Who Is the First Openly Gay Governor
The first openly gay governor in U.S. history is Jared Polis of Colorado, who took office in January 2019. He is the first openly gay man elected governor of any U.S. state and the first openly LGBT person elected governor. Polis won the 2018 gubernatorial election and was reelected in 2022, serving as the 43rd governor of Colorado. His public record includes legislative priorities around education, healthcare, and economic growth. For more background on his career and public record, see his official biography at the Colorado Governor's Office. Colorado Governor's Office
Polis was born in Boulder, Colorado, and graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder. Before becoming governor, he founded and led several technology and education companies. He also served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2009 to 2019. His business background includes work in online education and technology ventures. Details on his career timeline and business roles are available through public filings and biographical sources. Forbes profile on Jared Polis
Key Policy Actions and Public Record
During his tenure, Polis signed executive orders and legislation focused on expanding healthcare access, supporting public schools, and addressing climate goals. His administration has promoted clean energy targets and workforce development programs. Public data from state agencies show ongoing efforts around broadband expansion and small business support. These actions are documented in official state press releases and policy dashboards. Colorado Governor's Office
Colorado state financial reports and budget documents outline funding levels for education, transportation, and health programs under his leadership. The state has continued to rank highly in business climate indexes and economic growth metrics. Publicly available data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics provide updated figures on employment and population trends. Bureau of Labor Statistics
First Openly Gay Governor in Historical Context
Polis is widely cited as the first openly gay governor in the United States. Prior governors who were openly LGBT include Kate Brown of Oregon, who served as governor from 2015 to 2023 and was openly bisexual. The milestone reflects broader representation trends in U.S. politics, with increasing numbers of openly LGBT candidates winning statewide offices. Public opinion data and election results show shifting voter attitudes on LGBT representation in high office. LGBTQ Victory Institute
National organizations that track LGBT representation in government provide updated rankings and data on openly LGBT officeholders at the state and federal levels. These groups document milestones, electoral outcomes, and demographic trends. The data help contextualize Polis's role as the first openly gay governor within a wider pattern of increasing representation. LGBTQ Victory Institute