List of Governors of North Dakota

Flag of the Governor

The Governor of North Dakota is the chief executive of the U.S. state of North Dakota. The current Governor is Jack Dalrymple. The Governor has the power to sign or veto laws, and to call the Legislative Assembly into emergency session. The Governor is also chairman of the North Dakota Industrial Commission. He has an ex officio North Dakota Governor's Residence. There are no limits on the number of terms a governor may serve.

The following is a list of Governors of the state of North Dakota, United States.

List of North Dakota Governors

Parties

      Democratic/NPL       Democratic-Independent       Republican/NPL       Republican       Republican-IVA

Number of Governors of North Dakota by party affiliation
Party Governors
Republican 25
  Republican 16
Republican/NPL 7
Republican/IVA 2
Democratic 7
  Democratic 3
Democratic-NPL 3
Democratic-Independent 1
Current Governor Jack Dalrymple
# Governor Term Party Life
1 John Miller November 20, 1889 – January 7, 1891 Republican 1843–1908
2 Andrew H. Burke January 7, 1891 – January 3, 1893 Republican 1850–1918
3 Eli C. D. Shortridge January 3, 1893 – January 10, 1895 Democratic-Independent 1830–1908
4 Roger Allin[note 1] January 10, 1895 – January 6, 1897 Republican 1848–1936
5 Frank A. Briggs January 6, 1897 – August 15, 1898 Republican 1858–1898
6 Joseph M. Devine[note 1] August 15, 1898 – January 3, 1899 Republican 1861–1938
7 Frederick B. Fancher January 3, 1899 – January 10, 1901 Republican 1852–1944
8 Frank White[note 2] January 10, 1901 – January 4, 1905 Republican 1856–1940
9 Elmore Y. Sarles January 4, 1905 – January 9, 1907 Republican 1859–1929
10 John Burke[note 2][note 3] January 9, 1907 – January 8, 1913 Democratic 1859–1937
11 L. B. Hanna[note 4] January 8, 1913 – January 3, 1917 Republican 1861–1948
12 Lynn Frazier[note 5] January 3, 1917 – November 23, 1921 Republican/NPL 1874–1947
13 Ragnvald A. Nestos November 23, 1921 – January 7, 1925 Republican/IVA 1877–1942
14 Arthur G. Sorlie January 7, 1925 – August 28, 1928 Republican/NPL 1874–1928
15 Walter Maddock[note 1] August 28, 1928 – January 9, 1929 Republican/NPL 1880–1951
16 George F. Shafer January 9, 1929 – December 31, 1932 Republican/IVA 1888–1948
17 William Langer[note 6] December 31, 1932 – June 21, 1934 Republican/NPL 1886–1959
18 Ole H. Olson[note 1] June 21, 1934 – January 7, 1935 Republican/NPL 1872–1954
19 Thomas H. Moodie January 7, 1935 – February 2, 1935 Democratic 1878–1948
20 Walter Welford[note 1] February 2, 1935 – January 6, 1937 Republican/NPL 1868–1952
21 William Langer[note 5][note 6] January 6, 1937 – January 5, 1939 Republican/NPL 1886–1959
22 John Moses[note 5] January 5, 1939 – January 4, 1945 Democratic 1885–1945
23 Fred George Aandahl[note 4] January 4, 1945 – January 3, 1951 Republican 1897–1966
24 Clarence Norman Brunsdale[note 5] January 3, 1951 – January 9, 1957 Republican 1891–1978
25 John E. Davis January 9, 1957 – January 4, 1961 Republican 1913–1990
26 William L. Guy January 4, 1961 – January 2, 1973 Democratic-NPL 1919–2013
27 Arthur A. Link[note 4] January 2, 1973 – January 6, 1981 Democratic-NPL 1914–2010
28 Allen I. Olson January 6, 1981 – January 1, 1985 Republican 1938–
29 George A. Sinner January 1, 1985 – December 15, 1992 Democratic-NPL 1928–
30 Ed Schafer[note 7] December 15, 1992 – December 15, 2000 Republican 1946–
31 John Hoeven[note 5] December 15, 2000 – December 7, 2010 Republican 1957–
32 Jack Dalrymple[note 1] December 7, 2010 – present Republican 1948–
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Served as Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota prior to term as Governor
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Served as Treasurer of the United States after term as Governor
  3. ↑ Served as Chief Justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court after term as Governor
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Served in the United States House of Representatives after term as Governor
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Served in the United States Senate after term as Governor
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Served two nonconsecutive terms as Governor
  7. ↑ Served as the United States Secretary of Agriculture after term as Governor

Other high offices held

This is a table of congressional seats, other federal offices, and other governorships held by governors. All representatives and senators mentioned represented North Dakota except where noted.

Governor Gubernatorial term U.S. Congress Other offices held
House Senate
Frank White 1901–1905 Treasurer of the United States
John Burke 1907–1913 Treasurer of the United States
Lynn Frazier 1917–1921 S
William Langer 1937–1939 S
John Moses 1939–1945 S
Fred G. Aandahl 1945–1951 H United States Assistant Secretary of the Interior
Clarence Norman Brunsdale 1951–1957 S
Arthur A. Link 1973–1981 H
Ed Schafer 1992–2000 United States Secretary of Agriculture
John Hoeven 2000–2010 S

Living former governors

As of May 2015, four former governors were alive, the oldest being George Sinner (1985–1992, born 1928). The most recent death of a former governor was William L. Guy (1961–1973), on 26 April 2013. The death of a former governor who served most recently was that of Arthur Albert Link, who left office on January 6, 1981 and died on June 1, 2010 at the age of ninety-six.

GovernorGubernatorial termDate of birth
Allen I. Olson 1981–1985 November 5, 1938
George Sinner 1985–1992 May 19, 1928
Ed Schafer 1992–2000 August 8, 1946
John Hoeven 2000–2010 March 13, 1957

See also

External links