Maura Healey: Trailblazing Governor and Advocate
In a historic triumph, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, who made history as the first elected female governor in the state and one of the first openly lesbian women elected governor in the U.S., is gearing up for another groundbreaking role. Healey is set to chair the Democratic Party’s Women Governors Fund, an initiative aimed at increasing the representation of women in statewide executive offices.
Healey’s ascent to this national position is a testament to her remarkable journey, from her victory as Massachusetts’s first female governor to her new role as a torchbearer for Democratic women across the nation. Speaking at the Democratic Governors Association’s annual holiday gathering in Phoenix, Healey shared her admiration for past female governors, emphasizing the impactful actions they took to improve the lives of their residents.
“When I was attorney general, I looked at the women who were governors and had been governors. I came to know many of them over the years, and I just had so much respect and admiration for them,” Healey stated in an interview with NBC News. “They really showed the way for somebody like me in terms of thinking about what it means to be a governor, what it means to have executive power.”
This development follows Healey’s historic victory in Massachusetts, where she secured a decisive win, becoming the first woman governor in the state and the nation’s first openly lesbian governor. She overpowered her Republican opponent, Geoff Diehl, with a campaign rooted in Democratic priorities such as affordable housing, green jobs, and improved public transportation.
As the state’s attorney general, Healey demonstrated her commitment to progressive causes by initiating or joining lawsuits against the Trump administration, tackling issues from the Muslim travel ban to environmental regulations. Her leadership in the LGBTQ community has further solidified, with Healey expressing pride in her identity and serving as an inspiration for young individuals navigating their own journeys.
Sources:
- Brooks, A. (2022, November 9). Maura Healey claims historic victory, elected first woman governor in Massachusetts. NPR.
- NBC 7 San Diego. (2023, December 4). Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey takes on role electing female Democrats nationally. NBC 7 San Diego.
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