List of governors of Louisiana

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The governor of Louisiana is the head of government of the U.S. state of Louisiana. The governor is the head of the executive branch of Louisiana's state government and is charged with enforcing state laws. Republican Jeff Landry has served as the current governor since January 8, 2024.

List of governors

Territory of Orleans

For the period before purchase, see List of colonial governors of Louisiana.

Louisiana was purchased by the United States from France in 1803.[1] On October 1, 1804, Orleans Territory was organized from the southern part of the Purchase, with the remainder being made the District of Louisiana and placed under the jurisdiction of Indiana Territory.[2] The District of Louisiana would later become Louisiana Territory, but after Orleans Territory became the state of Louisiana, Louisiana Territory was renamed Missouri Territory.[3]

More information Governor, Term in office ...
Governor of the Territory of Orleans
Governor Term in office Appointed by
William C. C. Claiborne
(d. 1817)
[4][5][6][7]		 December 20, 1803[a]
–
July 30, 1812
(elected state governor)		 Thomas Jefferson
James Madison
Close

State of Louisiana

Louisiana was admitted to the Union on April 30, 1812.[15] It seceded from the Union on January 26, 1861,[16] and it was a founding member of the Confederate States of America on February 8, 1861.[17] However, since substantial parts of the state remained in Union hands throughout the war, there were two lines of governors elected. Following the end of the American Civil War, Louisiana during Reconstruction was part of the Fifth Military District, which exerted some control over governor appointments and elections.[18] Louisiana was readmitted to the Union on July 9, 1868.[19]

The 1812 constitution established the office of governor, to serve for four years[20] starting from the fourth Monday after the election.[21] In 1845, the start date was moved to the fourth Monday of the January after the election;[22] in 1864, it was moved to the second Monday of the January after the election;[23] in 1879 it was moved to the first Monday after the General Assembly announced the election result; the 1921 Constitution fixed the new inauguration date as the second Tuesday in May.[24] The 1974 Constitution changed the date, effective in 1980, to the second Monday of the March following the election; this was amended in 1987, to become effective in 1992, to the second Monday of January.[25] Governors were not allowed to succeed themselves[26] until 1864, when the constitution held no term limits. The restriction on governors succeeding themselves was reintroduced in 1868,[27] removed in 1870,[28] and again added in 1898.[29] An amendment to the constitution passed in 1966 allowed governors to succeed themselves once before requiring a gap before they can be elected again.[30] Five governors have served nonconsecutive terms. Andre B. Roman, Francis T. Nicholls, and Jimmie Davis each served two non-consecutive terms, while Earl Long and Edwin Edwards both served in three distinct stints.

In the event of a vacancy, the President of the Senate originally acted as governor.[31] The 1845 constitution created the office of lieutenant governor, to be elected at the same time and manner as the governor[32] and who would act as governor in the event of a vacancy.[33] The 1913 constitution established that the lieutenant governor would become governor in case of a vacancy.[34] The governor and the lieutenant governor are not officially elected on the same ticket.[35]

More information No., Governor ...
Governors of the State of Louisiana
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor[b][c]
1   William C. C. Claiborne
(d. 1817)
[4][5][6][7]		 July 30, 1812[d]
–
December 17, 1816
(term-limited)[e]		 Democratic-
Republican[39]		 1812 Office did not exist
2 Jacques Villeré
(1761–1830)
[40][41][42]		 December 17, 1816[43]
–
December 18, 1820
(term-limited)[e]		 Democratic-
Republican[39]		 1816
3 Thomas B. Robertson
(1779–1828)
[44][45][46]		 December 18, 1820[47]
–
November 15, 1824
(resigned)[f]		 Democratic-
Republican[39]		 1820
4 Henry S. Thibodaux
(1769–1827)
[48][49][50]		 November 15, 1824[51]
–
December 13, 1824
(successor took office)		 Democratic-
Republican[39]		 President of
the Senate
acting
5 Henry Johnson
(1783–1864)
[52][53][54]		 December 13, 1824[55]
–
December 15, 1828
(term-limited)[e]		 Adams
Republican[52]		 1824
6 Pierre Derbigny
(1769–1829)
[56][57][58]		 December 15, 1828[39]
–
October 6, 1829
(died in office)		 Adams
Republican[59]		 1828
7 Arnaud Beauvais
(1783–1843)
[60][61][62]		 October 6, 1829[63]
–
January 14, 1830
(senate term ended)[g]		 National
Republican[60]		 President of
the Senate
acting
8 Jacques Dupré
(1773–1846)
[64][65][66]		 January 14, 1830[67]
–
January 31, 1831
(successor took office)		 National
Republican[64]		 President of
the Senate
acting
9 André B. Roman
(1795–1866)
[68][69][70]		 January 31, 1831[39]
–
February 2, 1835
(term-limited)[e]		 National
Republican[59]		 1830
(special)[h]
10 Edward Douglass White Sr.
(1795–1847)
[71][72][73]		 February 2, 1835[39]
–
February 4, 1839
(term-limited)[e]		 Whig[74] 1834
9 André B. Roman
(1795–1866)
[68][69][70]		 February 4, 1839[75]
–
January 30, 1843
(term-limited)[e]		 Whig[74] 1838
11 Alexandre Mouton
(1804–1885)
[76][77][78]		 January 30, 1843[79]
–
February 12, 1846
(term-limited)[e]		 Democratic[80] 1842[i]
12 Isaac Johnson
(1803–1853)
[81][82][83]		 February 12, 1846[84]
–
January 28, 1850
(term-limited)[j]		 Democratic[80] 1846   Trasimond Landry
13 Joseph Marshall Walker
(1784–1856)
[86][87][88]		 January 28, 1850[89]
–
January 20, 1853
(term-limited)[k][l]		 Democratic[93] 1849[m] Jean Baptiste Plauché
14 Paul Octave Hébert
(1818–1880)
[94][95][96]		 January 20, 1853[92]
–
January 28, 1856
(term-limited)[k]		 Democratic[93] 1852 William Wood Farmer
(died October 29, 1854)
Robert C. Wickliffe
15 Robert C. Wickliffe
(1819–1895)
[97][98][99]		 January 28, 1856[100]
–
January 23, 1860
(term-limited)[k]		 Democratic[101] 1855 Charles Homer Mouton
(resigned 1856)
William F. Griffin
16 Thomas Overton Moore
(1804–1876)
[102][103][104]		 January 23, 1860[105]
–
January 25, 1864
(term-limited)[n]		 Democratic[101] 1859[o] Henry M. Hyams
17 George Foster Shepley
(1819–1878)
[107][108][109]		 July 2, 1862[39]
–
March 4, 1864
(successor took office)		 Military governor[o][p] Vacant
18 Henry Watkins Allen
(1820–1866)
[110][111][112]		 January 25, 1864[113]
–
June 2, 1865
(resigned)[q]		 Democratic[110] 1863
(Confederate)[o]		 Benjamin W. Pearce
19 Michael Hahn
(1830–1886)
[114][115][116]		 March 4, 1864[117]
–
March 4, 1865
(resigned)[r]		 Union Free Trade
(Republican)[118]		 1864
(Union)[o]		 James Madison Wells
20 James Madison Wells
(1808–1899)
[119][120][121]		 March 4, 1865[122]
–
June 3, 1867
(removed)[s]		 Citizens Ticket[118] Lieutenant
governor
acting		 Vacant
1865[o] Albert Voorhies
21 Benjamin Flanders
(1816–1896)
[123][124][125]		 June 6, 1867[t]
–
January 2, 1868
(resigned)[u]		 Appointed by
military occupation[39]		 Vacant
22 Joshua Baker
(1799–1885)
[128][129][130]		 January 2, 1868[v]
–
June 27, 1868
(removed)[w]		 Appointed by
military occupation[39]
23 Henry C. Warmoth
(1842–1931)
[133][134][135]		 June 27, 1868[x]
–
December 9, 1872
(removed)[y]		 Appointed by
military occupation[39][132]
Republican[39] 1868 Oscar Dunn
(died November 22, 1871)
Vacant
P. B. S. Pinchback
(appointed December 6, 1871)
24 P. B. S. Pinchback
(1837–1921)
[137][138][139]		 December 9, 1872[140]
–
January 13, 1873
(successor took office)		 Republican[39] Lieutenant
governor
acting		 Vacant
25 John McEnery
(1833–1891)
[141][142]		 January 13, 1873[143]
–
May 22, 1873
(removed)[z]		 Democratic[aa] 1872[z] Davidson B. Penn
26 William Pitt Kellogg
(1830–1918)
[146][147][148]		 January 13, 1873[143]
–
January 8, 1877
(did not run)[ab]		 Republican[39] Caesar Antoine
27 Stephen B. Packard
(1839–1922)		 January 8, 1877[149]
–
April 25, 1877
(removed)[ac]		 Republican[118] 1876[ac][ad]
28 Francis T. Nicholls
(1834–1912)
[151][152][153]		 January 8, 1877[149]
–
January 14, 1880
(did not run)[151]		 Democratic[118] Louis A. Wiltz
29 Louis A. Wiltz
(1843–1881)
[154][155][156]		 January 14, 1880[157]
–
October 16, 1881
(died in office)		 Democratic[39] 1879 Samuel D. McEnery
30 Samuel D. McEnery
(1837–1910)
[158][159][160]		 October 16, 1881[161]
–
May 21, 1888
(lost nomination)[162]		 Democratic[39] Lieutenant
governor
acting		 William A. Robertson
(removed December 24, 1881)
George L. Walton
1884 Clay Knobloch
28 Francis T. Nicholls
(1834–1912)
[151][152][153]		 May 21, 1888[163]
–
May 16, 1892
(did not run)		 Democratic[39] 1888 James Jeffries
31 Murphy J. Foster
(1849–1921)
[164][165][166]		 May 16, 1892[167]
–
May 21, 1900
(term-limited)[ae]		 Anti-Lottery
Democratic[169]		 1892 Charles Parlange
(resigned December 11, 1893)
Hiram R. Lott
(died June 2, 1895)
Robert H. Snyder
1896
32 William Wright Heard
(1853–1926)
[170][171][172]		 May 21, 1900[173]
–
May 16, 1904
(term-limited)[ae]		 Democratic[39] 1900 Albert Estopinal
33 Newton C. Blanchard
(1849–1922)
[174][175][176]		 May 16, 1904[177]
–
May 18, 1908
(term-limited)[ae]		 Democratic[39] 1904 Jared Y. Sanders Sr.
34 Jared Y. Sanders Sr.
(1869–1944)
[178][179][180]		 May 18, 1908[181]
–
May 20, 1912
(term-limited)[ae]		 Democratic[39] 1908 Paul M. Lambremont
35 Luther E. Hall
(1869–1921)
[182][183][184]		 May 20, 1912[185]
–
May 15, 1916
(term-limited)[af]		 Democratic[39] 1912 Thomas C. Barret
36 Ruffin G. Pleasant
(1871–1937)
[187][188][189]		 May 15, 1916[190]
–
May 17, 1920
(term-limited)[af]		 Democratic[39] 1916 Fernand Mouton
37 John M. Parker
(1863–1939)
[191][192][193]		 May 17, 1920[194]
–
May 19, 1924
(term-limited)[ag]		 Democratic[118] 1920 Hewitt Bouanchaud
(resigned April 12, 1924)
Delos R. Johnson
38 Henry L. Fuqua
(1865–1926)
[196][197][198]		 May 19, 1924[199]
–
October 11, 1926
(died in office)		 Democratic[39] 1924 Oramel H. Simpson
39 Oramel H. Simpson
(1870–1932)
[200][201][202]		 October 11, 1926[203]
–
May 21, 1928
(lost nomination)[204]		 Democratic[39] Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor		 Philip H. Gilbert
40 Huey Long
(1893–1935)
[204][205][206]		 May 21, 1928[207]
–
January 25, 1932
(resigned)[ah]		 Democratic[39] 1928 Paul N. Cyr
(removed March 4, 1931)[ah]
Alvin Olin King
41 Alvin Olin King
(1890–1958)
[210][208][209]		 January 25, 1932[211]
–
May 16, 1932
(successor took office)		 Democratic[39] Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor		 Vacant
42 Oscar K. Allen
(1882–1936)
[212][213][214]		 May 16, 1932[215]
–
January 28, 1936
(died in office)		 Democratic[39] 1932 John B. Fournet
(resigned January 2, 1935)
James A. Noe
43 James A. Noe
(1890–1976)
[216][217][218]		 January 28, 1936[219]
–
May 12, 1936
(successor took office)		 Democratic[39] Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor		 Vacant
44 Richard W. Leche
(1898–1965)
[220][221][222]		 May 12, 1936[223]
–
June 26, 1939
(resigned)[ai]		 Democratic[39] 1936 Earl Long
45 Earl Long
(1895–1960)
[224][225][226]		 June 26, 1939[227]
–
May 14, 1940
(lost nomination)[224]		 Democratic[39] Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor		 Coleman Lindsey
46 Sam H. Jones
(1897–1978)
[228][229][230]		 May 14, 1940[231]
–
May 9, 1944
(term-limited)[ag]		 Democratic[39] 1940 Marc M. Mouton
47 Jimmie Davis
(1899–2000)
[232][233][234]		 May 9, 1944[235]
–
May 11, 1948
(term-limited)[ag]		 Democratic[39] 1944 J. Emile Verret
45 Earl Long
(1895–1960)
[224][225][226]		 May 11, 1948[236]
–
May 13, 1952
(term-limited)[ag]		 Democratic[39] 1948 Bill Dodd
48 Robert F. Kennon
(1902–1988)
[237][238][239]		 May 13, 1952[240]
–
May 15, 1956
(term-limited)[ag]		 Democratic[39] 1952 C. E. Barham
45 Earl Long
(1895–1960)
[224][225][226]		 May 15, 1956[241]
–
May 10, 1960
(term-limited)[ag]		 Democratic[39] 1956 Lether Frazar
47 Jimmie Davis
(1899–2000)
[232][233][234]		 May 10, 1960[242]
–
May 12, 1964
(term-limited)[ag]		 Democratic[39] 1960 Taddy Aycock
49 John McKeithen
(1918–1999)
[243][244][245]		 May 12, 1964[246]
–
May 9, 1972
(term-limited)[aj]		 Democratic[39] 1964
1968
50 Edwin Edwards
(1927–2021)
[248][249][250]		 May 9, 1972[251]
–
March 10, 1980
(term-limited)[ak]		 Democratic[39] 1972 Jimmy Fitzmorris
1975
51 Dave Treen
(1928–2009)
[253][254]		 March 10, 1980[255]
–
March 12, 1984
(lost election)		 Republican[254] 1979 Robert Louis Freeman Sr.[al]
50 Edwin Edwards
(1927–2021)
[248][249][250]		 March 12, 1984[256]
–
March 14, 1988
(withdrew)[am]		 Democratic[250] 1983
52 Buddy Roemer
(1943–2021)
[257][258]		 March 14, 1988[259]
–
January 13, 1992
(lost election)		 Democratic[an] 1987 Paul Hardy[ao]
50 Edwin Edwards
(1927–2021)
[248][249][250]		 January 13, 1992[260]
–
January 8, 1996
(did not run)		 Democratic[250] 1991 Melinda Schwegmann
53 Mike Foster
(1930–2020)
[261][262]		 January 8, 1996[263]
–
January 12, 2004
(term-limited)[ak]		 Republican[262] 1995 Kathleen Blanco
1999
54 Kathleen Blanco
(1942–2019)
[264][265]		 January 12, 2004[266]
–
January 14, 2008
(did not run)		 Democratic[265] 2003 Mitch Landrieu[al]
(resigned May 3, 2010)
55 Bobby Jindal
(b. 1971)
[267][268]		 January 14, 2008[269]
–
January 11, 2016
(term-limited)[ak]		 Republican[268] 2007
Scott Angelle[al]
Jay Dardenne
(elected November 22, 2010)
2011
56 John Bel Edwards
(b. 1966)
[270][271]		 January 11, 2016[272]
–
January 8, 2024
(term-limited)[ak]		 Democratic[271] 2015 Billy Nungesser[ao]
2019
57 Jeff Landry
(b. 1970)
[273]		 January 8, 2024[274]
–
Incumbent[ap]		 Republican[274] 2023
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See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    Claiborne was authorized by President Thomas Jefferson on October 31, 1803, to receive the new lands purchased from France,[4] and proclaimed the acquisition of Louisiana in New Orleans on December 20.[8] He was appointed to the position of Governor of Orleans Territory on August 30, 1884, taking office on October 2.[4] He was formally nominated to the position on November 30,[9] and confirmed by the Senate on December 12.[10] He was reappointed on June 8, 1805,[11] during a Senate recess; and was reconfirmed by the Senate on December 23, 1805;[12] November 14, 1808;[13] and November 26, 1811.[14]
  2. [b]
    The office of lieutenant governor was created in 1845.[36]
  3. [c]
    Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
  4. [d]
    Louisiana became a state on April 30, 1812, but Claiborne was not sworn in as state governor until July 30.[37]
  5. [e]
    Under the 1812 constitution, governors were ineligible for four years after the expiration of their elected term.[38]
  6. [f]
    Robertson resigned, having been confirmed to a joint seat on the United States District Court for both the Eastern and Western Districts of Louisiana.[44]
  7. [g]
    Sources disagree on why Beauvais' term ended; some say he lost his bid to be reelected as senate president,[61] while others say he resigned so that he could run for governor.[62]
  8. [h]
    Special election called due to the death of Pierre Derbigny and the succession crisis that followed.[70]
  9. [i]
    The 1845 constitution adjusted the election schedule, shortening this term to three years.
  10. [j]
    Under the 1845 constitution, governors were ineligible for four years after the expiration of their elected term.[85]
  11. [k]
    Under the 1852 constitution, governors were ineligible for four years after the expiration of their elected term.[90]
  12. [l]
    While some sources state Walker resigned due to objections to the 1852 constitution,[87][91] no contemporary news reports of his resignation have been found, and Paul Octave Hébert was inaugurated on January 20.[92]
  13. [m]
    The 1852 constitution adjusted the election schedule, shortening this term to three years.
  14. [n]
    Under the 1861 constitution, governors were ineligible for four years after the expiration of their elected term.[106]
  15. [o]
    The area around New Orleans was captured by the Union on April 25, 1862. The control was enough that it operated within the United States as the legitimate state of Louisiana, electing members to the United States House of Representatives. With both governments being considered legitimate, both lines are included in all lists of governors. The schism ended when the Confederate governor fled and the whole state came under Union control.
  16. [p]
    Shepley was appointed military governor by General Benjamin Butler.[109]
  17. [q]
    Allen fled to Mexico to avoid capture following the American Civil War.[112]
  18. [r]
    Hahn resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate; however, congressmen from the Confederate states were denied their seats in the 39th United States Congress.[115]
  19. [s]
    Wells was removed from office by General Philip Sheridan for failing to properly implement Reconstruction reforms.[120][121]
  20. [t]
    Thomas J. Durant was appointed to replace Wells,[126] but declined the appointment.[127] Flanders was then appointed on June 6 by General Philip Sheridan.[127]
  21. [u]
    Flanders resigned due to Major General Winfield Scott Hancock's removing Radical Republicans that Flanders had appointed to positions in state government.[125]
  22. [v]
    Baker was appointed by General Winfield Scott Hancock on January 2 to replace Benjamin Flanders,[130] though he would not take the oath of office until January 8.[131]
  23. [w]
    Baker was removed from office by General Ulysses S. Grant.[132]
  24. [x]
    Baker was removed, and Governor-elect Warmoth appointed as replacement, on June 27.[132] Warmoth was formally inaugurated on July 13.[136]
  25. [y]
    During the 1872 election, Warmoth endorsed John McEnery for governor, and the State Returning Board, which he appointed, declared McEnery the winner. However, a rival board declared William Pitt Kellogg the winner, and the legislature impeached Warmoth on charges related to the election. Impeached officials are suspended from office, so at this time, P. B. S. Pinchback filled the office. The term expired only 35 days later, at which point impeachment charges were dropped, as Warmoth was no longer governor.[133]
  26. [z]
    The State Election Board certified McEnery as the winner of the 1872 election; however, a rival board declared Kellogg the winner, and the legislature went with that. Both McEnery and Kellogg declared victory and formed governments, and conflict culminated in the Battle of Liberty Place and the Colfax massacre. President Ulysses S. Grant issued a proclamation on May 22, 1873, declaring Kellogg the winner.[144][145]
  27. [aa]
    McEnery represented the Democratic Reform and the Liberal Republican Parties.[118]
  28. [ab]
    Kellogg was instead elected to the United States Senate.[146]
  29. [ac]
    Much like the 1872 election, this election was disputed. Both Packard and Nicholls declared victory and formed governments, until President Rutherford B. Hayes recognized Nicholls as governor in the Compromise of 1877.[150]
  30. [ad]
    The 1879 constitution adjusted the election schedule, shortening this term to three years.
  31. [ae]
    Under the 1898 constitution, elected governors were ineligible to succeed themselves.[168]
  32. [af]
    Under the 1913 constitution, elected governors were ineligible to succeed themselves.[186]
  33. [ag]
    Under the 1921 constitution, elected governors were ineligible to succeed themselves.[195]
  34. [ah]
    Long was elected to the United States Senate for a term beginning March 4, 1931; however, he did not take the seat until January 25, 1932. This was in part to prevent Lieutenant Governor Cyr from replacing him as governor. When the senate term began, Cyr took the oath of office as governor and claimed the office; however, Long called this illegitimate, and said that by taking the oath of office of the governor, he had resigned from being lieutenant governor. This opened the way for the president pro tempore of the senate, Alvin Olin King, to become lieutenant governor, and ultimately succeed Long. Cyr continued to claim the office of governor on and off until 1932, but ultimately lacked recognition.[208][209]
  35. [ai]
    Leche resigned due to a scandal involving mail fraud.[220][222]
  36. [aj]
    Under a 1966 amendment to the constitution, governors were ineligible for the term immediately after their second successive term.[247]
  37. [ak]
    Under the 1974 constitution, governors are ineligible to be elected to the succeeding term after they have served more than one and a half terms in two consecutive terms.[252]
  38. [al]
    Represented the Democratic Party
  39. [am]
    Edwards was forced into a runoff with fellow Democrat Buddy Roemer, but he withdrew before it occurred, thus giving Roemer the victory.
  40. [an]
    Roemer was elected as a Democrat, and switched to the Republican Party late in his term.[258]
  41. [ao]
    Represented the Republican Party.
  42. [ap]
    Landry's term will expire on January 10, 2028.

References

External links

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