Fact #10: Who was the “real” first female governor?

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Background Music Credit:
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FACT #10: Who was the “real” first female Governor - Part 1?

Depending on how the question is asked, one of four women could be considered the first female Governor.

Nellie Ross became governor of Wyoming in 1925 - making her the first woman to hold the title in the U.S. But this only happened because her husband, Governor William Bradford Ross, died from appendicitis less than two years into his first term. A special election was held to replace him. Nellie wavered on running for office. Eventually, Republicans nominated their guy. The Democrats went ahead and nominated Nellie. She was informed and then just 45 minutes before the deadline, she accepted the Democrat’s nomination. Sympathy vote or or help from her husband's last name and connections, she ended up winning by a larger margin than her husband did.