Ruth Ann Minner (née Coverdale; January 17, 1935 – November 4, 2021) was an American politician and businesswoman who served as the 72nd governor of Delaware from 2001 to 2009.

Minner began her political career as a clerk in the Delaware House of Representatives and as a receptionist in the office of Governor Sherman W. Tribbitt.

Minner rose to become Delaware's most powerful female politician, but she did it in a very conventional way, representing a rural, small town constituency, and building relationships and expertise by working in the legislative process over many years.

In that role she led several successful reforming efforts, including a change that removed the rule allowing Representatives to table roll call votes.

[5] She had secured the Democratic nomination after her long years in the General Assembly, as Lieutenant Governor and her demonstrated ability to run a campaign by her large statewide victory margins in 1992 and 1996.

Her opponent in 2000 was Republican John M. Burris, who had barely survived a bitter September primary contest with retired judge Bill Lee.

Minner was Delaware's fourth consecutive two-term governor and largely continued the business-oriented policies and bipartisan, consensus style begun by her Republican predecessor, Pete du Pont.

[One] result has been ... the Clean Indoor Air Act, which has reduced cancerous pollutants in Delaware's restaurants, bars and casinos by more than 90 percent.

"[11] On other issues she was "a firm supporter of a measure that would simply add sexual orientation to the list of characteristics in the Delaware code ... that are not allowed to be used as basis for discrimination."

[citation needed] Minner died under hospice care in Milford on November 4, 2021, at age 86, after complications from a fall.