Nellie Tayloe Ross Elected Governor

Date: November 4, 1924 • Location: Washington, United States

In a special election in Wyoming, Nellie Tayloe Ross became the first woman to be elected as a governor in the United States.

The 1924 Wyoming gubernatorial special election took place on November 4, 1924. William B. Ross, the Democratic Governor of Wyoming, died in office on October 2, 1924, temporarily elevating Republican Secretary of State Frank Lucas to the governorship. A special election was held to fill the remainder of Ross's term and his widow, Nellie Tayloe Ross, defeated Republican nominee E. J. Sullivan, becoming the first ever female governor of any U.S. state.