – María Gómez Carbonell – 1942 * Minister of Education – Zolia Mulet y Proenza – 1954

Curaçao

* Commissioner of Health – Maria Liberia-Peters – 1977https://www.guide2womenleaders.com/Curacao.htm * Deputy Governor – Maria Liberia-Peters – 1982 *

(acting) –

Adèle van der Pluijm-Vrede Adèle Pauline van der Pluijm-Vrede (born 1952) is a Curaçaoan politician who served as Acting Governor of Curaçao from October 10, 2010, to November 4, 2013. When ''then''-governor Frits Goedgedrag resigned for health reasons, Van der Pluijm-V ...

– 2012 *

–

Lucille George-Wout Lucille Andrea George-Wout (born 29 February 1950) is a Curaçaoan politician currently serving as the second governor of Curaçao since 4 November 2013. Political career George-Wout was a member of parliament for the Partido MAN in the Island C ...

– 2013

Dominica

* Minister of Labour and Social Affairs –

Phyllis Shand Allfrey Phyllis Byam Shand Allfrey (24 October 1908 – 4 February 1986) was a West Indian writer, socialist activist, newspaper editor and politician of the island of Dominica in the Caribbean. She is best known for her first novel, '' The Orchid Hou ...

– 1958 * Minister of Communications & Works – Mabel Moir James – 1966 *

Minister of Home Affairs An interior minister (sometimes called a minister of internal affairs or minister of home affairs) is a cabinet official position that is responsible for internal affairs, such as public security, civil registration and identification, emergency ...

– Mabel Moir James – 1970 *

– Dame Eugenia Charles – 1980 * Foreign minister – Dame Eugenia Charles – 1980 * Defence minister – Dame Eugenia Charles – 1985 * Minister for Health and Social Security – Doreen Paul – 1995 * Minister for Community Development, Women's Affairs and Culture – Gertrude Roberts – 1995 * Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism with responsibility for festivals/ Minister for Community Development, Gender Affairs, Information and Culture – Loreen Bannis-Roberts – 2005 * Minister for Education, Youth Affairs, Human Resource Development and Sports –

Sonia Williams Sonia Olivia Williams (born May 28, 1979 in St. Johns) is a female track and field sprint athlete who competes internationally for Antigua and Barbuda.

– 2008 * Minister for Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports – Justina Charles – 2010 * Minister for Social Services, Community Development and Gender Affairs – Gloria Shillingford – 2010

Dominican Republic

* Secretary of State for Education, Culture and Public Worship – Lilia Portalatín Sosa – 1964 * Secretary of State for Labour – Altagracia Bautista de Suárez – 1966 * Secretary of State for Industry and Trade – Altagracia Bautista de Suárez – 1970 * Subsecretary of State for External Relations – Licelott Marte de Barrios – 1973

El Salvador

* Minister of Planning and Coordination of Economic and Social Development – Mirna Liévano de Márques Márquez – 1989 *

Minister of Foreign Affairs A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations. The formal title of the top official varies between co ...

– María Eugenia Brizuela de Ávila – 1999 *

Vice President A vice president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vice president is on ...

–

Ana Vilma de Escobar Ana Vilma Albanez de Escobar is a Salvadorans, Salvadoran female politician who was Vice President of El Salvador from 1 June 2004 to 1 June 2009. She is a member of the right-wing Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) party. She is the firs ...

– 2004 *

of San Salvador –

Violeta Menjívar Elvia Violeta Menjívar Escalante (born 1952 in Arcatao) is a Salvadoran politician affiliated with the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front. She has been Minister of Health and Social Welfare since 1 June 2014. She is the former mayor of ...

– 2005 *Minister of Health – María Isabel Rodríguez - 2009

Grenada

– Dame Hilda Bynoe – 1968 * Governor-General – Dame Cécile La Grenade – 2013 * President of the Senate –

Margaret Neckles Margaret Allette Neckles is a Grenadian politician. She was the first woman President of the Senate from 1990 to 1995. References 20th-century Grenadian women politicians 20th-century Grenadian politicians Living people Presidents of th ...

– 1990 * Speaker of the House of Representatives – Marcelle Peters – 1992 * Foreign minister – Clarice Modeste-Curwen – 2014

Guadeloupe

National Assembly In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the rep ...

Eugénie Éboué-Tell Eugenie Eboue-Tell (23 November 1891 in Cayenne, French Guiana – 20 November 1972 in Pontoise, France) was a politician from French Guiana who was elected to the French Senate in 1946 and reelected in 1948. She was the first black woman electe ...

- 1945 (First black female member)

Guatemala

* Minister of Education – Maria Eugenia Tejada Jaureguide de Putzeys – 1980 *

– Gladys Maritza Ruiz de Vielman – 1994 * Interior minister – Adela de Torrebiarte – 2007 *

– Roxana Baldetti – 2012

Haiti

* Secretary of State for Women Affairs – Rolande Chandler – 1986 * Minister of Information and Co-ordination – Rosemarie Nazan – 1989 *

(provisional) –

Ertha Pascal-Trouillot Ertha Pascal-Trouillot (born 13 August 1943) is a Haitian politician who served as the provisional President of Haiti for 11 months in 1990 and 1991. She was the first woman in Haitian history to hold that office and the first female president of ...

– 1990 * Foreign minister –

Claudette Werleigh Claudette Werleigh (born 26 September 1946) is a Haitian politician who served as the prime minister of Haiti from 1995 to 1996. She was Haiti's first female Prime Minister. In 1999 Werleigh became Director at the Life & Peace Institute in Upp ...

– 1993Skard, Torild (2014) "Claudette Werleigh" in ''Women of power - half a century of female presidents and prime ministers worldwide'', Bristol: Policy Press, * List of Prime Ministers of Haïti, Prime Minister –

– 1995

Honduras

* Minister of Education – Alba Alonzo de Quesada – 1965 * Foreign Minister – Patricia Rodas – 2009 * Vice President of Honduras, Vice President – María Antonieta de Bográn – 2010 * President of Honduras, President – Xiomara Castro – 2022

Jamaica

* Minister of Health and Labour – Rose Agatha Leon – 1953 * Prime Minister of Jamaica, Prime Minister – Portia Simpson-Miller – 2006 *Ministry of Justice (Jamaica), Minister of Justice and Attorney General - Dorothy Lightbourne - 2007-2011 * Foreign minister – Kamina Johnson Smith – 2016

Martinique

* Member of Parliament - Josette Manin - 2017 *Senator - Catherine Conconne - 2017

Mexico

National offices

* Member of the Chamber of Deputies of Mexico, Chamber of Deputies – Elvia Carrillo Puerto – 1922 * Subsecretary of Education for Culture – Amalia de Castillo Lédon – 1958 * Secretary of Tourism (Mexico), Secretary of Tourism and first female Mexican Executive Cabinet, Secretary of state – Rosa Luz Alegría – 1980 * Secretary of Foreign Affairs (Mexico), Secretary of Foreign Affairs – Rosario Green – 1998 * Secretary of Social Development (Mexico), Secretary of Social Development – Josefina Vázquez Mota – 2000 * Secretary of Education (Mexico), Secretary of Education – Josefina Vázquez Mota – 2006 * Secretary of Energy (Mexico), Secretary of Energy – Georgina Kessel – 2006 * Secretariat of the Interior (Mexico), Secretariat of the Interior – Olga Sanchez Cordero – 2018 * Secretary of Economy (Mexico), Secretary of Economy – Graciela Márquez Colín – 2018 * Secretary of Labor (Mexico), Secretary of Labor – Luisa María Alcalde Luján – 2018

Local and municipal elected offices

– Norma Villareal de Zambrano, Norma Villarreal de Zambrano – Mayor (Alcalde) of San Pedro Garza García, 1967

State elected offices

Colima

* List of Mexican state governors, State governor – Griselda Álvarez, Colima – 1979eMujeres :: Mujeres y hombres, mismos derechos, mismas oportunidades

Tlaxcala

* Governor of Tlaxcala – Beatriz Paredes – 1987

Yucatán

* Governor of Yucatán – Dulce María Sauri Riancho – 1991 * (First elected) Governor of Yucatán – Ivonne Ortega – 2007

Zacatecas

* Governor of Zacatecas – Amalia García – 2004

Federal District/Mexico City

* Head of Government of the Federal District – Rosario Robles – 1999 * ''Elected'' Head of Government of the Federal District – Claudia Sheinbaum – 2018

Sonora

* Governor of Sonora – Claudia Pavlovich Arellano – 2015

Montserrat

* Minister of Education, Health and Welfare – Mary Rose Tuitt – 1970 * Governor of Montserrat, Governor – Deborah Barnes-Jones – 2004

Netherlands Antilles

* Minister of Health and Environment – Lucinda E. da Costa Gomez-Matheeuws – 1970 * List of Prime Ministers of the Netherlands Antilles, Prime Minister – Maria Liberia Peters – 1984

Nicaragua

* Vice-Minister of Education – Olga Nuñez Abaunza de Saballos – 1950 * Minister of Education – María Helena de Perras – 1974 * President of Nicaragua, President – Violeta Chamorro – 1990 * Interior minister – Ana Isabel Morales Mazún – 2007

Panama

* Vice-Minister of Labor, Social Security and Public Health – Clara González de Berhinger – 1945 * Minister of Social Affairs and Health – Maria Santa Domingo de Miranda – 1950 * List of Heads of State of Panama, President – Mireya Moscoso – 1999 * Interior minister – Mariela Sagel – 1998 * Housing minister – Balbina Herrera – 2004 * Foreign minister – Isabel Saint Malo – 2014

Puerto Rico

* Assistant Attorney General – Miriam Maria Naveira de Rodón – 1966 * Secretary of Labour – Julia Rivera de Vincenti – 1968 * Governor of Puerto Rico, Governor – Sila María Calderón – 2000

Saint Kitts and Nevis

* Minister of Women's Affairs – Constance V. Mitcham – 1984 * Speaker of the National Assembly - Marcella Liburd - 2004 * Governor-General of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Governor-General - Marcella Liburd - 2023

Saint Lucia

* Minister of Housing, Community Development, Local Government and Social Affairs, Groups Needs, Cooperatives, the Provident Fund and Water – Heraldine Rock – 1974 *Ministry of Legal Affairs (Saint Lucia), Minister of Legal Affairs - Lorraine Williams - 1992 *Governor-General of Saint Lucia, Governor-General – Pearlette Louisy, Dame Pearlette Louisy – 1997

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

* Minister of Education Culture, Youth and Women's Affairs – Yvonne Francis-Gibson – 1989 * Attorney General - Judith Jones-Morgan - 2001 *List of Governors-General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Governor-General (acting) – Monica Dacon – 2002

Sint Maarten

*Ministry of Justice (Sint Maarten), Minister of Justice - Magali Jacoba - 2009 *Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, Prime Minister – Sarah Wescot-Williams – 2010 * President of the Parliament of Sint Maarten, President of the Parliament – Gracita Arrindell – 2010 * Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports – Rhoda Arrindell – 2010 * Minister of Healthcare, Social Development, and Labor – Maria Buncamper-Molanus – 2010 * Minister Plenipotentiary of Sint Maarten, Minister Plenipotentiary – Josianne Fleming-Artsen – 2014 * Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications – Irania Arrindell – 2015

Trinidad and Tobago

* City Councillor – Port of Spain – Audrey Jeffers – 1936–1946 * Mayor – San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago, San Fernando – Beryl Archibald Crichlow – 1949 * House of Representatives (Trinidad and Tobago), Member of Parliament – Isabel Ursula Teshea – (People's National Movement) 1961–1970 * Minister of Government – Isabel Ursula Teshea (People's National Movement) – 1963–1970 * List of Speakers of the House of Representatives of Trinidad and Tobago, Speaker of the House of Representatives – Occah Seapaul – 1991–1995 * Mayor – Arima – Rose Janneire (People's National Movement) – 1992–1996 * Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago, Attorney General – Kamla Persad-Bissessar (United National Congress) – 1995–1996 * List of prime ministers of Trinidad and Tobago, Acting Prime Minister – Kamla Persad-Bissessar (United National Congress) – 2000 * President of the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago, President of the Senate – Linda Baboolal – 2002–2007 * President of the Senate of Trinidad and Tobago, Vice President of the Senate – Christine Kangaloo (People's National Movement) - 2002 *President of Trinidad and Tobago, Acting President – Linda Baboolal – 2002–2007 * Ombudsman – Lynette Anthea Stephenson – 2006 * Leader of the Opposition (Trinidad and Tobago), Leader of the Opposition – Kamla Persad-Bissessar (United National Congress) – 2006–2007, 2010, 2015–incumbent * Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives – Pennelope Beckles (People's National Movement) – 2007–2010 *

– Paula Gopee-Scoon (People's National Movement) – 2007–2010 * Mayor – Chaguanas – Natasha Navas (United National Congress) – 2009–2010 * Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Prime Minister – Kamla Persad-Bissessar (United National Congress) – 2010 – 2015 * Opposition Chief Whip – Marlene McDonald (People's National Movement) – 2010 – 2015 * Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate – Pennelope Beckles (People's National Movement) – 2010 – 2013 *President of Trinidad and Tobago, President – Paula-Mae Weekes – 2018–Incumbent *Mayor – Point Fortin – Saleema McCree Thomas (People's National Movement) – 2020–Incumbent

Tobago

* House of Representatives (Trinidad and Tobago), Member of Parliament – Pamela Nicholson (Democratic Action Congress) – 1981–2000 * Secretary for Health, Social Security and Environment (Democratic Action Congress) – Judy Michelle Bobb – 1996-2000 * Secretary for Community Development, Youth and Sport (Democratic Action Congress) – Miriam Caesar-More – 1996-2000 * Senate (Trinidad and Tobago), Senator – Cynthia Alfred (Tobago Council of the People's National Movement) – 1996–2001 * Chief Secretary of Tobago, Deputy Chief Secretary of Tobago – Cynthia Alfred (Tobago Council of the People's National Movement) – 2001–2009 * Secretary for Health and Social Services – Cynthia Alfred (Tobago Council of the People's National Movement) – 2001–2009 * Presiding Officer of the Tobago House of Assembly – Anne Mitchell-Gift (Tobago Council of the People's National Movement) – 2001–2013 * Secretary of Education, Youth Affairs and Sport –Anne Mitchell–Giift (Tobago Council of the People's National Movement) – 2006–2013 * Leader of Government Business in the Tobago House of Assembly, Assembly – Tracy Davidson-Celestine (Tobago Council of the People's National Movement) – 2009–2013 * Secretary for Community Development and Culture – Tracy Davidson-Celestine (Tobago Council of the People's National Movement) – 2009–2013 * List of prime ministers of Trinidad and Tobago, Acting Prime Minister – Vernella Alleyne-Toppin (Tobago Organisation of the People) – 2010 * Clerk of the Tobago House of Assembly, Assembly – Vanessa Cutting-Thomas (Tobago Council of the People's National Movement) – 2010–2013 * Secretary of Tourism and Transportation – Tracy Davidson-Celestine (Tobago Council of the People's National Movement) – 2013–2017 * Chief Secretary of Tobago, Acting Chief Secretary of Tobago – Tracy Davidson-Celestine (Tobago Council of the People's National Movement) – 2016 * Secretary for Health, Wellness and Family Development – Agatha Carrington (Tobago Council of the People's National Movement) – 2017–2020 * Secretary for Community Development, Enterprise Development and Labour – Marslyn Melville-Jack (Tobago Council of the People's National Movement) – 2017–Incumbent * Secretary for Tourism, Culture and Transportation – Nadine Stewart-Phillips (Tobago Council of the People's National Movement)– 2017–Incumbent * Leader of a political party with representation in the Tobago House of Assembly, House of Assembly – Tracy Davidson-Celestine (Tobago Council of the People's National Movement) – 2020–Incumbent *Leader of a political party with representation in the House of Representatives (Trinidad and Tobago), House of Representatives – Tracy Davidson-Celestine (Tobago Council of the People's National Movement) – 2020–Incumbent

Turks and Caicos Islands

* Minister of Natural Resources – Arabella Smith – 1991 * Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Governor (acting) – Cynthia Astwood – 2002 *Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands - Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson - 2016

United States

Governors of each State

*Alabama – Lurleen Wallace - 1967 *Alaska – Sarah Palin - 2006 *Arizona – Rose Mofford - 1988 *Connecticut – Ella T. Grasso - 1975 *Delaware – Ruth Ann Minner - 2001 *Hawaii – Linda Lingle - 2002 *Iowa – Kim Reynolds - 2017 *Kansas – Joan Finney - 1991 *Kentucky – Martha Layne Collins, Martha Collins - 1983 *Louisiana – Kathleen Blanco - 2004 *Maine – Janet Mills - 2019 *Massachusetts – Jane Swift - 2001 *Michigan – Jennifer Granholm - 2003 *Montana – Judy Martz - 2001 *Nebraska – Kay A. Orr - 1987 *New Hampshire – Vesta M. Roy - 1982 *New Jersey – Christine Todd Whitman - 1994 *New Mexico – Susana Martinez - 2011 *New York – Kathy Hochul - 2021 *North Carolina – Bev Perdue - 2009 *Ohio – Nancy Hollister - 1998 *Oklahoma – Mary Fallin - 2011 *Oregon – Barbara Roberts - 1991 *Rhode Island – Gina Raimondo - 2015 *South Carolina – Nikki Haley - 2011 *South Dakota – Kristi Noem - 2019 *Texas – Miriam A. Ferguson - 1925 *Utah – Olene Walker - 2003 *Vermont – Madeleine Kunin - 1985 *Washington – Dixy Lee Ray - 1977 *Wyoming – Nellie Tayloe Ross - 1925

Senators of each State

*Alabama – Dixie Graves - 1937 *Alaska – Lisa Murkowski - 2002 *Arizona – Martha McSally & Kyrsten Sinema - 2019 *Arkansas – Hattie Caraway - 1931 (First female in history to be elected to the Senate) *California – Dianne Feinstein - 1992 *Florida – Paula Hawkins (politician), Paula Hawkins - 1981 *Georgia – Rebecca Felton - 1922 (First female in the history to be appointed to the Senate) *Hawaii – Mazie Hirono - 2013 *Illinois – Carol Moseley-Braun - 1993 *Iowa – Joni Ernst - 2015 *Kansas – Nancy Kassebaum - 1978 *Louisiana – Rose Long - 1936 *Maine – Margaret Chase Smith, Margaret C. Smith - 1949 *Maryland – Barbara Mikulski - 1987 *Massachusetts - Elizabeth Warren - 2013 *Michigan – Debbie Stabenow - 2001 *Minnesota – Muriel Humphrey - 1978 *Mississippi - Cindy Hyde-Smith - 2018 *Missouri – Jean Carnahan - 2001 *Nebraska – Eva Bowring - 1954 *Nevada – Catherine Cortez Masto - 2017 *New Hampshire – Jeanne Shaheen - 2009 *New York – Hillary Clinton - 2001 *North Carolina – Elizabeth Dole - 2003 *North Dakota – Jocelyn Burdick - 1992 *Oregon – Maurine Neuberger - 1960 *South Dakota – Gladys Pyle - 1938 (First female in history to be elected in her own right to the Senate rather than achieving office through Widow's Succession) *Tennessee – Marsha Blackburn - 2019 *Texas – Kay Hutchison - 1993 *Washington – Patty Murray - 1993 *West Virginia – Shelley Moore Capito - 2015 *Wisconsin – Tammy Baldwin - 2013 *Wyoming – Cynthia Lummis - 2021

Representatives of each State

*Alabama – Elizabeth B. Andrews - 1972 *Alaska – Mary Peltola - 2022 *Arizona – Isabella Greenway - 1933 *Arkansas – Pearl Peden Oldfield - 1929 *California – Mae Nolan - 1923 *Colorado – Pat Schroeder - 1973 *Connecticut – Clare Boothe Luce - 1943 *Delaware – Lisa Blunt Rochester - 2017 *Florida – Ruth Bryan Owen - 1929 *Georgia – Florence Reville Gibbs - 1940 *Hawaii – Patsy Mink - 1964 *Idaho – Gracie Pfost - 1953 *Illinois – Winnifred Sprague Mason Huck - 1922 *Indiana – Virginia E. Jenckes - 1933 *Iowa – Cindy Axne & Abby Finkenauer - 2019 *Kansas – Kathryn O'Loughlin McCarthy - 1933 *Kentucky – Katherine G. Langley - 1927 *Louisiana – Lindy Boggs - 1935 *Maine – Margaret Chase Smith - 1940 *Maryland – Katharine Byron - 1941 *Massachusetts – Edith Nourse Rogers - 1925 *Michigan – Ruth Thompson - 1951 *Minnesota – Coya Knutson - 1955 *Missouri – Leonor Sullivan - 1953 *Montana – Jeannette Rankin - 1917 (First female in history to be elected to Congress & the House of Representatives) *Nebraska – Virginia D. Smith - 1975 *Nevada – Barbara Vucanovich - 1983 *New Hampshire – Carol Shea-Porter - 2007 *New Jersey – Mary Teresa Norton - 1925 *New Mexico – Georgia Lee Lusk - 1947 *New York – Ruth Baker Pratt - 1929 *North Carolina – Eliza Jane Pratt - 1946 *Ohio – Frances P. Bolton - 1940 *Oklahoma – Alice Mary Robertson - 1921 *Oregon – Nan Wood Honeyman - 1937 *Pennsylvania – Veronica Grace Boland - 1942 *Rhode Island – Claudine Schneider - 1981 *South Carolina – Elizabeth Hawley Gasque - 1938 *South Dakota – Stephanie Herseth Sandlin - 2004 *Tennessee – Willa McCord Blake Eslick - 1932 *Texas – Lera Millard Thomas - 1966 *Utah – Reva Beck Bosone - 1949 *Virginia – Leslie Byrne - 1993 *Washington – Catherine Dean May - 1959 *West Virginia – Elizabeth Kee - 1951 *Wisconsin – Tammy Baldwin - 1999 *Wyoming – Barbara Cubin - 1995

Non-voting members of each Territory or District of Columbia

*American Samoa – Amata Coleman Radewagen - 2015 *District of Columbia – Eleanor Holmes Norton - 1991 *Guam – Madeleine Bordallo - 2003 *Hawaii Territory – Mary Elizabeth Pruett Farrington - 1954 *Puerto Rico – Jenniffer González - 2017 *United States Virgin Islands – Donna Christian-Christensen - 1997

Congressional Firsts

*First woman to be elected to the United States House of Representatives - Jeannette Rankin - 1916 *First woman to run for a United States Senate, Senate seat - Jeannette Rankin - 1918 *First female to preside over the United States House of Representatives, House – Alice Mary Robertson of Oklahoma - 1921 *First woman to be appointed to the United States Senate - Rebecca Latimer Felton - 1922 *First woman to be elected to the United States Senate - Hattie Caraway - 1932 *First female to preside over the United States Senate, Senate – Hattie Caraway of Arkansas - 1943 *First female to serve in both houses of United States Congress, Congress – Margaret Chase Smith of Maine - 1948 *First female pages appointed in United States Senate, Senate – Paulette Desell, Ellen McConnell, and Julie Price - 1971

Local and municipal elected offices

*Superintendent of Public Education - Ellen Webster (American politician), Ellen Webster - 1872 Harvey County, Kansas. *Superintendent of Public Education - Mary Higby - 1872 Labette County, Kansas. *Board of Education - Lydia Sayer Hasbrouck - 1880"Hasbrouck, Lydia Sayer (1827–1910)"
Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved January 14, 2018. *

- Susanna M. Salter - 1887 *Chief of the Cherokee Nation - Wilma Mankiller - 1985Women of the Hall ''National Women's Hall of Fame.'' (retrieved June 21, 2009)
/ref> *Chairwoman of the Tohono O'odham Nation - Vivian Juan-Saunders - 2003

State elected offices

*State legislature (United States), State House of Representatives - Carrie C. Holly, Clara Cressingham, and Frances S. Klock all of Colorado - 1894 *State Senator - Martha Hughes Cannon of Utah - 1896 *First female to serve in both houses of State legislature (United States), State legislature - Edna Beard of Vermont - 1923 *Governor (United States), Governor - Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming - 1925 *List of female speakers of legislatures in the United States, Speaker of a State House of Representatives - Minnie D. Craig, Minnie Davenport Craig of North Dakota -1933 *Lieutenant governor (United States), Lieutenant governor - Consuelo Northrop Bailey of Vermont - 1955 *State Senate Majority Leader - Sandra Day O'Connor of Arizona - 1972

National offices

Elected

*United States House of Representatives - Jeannette Rankin - 1917 *United States Senate - Hattie Wyatt Caraway - 1932 *Speaker of the United States House of Representatives - Nancy Pelosi - 2007 *Vice President of the United States - Kamala Harris - 2021

National caucus or political party

*House Democratic Caucus, Secretary of the Democratic House Caucus - Chase G. Woodhouse - 1949 *Senate Republican Conference, Chairwoman of the Republican Senate Conference - Margaret Chase Smith - 1967 *Democratic National Committee, Chairperson of the Democratic Party National Committee - Jean Westwood (politician), Jean Westwood - 1972 *Republican National Committee, Chairperson of the Republican Party National Committee - Mary Louise Smith (1914–1997), Mary Louise Smith - 1974 *Party Leaders of the United States House of Representatives, House Democratic Whip - Nancy Pelosi - 2002 *Party Leaders of the United States House of Representatives, House Democratic Leader - Nancy Pelosi - 2003 *Whip (politics), Senate Chief Deputy Democratic Whip - Barbara Boxer - 2007

Heads of the each Federal Executive Department

*United States Secretary of State, Secretary of State - Madeleine Albright - 1997 *United States Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of the Treasury - Janet Yellen - 2021 *United States Attorney General, Attorney General - Janet Reno - 1993 *United States Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of the Interior - Gale Norton - 2001 *United States Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Agriculture - Ann Veneman - 2001 *United States Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Commerce - Juanita M. Kreps - 1977 *United States Secretary of Labor, Secretary of Labor - Frances Perkins - 1933 (First female in history to be appointed to the Cabinet of the United States, Cabinet) *United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Health and Human Services - Oveta Culp Hobby - 1953 (The position was established as Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare on April 11, 1953; Renamed on May 4, 1980) *United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development - Carla Anderson Hills - 1975 *United States Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of Transportation - Elizabeth Dole - 1983 *United States Secretary of Energy, Secretary of Energy - Hazel R. O'Leary - 1993 *United States Secretary of Education, Secretary of Education - Shirley Hufstedler - 1979 *United States Secretary of Homeland Security, Secretary of Homeland Security - Janet Napolitano - 2009

Heads of former Federal Executive Departments

*United States Postmaster General, Postmaster General - Megan Brennan - 2015 (Reorganized department) *United States Secretary of the Air Force, Secretary of the Air Force - Sheila Widnall - 1993 (Merged department) *United States Secretary of the Navy, Secretary of the Navy - Susan Livingstone (acting) - 2003 (Merged department) *United States Secretary of the Army, Secretary of the Army - Christine Wormuth - 2021 (Merged department)

Executive Office of the President advisors

* Office of the United States Trade Representative - Carla Anderson Hills - 1989 * Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers - Laura Tyson - 1993 * Director of the Office of Management and Budget - Alice Rivlin - 1994 * Director of the National Economic Council (United States), National Economic Council - Laura Tyson - 1995 * National Security Advisor (United States), National Security Advisor - Condoleezza Rice - 2001 * Homeland Security Advisor - Frances Townsend - 2004

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:First Female Holders Of Political Offices In North and Central America and the Caribbean Female heads of government, * Lists of the first women holders of political offices, North America North America-related lists Central America-related lists Caribbean-related lists Women in North America Women in Central America Women in the Caribbean

Anguilla

Antigua and Barbuda

Aruba

The Bahamas

Barbados

Belize

Bermuda

Canada

Ontario

Manitoba

Saskatchewan

New Brunswick

Quebec

Alberta

Nova Scotia

British Columbia

Prince Edward Island

Newfoundland and Labrador

Yukon

Northwest Territories

Nunavut

Cayman Islands

Costa Rica

Cuba

Curaçao

Dominica

Dominican Republic

El Salvador

Grenada

Guadeloupe

Guatemala

Haiti

Honduras

Jamaica

Martinique

Mexico

National offices

Local and municipal elected offices

State elected offices

Colima

Tlaxcala

Yucatán

Zacatecas

Federal District/Mexico City

Sonora

Montserrat

Netherlands Antilles

Nicaragua

Panama

Puerto Rico

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Lucia

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Sint Maarten

Trinidad and Tobago

Tobago

Turks and Caicos Islands

United States

Governors of each State

Senators of each State

Representatives of each State

Non-voting members of each Territory or District of Columbia

Congressional Firsts

Local and municipal elected offices

State elected offices

National offices

Elected

National caucus or political party

Heads of the each Federal Executive Department

Heads of former Federal Executive Departments

Executive Office of the President advisors

See also

References