List of Governors of Kansas

Last updated

Governor of Kansas
Seal of Kansas.svg
Flag of the Governor of Kansas.svg
Standard of the Governor
Laura Kelly official photo (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Laura Kelly

since January 14, 2019
Residence Cedar Crest
Term length Four years, renewable once
Inaugural holder Charles L. Robinson
FormationFebruary 9, 1861
Salary$99,636 (2017) [1]
Website governor.kansas.gov

The Governor of Kansas is the head of the executive branch of Kansas's state government [2] and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. [3] The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, [2] and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Kansas Legislature, [4] to convene the legislature at any time, [5] and to grant pardons. [6]

Government of Kansas

The government of the U.S. state of Kansas, established by the Kansas Constitution, is a republican democracy modeled after the Federal Government of the United States. The state government has three branches: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial. Through a system of separation of powers, or "checks and balances," each of these branches has some authority to act on its own, and also some authority to regulate the other two branches, so that all three branches can limit and balance the others' authority.

Kansas National Guard

The Kansas National Guard, is the component of the United States National Guard in the U.S. state of Kansas. It comprises both the Kansas Army National Guard and the Kansas Air National Guard. The Governor of Kansas is Commander-in-Chief of the Kansas National Guard when in state use. The State's highest-ranking military commander, the Adjutant General of Kansas, serves as the military head of the Guard and is second only to the Governor.

Kansas Legislature state legislature of Kansas

The Kansas Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Kansas. It is a bicameral assembly, composed of the lower Kansas House of Representatives, with 125 state representatives, and the upper Kansas Senate, with 40 state senators. Representatives are elected for two-year terms, senators for four-year terms.

Contents

The governor has a four-year term, commencing on the second Monday of January after election. [7] The governor originally had a two-year term; this was changed to four years by a constitutional amendment in 1974. The lieutenant governor is elected at the same time as the governor. [7] When the office of governor becomes vacant for any reason, the lieutenant governor becomes governor for the remainder of the term. [8]

Since becoming a state, Kansas has had 47 governors. The state's longest-serving governors were Robert Docking, John W. Carlin, and Bill Graves, each of whom served 8 years and 4 days (Docking served four two-year terms; Carlin and Graves each served two four-year terms). The shortest-serving governor was John McCuish, who served only 11 days after the resignation of Fred Hall.

Robert Blackwell Docking was the 38th Governor of Kansas from 1967 until 1975.

John W. Carlin American politician

John William Carlin is an American politician. He served as the 40th Governor of Kansas from 1979 to 1987, and the Archivist of the United States from May 30, 1995, to February 15, 2005. He teaches at Kansas State University and operates a website to advance civic engagement. Carlin is also a member of the ReFormers Caucus of Issue One.

Bill Graves 43rd Governor of Kansas

William Preston Graves is a former American politician who was the 43rd Governor of Kansas from 1995 until 2003.

The current governor is Democrat Laura Kelly, who took office on January 14, 2019.

Laura Kelly American politician

Laura Kelly is an American politician who is the 48th governor of Kansas, serving since January 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, she represented the 18th district in the Kansas State Senate from 2005 to 2019. Kelly ran for governor in the 2018 election and defeated the Republican nominee, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach.

History

The office was created in 1861 when Kansas was officially admitted to the United States as the 34th state. Prior to statehood in 1861, the office was preceded by a Presidential appointed Governor of Kansas Territory with similar powers.

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.

Kansas Territory territory of the United States between 1854 and 1861

The Territory of Kansas was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Kansas.

Despite being an executive branch official, the Governor also possesses legislative and judicial powers. The Governor's responsibilities include making yearly "State of the State" addresses to the Kansas Legislature, submitting the budget, ensuring that state laws are enforced, and that the peace is preserved.

In ancient British customs, Conservators of the Peace, or Wardens of the Peace, were individuals who had a special charge, by virtue of their office, to see that the King's peace was kept.

Gubernatorial term of office and lack of requirements for running

Flag of the Governor prior to 1961. It is unclear when the Governor's flag was first created Standard of the Governor of Kansas (pre-1961).svg
Flag of the Governor prior to 1961. It is unclear when the Governor's flag was first created

There is no lifetime limit on the number of times he or she may be elected, but a governor who has been elected to two consecutive terms must be out of office for at least one election cycle before being eligible once again for re-election. Elections occur at the same time as the Congressional midterm elections, and each term begins on the second Monday of January following the election. The lieutenant governor is subject to the same limitations and runs on a combined ticket with the governor. [9] Furthermore, there is neither an age requirement nor a residency requirement to run for the office; as of 2017 three Kansan teenagers were doing so. [10]

If the governor becomes incapacitated, the lieutenant governor assumes the duties of the governor. However, if both offices become vacant, the line of succession is determined by the legislature. Under present law, the President of the Senate would be next in line to assume the governorship, followed by the Speaker of the House.

Residence

Since 1962, the Governor of Kansas has resided in the governor's mansion, known as Cedar Crest. It was designed by the architect firm Wight and Wight. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Governors

Governors of Kansas Territory

Governors of the Territory of Kansas
No.GovernorTerm in officeAppointed by
1 AReeder.jpg Andrew Horatio Reeder July 7, 1854

August 16, 1855
Franklin Pierce
2 WShannon.jpg Wilson Shannon September 5, 1855

August 18, 1856
3 Gearysfmayor.jpeg John W. Geary September 9, 1856

March 20, 1857
4 Hon. Robert J. Walker, Miss - NARA - 528738.jpg Robert J. Walker May 27, 1857

December 15, 1857
James Buchanan
5 James W Denver by Whitehurst Studio c1856.jpg James W. Denver December 1857

November 1858
6 SamuelMedary.jpg Samuel Medary December 1858

December 1860

Governors of Kansas

The eastern bulk of Kansas Territory was admitted to the Union as Kansas on January 29, 1861; the remainder become unorganized territory which would shortly be assigned to Colorado Territory. The Kansas Constitution provided that a governor and lieutenant governor be elected every two years. [11] An amendment in 1972 increased terms to four years, [12] , and provided that the governor and lieutenant governor are elected on the same ticket. In the original constitution, should the office of governor be vacant, the powers would devolve upon the lieutenant governor, who nonetheless would remain in that office; [13] an amendment in 1972 changed that so that, in such an event, the lieutenant governor becomes governor, and relies on the legislature to provide for succession after that. [14]

Governors of the State of Kansas
No.GovernorTerm in officePartyElection Lt. Governor [lower-alpha 1]
1 CRobinson.jpg   Charles L. Robinson February 9, 1861

January 12, 1863
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1860   Joseph Pomeroy Root
2 TCarney.jpg Thomas Carney January 12, 1863

January 9, 1865
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1862 Thomas A. Osborn
3 Samuel J. Crawford.jpg Samuel J. Crawford January 9, 1865

November 4, 1868
(resigned) [lower-alpha 2]
Republican 1864 James McGrew
1866 Nehemiah Green
4 NehemiahGreen.gif Nehemiah Green November 4, 1868

January 11, 1869
(successor took office)
Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
Vacant
5 James M. Harvey.gif James M. Harvey January 11, 1869

January 13, 1873
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1868 Charles Vernon Eskridge
1870 Peter Percival Elder
6 ThosAOsborn.gif Thomas A. Osborn January 13, 1873

January 8, 1877
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1872 Elias S. Stover
1874 Melville J. Salter
7 GeoTAnthony.gif George T. Anthony January 8, 1877

January 13, 1879
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1876
Lyman U. Humphrey
8 John St John 1880.jpg John St. John January 13, 1879

January 8, 1883
(lost election)
Republican 1878
1880 David Wesley Finney [lower-alpha 3]
9 GWGlick.jpg George Washington Glick January 8, 1883

January 12, 1885
(lost election)
Democratic 1882
10 John alexander martin.jpeg John Martin January 12, 1885

January 14, 1889
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1884 Alexander P. Riddle
1886
11 LUHumphrey.jpg Lyman U. Humphrey January 14, 1889

January 8, 1893
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1888 Andrew Jackson Felt
1890
12 LDLewelling.jpg Lorenzo D. Lewelling January 8, 1893

January 14, 1895
(lost election)
Populist 1892 Percy Daniels
13 ENMorrill.jpg Edmund Needham Morrill January 14, 1895

January 11, 1897
(lost election)
Republican 1894 James Armstrong Troutman
14 JWLeedy.gif John W. Leedy January 11, 1897

January 9, 1899
(lost election)
Populist 1896 Alexander Miller Harvey
15 WEStanley.jpg William Eugene Stanley January 9, 1899

January 12, 1903
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1898 Harry E. Richter
1900
16 WJBailey.gif Willis J. Bailey January 12, 1903

January 9, 1905
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1902 David John Hanna
17 EWHoch.gif Edward W. Hoch January 9, 1905

January 11, 1909
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1904
1906 William James Fitzgerald
18 WRStubbs.gif Walter R. Stubbs January 11, 1909

January 13, 1913
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1908
1910 Richard Joseph Hopkins
19 Portrait of George H. Hodges.jpg George H. Hodges January 13, 1913

January 11, 1915
(lost election)
Democratic 1912 Sheffield Ingalls [lower-alpha 3]
20 Arthur Capper.png Arthur Capper January 11, 1915

January 13, 1919
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1914 William Yoast Morgan
1916
21 Henry Justin Allen.jpg Henry Justin Allen January 13, 1919

January 8, 1923
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1918 Charles Solomon Huffman
1920
22 JonathanMDavis.jpg Jonathan M. Davis January 8, 1923

January 12, 1925
(lost election)
Democratic 1922 Benjamin S. Paulen [lower-alpha 3]
23 BenPaulen.jpg Benjamin S. Paulen January 12, 1925

January 14, 1929
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1924 De Lanson Alson Newton Chase
1926
24 ClydeMartinReed.jpg Clyde M. Reed January 14, 1929

January 12, 1931
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1928 Jacob W. Graybill [lower-alpha 3]
25 Harry Hines Woodring, 53rd United States Secretary of War.jpg Harry Hines Woodring January 12, 1931

January 9, 1933
(lost election)
Democratic 1930
26 LandonPortr.jpg Alf Landon January 9, 1933

January 11, 1937
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1932 Charles W. Thompson
1934
27 Walter Augustus Huxman.jpg Walter A. Huxman January 11, 1937

January 9, 1939
(lost election)
Democratic 1936 William M. Lindsay
28 PayneRatner.jpg Payne Ratner January 9, 1939

January 11, 1943
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1938 Carl E. Friend
1940
29 Andrew Frank Schoeppel.jpg Andrew Frank Schoeppel January 11, 1943

January 13, 1947
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1942 Jess C. Denious
1944
30 Frankcarlson(r-ks).jpg Frank Carlson January 13, 1947

November 28, 1950
(resigned) [lower-alpha 4]
Republican 1946 Frank L. Hagaman
1948
31 Frank L. Hagaman November 28, 1950

January 8, 1951
(successor took office)
Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
Vacant
32 Edward F. Arn January 8, 1951

January 10, 1955
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1950 Fred Hall
1952
33 Fred Hall January 10, 1955

January 3, 1957
(resigned) [lower-alpha 5]
Republican 1954 John McCuish
34 John McCuish January 3, 1957

January 14, 1957
(successor took office)
Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
Vacant
35 George Docking January 14, 1957

January 9, 1961
(lost election)
Democratic 1956 Joseph W. Henkle Sr.
1958
36 Kansas Governor John Anderson Jr 17 Sep 1964 (cropped) 2.jpg John Anderson Jr. January 9, 1961

January 11, 1965
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1960 Harold H. Chase
1962
37 William Henry Avery.png William H. Avery January 11, 1965

January 9, 1967
(lost election)
Republican 1964 John Crutcher [lower-alpha 3]
38 Robert Docking January 9, 1967

January 13, 1975
(term limited)
Democratic 1966
1968 James H. DeCoursey Jr.
1970 Reynolds Shultz [lower-alpha 3]
1972 Dave Owen [lower-alpha 3]
39 Robert Frederick Bennett January 13, 1975

January 8, 1979
(lost election)
Republican 1974 [lower-alpha 6] Shelby Smith
40 John Carlin.jpg John W. Carlin January 8, 1979

January 12, 1987
(term limited)
Democratic 1978 Paul Dugan
1982 Thomas Docking
41 Mike Hayden.jpg Mike Hayden January 12, 1987

January 14, 1991
(lost election)
Republican 1986 Jack D. Walker
42 Joan Finney January 14, 1991

January 9, 1995
(not candidate for election)
Democratic 1990 Jim Francisco
43 Bill Graves.jpg Bill Graves January 9, 1995

January 13, 2003
(term limited)
Republican 1994 Sheila Frahm
(resigned June 11, 1996)
Vacant
Gary Sherrer
(appointed July 18, 1996)
1998
44 Sebeliusofficialphoto.jpg Kathleen Sebelius January 13, 2003

April 28, 2009
(resigned) [lower-alpha 7]
Democratic 2002 John E. Moore
2006 Mark Parkinson
45 Mark Parkinson (cropped).jpg Mark Parkinson April 28, 2009

January 10, 2011
(not candidate for election)
Democratic Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
Vacant
Troy Findley
(appointed May 15, 2009)
46 Sam Brownback headshot.jpg Sam Brownback January 10, 2011

January 31, 2018
(resigned) [lower-alpha 8]
Republican 2010 Jeff Colyer
2014
47 Jeff Colyer official portrait (cropped).jpg Jeff Colyer January 31, 2018

January 14, 2019
(not candidate for election)
Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
Tracey Mann
(appointed February 14, 2018)
48 Laura Kelly official photo (cropped).jpg Laura Kelly January 14, 2019

present [lower-alpha 9]
Democratic 2018 Lynn Rogers

See also

Notes

    1. Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
    2. Crawford resigned to take command of the 19th Kansas Infantry.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Represented the Republican Party
    4. Carlson resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.
    5. Hall resigned so that his successor would appoint him to the Kansas Supreme Court.
    6. First term under a 1972 constitutional amendment which lengthened terms to four years.
    7. Sebelius resigned to become United States Secretary of Health and Human Services.
    8. Brownback resigned on January 31, 2018, to become United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom.
    9. Kelly's first term expires on January 9, 2023.

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    References

    General
    Constitutions
    Specific
    1. "Kansas Government Employee Payroll List" . Retrieved January 14, 2019.
    2. 1 2 KS Const. art. I, § 3.
    3. KS Const. art. VIII, § 4.
    4. KS Const. art. II, § 14.
    5. KS Const. art. I, § 5.
    6. KS Const. art. I, § 7.
    7. 1 2 KS Const. art. I, § 1.
    8. KS Const. art. I, § 11.
    9. Constitution of the State of Kansas Archived November 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
    10. Woodall, Hunter (September 28, 2017). "As third teen joins Kansas governor race, consider this: No rule says a dog can't run". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
    11. 1861 Const. art. I, § 1
    12. KS Const. art. 1, § 1
    13. 1861 Const. art I, § 11
    14. KS Const. art I, § 11