List of Governors of Georgia

Not to be confused with the State Commissioners (informally referred to as "Governor"), the chief executives of the Regions of Georgia (country).

Governor of Georgia
Great Seal of the State of Georgia
Incumbent Brian Kemp since January 14, 2019
Residence	Georgia Governor's Mansion
Term length	Four years, renewable once
Inaugural holder	Archibald Bulloch
Formation	July 12, 1775
Salary	$139,339 (2013) [1]
Website	Official website

The Governor of Georgia is the head of the executive branch of Georgia's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor also has a duty to enforce state laws, the power to either veto or approve bills passed by the Georgia Legislature, and the power to convene the legislature.

The current governor is Republican Brian Kemp who assumed office on January 14, 2019.

Governors

For the period before independence, see the list of colonial governors of Georgia.

Georgia was one of the original Thirteen Colonies and ratified the Constitution of the United States on January 2, 1788. ^[2] Before it declared its independence, Georgia was a colony of the Kingdom of Great Britain. Like most early states, Georgia had claims to western areas, but did not cede its claims during the formation of the country like the other states. It sold this area, the Yazoo Lands, to the federal government on April 24, 1802, ^[3] when it was assigned to Mississippi Territory.

In Georgia's Rules and Regulations of 1776, considered by some to be the first constitution, the chief executive was a president chosen by the legislature every six months. ^[4] This was quickly superseded by the 1777 constitution, which called for a governor to be chosen by the legislature each year, ^[5] with a term limited to one year out of every three. ^[6] In the event of a vacancy, the president of the executive council acted as governor. ^[7] The governor's term was lengthened to two years in the 1789 constitution. ^[8] The 1798 constitution modified succession so that the president of the senate would act as governor should that office become vacant. An 1818 amendment to that constitution extended the line of succession to the speaker of the house, ^[9] and an 1824 amendment provided for popular election of the governor. ^[10]

While the 1861 secessionist constitution kept the office the same, the other constitutions surrounding the American Civil War brought lots of changes. The 1865 constitution, following Georgia's surrender, limited governors to two consecutive terms of two years each, allowing them to serve again after a gap of four years. ^[11] The Reconstruction constitution of 1868 increased the governor's term to four years. ^[12] The 1877 constitution, after local rule was re-established, returned the office to the provisions of the 1865 constitution. ^[13] An amendment in 1941 lengthened terms to 4 years, but governors could no longer succeed themselves, having to wait four years to serve again. ^[14] The constitution does not specify when terms start, only that the governor is installed at the next session of the General Assembly. ^[15]

The 1945 constitution provided for a lieutenant governor, to serve the same term as governor and to act as governor if that office became vacant. Should it become vacant within 30 days of the next general election, or if the governor's term would have ended within 90 days of the next election, the lieutenant governor acts out the term; otherwise, a successor is chosen in the next general election. ^[16] This was retained in the 1976 constitution. The current constitution of 1983 allows governors to succeed themselves once before having to wait four years to serve again, ^[17] and lieutenant governors now become governor in the event of a vacancy. Should the office of lieutenant governor be vacant, the speaker of the house acts as governor, and a special election to fill the office must happen in 90 days. ^[18]

The revolutionary government was thrown into disarray by the Capture of Savannah in 1778, which led to two governments with varying levels of influence; they would reunite in 1780. This article relies on the Official and Statistical Register of Georgia, which ignores the Council of Safety of William Ewen in favor of Archibald Bulloch's government, and omits the government of William Glascock and Seth John Cuthbert. ^[19]

Governors of the State of Georgia ^{[lower-alpha 1]}

No. [lower-alpha 2]	Governor			Term in office	Party	Election	Lt. Governor [lower-alpha 3]
7			Archibald Bulloch	January 22, 1776 – February 22, 1777 (died in office)	None	— [lower-alpha 4]	Office did not exist
8			Button Gwinnett	March 4, 1777 – May 8, 1777	None	— [lower-alpha 5]
9			John A. Treutlen	May 8, 1777 – January 10, 1778	None	—
10			John Houstoun	January 10, 1778 – December 29, 1778 [lower-alpha 6]	None	—
—	Vacant			December 29, 1778 – August 6, 1779	—	Government in chaos after fall of Savannah [lower-alpha 7]
11			John Wereat	August 6, 1779 – November 1779 [lower-alpha 7]	None	—
12			George Walton	November 1779 [lower-alpha 7] – January 4, 1780	None	—
13			Richard Howly	January 4, 1780 – February 5, 1780 (resigned) [lower-alpha 8]	None	— [lower-alpha 9]
14			Stephen Heard	February 18, 1780 – August 18, 1781	None	— [lower-alpha 9] [lower-alpha 10]
15			Nathan Brownson	August 18, 1781 – January 3, 1782 (term limited)	None	1781
16			John Martin	January 3, 1782 – January 8, 1783 (term limited)	None	1782
17			Lyman Hall	January 8, 1783 – January 9, 1784 (term limited)	None	1783
10			John Houstoun	January 9, 1784 – January 6, 1785 (term limited)	None	1784
18			Samuel Elbert	January 6, 1785 – January 9, 1786 (term limited)	None	1785
19			Edward Telfair	January 9, 1786 – January 9, 1787 (term limited)	None	1786
20			George Mathews	January 9, 1787 – January 26, 1788 (term limited)	None	1787
21			George Handley	January 26, 1788 – January 7, 1789 (term limited)	None	1788 [lower-alpha 11]
12			George Walton	January 7, 1789 – November 9, 1789 (term limited)	Democratic- Republican	Jan. 1789
19			Edward Telfair	November 9, 1789 – November 7, 1793 (lost election)	Democratic- Republican	Nov. 1789 [lower-alpha 12]
						1791
20			George Mathews	November 7, 1793 – January 15, 1796 (not candidate for election)	Democratic- Republican	1793
22			Jared Irwin	January 15, 1796 – January 12, 1798 (not candidate for election)	Democratic- Republican	1795
23			James Jackson	January 12, 1798 – March 3, 1801 (resigned) [lower-alpha 13]	Democratic- Republican	1797
						1799
24			David Emanuel	March 3, 1801 – November 7, 1801 (not candidate for election)	Democratic- Republican	Succeeded from President of the Senate
25			Josiah Tattnall	November 7, 1801 – November 4, 1802 (resigned) [lower-alpha 14]	Democratic- Republican	1801
26			John Milledge	November 4, 1802 – September 23, 1806 (resigned) [lower-alpha 15]	Democratic- Republican	1802 (special) [lower-alpha 16]
						1803
						1805
22			Jared Irwin	September 23, 1806 – November 10, 1809 (not candidate for election)	Democratic- Republican	Succeeded from President of the Senate
						1807
27			David Brydie Mitchell	November 10, 1809 – November 5, 1813 (not candidate for election)	Democratic- Republican	1809
						1811
28			Peter Early	November 5, 1813 – November 20, 1815 (lost election)	Democratic- Republican	1813
27			David Brydie Mitchell	November 20, 1815 – March 4, 1817 (resigned) [lower-alpha 17]	Democratic- Republican	1815
29			William Rabun	March 4, 1817 – October 24, 1819 (died in office)	Democratic- Republican	Succeeded from President of the Senate
						1817
30			Matthew Talbot	October 24, 1819 – November 5, 1819 (successor took office)	Democratic- Republican	Succeeded from President of the Senate
31			John Clark	November 5, 1819 – November 7, 1823 (not candidate for election)	Democratic- Republican	1819
						1821
32			George Troup	November 7, 1823 – November 7, 1827 (not candidate for election)	Democratic- Republican	1823
						1825
33			John Forsyth	November 7, 1827 – November 4, 1829 (not candidate for election)	Democratic- Republican	1827
34			George Rockingham Gilmer	November 4, 1829 – November 9, 1831 (not candidate for election)	Democratic- Republican	1829
35			Wilson Lumpkin	November 9, 1831 – November 4, 1835 (not candidate for election)	Union (Democratic)	1831
						1833
36			William Schley	November 4, 1835 – November 8, 1837 (not candidate for election)	Union (Democratic)	1835
34			George Rockingham Gilmer	November 8, 1837 – November 6, 1839 (not candidate for election)	State Rights (Whig)	1837
37			Charles James McDonald	November 6, 1839 – November 8, 1843 (not candidate for election)	Union (Democratic)	1839
						1841
38			George W. Crawford	November 8, 1843 – November 3, 1847 (not candidate for election)	Whig	1843
						1845
39			George W. Towns	November 3, 1847 – November 5, 1851 (not candidate for election)	Democratic	1847
						1849
40			Howell Cobb	November 5, 1851 – November 9, 1853 (not candidate for election)	Constitutional Union	1851
41			Herschel Vespasian Johnson	November 9, 1853 – November 6, 1857 (not candidate for election)	Democratic	1853
						1855
42			Joseph E. Brown	November 6, 1857 – June 17, 1865 [lower-alpha 18] (resigned) [lower-alpha 19]	Democratic	1857
						1859
						1861
						1863
43			James Johnson	June 17, 1865 – December 14, 1865 [lower-alpha 20] (provisional term ended)	Democratic	Provisional governor appointed by President [lower-alpha 21]
44			Charles J. Jenkins	December 14, 1865 – January 13, 1868 (not candidate for election)	Democratic	1865 [lower-alpha 22]
45			Thomas H. Ruger	January 13, 1868 – July 4, 1868 (state readmitted)	—	Military occupation [lower-alpha 23]
46			Rufus Bullock	July 4, 1868 [lower-alpha 24] – October 30, 1871 [lower-alpha 25] (resigned) [lower-alpha 26]	Republican	1868 [lower-alpha 27]
47			Benjamin F. Conley	October 30, 1871 – January 12, 1872	Republican	President of the Senate acting as Governor
48			James Milton Smith	January 12, 1872 – January 12, 1877 (not candidate for election)	Democratic	1871 (special) [lower-alpha 28]
						1872
49			Alfred H. Colquitt	January 12, 1877 – November 4, 1882 (not candidate for election)	Democratic	1876
						1880 [lower-alpha 29]
50			Alexander H. Stephens	November 4, 1882 – March 4, 1883 (died in office)	Democratic	1882
51			James S. Boynton	March 4, 1883 – May 10, 1883 (not candidate for election)	Democratic	President of the Senate acting as Governor
52			Henry Dickerson McDaniel	May 10, 1883 – November 9, 1886 (not candidate for election) [lower-alpha 30]	Democratic	1883 (special) [lower-alpha 31]
						1884
53			John Brown Gordon	November 9, 1886 – November 8, 1890 (term limited)	Democratic	1886
						1888
54			William J. Northen	November 8, 1890 – October 27, 1894 (term limited)	Democratic	1890
						1892
55			William Yates Atkinson	October 27, 1894 – October 29, 1898 (term limited)	Democratic	1894
						1896
56			Allen D. Candler	October 29, 1898 – October 25, 1902 (term limited)	Democratic	1898
						1900
57			Joseph M. Terrell	October 25, 1902 – June 29, 1907 (term limited)	Democratic	1902
						1904 [lower-alpha 32]
58			M. Hoke Smith	June 29, 1907 – June 26, 1909 (not candidate for election)	Democratic	1906
59			Joseph Mackey Brown	June 26, 1909 – July 1, 1911 (not candidate for election)	Democratic	1908
58			M. Hoke Smith	July 1, 1911 – November 15, 1911 [lower-alpha 33] (resigned) [lower-alpha 34]	Democratic	1910
60			John M. Slaton	November 16, 1911 – January 25, 1912 (not candidate for election)	Democratic	President of the Senate acting as Governor
59			Joseph Mackey Brown	January 25, 1912 – June 28, 1913 (not candidate for election)	Democratic	1912 (special) [lower-alpha 35]
60			John M. Slaton	June 28, 1913 – June 26, 1915 (not candidate for election)	Democratic	1912
61			Nathaniel Edwin Harris	June 26, 1915 – June 30, 1917 (not candidate for election)	Democratic	1914
62			Hugh Dorsey	June 30, 1917 – June 25, 1921 (term limited)	Democratic	1916
						1918
63			Thomas W. Hardwick	June 25, 1921 – June 30, 1923 (not candidate for election)	Democratic	1920
64			Clifford Walker	June 30, 1923 – June 25, 1927 (term limited)	Democratic	1922
						1924
65			Lamartine Griffin Hardman	June 25, 1927 – June 27, 1931 (term limited)	Democratic	1926
						1928
66			Richard Russell Jr.	June 27, 1931 – January 10, 1933 (not candidate for election)	Democratic	1930 [lower-alpha 36]
67			Eugene Talmadge	January 10, 1933 – January 12, 1937 (term limited)	Democratic	1932
						1934
68			Eurith D. Rivers	January 12, 1937 – January 14, 1941 (term limited)	Democratic	1936
						1938
67			Eugene Talmadge	January 14, 1941 – January 12, 1943 (not candidate for election)	Democratic	1940
69			Ellis Arnall	January 12, 1943 – January 14, 1947 (term limited)	Democratic	1942 [lower-alpha 37]
—			Eugene Talmadge	Died before taking office	Democratic	1946 [lower-alpha 38]		Melvin E. Thompson
—			Herman Talmadge	January 14, 1947 – March 18, 1947 (removed from office)	Democratic
70			Melvin E. Thompson	March 18, 1947 – November 17, 1948 (lost election)	Democratic	Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor	Vacant
71			Herman Talmadge	November 17, 1948 – January 11, 1955 (term limited)	Democratic	1948 (special) [lower-alpha 39]		Marvin Griffin
						1950
72			Marvin Griffin	January 11, 1955 – January 13, 1959 (term limited)	Democratic	1954		Ernest Vandiver
73			Ernest Vandiver	January 13, 1959 – January 15, 1963 (term limited)	Democratic	1958		Garland T. Byrd
74			Carl Sanders	January 15, 1963 – January 11, 1967 (term limited)	Democratic	1962		Peter Zack Geer
75			Lester Maddox	January 11, 1967 – January 12, 1971 (term limited)	Democratic	1966		George T. Smith
76			Jimmy Carter	January 12, 1971 – January 14, 1975 (term limited)	Democratic	1970		Lester Maddox
77			George Busbee	January 14, 1975 – January 11, 1983 (term limited)	Democratic	1974		Zell Miller
						1978
78			Joe Frank Harris	January 11, 1983 – January 14, 1991 (term limited)	Democratic	1982
						1986
79			Zell Miller	January 14, 1991 – January 11, 1999 (term limited)	Democratic	1990		Pierre Howard
						1994
80			Roy Barnes	January 11, 1999 – January 13, 2003 (lost election)	Democratic	1998		Mark Taylor [lower-alpha 40]
81			Sonny Perdue	January 13, 2003 – January 10, 2011 (term limited)	Republican	2002
						2006		Casey Cagle
82			Nathan Deal	January 10, 2011 – January 14, 2019 (term limited)	Republican	2010
						2014
83			Brian Kemp	January 14, 2019 – present [lower-alpha 41]	Republican	2018		Geoff Duncan

See also

• First Ladies and Gentlemen of Georgia
• List of colonial governors of Georgia

Notes

1. Data is sourced from the Official and Statistical Register of Georgia ^[19] , unless supplemental references are required.
2. The state says Brian Kemp is the 83rd governor; this number is derived from the Official and Statistical Register of Georgia, last published by the Office of Secretary of State in 1978. It begins the numbering from the colonial governors and omits repeat governors, thus marking Archibald Bulloch as 7th and George Busbee as 77th. ^[19]
3. The office of Lieutenant Governor was created in 1945, first being filled in 1947.
4. The revolutionary government did not necessarily follow any schedule or term lengths, and thus the election year is omitted until 1781, when it becomes easier to determine.
5. Gwinnett was elected by the council to succeed Bulloch.
6. The date given is the Capture of Savannah, where the New Georgia Encyclopedia says his last official act as governor was to flee. ^[20]
7. The Capture of Savannah threw the government into disarray and exile, and records are scarce as to dates and leadership. William Glascock (elected January 21, 1779) ^[21] and Seth John Cuthbert (elected July 24, 1779), while often included in lists of governors, are omitted from the official state register, likely because of this reason. A school pamphlet from 1977 notes, "This confusing situation resulted in a number of radical Whigs, mainly from Wilkes County, organizing a second government with George Walton as governor and Glascock as speaker of the assembly. ... As a result of this makeshift election, there were two Whig governments plus the restored loyalist government." ^[22]
8. Howly resigned to be a delegate to the Continental Congress.
9. George Wells succeeded Howly, but was killed in a duel on February 16, 1780; he is omitted from nearly every list of governors, including the official register. Stephen Heard then became governor. ^[23]
10. Some sources say Myrick Davies was elected in August 1780 and served until his death; ^[24] however, he is omitted from the official state register.
11. James Jackson was elected in 1788, but declined the position, citing inexperience. ^[25]
12. First term under the 1789 constitution, which lengthened terms to two years.
13. Jackson resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.
14. Tattnall resigned due to declining health.
15. Milledge resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.
16. Special election to fill the remainder of Josiah Tattnall's term. ^[26]
17. Mitchell resigned to be agent to the Creek Indians.
18. One source states Brown left office on June 25, which could make sense as it would take several days for news of Johnson's appointment to reach Georgia. However, this source has not been corroborated. ^[27]
19. Brown resigned following the defeat of the Confederate States of America.
20. At least one source states Johnson left office "five days after" Jenkins took office, which would be December 19. ^[28] However, more contemporary sources say he left office on December 14. ^[29]
21. Johnson was appointed provisional governor by the Union occupation. ^[30]
22. Jenkins was removed from office by the military because he refused to allow state funds to be used for a racially integrated state constitutional convention; the state was still under military occupation during Reconstruction.
23. Provisional governor appointed by General George Meade.
24. Some sources state Bullock took office on July 21, but more contemporary sources say July 4. ^[29]
25. Some sources state Bullock resigned on October 23, but that is when he secretly submitted his resignation; it did not take effect until October 30. ^[31]
26. Bullock resigned and fled the state to avoid impeachment; he was arrested in 1876 and found not guilty of embezzlement.
27. First term under the 1868 constitution, which lengthened terms to four years.
28. Special election for the remainder of Rufus Bullock's term.
29. First term under the 1877 constitution, which shortened terms to two years.
30. McDaniel's first term was shortened, so it is not known if he can be considered term limited.
31. Special election for the remainder of Alexander Stephens' term.
32. The start of a gubernatorial term has always been set by the legislature, rather than the constitution; it appears the start of this term changed from the last Saturday in October to the last Saturday in June, lengthening it by eight months.
33. Sources are split on whether Smith resigned on November 15 or November 16, with contemporary sources leaning towards November 15. ^[32]
34. Smith resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.
35. Special election for the remainder of Hoke Smith's term.
36. The start of the term changed from the last Saturday in June to the second Tuesday in January, shortening this term by five months. ^[33]
37. First term under the 1945 constitution, which lengthened terms to four years.
38. Eugene Talmadge was elected to a third term in 1946, but died before taking office. Ellis Arnall, governor at the time, claimed the office, as did Lieutenant Governor Melvin Thompson. The state legislature chose Eugene Talmadge's son, Herman Talmadge, to be governor, but during what came to be called the "Three Governors controversy", the state supreme court declared this unconstitutional and declared Thompson rightful governor, and Talmadge stepped down after 67 days. Talmadge later defeated Thompson in a special election.
39. Special election to fill Eugene Talmadge's term.
40. Represented the Democratic Party.
41. Kemp's first term expires January 9, 2023.

References

General

• "Governors of Georgia". National Governors Association . Retrieved January 15, 2019.
• "The New Georgia Encyclopedia". Archived from the original on December 11, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
• A History of Georgia, second ed. Kenneth Coleman, general editor. University of Georgia Press: 1991.
• The Revolutionary Records of the State of Georgia Volume 1 . Retrieved August 28, 2016.

Constitutions

• "Constitution of the State of Georgia, as amended" (PDF). Secretary of State of Georgia. 1983. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
• "Constitution of the State of Georgia, as ratified". University of Georgia. 1983. Archived from the original on November 28, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
• "Constitution of the State of Georgia". University of Georgia. 1976. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
• "Constitution of the State of Georgia". University of Georgia. 1945. Archived from the original on June 13, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
• "Constitution of the State of Georgia". University of Georgia. 1877. Archived from the original on June 13, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
• "Constitution of the State of Georgia". University of Georgia. 1868. Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
• "Constitution of the State of Georgia". University of Georgia. 1865. Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
• "Constitution of the State of Georgia". University of Georgia. 1861. Archived from the original on January 26, 2013. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
• "Constitution of the State of Georgia". University of Georgia. 1798. Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
• "Constitution of the State of Georgia". University of Georgia. 1789. Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
• "Constitution of the State of Georgia". University of Georgia. 1777. Archived from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
• "Rules and Regulations of the Colony of Georgia". University of Georgia. 1776. Archived from the original on August 15, 2013. Retrieved November 28, 2012.

Specific

1. "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries". The Council of State Governments. June 25, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
2. "Ratification of the Constitution by the State of Georgia - January 2, 1788". The Avalon Project at Yale Law School. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
3. "Yazoo Land Fraud". Our Georgia History. Archived from the original on 2006-09-07. Retrieved 2006-08-04.
4. 1776 Const. art. I
5. 1777 Const. art. II
6. 1777 Const. art. XXIII
7. 1777 Const. art. XXIX
8. 1789 Const. art. 2, § 1
9. 1798 Const. Amendment 4
10. 1798 Const. Amendment 7
11. 1865 Const. art III, § 1
12. 1868 Const. art. IV, § 1
13. 1877 Const. art. 5, § 1 par. 2
15. GA Const. art V, § 1 par. 2
16. 1945 Const. art. V, § 1 par. 7
17. GA Const. art V, § 1 par 4
18. GA Const. art. V, § 1 par 5
19. "Georgia Official and Statistical Register, 1977-1978 - page 1145". Digital Library of Georgia . Retrieved January 15, 2019.
20. "John Houstoun". New Georgia Encyclopedia . Retrieved January 15, 2019.
21. Autobiography of a Colony: The First Half-Century of Augusta, Georgia. University of Georgia Press. 2009. p. 127. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
22. "Political Changes in Georgia 1775-1787" (PDF). Georgia Department of Education . Retrieved January 15, 2019.
23. JSTOR   40579633
24. "Stephen Heard". New Georgia Encyclopedia . Retrieved January 15, 2019.
25. "James Jackson". National Governors Association . Retrieved January 15, 2019.
26. "Georgia 1802 Governor, Special". Tufts University . Retrieved August 28, 2016.
27. Otto, John Henry (2004). Memoirs of a Dutch Mudsill. Kent State University Press.
28. "James Johnson". National Governors Association . Retrieved August 27, 2016.
29. The Government of the People of the State of Georgia. 1896. pp. 184–186. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
30. "James Johnson". National Governors Association . Retrieved January 15, 2019.
31. "This Day in Georgia History - October 23, 1871: Rufus Bullock Resigned". Georgia Library Learning Online . Retrieved August 27, 2016.
32. Official Congressional Directory. 1919. p. 17. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
33. "Richard Brevard Russell". National Governors Association . Retrieved August 27, 2016.