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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
Main articles: List of first gentlemen in the United States and List of first ladies of the United StatesUnited States
| Current first lady | President | Past | First spouse since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jill Biden | Joe Biden | List | January 20, 2021 |
| Current second gentleman | Vice President | Past | Second spouse since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doug Emhoff | Kamala Harris | List | January 20, 2021 |
States
Territories and District
| Territory | Current first lady or first gentleman | Governor | Past | First spouse since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 American Samoa
|
Ella Mauga | Lemanu Peleti Mauga | List | January 3, 2021 |
 District of Columbia
|
Never married | Muriel Bowser (Mayor) | List | |
 Guam
|
Jeffrey Cook | Lou Leon Guerrero | List | January 7, 2019 |
 Northern Mariana Islands
|
Wella Sablan Palacios | Arnold Palacios | List | January 9, 2023 |
 Puerto Rico
|
Divorced | Pedro Pierluisi | List | |
 U.S. Virgin Islands
|
Yolanda Bryan | Albert Bryan | List | January 7, 2019 |
See also
- List of current United States governors
- List of current United States lieutenant governors
- List of first gentlemen in the United States
Notes
- Reis and Polis were not legally married when Polis assumed office and was the de facto first gentleman. The couple married on September 15, 2021, and Reis became the de jure first gentleman.
References
- Miller, John (October 27, 2006). "Beauty queen, civil rights marcher could be first lady". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
- ^ "More About Governors' Spouses: A Tradition of Helping Others" (PDF). National Governors Association. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
- "First Lady Maryann Tulafono appeals to the general public". Government of American Samoa. Archived from the original on November 27, 2008. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
- "Learn More about First Lady Cheri Daniels". State of Indiana. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
- "Rwanda Project: Who We Are: Cecile de Jongh - Vice President and Co-Founder". Rwanda Project USVI. Archived from the original on July 25, 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
- Leigh Cowen, Alison (June 22, 2004). "Connecticut's Governor steps down: A New Leader Carrying Hope -- M. Jodi Rell". New York Times. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
- Jennifer Siebel Newsom will be California’s ‘first partner.’ Her agenda is cultural change. The Los Angeles Times. November 24, 2018. "Now she’ll take on her newest political role: 'first partner,' a term she prefers over 'first lady' — she sees it as more inclusive."
- How should we refer to Governor-elect Jared Polis’ longtime partner? The Denver Post. November 8, 2018. Reis and Polis were not legally married when Polis assumed office in January 2019, but Polis' campaign confirmed that Reis would use the title of first gentleman. Reis and Polis married in September 2021, making Reis the de jure first gentleman.
- "Lee Cataluna: Hawaii's Next First Lady Brings Career Experience and Life Lessons to the Role". November 9, 2022.