Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (born December 15, 1942 in Iberia Parish, Louisiana) is an American politician. On November 15, 2003, she was elected Governor of Louisiana, defeating Republican opponent Bobby Jindal in a run-off election and becoming the first woman to gain that office.

Kathleen Blanco is a conservative member of the Democratic Party. She was formerly Louisiana's lieutenant governor, having served two terms in that office, starting 1996.

She graduated from University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 1964.

On 11 January of 2004 she took the oath of office in both English and French, succeeding Murphy J. Foster, Jr. as Governor of Louisiana.

Preceded by : Mike Foster, Jr.

Governors of Louisiana

Succeeded by: (current incumbent)