List of Governors of Idaho

Last updated
Governor of Idaho
Seal of Idaho.svg
Brad Little - 7-1-09 (16140613632) (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Brad Little

since January 7, 2019
Residence None
Term length Four years, no term limit
Inaugural holder George L. Shoup
FormationOctober 1, 1890
Deputy Janice McGeachin
Salary$117,000 (2013) [1]
Website gov.idaho.gov

The Governor of Idaho is the head of the executive branch of Idaho's state government [2] and commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. [3] The governor has the duty to see state laws are executed, power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Idaho Legislature. [3]

Commander-in-chief supreme commanding authority of a military

A commander-in-chief, sometimes also called supreme commander, is the person that exercises supreme command and control over an armed forces or a military branch. As a technical term, it refers to military competencies that reside in a country's executive leadership – a head of state or a head of government.

U.S. state constituent political entity of the United States

In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are currently 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory and shares its sovereignty with the federal government. Due to this shared sovereignty, Americans are citizens both of the federal republic and of the state in which they reside. State citizenship and residency are flexible, and no government approval is required to move between states, except for persons restricted by certain types of court orders. Four states use the term commonwealth rather than state in their full official names.

Idaho Legislature


The Idaho Legislature consists of the upper Idaho Senate and the lower Idaho House of Representatives. Idaho is divided into 35 legislative districts, which each elect one senator and two representatives. There are no term limits for either chamber.

Contents

Idaho Territory had 16 territorial governors appointed by the President of the United States from the territory's organization in 1863 until the formation of the state of Idaho in 1890. Four of these never took office, resigning before reaching the territory.

Idaho Territory territory of the USA between 1863–1890

The Territory of Idaho was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 3, 1863, until July 3, 1890, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as Idaho.

President of the United States Head of state and of government of the United States

The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces.

Thirty-one individuals have held the office of governor of Idaho since the state's admission to the Union in 1890, two of whom—C. A. Bottolfsen and Cecil Andrus—served non-consecutive terms. The state's first governor, George L. Shoup, had the shortest term of three months, and Cecil Andrus served as governor the longest at 14 years. Four governors resigned, but none have died while in office. The current governor is Republican Brad Little, who took office on January 7, 2019.

United States Federal republic in North America

The United States of America (USA), commonly known as the United States or America, is a country comprising 50 states, a federal district, five major self-governing territories, and various possessions. At 3.8 million square miles, the United States is the world's third or fourth largest country by total area and is slightly smaller than the entire continent of Europe's 3.9 million square miles. With a population of over 327 million people, the U.S. is the third most populous country. The capital is Washington, D.C., and the largest city by population is New York City. Forty-eight states and the capital's federal district are contiguous in North America between Canada and Mexico. The State of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east and across the Bering Strait from Russia to the west. The State of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U.S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, stretching across nine official time zones. The extremely diverse geography, climate, and wildlife of the United States make it one of the world's 17 megadiverse countries.

C. A. Bottolfsen American politician

Clarence Alfred Bottolfsen was a politician from Idaho, a member of the Idaho Republican Party. He served as the 17th and 19th Governor of Idaho, from 1939 to 1941 and again from 1943 to 1945.

Cecil Andrus American politician

Cecil Dale Andrus was an American politician who served fourteen years as the Governor of Idaho. A Democrat, he also served as U.S. Secretary of the Interior from 1977 to 1981 during the Carter Administration. Andrus lost his first gubernatorial election in 1966, but won four and his 14 years as governor is the most in state history. Through 2019, he is the most recent Democrat to have held the office.

Governors

Governors of the Territory of Idaho

Idaho Territory was created from Dakota Territory, Nebraska Territory, and Washington Territory on March 4, 1863. [4]

Dakota Territory territory of the USA between 1861-1889

The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.

Nebraska Territory territory of the USA between 1854-1867

The Territory of Nebraska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until March 1, 1867, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Nebraska. The Nebraska Territory was created by the Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854. The territorial capital was Omaha. The territory encompassed areas of what is today Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, Colorado, and Montana.

The Territory of Washington was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1853, until November 11, 1889, when the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Washington. It was created from the portion of the Oregon Territory north of the lower Columbia River and north of the 46th parallel east of the Columbia. At its largest extent, it also included the entirety of modern Idaho and parts of Montana and Wyoming, before attaining its final boundaries in 1863.

Due to the long distance between Washington, D.C. and Boise, there was often a lengthy gap between a governor being appointed and his arrival in the territory; four resigned before even arriving.

Washington, D.C. Capital of the United States

Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington or D.C., is the capital of the United States. Founded after the American Revolution as the seat of government of the newly independent country, Washington was named after George Washington, first President of the United States and Founding Father. As the seat of the United States federal government and several international organizations, Washington is an important world political capital. The city is also one of the most visited cities in the world, with more than 20 million tourists annually.

Boise, Idaho State capital city in Idaho, United States

Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, and is the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River in southwestern Idaho, the population of Boise at the 2010 Census was 205,671, the 99th largest in the United States. Its estimated population in 2016 was 223,154.

Governors of the Territory of Idaho
No.GovernorTerm in officeAppointed byNotes
1 William H. Wallace.jpg William H. Wallace July 1863 [5] [6]

December 1863 [5]
Abraham Lincoln [lower-alpha 1]
2 Caleb Lyon.jpg Caleb Lyon August 1, 1864 [5] [6]

April 1866 [8]
3 Davidwballard.jpg David W. Ballard June 14, 1866 [9]

July 1870 [10]
Andrew Johnson
Samuel Bard 1823-1878 (Idaho Governor), front.jpg Samuel Bard Appointed March 30, 1870 [11] Ulysses S. Grant [lower-alpha 2]
Gilman Marston - Brady-Handy.jpg Gilman Marston Appointed June 7, 1870 [11] [lower-alpha 3]
Alexander H. Conner (Idaho Governor).jpg Alexander H. Conner Appointed January 12, 1871 [11] [lower-alpha 4]
4 ThomasMBowen.jpg Thomas M. Bowen July 1871 [12]

August 15, 1871 [12]
[lower-alpha 5]
5 Thomas W. Bennett territorial governor - Brady-Handy.jpg Thomas W. Bennett December 1871 [13]

December 4, 1875 [14]
[lower-alpha 6]
6 Davidpthompson.jpg David P. Thompson April 1876 [16]

May 1876 [16]
[lower-alpha 7]
7 Masonbrayman.jpg Mason Brayman July 1876 [17]

July 24, 1880 [18]
[lower-alpha 8]
John Philo Hoyt.jpg John Philo Hoyt Appointed June 8, 1878 [20]
Appointed August 7, 1878 [21]
Rutherford B. Hayes [lower-alpha 9]
8 Johnbaldwinneil.jpg John Baldwin Neil August 3, 1880 [22]

March 2, 1883 [23]
9 John Nichol Irwin - oval.jpg John N. Irwin April 1883 [24]

December 20, 1883 [24]
Chester A. Arthur [lower-alpha 10]
10 William Malcolm Bunn.jpg William M. Bunn June 26, 1884 [26]

July 3, 1885 [27]
[lower-alpha 11]
11 Edwardastevenson.PNG Edward A. Stevenson September 29, 1885 [28]

April 1, 1889 [29]
Grover Cleveland
12 Georgelshoup.jpg George L. Shoup April 30, 1889 [30]

July 3, 1890
Benjamin Harrison

Governors of the State of Idaho

Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890. Since then, the state has had 32 governors, two of whom served non-consecutive terms. The terms for governor and lieutenant governor are four years, commencing on the first Monday in the January following the election. Prior to 1946, the offices were elected to terms of two years. [31] If the office of governor is vacant or the governor is out of state or unable to discharge his duties, the lieutenant governor acts as governor until such time as the disability is removed. [32] If both the offices of governor and lieutenant governor are vacant or both those officers are unable to fulfill their duties, the President pro tempore of the Idaho Senate is next in line, and then the Speaker of the Idaho House of Representatives. [33] After the change to four-year terms, self-succession (re-election) was not initially allowed; newly elected Governor Robert E. Smylie, formerly the state's attorney general, successfully lobbied the 1955 legislature to propose an amendment to the state constitution to allow gubernatorial re-election, which was approved by voters in the 1956 general election. [34] [35] There is no limit to the number of terms a governor may serve. [36]

Idaho Senate upper state chamber of a state of the United-States of America

The Idaho Senate is the upper chamber of the Idaho State Legislature. It consists of 35 Senators elected to two-year terms, each representing a district of the state. The Senate meets at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise, Idaho.

Idaho House of Representatives lower house of U.S. state legislature

The Idaho House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Idaho State Legislature. It consists of 70 representatives elected to two-year terms. The state is divided into 35 districts, each of which elect two representatives. It meets at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise, Idaho.

Robert E. Smylie American politician and attorney from Idaho

Robert Eben Smylie was an American politician and attorney from Idaho. A member of the Idaho Republican Party, he served as the 24th Governor of Idaho for twelve years, from 1955 to 1967.

Governors of the State of Idaho
No.GovernorTerm in officePartyElection Lt. Governor [lower-alpha 12]
1 Georgelshoup.jpg   George L. Shoup October 1, 1890

December 18, 1890
(resigned) [lower-alpha 13]
Republican 1890   N. B. Willey
2 Norman Bushnell Willey (Idaho Governor).jpg N. B. Willey December 18, 1890

January 2, 1893
(not candidate for election)
Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
John S. Gray
3 Williammcconnell.jpg William J. McConnell January 2, 1893

January 4, 1897
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1892 F. B. Willis
1894 F. J. Mills
4 Franksteunenberg.jpg Frank Steunenberg January 4, 1897

January 7, 1901
(not candidate for election)
Democratic [lower-alpha 14] 1896 George F. Moore [lower-alpha 14]
1898 J. H. Hutchinson [lower-alpha 14]
5 Frankwhunt.PNG Frank W. Hunt January 7, 1901

January 5, 1903
(lost election)
Democratic 1900 Thomas F. Terrell
6 John T. Morrison.jpg John T. Morrison January 5, 1903

January 2, 1905
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1902 James M. Stevens
7 Frankgooding.jpg Frank R. Gooding January 2, 1905

January 4, 1909
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1904 Burpee L. Steeves
1906 Ezra A. Burrell
8 Jamesbrady.jpg James H. Brady January 4, 1909

January 2, 1911
(lost election)
Republican 1908 Lewis H. Sweetser
9 Jameshhawley.jpg James H. Hawley January 2, 1911

January 6, 1913
(lost election)
Democratic 1910
10 Johnmhaines.jpg John M. Haines January 6, 1913

January 4, 1915
(lost election)
Republican 1912 Herman H. Taylor [lower-alpha 15]
11 Mosesalexander.jpg Moses Alexander January 4, 1915

January 6, 1919
(not candidate for election)
Democratic 1914
1916 Ernest L. Parker
12 DWDavis.jpg D. W. Davis January 6, 1919

January 1, 1923
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1918 Charles C. Moore
1920
13 Charles C. Moore 1904.jpg Charles C. Moore January 1, 1923

January 3, 1927
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1922 H. C. Baldridge
1924
14 HCBaldridge.jpg H. C. Baldridge January 3, 1927

January 5, 1931
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1926 O. E. Hailey
1928 W. B. Kinne
(died October 1, 1929)
Vacant
O. E. Hailey
(appointed October 25, 1929)
15 C. Ben Ross (Idaho Governor).jpg C. Ben Ross January 5, 1931

January 4, 1937
(not candidate for election)
Democratic 1930 G. P. Mix
1932 George Hill
1934 G. P. Mix
16 Barzilla W. Clark (Idaho Governor).jpg Barzilla W. Clark January 4, 1937

January 2, 1939
(not candidate for election)
Democratic 1936 Charles C. Gossett
17 C. A. Bottolfsen (Idaho Governor).jpg C. A. Bottolfsen January 2, 1939

January 6, 1941
(lost election)
Republican 1938 Donald S. Whitehead
18 Chase A. Clark (Idaho governor).jpg Chase A. Clark January 6, 1941

January 4, 1943
(lost election)
Democratic 1940 Charles C. Gossett
19 C. A. Bottolfsen (Idaho Governor).jpg C. A. Bottolfsen January 4, 1943

January 1, 1945
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1942 Edwin Nelson
20 Charlescgossett.jpg Charles C. Gossett January 1, 1945

November 17, 1945
(resigned) [lower-alpha 16]
Democratic 1944 Arnold Williams
21 Arnold Williams (Idaho Governor).jpg Arnold Williams November 17, 1945

January 6, 1947
(lost election)
Democratic Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
Vacant
A. R. McCabe
(appointed March 20, 1946)
22 C. A. Robins (Idaho Governor).jpg C. A. Robins January 6, 1947

January 1, 1951
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1946
[lower-alpha 17]
Donald S. Whitehead
23 Lenjordan.jpg Leonard B. Jordan January 1, 1951

January 3, 1955
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1950 Edson H. Deal
24 Robert E. Smylie.jpg Robert E. Smylie January 3, 1955

January 2, 1967
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1954 J. Berkeley Larsen
1958 W. E. Drevlow [lower-alpha 18]
1962
25 Don Samuelson.jpg Don Samuelson January 2, 1967

January 4, 1971
(lost election)
Republican 1966 Jack M. Murphy [lower-alpha 15]
26 Cecil D Andrus.png Cecil Andrus January 4, 1971

January 24, 1977
(resigned) [lower-alpha 19]
Democratic 1970
1974 John V. Evans
27 John V. Evans January 24, 1977

January 5, 1987
(not candidate for election)
Democratic Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
Vacant
William J. Murphy
(appointed January 28, 1977)
1978 Phil Batt [lower-alpha 15]
1982 David H. Leroy [lower-alpha 15]
28 Cecil D Andrus.png Cecil Andrus January 5, 1987

January 2, 1995
(not candidate for election)
Democratic 1986 Butch Otter [lower-alpha 15]
(resigned January 3, 2001)
1990
29 Phil Batt 2010 (cropped).jpg Phil Batt January 2, 1995

January 4, 1999
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1994
30 Dirkkempthornesenate.jpg Dirk Kempthorne January 4, 1999

May 26, 2006
(resigned) [lower-alpha 20]
Republican 1998
Vacant
Jack Riggs
(appointed January 30, 2001)
2002 Jim Risch
31 James E. Risch, official Senate photo portrait, 2009.jpg Jim Risch May 26, 2006

January 1, 2007
(not candidate for election)
Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
Vacant
Mark Ricks
(appointed June 15, 2006)
32 Butchotter.jpg Butch Otter January 1, 2007

January 7, 2019
(not candidate for election)
Republican 2006 Jim Risch
(resigned January 3, 2009)
Vacant
Brad Little
(appointed January 6, 2009)
2010
2014
33 Brad Little - 7-1-09 (16140613632) (cropped 2).jpg Brad Little January 7, 2019

present [lower-alpha 21]
Republican 2018 Janice McGeachin

See also

Notes

  1. Resigned to take an elected seat as delegate from Idaho Territory. [7]
  2. Appointed governor but resigned in April 1870 to become postmaster of Atlanta, Georgia, before arriving in Idaho. [10]
  3. Appointed governor but resigned in December 1870 before arriving in Idaho. [10]
  4. Appointed governor but declined the offer. [10]
  5. Upon arriving in Idaho, Bowen did not like the looks of the landscape, so he decided to stay only a few weeks. [12]
  6. Resigned to take an elected seat as delegate from Idaho Territory. [15]
  7. Thompson left Idaho in May 1876 to attend the Republican National Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio. He resigned in Cincinnati after he learned federal officers couldn't hold government contracts. [16]
  8. Brayman was suspended by President Hayes on June 8, 1878 and Hoyt was appointed Governor of Idaho. After Hoyt refused the appointment, Brayman was allowed to serve out the remainder of his term. [19]
  9. Appointed governor on June 8, 1878, but was rejected by the United States Senate for taking too long to respond to the offer. Appointed again on August 7, 1878, but declined the offer after researching the suspension of Governor Brayman. [19]
  10. Irwin left Idaho Territory in May 1883, never to return. He returned his paychecks from July 1883 through December 1883 to the U.S. Treasury. [25]
  11. Bunn left Idaho on April 17, 1885 for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he subsequently resigned on July 3, 1885. [24]
  12. Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
  13. Shoup resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.
  14. 1 2 3 Part of a fusion ticket that was also endorsed by the Populist Party. [21]
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 Represented the Republican Party.
  16. Gossett resigned to let Lieutenant Governor Williams succeed him and then appoint him to the United States Senate. [37]
  17. First term under a constitution amendment which lengthened term to four years.
  18. Represented the Democratic Party.
  19. Andrus resigned to be United States Secretary of the Interior.
  20. Kempthorne resigned to become United States Secretary of the Interior.
  21. Little's first term expires on January 2, 2023.

Related Research Articles

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Mason Brayman 7th Governor of Idaho Territory and Union Army general

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Governor of Colorado head of state and of government of the U.S. state of Colorado

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References

General
Constitution
Specific
  1. "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries". The Council of State Governments. June 25, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  2. ID Const. art. IV, § 5
  3. 1 2 ID Const. art. IV, § 4
  4. Brosnan, Cornelius James (1918). History of the State of Idaho. Charles Scribner's Sons. pp. 117–128. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  5. 1 2 3 Limbaugh p. 47
  6. 1 2 Hailey p. 166
  7. "Wallace, William Henson". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress . Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  8. Limbaugh p. 65
  9. "Territorial Government in Idaho, 1863–1869" (PDF). Idaho State Historical Society. 1963. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 11, 2010. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Limbaugh p. 90
  11. 1 2 3 Hailey p. 165
  12. 1 2 3 Limbaugh p. 92
  13. Limbaugh p. 103
  14. Poore, Perley (1875). Congressional Directory. Washington D.C.: Congressional Printing Office. p. 71. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  15. "Bennett, Thomas Warren". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  16. 1 2 3 Limbaugh p. 106
  17. Limbaugh p. 114
  18. Limbaugh p. 130
  19. 1 2 Limbaugh pp. 127–129
  20. "Territorial Governors who did not server" (PDF). Idaho State Historical Society. 1988. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 13, 2010. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
  21. 1 2 "Executive Branch" (PDF). Idaho Bluebook. State of Idaho. pp. 70–71. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 17, 2010. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  22. Limbaugh p. 139
  23. Limbaugh p. 147
  24. 1 2 3 Limbaugh p. 148
  25. "Notes from Washington". The New York Times. December 28, 1883. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  26. Donaldson, Thomas (1941). Idaho of Yesterday. Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Printers, Ltd. p. 271. OCLC   100976.
  27. "Resignation of Gov. Bunn". The New York Times. July 14, 1885. p. 4. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  28. Limbaugh p. 172
  29. Limbaugh pp. 179–180
  30. Limbaugh p. 181
  31. "Idaho Constitutional Amendment History". Idaho Secretary of State. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
  32. ID Const. art. IV, § 12
  33. ID Const. art. IV, § 14
  34. "Idaho voters adopt three amendments". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. November 7, 1956. p. 1.
  35. Corlett, John (March 31, 1963). "It's mystery why law barring self-succession not repealed". Lewiston Morning Tribune. p. 5.
  36. "Idaho Makes Term Limits History". National Conference of State Legislatures. February 1, 2002. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
  37. "Idaho Shake-Up Draws Criticism". Spokane Daily Chronicle. November 30, 1945. Retrieved August 14, 2010.