Governor (state executive office)
In the United States, the title governor refers to the chief executive of each state. The governor is not directly subordinate to the federal authorities but is the political and ceremonial head of the state. The governor may also assume additional roles, such as the commander-in-chief of the National Guard when the role is not federalized. The governor may also have the ability to commute or pardon a criminal sentence.
In all states, the governor is directly elected and, in most cases, has considerable practical powers. Notable exceptions with weak governorships include the office of the governor in Texas, though this may be moderated by the state legislature and, in some cases, by other elected executive officials. Governors can veto state bills. The specific duties and powers vary widely between states.
| Quick facts about Governors |
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Political parties
The chart below shows the party affiliations of U.S. governors. For other state executive offices, click here.
| Office | Vacant | Total seats | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Governors | 23 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 50 |
| Counts current as of July 2024 If you see an error, please email us | |||||
Current officeholders
The table below displays the current governors across the United States.
Comparison across states
Partisan affiliation
There are a total of 23 Democratic governors and 27 Republican governors.
Compensation
According to compensation figures for 2022 compiled by the Council of State Governments in the Book of the States, the highest salary for a governor was $250,000 in New York while the lowest is $70,000 in Maine. To view the compensation of a particular governor, hover your mouse over the state.[1]
Staff size
According to figures for 2022 compiled by the Council of State Governments in the Book of the States, gubernatorial offices range in size from 9 staffers in Nebraska to 277 staffers in Texas.[1]
Involvement in budget proposals
Although all governors have some involvement in the process of developing a state budget, the specific level of involvement differs from state to state. According to information published in the 2022 Book of the States, 24 governors share responsibility for developing a budget proposal, while 11 governors have full responsibility for developing an initial budget proposal and the remaining 15 have full responsibility for developing a budget.[2]
Term limits
- See also: States with gubernatorial term limits
Most states impose some form of term limits on governors; of those that do, all but Virginia limit a governor to two four-year terms or to eight years in office. Although most states' term limit laws allow a governor who has served two terms to be elected once again after time has elapsed, some states impose a lifetime term limit like that on the presidency. Although Vermont and New Hampshire do not have term limit laws, they are the only states whose governors serve two-year terms rather than four-year terms.
Line-item veto powers
The term line-item veto refers to the ability of a governor or other chief executive to veto specific parts of a bill while signing the rest of the bill into law. Currently, 44 states grant their governors line-item veto powers.[2]
Historical control
Republicans led in governorships from 1994 until 2006, after which there were 28 Democratic governors to the Republicans' 22. Republicans regained their national majority in the 2010 midterm elections. Between 2010 and 2017, the number of Republican governors continued to increase, reaching a high point of 33 following West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice's switch to the Republican Party in August 2017.[3] From 2017 to 2019, Democrats won Republican-held governorships in Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Wisconsin. Republicans, meanwhile, gained a governorship in Alaska previously held by independent Bill Walker. In 2020 and 2021, Republicans won Democratic-held governorships in Montana and Virginia. Four gubernatorial offices changed partisan control in 2022, with Democrats winning three previously Republican-held seats in Arizona, Maryland, and Massachusetts, and Republicans defeating the Democratic incumbent in Nevada. These changes brought Republicans to 26 governorships and Democrats to 24.[4]
Vacancies
- Main article: How gubernatorial vacancies are filled
Each state has some constitutionally prescribed method for filling vacancies in the office of governor. In the 44 states with a distinct lieutenant governor, that individual is the first in the line of succession, with the notable exception of Arkansas. Whether additional offices in the line of succession are named in the constitution or by statute varies among states.
Among those states without a traditional lieutenant governor, the primary successor to the governor varies. Officers first in line to succeed the governor in case of a vacancy are:
- The president of the state Senate in three states (Maine, West Virginia*, Tennessee*).
- The secretary of state in three other states (Arizona, Oregon, and Wyoming).
*In Tennessee and West Virginia, the lieutenant governor is also speaker of the state Senate. The officer serving in this dual role is first in the line of succession to the office of governor. Unlike most states, the lieutenant governors of Tennessee and West Virginia are not elected by voters but instead selected by the Tennessee General Assembly and West Virginia House of Representatives, respectively.
Overall, the constitutional rules for offices that are second in line for the governor's seat are more complex than rules for offices that are first in line. Common second-in-line offices include:
- The president of the Senate (pro tempore)
- The speaker of the House
- The secretary of state
However, seven states leave the decision open-ended, and another seven states do not mention rules for second-in-line successors.
For more details regarding how gubernatorial vacancies are filled, click here.
Elected vs. appointed
The office of the governor is a constitutionally mandated office in all states. It is additionally statewide, directly elected, and part of the Executive branch in all 50 states.
An individual who was elected governor but has not yet taken the oath of office is referred to as the governor-elect. Governors-elect do not yet have any of the powers or duties of the office, though they may be accorded some of the privileges and honors in anticipation of their taking office.
There are limited cases when the position is filled by someone who was not elected:
- Acting Governor: This term, not used in all states, applies to someone serving as governor who was not elected. When used, it applies to someone, often the lieutenant governor, temporarily discharging the office due to the short-term inability of the governor to do so. Usually, if the elected governor's inability to serve is permanent, her replacement will simply be addressed as 'governor'.
- Governor-designate: This term is rarely in use. It applies when there is a planned or anticipated vacancy in the governorship. For instance, in 2010, North Dakota's elected governor, John Hoeven, won a U.S. Senate seat. As 2010 was not a gubernatorial election year for North Dakota, when Hoeven won his race and prepared to leave the governor's office, he had to make an appointment to fulfill the gubernatorial term. Hoeven named his lieutenant governor, Jack Dalrymple, who had the title of governor-designate from Election Night 2010 until he actually took the gubernatorial oath of office the following month.
Governors who became presidents
The office of governor is sometimes used as a springboard to the presidency. President Rutherford B. Hayes, former Republican governor of Ohio, was the first sitting governor to be elected as president of the United States. That year, 1876, the Democrats also nominated a governor, Samuel Tilden of New York, to run for the office.[5] Seventeen presidents have previously served as governors. Those 17 candidates come from only 10 states. Four presidents have come from the gubernatorial office of New York, three from Virginia, and two each from Ohio and Tennessee. The others were from Arkansas, California, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Texas.[6]
Approximately twice as many presidents have been governors at some point than have been senators. This is substantial since there are only half as many governors as senators at any given time.[7] 2008 marked the first year since 1972 that neither major party candidate had served as governor.[5]
The following table shows governors who have advanced to the presidency.[6]
| Name | Term | Gov. State | Gubernatorial Term(s) | Elected while Governor |
| Thomas Jefferson | 1801-1809 | Virginia | 1779-1781 | No |
| James Monroe | 1817-1825 | Virginia | 1799-1802 | No |
| Martin Van Buren | 1837-1841 | New York | 1829 | No |
| John Tyler | 1841-1845 | Virginia | 1825-1826 | No |
| James K. Polk | 1845-1849 | Tennessee | 1839-1841 | No |
| Andrew Johnson | 1865-1869 | Tennessee | 1853-1857 | No |
| Rutherford B. Hayes | 1877-1881 | Ohio | 1868-1872; 1876-1877 | Yes |
| Grover Cleveland | 1885-1889 | New York | 1883-1884 | Yes |
| Grover Cleveland | 1893-1897 | New York | 1883-1884 | No |
| William McKinley | 1897-1901 | Ohio | 1892-1896 | Yes |
| Theodore Roosevelt | 1901-1909 | New York | 1899-1900 | Yes |
| Woodrow Wilson | 1913-1921 | New Jersey | 1911-1913 | Yes |
| Calvin Coolidge | 1923-1929 | Massachusetts | 1919-1920 | Yes |
| Franklin Roosevelt | 1933-1945 | New York | 1929-1932 | Yes |
| Jimmy Carter | 1977-1981 | Georgia | 1971-1974 | No |
| Ronald Reagan | 1981-1989 | California | 1967-1974 | No |
| Bill Clinton | 1993-2001 | Arkansas | 1979-1980; 1983-1993 | Yes |
| George W. Bush | 2001-2009 | Texas | 1995-2000 | Yes |
Election history
2024
- See also: Gubernatorial elections, 2024
Eleven states are holding elections for governor in 2024:
2023
- See also: Gubernatorial elections, 2023
Three states held elections for governor in 2023:
2022
- See also: Gubernatorial elections, 2022
Thirty-six states held elections for governor in 2022:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New York
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
2021
- See also: Gubernatorial elections, 2021
Two states held elections for governor in 2021:
2020
- See also: Gubernatorial elections, 2020
Eleven states held elections for governor in 2020:
2019
- See also: Gubernatorial elections, 2019
Three states held elections for governor in 2019:
2018
- See also: Gubernatorial elections, 2018
Thirty-six states held elections for governor in 2018:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New York
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
2017
- See also: Gubernatorial elections, 2017
Two states held elections for governor in 2017:
2016
- See also: Gubernatorial elections, 2016
Twelve states held elections for governor in 2016, including eleven regularly scheduled elections plus a special election in Oregon due to the February 2015 resignation of former Gov. John Kitzhaber (D):
2015
- See also: Gubernatorial elections, 2015
Three states held scheduled gubernatorial elections in the 2015 electoral cycle: Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi.
Gov. Phil Bryant of Mississippi won re-election. In Louisiana and Kentucky, both governors were term-limited. Democrat John Edwards won in Louisiana, while Republican Matt Bevin won in Kentucky. Both elections led to a party switch.
2014
- Main article: State executive official elections, 2014
Thirty-six states held regularly scheduled gubernatorial elections in the 2014 electoral cycle:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New York
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
A total of four governors were term-limited and ineligible to run for re-election. They were:
2013
- See also: State executive official elections, 2013
Two states held regularly scheduled gubernatorial elections in the 2013 electoral cycle: New Jersey and Virginia.
Chris Christie (R) won re-election in New Jersey, and Terry McAuliffe (D) won in Virginia, leading to a party switch.
2012
- Main article: State executive official elections, 2012
Eleven states held regularly scheduled gubernatorial elections in the 2012 electoral cycle: Delaware, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R) faced a recall election on June 5, 2012, which he won.
Heading into the November election, Democrats held eight of the seats and the Republicans held three seats. Six incumbents sought re-election, three retired and two were term-limited. Of the six who ran, four were Democrats and two were Republicans.
The only party switch took place in North Carolina, where Lt. Governor Walter Dalton (D) lost to Pat McCrory (R). As of December 2012, the number of Democratic governors in the country was at its lowest since 2001. After the November 2012 election, there were 29 Republican governors and 20 Democratic, with one Independent.[8]
2011
- Main article: Gubernatorial elections, 2011
Three states, Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi, had regularly scheduled gubernatorial elections in the 2011 electoral cycle. A fourth state, West Virginia, held a special election following a court order.
In Kentucky and Louisiana, incumbents Steve Beshear (D - Kentucky) and Bobby Jindal (R - Louisiana) won re-election. Mississippi's Haley Barbour was prevented by term limits from running for re-election and his lieutenant governor, Republican Phil Bryant, won election as his successor. In West Virginia, acting Governor pro tem Earl Ray Tomblin won a special election to a 14-month term.
2010
- Main article: Gubernatorial elections, 2010
Thirty-seven gubernatorial elections took place on November 2, 2010. That added up to the largest block of states to choose governors in a single election year.[9] Leading immediately into the 2011 congressional reapportionment, the gubernatorial races became intensely contested. Four states that make up almost one-fourth of the entire U.S. House of Representatives - California, Florida, Texas and New York - were all in play.
In 15 of the seats up for election, the incumbent could not run again because of term limits, leaving 22 seats guaranteed to be open to non-incumbents. Of the incumbent but limited-out governors, eight were Democratic and seven Republican. When incumbents did choose to run, the primaries were good to them. Only in Nevada did an incumbent seeking re-election lose his own party's primary. (One of the term-limited governors, Dave Freudenthal in Wyoming, at one point indicated he planned to challenge his state's term limits law; while he did win his legal battle to have the state's term limits invalidated, he eventually declined to run for a third term.)
1992-2013
Praise or blame is extended to political parties for the economic, educational, health and other quality of life outcomes that result from the policies those parties enact into law. To better understand which political party enjoys power in each of the states, Ballotpedia has analyzed state government control from 1992-2013 using the concept of a "partisan trifecta." A partisan trifecta is defined as when a state's governorship and legislative chambers are controlled by the same political party.
The two major political parties claim that their policies will lead to better outcomes. What does the data show?
At Ballotpedia, we explored these issues in a three-part study, Who Runs the States.
Part 1: Partisanship
We identified the party holding each state's governorship for the majority of time in each year from 1992 through 2013. Across the country, there were 493 years of Democratic governors (44.82%) and 586 years of Republican governors (53.27%).
The trifecta analysis over this period shows a notable trend toward one-party control of state governments. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 states had trifectas while 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas hold sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years we studied. The number of states with trifectas doubled between 1992 and 2013.
The trifecta analysis also allowed us to identify seven states that have experienced dramatic changes in partisan state government control from the first 11 years of the study to the last 11 years of the study. Studying the partisan composition of state governments as we do also allows a clean way to assess whether a state is "moving red" or "moving blue."
Visualizations
Figure 10: Visualization of Trifectas from 1992-2013 -- Alabama-Missouri
Figure 11: Visualization of Trifectas from 1992-2013 -- Montana-Wyoming
Figure 19: Visualization of State Partisanship (with Presidential voting) from 1992-2013 -- Alabama-Missouri
Figure 20: Visualization of State Partisanship (with Presidential voting) from 1992-2013 -- Montana-Wyoming
Infographic
| Infographic of Partisanship Results | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 This infographic was created by Attwood Digital | |||||
See also
- How gubernatorial vacancies are filled
- State executive offices
- States with gubernatorial term limits
- Gubernatorial executive orders, 2023
- Gubernatorial elections, 2022
- Gubernatorial elections, 2023
- Gubernatorial elections, 2024
- State executive official elections, 2022
- State executive official elections, 2023
- State executive official elections, 2024
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Council of State Governments' Book of the States 2022 Table 4.3: The Governors: Compensation, Staff, Travel and Residence provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Council of State Governments' Book of the States 2022 Table 4.4: The Governors: Powers provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Because Justice switched his registration more than halfway through the year, he was counted as a Democrat in 2017 for the purposes of the chart.
- ↑ Because Justice switched his registration more than halfway through the year, he is considered to be a Democrat in 2017 for the purposes of this chart.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Politico, "Will a Governor Win the White House in 2016?" February 17, 2014
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Rutger's Center on the American Governor, "Governors Who Became President," accessed February 18, 2014
- ↑ New York Times, "The Governors’ Advantage in Presidential Races Is Bigger Than You Thought," June 15, 2011
- ↑ NPR, "Republican Governors Gear Up For Election Gains," October 18, 2012
- ↑ Politico, "Dems sound alarm on state races," July 23, 2010
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