Fran Ulmer was the first woman elected as Lieutenant Governor of the state of Alaska. She was born in Wisconsin. Her education included a bachelor's degree in economics and political science and culminated in a law degree from the University of Wisconsin.

Ulmer worked with Jay Hammond, the Republican governor from 1975 through 1981. She served as mayor of Juneau from 1983 to 1985 and in the Alaska House of Representatives from 1987 to 1994.

In 2002, she was nominated by the Democratic party for the office of governor. She lost the race to the Republican candidate, U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski.

In 2004, she accepted a teaching job at the University of Alaska.