Why Colorado has never elected a woman governor
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Just 51 women have ever served as governor in the nearly 250-year history of the United States.
Yes, but: Those women have led in only 32 states, Jean Sinzdak, associate director at Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP), tells us.
- CAWP tracks and encourages women running and holding elected office.
The big picture: Colorado is among 18 states that have never had a woman governor, in addition to a handful of other blue states — California, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota and Virginia.
Why it matters: Representation in Colorado's highest executive office has long eluded women candidates, but the 2026 election could mark a turning point in a state where female politicians have made major inroads in other branches of government.
State of play: No high-profile woman candidate has yet to announce a run to replace term-limited Gov. Jared Polis, who has higher aspirations of his own.
Two potential local contenders include Democratic Secretary of State Jena Griswold and Republican state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer.
- Griswold, who was unavailable for comment Tuesday, has strong name recognition and has raised her national profile through frequent TV appearances over recent years.
- Kirkmeyer, a former congressional candidate, told 9News last year she was giving a potential gubernatorial bid "serious thought." Axios Denver was unable to reach her Tuesday.
Context: History, incumbency and lack of recruitment are major reasons why women can have a hard time running for higher office, Sinzdak tells us.
- Most U.S. governors have been men, she says, and beating an incumbent — often a man — is challenging.
What they're saying: "We still know that overall, at every level of office, men hold about seven in 10 elected positions still to this day," Sinzdak tells us.
The intrigue: CAWP issued a report called "The Donor Gap" in 2023 suggesting women are underrepresented in American politics "because they are underrepresented as donors."
- Women donors accounted for 33% of total contributions in gubernatorial elections between 2019 and 2022, per the report, which says men donate a disproportionate amount of total contributions.
Flashback: Over the past 35 years, only two women — Democrat Gail Schoettler in 1998 and Republican Heidi Ganahl in 2022 — have earned a major party's nomination to run for Colorado governor.
- Ganahl was overwhelmingly defeated by Polis, who had an enormous fundraising edge, while Schoettler lost a close race to Bill Owens in 1998 with a slightly smaller war chest.
Between the lines: Sinzdak notes women are often, as is the case for current Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera, recruited as running mates, playing a supporting role rather than a leading one.
- Schoettler (1995-1999), Jane Norton (2003-2007), Barbara O'Brien (2007-2011) and Donna Lynne (2016-2019) all served as lieutenant governor, a role that chiefly entails overseeing state boards and commissions.
The bottom line: A record 14 women are serving as governors simultaneously this year, per CAWP.
- They include potential Democratic presidential candidate Gretchen Whitmer in Michigan and former Trump senior adviser Sarah Huckabee Sanders in Arkansas.