List of Governors 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]
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 an 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 on January 3, 2011.
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
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- 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.
California was obtained by the United States in the Mexican Cession following the Mexican–American War. Unlike most other states, it was never organized as a territory, and was admitted as a state on September 9, 1850.
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 first Monday in January 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 elected on the same ticket.
Democratic (15) American (1) Republican (22) Progressive (1)
(Hiram Johnson is counted twice in the above numbering, once for Republican and once for Progressive)[note 1]
# |
Governor |
Term start |
Term end |
Party |
Lt. Governor
[note 2] |
Terms
[note 3] |
1 |
|
Peter Hardeman Burnett |
December 20, 1849 |
January 9, 1851 |
Democratic |
|
John McDougall |
1⁄2
[note 4]
[note 5] |
2 |
|
John McDougall |
January 9, 1851 |
January 8, 1852 |
Democratic |
|
David C. Broderick
[note 6] |
1⁄2
[note 7] |
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 |
1⁄2
[note 8] |
7 |
|
John G. Downey |
January 14, 1860 |
January 10, 1862 |
Lecompton Democratic |
|
Isaac N. Quinn
[note 6] |
1⁄2
[note 7] |
|
Pablo de la Guerra
[note 9] |
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
[note 10] |
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 |
1⁄2
[note 8] |
12 |
|
Romualdo Pacheco |
February 27, 1875 |
December 9, 1875 |
Republican |
|
William Irwin
[note 6][note 11] |
1⁄2
[note 7] |
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
[note 12] |
1⁄2
[note 13] |
17 |
|
Robert Waterman |
September 12, 1887 |
January 8, 1891 |
Republican |
|
Stephen M. White
[note 14][note 11] |
1⁄2
[note 7] |
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
[note 13][note 12] |
1 |
|
William T. Jeter
[note 15] |
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 |
1 1⁄2
[note 16]
[note 8] |
|
Progressive |
|
John M. Eshleman
[note 13] |
|
William Stephens
[note 15][note 12] |
24 |
|
William Stephens |
March 15, 1917 |
January 9, 1923 |
Republican |
vacant |
1 1⁄2
[note 17] |
|
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
[note 18] |
1 |
|
H. L. Carnahan
[note 15] |
27 |
|
James Rolph Jr. |
January 6, 1931 |
June 2, 1934 |
Republican |
|
Frank Merriam |
1⁄2
[note 13] |
28 |
|
Frank Merriam |
June 2, 1934 |
January 2, 1939 |
Republican |
vacant |
1 1⁄2
[note 17] |
|
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
[note 19] |
|
Frederick F. Houser |
2 1⁄2
[note 20] |
|
Goodwin Jess Knight |
31 |
|
Goodwin Jess Knight |
October 5, 1953 |
January 5, 1959 |
Republican |
|
Harold J. Powers
[note 21] |
1 1⁄2
[note 17] |
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
[note 22] |
2 |
|
Edwin Reinecke
[note 15][note 23] |
|
John L. Harmer
[note 15] |
34 |
|
Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. |
January 6, 1975 |
January 3, 1983 |
Democratic |
|
Mervyn M. Dymally |
2 |
|
Michael Curb
[note 12] |
35 |
|
George Deukmejian |
January 3, 1983 |
January 7, 1991 |
Republican |
|
Leo T. McCarthy
[note 11] |
2 |
36 |
|
Pete Wilson |
January 7, 1991 |
January 4, 1999 |
Republican |
|
Leo T. McCarthy
[note 11] |
2 |
|
Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis
[note 11] |
37 |
|
Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis |
January 4, 1999 |
November 17, 2003 |
Democratic |
|
Cruz Bustamante |
1 1⁄2
[note 24] |
38 |
|
Arnold Schwarzenegger |
November 17, 2003 |
Incumbent |
Republican |
|
Cruz Bustamante[note 11] |
1 1⁄2
[note 24]
[note 25] |
|
John Garamendi[note 11] |
|
Abel Maldonado |
Other high offices held
Seventeen of California's governors have served other high offices, including one President of the United States, a Chief Justice of the United States, and five ambassadors. Thirteen have served in the U.S. Congress, all representing California, although one also represented Ohio. Four (marked with *) resigned to take their other office, three in the U.S. Senate and one joining the U.S. Supreme Court. One (marked with †) resigned his seat in the U.S. House to take office as governor.
All representatives and senators listed represented California except where noted.
Governor |
Gubernatorial term |
U.S. House |
U.S. Senate |
Other offices held |
Source |
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 August 2010[update], there are four living former governors of California. The most recent governor to die was Ronald Reagan (1967–1975), on June 5, 2004.
Governor |
Term of office |
Date of birth |
Jerry Brown |
1975–1983 |
April 7, 1938 (1938-04-07) (age 72) |
George Deukmejian |
1983–1991 |
June 6, 1928 (1928-06-06) (age 82) |
Pete Wilson |
1991–1999 |
August 23, 1933 (1933-08-23) (age 77) |
Gray Davis |
1999–2003 |
December 26, 1942 (1942-12-26) (age 68) |
See also
- List of California Governors by time in office
Notes
- ↑ As there have been no repeat governors, it is unknown how they would be officially numbered. Hiram Johnson was elected as a Republican for his first term and a Progressive for his second term; he is thus included in the key twice to avoid a zero numbering for Progressive.
- ↑ Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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]
- ↑ Resigned, citing personal reasons; he was reportedly unhappy with the legislature, and wanted more time to manage his business.[7]
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 As president of the senate, acted as lieutenant governor
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate
- ↑ Elected president of the senate, therefore becoming new acting lieutenant governor.
- ↑ Low was the first governor elected under the provisions of an 1862 constitutional amendment, increasing terms from two to four years.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 Represented the Democratic Party
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Represented the Republican Party
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Died in office
- ↑ As president pro tempore of the state senate, acted as lieutenant governor
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 Appointed by governor to fill the vacancy in the office of lieutenant governor
- ↑ Johnson was elected as a Republican for his first term and a Progressive for his second.[8]
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term, and was subsequently elected in his own right.
- ↑ Resigned to be District Attorney for Los Angeles County, California[9]
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Resigned to become Chief Justice of the United States
- ↑ As president pro tempore of the state senate, filled unexpired term
- ↑ Resigned to be U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare
- ↑ Resigned after being convicted of perjury[10]
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Voters recalled Davis 2003 election. Schwarzenegger was elected to replace him at the same time.[11]
- ↑ Schwarzenegger's second term expires on January 3, 2011; he is term limited.
References
- General
- Constitutions
- Specific
- ↑ CA Const. art. V, § 8
- ↑ Henning, W.F. (1899). Constitution of the State of California. C.W. Palm Company. http://books.google.com/?id=XzHvfKTmBrcC&pg=PR2&lpg=PR2&dq=california+constitution+1871+amendment+governor+term. Retrieved January 18, 2008.
- ↑ "California Ballot Propositions 1990-1999". Los Angeles County Law Library. http://lalaw.lib.ca.us/research/ballots/1990/1990.aspx. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
- ↑ CA Const. art. V, § 2
- ↑ CA Const. art. V, § 10
- ↑ "California Governor Peter Hardeman Burnett". National Governors Association. http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=ccc9224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
- ↑ Durham, Walter T. (1997). Volunteer Forty-niners: Tennesseans and the California Gold Rush. Vanderbilt University Press. p. 193. ISBN 0826512984. http://books.google.com/?id=vywAImZdyaMC. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
- ↑ "California Governor Hiram Warren Johnson". National Governors Association. http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=2af9224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
- ↑ "Fitts Submits His Resignation". Los Angeles Times. September 29, 1928. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/368288882.html?dids=368288882:368288882&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Sep+29%2C+1928&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=FITTS+SUBMITS+HIS+RESIGNATION&pqatl=google. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
- ↑ Robinson, Jr., Timothy S. (October 3, 1974). "Reinecke Quits, Gets Suspended Sentence". The Washington Post. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/119882491.html?dids=119882491:119882491&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=OCT+03%2C+1974&author=By+Timothy+S.+Robinson+Jr.+Washington+Post+Staff+Writer&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Reinecke+Quits%2C+Gets+Suspended+Sentence&pqatl=google. Retrieved October 18, 2008.
- ↑ "Statewide Special Election". California Secretary of State. http://vote2003.sos.ca.gov/Returns/summary.html. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
- ↑ "California Governor John Bigler". National Governors Association. http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=e0d9224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
- ↑ "Weller, John B.". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=W000274. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
- ↑ "Latham, Milton Slocum". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=L000110. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
- ↑ "Stanford, Leland". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S000793. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
- ↑ "Low, Frederick Ferdinand". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=L000469. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
- ↑ "Booth, Newton". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000630. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
- ↑ "Pacheco, Romualdo". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=P000003. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
- ↑ "Perkins, George Clement". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=P000232. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
- ↑ "Markham, Henry Harrison". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M000134. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
- ↑ "Budd, James Herbert". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B001034. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
- ↑ "California Governor Henry Tifft Gage". National Governors Association. http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=f3f9224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
- ↑ "Gillett, James Norris". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=G000202. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
- ↑ "Johnson, Hiram Warren". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=J000140. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
- ↑ "Stephens, William Dennison". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S000861. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
- ↑ "California Governor Earl Warren". National Governors Association. http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=980a224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
- ↑ "California Governor Ronald Wilson Reagan". National Governors Association. http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=8b98224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
- ↑ "Wilson, Pete". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=W000607. Retrieved October 15, 2008.
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