List of governors of Kentucky

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The governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of government of Kentucky[1] and serves as commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.[2] The governor has a duty to enforce state laws;[3] the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Kentucky General Assembly;[4] the power to convene the legislature;[5] and the power to grant pardons, except in cases of treason and impeachment.[6] The governor is also empowered to reorganize the state government or reduce it in size. Historically, the office has been regarded as one of the most powerful executive positions in the United States.[7]

Fifty-nine individuals have held the office of governor. Prior to a 1992 amendment to the state's constitution, the governor was prohibited from succeeding himself or herself in office, though four men (Isaac Shelby, John L. Helm, James B. McCreary and Happy Chandler) served multiple non-consecutive terms. Paul E. Patton, the first Kentucky governor eligible for a second consecutive term under the amendment, won his reelection bid in 1999. James Garrard succeeded himself in 1800, before the constitutional provision existed. Garrard is also the longest serving governor, serving for a total period of eight years and 90 days. In 2023 Democrat Andy Beshear became the 3rd incumbent governor in Kentucky history to be reelected to a second consecutive term.

William Goebel, who was elected to the office in the disputed election of 1899, remains the only governor of any U.S. state to die from assassination while in office.[8] Goebel is also the shortest serving governor, serving for a period of only three days. Martha Layne Collins, who held the office from 1983 to 1987, was the first woman to serve as governor and was only the third woman to serve as governor of any U.S. state who was not the wife or widow of a previous governor.[7] The 63rd and current Kentucky governor is Democrat Andy Beshear, who took office on December 10, 2019.

Governors

Kentucky County, Virginia was admitted to the Union as Kentucky on June 1, 1792. There have been 59 governors, serving 63 distinct terms.

An unelected group proclaimed Kentucky's secession from the Union on November 20, 1861, and it was annexed by the Confederate States of America on December 10, 1861. The Confederate government elected two governors, but it never held much control over the state.

The original 1792 Kentucky Constitution had the governor chosen by an electoral college for a term of four years, commencing on the first day of June.[9] The second constitution in 1799 changed this to a popular vote, prevented governors from succeeding themselves within seven years of their terms, and moved the start date to the fourth Tuesday after the election.[10] The third constitution in 1850 reduced the succession limitation to four years, and moved the start date of the term to the fifth Tuesday after the election.[11] A 1992 amendment allowed governors to have a second term before being prevented from succeeding themselves for four years.[12] Originally, should the office of governor be vacant, the speaker of the Senate would exercise the powers of the office;[13] in 1799, the office of lieutenant governor was created to fill this role,[14] and, as of 1992, is elected on the same ticket as the governor.[15]

More information No., Governor ...
Governors of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
No.[a] Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor[b][c]
1   Isaac Shelby
(1750–1826)
[18][19]		 June 4, 1792[20]
–
June 1, 1796
(1459 days; retired)[18]		 Democratic-
Republican[21]		 1792 Office did not exist
2 James Garrard
(1749–1822)
[22][23]		 June 1, 1796[24]
–
September 5, 1804
(3018 days; term-limited)[d]		 Democratic-
Republican[21]		 1796
1800   Alexander Scott Bullitt
3 Christopher Greenup
(1750–1818)
[26][27]		 September 5, 1804[21]
–
August 23, 1808
(1449 days; term-limited)[d]		 Democratic-
Republican[21]		 1804 John Caldwell
(died November 19, 1804)
Vacant
Thomas Posey
(acting, elected Speaker in 1805)
4 Charles Scott
(1739–1813)
[28][29]		 August 23, 1808[21]
–
August 24, 1812
(1463 days; term-limited)[d]		 Democratic-
Republican[21]		 1808 Gabriel Slaughter
5 Isaac Shelby
(1750–1826)
[18][19]		 August 24, 1812[21]
–
September 5, 1816
(1474 days; term-limited)[d]		 Democratic-
Republican[21]		 1812 Richard Hickman
6 George Madison
(1763–1816)
[30][31]		 September 5, 1816[e]
–
October 14, 1816
(40 days; died in office)		 Democratic-
Republican[21]		 1816 Gabriel Slaughter
7 Gabriel Slaughter
(1767–1830)
[33][34]		 October 14, 1816[35]
–
September 7, 1820
(1425 days; retired)		 Democratic-
Republican[21]		 Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor		 Vacant
8 John Adair
(1757–1840)
[36][37]		 September 7, 1820[f]
–
August 24, 1824
(1448 days; term-limited)[d]		 Democratic-
Republican[21]		 1820 William T. Barry
9 Joseph Desha
(1768–1842)
[40][41]		 August 24, 1824[42]
–
August 26, 1828
(1464 days; term-limited)[d]		 Democratic-
Republican[21]		 1824 Robert B. McAfee
10 Thomas Metcalfe
(1780–1855)
[43][44]		 August 26, 1828[45]
–
August 28, 1832
(1464 days; term-limited)[d]		 National
Republican[g]		 1828 John Breathitt[h]
11 John Breathitt
(1786–1834)
[50][51]		 August 28, 1832[21]
–
February 21, 1834
(543 days; died in office)		 Democratic[52] 1832 James Turner Morehead[i]
12 James Turner Morehead
(1797–1854)
[53][54]		 February 21, 1834[55]
–
August 30, 1836
(922 days; retired)[53]		 National
Republican[j]		 Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor		 Vacant
13 James Clark
(1779–1839)
[57][58]		 August 30, 1836[59]
–
August 27, 1839
(1093 days; died in office)		 Whig[60] 1836 Charles A. Wickliffe
14 Charles A. Wickliffe
(1788–1869)
[61][62]		 August 27, 1839[63]
–
September 2, 1840
(373 days; retired)		 Whig[61] Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor		 Vacant
15 Robert P. Letcher
(1788–1861)
[64][65]		 September 2, 1840[66]
–
September 4, 1844
(1464 days; term-limited)[d]		 Whig[67] 1840 Manlius Valerius Thomson
16 William Owsley
(1782–1862)
[68][69]		 September 4, 1844[70]
–
September 6, 1848
(1464 days; term-limited)[d]		 Whig[71] 1844 Archibald Dixon
17 John J. Crittenden
(1787–1863)
[72][73]		 September 6, 1848[74]
–
July 30, 1850
(693 days; resigned)[k]		 Whig[75] 1848[l] John L. Helm
18 John L. Helm
(1802–1867)
[76][77]		 July 30, 1850[m]
–
September 2, 1851
(400 days; retired)		 Whig[76] Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor		 Vacant
19 Lazarus W. Powell
(1812–1867)
[79][80]		 September 2, 1851[81]
–
September 4, 1855
(1464 days; term-limited)[n]		 Democratic[75] 1851 John Burton Thompson[o]
20 Charles S. Morehead
(1802–1868)
[83][84]		 September 4, 1855[85]
–
August 30, 1859
(1457 days; term-limited)[n]		 American[86] 1855 James Greene Hardy
21 Beriah Magoffin
(1815–1885)
[87][88]		 August 30, 1859[89]
–
August 18, 1862
(1085 days; resigned)[p]		 Democratic[90] 1859 Linn Boyd
(died December 17, 1859)
Vacant
22 James Fisher Robinson
(1800–1882)
[91][92]		 August 18, 1862[93]
–
September 1, 1863
(380 days; retired)		 Democratic[21] Succeeded from
president of
the Senate
23 Thomas E. Bramlette
(1817–1875)
[94][95]		 September 1, 1863[96]
–
September 3, 1867
(1464 days; term-limited)[n]		 Union
Democratic[94]		 1863 Richard Taylor Jacob
24 John L. Helm
(1802–1867)
[76][77]		 September 3, 1867[97]
–
September 8, 1867
(6 days; died in office)		 Democratic[21] 1867 John W. Stevenson
25 John W. Stevenson
(1812–1886)
[98][99]		 September 8, 1867[100]
–
February 13, 1871
(1255 days; resigned)[q]		 Democratic[21] Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor		 Vacant
1868
(special)
26 Preston Leslie
(1819–1907)
[101][102]		 February 13, 1871[103]
–
August 31, 1875
(1661 days; term-limited)[n]		 Democratic[21] Succeeded from
president of
the Senate
1871 John G. Carlisle
27 James B. McCreary
(1838–1918)
[104][105]		 August 31, 1875[106]
–
September 2, 1879
(1464 days; term-limited)[n]		 Democratic[21] 1875 John C. Underwood
28 Luke P. Blackburn
(1816–1887)
[107][108]		 September 2, 1879[109]
–
September 4, 1883
(1464 days; term-limited)[n]		 Democratic[21] 1879 James E. Cantrill
29 J. Proctor Knott
(1830–1911)
[110][111]		 September 4, 1883[112]
–
August 30, 1887
(1457 days; term-limited)[n]		 Democratic[21] 1883 James R. Hindman
30 Simon Bolivar Buckner
(1823–1914)
[113][114]		 August 30, 1887[115]
–
September 1, 1891
(1464 days; term-limited)[n]		 Democratic[21] 1887 James William Bryan
31 John Y. Brown
(1835–1904)
[116][117]		 September 1, 1891[118]
–
December 10, 1895
(1562 days; term-limited)[n]		 Democratic[21] 1891 Mitchell Cary Alford
32 William O'Connell Bradley
(1847–1914)
[119][120]		 December 10, 1895[121]
–
December 12, 1899
(1464 days; term-limited)[n]		 Republican[21] 1895 William Jackson Worthington
33 William S. Taylor
(1853–1928)
[122][123]		 December 12, 1899[124]
–
January 31, 1900
(51 days; removed)[r]		 Republican[21] 1899[r] John Marshall
34 William Goebel
(1856–1900)
[125][126]		 January 31, 1900[127]
–
February 3, 1900
(4 days; assassinated)[r]		 Democratic[21] J. C. W. Beckham
35 J. C. W. Beckham
(1869–1940)
[128][129]		 February 3, 1900[130]
–
December 10, 1907
(2867 days; term-limited)[n]		 Democratic[21] Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor[r]		 Vacant
1900
(special)
1903 William P. Thorne
36 Augustus E. Willson
(1846–1931)
[131][132]		 December 10, 1907[133]
–
December 12, 1911
(1464 days; term-limited)[n]		 Republican[21] 1907 William Hopkinson Cox
37 James B. McCreary
(1838–1918)
[104][105]		 December 12, 1911[134]
–
December 7, 1915
(1457 days; term-limited)[n]		 Democratic[21] 1911 Edward J. McDermott
38 Augustus Owsley Stanley
(1867–1958)
[135][136]		 December 7, 1915[137]
–
May 19, 1919
(1260 days; resigned)[s]		 Democratic[21] 1915 James D. Black
39 James D. Black
(1849–1938)
[138][139]		 May 19, 1919[140]
–
December 9, 1919
(205 days; lost election)		 Democratic[21] Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor		 Vacant
40 Edwin P. Morrow
(1877–1935)
[141][142]		 December 9, 1919[143]
–
December 11, 1923
(1464 days; term-limited)[n]		 Republican[21] 1919 S. Thruston Ballard
41 William J. Fields
(1874–1954)
[144][145]		 December 11, 1923[146]
–
December 13, 1927
(1464 days; term-limited)[n]		 Democratic[21] 1923 Henry Denhardt
42 Flem D. Sampson
(1875–1967)
[147][148]		 December 13, 1927[149]
–
December 8, 1931
(1457 days; term-limited)[n]		 Republican[21] 1927 James Breathitt Jr.[h]
43 Ruby Laffoon
(1869–1941)
[150][151]		 December 8, 1931[152]
–
December 10, 1935
(1464 days; term-limited)[n]		 Democratic[21] 1931 Happy Chandler
44 Happy Chandler
(1898–1991)
[153][154]		 December 10, 1935[155]
–
October 9, 1939
(1400 days; resigned)[t]		 Democratic[21] 1935 Keen Johnson
45 Keen Johnson
(1896–1970)
[156][157]		 October 9, 1939[158]
–
December 7, 1943
(1521 days; term-limited)[n]		 Democratic[21] Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor		 Vacant
1939 Rodes K. Myers
46 Simeon Willis
(1879–1965)
[159][160]		 December 7, 1943[161]
–
December 9, 1947
(1464 days; term-limited)[n]		 Republican[21] 1943 Kenneth H. Tuggle
47 Earle Clements
(1896–1985)
[162][163]		 December 9, 1947[164]
–
November 27, 1950
(1085 days; resigned)[u]		 Democratic[21] 1947 Lawrence Wetherby
48 Lawrence Wetherby
(1908–1994)
[165][166]		 November 27, 1950[167]
–
December 13, 1955
(1843 days; term-limited)[n]		 Democratic[21] Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor		 Vacant
1951 Emerson Beauchamp
49 Happy Chandler
(1898–1991)
[153][154]		 December 13, 1955[168]
–
December 8, 1959
(1457 days; term-limited)[n]		 Democratic[21] 1955 Harry Lee Waterfield
50 Bert Combs
(1911–1991)
[169][170]		 December 8, 1959[171]
–
December 10, 1963
(1464 days; term-limited)[n]		 Democratic[21] 1959 Wilson W. Wyatt
51 Ned Breathitt
(1924–2003)
[172][173]		 December 10, 1963[174]
–
December 12, 1967
(1464 days; term-limited)[n]		 Democratic[21] 1963 Harry Lee Waterfield
52 Louie Nunn
(1924–2004)
[175][176]		 December 12, 1967[177]
–
December 7, 1971
(1457 days; term-limited)[n]		 Republican[21] 1967 Wendell Ford[h]
53 Wendell Ford
(1924–2015)
[178][179]		 December 7, 1971[180]
–
December 28, 1974
(1118 days; resigned)[v]		 Democratic[21] 1971 Julian Carroll
54 Julian Carroll
(1931–2023)
[181][182]		 December 28, 1974[183]
–
December 11, 1979
(1810 days; term-limited)[n]		 Democratic[21] Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor		 Vacant
1975 Thelma Stovall
55 John Y. Brown Jr.
(1933–2022)
[184]		 December 11, 1979[185]
–
December 13, 1983
(1464 days; term-limited)[n]		 Democratic[184] 1979 Martha Layne Collins
56 Martha Layne Collins
(1936–2025)
[186]		 December 13, 1983[187]
–
December 8, 1987
(1457 days; term-limited)[n]		 Democratic[186] 1983 Steve Beshear
57 Wallace Wilkinson
(1941–2002)
[188]		 December 8, 1987[189]
–
December 10, 1991
(1464 days; term-limited)[n]		 Democratic[188] 1987 Brereton C. Jones
58 Brereton C. Jones
(1939–2023)
[190]		 December 10, 1991[191]
–
December 12, 1995
(1464 days; term-limited)[w]		 Democratic[190] 1991 Paul E. Patton
59 Paul E. Patton
(b. 1937)
[193]		 December 12, 1995[194]
–
December 9, 2003
(2920 days; term-limited)[w]		 Democratic[193] 1995 Steve Henry
1999
60 Ernie Fletcher
(b. 1952)
[195]		 December 9, 2003[196]
–
December 11, 2007
(1464 days; lost election)		 Republican[195] 2003 Steve Pence
61 Steve Beshear
(b. 1944)
[197]		 December 11, 2007[198]
–
December 8, 2015
(2920 days; term-limited)[w]		 Democratic[197] 2007 Daniel Mongiardo
2011 Jerry Abramson
(resigned November 13, 2014)
Crit Luallen
62 Matt Bevin
(b. 1967)
[199]		 December 8, 2015[200]
–
December 10, 2019
(1464 days; lost election)		 Republican[199] 2015 Jenean Hampton
63 Andy Beshear
(b. 1977)
[201]		 December 10, 2019[202]
–
Incumbent[x]
(in office 2456 days)		 Democratic[201] 2019 Jacqueline Coleman
2023
Close

Confederate governors

George W. Johnson, 1st Confederate Governor of Kentucky
Richard Hawes, 2nd Confederate Governor of Kentucky

During the Civil War, a group of secessionists met at Russellville to form a Confederate government for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This government never successfully displaced the government in Frankfort, and Kentucky remained in the Union through the entire war. Two men were elected governor of the Confederate government: George W. Johnson, who served from November 20, 1861, to his death on April 8, 1862, at the Battle of Shiloh, and, on Johnson's death, Richard Hawes, who served until the Confederate surrender on April 9, 1865. The Confederate government disbanded shortly after the end of the war in 1865.[204]

See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    The state labels Matt Bevin as the 62nd governor;[16] based on this, subsequent terms of repeat governors are numbered.
  2. [b]
    The office of lieutenant governor was created in 1799.[17]
  3. [c]
    Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
  4. [d]
    Under the 1799 constitution, governors were ineligible for seven years after the end of their term.[25]
  5. [e]
    The constitutional start date would have been August 27;[21] however, contemporary news indicates Madison succeeded Shelby on September 5.[32]
  6. [f]
    The constitutional start date would have been August 29;[21] however, what little contemporary reporting that has been found says he was inaugurated on September 7.[38][39]
  7. [g]
    Kallenbach labels Metcalfe both as a Whig[46] and a National Republican;[47] Glashan labels him a National Republican;[48] and Dubin[49] and Sobel[43] describe him as a pro-Adams Administration candidate.
  8. [h]
    Represented the Democratic Party
  9. [i]
    Represented the National Republican Party.
  10. [j]
    Glashan labels Morehead a National Republican,[56] and Sobel notes he succeeded to governor as a Whig,[53] as the National Republicans had transitioned into the Whig Party in 1834.
  11. [k]
    Crittenden resigned, having been confirmed as Attorney General of the United States.[72]
  12. [l]
    The 1850 constitution shifted the election schedule forward, shortening this term by a year.
  13. [m]
    Helm was sworn in on July 31, but contemporary sources say Crittenden resigned on July 30.[78]
  14. [n]
    Under the 1850 constitution, governors were ineligible for four years after the end of their term.[82]
  15. [o]
    Represented the Whig Party.
  16. [p]
    Magoffin resigned due to disagreement with the state legislature over neutrality in the American Civil War.[87]
  17. [q]
    Stevenson resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.[98]
  18. [r]
    Taylor won the 1899 election and was sworn into office. However, the legislature challenged the validity of his win, claiming ballot fraud. His challenger, Goebel, was shot on January 30, 1900, but was named governor by the legislature and sworn in the next day; he died three days later. Since Lieutenant Governor Marshall's win had also been invalidated, Beckham, having been named lieutenant governor, succeeded Goebel.[122][125]
  19. [s]
    Stanley resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.[135]
  20. [t]
    Chandler resigned so that his successor would appoint him to the United States Senate.[153]
  21. [u]
    Clements resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.[162]
  22. [v]
    Ford resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.[178]
  23. [w]
    Under a 1992 amendment to the constitution, governors are ineligible for four years after the end of their second consecutive elected term.[192]
  24. [x]
    Beshear's second term began on December 12, 2023,[203] and will expire on December 7, 2027; he will be term-limited.

References

External links

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