The United States has 50 states and 5 territories that each elect a governor to serve as chief executive of the state or territorial government.[1] The sole federal district, the District of Columbia, elects a mayor to oversee their government in a similar manner.[2][3] In the event of a vacancy, the governor is succeeded by the second-highest-ranking state official; in 45 states and 4 territories, the lieutenant governor is the first in the line of succession.[4][5]

Map of the United States with states and territories colored according to the party affiliation of their governor
Party affiliation of current United States state and territorial governors:
  Democratic (23 states, 3 territories)
  Republican (27 states)
  New Progressive (1 territory)
  Independent (1 territory)

As of January 9, 2024, there are 27 states with Republican governors and 23 states with Democratic governors. Three territories have Democratic governors, while one has an independent governor. Pedro Pierluisi of Puerto Rico is a member of the New Progressive Party, although he is also affiliated with the Democratic Party.[6] The federal District of Columbia is governed by a Democratic mayor.[7]

The current gubernatorial term ends and new term begins in January for most states and territories, two months after their election; in Alaska, Hawaii, North Dakota, and Kentucky, the term begins in December.[8][9] Governors serve four-year terms in most states and all territories; New Hampshire and Vermont have two-year terms for their governors. Most states and all but one territory also have term limits that generally allow for two consecutive terms to be served by a candidate. To run for governor, a candidate must generally be a U.S. citizen with prior state residence who meets the minimum age requirement—set at 30 years old in 35 states.[10]

All 55 governors are members of the National Governors Association, a non-partisan organization which represents states and territories in discussions with the federal government.[11] Other organizations for governors include the partisan Democratic Governors Association and Republican Governors Association; and the three regional associations: Midwestern, Northeastern, and Western.[12]

State governors

The longest serving incumbent U.S. governor is Jay Inslee of Washington, who took office on January 16, 2013.[13] The most recently inaugurated governor is Jeff Landry of Louisiana, who took office on January 8, 2024.[6] A total of 15 current governors previously served as lieutenant governor, while ten previously served in the United States House of Representatives.[14] The governor's office has term limits in 37 states and 4 territories; these terms are four years except in New Hampshire and Vermont, where governors serve two-year terms.[10][15]

The average age of governors at the time of their inauguration was about 59 years old. Alabama governor Kay Ivey (born 1944) is the oldest current governor, and Arkansas governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (born 1982) is the youngest.[16] As of the 2022 elections, there are 12 female state governors currently serving. Of the 50 state governors, 46 are non-Hispanic white, two are Hispanic (Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico and Chris Sununu of New Hampshire), one is Black (Wes Moore of Maryland), and one is Native American (Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma).[16]

The notation "(term limits)" after the year indicates that the governor is ineligible to seek re-election in that year; the notation "(retiring)" indicates that the governor has announced his or her intention not to seek re-election at the end of the term nor to run for another office.

Parties:   Republican (27),   Democratic (23)

More information State, Image ...
Current state governors of the United States
State Image Governor[6] Party[6] Born Prior public experience[14] Inauguration[6] End of term[6] Ref.
Alabama (list) Photographic portrait of Kay Ivey Kay Ivey Republican (1944-10-15) October 15, 1944 (age 79) Lieutenant Governor
State Treasurer
April 10, 2017 2027 (term limits) [17]
Alaska (list) Photographic portrait of Mike Dunleavy Mike Dunleavy Republican (1961-05-05) May 5, 1961 (age 63) Alaska Senate December 3, 2018 2026 (term limits) [18]
Arizona (list) Photographic portrait of Katie Hobbs Katie Hobbs Democratic (1969-12-28) December 28, 1969 (age 54) Secretary of State
Minority Leader of the Arizona Senate
Arizona House
January 2, 2023 2027 [19]
Arkansas (list) Photographic portrait of Sarah Huckabee Sanders Sarah Huckabee Sanders Republican (1982-08-13) August 13, 1982 (age 42) White House Press Secretary January 10, 2023 2027 [20]
California (list) Photographic portrait of Gavin Newsom Gavin Newsom Democratic (1967-10-10) October 10, 1967 (age 56) Lieutenant Governor
Mayor of San Francisco
San Francisco Board of Supervisors
January 7, 2019 2027 (term limits) [21]
Colorado (list) Photographic portrait of Jared Polis Jared Polis Democratic (1975-05-12) May 12, 1975 (age 49) U.S. House
Colorado State Board of Education
January 8, 2019 2027 (term limits) [22]
Connecticut (list) Photographic portrait of Ned Lamont Ned Lamont Democratic (1954-01-03) January 3, 1954 (age 70) Chair of the State Investment Advisory Council
Greenwich Board of Estimate and Taxation
Greenwich Board of Selectmen
January 9, 2019 2027 [23]
Delaware (list) Photographic portrait of John Carney John Carney Democratic (1956-05-20) May 20, 1956 (age 68) U.S. House
Lieutenant Governor
State Secretary of Finance
January 17, 2017 2025 (term limits) [24][25]
Florida (list) Photographic portrait of Ron DeSantis Ron DeSantis Republican (1978-09-14) September 14, 1978 (age 46) U.S. House January 8, 2019 2027 (term limits) [26]
Georgia (list) Photographic portrait of Brian Kemp Brian Kemp Republican (1963-11-02) November 2, 1963 (age 60) Secretary of State
Georgia Senate
January 14, 2019 2027 (term limits) [27]
Hawaii (list) Photographic portrait of Josh Green Josh Green Democratic (1970-02-11) February 11, 1970 (age 54) Lieutenant Governor
Hawaii Senate
Hawaii House
December 5, 2022 2026 [28]
Idaho (list) Photographic portrait of Brad Little Brad Little Republican (1954-02-15) February 15, 1954 (age 70) Lieutenant Governor
Idaho Senate
January 7, 2019 2027 [29]
Illinois (list) Photographic portrait of J. B. Pritzker J. B. Pritzker Democratic (1965-01-19) January 19, 1965 (age 59) Chair of the Illinois Human Rights Commission January 14, 2019 2027 [30][31]
Indiana (list) Photographic portrait of Eric Holcomb Eric Holcomb Republican (1968-05-02) May 2, 1968 (age 56) Lieutenant Governor January 9, 2017 2025 (term limits) [32]
Iowa (list) Photographic portrait of Kim Reynolds Kim Reynolds Republican (1959-08-04) August 4, 1959 (age 65) Lieutenant Governor
Iowa Senate
Clarke County Treasurer
May 24, 2017 2027 [33]
Kansas (list) Photographic portrait of Laura Kelly Laura Kelly Democratic (1950-01-24) January 24, 1950 (age 74) Kansas Senate January 14, 2019 2027 (term limits) [34]
Kentucky (list) Photographic portrait of Andy Beshear Andy Beshear Democratic (1977-11-29) November 29, 1977 (age 46) State Attorney General December 10, 2019 2027 (term limits) [35]
Louisiana (list) Photographic portrait of Josh Green Jeff Landry Republican (1970-12-23) December 23, 1970 (age 53) State Attorney General
U.S. House
January 8, 2024 2028 [36]
Maine (list) Photographic portrait of Janet Mills Janet Mills Democratic (1947-12-30) December 30, 1947 (age 76) State Attorney General
Maine House
January 2, 2019 2027 (term limits) [37]
Maryland (list) Photographic portrait of Wes Moore Wes Moore Democratic (1978-10-15) October 15, 1978 (age 45) No prior public experience January 18, 2023 2027 [38]
Massachusetts (list) Photographic portrait of Maura Healey Maura Healey Democratic (1971-02-08) February 8, 1971 (age 53) State Attorney General January 5, 2023 2027 [39]
Michigan (list) Photographic portrait of Gretchen Whitmer Gretchen Whitmer Democratic (1971-08-23) August 23, 1971 (age 53) Minority Leader of the Michigan Senate
Michigan House
January 1, 2019 2027 (term limits) [40][41]
Minnesota (list) Photographic portrait of Tim Walz Tim Walz Democratic–Farmer–Labor[note 1] (1964-04-06) April 6, 1964 (age 60) U.S. House January 7, 2019 2027 [43]
Mississippi (list) Photographic portrait of Tate Reeves Tate Reeves Republican (1974-06-05) June 5, 1974 (age 50) Lieutenant Governor
State Treasurer
January 14, 2020 2028 (term limits) [44]
Missouri (list) Photographic portrait of Mike Parson Mike Parson Republican (1955-09-17) September 17, 1955 (age 69) Lieutenant Governor
Missouri Senate
Missouri House
Polk County Sheriff
June 1, 2018 2025 (term limits) [45]
Montana (list) Photographic portrait of Greg Gianforte Greg Gianforte Republican (1961-04-17) April 17, 1961 (age 63) U.S. House January 4, 2021 2025 [46]
Nebraska (list) Photographic portrait of Jim Pillen Jim Pillen Republican (1955-12-31) December 31, 1955 (age 68) No prior public experience January 5, 2023 2027 [47]
Nevada (list) Photographic portrait of Joe Lombardo Joe Lombardo Republican (1962-11-08) November 8, 1962 (age 61) Clark County Sheriff January 2, 2023 2027 [48]
New Hampshire (list) Photographic portrait of Chris Sununu Chris Sununu Republican (1974-11-05) November 5, 1974 (age 49) New Hampshire Executive Council January 5, 2017 2025 (retiring)[49] [50]
New Jersey (list) Photographic portrait of Phil Murphy Phil Murphy Democratic (1957-08-16) August 16, 1957 (age 67) U.S. Ambassador to Germany January 16, 2018 2026 (term limits) [51]
New Mexico (list) Photographic portrait of Michelle Lujan Grisham Michelle Lujan Grisham Democratic (1959-10-24) October 24, 1959 (age 64) U.S. House
Bernalillo County Commission
State Secretary of Health
January 1, 2019 2027 (term limits) [52][53]
New York (list) Photographic portrait of Kathy Hochul Kathy Hochul Democratic (1958-08-27) August 27, 1958 (age 66) Lieutenant Governor
U.S. House
Erie County Clerk
August 24, 2021 2026[note 2] [55]
North Carolina (list) Photographic portrait of Roy Cooper Roy Cooper Democratic (1957-06-13) June 13, 1957 (age 67) State Attorney General
Majority Leader of the North Carolina Senate
North Carolina House
January 1, 2017 2025 (term limits) [56][57]
North Dakota (list) Photographic portrait of Doug Burgum Doug Burgum Republican (1956-08-01) August 1, 1956 (age 68) No prior public experience December 15, 2016 2024 (retiring)[58] [59]
Ohio (list) Photographic portrait of Mike DeWine Mike DeWine Republican (1947-01-05) January 5, 1947 (age 77) State Attorney General
U.S. Senate
Lieutenant Governor
U.S. House
Ohio Senate
Greene County Prosecutor
January 14, 2019 2027 (term limits) [60]
Oklahoma (list) Photographic portrait of Kevin Stitt Kevin Stitt Republican (1972-12-28) December 28, 1972 (age 51) No prior public experience January 14, 2019 2027 (term limits) [61]
Oregon (list) Photographic portrait of Tina Kotek Tina Kotek Democratic (1966-09-30) September 30, 1966 (age 57) Speaker of the Oregon House January 9, 2023 2027 [62]
Pennsylvania (list) Photographic portrait of Josh Shapiro Josh Shapiro Democratic (1973-06-20) June 20, 1973 (age 51) State Attorney General
Montgomery County Board of Commissioners
Pennsylvania House
January 17, 2023 2027 [63]
Rhode Island (list) Photographic portrait of Dan McKee Dan McKee Democratic (1951-06-16) June 16, 1951 (age 73) Lieutenant Governor March 2, 2021 2027 [64]
South Carolina (list) Photographic portrait of Henry McMaster Henry McMaster Republican (1947-05-27) May 27, 1947 (age 77) Lieutenant Governor
State Attorney General
January 24, 2017 2027 (term limits) [65]
South Dakota (list) Photographic portrait of Kristi Noem Kristi Noem Republican (1971-11-30) November 30, 1971 (age 52) U.S. House
South Dakota House
January 5, 2019 2027 (term limits) [66]
Tennessee (list) Photographic portrait of Bill Lee Bill Lee Republican (1959-10-09) October 9, 1959 (age 64) No prior public experience January 19, 2019 2027 (term limits) [67]
Texas (list) Photographic portrait of Greg Abbott Greg Abbott Republican (1957-11-13) November 13, 1957 (age 66) State Attorney General
Associate Justice of the Texas Supreme Court
January 20, 2015 2027 [68]
Utah (list) Photographic portrait of Spencer Cox Spencer Cox Republican (1975-07-11) July 11, 1975 (age 49) Lieutenant Governor
Utah House
Sanpete County Commission
January 4, 2021 2025 [69][70]
Vermont (list) Photographic portrait of Phil Scott Phil Scott Republican (1958-08-04) August 4, 1958 (age 66) Lieutenant Governor
Vermont Senate
January 5, 2017 2025 [71]
Virginia (list) Photographic portrait of Glenn Youngkin Glenn Youngkin Republican (1966-12-09) December 9, 1966 (age 57) No prior public experience January 15, 2022 2026 (term limits) [72]
Washington (list) Photographic portrait of Jay Inslee Jay Inslee Democratic (1951-02-09) February 9, 1951 (age 73) U.S. House
Washington House
January 16, 2013 2025 (retiring)[73] [74]
West Virginia (list) Photographic portrait of Jim Justice Jim Justice Republican[note 3] (1951-04-27) April 27, 1951 (age 73) No prior public experience January 16, 2017 2025 (term limits) [76]
Wisconsin (list) Photographic portrait of Tony Evers Tony Evers Democratic (1951-11-05) November 5, 1951 (age 72) State Superintendent of Public Instruction January 7, 2019 2027 [77]
Wyoming (list) Photographic portrait of Mark Gordon Mark Gordon Republican (1957-03-14) March 14, 1957 (age 67) State Treasurer January 7, 2019 2027 (term limits) [78]
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Territory governors

Parties:   Democratic (3),   Independent (1),   New Progressive (1)

More information Territory, Image ...
Current territorial governors of the United States
Territory Image Governor[6] Party[6] Born Prior public experience Inauguration[6] End of term[6] Ref.
American Samoa (list) Thumb Lemanu Peleti Mauga Democratic (1960-01-03) January 3, 1960 (age 64) Lieutenant Governor
American Samoa Senate
January 3, 2021 2025 [79][80][81]
Guam (list) Thumb Lou Leon Guerrero Democratic (1950-11-08) November 8, 1950 (age 73) Guam Legislature January 7, 2019 2027 (term limits) [82][83]
Northern Mariana Islands (list) Thumb Arnold Palacios Independent (1955-08-22) August 22, 1955 (age 69) Lieutenant Governor
President of the CNMI Senate
Speaker of the CNMI House
January 9, 2023 2027 [84]
Puerto Rico (list) Thumb Pedro Pierluisi New Progressive (1959-04-25) April 25, 1959 (age 65) U.S. House
Territorial Secretary of Justice
January 2, 2021 2025 (retiring) [85]
U.S. Virgin Islands (list) Thumb Albert Bryan Democratic (1968-02-21) February 21, 1968 (age 56) Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Department of Labor January 7, 2019 2027 (term limits) [86][87]
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Federal district mayor

The District of Columbia is a federal district that elects a mayor that has similar powers to those of a state or territorial governor.[2] The cities of Washington and Georgetown within the district elected their own mayors until 1871, when their governments were consolidated into a reorganized District of Columbia by a Congressional act.[88] The district's chief executive from 1871 to 1874 was a governor appointed by the President of the United States; the office was replaced by a Board of Commissioners with three members appointed by the president—two residents and a representative from the United States Army Corps of Engineers.[88][89] The Board of Commissioners was originally a temporary body but was made permanent in 1878 with one member selected to serve as the Board President, in effect the city's chief executive.[90] The system was replaced in 1967 by a single mayor–commissioner and home rule in the District of Columbia was fully restored in 1975 under a reorganized government led by an elected mayor.[91]

Parties:   Democratic (1)

More information Federal district, Image ...
Current federal district mayors of the United States
Federal district Image Mayor Party Born Prior public experience Inauguration End of term
District of Columbia (list) Thumb Muriel Bowser Democratic[92] (1972-08-02) August 2, 1972 (age 52)[92] D.C. Council
Advisory Neighborhood Commission[92]
January 2, 2015[93] 2027
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See also

Notes

  1. The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is affiliated with the national Democratic Party.[42]
  2. In New York, gubernatorial terms begin at midnight on New Year's Day.[54]
  3. Justice was elected as a Democrat, but switched to the Republican Party six months into his first term. He was re-elected as a Republican in 2020.[75]

References

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