Picture this: It’s a crisp autumn day in 1926, and Wyoming’s capitol building in Cheyenne is buzzing with excitement. Election results are trickling in, and against all odds, Nellie Tayloe Ross has just secured a second term as governor. The first woman governor in U.S. history is set to continue her groundbreaking tenure, shaping Wyoming’s future for four more years.

Except, of course, that’s not quite how it happened.

In reality, Ross lost her re-election bid by a hair’s breadth – just 1,365 votes out of nearly 70,000 cast. But as we mark the centennial of her groundbreaking first election, it’s interesting to contemplate: what if?

Now, before we enter an alternate universe, let’s rewind a bit. On October 4, 1924, Nellie Tayloe Ross is standing by her husband’s grave. William Ross, then governor of Wyoming, had just died of appendicitis. She is shell-shocked, grieving – and about to be thrust into the political spotlight. With the election just a month away, the chairman of the state Democratic Committee approaches with a delicate question: Would she consider running for governor?

Despite her personal loss, Ross found herself in an unexpected position. The twist? Far from being a reluctant candidate thrust into the political arena by circumstance, Ross harbored a genuine desire for the role. Her brother George later revealed in a letter to his wife, “No one ever wanted it more.”

Yet Ross knew that as a woman, she had to disguise her ambition. It just wasn’t seemly for a woman to look ambitious. She ran a reserved campaign, allowing others to speak on her behalf, and won the election. On January 5, 1925, Nellie Tayloe Ross made history as the first woman governor in the United States.

To understand the significance of Ross’s hypothetical second term, we must consider the broader landscape for women in American politics during the 1920s. Women had only gained the right to vote nationwide in 1920. Ross’s initial election in 1924 represented a crack in the political glass ceiling. Yet, the press seemed more interested in her appearance than her policies. The New York Times ran the headline, “Mrs. Ross Wears Hat Before Legislature,” noting that she “defied precedent” by “wearing hat and gloves.”

While the media fixated on her attire, Ross focused her term on advocating for several progressive policies, including stronger banking regulations, improved safety for coal miners, and protections for women in industrial jobs. However, as a Democrat in a predominantly Republican state, she faced significant challenges in implementing her agenda. The Republican-dominated legislature not only opposed her initiatives but also made several attempts to reduce her powers as governor. Despite these obstacles, Ross demonstrated her political acumen by successfully defending her executive authority and managed to pass five of her eleven proposed policies during her short time in office.

Undaunted by her first term’s challenges and driven by unfinished ambitions, Ross set her sights on re-election in 1926. She hit the campaign trail hard with a grueling schedule. Ross’s friend Cecilia Hendricks wrote in a letter home: “No man could stand up under such a strain, and no one but a woman could meet all the requirements placed on her everywhere.” Ross traversed the state in a big Packard, sometimes giving six or seven speeches a day, fighting to retain her position.

Had Ross’s relentless campaign efforts succeeded, a second term would have been both historic and challenging. As a Democrat in a predominantly Republican state, she already struggled to pass her agenda in her first term. A second term might have seen increased resistance from lawmakers wary of her growing influence. However, Ross had demonstrated her ability to navigate political minefields with grace and wit. When asked if she would appoint any men to office, she quipped, “It is most amusing and amazing to me…to be asked…whether I expected to appoint any men to office?”

This blend of humor and political acumen might have served her well in facing the heightened challenges of a second term. She would have needed to continue navigating the delicate balance between being “ever feminine, never a feminist,” as contemporary media often described her while using her sharp wit to disarm critics and build coalitions.

Armed with these political skills, a second Ross term could have had notable impacts. Her ability to navigate complex political landscapes might have allowed her more time to implement her progressive agenda, including stronger banking regulations and protections for women in industrial jobs. Moreover, a full eight-year tenure for Ross, successfully managing the challenges of high office, could have influenced women’s participation in politics, albeit within the constraints of the era. Her continued presence in the governor’s mansion, coupled with her demonstrated political acumen, might have contributed to gradually normalizing the idea of women in executive positions, potentially inspiring some women to consider running for office.

While these scenarios remain speculative, Ross’s actual career trajectory demonstrates the impact she had even without a second term. Although she once stated, “Really, I dropped accidentally into politics,” her subsequent achievements suggest a deeper commitment and aptitude for public service. After leaving the governor’s office, Ross continued to break barriers, serving as Director of the U.S. Mint for 20 years – once again, the first woman to hold that position. This appointment suggests that the political acumen and progressive spirit she displayed as governor continued to serve her well throughout her career, even if not in the way our “what if” scenario imagined.

When reflecting on Nellie Tayloe Ross’s legacy, it’s clear that even without a second term, she left an indelible mark on American politics. She once wrote to her brother, “Something entirely new seems to have been given me.” In turn, she gave something new to all of us – a glimpse of what was possible for women in government leadership.

While we can speculate about what might have been had she secured a second term, her actual achievements stand as a testament to her capability, determination, and vision. As we celebrate the centennial of her taking office, we honor not just what was, but what she made possible for future generations of women in politics.

To see more materials from Ross’s career alongside other trailblazing figures who pursued equality, visit our Virmuze exhibit “In Pursuit of Equality.”

Post contributed by AHC Simpson Archivist Leslie Waggener.