Linda Lingle (born Linda Cutter; June 4, 1953) is an American politician. She was the sixth Governor of Hawaii from 2002 until 2010, and the first Republican elected governor of Hawaii since the departure of William F. Quinn in 1962. Lingle was also the first female governor of Hawaii; first Jewish governor of Hawaii; first county mayor elected governor of Hawaii; and the first governor of Hawaii not to have any children. Prior to her gubernatorial administration, Lingle served as Maui County mayor, council member, and chair of the Hawaii Republican Party.
During the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City, Lingle served as chairwoman of the convention during the absence of permanent chairman Dennis Hastert from the convention floor. She was the 2012 Republican nominee for the United States Senate, vying for an open seat vacated by retiring U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka.
Read more about Linda Lingle: Early Life, Education, and Early Career, County Politics, 1998 Gubernatorial Campaign, State Party Chair, 2012 U.S. Senate Election, Personal Life, Electoral History