State CFO Alex Sink would be Florida’s first female governor if she can win the Democratic Party’s nomination and a general election against the Republican candidate next year. Meanwhile, here are some other notable women in Florida state politics history:

Mamie Eaton Greene of Monitcello: First woman elected statewide when she won a Railroad Commission office in 1928.

Republican Paula Hawkins of Maitland: Second female elected statewide when she won a Public Service Committee job in 1972. In 1980, she was the first Florida woman elected to the U.S. Senate.

Democrat Betty Castor of Tampa: Became the first woman elected to the state Cabinet in 1986 when she won the education commissioner job.

Recent female candidates for statewide office:

Sink: In 2006 became the first woman elected as CFO or its predecessor office: treasurer and insurance commissioner.

Katherine Harris, R-Longboat Key: Lost U.S. Senate race to Democrat Bill Nelson in 2006.

Castor: As the Democratic nominee, she lost a U.S. Senate race to Republican Mel Martinez.

Janet Reno, D-Miami: Lost a Democratic gubernatorial primary to Bill McBride, Sink’s husband, in 2002.

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