Three more women are elected governor - Mary Fallin, Nikki Haley and Susana Martinez make history

While Congress went backwards a step in diversity in regards to African American senators (there are now zero), the nation elected three more women as governors: Mary Fallin of Oklahoma, Nikki Haley of South Carolina, and Susana Martinez of New Mexico. Each woman is a Republican and each of their victories changed history in their state.

The three new female governors brings the total of current female U.S. governors to seven: Jan Brewer, Ariz; Bev Perdue, N.C.; M. Jodi Rell, Conn.; Chris Gregoire, Wash.)

U.S. Rep. Fallin, who has never been in a close election, became Oklahoma's first woman to  be elected governor, getting 60% of the votes in her race with Democrat Lt. Gov. Jari Askins.

For the last three years Fallin has been the representative of Oklahoma's 5th District. She had....

...been Lt. Gov from 1995–2007, a relatively quiet era other than when one of her bodyguards resigned after admitting to "unprofessional conduct" with her.

The conservative says her priorities going forward will be to focus on working to create jobs in Oklahoma and  controlling government spending. She will replace Democratic Gov. Brad Henry who was leaving due to term limits.

Fallin wants to send a message that if Oklahoma had a boyfriend, it would be the 2nd Amendment - the right to bear arms. "I believe that gun ownership rights in Oklahoma can and should be expanded," Fallin wrote on her website. "Gov. Brad Henry vetoed an 'open carry' law that would have permitted responsible gun owners to carry weapons without concealing them. When I am governor, I will sign that bill into law and send a message that in Oklahoma, we mean business when it comes to the second amendment. "

South Carolina has never seen anyone other than white men hold the position of governor until now. Nikki Haley is the daughter of Indian immigrants. The 38-year-old Republican was accused of cheating on her husband, and worse, not filing her taxes on time. Filling the seat of disgraced Gov. Mark Sanford, Haley promised to resist federal aid and fight the Obama health care law.

"She may be anti-feminist, pro-life, and want to destroy any government-subsidized child care," Slate's Hanna Rosin wrote Wednesday after Haley beat Democrat state Sen.Vincent Sheheen, "but still, her victory has symbolic meaning for women."

Haley considers herself a product of the "tea party" movement and received support from Sarah Palin, who went to South Carolina to support her late in the race.

Nikki Haley will become the nation's second Indian American governor, joining Louisiana's Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal.

New Mexico Republican Susana Martinez became the first Latina governor in the country. Although she ran on being tough on border issues, specifically cracking down on Mexican drug cartels, her campaign has had a tough time naming any cartel member she had convicted as district attorney. Her opponent couldn't even name a single Mexican cartel during a debate against Martinez.

While  Meg Whitman spent more than $140 million of her own money and lost her race for governor, Martinez won her seat with just over $1 million.

-- Tony Pierce

Top photo: U.S. Rep Mary Fallin (R-Okla.) speaks during a debate with Democrat Lt. Gov. Jari Askins at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Okla. Credit: Alonzo Adams / Associated Press

Second photo: South Carolina Gov.-elect Nikki Haley gives her acceptance speech as  husband Michael, daughter Rena, 12, and son Nalin, 9, look on in the early hours Wednesday in Columbia, SC. Credit: David Goldman / Associated Press

Bottom photo: Susana Martinez, Republican gubernatorial candidate for New Mexico, leaves the Las Cruces, N.M. Republican headquarters with her husband, Chuck Franco, holding a sign made for her by 11-year-old supporter Elijah Banegas. Credit: William Faulkner / Associated Press.

 

Comments

[Born in East L.A.]

If Governor elect Fallin's intent was to keep tourism down in Oklahoma, she's got me convinced. What a scary woman. Wow!

[miller]

"The 38-year-old Republican was accused of cheating on her husband, and worse, not filing her taxes on time."

Two points: (1) There is no evidence produced by an accuser or a reporter or anyone else that Haley cheated on her husband. (2) Not filing taxes on time is worse than cheating on a spouse?

[Don P. Simons]

Dear Governor Fallin: Now that you're in charge I would like to see 540 school superintendents eliminated. We have one governor, one president and we only need one school superintendent - they suck $49,000,000 from the budget each year...is that really necessary? Many legislators think not. How about you? (I know that;s a political football but we need change alright,this kind!)
Manager of PWA, Inc. hangar complex at Wiley Post Airport, We have 100 hangars, full!

[TEEBONE]

The "Diversity" doctrine is the antithesis of this nation's founding; it turns true Americanism on its head, to wit, "E Pluribus Unum" - "Out of the Many, One": "Diversity" advocates "Out of the One, Many".

It is sound American philosophy based upon fealty to First Principles that should determine whom we elect - not the race/religion/gender/handicap of the candidate. America is supposed to be, by definition, a classless society. The concise language of the 14th Amendment has been raped, and class distinctions and advantage-by-dictat has become the order of the day in contemporary America.

I celebrate the election of these women, based upon their ability and dedication to our founding principles, not upon their gender.

The poisonous "Diversity" doctrine must be purged from our national identity, and we must return to "E Pluribus Unum" if true liberty is to survive .

[Dean Smith]

The picture of Suzanna Martinez with her husband and the spanish inxcription on his shirt tells me everything I need to know!