List of third-party and independent United States state governors

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This is a list of third party and independent United States state governors, that is, governors that have not been members of the Democratic, Republican, Whig, National Republican, Democratic-Republican, or Federalist parties.

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Since its founding, the United States has been a two-party system, and it is rare for independents or members of third parties to be elected to high offices such as the governorship. However, it has happened on several occasions, which are documented below. The most recent-serving independent governor is Bill Walker of Alaska, who served 2014–2018. The most recent member of a third party (not an independent) elected to a governorship is Jesse Ventura, a member of the Independence Party of Minnesota who was elected Governor of Minnesota in 1998.

While there have been few third parties that have gained traction at the national level, several states have been three-party systems at one point or another. These include Minnesota with the Farmer–Labor Party from 1918–1944, North Dakota with the Nonpartisan League from 1915–1956, Wisconsin with the Progressive Party from 1934–1946, Nevada with the Silver Party from 1892–1911, Virginia with the Readjuster Party from 1877–1895, and South Carolina with the Nullifier Party from 1828–1839.

Not included are governors who were elected before the state's ratification of the United States Constitution or governors of U.S. territories prior to their admission to the Union. Also not included are military or appointed governors of former Confederate states after the American Civil War.

Pre-Reconstruction (1787–1865)

StatePortraitGovernorPartyStart of termEnd of termNotes
Massachusetts John Hancock 1770.jpg John Hancock Independent May 30, 1787October 8, 1793Massachusetts ratified the U.S. Constitution on February 6, 1788, died in office
Georgia George Handley Independent January 26, 1788January 7, 1789
Pennsylvania Thomas Mifflin.jpg Thomas Mifflin Independent November 5, 1788December 17, 1799Titled "President" 1788–90
Virginia Beverley Randolph Independent December 1, 1788December 1, 1791
Delaware Jehu Davis Independent March 29, 1789June 2, 1789Titled "President"
Rhode Island ArthurFenner.jpg Arthur Fenner Country May 5, 1790October 15, 1805Rhode Island ratified the U.S. Constitution on May 29, 1790, died in office
Massachusetts J S Copley - Samuel Adams.jpg Samuel Adams Independent October 8, 1793June 2, 1797Acting Governor from 1793–94
Rhode Island Henry Smith Country October 15, 1805May 7, 1806
Rhode Island Isaac Wilbour (Rhode Island Governor) 2.jpg Isaac Wilbour Country May 7, 1806May 6, 1807Acting governor
Vermont ThomasChittenden.png Thomas Chittenden Independent March 4, 1791August 25, 1797Governor of the Vermont Republic 1778–89; 90–91, died in office
Maryland George Plater portrait.jpg George Plater Independent November 14, 1791February 10, 1792Died in office
Massachusetts John Singleton Copley - Portrait of Govenor Moses Gill - 07.117 - Rhode Island School of Design Museum.jpg Moses Gill Independent June 7, 1799May 20, 1800Acting Governor, died in office
Virginia Hardin Burnley Independent December 7, 1799December 11, 1799Acting governor
Virginia John Pendleton Jr. Independent December 11, 1799December 19, 1799Acting governor
Connecticut Oliver Wolcott Jr by Gilbert Stuart circa 1820.jpeg Oliver Wolcott Jr. Toleration May 8, 1817May 2, 1827
Illinois Shadrach.Bond.png Shadrach Bond Independent October 6, 1818December 5, 1822
Illinois Edward Coles.png Edward Coles Independent December 5, 1822December 6, 1826
North Carolina Hutchins Gordon Burton.jpg Hutchins Gordon Burton Independent December 7, 1824December 8, 1827
Indiana Indiana Governor James B. Ray.jpg James B. Ray Independent February 12, 1825December 7, 1831
South Carolina Stephen Decatur Miller.jpg Stephen Decatur Miller Nullifier December 10, 1828December 9, 1830
South Carolina James Hamilton, Jr.jpg James Hamilton Jr. Nullifier December 9, 1830December 10, 1832
Vermont William A. Palmer.jpg William A. Palmer Anti-Masonic October 18, 1831November 2, 1835
South Carolina Robert Y Hayne.jpg Robert Y. Hayne Nullifier December 10, 1832December 9, 1834
Pennsylvania Joseph Ritner-Governor of Pennsylvania.JPG Joseph Ritner Anti-Masonic December 15, 1835January 15, 1839
Rhode Island GovSamuelKingRI.jpg Samuel Ward King Rhode Island PartyMay 2, 1839May 2, 1843Governorship disputed 1842–43, see Dorr Rebellion
Rhode Island Thomas Wilson Dorr engraving.jpg Thomas Wilson Dorr Dorr Rebellion May 1, 1842January 23, 1843Extralegal governor, disputed with Samuel Ward King, see Dorr Rebellion
Rhode Island GovJamesFenner.jpg James Fenner Law and Order May 2, 1843May 6, 1845
Alabama Gov. Joshua L. Martin.jpg Joshua L. Martin Independent December 10, 1845December 16, 1847
Rhode Island ByronDiman.jpg Byron Diman Law and Order May 6, 1846May 4, 1847
Georgia Howell Cobb-crop.jpg Howell Cobb Constitutional Union November 5, 1851November 9, 1853
Mississippi Henry S. Foote Brady 1849.jpg Henry S. Foote Union January 10, 1852January 5, 1854
Massachusetts GovHenryJGardner.jpg Henry Gardner American January 4, 1855January 7, 1858
Connecticut William T. Minor.jpg William T. Minor American May 2, 1855May 6, 1857
New Hampshire Ralph Metcalf.jpg Ralph Metcalf American June 7, 1855June 4, 1857
Kentucky Charles Slaughter Morehead.jpg Charles S. Morehead American September 4, 1855August 30, 1859
California JNeelyJohnson.jpg J. Neely Johnson American January 6, 1856January 8, 1858
Maryland Thomas Holliday Hicks - photo portrait standing.jpg Thomas Holliday Hicks American January 13, 1858January 8, 1862
Texas Sam Houston c1850-crop.jpg Sam Houston Independent [1] December 31, 1859March 28, 1861Previously served as President of the Republic of Texas 1836–1838; 1841–1844 and Governor of Tennessee from 1827–1829
Maryland Augustus Williamson Bradford - photo portrait standing.jpg Augustus Bradford Union January 8, 1862January 10, 1866
Ohio JohnBrough.jpg John Brough Union January 11, 1864August 29, 1865Died in office

Post-Reconstruction (1865–present)

StatePortraitGovernorPartyStart of termEnd of termNotes
Alabama Robert patton.jpg Robert M. Patton Independent December 13, 1865July 24, 1868Had been a Whig prior to the Civil War
Missouri BGratzBrown.png Benjamin Gratz Brown Liberal Republican January 4, 1871January 3, 1873
West Virginia GovernorJacob.gif John J. Jacob People's Independent Party March 4, 1871March 4, 1877Jacob was elected as a Democrat, and reelected under the umbrella of the People's Independent Party in 1872 after failing to win the Democratic nomination.
Maine HMPlaisted.jpg Harris M. Plaisted Greenback January 13, 1881January 3, 1883Also endorsed by the Democrats
Virginia WE Cameron.jpg William E. Cameron Readjuster January 1, 1882January 1, 1886
North Dakota Eli Shortridge.jpg Eli Shortridge Democratic-Independent January 3, 1893January 10, 1895
Kansas LDLewelling.jpg Lorenzo D. Lewelling Populist January 9, 1893January 14, 1895
Washington John Rankin Rogers.jpg John Rankin Rogers Populist January 11, 1897December 26, 1901Also endorsed by the Democrats, became a Democrat in 1900, died in office
Colorado Davis Hanson Waite.gif Davis Hanson Waite Populist January 10, 1893January 8, 1895
Nebraska Silas A. Holcomb.jpg Silas A. Holcomb Populist January 3, 1895January 5, 1899Also endorsed by the Democrats
Nevada John Edward Jones, governor of Nevada.jpg John Edward Jones Silver January 7, 1895April 10, 1896Died in office
Nevada Sadler.jpeg Reinhold Sadler Silver April 10, 1896January 5, 1903Succeeded to the governorship after the death of Jones
Nevada JohnSparks.jpg John Sparks Silver January 5, 1903May 22, 1908Also endorsed by the Democrats, died in office
Nevada Denver-Sylvester-Dickerson.jpg Denver S. Dickerson Silver May 22, 1908January 2, 1911Also endorsed by the Democrats, succeeded to the governorship after the death of Sparks
South Dakota Andrew E. Lee.jpg Andrew E. Lee Populist January 1, 1897January 8, 1901
Kansas JWLeedy.gif John W. Leedy Populist January 11, 1897January 9, 1899
Nebraska William.A.Poynter.gif William A. Poynter Populist January 5, 1899January 3, 1901Also endorsed by the Democrats
Wyoming Joseph Maull Carey (1845-1924).jpg Joseph M. Carey Progressive January 2, 1911January 4, 1915Elected as a Republican, became a Progressive in 1912
California Hiram Johnson.jpg Hiram Johnson Progressive January 3, 1911March 15, 1917Elected as a Republican, became a Progressive in 1912, resigned in 1917 in order to become a U.S. Senator
Florida Sidney Johnston Catts in 1916 (cropped).jpg Sidney Johnston Catts Prohibition January 2, 1917January 4, 1921
North Dakota Lynn Frazier.jpg Lynn Frazier Nonpartisan League [2] January 3, 1917November 23, 1921 Recalled
North Dakota RagnvaldANestos.jpg Ragnvald Nestos Independent Voters Association [2] November 23, 1921January 7, 1925Won the recall election
North Dakota ArthurGSorlie.jpg Arthur G. Sorlie Nonpartisan League [2] January 7, 1925August 28, 1928Died in office
North Dakota Walter Maddock Nonpartisan League [2] August 28, 1928January 9, 1929Succeeded to the governorship after the death of Sorlie
North Dakota George F. Shafer Independent Voters Association [2] January 9, 1929December 31, 1932
Minnesota Painting of Governor Floyd B. Olson.jpg Floyd B. Olson Farmer–Labor January 6, 1931August 22, 1936Died in office
Oregon Julius L. Meier 1911.png Julius Meier Independent January 12, 1931January 14, 1935
North Dakota William Langer.jpg William Langer Nonpartisan League [2] December 31, 1932June 21, 1934Removed from office in 1934, elected again in 1936
North Dakota Ole H. Olson Nonpartisan League [2] June 21, 1934January 7, 1935Succeeded to the governorship after the removal of Langer
North Dakota Walter Welford Nonpartisan League [2] February 2, 1935January 6, 1937Succeeded to the governorship after the removal of Thomas H. Moodie due to ineligibility
Minnesota Hjalmar Petersen.jpg Hjalmar Petersen Farmer–Labor August 22, 1936January 4, 1937Succeeded to the governorship after the death of Olson
Minnesota Elmer A. Benson, 1938.jpg Elmer Austin Benson Farmer–Labor January 4, 1937January 2, 1939
Wisconsin Philip Fox La Follette 1925.jpg Philip La Follette Progressive January 7, 1935January 2, 1939
Wisconsin Orland Steen Loomis (Wisconsin governor-elect).jpg Orland Steen Loomis Progressive N/AN/ADied a month before he was to take office
Maine James B. Longley (Maine governor).jpg James B. Longley Independent January 2, 1975January 3, 1979
Alaska Hickel.gif Wally Hickel Alaskan Independence December 3, 1990December 5, 1994Previously served as a Republican from 1966–1969, became a Republican in April 1994
Connecticut Lweicker.jpg Lowell P. Weicker A Connecticut Party January 9, 1991January 4, 1995
Maine Angus King, official portrait, 113th Congress.jpg Angus King Independent January 5, 1995January 8, 2003
Minnesota JesseVentura2.jpg Jesse Ventura Reform/Independence January 4, 1999January 6, 2003Elected as Reform, later switched to the Independence Party of Minnesota in 2000
Florida Charlie Crist official portrait crop.jpg Charlie Crist Independent January 2, 2007January 4, 2011Elected as a Republican, became an independent on May 13, 2010
Rhode Island Lincoln Chafee official portrait.jpg Lincoln Chafee Independent January 4, 2011January 6, 2015Switched to the Democratic Party on May 30, 2013
Alaska Bill Walker.jpg Bill Walker [3] Independent December 1, 2014December 3, 2018Also endorsed by the Democrats

See also

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References

  1. Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Election, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. p. 264.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 For a time, the Republican Party of North Dakota was split between the progressive Nonpartisan League and the conservative Independent Voters Association. All Republican governors between 1917 and 1939 were affiliated with either one of those parties, and all are listed here.
  3. "Alaska Governor Race: Incumbent Republican Sean Parnell Loses To Independent Bill Walker". The Huffington Post. November 15, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2014.