How Mary Fallin Became the First Woman to Lead the State of Oklahoma

History · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Mary Fallin broke political barriers in Oklahoma, serving as the state's first female lieutenant governor and later its first female governor. Her career spanned decades of Republican leadership, navigating complex legislative challenges, economic shifts, and high-profile controversies, ultimately leaving a legacy as a trailblazer in a historically male-dominated political landscape.

Born in Missouri and raised in Oklahoma, Mary Fallin transitioned from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party at age 21. Her political ascent began in 1990 with her election to the Oklahoma House of Representatives. By 1995, she achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first woman and first Republican to serve as Oklahoma's lieutenant governor. During her 12-year tenure, she managed diverse responsibilities, including leading a task force to rebuild a childcare center following the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and chairing a commission focused on workers' compensation reform.

In 2007, Fallin entered the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the first woman to represent Oklahoma in Congress in nearly nine decades. Her time in Washington included committee work on small business and transportation, as well as voting on significant legislation during the 2008 financial crisis. She eventually returned to state politics, winning the 2010 gubernatorial election with 60% of the vote. As governor, she oversaw a period of significant Republican dominance in state government, with the party controlling all 11 statewide positions for the first time in state history.

Fallin's governorship faced substantial challenges, including managing a $900 million structural budget deficit. Her proposals to address these fiscal issues, such as expanding sales taxes to various services, sparked internal friction, leading to the resignation of Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb from his cabinet role as Small Business Advocate. Her administration also navigated ethical scrutiny, notably when her general counsel resigned in 2017 amid a conflict-of-interest dispute regarding legal fees paid for a commutation request. Despite starting her term with high approval, she concluded her second term in 2019 with a 23.4 percent approval rating, succeeded by Kevin Stitt.

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