List of governors of Puerto Rico

Last updated

This list of governors of Puerto Rico includes all persons who have held the office of Governor of Puerto Rico since its establishment under the administration of the Spanish Empire (1508–1898) to the present under the administration of the United States (1898–present).

Contents

La Fortaleza, the official residence of the governor of Puerto Rico since the 16th century Fortaleza in Old San Juan (cropped).jpg
La Fortaleza, the official residence of the governor of Puerto Rico since the 16th century

The archipelago and island of Puerto Rico was annexed by the United States during the Spanish-American War in 1898, ending 390 years of active rule by the Spanish Empire, which began the European exploration, colonization, and settlement of the main island under conquistador Juan Ponce de León in 1508. [1] Ponce de León was the first person to hold the title and office of governor by orders of King Ferdinand II of Aragon in 1509. [2] The governor remained an appointee of the Spanish Crown during Spanish rule, and was an appointee of the President of the United States during American rule until 1948, when the residents of Puerto Rico began to popularly elect the governor, starting with Luis Muñoz Marín, who took office in 1949. [3] [4] [5]

Since 1508, 167 persons (164 men and 3 women), have served in 190 formal, interim, or de facto governorships, as 17 governors have served twice nonconsecutively and 3 have served thrice nonconsecutively. Of the 190 governors, 175 have been appointed (149 by the Spanish Crown and 26 by the President of the United States), 14 elected through popular vote by the residents of Puerto Rico, and one constitutionally appointed after the resignation of an elected governor.

The governorship has been vacant twice, as two municipal administrators, called alcaldes ordinarios , served in place of a governor each year from 1537 to 1544 and 1548 to 1550. [6] The shortest-serving governor was Andrés González Muñoz, who died hours after the start of his second interim governorship on January 11, 1898. [3] Luis Muñoz Marín served the longest, having held the office for 16 consecutive years, or four terms of four years each, from 1949 to 1965, after he decided not to seek re-election. [7] [8] Ricardo Rosselló, who left office prematurely as a result of the Telegramgate scandal in 2019, is the first and only elected governor to have resigned. [9] No elected governor has been impeached. [10]

The first governor born in Puerto Rico was Ponce de León’s grandchild, Juan Ponce de León II, who served as interim governor from 1578 to 1580. [4] He was the only Puerto Rican-born person to occupy the office until Ángel Rivero Méndez, who served in an interim capacity as the last governor under Spanish administration for two days from October 16 to 18, 1898. [11] Several Puerto Ricans also briefly served as interim governors from 1921 to 1941. During the direct Spanish and American control of the governorship from 1508 to 1948, the first and only native Puerto Rican to held the office in a formal capacity was Jesús T. Piñero, who served as the last appointed governor of Puerto Rico from 1946 to 1949. [12]

Since 1949, the governor of Puerto Rico has served by popular election as the head of government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States organized under the Constitution of Puerto Rico since its establishment in 1952. The incumbent governor is Jenniffer González, who was elected on November 5, 2024, and sworn in on January 2, 2025. [13] [14]

History

Spanish administration

With the European discovery of Puerto Rico during the second voyage of Christopher Columbus in November 1493, the archipelagic island was claimed by the Spanish Crown. In 1505, Spanish King Ferdinand II of Aragon ordered the colonization of Puerto Rico, appointing Spanish conquistador Vicente Yáñez Pinzón as its captain and corregidor to essentially serve as a de facto governor. However, Yáñez Pinzón never fulfilled the commission. [15] [16] [17] Puerto Rico remained unexplored and unsettled by the Spanish Empire from 1493 to 1508.

In 1508, the King ordered Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León to conquer Puerto Rico, becoming the first European to explore, colonize, and settle the archipelago and island. [1] In 1509, the title and position of governor of Puerto Rico was officially established by King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who appointed Ponce de León as the first holder of the office. [2] The governor continued to be appointed by the Spanish Crown for 390 years, serving under various administrative entities: the Viceroyalty of the Indies (1508–1535), the Viceroyalty of New Spain (1535–1582), the Captaincy General of Puerto Rico (1582–1897), and the Autonomous Province of Puerto Rico (1897–1898). [3] [4] [18]

From 1537 to 1544 and 1548 to 1550, the governorship remained vacant, as alcaldes ordinarios served in place of a governor. By order of King Charles I of Spain, two alcaldes ordinarios, one for the eastern cabildo of Partido de San Juan and the other for the western cabildo of Partido de San Germán , were elected each year by the regidores of each cabildo. The alcaldes ordinarios, who could only be re-elected two years after the end of their one-year term, served as municipal administrators and not governors. [6] [19] [20]

From 1578 to 1580, Juan Ponce de León’s grandchild, Juan Ponce de León II, served as interim governor, becoming the first Puerto Rican-born person to served as governor of the archipelago and island. [4] He was the only Puerto Rican-born person to occupy the office until Ángel Rivero Méndez, who served for three days as interim governor from October 16 to October 18, 1898. [11]

With the English occupation of San Juan, the capital city of Puerto Rico, from June to November 1598, which was the only complete takeover of the city by a foreign power before its peaceful transfer to the Americans after hostilities stopped during the Spanish–American War in October 1898, the govenor, Antonio de Mosquera, surrendered and was exiled to Cartagena de Indias in Colombia. However, the English, led by George Clifford and John Berkeley, failed to keep the city and to gain control of the main island. From November 1598 to March 1599, former governor Pedro Suárez Coronel, who had been imprisoned in San Juan’s El Morro fortress, assumed the governorship after the retreat of the English and arrival of Mosquera’s formal replacement, Alonso de Mercado. [21]

American Administration

In 1898, the President of the United States assumed the authority to appoint the person occupying the office as a result of the annexation of the archipelago and island by the United States during Spanish American War.

While General Nelson A. Miles led the American invasion and occupation of Puerto Rico from July 25 to August 13, 1898, he never served as governor, as that responsibility was assigned to fellow General John R. Brooke, who was head of the American delegation to the commission for the peaceful transfer of sovereignty over Puerto Rico from Spain to the United States, as stipulated in the armistice signed by the two countries on August 12. After the departure of the Spanish officials from San Juan on October 16, Brooke became the first American governor of the archipelago and island on October 18, 1898, succeeding interim governor Ángel Rivero Méndez, who was the last governor under Spanish administration. [22] [3]

Under the military (1898–1900) and insular civil governments (1900–1952) of Puerto Rico, the latter of which was established by the Foraker Act of 1900 and expanded by the Jones–Shafroth Act of 1917, the governor remained an appointee of the American president from 1898 to 1948. While several Puerto Ricans briefly served as interim governors during this period, the only native Puerto Rican to be appointed to the governorship was Jesús T. Piñero, who served as the last appointed governor of Puerto Rico from 1946 to 1949. Piñero was the first and only native Puerto Rican to held the office in a formal, not interim capacity during the direct Spanish and American control of the governorship from 1508 to 1948. [12]

In 1947, the Elective Governor Act granted the residents of Puerto Rico the power to elect the governor through popular vote. The first election for the governorship was held in 1948, resulting in the victory of Luis Muñoz Marín, who became the first democratically elected governor. Since 1949, the governor of Puerto Rico has served by popular election as the head of government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States organized under the Constitution of Puerto Rico since 1952.

In 2019, governor Ricardo Rosselló, alongside other members of his cabinet, including the Secretary of State, resigned as a result of the Telegramgate scandal, becoming the first elected governor to step down. Before leaving office, Rosselló named Pedro Pierluisi as state secretary, with the intention of making Pierluisi his successor, as the state secretary is the first official in the gubernatorial line of succession. Pierluisi was sworn in as governor after Rosselló’s resignation. However, his tenure only lasted five days, as the Supreme Court ruled that his assumption of the office was unconstitutional because his nomination as state secretary was never confirmed by the Legislative Assembly. He was succeeded by the next official in the gubernatorial line of succession, Secretary of Justice Wanda Vázquez Garced, who became the first governor to serve through constitutional appointment. [23]

Spanish administration (1508–1898)

This list includes all governors of Puerto Rico who served under the Spanish Empire from the start of the colonization of the archipelago and island in 1508 to the end of Spanish rule as a result of the Spanish-American War in 1898. Governors are divided by the administrative territorial entity under which they directly served.

Century
16th17th18th19th

Viceroyalty of the Indies (1508–1535)

In 1492, when explorer Christopher Columbus took possession of the West Indies in the Caribbean in the name of the Spanish Empire, pursuant to the provisions of the Capitulations of Santa Fe granted by the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, the Viceroyalty of the Indies was established as an administrative entity, with Columbus as its first viceroy and governor. Headquartered in the Captaincy General of Santo Domingo in Hispaniola, it was primarily composed of the Greater and Lesser Antilles islands discovered by Columbus during his voyages to the Americas, including the archipelago and island of Puerto Rico, where he landed during his second voyage in 1493. From the start of the colonization of Puerto Rico by Juan Ponce León in 1508 to the merging of the Viceroyalty of the Indies into the Viceroyalty of New Spain in 1535, the governor of Puerto Rico operated under the jurisdiction of the Spanish Crown, which exercised its authority through the monarch of Spain, the president of the Council of the Indies, and the viceroy and governor of the Viceroyalty of the Indies, who was also the governor of the Captaincy General of Santo Domingo and the president of the Real Audiencia of Santo Domingo in Hispaniola.

No.Signature [a] Name
(birth–death)
TenureRef(s)
StartEndDuration
1 Juan Ponce de Leon's signature.jpg Juan
Ponce
de León

(c. 1474–1521)
June 15,
1508
October 28,
1509
1 year, 135 days [3] [24] [5] [25] [26] [27]
2 Juan
Cerón

(unknown)
October 28,
1509
March 2,
1510
125 days
3 Juan Ponce de Leon's signature.jpg Juan
Ponce
de León

(c. 1474–1521)
March 2,
1510
June 21,
1511
1 year, 111 days
4Gonzalo
de
Ovalle

Interim
(unknown)
June 21,
1511
November 28,
1511
160 days
5 Juan
Cerón

(unknown)
November 28,
1511
June 2,
1512
187 days
6Rodrigo
de Moscoso

(unknown)
June 2,
1512
February
1513
244 days
7Cristóbal
de Mendoza

(unknown)
February
1513
July 15,
1515
2 years, 137 days
8 Juan Ponce de Leon's signature.jpg Juan
Ponce
de León

(c. 1474–1521)
July 15, 1515September 12,
1519
4 years, 59 days
9 Antonio de la Gama's signature.jpg Antonio
de la
Gama

(c. 1489)
September 12,
1519
January 15,
1521
1 year, 125 days
10 Pedro Moreno's signature.jpg Pedro
Moreno

(unknown)
January 15,
1521
May
1523
2 years, 106 days
11 Alonso
Manso

Interim
(1460–1539)
May
1523
1524215 days
12 Pedro Moreno's signature.jpg Pedro
Moreno

(unknown)
1524June
1529
4 years, 152 days
13 Antonio de la Gama's signature.jpg Antonio
de la
Gama

(c. 1489)
June
1529
1530185 days
14 Francisco Manuel de Lando's signature.jpg Francisco
Manuel
de Lando

(d. 1536)
1530August
1536
6 years, 183 days

Viceroyalty of New Spain (1535–1582)

In 1582, the administrative entity of the Captaincy General of Puerto Rico was established as part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. It was composed of the archipelago and island of Puerto Rico. From the establishment of the Captaincy General of Puerto Rico in 1582 to the creation of the Autonomous Province of Puerto Rico in 1897, the governor of Puerto Rico operated under the jurisdiction of the Spanish Crown, which exercised its authority through the monarch of Spain, the viceroy of the Viceroyalty of New Spain (1582–1821), the president of the Council of the Indies (1582–1714), the secretary of the Secretariat of the Navy and the Indies (1714–1754), the secretary of the Secretariat of State and the Office of the Indies (1754–1863), and the minister of the Ministry of Overseas (1863–1897), and the Valido (1598–1705), the Secretary of State and the Universal Bureau (1705–1734), the First Secretary of State (1734–1823), and the Prime Minister (1823–1897). The Captaincy General of Puerto Rico was under the jurisdiction of the president of the Real Audiencia of Santo Domingo until the creation of the Real Audiencia of Puerto Rico in 1831.

No.Signature [a] Name
(birth–death)
TenureRef(s)
StartEndDuration
15 Vasco de Tiedra's signature.jpg Vasco
de
Tiedra

(unknown)
August
1536
September 28,
1537

1 year, 28 days
[3] [24] [5] [25] [26] [27]

[b]
Vacant
Alcaldes ordinarios
September 28,
1537
15446 years, 95 days
16 Jeronimo Lebron de Quinones' signature.jpg Jerónimo
Lebrón
de Quiñones

(1505–1545)
1544July 6,
1545
187 days
17 Inigo Lopez de Cervantes y Loaysa's signature.jpg Iñigo
López
Cervantes
y Loaysa

(unknown)
July 6,
1545
July 6,
1546
1 year, 0 days
18 Diego de Carasa's signature.jpg Diego
de
Carasa

(d. 1570)
July 6,
1546
1548
1 year, 179 days

[b]
Vacant
Alcaldes ordinarios
15481550
1 year, 1 day
19 Luis Vallejo's signature.jpg Luis
de
Vallejo

(unknown)
155015554 years, 1 day
20 Alonso Estevez's signature.jpg Alonso
Estévez

(unknown)
1555August 12,
1555

1 day
21 Diego de Carasa's signature.jpg Diego
de
Carasa

(d. 1570)
August 12,
1555
15615 years, 142 days
22Antonio
de la
Llama
Vallejo

(unknown)
1561March 20,
1564
2 years, 80 days
23 Francisco Bahamonde de Lugo's signature.jpg Francisco
Bahamonde
de Lugo

(d. 1574)
March 20,
1564
December 31,
1568
4 years, 286 days
24 Francisco de Solis Osorio's signature.jpg Francisco
de Solís
Osorio

(unknown)
December 31,
1568
15756 years, 1 day
25 Francisco de Ovando y Mexia's signature.jpg Francisco
de Ovando
y Mexía

(c. 1546–1579)
1575December
1578
2 years, 335 days
26 Juan Ponce de Leon II's signature.jpg Juan
Ponce
de León II

Interim
(1524–1591)
December
1578
1580
1 year, 1 day
27 Jeronimo de Aguero's signature.jpg Jerónimo
de Agüero
Campuzano

Interim
(unknown)
1580April 24,
1580

1 day
28 Juan de Cespedes' signature.jpg Juan
de
Céspedes

(d. 1591)
April 24,
1580
August 2,
1581
1 year, 100 days
29 Juan Lopez Melgarejo's signature.jpg Juan
López
Melgarejo

Interim
(unknown)
August 2,
1581
June 12,
1582
314 days

Captaincy General of Puerto Rico
(1582–1897)

In 1582, the administrative entity of the Captaincy General of Puerto Rico was established as part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. It was composed of the archipelago and island of Puerto Rico.

From the establishment of the Captaincy General of Puerto Rico in 1582 to the creation of the Autonomous Province of Puerto Rico in 1897, the governor of Puerto Rico operated under the jurisdiction of the Spanish Crown, which exercised its authority through the monarch of Spain, the viceroy of the Viceroyalty of New Spain (1582–1821), the president of the Council of the Indies (1582–1714), the secretary of the Secretariat of the Navy and the Indies (1714–1754), the secretary of the Secretariat of State and the Office of the Indies (1754–1863), and the minister of the Ministry of Overseas (1863–1897), and the Valido (1598–1705), the Secretary of State and the Universal Bureau (1705–1734), the First Secretary of State (1734–1823), and the Prime Minister (1823–1897). The Captaincy General of Puerto Rico was under the jurisdiction of the president of the Real Audiencia of Santo Domingo until the creation of the Real Audiencia of Puerto Rico in 1831.

No.Portrait [c] Name
(birth–death)
TenureRef(s)
StartEndDuration
30 Diego Menendez de Valdes' signature.jpg Diego
Menéndez
de Valdés

(1553–1596)
June 12,
1582
May 11,
1593
10 years, 333 days [3] [24] [28] [5] [25] [26] [27]
31 Pedro Suarez Coronel's signature.jpg Pedro
Suárez
Coronel

(unknown)
May 11,
1593
December 20,
1597

4 years, 223 days
32 Antonio de Mosquera's signature.jpg Antonio
de Mosquera

(unknown)
December 20,
1597
June 21,
1598
183 days
Start of the English occupation of San Juan

[d]
George Clifford 3rd Earl of Cumberland after Nicholas Hilliard.jpg George
Clifford

(1558–1605)
June 21,
1598
August 13,
1598
53 days
John
Berkeley

(unknown)
August 13,
1598
September 23,
1598
41 days
End of the English occupation of San Juan
33
[e]
Pedro Suarez Coronel's signature.jpg Pedro
Suárez
Coronel

de facto
(unknown)
September 23,
1598
March 22,
1599
181 days
34 Alonso de Mercado's signature.jpg Alonso
de
Mercado

(unknown)
March 22,
1599
August 7,
1602
3 years, 138 days
35 Sancho Ochoa de Castro's signature.jpg Sancho
Ochoa
de Castro

(1566–1608)
August 7,
1602
July 22,
1608
5 years, 350 days
36 Gabriel de Rojas Paramo's signature.jpg Gabriel
de Rojas
Páramo

(1565–c. 1620)
July 22,
1608
April
1614

5 years, 283 days
37 Felipe de Beaumont y Navarra's signature.jpg Felipe de Beaumont
y Navarra

(1564–1626)
April
1614
May 31,
1620

6 years, 31 days
38 Juan de Vargas Asejas' signature.jpg Juan
de Vargas
Asejas

(1587–1631)
May 31,
1620
August 25,
1625
5 years, 86 days
39 Juan de Haro y Sanvitores' signature.jpg Juan
de Haro
y Sanvítores

(1565–1632)
August 25,
1625
August
1631

5 years, 341 days
40 Enrique Enriquez de Sotomayor's signature.jpg Enrique
Enríquez de Sotomayor

(c. 1560–1638)
August
1631
June 27,
1635

3 years, 300 days
41 Inigo de la Mota Sarmiento's signature.jpg Iñigo
de la Mota
Sarmiento

(b. 1598)
June 27,
1635
June
1641

5 years, 339 days
42 Agustin de Silva y Figueroa's signature.jpg Agustín
de Silva
y Figueroa

(c. 1600–1641)
June
1641
December
1641

154 days
43Juan
de
Bolaños

Interim
(unknown)
December
1641
July 9,
1643

1 year, 190 days
44 Fernando de la Riva Aguero y Setien's signature.jpg Fernando
de la Riva
Agüero
y Setién

(1606–1663)
July 9,
1643
July 12,
1650
7 years, 3 days
45 Diego de Aguilera y Gamboa's signature.jpg Diego
de Aguilera
y Gamboa

(1606–1667)
July 12,
1650
March 25,
1656
5 years, 257 days
46 Jose de Novoa y Moscoso's signature.jpg José
de Novoa
y Moscoso

(b. 1607)
March 25,
1656
August 28,
1661
5 years, 156 days
47 Juan Perez de Guzman's signature.jpg Juan
Pérez de Guzmán

(c. 1618)
August 28,
1661
November 23,
1664
3 years, 87 days
48 Jeronimo de Velasco's signature.jpg Jerónimo
de
Velasco

(unknown)
November 23,
1664
August 16,
1670
5 years, 266 days
49 Gaspar de Arteaga y Lequedano's signature.jpg Gaspar
de Arteaga
y Lequedano

(c. 1619–1674)
August 16,
1670
March 7,
1674
3 years, 203 days
50 Diego de Robledillo y Velasco's signature.jpg Diego de Robledillo
y Velasco

Interim
(unknown)
March 7,
1674
July 20,
1674
163 days
51 Baltasar de Figueroa y Castilla's signature.jpg Baltasar
de Figueroa
y Castilla

Interim
(unknown)
July 20,
1674
April 2,
1675
256 days
52 Alonso de Campos y Espinosa's signature.jpg Alonso
de Campos
y Espinosa

(unknown)
April 2,
1675
1678
2 years, 274 days
53 Juan de Robles Lorenzana's signature.jpg Juan
de Robles
Lorenzana

(unknown)
1678July 14,
1683

4 years, 195 days
54 Gaspar Martinez de Andino's signature.jpg Gaspar
Martínez
de Andino

(unknown)
July 14,
1683
May 5,
1690
6 years, 295 days
55 Gaspar de Arredondo's signature.jpg Gaspar de Arredondo
y Valle

(unknown)
May 5,
1690
August 11,
1695
5 years, 99 days
56 Juan Fernandez Franco de Medina's signature.jpg Juan
Fernández
Franco de
Medina

(c. 1646–1998)
August 11,
1695
May 16,
1998
2 years, 278 days
57 Antonio de Robles Silva's signature.jpg Antonio
de Robles
Silva

Interim
(unknown)
May 16,
1698
October 17,
1699
1 year, 154 days
58 Gaspar de Arredondo's signature.jpg Gaspar de Arredondo
y Valle

Interim
(unknown)
October 17,
1699
June 21,
1700
247 days
59 Gabriel Gutierrez de Riva's signature.jpg Gabriel
Gutiérrez
de Riva

(1655–1703)
June 21,
1700
July 23,
1703
3 years, 32 days
60 Diego Jimenez de Villaran's signature.jpg Diego
Jiménez
de Villarán

Interim
(unknown)
July 23,
1703
October 12,
1703
81 days
61Francisco
Sánchez
Calderón

Interim
(unknown)
October 12, 17031704
81 days
62Pedro
de Arroyo
y Guerrero

Interim
(d. 1706)
17041706
1 year, 1 day
63 Juan Lopez de Morla's signature.jpg Juan
López
de Morla

Interim
(unknown)
17061706
1 day
64 Francisco Danio Granados' signature.jpg Francisco
Danio
Granados

(unknown)
17061709
2 years, 1 day
65 Juan de Ribera's signature.jpg Juan
de
Ribera

(unknown)
1709May 3,
1716

6 years, 124 days
66 Jose Francisco Carreno's signature.jpg José
Francisco
Carreño

Interim
(unknown)
May 3,
1716
August 30,
1716
119 days
67 Alberto de Bertodano's signature.jpg Alberto
Bertodano
y Navarra

(unknown)
August 30,
1716
April 7,
1720
3 years, 221 days
68 Francisco Danio Granados' signature.jpg Francisco
Danio
Granados

(unknown)
April 7,
1720
August 22,
1724
4 years, 137 days
69 Jose Antonio de Mendizabal y Azcue's signature.jpg José
Antonio de Mendizábal
y Azcue

(unknown)
August 22,
1724
October 11,
1731
7 years, 50 days
70 Matias de Abadia's signature.jpg Matías
de
Abadía

(unknown)
October 11,
1731
June 28,
1743
11 years, 260 days
71Domingo
Pérez de
Nanclares

Interim
(unknown)
June 28,
1743
October 29,
1743
123 days
72Juan
José
Colomo

(d. 1750)
October 29,
1743
August 11,
1750
6 years, 286 days
73 Agustin de Pareja's signature.jpg Agustín
de
Pareja

(d. 1751)
August 11,
1750
July 8,
1751
331 days
74 Esteban Bravo de Rivero's signature.jpg Esteban
Bravo
de Rivero

Interim
(unknown)
July 8,
1751
May 1,
1753
1 year, 297 days
75 Felipe Ramirez de Estenoz's signature.jpg Felipe
Ramírez
de Estenoz

(unknown)
May 1,
1753
August 30,
1757
4 years, 121 days
76 Esteban Bravo de Rivero's signature.jpg Esteban
Bravo
de Rivero

Interim
(unknown)
August 30,
1757
June 3,
1759
1 year, 277 days
77 Antonio Guazo Calderon's signature.jpg Antonio
de Guazo
Calderón'

(d. 1760)
June 3,
1759
March 7,
1760
278 days
78 Esteban Bravo de Rivero's signature.jpg Esteban
Bravo
de Rivero

Interim
(unknown)
March 7,
1760
November 29,
1760
267 days
79 Ambrosio de Benavides.jpg Ambrosio
de Benavides

(1718–1787)
November 29,
1760
March 12,
1766
5 years, 103 days
80Marcos
de
Vergara

(unknown)
March 12,
1766
October 28,
1766
230 days
81José
Tentor

Interim
(unknown)
October 28,
1766
July 31,
1770
3 years, 276 days
82 Miguel de Muesas' signature.jpg Miguel
de
Muesas

(unknown)
July 31,
1770
June 2,
1776
5 years, 307 days
83 Jose Dufresne 1782.jpg José
Dufresne

(1707–1786)
June 2,
1776
April 6,
1783
6 years, 305 days
84 Don Juan Daban .jpg Juan
Andrés
Daban
y Busterino

(1724–1793)
April 6,
1783
March 27,
1789
5 years, 355 days
85 Francisco Torralbo's signature.jpg Francisco
Torralbo
y Robles

Interim
(c. 1740–1795)
March 27,
1789
July 8,
1789
103 days
86 Retrato del Governador don Miguel Antonio de Ustariz (pintura).jpg Miguel
Antonio
de Ustáriz

(d. 1792)
July 8,
1789
March 27,
1792
2 years, 263 days
87 Francisco Torralbo's signature.jpg Francisco
Torralbo
y Robles

Interim
(c. 1740–1795)
March 27,
1792
1794
1 year, 280 days
88 Henrrique de Grimarest's signature.jpg Henrique
de
Grimarest

(unknown)
1794March 21,
1795

80 days
89 Ramon de Castro.jpg Ramón
de Castro
y Gutiérrez

(1751–c. 1812)
March 21,
1795
November 12,
1804
9 years, 236 days
90 Toribio Montes.jpg Toribio
Montes
y Pérez

(1749–1828)
November 12,
1804
June 30,
1809
4 years, 230 days
91 Salvador Melendez y Bruna.jpg Salvador
Meléndez
y Bruna

(1757–1824)
June 30,
1809
March 22,
1820
10 years, 266 days
92 Juan Vasco y Pascual's signature.jpg Juan
Vasco
y Pascual

(unknown)
March 24,
1820
August 7,
1820
136 days
93 Gonzalo Arostegui y Herrera's signature.jpg Gonzalo
Aróstegui
y Herrera

(1774–1839)
August 7,
1820
February 12,
1822
1 year, 189 days
94José
de
Navarro

Interim
(unknown)
February 12,
1822
May 30,
1822
107 days
95 Francisco Gonzalez de Linares' signature.jpg Francisco
González
de Linares

(unknown)
May 30,
1822
December 4,
1822
215 days
96 Miguel de la Torre y Pando.png Miguel
Luciano
de la Torre
y Pando

(1786–1843)
December 4,
1822
January 16,
1837
14 years, 269 days
97Francisco
Moreda
y Prieto

(unknown)
January 16,
1837
December 16,
1837
334 days
98 Domingo valdivieso-Retrato de Miguel Lopez de Banos.jpg Miguel
López
de Baños

(1779–1861)
December 16,
1837
October 2,
1840
2 years, 291 days
99 Estado Mayor General del Ejercito Espanol-santiago mendez de vigo.jpg Santiago
Méndez
de Vigo

(1791–1860)
October 2,
1840
April 24,
1844
3 years, 205 days
100 Jose tolosa-Retrato de Rafael Aristegui y Velez.jpg Rafael
de Arístegui
y Vélez

(1794–1863)
April 24,
1844
December 15,
1847
3 years, 235 days
101 Prim madrazo.jpeg Juan
Prim
y Prats

(1814–1870)
December 15,
1847
September 5,
1848
265 days
102 Retrato de Juan de la Pezuela.jpg Juan de la
Pezuela
y Cevallos

(1809–1906)
September 5,
1848
April 21,
1851
2 years, 228 days
103 Enrique de Espana y Taberner.jpg Enrique
de España
y Taberner

(1801–1878)
April 21,
1851
May 4,
1852
1 year, 13 days
104 Fernando Escudero Norzagaray.jpg Fernando
Norzagaray
y Escudero

(1808–1860)
May 4,
1852
January 31,
1855
2 years, 272 days
105 GarciaCamba.jpg Andrés
García
Camba

(1793–1861)
January 31,
1855
August 23,
1855
204 days
106 Jose Lemery, de Bernardo Blanco y Perez (cropped).jpg José
Lémery
e Ibarrola

(1811–1886)
August 23,
1855
January 28,
1857
1 year, 158 days
107 Fernando Cotoner.jpg Fernando
Cotoner
y Chacón

(1810–1888)
January 28,
1857
July 31,
1860
3 years, 185 days
108 Joaquin Martinez de Medinilla's signature.jpg Joaquín
Martínez
de Medinilla

Interim
unknown
July 13, 1860August 19, 186037 days
109 CARTE DE VISITE DEL GENERAL ECHAGUE (COLECCION ROMERO ORTIZ).jpg Rafaél de Echagüe y Bermingham
(1815–1915)
August 19,
1860
March 12,
1862
1 year, 205 days
110 Retrato de Rafael Izquierdo y Gutierrez (cropped).jpg Rafael
Izquierdo
y Gutiérrez

Interim
(1820–1883)
March 12,
1862
April 29,
1862
48 days
111 Felix Maria de Messina Iglesias.jpg Félix María
de Messina
Iglesias

(1798–1872)
April 29, 1862November 18, 18653 years, 203 days
112 Jose Matia Marchessi y Oleaga.jpg José María
Marchessi
y Oleaga

(1801–1882)
November 18,
1865
December 17,
1867
2 years, 29 days
113 Julián
Juan
Pavía
y Lacy

(1812–1870)
December 17,
1867
December 30,
1868
1 year, 13 days
114 Jose Laureano Sanz y Posse.jpg José
Laureano
Sanz
y Posse

(1819–1898)
December 30,
1868
May 28,
1870
1 year, 149 days
115 Paris-gabriel baldrich.jpg Gabriel
Baldrich
y Palau

(1814–1895)
May 28,
1870
September 13,
1871
1 year, 108 days
116 Gomez1.jpg Ramón
Gómez
Pulido

(1811–1875)
September 13,
1871
July 30,
1872
321 days
117 Latorre-magues.jpg Simón
de la Torre
y Ormaza

(1803–1884)
July 30,
1872
November 25,
1872
118 days
118 Joaquin Enrile y Hernan's signature.jpg Joaquín
Enrile
y Hernán

Interim
(b. 1818)
November 25,
1872
February 14,
1873
81 days
119 Juan Martinez Plowes' signature.jpg Juan
Martínez
Plowes

(1808–1887)
February 14,
1873
April 14,
1873
59 days
120 Rafael Primo de Rivera's signature.jpg Rafael
Primo de Rivera y Sobremonte

(1813–1902)
April 14,
1873
February 2,
1874
294 days
121 Jose Laureano Sanz y Posse.jpg José
Laureano
Sanz
y Posse

(1819–1898)
February 2,
1874
December 15,
1875
1 year, 316 days
122 Segundo de la Portilla y Gutierrez.jpg Segundo
de la Portilla
y Gutiérrez

(b. 1819)
December 15,
1875
October 25,
1877
1 year, 314 days
123 Paris-serna.jpg Manuel
de la Serna
Hernández
Pinzón

(1809–1878)
October 25,
1877
April 26,
1878
183 days
124 Jose Gamir y Maladen.jpg José
Gamir
Maladen

Interim
(1835–1896)
April 26,
1878
June 24,
1878
59 days
125 Eulogio Despujols y Dusay.jpg Eulogio
Despujols
y Dussay

(1834–1807)
June 24,
1878
July 6,
1881
3 years, 12 days
126 Segundo de la Portilla y Gutierrez.jpg Segundo
de la Portilla
y Gutierrez

(b. 1819)
July 6,
1881
November 23,
1882
1 year, 140 days
127 Miguel de la Vega Inclan.jpg Miguel
de la Vega
Inclán
y Palma

(1820–1884)
November 23,
1882
July 31,
1884
1 year, 251 days
128 Carlos Suances y Campos' signature.jpg Carlos
Suances
y Campos

Interim
(1818–1891)
July 31,
1884
September 19,
1884
50 days
129 Ramon Fajardo Izquierdo.jpg Ramón
Fajardo
e Izquierdo

Interim
(1826–1888)
September 19,
1884
November 1,
1884
33 days
130 Carlos Suances y Campos' signature.jpg Carlos
Suances
y Campos

Interim
(1818–1891)
November 1,
1884
November 23,
1884
22 days
131 Luis Daban y Ramirez de Arellano.jpg Luis
Daban
y Ramírez
de Arellano

(1841–1892)
November 23,
1884
January 10,
1887
2 years, 48 days
132 Felix badillo-contreras.jpg Juan
Contreras
Martínez

Interim
(1834–1907)
January 10,
1887
March 23,
1887
72 days
133 Gen. Romualdo Palacios Gonzalez, Gobernador de Puerto Rico en 1887 (DSC00441H2b).jpg Romualdo
Palacios
González

(1827–1908)
March 23,
1887
November 11,
1887
233 days
134 Felix badillo-contreras.jpg Juan
Contreras
Martínez

Interim
(1834–1907)
November 11, 1887February 23, 1888104 days
135 Pedro Ruiz Dana's signature.jpg Pedro
Ruiz
Dana

(1826–1891)
February 23,
1888
April 18,
1890
2 years, 54 days
136 Jose Pascual de Bonanza.jpg José
Pascual
Bonanza

Interim
(1834–1892)
April 18, 1890April 21, 18903 days
137 Jose Lasso Perez.jpg José
Lasso
Pérez

(1837–1913)
April 21,
1890
November 15,
1892
2 years, 208 days
138 Manuel Delgado y Zuleta.png Manuel
Delgado
y Zuleta

Interim
(1842–1915)
November 15, 1892January 10, 189356 days
139 Antonio Daban y Ramirez de Arellano, La Ilustracion Espanola y Americana.jpg Antonio
Daban
y Ramírez
de Arrellano

(1844–1902)
January 10,
1893
June 1,
1895
2 years, 142 days
140 Andres-Gonzalez-(bw).jpg Andrés
González
Muñoz

Interim
(1840–1898)
June 1,
1895
June 20,
1895
19 days
141 Jose Gamir y Maladen.jpg José
Gamir
Maladen

(1835–1896)
June 20,
1895
January 17,
1896
211 days
142 General Emilio March.jpg Emilio
March
García

Interim
(1844–1919)
January 17,
1896
February 15,
1896
29 days
143 Sabas Marin.jpg Sabas
Marín
González

(1831–1901)
February 15,
1896
January 4,
1898
1 year, 323 days
144 General Ricardo Ortega.jpg Ricardo
de Ortega
y Díez

Interim
(1838–1917)
January 4,
1898
January 11,
1898
7 days

Autonomous Province of Puerto Rico (1897–1898)

Autonomy Charter of Puerto Rico (1897-1898)

In 1897, the Spanish Crown granted local autonomous administration to Puerto Rico, authorizing the establishment of the Autonomous Province of Puerto Rico, with a government headed by a partially democratically elected bicameral parliament and a governor, who remained an appointee of the Crown. [29] [30] [31] From the establishment of the Autonomous Province of Puerto Rico in 1897 to the annexation of the archipelago and island by the United States during the Spanish–American War in 1898, the governor of Puerto Rico operated under the jurisdiction of the Spanish Crown, which exercised its authority through the monarch, the prime minister, and the overseas minister.

No.PortraitName
(birth–death)
TenureRef(s)
StartEndDuration
145 Andres-Gonzalez-(bw).jpg Andrés
González
Muñoz

(1840–1898)
January 11,
1898
January 11,
1898
8 hours [3] [24] [5] [25] [26] [27]
146 General Ricardo Ortega.jpg Ricardo
de Ortega
y Díez

Interim
(1838–1917)
January 11,
1898
February 2,
1898
22 days
147 Manuel Macias, general de division y gobernador militar de Melilla.jpg Manuel
Macías
y Casado

(1844–1937)
February 2,
1898
October 14,
1898
254 days
148 General Ricardo Ortega.jpg Ricardo
de Ortega
y Díez

Interim
(1838–1917)
October 14,
1898
October 16,
1898
2 days
149 AngelRiveroMendez.png Ángel
Rivero
Méndez

Interim
(1856–1930)
October 16, 1898October 18, 18982 days [22] [11] [5]

American administration
(1898–present)

This list includes all governors of Puerto Rico who have served under the United States from the start of the annexation of the archipelago and island during the Spanish-American War in 1898 to the present. Governors are divided by the administrative territorial entity under which they directly served.

Century
19th20th21st

Military Government of Porto Rico
(1898–1900)

In 1898, the United States bombarded, invaded, occupied, and annexed the archipelago and island of Puerto Rico during the Spanish–American War. The United States Navy carried out the Bombardment of San Juan, the fortified capital city in northeastern Puerto Rico (today the historic quarter of Old San Juan), on May 12, while the United States Army began the land invasion of the territory through the municipality of Guánica in southwestern Puerto Rico on July 25. After an armistice, a cease-fire agreement, was signed on August 12, the active hostilities between Spain and the United States stopped, with the war officially ending by the signing of the Treaty of Paris on December 10. The armistice led to Spain ceding Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam to the United States and agreed to the American occupation of Manila in the Philippines.

The Spanish administration of Puerto Rico effectively ended on October 18, when the United States assumed sovereignty over the territory, establishing the Military Government of Porto Rico (the spelling "Porto Rico" was officially used by U.S. government until 1932), which operated under the Bureau of Insular Affairs of the United States Department of War. From the establishment of the Military Government Porto Rico in 1898 to the creation of the Insular Government of Porto Rico in 1900, the governor of Puerto Rico was under the jurisdiction of the President of the United States, William McKinley, and its Secretary of War, Elihu Root.

No.PortraitName
(birth–death)
TenureRef(s)
StartEndDuration

[f]
Nelson A. Miles by Brands Studios, 1898.jpg Nelson A.
Miles

(1839–1925)
July 25,
1898
August 13,
1898
19 days [3] [26] [27]
150 John R. Brooke.jpg John R.
Brooke

(1838–1926)
October 18,
1898
December 6,
1898
49 days
151 Guy V. Henry.jpg Guy
V.
Henry

(1839–1899)
December 6,
1898
May 9,
1899
154 days
152 GeorgeWDavis.jpg George W.
Davis

(1839–1918)
May 9,
1899
May 1,
1900
357 days

Insular Government of Porto Rico
(1900–1952)

In 1900, the Insular Government of Porto Rico replaced the Military Government of Porto Rico, establishing a civil government in Puerto Rico as the local administration of an unincorporated territory under the sovereign federal jurisdiction of the United States. The insular government was organized under the organic acts of the Foraker Act from 1900 to 1917 and the Jones–Shafroth Act from 1917 to 1952.

Foraker Act (1900–1917)

The Foraker Act divided the local government of Puerto Rico into three branches: an executive, consisting of a Governor and an 11-member Executive Council appointed by the President of the United States, a legislative, composed of bicameral Legislative Assembly, with the Executive Council as its upper chamber and a 35-member House of Delegates elected by the residents of Puerto Rico as its lower chamber, and a judicial, headed by a chief justice and a district judge appointed by the President. The Act created the office of Resident Commissioner, a non-voting member to the United States House of Representatives elected by the residents of Puerto Rico.

During the Insular Government of Porto Rico, from the passing of the Foraker Act in 1900 to the implementation of the Jones–Shafroth Act in 1917, the governor of Puerto Rico was under the jurisdiction of the President of the United States and its Secretary of War, as the territory operated under the Bureau of Insular Affairs of the United States Department of War.

No.PortraitName
(birth–death)
TenureRef(s)
StartEndDuration
153 Charles Herbert Allen, 1898.jpg Charles
H.
Allen

(1848–1934)
May 1,
1900
September 15,
1901
1 year, 137 days [3] [32]
154 William H. Hunt.jpg William
H.
Hunt

(1857–1949)
September 15,
1901
July 4,
1904
2 years, 293 days [3] [33]
155 Beekman Winthrop by George Bain (cropped).jpg Beekman
Winthrop

(1874–1940)
July 4,
1904
April 17,
1907
2 years, 287 days [3] [26] [27]
156 Regispost.jpg Regis
H.
Post

(1870–1944)
April 17,
1907
November 6,
1909
2 years, 203 days
157 George Radcliffe Colton, governor of Puerto Rico.jpg George
R.
Colton

(1865–1916)
November 6,
1909
November 15,
1913
4 years, 9 days
158
[g]
Arthur Yager (cropped).JPG Arthur
Yager

(1858–1941)
November 15,
1913
March 2,
1917
3 years, 107 days [3] [34]

Jones–Shafroth Act (1917–1952)

The Jones–Shafroth Act established a bill of rights based on the United States Bill of Rights and granted statutory birthright United States citizenship to anyone born in the archipelago and island of Puerto Rico on or after April 11, 1899.

The Act expanded the executive and legislative branches of the Insular Government of Porto Rico. It created the executive departments of Justice, Education, Finance, Interior, Labor and Agriculture, and Health, with their heads, the first two appointed by the President of the United States, and the rest appointed by the Governor, who was also appointed by the President, forming an executive council to the Governor. It formed a legislative 19-member Senate elected by the residents of Puerto Rico, and increased the membership and term length of the House of Representatives to 39 popularly elected members serving four-year terms. It also increased to four years the term length of the Resident Commissioner, a non-voting member to the United States House of Representatives elected by the residents of Puerto Rico.

During the Insular Government of Porto Rico, from the passing of the Jones–Shafroth Act in 1917 to the implementation of the Elective Governor Act in 1948, which granted the residents of Puerto Rico the power to elect the governor through popular vote, the governor of Puerto Rico was under the jurisdiction of the President of the United States. As part of the Bureau of Insular Affairs of the United States Department of War, it remained under the purview of the Secretary of War until 1934, when the responsibility was assumed by the Secretary of Interior, as Puerto Rico was transferred to the Division of Territories and Island Possessions of the United States Department of Interior. Puerto Rico remained under said organization until the proclamation of the Constitution of Puerto Rico in 1952, when it achieved complete local self-governance as the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

No.PortraitNameTenureRef(s)
StartEndDuration
158
[g]
Arthur Yager (cropped).JPG Arthur
Yager

(1848–1934)
March 2,
1917
May 15,
1921
4 years, 74 days [3] [34]
159 Jose E. Benedicto.jpg José
E.
Benedicto

Interim
(1880–1924)
May 15,
1921
July 30,
1921
76 days [3] [26] [27]
160 E Mont Reily (cropped portrait).jpg E.
Mont
Reily

(1866–1954)
July 30,
1921
February 16,
1923
1 year, 201 days [35]
161 Juan Bernardo Huyke, Comisionado de Instruccion de Puerto Rico c 1921.png Juan
B.
Huyke

Interim
(1880–1961)
February 16,
1923
April 1,
1923
44 days [26] [27]
162 H.M. Towner LCCN2014715727 (cropped).tif Horace M.
Towner

(1855–1937)
April 1,
1923
September 29,
1929
6 years, 181 days [36]
163 James R. Beverly.jpg James
R.
Beverley

Interim
(1894–1967)
September 29,
1929
October 7,
1929
8 days [26] [27]
164 Theodore Roosevelt Jr. 1921.jpg Theodore
Roosevelt Jr.

(1887–1954)
October 7,
1929
January 30,
1932
2 years, 115 days [37]
165 James R. Beverly.jpg James
R.
Beverley

Interim
(1894–1967)
January 30,
1932
July 3,
1933
1 year, 154 days [26] [27]
166 Robert Hayes Gore.jpg Robert
H.
Gore

(1887–1972)
July 3,
1933
January 11,
1934
192 days [38]
167 Benjamin J. Horton.jpg Benjamin
J.
Horton

(1873–1963)
January 11,
1934
February 5,
1934
25 days [26] [27]
168 WINSHIP, BLANTON. GENERAL LCCN2016859969.jpg Blanton
C.
Winship

(1869–1947)
February 5,
1934
June 25,
1939
5 years, 140 days [39] [40] [41]
169 Jose E. Colom.jpg José
E.
Colom

Interim
(1889–1973)
June 25,
1939
September 11,
1939
78 days [26] [27]
170 NH 48260 Admiral William D. Leahy, USN.jpg William
D.
Leahy

(1875–1959)
September 11,
1939
November 28,
1940
1 year, 78 days [42]
171 Jose Miguel Gallardo (sitting at his desk) (pro shot) (from large print) (200dpi) (cropped).jpg José
M.
Gallardo

Interim
(1897–1976)
November 28,
1940
February 3,
1941
67 days [26] [27]
172 Guy J. Swope.jpg Guy
J.
Swope

(1892–1969)
February 3,
1941
July 24,
1941
171 days [43]
173 Jose Miguel Gallardo (sitting at his desk) (pro shot) (from large print) (200dpi) (cropped).jpg José
M.
Gallardo

Interim
(1897–1976)
July 24,
1941
September 19,
1941
57 days [26] [27]
174 Rexford G Tugwell 08e03507t.jpg Rexford
G.
Tugwell

(1891–1979)
September 19,
1941
September 2,
1946
4 years, 348 days [44]
175 Jesus T Pinero.png Jesús
T.
Piñero

(1897–1952)
September 2,
1946
January 2,
1949
2 years, 122 days [12]
176
[h]
Official portrait of Puerto Rican Governor Luis Munoz Marin in 1950.jpg Luis
Muñoz
Marín

(1898–1980)
January 2,
1949
January 2,
1953
4 years [26] [27]

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
(1952–present)

Constitution of Puerto Rico (1952–present)

In 1952, the Constitution of Puerto Rico established the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and its government. With its ratification, the full authority and responsibility for the local administration of Puerto Rico was vested in the residents of Puerto Rico, resulting in complete self-governance within the archipelago and island as an unincorporated territory under the sovereign federal jurisdiction of the United States.

Elected to unlimited four-year terms through popular vote by the residents of Puerto Rico, the governor is the head of the executive branch of the government of Puerto Rico and the commander-in-chief of the National Guard of Puerto Rico. The incumbent governor is Jenniffer González, who was elected on November 5, 2024, and sworn in on January 2, 2025.

Puerto Rico political affiliation
   New Progressive Party (PNP) (8)
   Popular Democratic Party (PPD) (7)

United States political affiliation
   Democratic Party (D) (10)
   Republican Party (R) (4)
   Independent (I) (1)

No.Portrait [i] Name [j]
(birth–death)
ElectionTerm of officePuerto Rico political partyUnited States political
party
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
(end reason)
176
[h]
Official portrait of Puerto Rican Governor Luis Munoz Marin in 1950.jpg Luis
Muñoz
Marín
[45]
(1898–1980)
1952 January 2, 1953January 2, 195712 years
(did not seek reelection)
Popular Democratic Independent
[k]
1956 January 2, 1957January 2, 1961
1960 January 2, 1961January 2, 1965
177 Puerto Rican Governor Roberto Sanchez Vilella in 1964 (cropped).jpg Roberto
Sánchez
Vilella
[47]
(1913–1997)
1964 January 2, 1965January 2, 19694 years
(lost reelection)
Popular Democratic Democratic
[l]
178 Official portrait of Puerto Rican Governor Luis A. Ferre in 1969.jpg Luis A.
Ferré
[49]
(1904–2003)
1968 January 2, 1969January 2, 19734 years
(lost reelection)
New Progressive Republican
[m]
179 RHCgovernorofPuertoRico.jpg Rafael
Hernández
Colón
[51]
(1936–2019)
1972 January 2, 1973January 2, 19774 years
(lost reelection)
Popular Democratic Democratic
[n]
180 Romero Barcelo.png Carlos
Romero
Barceló
[53]
(1932–2021)
1976 January 2, 1977January 2, 19818 years
(lost reelection)
New Progressive Democratic
[n]
1980 January 2, 1981January 2, 1985
181 Official portrait of Puerto Rican Governor Rafael Hernandez Colon in 1985.jpg Rafael
Hernández
Colón
[51]
(1936–2019)
1984 January 2, 1985January 2, 19898 years
(did not seek reelection)
Popular Democratic Democratic
[n]
1988 January 2, 1989January 2, 1993
182
Pedro Rossello.webp
Pedro
Rosselló

(b. 1944) [54]
1992 January 2, 1993January 2, 19978 years
(did not seek reelection)
New Progressive Democratic
[55]
1996 January 2, 1997January 2, 2001
183 Official portrait of Puerto Rican Governor Sila Maria Calderon in 2001.jpg Sila
María
Calderón

(b. 1942) [56]
2000 January 2, 2001January 2, 20054 years
(did not seek reelection)
Popular Democratic Democratic
[o]
184 Anibal Acevedo Vila.jpg Aníbal
Acevedo
Vilá

(b. 1962) [58]
2004 January 2, 2005January 2, 20094 years
(lost reelection)
Popular Democratic Democratic
[p]
185 Official portrait of Puerto Rican Governor Luis Fortuno in 2009.jpg Luis
Fortuño

(b. 1960) [60]
2008 January 2, 2009January 2, 20134 years
(lost reelection)
New Progressive Republican
[61]
186 AlejandroGarciaPadillaretratooficial (cropped).jpg Alejandro
García
Padilla

(b. 1971) [62]
2012 January 2, 2013January 2, 20174 years
(did not seek reelection)
Popular Democratic Democratic
[q]
187 Official portrait of Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rossello in 2017.jpg Ricardo
Rosselló

(b. 1979) [64]
2016 January 2, 2017August 2, 20192 years,
212 days
(resigned) [r]
New Progressive Democratic
[65]

[s]
Pedro-Pierluisi-cropped (cropped).jpg Pedro
Pierluisi

De facto
(b. 1959) [66]
None
[t]
August 2, 2019August 7, 20195 days
(judicial removal)
New Progressive Democratic
[65]
188 Puerto Rican Governor Wanda Vazquez Garced in 2020 (cropped).jpg Wanda
Vázquez

Appointment
(b. 1960) [67]
None
[u]
August 7, 2019January 2, 20211 year,
148 days
(lost nomination)
New Progressive Republican
[68]
189 Pedro R. Pierluisi (cropped) 1.jpg Pedro
Pierluisi

(b. 1959)
2020 January 2, 2021January 2, 20254 years
(lost renomination)
New Progressive Democratic
[65]
190 Official portrait of Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez (4x5 cropped).jpg Jenniffer
González

(b. 1976) [69]
2024 January 2, 2025Current holder246 days New Progressive Republican
[70]

Timeline (1952–present)

Jenniffer González-ColónPedro PierluisiWanda Vázquez GarcedRicardo RossellóAlejandro García PadillaLuis FortuñoAníbal Acevedo ViláSila María CalderónPedro RosellóRafael Hernández ColónCarlos Romero BarcelóRafael Hernández ColónLuis A. FerréRoberto Sánchez VilellaLuis Muñoz MarínList of governors of Puerto Rico

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Signature of the governor is included as most governors do not have a portrait.
  2. 1 2 The tenures of alcaldes ordinarios are not statistically counted, as they served as municipal administrators and not governors. By order of King Charles I of Spain, two alcaldes ordinarios , one for the eastern cabildo of Partido de San Juan and the other for the western cabildo of Partido de San Germán , were elected each year by the regidores of each cabildo.
  3. The signature of the governor is included when his portrait is unavailable.
  4. As the English, led by George Clifford and John Berkeley, failed to keep the capital city, San Juan, and to gain control of the main island, their tenures are not statistically counted. With the English occupation of San Juan from June to November 1598, governor Antonio de Mosquera surrendered and was exiled to Cartagena de Indias in Colombia.
  5. The de facto tenure of Pedro Suárez Coronel from November 1598 to March 1599 is statistically counted, as the former governor assume the governorship after the retreat of the English and arrival of Mosquera’s formal replacement, Alonso de Mercado.
  6. While General Nelson A. Miles led the American invasion of Puerto Rico during the Spanish–American War from July 25 to August 13, 1898, he never served as governor, and thus, he is not statistically counted. From August 13 to October 18, fellow General John R. Brooke oversaw the peaceful transfer of sovereignty over Puerto Rico from Spain to the United States, as stipulated in the armistice signed by the two countries on August 12. After the departure of the Spanish officials from the capital, San Juan, on October 16, Brooke became the first American governor of the archipelago and island on October 18, succeeding the interim governor Ángel Rivero Méndez, who was the last governor under Spanish administration.
  7. 1 2 The continuous tenure of Arthur Yager was authorized under the Foraker Act of 1900 from November 15, 1913 to March 2, 1917, and under the Jones–Shafroth Act of 1917 from March 2, 1917 to May 15, 1921.
  8. 1 2 The continuous tenure of Luis Muñoz Marín was authorized under the Jones–Shafroth Act of 1917 and the Elective Governor Act of 1947 from January 2, 1949 to July 25, 1952, and under the Constitution of Puerto Rico from July 25, 1952 to January 2, 1965. Muñoz Marín became the first popularly elected governor of Puerto Rico through the 1948 Puerto Rican general election.
  9. Official portrait or formal photo as Governor of Puerto Rico or the preceding role with the symbols of Puerto Rico or the United States.
  10. Most commonly used name.
  11. Trías Monge (1995) "Aunque se le percibía como Demócrata e influía decisivamente en las gestiones del Partido Demócrata de Puerto Rico, Muñoz Marín nunca se afilió formalmente a ese partido ni participó en actividad alguna de los partidos políticos estadounidenses." [46]
  12. Metro (2012) "Desde la presidencia de Lyndon B. Johnson y la gobernación de Roberto Sánchez Vilella, no teníamos un presidente demócrata en Washington y un gobernador demócrata en San Juan." [48]
  13. Fernós (2003) "[...]su dirigente Don Luis A. Ferré, presidente del Partido Republicano en Puerto Rico." [50]
  14. 1 2 3 Montalvo (2012) "Carlos Romero Barceló y Rafael Hernández Colón son de partidos contrarios en la Isla, pero demócratas en la política estadounidense." [52]
  15. Castilla y León. "[Calderón] pertenece al Partido Popular Democrático de Puerto Rico y al Partido Demócrata de Estados Unidos." [57]
  16. DARN (2011) "[Acevedo Vilá] was an active member of the National Governors Association, the Southern Governors Association and the Democratic Governors Association." [59]
  17. Varela (2013) "[...] Governor Alejandro Padilla, a Democrat [...]" [63]
  18. Rosselló resigned from office due to the Telegramgate scandal.
  19. The de facto tenure of Pedro Pierluisi from August 2 to August 7, 2019 is not statistically counted, as he served unconstitutionally. Before resigning from office, Ricardo Rosselló named Pierluisi as Secretary of State, with the intention of making him his successor, as the state secretary is the first official in the gubernatorial line of succession. Pierluisi was sworn in as governor after Rosselló’s resignation. However, his tenure only lasted five days, as the Supreme Court ruled that his assumption of the office was unconstitutional because his nomination as state secretary was never confirmed by the Legislative Assembly. He was succeeded by the next official in the gubernatorial line of succession, Secretary of Justice Wanda Vázquez Garced, who became the first governor to serve through constitutional appointment.
  20. As de facto Secretary of State, Pedro Pierluisi succeeded to the office following the resignation of Ricardo Rosselló. Shortly thereafter, the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico ruled that his assumption of the office was unconstitutional because his nomination as Secretary of State was never confirmed by the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico. He was succeeded by the next official in the gubernatorial line of succession, Secretary of Justice Wanda Vázquez Garced, who became the first governor to serve through constitutional appointment. [23]
  21. As Secretary of Justice, Wanda Vázquez Garced succeeded to the office through constitutional appointment following the resignation of Ricardo Rosselló and the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico's ruling that Pedro Pierluisi's succession was invalid because he was not confirmed by the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico as Secretary of State, which is followed by the Secretary of Justice in the gubernatorial line of succession. [23]

References

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