Thirty-one individuals have held the office of governor of Idaho since the state's admission to the Union in 1890, two of whom served non-consecutive terms. The state's first governor, George L. Shoup, had the shortest term, of three months; Cecil Andrus had the longest, of 14 years.
There were sixteen 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. Due to the long distance from Washington, D.C. to Boise, there was often a lengthy gap between a governor being appointed and his arrival in the territory; four resigned before even arriving.
Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890. The terms for governor and lieutenant governor are 4 years, commencing on the first Monday in the January following the election.[71] Prior to 1946, the offices were elected to terms of two years.[72] 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.[73] 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.[74] 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.[75][76] There is no limit to the number of terms a governor may serve.[77] The governor and the lieutenant governor are elected at the same time but not on the same ticket.
↑ The range given is from the date the governor was confirmed by the Senate, or appointed by the President during a Senate recess, to the date the governor left office.
↑ Wallace was nominated on March 7, 1863,[6] confirmed by the Senate on March 10,[7] and took office in July.[5]
↑ Lyon was nominated on February 2, 1864,[11] confirmed by the Senate on February 26,[12] and arrived in the territory some six months later.[10]
↑ Ballard was nominated on March 14, 1866,[14] confirmed by the Senate on April 10,[15] and arrived in the territory in June.[16]
↑ The date of Ballard's departure is the date of his farewell message to the state.[17]
↑ Bard was nominated on February 8, 1870,[18] and confirmed by the Senate on March 30.[19] However, he resigned on June 5 to continue being a journalist in Georgia, having never reached the territory.[20]
↑ Marston was nominated on May 27, 1870,[21] and confirmed on June 7.[22] However, he resigned on December 3,[23] due to the delay, through it was rumored that he was unhappy with the salary.[24]>[25]
↑ Conner was nominated on December 16, 1870,[26] and confirmed by the Senate on January 12, 1871.[27] However, he declined the appointment;[24] it is unknown when, though Limbaugh writes that he "declined the offer as soon as it was made."[25] The date given for the end of his term is when his successor was confirmed.
↑ Bowen was nominated on April 18, 1871,[28] in place of Ebenezer Dumont, who was nominated on March 17[29] but died on April 16, before the Senate could confirm him. The Senate Executive Journal has no record of if or when the Senate confirmed Bowen, but some sources say it was on April 19.[30] He took office on July 7.[24]
↑ Bowen resigned September 30.[31] Upon arriving in Idaho, Bowen reportedly did not like the look of the landscape, so he decided to stay only a few weeks.[32]
↑ Bennett was nominated on December 6, 1871,[34] and confirmed by the Senate on December 14.[35] However, sources say he took office on October 24,[30][33] implying a recess appointment.
↑ Thompson was nominated on December 15, 1875,[38] confirmed by the Senate on December 16,[39] and took office on April 6, 1876.[37]
↑ Thompson resigned due to a conflict of interest as a federal officer holding government contracts. Limbaugh says he resigned upon learning that this was not allowed.[40] McMullin says Grant requested his resignation on July 24, 1876,[37] but Thompson's resignation was dated July 1.[41]
↑ Thomas W. Bennett was nominated on July 17, 1876.[43] However, Bennett declined, so Brayman was nominated on July 18,[44] confirmed by the Senate on July 24.[45] and he took office on August 1.[42]
↑ Many petitions were filed to remove Brayman, and President Hayes responded by nominating John Philo Hoyt on June 11, 1878,[46] though he declined the appointment.[42] Brayman was allowed to serve out the remainder of his term.[47]
↑ Neil was appointed on July 12, 1880,[48] during a Senate recess; nominated on December 7;[49] and confirmed by the Senate on December 14.[50] He took office on August 4.[51]
↑ Irwin was nominated on March 1, 1883,[53] confirmed by the Senate on March 2,[54] and arrived in Boise on April 24.[52]
↑ Irwin took a leave of absence on May 15, and resigned on December 20 for personal reasons,[52] and returned his salary for the period he was absent.[55]
↑ Bunn was nominated on March 4, 1884,[57] confirmed by the Senate on March 26,[58] and took office on June 26.[59]
↑ Stevenson was appointed on September 29, 1885,[62] during a Senate recess; nominated on December 10, 1885;[63] and confirmed by the Senate on February 3, 1886.[64]
↑ Shoup was nominated on March 29, 1889,[68] confirmed on April 1,[69] and took office on April 30.[70]
↑ Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
↑ Shoup was elected governor on October 1; as he was already territorial governor, some sources list this as when he took office,[67] while others say he took office when the first legislature convened on December 8.[78]
↑ Steunenberg ran on a fusion ticket in 1896 with the Democratic, Populist, and Silver Republican parties, and in 1898 with the Democratic and Silver Republican parties.[89]
↑ Hunt ran on an electoral fusion ticket with two other parties, who were holding their nominating convention at the same time and place as the Democrats.[89][90]
↑ Risch was instead elected lieutenant governor, having won the primary before Kempthorne's resignation.[166]
↑ Otter took the oath of office ahead of time, to take effect at 12:01am on January 1.[168]
↑ Little's second term began on January 2, 2023, and will expire January 4, 2027.
Related Research Articles
The governor of Colorado is the head of government of the U.S. state of Colorado. The governor is the head of the executive branch of Colorado's state government and is charged with enforcing state laws. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Colorado General Assembly, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons, except in cases of treason or impeachment. The governor is also the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.
↑ The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant Digital Edition. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, Rotunda, 2018. Original source: Volume 21: November 1, 1870–May 31, 1871 (accessed February 22, 2023)
↑ The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant Digital Edition. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, Rotunda, 2018. Original source: Volume 27: January 1–October 31, 1876 (accessed February 22, 2023)
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