43 Facts About Linda Lingle

Linda Lingle is an American politician who served as the sixth governor of Hawaii from 2002 to 2010.

Linda Lingle was the first Republican elected governor of Hawaii since 1959, and was the state's first female and first Jewish governor.

Linda Lingle is the only woman to have served as Hawaii's governor, and alongside her lieutenant governor Duke Aiona is the last Republican to hold statewide office in Hawaii.

In January 2015, Linda Lingle was appointed as a senior adviser to Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner, and left the position in July 2016.

Linda Lingle served on the Governors' Council of the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, DC Lingle moved back to Hawaii in the second quarter of 2017 and became a member of Hawaii Pacific University's board of trustees in June 2017.

Linda Lingle moved with her parents to Southern California when she was 12.

In 1980, Linda Lingle was elected to the Maui County Council, where she served five two-year terms.

Linda Lingle served three of those terms representing Molokai and two terms as an at-large member.

Linda Lingle was sworn into office as Mayor of Maui on January 2,1991.

In 1994, Linda Lingle easily won re-election over her Democratic opponent, Maui County councilman Goro Hokama.

Republican party members believed that Linda Lingle was the best shot at the office and that 1998 would probably be the only chance the party would have of ever winning.

The state Democratic Party was accused of launching a whisper campaign alleging that Linda Lingle was a lesbian, and that she would abolish Christmas as a state holiday.

Linda Lingle is a member of The Wish List, America's largest fundraising and campaign political action committee for Pro-choice Republican Women and The Republican Majority for Choice.

Linda Lingle ran on her "Agenda for New Beginnings", a campaign platform developed to promote Republican leadership and highlight their criticisms of the previous 40 years of Democratic administration of the state.

Linda Lingle was the first state Governor-elect not to be inaugurated at the Coronation Pavilion on the grounds of Iolani Palace.

Linda Lingle was inaugurated in the rotunda of the Hawaii State Capitol.

Linda Lingle took the oath of office upon a Tanakh.

In May 2004 Linda Lingle led a delegation to Israel, paid for by the Israeli Government.

Linda Lingle enjoyed high approval ratings, usually around 70 percent.

Linda Lingle spent much of 2004 campaigning for Republican candidates, both in the presidential election and the Hawaii state legislature.

Linda Lingle supported President George W Bush's Iraq policies, and campaigned for Bush in the contiguous United States.

When some polling late in the election showed Bush tied or narrowly leading Democrat John Kerry, Linda Lingle attempted to help Republicans carry her state for the first time since 1984.

In January 2006, Linda Lingle received an honorary doctorate degree in public management from the University of the City of Manila, presented by Manila mayor Lito Atienza while Linda Lingle was on an official visit to the Philippines.

One of the more controversial issues Linda Lingle championed is the practice of sending prisoners to the mainland, as opposed to building a new prison in Hawaii.

Governor Linda Lingle won by the largest margin in state history, 63 percent to 35 percent.

Linda Lingle told Kauai protesters that they would be charged under Hawaii's anti-terrorism laws if they continued to interfere with the Superferry's operation.

Linda Lingle sought a legislative exemption from environmental law on behalf of the Superferry.

Ineligible to run for a third term, Governor Linda Lingle was succeeded by Democrat Neil Abercrombie and left office on December 6,2010.

The second Republican governor in state history after William F Quinn, Lingle remains the only GOP candidate to be re-elected governor of Hawaii by popular vote.

In October 2011, Linda Lingle said on KSSK radio show that she would run for the open seat vacated by retiring US Senator Daniel Akaka.

Linda Lingle was the first reasonably well-funded Republican to run for the Senate in Hawaii since Pat Saiki ran in the 1990 special election against Akaka, and the strongest Republican candidate for a full term in the Senate from the state in memory.

Linda Lingle gave lectures and worked with the Governor's Council and Energy Security Council for the Bipartisan Policy Center.

In January 2015, Linda Lingle was appointed as a senior adviser to Illinois governor Bruce Rauner.

Linda Lingle left the chief operating officer position in July 2016.

In January 2017, Linda Lingle announced at a Republican gathering that she planned to move back to Hawaii in April 2017.

Linda Lingle became a member of Hawaii Pacific University's board of trustees in June 2017 and served through 2020.

In December 2018, Linda Lingle was the last speaker in a year-long Leadership Series for the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center.

Linda Lingle supported 2020 candidate Rick Blangiardi, who won election to become mayor of Honolulu in January 2021.

In 2022, Linda Lingle led a new "Women's Prison Project" seeking to reform women's processing through Hawaii's criminal justice system; in 2023, the project helped open housing for women leaving prison.

Linda Lingle married her first husband, Charles Lingle, while in college, in 1972.

Linda Lingle is currently single and does not have any children.

Linda Lingle is a California State University, Northridge 2004 distinguished alumni honoree.

Linda Lingle is active in the Republican Jewish Coalition, serving as a speaker at events and otherwise using her role as the only Jewish Republican US governor.