With the approaching deadlines for 2010 statewide elections, women are poised increase the number of female governors next year. Currently there are six female governors representing Michigan, North Carolina, Arizona, Washington, Connecticut and Hawaii.

Highly qualified women have declared their candidacy and are running for their state’s highest executive office.  Among the 29 female candidates, the top, most viable female gubernatorial candidates include:

Kim McMillan – D- Tennessee; former Tennessee State Representative, Majority Leader.

Kay Ivey – R- Alabama; Alabama state Treasurer 2002-present.

Jan Brewer* – R – Arizona; Incumbent Arizona Governor.

Meg Whitman – R- California; businesswoman.

Susan Bysiewicz – D Connecticut; current Connecticut Secretary of State.

Deb Markowitz* – D – Vermont; current Vermont Secretary of State.

Alex Sink – D – Florida; businesswoman and Florida Chief Financial Officer.

Karen Handel – R – Georgia; current Georgia Secretary of State.

Sharon Ullman – R- Idaho; current Ada County Commissioner.

Alma Wheeler Smith – D- Michigan; current State Representative from Michigan’s 54^th District.

Diane Denish – D – New Mexico; current New Mexico Lt. Governor.

Nikki Haley – R – South Carolina; current South Carolina State Representative.

Kay Bailey Hutchinson – R – Texas; current U.S. Senator from Texas.

Barbara Lawton – D – Wisconsin; current Wisconsin Lt. Governor.

Margaret Anderson Kelliher* – DFL – Minnesota; current Minnesota Speaker of the House.

Libby Mitchell*  – D – Maine; current President of the Maine Senate.

*Indicates primary challenge from other female(s) candidates.

Data courtesy of The Center for American Women and Politics.