While reading information at the Center for American Women and Politics, I came across something a little shocking:
US Congress – Iowa is among the four states that have never sent a woman to either the Senate or the House. The other states are Delaware, Mississippi and Vermont.
It’s time we change that.
A few other women firsts in Iowa:
- May E. Francis served as our first Supervisor of Public Instruction. She was elected and served in that capacity from 1923 to 1926. Other women to hold that office have been Agnes Samuelson and Jessie Parker.
- Ola Miller was our first woman elected as Secretary of State. She served from 1933 to 1937. (She would have served longer, but died while in office.) Other women who have served as Sec. of State are Mary Jane Odell and Elaine Baxter.
- Jo Ann Zimmerman was our state’s first female Lieutenant Governor. She served from 1987 to 1991 along with Gov. Terry Branstad. Other female Lieutenant Governors are Joy Corning, Sally Pederson and (currently) Patty Judge.
- Bonnie Campbell served from 1991 to 1995 as the state’s first female Attorney General.
- Patty Judge — current Lt. Gov. — was our state’s first Secretary of Agriculture. She served from 1999 to 2007.
