List of governors of Idaho

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The governor of Idaho is the head of government of Idaho[2] and commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The officeholder has the duty to see state laws are executed, power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Idaho Legislature.[3] The current governor of Idaho is Brad Little, a Republican, who took office on January 7, 2019.

ResidenceNone
Term lengthFour years, no term limit
Inaugural holderGeorge L. Shoup
FormationOctober 1, 1890
Quick facts Governor of Idaho, Residence ...
Governor of Idaho
Great Seal of the State of Idaho
Incumbent
Brad Little
since January 7, 2019
Government of Idaho
ResidenceNone
Term lengthFour years, no term limit
Inaugural holderGeorge L. Shoup
FormationOctober 1, 1890
SuccessionLine of succession
DeputyLieutenant Governor of Idaho
Salary$117,000 (2013)[1]
Websitegov.idaho.gov
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Thirty-one individuals have held the office of governor of Idaho since the state's admission to the Union in 1890, two of whom served non-consecutive terms. The state's first governor, George L. Shoup, had the shortest term, of three months; Cecil Andrus had the longest, of 14 years.

List of governors

Territory of Idaho

Idaho Territory was created from Dakota Territory, Nebraska Territory, and Washington Territory on March 4, 1863.[4]

There were sixteen territorial governors appointed by the president of the United States from the territory's organization in 1863 until the formation of the state of Idaho in 1890. Due to the long distance from Washington, D.C. to Boise, there was often a lengthy gap between a governor being appointed and his arrival in the territory; four resigned before even arriving.

More information No., Governor ...
Governors of Idaho Territory
No. Governor Term in office[a] Appointed by
1 William H. Wallace
(1811–1879)
[5]		 March 10, 1863[b]
–
December 1863
(resigned)[c]		 Abraham Lincoln
2 Caleb Lyon
(1822–1875)
[10]		 February 26, 1864[d]
–
June 14, 1866
(successor appointed)		 Abraham Lincoln
3 David W. Ballard
(1824–1883)
[13]		 April 10, 1866[e]
–
July 16, 1870
(successor appointed)[f]		 Andrew Johnson
— Samuel Bard
(1825–1878)		 March 30, 1870
–
June 5, 1870
(resigned before taking office)[g]		 Ulysses S. Grant
— Gilman Marston
(1811–1890)		 June 7, 1870
–
December 3, 1870
(resigned before taking office)[h]		 Ulysses S. Grant
— Alexander H. Conner
(1831–1891)		 January 12, 1871
–
April 19, 1871
(resigned before taking office)[i]		 Ulysses S. Grant
4 Thomas M. Bowen
(1835–1906)
[24]		 April 19, 1871[j]
–
September 30, 1871
(resigned)[k]		 Ulysses S. Grant
5 Thomas W. Bennett
(1831–1893)
[33]		 October 24, 1871[l]
–
December 4, 1875
(resigned)[m]		 Ulysses S. Grant
6 David P. Thompson
(1834–1901)
[37]		 December 16, 1875[n]
–
July 1, 1876
(resigned)[o]		 Ulysses S. Grant
7 Mason Brayman
(1813–1895)
[42]		 July 24, 1876[p]
–
July 24, 1880
(successor appointed)[q]		 Ulysses S. Grant
8 John Baldwin Neil
(1842–1902)
[48]		 July 12, 1880[r]
–
March 2, 1883
(successor appointed)		 Rutherford B. Hayes
9 John N. Irwin
(1844–1905)
[52]		 March 2, 1883[s]
–
December 20, 1883
(resigned)[t]		 Chester A. Arthur
10 William M. Bunn
(1842–1923)
[56]		 March 26, 1884[u]
–
July 3, 1885
(resigned)[v]		 Chester A. Arthur
11 Edward A. Stevenson
(1831–1895)
[61]		 September 29, 1885[w]
–
April 1, 1889
(successor appointed)		 Grover Cleveland
12 George L. Shoup
(1836–1904)
[65][66][67]		 April 1, 1889[x]
–
December 8, 1890
(elected state governor)		 Benjamin Harrison
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State of Idaho

Office of the Idaho governor

Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890. The terms for governor and lieutenant governor are 4 years, commencing on the first Monday in the January following the election.[71] Prior to 1946, the offices were elected to terms of two years.[72] If the office of governor is vacant or the governor is out of state or unable to discharge his duties, the lieutenant governor acts as governor until such time as the disability is removed.[73] If both the offices of governor and lieutenant governor are vacant or both those officers are unable to fulfill their duties, the President pro tempore of the Idaho Senate is next in line, and then the Speaker of the Idaho House of Representatives.[74] After the change to four-year terms, self-succession (re-election) was not initially allowed; newly elected Governor Robert E. Smylie, formerly the state's attorney general, successfully lobbied the 1955 legislature to propose an amendment to the state constitution to allow gubernatorial re-election, which was approved by voters in the 1956 general election.[75][76] There is no limit to the number of terms a governor may serve.[77] The governor and the lieutenant governor are elected at the same time but not on the same ticket.

More information No., Governor ...
Governors of the State of Idaho
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor[y]
1   George L. Shoup
(1836–1904)
[65][66][67]		 December 8, 1890[z]
–
December 19, 1890
(resigned)[aa]		 Republican[78] 1890   N. B. Willey
2 N. B. Willey
(1838–1921)
[80][81]		 December 19, 1890[82]
–
January 2, 1893
(lost nomination)[80]		 Republican[78] Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor		 John S. Gray
3 William J. McConnell
(1839–1925)
[83][84]		 January 2, 1893[85]
–
January 4, 1897
(did not run)		 Republican[78] 1892 F. B. Willis
1894 F. J. Mills
4 Frank Steunenberg
(1861–1905)
[86][87]		 January 4, 1897[88]
–
January 7, 1901
(did not run)		 Democratic[ab] 1896 George F. Moore
1898 J. H. Hutchinson
5 Frank W. Hunt
(1861–1906)
[90][91]		 January 7, 1901[92]
–
January 5, 1903
(lost election)		 Democratic[ac] 1900 Thomas F. Terrell
6 John T. Morrison
(1860–1915)
[93][94]		 January 5, 1903[95]
–
January 2, 1905
(lost nomination)[93]		 Republican[78] 1902 James M. Stevens
7 Frank R. Gooding
(1859–1928)
[96][97]		 January 2, 1905[98]
–
January 4, 1909
(did not run)		 Republican[78] 1904 Burpee L. Steeves
1906 Ezra A. Burrell
8 James H. Brady
(1862–1918)
[99][100]		 January 4, 1909[101]
–
January 2, 1911
(lost election)		 Republican[78] 1908 Lewis H. Sweetser
9 James H. Hawley
(1847–1929)
[102][103]		 January 2, 1911[104]
–
January 6, 1913
(lost election)		 Democratic[78] 1910
10 John M. Haines
(1863–1917)
[105][106]		 January 6, 1913[107]
–
January 4, 1915
(lost election)		 Republican[78] 1912 Herman H. Taylor[ad]
11 Moses Alexander
(1853–1932)
[108][109]		 January 4, 1915[110]
–
January 6, 1919
(did not run)		 Democratic[78] 1914
1916 Ernest L. Parker
12 D. W. Davis
(1873–1959)
[111][112]		 January 6, 1919[113]
–
January 1, 1923
(did not run)		 Republican[78] 1918 Charles C. Moore
1920
13 Charles C. Moore
(1866–1958)
[114][115]		 January 1, 1923[116]
–
January 3, 1927
(did not run)		 Republican[78] 1922 H. C. Baldridge
1924
14 H. C. Baldridge
(1868–1947)
[117][118]		 January 3, 1927[119]
–
January 5, 1931
(did not run)		 Republican[78] 1926 O. E. Hailey
1928 W. B. Kinne
(died October 1, 1929)
Vacant
O. E. Hailey
(appointed October 25, 1929)
15 C. Ben Ross
(1876–1946)
[120][121]		 January 5, 1931[122]
–
January 4, 1937
(did not run)[ae]		 Democratic[78] 1930 G. P. Mix
1932 George Hill
1934 G. P. Mix
16 Barzilla W. Clark
(1880–1943)
[123][124]		 January 4, 1937[125]
–
January 2, 1939
(lost nomination)[af]		 Democratic[78] 1936 Charles C. Gossett
17 C. A. Bottolfsen
(1890–1964)
[126][127]		 January 2, 1939[128]
–
January 6, 1941
(lost election)		 Republican[78] 1938 Donald S. Whitehead
18 Chase A. Clark
(1883–1966)
[129][130]		 January 6, 1941[131]
–
January 4, 1943
(lost election)		 Democratic[78] 1940 Charles C. Gossett
19 C. A. Bottolfsen
(1890–1964)
[126][127]		 January 4, 1943[132]
–
January 1, 1945
(did not run)		 Republican[78] 1942 Edwin Nelson
20 Charles C. Gossett
(1888–1974)
[133][134]		 January 1, 1945[135]
–
November 17, 1945
(resigned)[ag]		 Democratic[78] 1944 Arnold Williams
21 Arnold Williams
(1898–1970)
[137][138]		 November 17, 1945[139]
–
January 6, 1947
(lost election)		 Democratic[78] Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor		 Vacant
A. R. McCabe
(appointed March 20, 1946)
22 C. A. Robins
(1884–1970)
[140][141]		 January 6, 1947[142]
–
January 1, 1951
(term-limited)[ah]		 Republican[78] 1946[ai] Donald S. Whitehead
23 Leonard B. Jordan
(1899–1983)
[144][145]		 January 1, 1951[146]
–
January 3, 1955
(term-limited)[ah]		 Republican[78] 1950 Edson H. Deal
24 Robert E. Smylie
(1914–2004)
[147][148]		 January 3, 1955[149]
–
January 2, 1967
(lost nomination)[147]		 Republican[78] 1954 J. Berkeley Larsen
1958 W. E. Drevlow[aj]
1962
25 Don Samuelson
(1913–2000)
[150][151]		 January 2, 1967[152]
–
January 4, 1971
(lost election)		 Republican[78] 1966 Jack M. Murphy[ad]
26 Cecil Andrus
(1931–2017)
[153][154]		 January 4, 1971[155]
–
January 24, 1977
(resigned)[ak]		 Democratic[78] 1970
1974 John Evans
27 John Evans
(1925–2014)
[156][157]		 January 24, 1977[158]
–
January 5, 1987
(did not run)		 Democratic[157] Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor		 Vacant
William J. Murphy
(appointed January 28, 1977)
1978 Phil Batt[ad]
1982 David H. Leroy[ad]
28 Cecil Andrus
(1931–2017)
[153][154]		 January 5, 1987[159]
–
January 2, 1995
(did not run)		 Democratic[154] 1986 Butch Otter[ad]
(resigned January 3, 2001)
1990
29 Phil Batt
(1927–2023)
[160]		 January 2, 1995[161]
–
January 4, 1999
(did not run)		 Republican[160] 1994
30 Dirk Kempthorne
(1951–2026)
[162]		 January 4, 1999[163]
–
May 26, 2006
(resigned)[al]		 Republican[162] 1998
Vacant
Jack Riggs
(appointed January 30, 2001)
2002 Jim Risch
31 Jim Risch
(b. 1943)
[164]		 May 26, 2006[165]
–
January 1, 2007
(did not run)[am]		 Republican[164] Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor		 Vacant
Mark Ricks
(appointed June 15, 2006)
32 Butch Otter
(b. 1942)
[167]		 January 1, 2007[an]
–
January 7, 2019
(did not run)[169]		 Republican[167] 2006 Jim Risch
(resigned January 3, 2009)
Vacant
Brad Little
(appointed January 6, 2009)
2010
2014
33 Brad Little
(b. 1954)
[170]		 January 7, 2019[171]
–
Incumbent[ao]		 Republican[170] 2018 Janice McGeachin
2022 Scott Bedke
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Timeline

Electoral history (1950–)

More information Year, Democratic nominee ...
Year Democratic nominee Republican nominee Independent candidate Libertarian nominee Constitution nominee Other candidate
Candidate # % Candidate # % Candidate # % Candidate # % Candidate # % Candidate # %
1950 Calvin E. Wright 97,150 47.44% Leonard B. Jordan 107,642 52.56% – – – –
1954 Clark Hamilton 104,647 45.76% Robert E. Smylie 124,038 54.24% – – – –
1958 Alfred M. Derr 117,236 49.04% Robert E. Smylie 121,810 50.96% – – – –
1962 Vernon K. Smith 115,876 45.36% Robert E. Smylie 139,578 54.64% – – –
1966 Cecil Andrus 93,744 37.11% Don Samuelson 104,586 41.41% Perry Swisher 30,913 12.24% – – Philip Jungert
(Independent)		 23,139 9.16%
1970 Cecil Andrus 128,004 52.22% Don Samuelson 117,108 47.78% – – – –
1974 Cecil Andrus 184,142 70.92% Jack M. Murphy 68,731 26.47% – – – Nolan Victor
(American)		 6,759 2.60%
1978 John Evans 169,540 58.75% Allan Larsen 114,149 39.56% – – – Wayne Loveless
(American)		 4,877 1.69%
1982 John Evans 165,365 50.64% Phil Batt 161,157 49.36% – – – –
1986 Cecil Andrus 193,429 49.93% David H. Leroy 189,794 48.99% James Miller 4,203 1.08% – – –
1990 Cecil Andrus 218,673 68.21% Roger Fairchild 101,937 31.79% – – – –
1994 Larry Echo Hawk 181,363 43.88% Phil Batt 216,123 52.29% Ronald D. Rankin 15,793 3.82% – – –
1998 Robert C. Huntley 110,815 29.07% Dirk Kempthorne 258,095 67.70% Peter Rickards 12,338 3.24% – – –
2002 Jerry Brady 171,711 41.73% Dirk Kempthorne 231,566 56.28% – Daniel L.J. Adams 8,187 1.99% – –
2006 Jerry Brady 198,845 44.11% Butch Otter 237,437 52.67% – Ted Dunlap 7,241 1.61% Marvin Richardson 7,309 1.62% –
2010 Keith G. Allred 148,680 32.85% Butch Otter 267,483 59.11% Jana Kemp 26,655 5.89% Ted Dunlap 5,867 1.30% – Pro-Life
(Independent)		 3,850 0.85%
2014 A.J. Balukoff 169,556 38.55% Butch Otter 235,405 53.52% Jill Humble 8,801 2.00% John Bujak 17,884 4.07% Steve Pankey 5,219 1.19% Pro-Life
(Independent)		 2,870 0.65%
2018 Paulette Jordan 231,081 38.19% Brad Little 361,661 59.77% – Bev Boeck 6,551 1.08% Walter Bayes 5,787 0.96% –
2022 Stephen Heidt 120,160 20.28% Brad Little 358,598 60.51% Ammon Bundy 101,835 17.18% Paul Sand 6,714 1.13% Chantyrose Davison 5,250 0.89% –
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See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    The range given is from the date the governor was confirmed by the Senate, or appointed by the President during a Senate recess, to the date the governor left office.
  2. [b]
    Wallace was nominated on March 7, 1863,[6] confirmed by the Senate on March 10,[7] and took office in July.[5]
  3. [c]
    Wallace resigned, having been elected to the United States House of Representatives.[8] Limbaugh is the only source yet found that specifies when he resigned, and even then only a month.[9]
  4. [d]
    Lyon was nominated on February 2, 1864,[11] confirmed by the Senate on February 26,[12] and arrived in the territory some six months later.[10]
  5. [e]
    Ballard was nominated on March 14, 1866,[14] confirmed by the Senate on April 10,[15] and arrived in the territory in June.[16]
  6. [f]
    The date of Ballard's departure is the date of his farewell message to the state.[17]
  7. [g]
    Bard was nominated on February 8, 1870,[18] and confirmed by the Senate on March 30.[19] However, he resigned on June 5 to continue being a journalist in Georgia, having never reached the territory.[20]
  8. [h]
    Marston was nominated on May 27, 1870,[21] and confirmed on June 7.[22] However, he resigned on December 3,[23] due to the delay, through it was rumored that he was unhappy with the salary.[24]>[25]
  9. [i]
    Conner was nominated on December 16, 1870,[26] and confirmed by the Senate on January 12, 1871.[27] However, he declined the appointment;[24] it is unknown when, though Limbaugh writes that he "declined the offer as soon as it was made."[25] The date given for the end of his term is when his successor was confirmed.
  10. [j]
    Bowen was nominated on April 18, 1871,[28] in place of Ebenezer Dumont, who was nominated on March 17[29] but died on April 16, before the Senate could confirm him. The Senate Executive Journal has no record of if or when the Senate confirmed Bowen, but some sources say it was on April 19.[30] He took office on July 7.[24]
  11. [k]
    Bowen resigned September 30.[31] Upon arriving in Idaho, Bowen reportedly did not like the look of the landscape, so he decided to stay only a few weeks.[32]
  12. [l]
    Bennett was nominated on December 6, 1871,[34] and confirmed by the Senate on December 14.[35] However, sources say he took office on October 24,[30][33] implying a recess appointment.
  13. [m]
    Bennett resigned, having been elected to the United States House of Representatives.[33] His term in the house started on March 4, and he had held both offices for nine months.[36]
  14. [n]
    Thompson was nominated on December 15, 1875,[38] confirmed by the Senate on December 16,[39] and took office on April 6, 1876.[37]
  15. [o]
    Thompson resigned due to a conflict of interest as a federal officer holding government contracts. Limbaugh says he resigned upon learning that this was not allowed.[40] McMullin says Grant requested his resignation on July 24, 1876,[37] but Thompson's resignation was dated July 1.[41]
  16. [p]
    Thomas W. Bennett was nominated on July 17, 1876.[43] However, Bennett declined, so Brayman was nominated on July 18,[44] confirmed by the Senate on July 24.[45] and he took office on August 1.[42]
  17. [q]
    Many petitions were filed to remove Brayman, and President Hayes responded by nominating John Philo Hoyt on June 11, 1878,[46] though he declined the appointment.[42] Brayman was allowed to serve out the remainder of his term.[47]
  18. [r]
    Neil was appointed on July 12, 1880,[48] during a Senate recess; nominated on December 7;[49] and confirmed by the Senate on December 14.[50] He took office on August 4.[51]
  19. [s]
    Irwin was nominated on March 1, 1883,[53] confirmed by the Senate on March 2,[54] and arrived in Boise on April 24.[52]
  20. [t]
    Irwin took a leave of absence on May 15, and resigned on December 20 for personal reasons,[52] and returned his salary for the period he was absent.[55]
  21. [u]
    Bunn was nominated on March 4, 1884,[57] confirmed by the Senate on March 26,[58] and took office on June 26.[59]
  22. [v]
    Bunn resigned, citing personal reasons.[60]
  23. [w]
    Stevenson was appointed on September 29, 1885,[62] during a Senate recess; nominated on December 10, 1885;[63] and confirmed by the Senate on February 3, 1886.[64]
  24. [x]
    Shoup was nominated on March 29, 1889,[68] confirmed on April 1,[69] and took office on April 30.[70]
  25. [y]
    Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
  26. [z]
    Shoup was elected governor on October 1; as he was already territorial governor, some sources list this as when he took office,[67] while others say he took office when the first legislature convened on December 8.[78]
  27. [aa]
    Shoup resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.[79]
  28. [ab]
    Steunenberg ran on a fusion ticket in 1896 with the Democratic, Populist, and Silver Republican parties, and in 1898 with the Democratic and Silver Republican parties.[89]
  29. [ac]
    Hunt ran on an electoral fusion ticket with two other parties, who were holding their nominating convention at the same time and place as the Democrats.[89][90]
  30. [ad]
    Represented the Republican Party
  31. [ae]
    Ross instead ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate.
  32. [af]
    Clark lost the Democratic nomination to C. Ben Ross.[123]
  33. [ag]
    Gossett resigned to let Lieutenant Governor Williams succeed him and then appoint him to the United States Senate.[133][136]
  34. [ah]
    Under a 1944 amendment to the constitution, governors cannot succeed themselves.[143]
  35. [ai]
    First term under a constitution amendment which lengthened terms to four years[71]
  36. [aj]
    Represented the Democratic Party
  37. [ak]
    Andrus resigned, having been confirmed as United States Secretary of the Interior.[153]
  38. [al]
    Kempthorne resigned, having been confirmed as United States Secretary of the Interior.[162]
  39. [am]
    Risch was instead elected lieutenant governor, having won the primary before Kempthorne's resignation.[166]
  40. [an]
    Otter took the oath of office ahead of time, to take effect at 12:01am on January 1.[168]
  41. [ao]
    Little's second term began on January 6, 2023,[172] and will expire on January 4, 2027.

References

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