Governor (United States)

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In the United States, a governor serves as the chief executive and commander-in-chief in each of the fifty states and in the five permanently inhabited territories, functioning as head of state and head of government therein. [nb 1] As such, governors are responsible for implementing state laws and overseeing the operation of the state executive branch. As state leaders, governors advance and pursue new and revised policies and programs using a variety of tools, among them executive orders, executive budgets, and legislative proposals and vetoes. Governors carry out their management and leadership responsibilities and objectives with the support and assistance of department and agency heads, many of whom they are empowered to appoint. A majority of governors have the authority to appoint state court judges as well, in most cases from a list of names submitted by a nominations committee. [1]

Contents

All but five states (Arizona, Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, and Wyoming) have a lieutenant governor. The lieutenant governor succeeds to the gubernatorial office (the powers and duties but not the office, in Massachusetts and West Virginia), if vacated by impeachment, death, or resignation of the previous governor. Lieutenant governors also serve as unofficial acting state governors in case the incumbent governors are unable to fulfill their duties, and they often serve as presiding officers of the upper houses of state legislatures. But in such cases, they cannot participate in political debates, and they have no vote whenever these houses are not equally divided.

Role and powers

States are semi-sovereign republics sharing sovereignty with the federal government of the United States, and possess a number of powers and rights under the United States Constitution, such as regulating intrastate commerce, holding elections, creating local governments, and ratifying constitutional amendments. Each state has its own constitution, grounded in republican principles, and government, consisting of three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. [2] Also, due to the shared sovereignty between each state and the federal government, Americans are citizens of both the federal republic and of the state in which they reside. [3]

The governor heads the government's executive branch in each state or territory and, depending on the individual jurisdiction, may have considerable control over government budgeting, the power of appointment of many officials (including many judges), and a considerable role in legislation. The governor may also have additional roles, such as that of commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard (when not federalized) and of that state's respective defense force (which is not subject to federalization). In many states and territories the governor also has partial or absolute power to commute or pardon a criminal sentence. All U.S. governors serve four-year terms except those in New Hampshire and Vermont, who serve two-year terms.

In all states, the governor is directly elected, and in most cases has considerable practical powers, though this may be moderated by the state legislature and in some cases by other elected executive officials. In the five extant U.S. territories, all governors are now directly elected as well, though in the past many territorial governors were historically appointed by the President of the United States. Governors can veto state bills, and in all but seven states they have the power of the line-item veto on appropriations bills (a power the President does not have). In some cases legislatures can override a gubernatorial veto by a two-thirds vote, in others by three-fifths.

In Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee, the governor's veto can be overridden by a simple majority vote. In Arkansas, a gubernatorial veto may be overridden by an absolute majority. The governor of North Carolina had no veto power until a 1996 referendum. In 47 of the 50 states, whenever there is a vacancy of one of the state's U.S. Senate seats, that state's governor has the power to appoint someone to fill the vacancy until a special election is held; the governors of Oregon, Alaska, and Wisconsin do not have this power. [4]

A state governor may give an annual State of the State address in order to satisfy a constitutional stipulation that a governor must report annually (or in older constitutions described as being "from time to time") on the state or condition of the state. Governors of states may also perform ceremonial roles, such as greeting dignitaries, conferring state decorations, issuing symbolic proclamations or attending the state fair. The governor may also have an official residence (see Governor's Mansion).

In a ranking of the power of the governorship in all 50 states, University of North Carolina political scientist Thad Beyle makes the distinction between "personal powers" of governors, which are factors that vary from person to person, season to season - and the "institutional powers" that are set in place by law. Examples of measurable personal factors are how large a governor's margin of victory was on election day, and standing in public opinion polls. Whether a governor has strong budget controls, appointment authority, and veto powers are examples of institutional powers. [5]

History

In colonial North America, governors were chosen in a variety of ways, depending on how the colony was organized. In the crown colonies of Great Britain, France, and Spain, the governor was chosen by the ruling monarch of the colonizing power, or his designees; in British colonies, the Board of Trade was often the primary decision maker. Colonies based on a corporate charter, such as the Connecticut Colony and the Massachusetts Bay Colony, elected their own governors based on rules spelled out in the charter or other colonial legislation. In proprietary colonies, such as the Province of Carolina before it became a crown colony (and was divided into North and South), governors were chosen by the Lords Proprietor who controlled the colony. In the early years of the American Revolutionary War, eleven of the Thirteen Colonies evicted (with varying levels of violence) royal and proprietary governors. The other two colonies (Connecticut and Rhode Island) had corporate charters; Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull was governor before and during the war period, while in Rhode Island, Governor Joseph Wanton was removed from office in 1775 for failing to support the rebel war effort.

Before achieving statehood, many of the 50 states were territories or parts of territories. Administered by the federal government, they had governors who were appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate rather than elected by the resident population. Election of territorial governors began in Puerto Rico in 1948. The last appointed territorial governor, Hyrum Rex Lee in American Samoa, left office in 1978.

Demographics

Party

Party affiliation of current United States Governors:

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Democratic
New Progressive/Democratic
Republican United States Governors map.svg
Party affiliation of current United States Governors:
  Democratic
  New Progressive/Democratic
  Republican

As of January 2024, there are 27 states with a Republican governor and 23 states with a Democratic governor. Four Democrats (including the Mayor of the District of Columbia), one Independent, and one New Progressive also occupy territorial governorships or mayorships. No independent and other third parties currently hold a state governorship. [6]

Tenure

Governors' terms by state
No limit
No limit, two-year terms
One; re-eligible after 4 years
Two; re-eligible after 4 years
Two; eligible 8 out of 12 years
Two; eligible 8 out of 16 years
Two, absolute United States gubernatorial term limits.svg
Governors' terms by state

For each term, governors serve four years in office. The exceptions are Vermont and New Hampshire where tenures are two years long.

The longest-serving current governor is Jay Inslee of Washington, who was re-elected to his third term in 2020.

The longest-serving governor of all time was Terry Branstad of Iowa, who was elected to his sixth (non-consecutive) term in 2014. Governor Branstad resigned on May 24, 2017, to become the United States Ambassador to China. He held the title of Governor of Iowa for 22 years. On December 14, 2015, he became the longest-serving governor in US history, breaking the record held by George Clinton of New York, who served 21 years from 1777 to 1795 and from 1801 to 1804.

In the majority of the states and territories, term limit laws cap a governor's tenure.

Age

The oldest current governor is Kay Ivey of Alabama, born on October 15, 1944 (age 79). The youngest current state governor is Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas who was born on August 13, 1982 (age 41). Among territorial governors, Albert Bryan of the United States Virgin Islands is the youngest, born on February 21, 1968 (age 55).

The youngest person to ever serve as a governor in the United States was Stevens T. Mason of the Michigan Territory, first elected in 1835 having just turned 24. Mason would later become the first governor of the state of Michigan when it was admitted to the Union in January 1837, when he was 25. Mason was re-elected in November 1837, then age 26. [7]

The second youngest governor ever elected was Henry C. Warmoth of Louisiana, who was elected during reconstruction in 1868 at the age of 26. The third youngest governor was William Sprague IV of Rhode Island, who was elected in 1860 at the age of 29. When future President Bill Clinton was elected Governor of Arkansas in 1978 at age 32, he became the youngest governor since Harold Stassen of Minnesota, elected in 1938 at age 31. [8]

In 35 states, the minimum age requirement of the governor is 30, though in some it is 25 (7), 21 (1), or 18 (5). Oklahoma is the only state with an older age, 31. Some states require the governor to be a qualified elector/voter, implying a minimum age of 18. Vermont requires candidates to be residents of the state for at least four years as of Election Day, which would preclude small children from running, but has no other implicit or explicit age limit. [9]

Gender

State and territorial governors, colored as male (blue) and female (pink). United States Governor gender map.svg
State and territorial governors, colored as male (blue) and female (pink).

As of January 2023, there are 38 male state governors and 12 female governors: Kay Ivey of Alabama, Katie Hobbs of Arizona, Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas, Kim Reynolds of Iowa, Laura Kelly of Kansas, Janet Mills of Maine, Maura Healey of Massachusetts, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, Kathy Hochul of New York, Tina Kotek of Oregon, and Kristi Noem of South Dakota. Of those, Ivey, Huckabee Sanders, Noem, and Reynolds are Republicans, while Hobbs, Kelly, Mills, Healey, Whitmer, Grisham, Hochul, and Kotek are Democrats.

Four territorial governors are male; one territorial governor and the mayor of Washington, D.C. are female.

Forty-three women have served or are currently serving as state or territorial governors, including two in an acting capacity.

The first female governor was Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming (widow of the late Wyoming Governor William B. Ross) who was elected on November 4, 1924, and sworn in on January 5, 1925, succeeding Frank Lucas. Also elected on November 4, 1924, was Miriam A. Ferguson of Texas (wife of former Texas Governor James E. Ferguson), succeeding Pat Morris Neff on January 21, 1925. The first female governor elected without being the wife or widow of a past state governor was Ella T. Grasso of Connecticut, elected in 1974 and sworn in on January 8, 1975.

Connecticut, Arizona, and New Mexico are the only three states to have elected female governors from both major parties. New Hampshire has also had female governors from two parties, but Republican Vesta M. Roy served only in the acting capacity for a short time. Arizona was the first state where a woman followed another woman as governor (they were from different parties). Arizona also has had the most female governors with a total of five, and is the first state to have three women in a row serve as governor. Washington was the first state to have both a female governor and female U.S. Senators serving at the same time (Christine Gregoire; Patty Murray; Maria Cantwell, respectively), from 2005 to 2013. New Hampshire was the first and currently only state to have a female governor and entirely female Congressional delegation serving at the same time, from 2013 to 2015.

Twelve women have been serving as chief executive of their states since January 10, 2023, when Sarah Huckabee Sanders was inaugurated as the first female governor of Arkansas. This beats the record of eleven set just days earlier following Maura Healey's inauguration as Governor of Massachusetts on January 5, 2023.

LGBT status

There are currently three governors who identify as LGBT: Jared Polis of Colorado, who identifies as gay, and Tina Kotek of Oregon and Maura Healey of Massachusetts, who identify as lesbians. [10]

Race and ethnicity

Ethnic minorities as defined by the United States Census currently constitute 38.9% of the total population of the U.S. as of 2018. [11] There are currently 46 state governors who are non-Hispanic whites of European American background. There are 4 minority governors: Wes Moore of Maryland, who is black, Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, who is of Hispanic descent; Chris Sununu of New Hampshire, who is of Lebanese, Palestinian, Latin American, Irish and British descent; and Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, who is a member of the Cherokee Nation. Sununu and Stitt are Republicans, while Grisham and Moore are Democrats.

Among the five U.S. territories, one Hispanic (Pedro Pierluisi of Puerto Rico), one Black (Albert Bryan of the U.S. Virgin Islands), and three Pacific Islander Americans (Lou Leon Guerrero of Guam, Lemanu Peleti Mauga of American Samoa, and Arnold Palacios of the Northern Mariana Islands) currently serve as governor. African-American Muriel Bowser is the current Mayor of the District of Columbia, an office equivalent to a governor.

In 1990, Douglas Wilder of Virginia became the first African-American governor of any state since the Reconstruction era.

Birthplace

Thirteen of the current state governors were born outside the state they are serving: Mike Dunleavy of Alaska (born in Pennsylvania), Ned Lamont of Connecticut (born in Washington, D.C.), Josh Green of Hawaii (born in New York), J. B. Pritzker of Illinois (born in California), Laura Kelly of Kansas (born in New York), Maura Healey of Massachusetts (born in Maryland), Tim Walz of Minnesota (born in Nebraska), Greg Gianforte of Montana (born in California), Joe Lombardo of Nevada (born in Japan), Phil Murphy of New Jersey (born in Massachusetts), Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma (born in Florida), Tina Kotek of Oregon (born in Pennsylvania), Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania (born in Missouri), and Mark Gordon of Wyoming (born in New York). One governor, Joe Lombardo of Nevada, was born outside the United States (born in Sapporo, Japan)

State constitutions have varying requirements for the length of citizenship and residency of the governor but unlike the President, state governors do not need to be natural-born citizens. There is some ambiguity in some state constitutions if a governor must be a citizen or just a resident.

Physical disability

Two legally blind governors have served: Bob C. Riley, who was acting governor of Arkansas for eleven days in January 1975, and David Paterson, who was governor of New York from 2008 until 2010.

The current governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, has been paraplegic since an accident in 1984; he has used a wheelchair ever since. Governor of New York Franklin D. Roosevelt was paraplegic; he later became the first wheelchair-using president. Governor of Alabama George Wallace was paralyzed from the waist down after being shot in 1972. He never walked again.

Salary

The average salary of a state governor in 2009 was $124,398. The highest salary currently being accepted is that of New York Governor Kathy Hochul at $225,000. The lowest salaries are those of Maine Governor Janet Mills and Pedro Pierluisi of Puerto Rico at $70,000 each. [12]

There have been several instances where the governor of a state has either refused their salary in its entirety or instead only taken $1.00 per year. Alabama Governor Robert J. Bentley refused his yearly salary of $119,950.00 until the state reached full employment. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder took a $1.00 yearly salary. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has returned his salary to the state during each year he has held office. During his tenure as Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger also did not accept his salary of $170,000 per year. However, several governors instead have decided to take a reduction in their salary instead of refusing it entirely. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo took a 5 percent reduction in his salary in 2015, and Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear reduced his salary by 10 percent during the same year.

Only nine states (Massachusetts, [13] California, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, [14] and Virginia) currently offer their governors a higher salary than the $174,000 paid to members of Congress. In many states, the governor is not the highest-paid state employee; most often, that distinction is held by the head football or men's basketball coach at a major state university.[ citation needed ]

Gubernatorial election timeline

All states except Louisiana hold gubernatorial elections on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November. The earliest possible date for the election is therefore November 2 (if that date falls on a Tuesday), and the latest possible date is November 8 (if November 1 falls on a Tuesday). Louisiana holds its gubernatorial primary on the third or fourth Saturday of October and the general election (commonly referred to as the runoff within the state) on the third Saturday of November, but the general election is cancelled if one candidate wins the primary outright (see primary section below).

New Hampshire and Vermont

The other 48 states hold gubernatorial elections every four years.

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Washington DC.
Delaware, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, American Samoa, and Puerto Rico.
Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi
New Jersey and Virginia

Gubernatorial primaries

All states except for California, Louisiana, and Washington hold primaries in which each political party holds a primary election, and the winner of the primary election moves on to compete in a general election. In California, Louisiana, and Washington, all the candidates run in a blanket primary against each other. Regardless of political party, the top two candidates move on to the general election. In Louisiana, the general election occurs between the top two candidates if no candidate obtains more than 50% of the votes cast, and is cancelled if one of the candidates receives more than 50%. In California and Washington, the top two vote getters proceed to the general election regardless of how many votes the top vote getter received in the primary, and California prohibits write-in candidates from competing in the general election.

Comparison with other U.S. general elections

Basic rotation of U.S. general elections (fixed-terms only [1] )
Year 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
Type Midterm Off-yeara Presidential year Off-yearb Midterm
President No Yes No
Senate Class III (34 seats) No Class I (33 seats) No Class II (33 seats)
House All 435 seats [3] No All 435 seats [2] No All 435 seats [2]
Governor 36 states, DC, & 3 territories [4]
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IA, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, WI, WY, DC (Mayor), GU, MP, VI
3 states
KY, LA, MS
11 states, 2 territories
DE, IN, MO, MT, NH, NC, ND, UT, VT, WA, WV, AS, PR
2 states
NJ, VA
36 states, DC, & 3 territories [4]
AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IA, KS, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, WI, WY, DC (Mayor), GU, MP, VI
Lieutenant Governor [5] 10 states [6]
AL, AR, CA, GA, ID, NV, OK, RI, TX, VT
2 states
LA, MS
5 states, 1 territory
DE, MO, NC, VT, WA, AS
1 state
VA
10 states [6]
AL, AR, CA, GA, ID, NV, OK, RI, TX, VT
Secretary of State 26 states
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, MA, MI, MN, NE, NV, NM, ND, OH, RI, SC, TX, VT, WI, WY
2 states
KY, MS
8 states
MO, MT, NC, OR, PA, VT, WA, WV
None26 states
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, MA, MI, MN, NE, NV, NM, ND, OH, RI, SC, TX, VT, WI, WY
Attorney General 29 states, DC, & 2 territories
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, MD, MA, MI, MN, NE, NV, NM, NY, ND, OH, OK, RI, SC, TX, VT, WI, WY, DC, GU, MP
2 states
KY, MS
10 states
IN, MO, MT, NC, OR, PA, UT, VT, WA, WV
1 state
VA
29 states, DC, & 2 territories
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, MD, MA, MI, MN, NE, NV, NM, NY, ND, OH, OK, RI, SC, TX, VT, WI, WY, DC, GU, MP
State Treasurer [7] 23 states
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL (CFO), ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, MA, NE, NV, NM, OH, OK, RI, SC, VT, WI, WY
2 states
KY, MS
9 states
MO, NC, ND, OR, PA, UT, VT, WA, WV
None23 states
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL (CFO), ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, MA, NE, NV, NM, OH, OK, RI, SC, VT, WI, WY
State Comptroller/Controller8 states
CA, CT, IL, MD, NV, NY, SC, TX
NoneNoneNone8 states
CA, CT, IL, MD, NV, NY, SC, TX
State Auditor 15 states
AL, AR, DE, IN, IA, MA, MN, MO, NE, NM, OH, OK, SD, VT, WY
1 state
KY
9 states
MT, NC, ND, PA, UT, VT, WA, WV, GU
None15 states
AL, AR, DE, IN, IA, MA, MN, MO, NE, NM, OH, OK, SD, VT, WY
Superintendent of Public Instruction 8 states
AZ, CA, GA, ID, OK,
SC, SD (incl. Land), WY
None4 states
MT, NC, ND, WA
1 state
WI
8 states
AZ, CA, GA, ID, OK,
SC, SD (incl. Land), WY
Agriculture Commissioner 7 states
AL, FL, GA, IA, ND, SC, TX
2 states
KY, MS
2 states
NC, WV
None7 states
AL, FL, GA, IA, ND, SC, TX
Insurance Commissioner 5 states
DE, CA GA, KS, OK,
2 states
LA, MS
3 states
NC, ND, WA,
None5 states
DE, CA GA, KS, OK,
Other commissioners & elected officials8 states
AZ (Mine Inspector), AR (Land), GA (Land), NM (Land), ND (Tax), OK (Labor), OR (Labor), TX (Land)
None1 state
NC (Labor)
None8 states
AZ (Mine Inspector), AR (Land), GA (Land), NM (Land), ND (Tax), OK (Labor), OR (Labor), TX (Land)
State legislatures [8] 46 states, DC, & 4 territories
AK, AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IO, KS, KY, ME, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MN, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, WA, WV, WI, WY, DC, AS, GU, MP, VI
4 states
LA, MS, NJ, VA
44 states, DC, & 5 territories
AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IO, KS, KY, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, MN, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, WA, WV, WI, WY, DC, AS, GU, MP, PR, VI
2 states
VA, NJ
46 states, DC, & 4 territories
AK, AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IO, KS, KY, ME, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MN, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, WA, WV, WI, WY, DC, AS, GU, MP, VI
State boards of education [9] 8 states, DC, & 3 territories
AL, CO, KS, MI, NE, OH, TX, UT, DC, GU, MP, VI
None8 states, DC, & 3 territories
AL, CO, KS, MI, NE, OH, TX, UT, DC, GU, MP, VI
None8 states, DC, & 3 territories
AL, CO, KS, MI, NE, OH, TX, UT, DC, GU, MP, VI
Other state, local, and tribal officesVaries
1 This table does not include special elections, which may be held to fill political offices that have become vacant between the regularly scheduled elections.
2 As well as all six non-voting delegates of the U.S. House.
3 As well as five non-voting delegates of the U.S. House. The Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico instead serves a four-year term that coincides with the presidential term.
4 The Governors of New Hampshire and Vermont are each elected to two-year terms. The other 48 state governors and all five territorial governors serve four-year terms.
5 In 26 states and 3 territories the Lieutenant Governor is elected on the same ticket as the Governor: AK, CO, CT, FL, HI, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NJ, NM, NY, ND, OH, PA, SC, SD, UT, WI, GU, MP, VI.
6 Like the Governor, Vermont's other officials are each elected to two-year terms. All other state officers for all other states listed serve four-year terms.
7 In some states, the comptroller or controller has the duties equivalent to a treasurer. There are some states with both positions, so both have been included separately.
8 This list does not differentiate chambers of each legislature. Forty-nine state legislatures are bicameral; Nebraska is unicameral. Additionally, Washington, DC, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands are unicameral; the other territories are bicameral. All legislatures have varying terms for their members. Many have two-year terms for the lower house and four-year terms for the upper house. Some have all two-year terms and some all four-year terms. Arkansas has a combination of both two- and four-year terms in the same chamber.
9 Most states not listed here have a board appointed by the Governor and legislature. All boards listed here have members that serve four-year staggered terms, except Colorado, which has six-year terms, and Guam, which has two-year terms. Most are elected statewide, some are elected from districts. Louisiana, Ohio, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands have additional members who are appointed.

Term limits

In most states, governors can serve two four-year terms.

Relationship with lieutenant governor

The type of relationship between the governor and the lieutenant governor greatly varies by state. In some states the governor and lieutenant governor are completely independent of each other, while in others the governor gets to choose (prior to the election) who would be their lieutenant governor.

Constitutional gubernatorial qualifications by state

Citizenship requirements to become Governor of a US State. States with Numbers are of US states with Citizenship requirements by Years US-State-Governor-Citizenship-requirement.svg
Citizenship requirements to become Governor of a US State. States with Numbers are of US states with Citizenship requirements by Years

With the notable exception of Kansas, [15] [16] each of the states specifies in its constitution its qualifications for Governor.

State and statute Minimum age Residency U.S. citizenship Registered voter/elector Sole employmentSole officeNotes
Flag of Alabama.svg Alabama: Article V, Section 116 [17] 30For at least seven years by the date of the electionFor at least ten years by the date of the electionYesFederal positions and any other state positions are precluded
Flag of Alaska.svg Alaska: Article III, Section 2 [18] 30At least seven years prior to filingAt least seven years prior to filingYesYes"qualified voter of the State..."

"The governor shall not hold any other office or position of profit under the United States, the State, or its political subdivisions."

Flag of Arizona.svg Arizona: Article V, Section 2: [19] 25Five years by election dayFive years by election dayYes
Flag of Arkansas.svg Arkansas: Article 6, Section 11 [20] 30By at least seven years on election dayYesYes

"May not hold any federal office, any civil or military commission, any office in another state, or any other office in Arkansas."

Flag of California.svg California: Article 5, Section 2 [21] 18 (by virtue that the candidate must be a registered voter)For five years immediately preceding the Governor's electionFor five years immediately preceding the Governor's electionYesYes
Flag of Colorado.svg Colorado: Article IV, Section 4 [22] 30For at least two years on the day of the electionYesAny legislative or judicial office is precludedThe standard for residency is not affected by time out of the state due to civil or military service
Flag of Connecticut.svg Connecticut: Article IV, Section 5 [23] 30On election dayOn election dayOn election day
Flag of Delaware.svg Delaware: Article III, Section 1 [24] 30Six years on election day12 years on election day"...and have been a citizen and inhabitant of the United States twelve years next before the day of his election, and the last six years of that term an inhabitant of this State, unless he shall have been absent on public business of the United States or of this State."
Flag of Florida.svg Florida: Article IV, Section 5 [25] 30Seven yearsSeven years
Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svgGeorgia: Article V, Section 1, Paragraph IV [26] 30Six years immediately preceding the electionFifteen years immediately preceding the electionYes
Flag of Hawaii.svg Hawaii: Article V, Section 1 [27] 30Five years consecutive years previous to electionYes"The governor shall not hold any other office or employment of profit under the State or the United States during the governor's term of office."
Flag of Idaho.svg Idaho: Article IV, Section 3 30At least two years prior to the electionYes
Flag of Illinois.svg Illinois: Article V, Section 3 25Three years preceding his electionYes
Flag of Indiana.svg Indiana: Article 5, Section 1 30Five consecutive years before the electionFive consecutive years before the electionYesThe governor may not hold any other state or federal office during his term
Flag of Iowa.svg Iowa: Article IV, Section 6 30At least two years before the electionYes
Flag of Kansas.svg Kansas: Constitution of Kansas 18No requirements set forth in the Constitution, however a law was passed in 2018 requiring gubernatorial candidates to be residents of the state and at least 18 years of age.
Flag of Kentucky.svg Kentucky: Article IV, Section 72 [28] 30At least six years preceding the general election
Flag of Louisiana.svg Louisiana: Article IV, Section 2 [29] 25Must have been a citizen of Louisiana for at least the preceding five yearsYesYesYes
Flag of Maine.svg Maine: Article IV, Part 1 [30] 30A resident for at least five yearsAt least fifteen yearsYesYesDuring his/her tenure in office, a statewide elected official shall hold no other public office
Flag of Maryland.svg Maryland: Article II, Section I [31] 30For five years preceding the electionFor five years preceding the election
Flag of Massachusetts.svg Massachusetts:Section I, Article II [32] 30Seven years
Flag of Michigan.svg Michigan:Section 22 [33] 30For at least four years preceding the election
Flag of Minnesota.svg Minnesota: Article V, Section 2 [34] 25At least two years before the electionYes
Flag of Mississippi.svg Mississippi: Article V [35] 30Five yearsTwenty years
Flag of Missouri.svg Missouri: Article IV [36] 30For at least ten yearsFor at least fifteen years
Flag of Montana.svg Montana: Article VI [37] 25For least two years at his electionYes
Flag of Nebraska.svg Nebraska: Article IV [38] 30For at least five yearsYes
Flag of Nevada.svg Nevada: Article V, Section I [39] 25For at least two yearsYesYesWhile in office, the governor may not hold any federal level office.
Flag of New Hampshire.svg New Hampshire: Constitution of New Hampshire [40] 30For at least seven years on election dayYes
Flag of New Jersey.svg New Jersey: Article V [41] 30For at least seven yearsFor at least twenty yearsYesNo governor shall hold office in any other state or under the federal government, nor shall a sitting governor be elected to any legislative seat. Governors who accept any state or federal position or profit are considered to have vacated their seat.
Flag of New Mexico.svg New Mexico: Article V, Section 3 [42] 30Must have been a resident of New Mexico continuously for five years on the day of the electionYes
Flag of New York.svg New York: Article IV [43] 30For at least five years prior to the electionYes
Flag of North Carolina.svg North Carolina: Article III [44] 30For at least two yearsFor at least five years
Flag of North Dakota.svg North Dakota: Constitution of North Dakota [45] 30For at least five yearsYes
Flag of Ohio.svg Ohio: Constitution of Ohio [46] 18A candidate for the governor's office may not hold any congressional or federal office or any other state office.
Flag of Oklahoma.svg Oklahoma: Constitution of Oklahoma [47] 31For at least ten yearsYes
Flag of Oregon.svg Oregon: Constitution of Oregon [48] 30For at least three yearsYesThe age requirements do not apply to someone who succeeds to office under Section 8a of Article V.
Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Pennsylvania: Constitution of Pennsylvania [49] 30For at least seven yearsYesYesThe governor may not hold Congressional office, any other office under the Commonwealth, or any federal office. The exception is that the governor may be a reserve member of the National Guard.
Flag of Rhode Island.svg Rhode Island: Article III, Of Qualification of Office [50] YesYesGovernors shall not be serving a sentence for, on probation for, or on parole for any felony.
Flag of South Carolina.svg South Carolina: Article IV [51] 30For at least five yearsYesYesThe statute that a candidate for the governor must believe in the existence of the "Supreme Being" was declared unconstitutional by the South Carolina Supreme Court in 1996; although it has not been repealed, it is unenforceable. Furthermore, the Governor may not hold office or a commission under any other power, excepting that of a militia.
Flag of South Dakota.svg South Dakota: Article IV [52] 21For at least two years as of the electionYes
Flag of Tennessee.svg Tennessee: Article III [53] 30For at least seven years upon his electionYes
Flag of Texas.svg Texas: Article 4, Section 4 [54] 30For at least five years immediately preceding his electionYesYesYesThe Governor... shall not hold any other of­fice: civ­il, mili­tary or corpor­ate; nor shall he prac­tice any profes­sion, and re­ceive compen­sation, re­ward, fee, or the prom­ise there­of for the same; nor receive any sal­ary, reward or compen­sation or the promise there­of from any per­son or corpor­ation, for any service rend­ered or performed dur­ing the time he is Gover­nor, or to be there­after rendered or performed.
Flag of Utah.svg Utah: Article VII [55] 30For at least five years on the day of the electionYesYesYesSitting Governors may not hold any federal office, any state office other than the governorship, or be elected to the United States Senate during his term.
Flag of Vermont.svg Vermont: Chapter II [56] A candidate for governor must be a resident of Vermont for at least four years on the day of the electionYesGovernors may not hold any legislative office or any other constitutional office. Excepting positions in military reserves, they also may not hold any office under the federal government. Nor is the governor eligible for any appointed position made by any branch of the Vermont government.
Flag of Virginia.svg Virginia: Article VI, Section 1 [57] 30For at least five years at the time of the electionYesFor at least one year preceding the election
Flag of Washington.svg Washington: Article III, Section 2 [58] YesYes
Flag of West Virginia.svg West Virginia: Article VII 30For at least five years preceding the electionYesYesYesUnder Article IV, Section 10, no individual who has fought a duel with deadly weapons, sent a challenge for such a duel, or knowingly acted as a second in such a duel in West Virginia or in any other state may hold any office in West Virginia.
Flag of Wisconsin.svg Wisconsin: Constitution of Wisconsin [59] 18 [60] YesYesPartiallyNo gubernatorial may hold any office, honor or profit under any foreign power, nor

hold any federal office, be a convicted felon, or be convicted of any misdemeanor involving a violation of the public trust.

Flag of Wyoming.svg Wyoming: Article 4 [61] 30For at least five years preceding the electionYesOn the day of the electionYesAny governor who asks for, receives, or agrees to receive a bribe automatically forfeits his office and his right to hold any other office in Wyoming upon his conviction.

See also

Footnotes

  1. The federal district of Washington, D.C. has been led by a chief executive officer of varying titles, including governor. The current governor-equivalent of D.C. is the Mayor of the District of Columbia.

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