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 39 governors; many 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 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 Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr., who previously served as governor from 1975 to 1983.
Governors
- 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, Proposition 140 led to a constitutional amendment[3] implementing a term limit of two terms;[4] prior to this limit, only one governor, Earl Warren, had been elected to more than two terms. Jerry Brown was able to be elected to a third term in 2010 because his earlier terms were before the term limit was introduced. 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 (16)[lower-alpha 1] American (1) Republican (22)[lower-alpha 2] Progressive (1)[lower-alpha 2]
#[lower-alpha 3] |
Governor |
Term start |
Term end |
Party |
Lt. Governor[lower-alpha 4] |
Terms[lower-alpha 5] |
1 |
|
Peter Hardeman Burnett |
December 20, 1849 |
January 9, 1851 |
Democratic |
|
John McDougall |
1⁄2[lower-alpha 6][lower-alpha 7] |
2 |
|
John McDougall |
January 9, 1851 |
January 8, 1852 |
Democratic |
|
David C. Broderick[lower-alpha 8] |
1⁄2[lower-alpha 9] |
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[lower-alpha 10] |
7 |
|
John G. Downey |
January 14, 1860 |
January 10, 1862 |
Lecompton Democratic |
|
Isaac N. Quinn[lower-alpha 8] |
1⁄2[lower-alpha 9] |
|
Pablo de la Guerra[lower-alpha 11] |
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[lower-alpha 12] |
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[lower-alpha 10] |
12 |
|
Romualdo Pacheco |
February 27, 1875 |
December 9, 1875 |
Republican |
|
William Irwin[lower-alpha 8][lower-alpha 13] |
1⁄2[lower-alpha 9] |
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[lower-alpha 14] |
1⁄2[lower-alpha 15] |
17 |
|
Robert Waterman |
September 12, 1887 |
January 8, 1891 |
Republican |
|
Stephen M. White[lower-alpha 16][lower-alpha 13] |
1⁄2[lower-alpha 9] |
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[lower-alpha 15][lower-alpha 14] |
1 |
|
William T. Jeter[lower-alpha 17] |
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[lower-alpha 10][lower-alpha 18] |
|
Progressive |
|
John M. Eshleman[lower-alpha 15] |
|
William Stephens[lower-alpha 17][lower-alpha 14] |
24 |
|
William Stephens |
March 15, 1917 |
January 9, 1923 |
Republican |
vacant |
1 1⁄2[lower-alpha 19] |
|
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[lower-alpha 20] |
1 |
|
H. L. Carnahan[lower-alpha 17] |
27 |
|
James Rolph Jr. |
January 6, 1931 |
June 2, 1934 |
Republican |
|
Frank Merriam |
1⁄2[lower-alpha 15] |
28 |
|
Frank Merriam |
June 2, 1934 |
January 2, 1939 |
Republican |
vacant |
1 1⁄2[lower-alpha 19] |
|
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[lower-alpha 21] |
|
Frederick F. Houser |
2 1⁄2[lower-alpha 22] |
|
Goodwin Jess Knight |
31 |
|
Goodwin Jess Knight |
October 5, 1953 |
January 5, 1959 |
Republican |
|
Harold J. Powers[lower-alpha 23] |
1 1⁄2[lower-alpha 19] |
32 |
|
Edmund Gerald "Pat" Brown, Sr. |
January 5, 1959 |
January 2, 1967 |
Democratic |
|
Glenn M. Anderson |
2 |
33 |
|
Ronald Reagan |
January 2, 1967 |
January 6, 1975 |
Republican |
|
Robert Finch[lower-alpha 24] |
2 |
|
Edwin Reinecke[lower-alpha 17][lower-alpha 25] |
|
John L. Harmer[lower-alpha 17] |
34 |
|
Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. |
January 6, 1975 |
January 3, 1983 |
Democratic |
|
Mervyn M. Dymally |
2 |
|
Michael Curb[lower-alpha 14] |
35 |
|
George Deukmejian |
January 3, 1983 |
January 7, 1991 |
Republican |
|
Leo T. McCarthy[lower-alpha 13] |
2 |
36 |
|
Pete Wilson |
January 7, 1991 |
January 4, 1999 |
Republican |
|
Leo T. McCarthy[lower-alpha 13] |
2 |
|
Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis[lower-alpha 13] |
37 |
|
Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis |
January 4, 1999 |
November 17, 2003 |
Democratic |
|
Cruz Bustamante |
1 1⁄2[lower-alpha 26] |
38 |
|
Arnold Schwarzenegger |
November 17, 2003 |
January 3, 2011 |
Republican |
|
Cruz Bustamante[lower-alpha 13] |
1 1⁄2[lower-alpha 26][lower-alpha 27] |
|
John Garamendi[lower-alpha 13] |
|
Abel Maldonado |
39 |
|
Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. |
January 3, 2011 |
Incumbent |
Democratic |
|
Abel Maldonado[lower-alpha 28] |
1[lower-alpha 29] |
|
Gavin Newsom[lower-alpha 28] |
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 Senate to take office as governor.
All representatives and senators listed represented California except where noted.
Governor |
Gubernatorial term |
Other offices held |
Source |
Bigler, JohnJohn Bigler |
1852–1856 |
Minister to Chile |
[14] |
Weller, John B.John B. Weller |
1858–1860 |
Representative from Ohio, Senator, Minister to Mexico |
[15] |
Latham, MiltonMilton Latham |
1860 |
Representative, Senator* |
[16] |
Stanford, LelandLeland Stanford |
1862–1863 |
Senator |
[17] |
Low, FrederickFrederick Low |
1863–1867 |
Representative, Minister to the Great Qing Empire |
[18] |
Booth, NewtonNewton Booth |
1871–1875 |
Senator* |
[19] |
Pacheco, RomualdoRomualdo Pacheco |
1875 |
Representative, Minister to Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua |
[20] |
Perkins, George ClementGeorge Clement Perkins |
1880–1883 |
Senator |
[21] |
Markham, HenryHenry Markham |
1891–1895 |
Representative |
[22] |
Budd, JamesJames Budd |
1895–1899 |
Representative |
[23] |
Gage, HenryHenry Gage |
1899–1903 |
Minister to Portugal |
[24] |
Gillett, JamesJames Gillett |
1907–1911 |
Representative† |
[25] |
Johnson, HiramHiram Johnson |
1911–1917 |
Senator* |
[26] |
Stephens, WilliamWilliam Stephens |
1917–1923 |
Representative |
[27] |
Warren, EarlEarl Warren |
1943–1953 |
Chief Justice of the United States* |
[28] |
Reagan, RonaldRonald Reagan |
1967–1975 |
President of the United States |
[29] |
Wilson, PetePete Wilson |
1991–1999 |
Senator† |
[30] |
Living former governors
As of March 2011[update], there are four living former governors of California. The most recent death of a former governor was that of Ronald Reagan (1967–1975), on June 5, 2004.
See also
Notes
- ^ Includes one term served by a repeat governor.
- ^ a b Includes one partial term served by a governor who also represented another party during this term.
- ^ Since Jerry Brown is officially numbered 39th, repeat governors are officially numbered for each distinct term.[6]
- ^ 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.[7]
- ^ Resigned, citing personal reasons; he was reportedly unhappy with the legislature, and wanted more time to manage his business.[8]
- ^ a b c As president of the senate, acted as lieutenant governor.
- ^ a b c d As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ a b c d e f g Represented the Democratic Party.
- ^ a b c d Represented the Republican Party.
- ^ a b c d Died in office.
- ^ As president pro tempore of the state senate, acted as lieutenant governor.
- ^ a b c d e 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.[9]
- ^ a b c As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term, and was subsequently elected in his own right.
- ^ Resigned to be District Attorney for Los Angeles County, California[10]
- ^ 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.[11]
- ^ a b In a recall election, voters recalled Gray Davis and elected Arnold Schwarzenegger to replace him.[12]
- ^ Elected in a special election, and subsequently elected to a full term.
- ^ a b Gavin Newsom delayed his swearing in as lieutenant governor until January 10, 2011, to remain as mayor of San Francisco. Abel Maldonado stayed on as lieutenant governor, with both sides agreeing that the constitution allows such a situation.[13]
- ^ Governor Brown's third term expires on January 5, 2015; he is not term limited, since his two earlier terms predated the limit.
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
- ^ "Inauguration of Governor Jerry Brown". Office of Governor Jerry Brown. http://gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=16865. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Van Oot, Torey. "The Buzz: With Newsom in the wings, Maldonado's still at work". The Sacramento Bee. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/01/05/3299615/the-buzz-with-newsom-in-the-wings.html. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
- ^ "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.
External links