In the United States, the first spouse is the term used to refer to the spouse of a chief executive—that is, of the spouse of the president of the United States (the first lady of the United States and the first gentleman of the United States) and the spouses of the governors of the 50 U.S. states and U.S. territories (Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the United States Virgin Islands) and the spouse of the mayor of the District of Columbia. (The spouses of many mayors are often called the "first lady" or "first gentleman" of the city as well, and the use of the terms sometimes extends even to the spouses of college presidents).
Since 1985, the National Governors Association has encouraged state first ladies and gentlemen to pursue their own, distinct causes and public agendas. The public role of the first spouse is traditionally ceremonial. Like the first ladies of the United States, state and territorial first spouses are not elected and earn no government salary. However, traditionally first spouses also champion important causes either nationally or within their individual states or territories, such as charitable and humanitarian work. First spouses are often seen as high-profile individuals who can direct public awareness towards a particular cause or campaign. For example, the nation's first spouses launched a nationwide national breast cancer awareness campaign in conjunction with the National Governors Association in 1994. In collaboration with the breast cancer initiative, some first spouses participated in media campaigns, public relations, chaired statewide breast cancer awareness committees, and even spearheaded the creation of a specific women's departments within state health departments. Diverse initiatives championed by individual current first spouses have included advocacy against drunk driving, heart disease in women, the Special Olympics, and development assistance projects in Rwanda.
Most first spouses have pursued their own careers before entering the public arena when their husbands or wives assumed the governor's mansion. For example, Lou Rell, former first gentleman of Connecticut, is a former naval pilot and commercial airline pilot with TWA.
Three states, Alabama, Maine and Massachusetts along with the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, do not have a first lady or first gentleman.
Current first spouses
United States Current first lady President Past First spouse since Melania Trump Donald Trump List January 20, 2025
Current second lady Vice President Past Second spouse since Usha Vance JD Vance List January 20, 2025
States State Current first lady or first gentleman Governor Past First spouse since Kay Ivey List Rose Dunleavy Mike Dunleavy List December 3, 2018 Patrick Goodman Katie Hobbs List January 2, 2023 Bryan Sanders Sarah Huckabee Sanders List January 10, 2023 Jennifer Siebel Newsom Gavin Newsom List January 7, 2019 Marlon Reis Jared Polis List January 8, 2019 Ann Lamont Ned Lamont List January 9, 2019 Lauren Meyer Matt Meyer List January 21, 2025 Casey DeSantis Ron DeSantis List January 8, 2019 Marty Kemp Brian Kemp List January 14, 2019 Jaime Green Josh Green List December 5, 2022 Teresa Little Brad Little List January 7, 2019 MK Pritzker J. B. Pritzker List January 14, 2019 Maureen Braun Mike Braun List January 13, 2025 Kevin Reynolds Kim Reynolds List May 24, 2017 Laura Kelly List Britainy Beshear Andy Beshear List December 10, 2019 Sharon Landry Jeff Landry List January 8, 2024 Janet Mills List Dawn Moore Wes Moore List January 18, 2023 Joanna Lydgate Maura Healey List January 9, 2023 Marc Mallory Gretchen Whitmer List January 1, 2019 Gwen Walz Tim Walz List January 7, 2019 Elee Reeves Tate Reeves List January 14, 2020 Claudia Kehoe Mike Kehoe List January 13, 2025 Susan Gianforte Greg Gianforte List January 4, 2021 Suzanne Pillen Jim Pillen List January 5, 2023 Donna Lombardo Joe Lombardo List January 2, 2023 Joseph Daley Kelly Ayotte List January 8, 2025 Jason Hedberg Mikie Sherrill List January 20, 2026 Manuel Cordova Michelle Lujan Grisham List May 21, 2022 William J. Hochul Jr. Kathy Hochul List August 24, 2021 Anna Harris Stein Josh Stein List January 1, 2025 Kjersti Armstrong Kelly Armstrong List December 15, 2024 Fran DeWine Mike DeWine List January 14, 2019 Sarah Hazen Stitt Kevin Stitt List January 14, 2019 Aimee Kotek Wilson Tina Kotek List January 9, 2023 Lori Shapiro Josh Shapiro List January 17, 2023 Susan McKee Dan McKee List March 2, 2021 Peggy McMaster Henry McMaster List January 24, 2017 Sandy Rhoden Larry Rhoden List January 25, 2025 Maria Lee Bill Lee List January 19, 2019 Cecilia Phalen Abbott Greg Abbott List January 20, 2015 Abby Cox Spencer Cox List January 4, 2021 Diana McTeague Scott Phil Scott List January 5, 2017 Adam Spanberger Abigail Spanberger List January 17, 2026 Colleen Ferguson Bob Ferguson List January 15, 2025 Denise Morrisey Patrick Morrisey List January 13, 2025 Kathy Evers Tony Evers List January 7, 2019 Jennie Gordon Mark Gordon List January 7, 2019
Territories and federal district Territory Current first lady or first gentleman Governor Past First spouse since Lois Pula List (mayor) List List List List List
See also List of current United States governors List of current United States lieutenant governors List of first gentlemen in the United States
Notes
References
External links National Governors Association: Biographies of Current U.S. Governors' Spouses