List of Governors of California

Arnold Schwarzenegger, 38th and present Governor of California

The Governor of California is the head of the executive branch of California's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the California Legislature, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment.[1]

The original California Constitution of 1849 called for elections every two years, with no set start date for the term. An amendment ratified in 1862 increased the term to four years,[2] and the 1879 constitution set the term to begin on the Monday after the January 1 following an election. In 1990, an amendment to the constitution was adopted,[3] implementing a term limit of two terms;[4] prior to this limit, only one governor had been elected to more than two terms, Earl Warren. The 1849 constitution also created the office of lieutenant governor, who, in cases of vacancy in the office of governor, becomes governor.[5] The governor and lieutenant governor are not eleced on the same ticket.

There have been 38 governors, each one serving a single distinct term. Many governors have been influential nationwide, in areas far-flung from politics. Leland Stanford founded Stanford University in 1891. Earl Warren, later Chief Justice of the United States, won one election with the nominations of the three major parties – the only person ever to run essentially unopposed for governor of California. Ronald Reagan, who was president of the Screen Actors Guild and later President of the United States, and current governor Arnold Schwarzenegger both came to prominence through acting. Gray Davis was the first governor of California, and second governor in American history, to be recalled by voters. The longest term was Earl Warren's, who was elected three times and served nearly ten years. The shortest term was that of Milton Latham, who served only five days before appointing himself to a vacant U.S. Senate seat. The current governor is Arnold Schwarzenegger, who took office on November 17, 2003, following the recall of Gray Davis; his term will expire in January 2011.

Contents

Governors

Peter Hardeman Burnett, first Governor of California
Leland Stanford, eighth Governor of California
Romualdo Pacheco, 12th Governor of California
Hiram Johnson, 23rd Governor of California
Earl Warren, 30th Governor of California, and 14th Chief Justice of the United States
Ronald Reagan, 33rd Governor of California, and 40th President of the United States

California was obtained by the United States in the Mexican Cession following the Mexican–American War. Unusually, it was never organized as a territory, and was admitted as a state on September 9, 1850.

For the Spanish, Mexican, Bear Flag, military and territorial governors of Alta California prior to statehood, see the list of pre-statehood governors of California.

      Democratic       American       Republican       Progressive

# Governor Took office Left office Party Lt. Governor Terms[N 1]
1   Peter Hardeman Burnett December 20, 1849 January 9, 1851 Democratic   John McDougall ½[N 2][N 3]
2 John McDougall January 9, 1851 January 8, 1852 Democratic David C. Broderick[N 4] ½[N 5]
3 John Bigler January 8, 1852 January 9, 1856 Democratic Samuel Purdy 2
4 J. Neely Johnson January 9, 1856 January 8, 1858 American Robert M. Anderson 1
5 John B. Weller January 8, 1858 January 9, 1860 Democratic John Walkup 1
6 Milton Latham January 9, 1860 January 14, 1860 Lecompton Democratic John G. Downey ½[N 6]
7 John G. Downey January 14, 1860 January 10, 1862 Lecompton Democratic Isaac N. Quinn[N 4] ½[N 5]
Pablo de la Guerra[N 7]
8 Leland Stanford January 10, 1862 December 10, 1863 Republican John F. Chellis 1
9 Frederick Low December 10, 1863 December 5, 1867 Unionist Republican Tim N. Machin 1
10 Henry Huntly Haight December 5, 1867 December 8, 1871 Democratic William Holden 1
11 Newton Booth December 8, 1871 February 27, 1875 Republican Romualdo Pacheco ½[N 6]
12 Romualdo Pacheco February 27, 1875 December 9, 1875 Republican William Irwin[N 4] ½[N 5]
13 William Irwin December 9, 1875 January 8, 1880 Democratic James A. Johnson 1
14 George Clement Perkins January 8, 1880 January 10, 1883 Republican John Mansfield 1
15 George Stoneman January 10, 1883 January 8, 1887 Democratic John Daggett 1
16 Washington Bartlett January 8, 1887 September 12, 1887 Democratic Robert Waterman ½[N 8]
17 Robert Waterman September 12, 1887 January 8, 1891 Republican Stephen M. White[N 9] ½[N 5]
18 Henry Markham January 8, 1891 January 11, 1895 Republican John B. Reddick 1
19 James Budd January 11, 1895 January 4, 1899 Democratic Spencer G. Millard[N 8] 1
William T. Jeter[N 10]
20 Henry Gage January 4, 1899 January 6, 1903 Republican Jacob H. Neff 1
21 George Pardee January 6, 1903 January 9, 1907 Republican Alden Anderson 1
22 James Gillett January 9, 1907 January 3, 1911 Republican Warren R. Porter 1
23 Hiram Johnson January 3, 1911 March 15, 1917 Republican A. J. Wallace 1½[N 11][N 6]
Progressive John M. Eshleman[N 8]
William Stephens[N 10]
24 William Stephens March 15, 1917 January 9, 1923 Republican vacant 1½[N 12]
Clement C. Young
25 Friend Richardson January 9, 1923 January 4, 1927 Republican Clement C. Young 1
26 Clement C. Young January 4, 1927 January 6, 1931 Republican Buron Fitts[N 13] 1
H. L. Carnahan[N 10]
27 James Rolph Jr. January 6, 1931 June 2, 1934 Republican Frank Merriam ½[N 8]
28 Frank Merriam June 2, 1934 January 2, 1939 Republican vacant 1½[N 12]
George J. Hatfield
29 Culbert Olson January 2, 1939 January 4, 1943 Democratic Ellis E. Patterson 1
30 Earl Warren January 4, 1943 October 5, 1953 Republican[N 14] Frederick F. Houser 2½[N 15]
Goodwin Jess Knight
31 Goodwin Jess Knight October 5, 1953 January 5, 1959 Republican Harold J. Powers[N 16] 1½[N 12]
32 Edmund Gerald "Pat" Brown, Sr. January 5, 1959 January 3, 1967 Democratic Glenn M. Anderson 2
33 Ronald Reagan January 3, 1967 January 6, 1975 Republican Robert Finch[N 17] 2
Edwin Reinecke[N 10][N 18]
John L. Harmer[N 10]
34 Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. January 6, 1975 January 3, 1983 Democratic Mervyn M. Dymally 2
Michael Curb
35 George Deukmejian January 3, 1983 January 7, 1991 Republican Leo T. McCarthy 2
36 Pete Wilson January 7, 1991 January 4, 1999 Republican Leo T. McCarthy 2
Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis
37 Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis January 4, 1999 November 17, 2003 Democratic Cruz Bustamante 1½[N 19]
38 Arnold Schwarzenegger November 17, 2003 incumbent Republican Cruz Bustamante 1½[N 20][N 21]
John Garamendi

Other high offices held

This is a table of congressional and other federal offices held by governors. All representatives and senators mentioned represented California except where noted. * denotes those offices which the governor resigned to take. † denotes those offices from which the governor resigned to take the governorship.

Governor Gubernatorial term U.S. House U.S. Senate Other offices held Sources
Bigler, JohnJohn Bigler 1852–1856 U.S. Minister to Chile [12]
Weller, John B.John B. Weller 1858–1860 S U.S. Representative from Ohio, U.S. Minister to Mexico [13]
Latham, MiltonMilton Latham 1860 H S* [14]
Stanford, LelandLeland Stanford 1862–1863 S [15]
Low, FrederickFrederick Low 1863–1867 H U.S. Minister to the Great Qing Empire [16]
Booth, NewtonNewton Booth 1871–1875 S* [17]
Pacheco, RomualdoRomualdo Pacheco 1875 H U.S. Minister to Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua [18]
Perkins, George ClementGeorge Clement Perkins 1880–1883 S [19]
Markham, HenryHenry Markham 1891–1895 H [20]
Budd, JamesJames Budd 1895–1899 H [21]
Gage, HenryHenry Gage 1899–1903 U.S. Minister to Portugal [22]
Gillett, JamesJames Gillett 1907–1911 H† [23]
Johnson, HiramHiram Johnson 1911–1917 S* [24]
Stephens, WilliamWilliam Stephens 1917–1923 H [25]
Warren, EarlEarl Warren 1943–1953 Chief Justice of the United States* [26]
Reagan, RonaldRonald Reagan 1967–1975 President of the United States [27]
Wilson, PetePete Wilson 1991–1999 S† [28]

Living former governors

As of December 2008, four former governors were alive. The most recent death of a former governor was that of Ronald Reagan (1967–1975), on June 5, 2004.

Governor Gubernatorial term Date of birth
Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. 1975–1983 April 7, 1938 (1938-04-07) (age 71)
George Deukmejian 1983–1991 July 6, 1928 (1928-07-06) (age 81)
Pete Wilson 1991–1999 August 23, 1933 (1933-08-23) (age 76)
Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis, Jr. 1999–2003 December 26, 1942 (1942-12-26) (age 66)

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The fractional terms of some governors are not to be understood absolutely literally; rather, they are meant to show single terms during which multiple governors served, due to resignations, deaths and the like.
  2. ↑ A civilian government was formed in late 1849 prior to official statehood, and operated as the state government for ten months before official statehood was granted.[6]
  3. ↑ Resigned, citing personal reasons; he was reportedly unhappy with the legislature, and wanted more time to manage his business.[7]
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 As president of the senate, acted as lieutenant governor.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.
  7. ↑ Elected president of the senate, therefore becoming new acting lieutenant governor.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Died in office.
  9. ↑ As president pro tempore of the state senate, acted as lieutenant governor.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Appointed by governor to fill vacant lieutenant governor office.
  11. ↑ Johnson was elected as a Republican for his first term and a Progressive for his second.[8]
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term, and was subsequently elected in his own right.
  13. ↑ Resigned to be District Attorney for Los Angeles County, California.[9]
  14. ↑ Warren ran as a Republican for his first and third terms. For his second term, he won the nomination of the Republican, Democratic, and Progressive parties.
  15. ↑ Resigned to become Chief Justice of the United States.
  16. ↑ As president pro tempore of the state senate, filled unexpired term.
  17. ↑ Resigned to be U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare.
  18. ↑ Resigned after being convicted of perjury.[10]
  19. ↑ Recalled in a special election.[11]
  20. ↑ Elected in a special election to replace Governor Davis should he be recalled.[11]
  21. ↑ Governor Schwarzenegger's second term expires on January 3, 2011; he is term limited.

References

General
Constitutions
Specific
  1. ↑ CA Const. art. V, § 8
  2. ↑ Henning, W.F. (1899). Constitution of the State of California. C.W. Palm Company. http://books.google.com/books?id=XzHvfKTmBrcC&pg=PR2&lpg=PR2&dq=california+constitution+1871+amendment+governor+term&source=web&ots=gsy7IV4rg3&sig=2U0EF7AUGp0tfKiV1rhkV0nqkxs#PPR1,M1dddddd. Retrieved on 2008-01-18. 
  3. ↑ "California Ballot Propositions 1990-1999". Los Angeles County Law Library. Retrieved on 2007-07-17.
  4. ↑ CA Const. art. V, § 2
  5. ↑ CA Const. art. V, § 10
  6. ↑ "California Governor Peter Hardeman Burnett". National Governors Association. Retrieved on 2008-10-15.
  7. ↑ Durham, Walter T. (1997). Volunteer Forty-niners: Tennesseans and the California Gold Rush. Vanderbilt University Press. p. 193. ISBN 0826512984. http://books.google.com/books?id=vywAImZdyaMC. 
  8. ↑ "California Governor Hiram Warren Johnson". National Governors Association. Retrieved on 2008-10-15.
  9. ↑ "Fitts Submits His Resignation", Los Angeles Times (September 29, 1928). Retrieved on 2008-10-15. 
  10. ↑ Robinson, Jr., Timothy S. (October 3, 1974). "Reinecke Quits, Gets Suspended Sentence", The Washington Post, The Washington Post Company. Retrieved on 2008-10-15. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Statewide Special Election". California Secretary of State. Retrieved on 2008-10-15.
  12. ↑ "California Governor John Bigler". National Governors Association. Retrieved on 2008-10-15.
  13. ↑ "Weller, John B.". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2008-10-15.
  14. ↑ "Latham, Milton Slocum". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2008-10-15.
  15. ↑ "Stanford, Leland". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2008-10-15.
  16. ↑ "Low, Frederick Ferdinand". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2008-10-15.
  17. ↑ "Booth, Newton". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2008-10-15.
  18. ↑ "Pacheco, Romualdo". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2008-10-15.
  19. ↑ "Perkins, George Clement". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2008-10-15.
  20. ↑ "Markham, Henry Harrison". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2008-10-15.
  21. ↑ "Budd, James Herbert". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2008-10-15.
  22. ↑ "California Governor Henry Tifft Gage". National Governors Association. Retrieved on 2008-10-15.
  23. ↑ "Gillett, James Norris". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2008-10-15.
  24. ↑ "Johnson, Hiram Warren". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2008-10-15.
  25. ↑ "Stephens, William Dennison". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2008-10-15.
  26. ↑ "California Governor Earl Warren". National Governors Association. Retrieved on 2008-10-15.
  27. ↑ "California Governor Ronald Wilson Reagan". National Governors Association. Retrieved on 2008-10-15.
  28. ↑ "Wilson, Pete". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2008-10-15.
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