Christine O'Grady "Chris" Gregoire is the Democratic governor of the U.S. state of Washington. Gregoire's election to the office in 2004 was notable for her historically slim margin of victory over Republican Dino Rossi, who had appeared to defeat Gregoire on election day and after a first recount conducted by machine, until a hand recount resulted in a reversal of the outcome in Gregoire's favor. She is Washington's second female governor.