List of the first female holders of political offices in North and Central America and the Caribbean
Main article: List of the first female holders of political offices
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Anguilla
- Governor – Christina Scott – 2013
Antigua and Barbuda
- Governor-General – Dame Louise Lake-Tack – 2007
The Bahamas
- Foreign minister – Janet Bostwick – 1994
- Governor-General – Dame Ivy Dumont – 2001
- Prime Minister (acting) – Cynthia Pratt – 2005
Barbados
- Minister of Parliament (House of Assembly) – Dame Edna ("Ermie") Bourne – 1951[1]
- Health minister – Billie Miller – 1976[1]
- Governor-General – Dame Nita Barrow – 1990
- Foreign minister – Dame Billie Miller – 1994
- President of the Senate – Sen. Kerry-Ann Ifill – First woman and blind person – 2012[2][3]
Belize
- Governor-General – Dame Minita Gordon – 1981
- Mayor of Belize City – Zenaida Moya – 2006
- Foreign minister – Lisa Shoman – 2007
- President of Senate – Andrea Gill – 2008
Bermuda
- Premier – Pamela F. Gordon – 1997
British Virgin Islands
- Speaker of the House of Assembly – V. Inez Archibald – 2003[4]
- Governor (acting) – Dancia Penn – 2006
Canada
Main article: Women in Canadian politics
- Monarch – Queen Victoria – 1867[5]
- City councillor and first woman elected to any political office in Canada – Hannah Gale – 1917
- Member of a provincial legislature – Louise McKinney (Alberta) – 1917 (first female legislator in the British Empire)
- Member of Parliament – Agnes Macphail – 1921[6]
- Senator – Cairine Wilson – 1930[7]
- Mayor – Barbara Hanley, Webbwood, Ontario – 1936[8]
- Mayor of a city – Charlotte Whitton, Ottawa, Ontario – 1951
- Leader of a political party at the provincial level – Thérèse Casgrain (Parti social démocratique du Québec) – 1951[9]
- Cabinet minister – Ellen Fairclough – 1958[10]
- Candidate for the leadership of a federal political party – Mary Walker-Sawka – 1967
- Speaker of the Canadian Senate – Muriel McQueen Fergusson – 1972
- Leader of a political party which won an election – Hilda Watson – 1978[11]
- Secretary of State for External Affairs – Flora MacDonald – 1979
- Speaker of the House – Jeanne Sauvé – 1980
- Leader of a political party with seats in a provincial legislature – Alexa McDonough (Nova Scotia New Democratic Party) – 1980
- Governor General – Jeanne Sauvé – 1984
- Leader of a political party at the federal level – Kathryn Cholette (Green) – 1988
- Leader of a political party with representation in the House of Commons – Audrey McLaughlin (NDP) – 1989
- Premier of a province – Rita Johnston (BC) – 1991[12]
- Premier of a territory – Nellie Cournoyea (NWT) – 1991
- Prime Minister – Kim Campbell – 1993[13]
- Leader of the Government in the Senate – Joyce Fairbairn – 1993
- Premier of a province in a general election – Catherine Callbeck (PEI) – 1993[12]
- Deputy Prime Minister of Canada – Sheila Copps – 1993
- Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons – Deborah Grey – 2000
- Leader of the Opposition in the Senate – Céline Hervieux-Payette – 2007
Ontario
- Federal Member of Parliament – Agnes Macphail – 1921
- Member of Provincial Parliament – Agnes Macphail and Rae Luckock – 1943
- Deputy Premier – Bette Stephenson – 1985
- Mayor of Toronto – June Rowlands – 1991
- Leader of a political party – Lyn McLeod – 1992
- Leader of the Opposition – Lyn McLeod – 1992
- Premier – Kathleen Wynne – 2013
Manitoba
- Member of the Legislative Assembly – Edith Rogers – 1920[14]
- Winnipeg City Councillor – Jessie Kirk – 1920[14]
- Federal Member of Parliament – Margaret Konantz (Rogers' daughter) – 1963[14]
- Speaker of the Legislative Assembly – Thelma Forbes – 1963
- Member of the Executive Council – Thelma Forbes – 1966[14]
- First Nations band chief – Jean Folster (as Chief of Norway House Cree Nation) – 1971[14]
- Deputy Premier – Muriel Smith – 1971[14]
- Lieutenant Governor – Pearl McGonigal – 1981[14]
- Leader of a political party – Sharon Carstairs – 1984
- Leader of the Opposition – Sharon Carstairs – 1988
- Mayor of Winnipeg – Susan Thompson – 1992[14]
Saskatchewan
- Member of the Legislative Assembly – Sarah Ramsland – 1919
- Federal Member of Parliament – Dorise Nielsen – 1940
- Leader of a political party – Lynda Haverstock – 1989
New Brunswick
- Federal Member of Parliament – Margaret Rideout – 1964
- Member of the Legislative Assembly – Brenda Robertson – 1967
- Cabinet minister – Brenda Robertson – 1970
- Leader of a political party – Elizabeth Weir and Barbara Baird – 1989
Quebec
- Leader of a political party – Thérèse Casgrain – 1951[9]
- Member of the National Assembly – Marie-Claire Kirkland – 1961
- Federal Member of Parliament – Monique Bégin, Albanie Morin and Jeanne Sauvé – 1972
- Leader of the Opposition – Monique Gagnon-Tremblay – 1998
- Speaker of the National Assembly – Louise Harel – 2002
- Mayor of Quebec City – Andrée Boucher – 2005
- Leader of a political party with representation in the legislature – Pauline Marois – 2007
- Premier – Pauline Marois – 2012
Alberta
- Member of the Legislative Assembly – Louise McKinney and Roberta MacAdams – 1917
- Federal Member of Parliament – Cora Taylor Casselman – 1941
- Mayor of Edmonton – Janice Rhea Reimer – 1989
- Leader of a political party – Pam Barrett – 1996
- Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly – Nancy MacBeth – 1998
- Premier of Alberta – Allison Redford – 2011
Nova Scotia
- Member of the Legislative Assembly – Gladys Porter – 1960
- Federal Member of Parliament – Coline Campbell – 1974
- Leader of a political party – Alexa McDonough – 1980
British Columbia
- Member of the Legislative Assembly – Mary Ellen Smith – 1918
- Cabinet minister – Mary Ellen Smith – 1921
- Speaker of the Legislative Assembly – Mary Ellen Smith – 1928
- Federal Member of Parliament – Pauline Jewett – 1963
- Leader of a political party – Rita Johnston – 1991
- Premier – Rita Johnston – 1991
- Leader of the Opposition – Joy MacPhail – 2001
Prince Edward Island
- Candidate for the Legislative Assembly – Hilda Ramsay – 1951
- Federal Member of Parliament – Margaret Mary Macdonald – 1961
- Member of the Legislative Assembly – Jean Canfield – 1970
- Cabinet minister – Jean Canfield – 1972
- Leader of a political party – Pat Mella – 1990
- Premier – Catherine Callbeck – 1993
Newfoundland and Labrador
- Member of the House of Assembly of Newfoundland (pre-Confederation) – Helena Squires – 1930[15]
- Member of the House of Assembly (post-Confederation) – Hazel McIsaac – 1975
- Cabinet ministers – Lynn Verge and Hazel Newhook – 1979
- Federal Member of Parliament – Jean Payne and Bonnie Hickey – 1993
- Leader of a political party – Lynn Verge – 1995
- Premier – Kathy Dunderdale – 2010
Yukon
- Federal Member of Parliament – Martha Black – 1935
- Member of the Legislative Assembly – G. Jean Gordon – 1967
- Leader of a political party – Hilda Watson – 1978
- Premier – Pat Duncan – 2000
Northwest Territories
- Member of the Legislative Assembly – Lena Pedersen (Pederson) – 1970
- Federal Member of Parliament – Ethel Blondin-Andrew – 1988
- Premier – Nellie Cournoyea – 1991
Nunavut
- Federal Member of Parliament – Nancy Karetak-Lindell – 1999
- Member of the Legislative Assembly – Manitok Thompson – 1999
- Premier – Eva Aariak – 2008[16]
Cayman Islands
- Premier – Julianna O'Connor-Connolly – 2012
- Governor – Helen Kilpatrick – 2013
Costa Rica
- Interior minister – Janina del Vecchio Ugalde – 2008
- President – Laura Chinchilla – 2010
Curaçao
- Governor (acting) – Adèle van der Pluijm-Vrede – 2012
- Governor – Lucille George-Wout – 2013
Dominica
- Minister of Communications & Works – Mabel Moir James – 1966
- Minister of Home Affairs – Mabel Moir James – 1970
- Prime Minister – Dame Eugenia Charles – 1980
- Foreign minister – 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 – Se. Sonia Williams – 2008
- Minister for Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports – Justina Charles – 2010
- Minister for Social Services, Community Development and Gender Affairs – Gloria Shillingford – 2010
El Salvador
- Minister of Foreign Affairs – María Eugenia Brizuela de Ávila – 1999
- Vice President – Ana Vilma de Escobar – 2004
- Mayor of San Salvador – Violeta Menjívar – 2005
Grenada
- Governor – Dame Hilda Bynoe – 1968
- Governor-General – Dame Cécile La Grenade – 2013
- President of the Senate – Margaret Neckles – 1990
- Speaker of the House of Representatives – Marcelle Peters – 1992
- Foreign minister – Clarice Modeste-Curwen – 2014
Guatemala
- Minister of Foreign Affairs – Maritza Ruiz de Vielman – 1994
- Interior minister – Adela Camacho de Torrebiarte – 2007
Haiti
- President (provisional) – Ertha Pascal-Trouillot – 1990
- Foreign minister- Claudette Werleigh – 1993
- Prime Minister – Claudette Werleigh – 1995
Honduras
- Foreign Minister – Patricia Rodas – 2009
- Vice President – María Antonieta de Bográn – 2010
Jamaica
- Prime Minister – Portia Simpson-Miller – 2006
- Foreign minister – Kamina Johnson Smith – 2016
Mexico
National offices
- Member of the Chamber of Deputies – Elvia Carrillo Puerto – 1922
- Secretary of Tourism and first female Secretary of state – Rosa Luz Alegría – 1980
- Secretary of Foreign Affairs – Rosario Green – 1998
- Secretary of Social Development – Josefina Vázquez Mota – 2000
- Secretary of Education – Josefina Vázquez Mota – 2006
- Secretary of Energy – Georgina Kessel – 2006
Local and municipal elected offices
- Mayor – Norma Villareal de Zambrano – 1967
State elected offices
Colima
- State governor – Griselda Álvarez, Colima – 1979
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
Montserrat
- Governor – Deborah Barnes-Jones – 2004
Netherlands Antilles
- Prime Minister – Maria Liberia Peters – 1984
Nicaragua
- President – Violeta Chamorro – 1990
- Interior minister – Ana Isabel Morales Mazún – 2007
Panama
- President – Mireya Moscoso – 1999
- Interior minister – Mariela Sagel – 1998
- Housing minister – Balbina Herrera – 2004
- Foreign minister – Isabel Saint Malo – 2014
Puerto Rico
- Governor – Sila María Calderón – 2000[17]
Saint Lucia
- Governor-General – Dame Pearlette Louisy – 1997
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Governor-General (acting) – Monica Dacon – 2002
Sint Maarten
- Prime Minister – Sarah Wescot-Williams – 2010[18]
- President of the Parliament – Gracita Arrindell – 2010[19]
- Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports – Rhoda Arrindell – 2010[20]
- Minister of Healthcare, Social Development, and Labor – Maria Buncamper-Molanus – 2010[20]
- Minister Plenipotentiary – Josianne Fleming-Artsen – 2014[21]
- Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications – Irania Arrindell – 2015[22]
Trinidad and Tobago
- City Councillor – Port of Spain – Audrey Jeffers – 1936–1946[23]
- Mayor – San Fernando – Beryl Archibald Crichlow – 1949[24]
- Member of Parliament – Isabel Ursula Teshea – 1961–1970[25]
- Minister of Government – Isabel Ursula Teshea – 1963–1970[25]
- Speaker of the House of Representatives – Occah Seapaul – 1991–1995[26]
- Attorney General – Kamla Persad-Bissessar – 1995–1996[27]
- Acting Prime Minister – Kamla Persad-Bissessar – 2000[28]
- President of the Senate – Linda Baboolal – 2002–2007[29]
- Ombudsman – Lynette Anthea Stephenson – 2006 – Incumbent[30]
- Leader of the Opposition – Kamla Persad-Bissessar – 2006–2007 & 2010[27]
- Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives – Pennelope Beckles-Robinson – 2007–2010[31]
- Minister of Foreign Affairs – Paula Gopee-Scoon – 2007–2010
- Mayor – Chaguanas – Natasha Navas – 2009–2010[32]
- Prime Minister – Kamla Persad-Bissessar – 2010 – 2015[27]
- Vice-President of the Senate – Lyndira Oudit – 2010 – Incumbent[33]
- Opposition Chief Whip – Marlene McDonald – 2010 – Incumbent[34]
- Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate – Pennelope Beckles-Robinson – 2010 – Incumbent[31]
Turks and Caicos Islands
- Governor (acting) – Cynthia Astwood – 2002
United States
Local and municipal elected offices
- Chairwoman of the Tohono O'odham Nation: Vivian Juan-Saunders (2003)[35]
- Chief of the Cherokee Nation: Wilma Mankiller (1985) [36]
- Mayor: Susanna M. Salter (1887)[37]
State elected offices
- State House of Representatives: Carrie C. Holly, Clara Cressingham, and Frances Klock (1894)
- State Senator: Martha Hughes Cannon (1896)
- Governor: Nellie Tayloe Ross (1925)[38]
- Speaker of a state house of representatives: Minnie Davenport Craig (1933)
- Lieutenant governor: Consuelo Northrop Bailey (1955)
- State Senate Majority Leader: Sandra Day O'Connor (1972)[39]
- Vermont House of Representatives: Edna Beard, 1921 [40][41][42]
- Vermont Senate: Edna Beard, 1923 [41][42]
National offices
Elected
- United States House of Representatives: Jeannette Rankin (1917)[43]
- United States Senator: Hattie Wyatt Caraway (1931)[44]
- Speaker of the House of Representatives: Nancy Pelosi (2007)[45]
National caucus or political party
- Chairperson of the Democratic Party National Committee: Jean Westwood (1972)
- Chairperson of the Republican Party National Committee: Mary Louise Smith (1974)
- House of Representatives Party Whip: Nancy Pelosi (2002)
- Party Leader of the House of Representatives: Nancy Pelosi (2002)[46]
- Chief Deputy Whip of the United States Senate: Barbara Boxer (2007)
Appointed
- U.S. Senator: Rebecca Latimer Felton (1922)[47]
- Cabinet & Secretary of Labor: Frances Perkins (1933)[48]
- Treasurer of the United States Georgia Neese Clark (1949)
- Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare: Oveta Culp Hobby (1953)
- Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: Carla Anderson Hills (1975)
- Secretary of Commerce: Juanita M. Kreps (1977)
- Secretary of Health and Human Services: Patricia Roberts Harris (1979)
- Secretary of Education: Shirley Hufstedler (1979)
- Secretary of Transportation: Elizabeth Dole: (1983)[49]
- Attorney General: Janet Reno: (1993)
- Secretary of the Air Force: Sheila Widnall (1993)
- Secretary of State: Madeleine Albright (1997)
- Secretary of Agriculture: Ann Veneman (2001)[50]
- Secretary of the Interior: Gale Norton (2001)[51]
- Secretary of the Navy (acting): Susan Livingstone (2003)
Uruguay
- Legislative Power
- Deputies – Julia Arévalo de Roche, Magdalena Antonelli Moreno – 1943
- Senators – Sofía Álvarez Vignoli, Isabel Pinto de Vidal – 1943
- Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies – Nora Castro – 2005
- Speaker of the General Assembly – Lucía Topolansky – 15 February 2010
- Acting President of the Republic – Lucía Topolansky – 26–28 November 2010
- Municipal
- Member of municipal council – Alba Roballo – 1955
- National Government
- Culture minister – Alba Roballo – 1968[52]
- Defence minister – Azucena Berrutti – 2005[52]
- Health minister – María Julia Muñoz – 2005[52]
- Housing minister – Beatriz Martínez – 1999[52]
- Industries minister – Primavera Garbarino – 2000[52]
- Interior minister – Daisy Tourné – 2007[52]
- Labor minister – Ana Lía Piñeyrúa – 1995[52]
- Social Development minister – Marina Arismendi – 2005[52]
- Tourism minister – Liliam Kechichián – 2012[52]
- Judiciary
- Member of the Supreme Court – Sara Fons de Genta – 1981 / Jacinta Balbela – 1985
See also
- List of elected and appointed female heads of state
- List of elected or appointed female heads of government
- List of the first LGBT holders of political offices
- List of the first female holders of political offices in South America
References
- 1 2 Carrington, Sean; Fraser, Henry (2003). "Parliament". A~Z of Barbados Heritage. Macmillan Caribbean. pp. 146–147. ISBN 0-333-92068-6.
Women were not able to vote until 1943. The first women to be elected as a Member of the House of Assembly (in 1951) was Ermie Bourne (later Dame Ermie). The first women to become a Minister of Government was the Honourable Billie Miller (Minister of Health, 1975).
- ↑ "Madame President". Nation newspaper. March 15, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ↑ "Another first". Barbados Advocate. March 15, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ↑ Guide 2 Woman Leaders
- ↑ Royal Heraldry Society of Canada (5 February 2007). "The Coat of Arms of Canada – A Short History". Royal Heraldry Society of Canada. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
- ↑ "MACPHAIL, Agnes Campbell". Library of Parliament.
First woman elected to the House of Commons
- ↑ "WILSON, The Hon. Cairine Reay". Library of Parliament.
First woman Senator in Canadian history
- ↑ ""Today in History" profile of Barbara Hanley from the ''Sudbury Star''". Members.shaw.ca. Retrieved 2010-06-24.
- 1 2 "Thérèse CASGRAIN". Canadian Women in politics – Hall of Fame.
She led the Québec wing of the party from 1951 to 1957, thereby becoming the first woman in Canada to lead a political party
- ↑ "he Rt. Hon. Ellen FAIRCLOUGH". Canadian Women in politics – Hall of Fame.
Ellen Loucks Fairclough was the first woman to be appointed to Canada's Cabinet
- ↑ Watson led the Yukon Progressive Conservative Party 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.
- 1 2 Johnston 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.
- ↑ "Kim Campbell as Prime Minister of Canada". Pm.gc.ca. Retrieved 2010-06-24.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Some Important Women's Firsts in Manitoba". Nellie McClung Foundation. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
- ↑ http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/women/030001-1330-e.html
- ↑ "Nunavut names new premier", The Globe and Mail, November 14, 2008.
- ↑ "Motivational Speaker, Professional Women, Latina/Bilingual/Hispanic". Silamcalderon.com. Retrieved 2010-06-24.
- ↑ Singh, Alita (11 October 2010). "Sarah pledges to build strong foundation for new country" (PDF). The Daily Herald. p. 1.
- ↑ Singh, Alita (11 October 2010). "Arrindel elected president of first parliament of St. Maarten" (PDF). The Daily Herald. p. 4.
- 1 2 "'10-10-10 a defining moment' Says Governor Holiday" (PDF). The Daily Herald. 11 October 2010. p. 3.
- ↑ "New Marcel Gumbs Cabinet takes office". The Daily Herald. 19 December 2014. Archived from the original on December 20, 2014.
- ↑ "New NA-led Cabinet to be sworn in today". The Daily Herald. 19 November 2015.
- ↑ "Audrey Jeffers". NALIS. Retrieved 2011-04-22.
- ↑ "History of San Fernando". What South Say. Retrieved 2011-04-22.
- 1 2 "1st Independent Parliament (29 Dec 1961 – 25 Aug 1966)". Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Retrieved 2011-04-21.
- ↑ "Members of Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago (1991–1995)". Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Retrieved 2011-04-21.
- 1 2 3 "Members of Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago (1995–2000)". Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Retrieved 2013-07-17.
- ↑ "Biography". NALIS. Retrieved 2011-04-21.
- ↑ "Members of Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago (2002–2007)". Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Retrieved 2011-04-21.
- ↑ "Office of the Ombudsman of Trinidad and Tobago". Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Retrieved 2011-04-21.
- 1 2 "Members of Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago". Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Retrieved 2011-04-21.
- ↑ "Navas to become first female mayor". Moontown. Retrieved 2011-04-22.
- ↑ "Members of Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago 2010–Present". Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Retrieved 2011-04-21.
- ↑ "Members of Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago 2010–Present". Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Retrieved 2011-04-21.
- ↑ Barber, D.A. (2003-12-04). "The New Boss". Tucson Weekly. Retrieved 2011-01-12.
- ↑ Women of the Hall National Women's Hall of Fame. (retrieved June 21, 2009)
- ↑ Susana Madora Salter-First Woman Mayor (Kansas Collection-Kansas Historical Quarterlies)
- ↑ "Nellie T. Ross". Wyoming State Archive.
- ↑ "Justice Sandra Day O'Connor Visits Duke Law". Duke Law School.
- ↑ "Vermont Women: Edna Beard". VPR. Retrieved 2013-09-07.
- 1 2 Edna Louisa Beard. "Person Detail". Womenshistory.vermont.gov. Retrieved 2013-09-07.
- 1 2 "Edna Beard". Vermonttoday.com. Retrieved 2013-09-07.
- ↑ United States Congress. "Jeannette Rankin (id: R000055)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- ↑ United States Congress. "Hattie Wyatt Caraway (id: C000138)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- ↑ "About Nancy Pelosi". Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
- ↑ "Biography". Office of Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi.
- ↑ United States Congress. "Rebecca Latimer Felton (id: F000069)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- ↑ "Frances Perkins". Social Security Administration.
- ↑ "Senator Elizabeth Dole". United States Senate.
- ↑ "Ann M. Veneman". United States Department of Agriculture.
- ↑ "Gale A. Norton". United States Department of the Interior.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Uruguayan Government Ministers". rulers.org. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
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