Our first female governor was a lot like Donald Trump

KUOW | By Katherine Banwell

Published January 4, 2017 at 1:47 PM AKST

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Dixy Lee Ray, a Democrat, was Washington state's first female governor in 1976. Her campaign motto was Little lady takes on big boys.

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Dixy Lee Ray, Washington's first female Governor.

HistoryLink.org

Crosscut writer Knute Berger and KUOW's Kim Malcolm

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In this recent photo, Crosscut writer Knute Berger poses with KUOW's Kim Malcolm.

KUOW Photo/Caroline Chamberlain

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Dixy Lee Ray, Washington state's first female governor. She was a Democrat who wore knee-high white socks and men's shirts and who refused to pull punches.

Washington State Archives/Harold (Scotty) Sapiro

Dixy Lee Ray wore white knee-high socks and men's shirts.

And when she ran for governor of Washington state, her motto was "Little lady takes on big boys."

She was blunt and brash, an outsider who didn't play well with others, but there was never any doubt where she stood. Seattle historian Knute Berger spoke with KUOW's Bill Radke that Dixy Lee Ray was a little like President-elect Donald Trump.