List of Governors of Maine

The Governor of Maine is the chief executive of the U.S. state of Maine[1] and the commander-in-chief of its military forces.[2] The governor has a duty to enforce state laws,[3] and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Maine Legislature,[4] to convene the legislature at any time,[5] and, except in cases of impeachment, to grant pardons.[6]

According to official numbering, there have been 74 governors of Maine since statehood. 70 men have held the office; 4 of them served multiple non-consecutive terms.[7] The longest-serving governor was Joseph E. Brennan, who served two terms from 1979 to 1987. The shortest-serving governors were Nathaniel M. Haskell and Richard H. Vose, who each served only one day. John W. Dana also served for one day in 1844, after the incumbent governor resigned, but was later elected to the governorship. The current governor is Republican Paul LePage, who took office on January 5, 2011. He is serving his first term which expires in January 2015.

Contents

Governors

For the period before statehood, see the list of Governors of Massachusetts

Maine was admitted to the Union on March 15, 1820, as the 23rd state. Before then, it was the District of Maine, part of the state of Massachusetts.[8] The Maine Constitution of 1820 originally established a gubernatorial term of one year,[9] to begin on the first Wednesday of January; constitutional amendments expanded this to two years in 1879[10] and to four years in 1957.[11] The 1957 amendment also prohibited governors from succeeding themselves after serving two terms.[11] The constitution does not establish an office of lieutenant governor; a vacancy in the office of governor is filled by the president of the Maine Senate.[12] Prior to an amendment in 1964, the president of the senate only acted as governor.[13][14]

      Democratic (23)       Democratic-Republican (6)       Independent (2)       National Republican (1)       Republican (37)       Whig (4)
(Above numbering includes repeat governors; one Whig, one Republican, and two Democrats served two distinct terms)

#   Governor Party Took office Left office Terms
[note 1]
1   King, WilliamWilliam King Democratic-Republican 01820-03-15March 15, 1820 01821-05-28May 28, 1821 1⁄4

[note 2]
2 Williamson, William D.William D. Williamson Democratic-Republican 01821-05-28May 28, 1821 01821-12-05December 5, 1821 1⁄4

[note 3]
[note 4]
3 Ames, BenjaminBenjamin Ames Democratic-Republican 01821-12-05December 5, 1821 01822-01-02January 2, 1822 1⁄4

[note 5]
[note 6]
4 Rose, DanielDaniel Rose Democratic-Republican 01822-01-02January 2, 1822 01822-01-05January 5, 1822 1⁄4

[note 7]
5 Parris, Albion K.Albion K. Parris Democratic-Republican 01822-01-05January 5, 1822 01827-01-03January 3, 1827 5
6 Lincoln, EnochEnoch Lincoln Democratic-Republican 01827-01-03January 3, 1827 01829-10-08October 8, 1829 2 1⁄3

[note 8]
7 Cutler, NathanNathan Cutler Democratic 01829-10-08October 8, 1829 01830-01-06January 6, 1830 1⁄3

[note 9]
8 Hall, JoshuaJoshua Hall Democratic 01830-01-06January 6, 1830 01830-02-09February 9, 1830 1⁄3

[note 5]
9 Hunton, Jonathan G.Jonathan G. Hunton National Republican 01830-02-09February 9, 1830 01831-01-05January 5, 1831 1
10 Smith, Samuel E.Samuel E. Smith Democratic 01831-01-05January 5, 1831 01834-01-01January 1, 1834 3
11 Dunlap, Robert P.Robert P. Dunlap Democratic 01834-01-01January 1, 1834 01838-01-03January 3, 1838 4
12 Kent, EdwardEdward Kent Whig 01838-01-19January 19, 1838 01839-01-02January 2, 1839 1

[note 10]
13 Fairfield, JohnJohn Fairfield Democratic 01839-01-02January 2, 1839 01841-01-12January 12, 1841 1 1⁄2

[note 11]
14 Vose, Richard H.Richard H. Vose Whig 01841-01-12January 12, 1841 01841-01-13January 13, 1841 1⁄2

[note 7]
15 Kent, EdwardEdward Kent Whig 01841-01-13January 13, 1841 01842-01-05January 5, 1842 1
16 Fairfield, JohnJohn Fairfield Democratic 01842-01-05January 5, 1842 01843-03-07March 7, 1843 1 1⁄4

[note 12]
17 Kavanagh, EdwardEdward Kavanagh Democratic 01843-03-07March 7, 1843 01844-01-01January 1, 1844 1⁄4

[note 3]
[note 13]
18 Dunn, DavidDavid Dunn Democratic 01844-01-01January 1, 1844 01844-01-03January 3, 1844 1⁄4

[note 5]
[note 14]
19 Dana, John W.John W. Dana Democratic 01844-01-03January 3, 1844 01844-01-03January 3, 1844 1⁄4

[note 7]
20 Anderson, Hugh J.Hugh J. Anderson Democratic 01844-01-03January 3, 1844 01847-05-12May 12, 1847 3
21 Dana, John W.John W. Dana Democratic 01847-05-12May 12, 1847 01850-05-08May 8, 1850 3
22 Hubbard, JohnJohn Hubbard Democratic 01850-05-08May 8, 1850 01853-01-05January 5, 1853 3
23 Crosby, William G.William G. Crosby Whig 01853-01-05January 5, 1853 01855-01-03January 3, 1855 2
24 Morrill, AnsonAnson Morrill Republican 01855-01-03January 3, 1855 01856-01-02January 2, 1856 1
25 Wells, SamuelSamuel Wells Democratic 01856-01-02January 2, 1856 01857-01-08January 8, 1857 1
26 Hamlin, HannibalHannibal Hamlin Republican 01857-01-08January 8, 1857 01857-02-25February 25, 1857 1⁄2

[note 12]
27 Williams, Joseph H.Joseph H. Williams Republican 01857-02-25February 25, 1857 01858-01-06January 6, 1858 1⁄2

[note 7]
28 Morrill, Lot M.Lot M. Morrill Republican 01858-01-06January 6, 1858 01861-01-02January 2, 1861 3
29 Washburn, Jr., IsraelIsrael Washburn, Jr. Republican 01861-01-02January 2, 1861 01863-01-07January 7, 1863 2
30 Coburn, AbnerAbner Coburn Republican 01863-01-07January 7, 1863 01864-01-06January 6, 1864 1
31 Cony, SamuelSamuel Cony Republican 01864-01-06January 6, 1864 01867-01-02January 2, 1867 2
32 Chamberlain, JoshuaJoshua Chamberlain Republican 01867-01-02January 2, 1867 01871-01-04January 4, 1871 4
33 Perham, SidneySidney Perham Republican 01871-01-04January 4, 1871 01874-01-07January 7, 1874 3
34 Dingley, Jr., NelsonNelson Dingley, Jr. Republican 01874-01-07January 7, 1874 01876-01-05January 5, 1876 2
35 Connor, SeldonSeldon Connor Republican 01876-01-05January 5, 1876 01879-01-08January 8, 1879 3
36 Garcelon, AlonzoAlonzo Garcelon Democratic 01879-01-08January 8, 1879 01880-01-17January 17, 1880 1
37 Davis, Daniel F.Daniel F. Davis Republican 01880-01-17January 17, 1880 01881-01-13January 13, 1881 1
38 Plaisted, Harris M.Harris M. Plaisted Democratic 01881-01-13January 13, 1881 01883-01-03January 3, 1883 1
39 Robie, FrederickFrederick Robie Republican 01883-01-03January 3, 1883 01887-01-05January 5, 1887 2
40 Bodwell, Joseph R.Joseph R. Bodwell Republican 01887-01-05January 5, 1887 01887-12-15December 15, 1887 1⁄2

[note 8]
41 Marble, Sebastian StreeterSebastian Streeter Marble Republican 01887-12-15December 15, 1887 01889-01-02January 2, 1889 1⁄2

[note 7]
42 Burleigh, Edwin C.Edwin C. Burleigh Republican 01889-01-02January 2, 1889 01893-01-04January 4, 1893 2
43 Cleaves, Henry B.Henry B. Cleaves Republican 01893-01-04January 4, 1893 01897-01-02January 2, 1897 2
44 Powers, LlewellynLlewellyn Powers Republican 01897-01-02January 2, 1897 01901-01-02January 2, 1901 2
45 Hill, John FremontJohn Fremont Hill Republican 01901-01-02January 2, 1901 01905-01-04January 4, 1905 2
46 Cobb, William T.William T. Cobb Republican 01905-01-04January 4, 1905 01909-01-06January 6, 1909 2
47 Fernald, Bert M.Bert M. Fernald Republican 01909-01-06January 6, 1909 01911-01-04January 4, 1911 1
48 Plaisted, Frederick W.Frederick W. Plaisted Democratic 01911-01-04January 4, 1911 01913-01-01January 1, 1913 1
49 Haines, William T.William T. Haines Republican 01913-01-01January 1, 1913 01915-01-06January 6, 1915 1
50 Curtis, Oakley C.Oakley C. Curtis Democratic 01915-01-06January 6, 1915 01917-01-03January 3, 1917 1
51 Milliken, Carl E.Carl E. Milliken Republican 01917-01-03January 3, 1917 01921-01-05January 5, 1921 2
52 Parkhurst, Frederic HaleFrederic Hale Parkhurst Republican 01921-01-05January 5, 1921 01921-01-31January 31, 1921 1⁄2

[note 8]
53 Baxter, Percival ProctorPercival Proctor Baxter Republican 01921-01-31January 31, 1921 01925-01-07January 7, 1925 1 1⁄2

[note 15]
54 Brewster, OwenOwen Brewster Republican 01925-01-07January 7, 1925 01929-01-02January 2, 1929 2
55 Gardiner, William TudorWilliam Tudor Gardiner Republican 01929-01-02January 2, 1929 01933-01-04January 4, 1933 2
56 Brann, Louis J.Louis J. Brann Democratic 01933-01-04January 4, 1933 01937-01-06January 6, 1937 2
57 Barrows, Lewis O.Lewis O. Barrows Republican 01937-01-06January 6, 1937 01941-01-01January 1, 1941 2
58 Sewall, SumnerSumner Sewall Republican 01941-01-01January 1, 1941 01945-01-03January 3, 1945 2
59 Hildreth, Horace A.Horace A. Hildreth Republican 01945-01-03January 3, 1945 01949-01-05January 5, 1949 2
60 Payne, Frederick G.Frederick G. Payne Republican 01949-01-05January 5, 1949 01952-12-24December 24, 1952 1 1⁄3

[note 12]
61 Cross, Burton M.Burton M. Cross Republican 01952-12-24December 24, 1952 01953-01-06January 6, 1953 1⁄3

[note 9]
62 Haskell, Nathaniel M.Nathaniel M. Haskell Republican 01953-01-06January 6, 1953 01953-01-07January 7, 1953 1⁄3

[note 16]
63 Cross, Burton M.Burton M. Cross Republican 01953-01-07January 7, 1953 01955-01-05January 5, 1955 1
64 Muskie, EdmundEdmund Muskie Democratic 01955-01-05January 5, 1955 01959-01-02January 2, 1959 1⁄2

[note 12]
65 Haskell, RobertRobert Haskell Republican 01959-01-02January 2, 1959 01959-01-07January 7, 1959 1⁄2

[note 7]
66 Clauson, ClintonClinton Clauson Democratic 01959-01-07January 7, 1959 01959-12-30December 30, 1959 1⁄2

[note 8]
67 Reed, John H.John H. Reed Republican 01959-12-30December 30, 1959 01967-01-05January 5, 1967 2 1⁄2

[note 15]
68 Curtis, Kenneth M.Kenneth M. Curtis Democratic 01967-01-05January 5, 1967 01975-01-02January 2, 1975 2
69 Longley, James B.James B. Longley Independent 01975-01-02January 2, 1975 01979-01-03January 3, 1979 1
70 Brennan, Joseph E.Joseph E. Brennan Democratic 01979-01-03January 3, 1979 01987-01-07January 7, 1987 2
71 McKernan, Jr., John R.John R. McKernan, Jr. Republican 01987-01-07January 7, 1987 01995-01-05January 5, 1995 2
72 King, AngusAngus King Independent 01995-01-05January 5, 1995 02003-01-08January 8, 2003 2
73 Baldacci, JohnJohn Baldacci Democratic 02003-01-08January 8, 2003 02011-01-05January 5, 2011 2
74 LePage, PaulPaul LePage Republican 0Error: invalid timeJanuary 5, 2011 Incumbent 1
[note 17]

Other high offices held

Twenty-four of Maine's governors have served higher federal offices. Seventeen have represented Maine in the U.S. House of Representatives, while two early in the state's history represented Massachusetts. There were also nine governors who served in the U.S. Senate, five (marked with *) resigning their office as governor to enter the Senate. One governor, Hannibal Hamlin, resigned his seat in the Senate to be governor (marked with †), then resigned as governor the next month to rejoin the Senate. Hamlin was also one of three governors to be ambassadors, and the only one to be Vice President of the United States. Two other governors served in the Cabinet.

Governor Gubernatorial term U.S. House U.S. Senate Other offices held Source
William D. Williamson 1821 H — [19]
Albion K. Parris 1822–1827 — S* U.S. Representative from Massachusetts [20]
Enoch Lincoln 1827–1829 H — U.S. Representative from Massachusetts [21]
Robert P. Dunlap 1834–1838 H — [22]
John Fairfield 1839–1841,
1842–1843		 H S* [23]
Edward Kavanagh 1843–1844 H — [24]
Hugh J. Anderson 1844–1847 H — [25]
Anson Morrill 1858–1861 H — [26]
Hannibal Hamlin 1857 H S†* U.S. Minister to Spain, Vice President of the United States [27]
Lot M. Morrill 1858–1861 — S U.S. Secretary of the Treasury [28]
Sidney Perham 1871–1874 H — [29]
Nelson Dingley, Jr. 1874–1876 H — [30]
Harris M. Plaisted 1881–1883 H — [31]
Edwin C. Burleigh 1889–1893 H S [32]
Llewellyn Powers 1897–1901 H — [33]
Bert M. Fernald 1909–1911 — S [34]
Owen Brewster 1925–1929 H S [35]
Horace A. Hildreth 1945–1949 — — U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan [36]
Frederick G. Payne 1949–1952 — S* [37]
Edmund Muskie 1955–1959 — S* U.S. Secretary of State [38]
Kenneth M. Curtis 1967–1974 — — U.S. Ambassador to Canada [39]
Joseph E. Brennan 1979–1987 H — [40]
John R. McKernan, Jr. 1987–1995 H — [41]
John Baldacci 2003–2011 H — [42]

Living former governors

As of January 2011, six former governors are alive. The most recent governor to die was Burton M. Cross (1952–1953, 1953–1955), on October 22, 1998. The most recently-serving governor to die was James B. Longley (1975–1979), on August 16, 1980.

Name Gubernatorial term Date of birth
John H. Reed 1959–1967 January 5, 1921 (1921-01-05) (age 91)
Kenneth M. Curtis 1967–1975 February 8, 1931 (1931-02-08) (age 81)
Joseph E. Brennan 1979–1987 November 2, 1934 (1934-11-02) (age 77)
John R. McKernan, Jr. 1987–1995 May 20, 1948 (1948-05-20) (age 63)
Angus King 1995–2003 March 31, 1944 (1944-03-31) (age 67)
John Baldacci 2003–2011 January 30, 1955 (1955-01-30) (age 57)

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. ^ Resigned to take appointment as a minister to negotiate a treaty with Spain.
  3. ^ a b As president of the senate, acted as governor until his resignation.
  4. ^ Resigned to take an elected seat in the United States House of Representatives.
  5. ^ a b c As speaker of the state house, acted as governor for unexpired term.
  6. ^ Once the new Maine Senate was sworn in, Ames saw no purpose in completing the remaining three days of the gubernatorial term and resigned.[15]
  7. ^ a b c d e f As president of the senate, acted as governor for unexpired term.
  8. ^ a b c d Died in office.
  9. ^ a b As president of the state senate, acted as governor until his senate term expired.
  10. ^ Edward Kent won a close election, but Democrats challenged the election. He was finally declared winner by the state supreme court and sworn in on January 19, 1838.[16]
  11. ^ Resigned; no reason is known.
  12. ^ a b c d Resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.
  13. ^ Resigned due to ill health.[17]
  14. ^ Resigned once the new Maine Legislature was sworn in.[18]
  15. ^ a b As president of the senate, acted as governor for unexpired term, and was subsequently elected in his own right.
  16. ^ Acting governor Burton Cross had been elected to the governorship, but his Senate term ended 25 hours before his term as governor began; therefore, he could not act as governor for that day. As president of the Senate, Haskell served as acting governor until Cross's inauguration.
  17. ^ Governor LePage's first term expires on January 7, 2015; he is not yet term limited.

References

General
Constitutions
Specific
  1. ^ ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 1.
  2. ^ ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 7.
  3. ^ ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 12.
  4. ^ ME Const. art. IV (Pt. III), § 3.
  5. ^ ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 13.
  6. ^ ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 11.
  7. ^ Governors of Maine. Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library.
  8. ^ "Mass Moments: Massachusetts Loses Maine". Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities. http://www.massmoments.org/moment.cfm?mid=81. Retrieved November 28, 2010. 
  9. ^ ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 2, orig.
  10. ^ ME Const. Amend. 23.
  11. ^ a b ME Const. Amend. 84.
  12. ^ ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 14.
  13. ^ ME Const. Amend. 97.
  14. ^ ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 14, orig.
  15. ^ Hallowell Gazette (Maine): p. 2. January 9, 1822. Benjamin Ames to the Maine Legislature, January 2, 1822: "The Senators of the State of Maine, for the present political year, having been qualified to enter upon the duties of their place by having taken and subscribed the oaths required by the constitution, and chosen their President, I have no longer any authority, as I apprehend, to exercise the office of Governor, and therefore resign the same, that it may be filled according to the provisions of the constitution."
  16. ^ "Maine Governor Edward Kent". National Governors Association. http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=95cd224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD. Retrieved November 28, 2010. 
  17. ^ Lucey, William Leo (1946). Edward Kavanagh: Catholic, Statesman, Diplomat, from Maine 1795–1844: p. 22. College of the Holy Cross. Reprinted 2006, Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 1428654682.
  18. ^ The Pittsfield Sun (Pittsfield, MA): p. 2. January 11, 1844. "Hon. David Dunn, as Speaker of the House for 1843, entered upon the discharge of the duties of that office on Tuesday, and continued to discharge them until he had completed the administration of the necessary oaths to the members of the Senate and House, yesterday. He then resigned that place, and took his seat in the House."
  19. ^ "Williamson, William Durkee". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=W000554. Retrieved January 30, 2010. 
  20. ^ "Maine Governor Albion Keith Parris". National Governors Association. http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=27bd224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD. Retrieved January 30, 2010. 
  21. ^ "Lincoln, Enoth." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  22. ^ "Dunlap, Robert Pinckney." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  23. ^ "Fairfield, John." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  24. ^ "Kavanaugh, Edward". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=K000022. Retrieved January 30, 2010. 
  25. ^ "Anderson, Hugh Johnston." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  26. ^ "Morrill, Anson Peasley." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  27. ^ "Hamlin, Hannibal." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  28. ^ "Morrill, Lot Myrick." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  29. ^ "Perham, Sydney." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  30. ^ "Dingley, Nelson, Jr." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  31. ^ "Plaisted, Harris Merrill." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  32. ^ "Burleigh, Edwin Chick." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  33. ^ "Powers, Llewellyn." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  34. ^ "Fernald, Bert Manfred." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  35. ^ "Brewster, Ralph Owen." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  36. ^ "Maine Governor Horace Augustus Hildreth." National Governors Association. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  37. ^ "Maine Governor Frederick George Payne". National Governors Association. http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=afebf441ae476010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD. Retrieved January 30, 2010. 
  38. ^ "Maine Governor Edmund Sixtus Muskie". National Governors Association. http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=489cf441ae476010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD. Retrieved January 30, 2010. 
  39. ^ "Maine Governor Kenneth M. Curtis." National Governors Association. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  40. ^ "Brennan, Joseph Edward." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  41. ^ "McKernan, John Rettie, Jr." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  42. ^ "Baldacci, John Elias." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.

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