List of female state attorneys general in the United States
Updated: 11/4/2025, 9:52:07 PM Wikipedia source
The following is a list of female attorneys general of states in the United States. Since 1959, there have been 34 states which have appointed or elected women as attorneys-general. Puerto Rico has had a record four women hold office as attorney general, the most of any U.S. state or territory. Anne X. Alpern of Pennsylvania is the first woman to hold office as the attorney-general of a state.
Tables
· List of female attorneys general of states
Anne X. Alpern
Anne X. Alpern
Officeholder
Anne X. Alpern
State
Pennsylvania
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 20, 1959
Left office
August 28, 1961
Law school
University of Pittsburgh
Arlene Violet
Arlene Violet
Officeholder
Arlene Violet
State
Rhode Island
Party
Republican
Assumed office
1985
Left office
1987
Law school
Boston College
Corinne Watanabe
Corinne Watanabe
Officeholder
Corinne Watanabe
State
Hawaii
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
1985
Left office
1986
Law school
Baylor University
Grace Berg Schaible
Grace Berg Schaible
Officeholder
Grace Berg Schaible
State
Alaska
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
1987
Left office
1989
Law school
Yale University
Mary Sue Terry
Mary Sue Terry
Officeholder
Mary Sue Terry
State
Virginia
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 11, 1986
Left office
January 28, 1993
Law school
University of Virginia
Clarine Nardi Riddle
Clarine Nardi Riddle
Officeholder
Clarine Nardi Riddle
State
Connecticut
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 3, 1989
Left office
January 9, 1991
Law school
Indiana University
Mary Stallcup
Mary Stallcup
Officeholder
Mary Stallcup
State
Arkansas
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
December 9, 1990
Left office
January 13, 1991
Gale Norton
Gale Norton
Officeholder
Gale Norton
State
Colorado
Party
Republican
Assumed office
January 8, 1991
Left office
January 12, 1999
Law school
University of Denver
Frankie Sue Del Papa
Frankie Sue Del Papa
Officeholder
Frankie Sue Del Papa
State
Nevada
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 7, 1991
Left office
January 6, 2003
Law school
George Washington University
Bonnie Campbell
Bonnie Campbell
Officeholder
Bonnie Campbell
State
Iowa
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 11, 1991
Left office
January 6, 1995
Law school
Drake University
Susan B. Loving
Susan B. Loving
Officeholder
Susan B. Loving
State
Oklahoma
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
June 22, 1991
Left office
January 9, 1995
Law school
University of Oklahoma
Heidi Heitkamp
Heidi Heitkamp
Officeholder
Heidi Heitkamp
State
North Dakota
Party
Democratic-NPL
Assumed office
December 15, 1992
Left office
December 15, 2000
Law school
Lewis & Clark College
Jan Graham
Jan Graham
Officeholder
Jan Graham
State
Utah
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 1993
Left office
January 2001
Law school
University of Utah
Pamela Carter
Pamela Carter
Officeholder
Pamela Carter
State
Indiana
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 13, 1993
Left office
January 16, 1997
Law school
Indiana University
Christine Gregoire
Christine Gregoire
Officeholder
Christine Gregoire
State
Washington
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 13, 1993
Left office
January 12, 2005
Law school
Gonzaga University
Margery Bronster
Margery Bronster
Officeholder
Margery Bronster
State
Hawaii
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 3, 1995
Left office
January 3, 1999
Law school
Columbia University
Carla Stovall
Carla Stovall
Officeholder
Carla Stovall
State
Kansas
Party
Republican
Assumed office
January 9, 1995
Left office
January 13, 2003
Law school
University of Kansas
Deborah Poritz
Deborah Poritz
Officeholder
Deborah Poritz
State
New Jersey
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 18, 1994
Left office
July 10, 1996
Law school
Harvard University
M. Jane Brady
M. Jane Brady
Officeholder
M. Jane Brady
State
Delaware
Party
Republican
Assumed office
January 3, 1995
Left office
December 7, 2005
Law school
Villanova University
Betty Montgomery
Betty Montgomery
Officeholder
Betty Montgomery
State
Ohio
Party
Republican
Assumed office
January 6, 1995
Left office
January 5, 2003
Law school
University of Toledo
Gay Woodhouse
Gay Woodhouse
Officeholder
Gay Woodhouse
State
Wyoming
Party
Republican
Assumed office
January 11, 1999
Left office
June 3, 2001
Law school
University of Wyoming
Jennifer Granholm
Jennifer Granholm
Officeholder
Jennifer Granholm
State
Michigan
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 1, 1999
Left office
January 1, 2003
Law school
Harvard University
Patricia A. Madrid
Patricia A. Madrid
Officeholder
Patricia A. Madrid
State
New Mexico
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 1, 1999
Left office
January 1, 2007
Law school
University of New Mexico
Janet Napolitano
Janet Napolitano
Officeholder
Janet Napolitano
State
Arizona
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 4, 1999
Left office
January 6, 2003
Law school
University of Virginia
Peg Lautenschlager
Peg Lautenschlager
Officeholder
Peg Lautenschlager
State
Wisconsin
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 3, 2003
Left office
January 3, 2007
Law school
University of Wisconsin
Lisa Madigan
Lisa Madigan
Officeholder
Lisa Madigan
State
Illinois
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 13, 2003
Left office
January 14, 2019
Law school
Loyola University Chicago
Kelly Ayotte
Kelly Ayotte
Officeholder
Kelly Ayotte
State
New Hampshire
Party
Republican
Assumed office
June 15, 2004
Left office
July 17, 2009
Law school
Villanova University
Judith Jagdmann
Judith Jagdmann
Officeholder
Judith Jagdmann
State
Virginia
Party
Republican
Assumed office
January 1, 2005
Left office
January 14, 2006
Law school
University of Richmond
Catherine Cortez Masto
Catherine Cortez Masto
Officeholder
Catherine Cortez Masto
State
Nevada
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 1, 2007
Left office
January 5, 2015
Law school
Gonzaga University
Lori Swanson
Lori Swanson
Officeholder
Lori Swanson
State
Minnesota
Party
Democratic (DFL)
Assumed office
January 2, 2007
Left office
January 2, 2019
Law school
William Mitchell College
Martha Coakley
Martha Coakley
Officeholder
Martha Coakley
State
Massachusetts
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 17, 2007
Left office
January 21, 2015
Law school
Boston University
Nancy H. Rogers
Nancy H. Rogers
Officeholder
Nancy H. Rogers
State
Ohio
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
May 28, 2008
Left office
January 8, 2009
Law school
Yale University
Paula Dow
Paula Dow
Officeholder
Paula Dow
State
New Jersey
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 18, 2010
Left office
January 10, 2012
Law school
University of Pennsylvania
Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris
Officeholder
Kamala Harris
State
California
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 3, 2011
Left office
January 3, 2017
Law school
University of California, Hastings
Pam Bondi
Pam Bondi
Officeholder
Pam Bondi
State
Florida
Party
Republican
Assumed office
January 4, 2011
Left office
January 9, 2019
Law school
Stetson University
Janet Mills
Janet Mills
Officeholder
Janet Mills
State
Maine
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 6, 2009January 7, 2013
Left office
January 6, 2011January 2, 2019
Law school
University of Maine, Portland
Linda L. Kelly
Linda L. Kelly
Officeholder
Linda L. Kelly
State
Pennsylvania
Party
Republican
Assumed office
May 27, 2011
Left office
January 15, 2013
Law school
Duquesne University
Ellen Rosenblum
Ellen Rosenblum
Officeholder
Ellen Rosenblum
State
Oregon
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
June 29, 2012
Left office
December 31, 2024
Law school
University of Oregon
Kathleen Kane
Kathleen Kane
Officeholder
Kathleen Kane
State
Pennsylvania
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 15, 2013
Left office
August 17, 2016
Law school
Temple University
Cynthia Coffman
Cynthia Coffman
Officeholder
Cynthia Coffman
State
Colorado
Party
Republican
Assumed office
January 11, 2015
Left office
January 8, 2019
Law school
Georgia State University
Leslie Rutledge
Leslie Rutledge
Officeholder
Leslie Rutledge
State
Arkansas
Party
Republican
Assumed office
January 13, 2015
Left office
January 10, 2023
Law school
University of Arkansas, Little Rock
Maura Healey
Maura Healey
Officeholder
Maura Healey
State
Massachusetts
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 21, 2015
Left office
January 5, 2023
Law school
Northeastern University
Jahna Lindemuth
Jahna Lindemuth
Officeholder
Jahna Lindemuth
State
Alaska
Party
Independent
Assumed office
August 8, 2016
Left office
December 5, 2018
Law school
University of California, Berkeley
Barbara Underwood
Barbara Underwood
Officeholder
Barbara Underwood
State
New York
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
May 22, 2018
Left office
December 31, 2018
Law school
Georgetown University
Letitia James
Letitia James
Officeholder
Letitia James
State
New York
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 1, 2019
Law school
Howard University
Dana Nessel
Dana Nessel
Officeholder
Dana Nessel
State
Michigan
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 1, 2019
Law school
Wayne State University
Kathy Jennings
Kathy Jennings
Officeholder
Kathy Jennings
State
Delaware
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 2, 2019
Law school
Villanova University
Clare E. Connors
Clare E. Connors
Officeholder
Clare E. Connors
State
Hawaii
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 3, 2019
Left office
December 10, 2021
Law school
Harvard University
Ashley Moody
Ashley Moody
Officeholder
Ashley Moody
State
Florida
Party
Republican
Assumed office
January 9, 2019
Left office
January 21, 2025
Law school
University of Florida
Bridget Hill
Bridget Hill
Officeholder
Bridget Hill
State
Wyoming
Party
Republican
Assumed office
March 15, 2019
Left office
May 28, 2025
Law school
University of Wyoming
Lynn Fitch
Lynn Fitch
Officeholder
Lynn Fitch
State
Mississippi
Party
Republican
Assumed office
January 14, 2020
Law school
University of Mississippi
Holly Shikada
Holly Shikada
Officeholder
Holly Shikada
State
Hawaii
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
December 10, 2021
Left office
December 5, 2022
Law school
William S. Richardson School of Law
Susanne Young
Susanne Young
Officeholder
Susanne Young
State
Vermont
Party
Republican
Assumed office
July 5, 2022
Left office
January 5, 2023
Law school
University of Vermont
Anne E. Lopez
Anne E. Lopez
Officeholder
Anne E. Lopez
State
Hawaii
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
December 5, 2022
Law school
William S. Richardson School of Law
Kris Mayes
Kris Mayes
Officeholder
Kris Mayes
State
Arizona
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 2, 2023
Law school
Arizona State University
Michelle Henry
Michelle Henry
Officeholder
Michelle Henry
State
Pennsylvania
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 17, 2023
Left office
January 21, 2025
Law school
Widener Law Commonwealth
Andrea Campbell
Andrea Campbell
Officeholder
Andrea Campbell
State
Massachusetts
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 18, 2023
Law school
University of California, Los Angeles
Angela Colmenero
Angela Colmenero
Officeholder
Angela Colmenero
State
Texas
Party
Republican
Assumed office
July 10, 2023
Left office
September 16, 2023
Law school
Notre Dame Law School
Liz Murrill
Liz Murrill
Officeholder
Liz Murrill
State
Louisiana
Party
Republican
Assumed office
January 8, 2024
Law school
Pepperdine University School of Law
Catherine Hanaway
Catherine Hanaway
Officeholder
Catherine Hanaway
State
Missouri
Party
Republican
Assumed office
September 8, 2025
Law school
Catholic University of America
| Officeholder | State | Party | Assumed office | Left office | Law school |
| Anne X. Alpern | Pennsylvania | Democratic | January 20, 1959 | August 28, 1961 | University of Pittsburgh |
| Arlene Violet | Rhode Island | Republican | 1985 | 1987 | Boston College |
| Corinne Watanabe | Hawaii | Democratic | 1985 | 1986 | Baylor University |
| Grace Berg Schaible | Alaska | Democratic | 1987 | 1989 | Yale University |
| Mary Sue Terry | Virginia | Democratic | January 11, 1986 | January 28, 1993 | University of Virginia |
| Clarine Nardi Riddle | Connecticut | Democratic | January 3, 1989 | January 9, 1991 | Indiana University |
| Mary Stallcup | Arkansas | Democratic | December 9, 1990 | January 13, 1991 | |
| Gale Norton | Colorado | Republican | January 8, 1991 | January 12, 1999 | University of Denver |
| Frankie Sue Del Papa | Nevada | Democratic | January 7, 1991 | January 6, 2003 | George Washington University |
| Bonnie Campbell | Iowa | Democratic | January 11, 1991 | January 6, 1995 | Drake University |
| Susan B. Loving | Oklahoma | Democratic | June 22, 1991 | January 9, 1995 | University of Oklahoma |
| Heidi Heitkamp | North Dakota | Democratic-NPL | December 15, 1992 | December 15, 2000 | Lewis & Clark College |
| Jan Graham | Utah | Democratic | January 1993 | January 2001 | University of Utah |
| Pamela Carter | Indiana | Democratic | January 13, 1993 | January 16, 1997 | Indiana University |
| Christine Gregoire | Washington | Democratic | January 13, 1993 | January 12, 2005 | Gonzaga University |
| Margery Bronster | Hawaii | Democratic | January 3, 1995 | January 3, 1999 | Columbia University |
| Carla Stovall | Kansas | Republican | January 9, 1995 | January 13, 2003 | University of Kansas |
| Deborah Poritz | New Jersey | Democratic | January 18, 1994 | July 10, 1996 | Harvard University |
| M. Jane Brady | Delaware | Republican | January 3, 1995 | December 7, 2005 | Villanova University |
| Betty Montgomery | Ohio | Republican | January 6, 1995 | January 5, 2003 | University of Toledo |
| Gay Woodhouse | Wyoming | Republican | January 11, 1999 | June 3, 2001 | University of Wyoming |
| Jennifer Granholm | Michigan | Democratic | January 1, 1999 | January 1, 2003 | Harvard University |
| Patricia A. Madrid | New Mexico | Democratic | January 1, 1999 | January 1, 2007 | University of New Mexico |
| Janet Napolitano | Arizona | Democratic | January 4, 1999 | January 6, 2003 | University of Virginia |
| Peg Lautenschlager | Wisconsin | Democratic | January 3, 2003 | January 3, 2007 | University of Wisconsin |
| Lisa Madigan | Illinois | Democratic | January 13, 2003 | January 14, 2019 | Loyola University Chicago |
| Kelly Ayotte | New Hampshire | Republican | June 15, 2004 | July 17, 2009 | Villanova University |
| Judith Jagdmann | Virginia | Republican | January 1, 2005 | January 14, 2006 | University of Richmond |
| Catherine Cortez Masto | Nevada | Democratic | January 1, 2007 | January 5, 2015 | Gonzaga University |
| Lori Swanson | Minnesota | Democratic (DFL) | January 2, 2007 | January 2, 2019 | William Mitchell College |
| Martha Coakley | Massachusetts | Democratic | January 17, 2007 | January 21, 2015 | Boston University |
| Nancy H. Rogers | Ohio | Democratic | May 28, 2008 | January 8, 2009 | Yale University |
| Paula Dow | New Jersey | Democratic | January 18, 2010 | January 10, 2012 | University of Pennsylvania |
| Kamala Harris | California | Democratic | January 3, 2011 | January 3, 2017 | University of California, Hastings |
| Pam Bondi | Florida | Republican | January 4, 2011 | January 9, 2019 | Stetson University |
| Janet Mills | Maine | Democratic | January 6, 2009January 7, 2013 | January 6, 2011January 2, 2019 | University of Maine, Portland |
| Linda L. Kelly | Pennsylvania | Republican | May 27, 2011 | January 15, 2013 | Duquesne University |
| Ellen Rosenblum | Oregon | Democratic | June 29, 2012 | December 31, 2024 | University of Oregon |
| Kathleen Kane | Pennsylvania | Democratic | January 15, 2013 | August 17, 2016 | Temple University |
| Cynthia Coffman | Colorado | Republican | January 11, 2015 | January 8, 2019 | Georgia State University |
| Leslie Rutledge | Arkansas | Republican | January 13, 2015 | January 10, 2023 | University of Arkansas, Little Rock |
| Maura Healey | Massachusetts | Democratic | January 21, 2015 | January 5, 2023 | Northeastern University |
| Jahna Lindemuth | Alaska | Independent | August 8, 2016 | December 5, 2018 | University of California, Berkeley |
| Barbara Underwood | New York | Democratic | May 22, 2018 | December 31, 2018 | Georgetown University |
| Letitia James | New York | Democratic | January 1, 2019 | Howard University | |
| Dana Nessel | Michigan | Democratic | January 1, 2019 | Wayne State University | |
| Kathy Jennings | Delaware | Democratic | January 2, 2019 | Villanova University | |
| Clare E. Connors | Hawaii | Democratic | January 3, 2019 | December 10, 2021 | Harvard University |
| Ashley Moody | Florida | Republican | January 9, 2019 | January 21, 2025 | University of Florida |
· Female territorial attorneys general
Judith W. Rogers
Judith W. Rogers
Officeholder
Judith W. Rogers
State
District of Columbia
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
April 12, 1979
Left office
1983
Law school
Harvard University, University of Virginia
J'Ada Finch-Sheen
J'Ada Finch-Sheen
Officeholder
J'Ada Finch-Sheen
State
U.S. Virgin Islands
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
1982
Left office
1984
Law school
Howard University School of Law
Inez Smith Reid
Inez Smith Reid
Officeholder
Inez Smith Reid
State
District of Columbia
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
1983
Left office
1986
Law school
Yale University, University of Virginia
Elizabeth Barrett-Anderson
Elizabeth Barrett-Anderson
Officeholder
Elizabeth Barrett-Anderson
State
Guam
Party
Republican
Assumed office
July 7, 1987
Left office
July 4, 1994
Law school
Santa Clara University
Vanessa Ruiz
Vanessa Ruiz
Officeholder
Vanessa Ruiz
State
District of Columbia
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
1994
Left office
October 1994
Law school
Georgetown University
Anabelle Rodríguez
Anabelle Rodríguez
Officeholder
Anabelle Rodríguez
State
Puerto Rico
Party
Popular Democratic
Assumed office
January 2, 2001
Left office
August 19, 2004
Law school
University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras
Ramona Villagomez Manglona
Ramona Villagomez Manglona
Officeholder
Ramona Villagomez Manglona
State
Northern Mariana Islands
Party
Independent
Assumed office
November 2002
Left office
May 2003
Law school
University of New Mexico
Linda Singer
Linda Singer
Officeholder
Linda Singer
State
District of Columbia
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 2, 2007
Left office
January 5, 2008
Law school
Harvard University
Alicia Limtiaco
Alicia Limtiaco
Officeholder
Alicia Limtiaco
State
Guam
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 3, 2007
Left office
June 21, 2010
Law school
University of California, Los Angeles
Elizabeth Barrett-Anderson
Elizabeth Barrett-Anderson
Officeholder
Elizabeth Barrett-Anderson
State
Guam
Party
Republican
Assumed office
January 5, 2015
Left office
January 7, 2019
Law school
Santa Clara University
Wanda Vázquez Garced
Wanda Vázquez Garced
Officeholder
Wanda Vázquez Garced
State
Puerto Rico
Party
New Progressive
Assumed office
January 2, 2017
Left office
August 7, 2019
Law school
Interamerican University of Puerto Rico
Denise George
Denise George
Officeholder
Denise George
State
U.S. Virgin Islands
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
May 14, 2019
Left office
January 1, 2023
Law school
Howard University School of Law
Dennise Longo Quiñones
Dennise Longo Quiñones
Officeholder
Dennise Longo Quiñones
State
Puerto Rico
Party
New Progressive
Assumed office
August 18, 2019
Left office
July 7, 2020
Law school
George Washington University Law School
Inés Del C. Carrau Martínez
Inés Del C. Carrau Martínez
Officeholder
Inés Del C. Carrau Martínez
State
Puerto Rico
Party
New Progressive
Assumed office
July 7, 2020
Left office
January 2, 2021
Law school
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico
Carol Thomas-Jacobs
Carol Thomas-Jacobs
Officeholder
Carol Thomas-Jacobs
State
U.S. Virgin Islands
Party
Democratic
Assumed office
January 1, 2023
Left office
April 14, 2023
Law school
Howard University School of Law
Ariel K. Smith
Ariel K. Smith
Officeholder
Ariel K. Smith
State
U.S. Virgin Islands
Party
Independent
Assumed office
April 14, 2023
Left office
March 15, 2024
Law school
Rutgers Law School
| Officeholder | State | Party | Assumed office | Left office | Law school |
| Judith W. Rogers | District of Columbia | Democratic | April 12, 1979 | 1983 | Harvard University, University of Virginia |
| J'Ada Finch-Sheen | Virgin Islands | Democratic | 1982 | 1984 | Howard University School of Law |
| Inez Smith Reid | District of Columbia | Democratic | 1983 | 1986 | Yale University, University of Virginia |
| Elizabeth Barrett-Anderson | Guam | Republican | July 7, 1987 | July 4, 1994 | Santa Clara University |
| Vanessa Ruiz | District of Columbia | Democratic | 1994 | October 1994 | Georgetown University |
| Anabelle Rodríguez | Puerto Rico | Popular Democratic | January 2, 2001 | August 19, 2004 | University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras |
| Ramona Villagomez Manglona | Northern Mariana Islands | Independent | November 2002 | May 2003 | University of New Mexico |
| Linda Singer | District of Columbia | Democratic | January 2, 2007 | January 5, 2008 | Harvard University |
| Alicia Limtiaco | Guam | Democratic | January 3, 2007 | June 21, 2010 | University of California, Los Angeles |
| Elizabeth Barrett-Anderson | Guam | Republican | January 5, 2015 | January 7, 2019 | Santa Clara University |
| Wanda Vázquez Garced | Puerto Rico | New Progressive | January 2, 2017 | August 7, 2019 | Interamerican University of Puerto Rico |
| Denise George | Virgin Islands | Democratic | May 14, 2019 | January 1, 2023 | Howard University School of Law |
| Dennise Longo Quiñones | Puerto Rico | New Progressive | August 18, 2019 | July 7, 2020 | George Washington University Law School |
| Inés Del C. Carrau Martínez | Puerto Rico | New Progressive | July 7, 2020 | January 2, 2021 | Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico |
| Carol Thomas-Jacobs | Virgin Islands | Democratic | January 1, 2023 | April 14, 2023 | Howard University School of Law |
| Ariel K. Smith | Virgin Islands | Independent | April 14, 2023 | March 15, 2024 | Rutgers Law School |
References
- Mills served one term as Attorney General, from 2009 to 2011, before being replaced by Republican William Schneider as t
- Ms. Magazinehttps://msmagazine.com/2022/09/20/what-does-attorney-general-do/
- The title of the head of Puerto Rico's Justice Department is the Secretary of Justice, not Attorney General.