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List of governors of Kansas facts for kids

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Governor of Kansas
Flag of the Governor of Kansas.svg
Standard of the governor
Seal of Kansas.svg
Laura Kelly official photo (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Laura Kelly

since January 14, 2019
Government of Kansas
Residence Cedar Crest
Term length Four years, renewable once consecutively
Inaugural holder Charles L. Robinson
Formation February 9, 1861
Salary $99,636 (2017)

The governor of Kansas is the head of state of Kansas 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 Kansas Legislature, to convene the legislature at any time, and to grant pardons.

Since becoming a state, Kansas has had 48 governors. The state's longest-serving governors were Robert Docking, John W. Carlin, and Bill Graves, each of whom served 8 years (Docking served four two-year terms; Carlin and Graves each served 2 4-year terms). The shortest-serving governor was John McCuish, who served only 11 days after the resignation of Fred Hall.

The current governor is Democrat Laura Kelly, who took office on January 14, 2019.

List of governors

Kansas Territory

Kansas Territory was organized on May 30, 1854, from land that had previously been part of Missouri Territory. Despite existing only for six years, it had six governors appointed by the president of the United States.

Governors of Kansas Territory
No. Governor Term in office Appointed by
1 AReeder.jpg Andrew Horatio Reeder
(1807–1864)
June 29, 1854

July 31, 1855
(removed)
Pierce, FranklinFranklin Pierce
2 WShannon.jpg Wilson Shannon
(1802–1877)
August 10, 1855

August 18, 1856
(resigned)
Pierce, FranklinFranklin Pierce
3 Gearysfmayor.jpeg John W. Geary
(1819–1873)
July 31, 1856

March 4, 1857
(resigned)
Pierce, FranklinFranklin Pierce
4 Hon. Robert J. Walker, Miss - NARA - 528738.jpg Robert J. Walker
(1801–1869)
March 30, 1857

December 17, 1857
(resigned)
Buchanan, JamesJames Buchanan
5 James W Denver by Whitehurst Studio c1856.jpg James W. Denver
(1817–1892)
February 24, 1858

November 8, 1858
(resigned)
Buchanan, JamesJames Buchanan
6 SamuelMedary.jpg Samuel Medary
(1801–1864)
November 23, 1858

December 20, 1860
(resigned)
Buchanan, JamesJames Buchanan

State of Kansas

Standard of the Governor of Kansas (pre-1961)
Flag of the governor prior to 1961. It is unclear when the governor's flag was first created

The eastern bulk of Kansas Territory was admitted to the Union as Kansas on January 29, 1861. The Kansas Constitution provided that a governor and lieutenant governor be elected every 2 years, for a term commencing on the second Monday in the January after the election. An amendment in 1972 increased terms to four years, with a limit that a governor could not serve more than two terms in a row, and provided that the governor and lieutenant governor are elected on the same ticket. In the original constitution, should the office of governor be vacant, the powers would devolve upon the lieutenant governor, who nonetheless would remain in that office; the 1972 amendment changed it so that, in such an event, the lieutenant governor becomes governor.

Until 2018, there was no age or residency requirement to run for the office; in 2017, three teenagers were doing so. In 2018, a law was passed establishing the age to run for governor and lieutenant governor at 25.

Governors of the State of Kansas
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor
1 CRobinson.jpg   Charles L. Robinson
(1818–1894)
February 9, 1861

January 12, 1863
(lost nomination)
Republican 1859   Root, Joseph PomeroyJoseph Pomeroy Root
2 TCarney.jpg Thomas Carney
(1824–1888)
January 12, 1863

January 9, 1865
(lost nomination)
Republican 1862 Osborn, Thomas A.Thomas A. Osborn
3 Samuel J. Crawford.jpg Samuel J. Crawford
(1835–1913)
January 9, 1865

November 4, 1868
(resigned)
Republican 1864 McGrew, JamesJames McGrew
1866 Green, NehemiahNehemiah Green
4 NehemiahGreen.gif Nehemiah Green
(1837–1890)
November 4, 1868

January 11, 1869
(successor took office)
Republican Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
5 James M. Harvey.gif James M. Harvey
(1833–1894)
January 11, 1869

January 13, 1873
(did not run)
Republican 1868 Eskridge, Charles VernonCharles Vernon Eskridge
1870 Elder, Peter PercivalPeter Percival Elder
6 ThosAOsborn.gif Thomas A. Osborn
(1836–1898)
January 13, 1873

January 8, 1877
(did not run)
Republican 1872 Stover, Elias S.Elias S. Stover
1874 Salter, Melville J.Melville J. Salter
7 GeoTAnthony.gif George T. Anthony
(1824–1896)
January 8, 1877

January 13, 1879
(lost nomination)
Republican 1876
Humphrey, Lyman U.Lyman U. Humphrey
8 John St John 1880.jpg John St. John
(1833–1916)
January 13, 1879

January 8, 1883
(lost election)
Republican 1878
1880 Finney, David WesleyDavid Wesley Finney
9 GWGlick.jpg George Washington Glick
(1827–1911)
January 8, 1883

January 12, 1885
(lost election)
Democratic 1882
10 John alexander martin.jpeg John Martin
(1839–1889)
January 12, 1885

January 14, 1889
(did not run)
Republican 1884 Riddle, Alexander P.Alexander P. Riddle
1886
11 LUHumphrey.jpg Lyman U. Humphrey
(1844–1915)
January 14, 1889

January 9, 1893
(did not run)
Republican 1888 Felt, Andrew JacksonAndrew Jackson Felt
1890
12 LDLewelling.jpg Lorenzo D. Lewelling
(1846–1900)
January 9, 1893

January 14, 1895
(lost election)
Populist 1892 Daniels, PercyPercy Daniels
13 ENMorrill.jpg Edmund Needham Morrill
(1834–1909)
January 14, 1895

January 11, 1897
(lost election)
Republican 1894 Troutman, James ArmstrongJames Armstrong Troutman
14 JWLeedy.gif John W. Leedy
(1849–1935)
January 11, 1897

January 9, 1899
(lost election)
Populist 1896 Harvey, Alexander MillerAlexander Miller Harvey
15 WEStanley.jpg William Eugene Stanley
(1844–1910)
January 9, 1899

January 12, 1903
(did not run)
Republican 1898 Richter, Harry E.Harry E. Richter
1900
16 WJBailey.gif Willis J. Bailey
(1854–1932)
January 12, 1903

January 9, 1905
(lost nomination)
Republican 1902 Hanna, David JohnDavid John Hanna
17 EWHoch (A stand hist of KS & Kansans, v.2, 1918).gif Edward W. Hoch
(1849–1925)
January 9, 1905

January 11, 1909
(did not run)
Republican 1904
1906 Fitzgerald, William JamesWilliam James Fitzgerald
18 WRStubbs.gif Walter R. Stubbs
(1858–1929)
January 11, 1909

January 13, 1913
(did not run)
Republican 1908
1910 Hopkins, Richard JosephRichard Joseph Hopkins
19 Portrait of George H. Hodges.jpg George H. Hodges
(1866–1947)
January 13, 1913

January 11, 1915
(lost election)
Democratic 1912 Ingalls, SheffieldSheffield Ingalls
20 Arthur Capper.png Arthur Capper
(1865–1951)
January 11, 1915

January 13, 1919
(did not run)
Republican 1914 Morgan, William YoastWilliam Yoast Morgan
1916
21 Henry Justin Allen.jpg Henry Justin Allen
(1868–1950)
January 13, 1919

January 8, 1923
(did not run)
Republican 1918 Huffman, Charles SolomonCharles Solomon Huffman
1920
22 JonathanMDavis.jpg Jonathan M. Davis
(1871–1943)
January 8, 1923

January 12, 1925
(lost election)
Democratic 1922 Paulen, Benjamin S.Benjamin S. Paulen
23 BenPaulen.jpg Benjamin S. Paulen
(1869–1961)
January 12, 1925

January 14, 1929
(did not run)
Republican 1924 Chase, De Lanson Alson NewtonDe Lanson Alson Newton Chase
1926
24 ClydeMartinReed.jpg Clyde M. Reed
(1871–1949)
January 14, 1929

January 12, 1931
(lost nomination)
Republican 1928 Graybill, Jacob W.Jacob W. Graybill
25 Harry Hines Woodring, 53rd United States Secretary of War.jpg Harry Hines Woodring
(1887–1967)
January 12, 1931

January 9, 1933
(lost election)
Democratic 1930
26 LandonPortr.jpg Alf Landon
(1887–1987)
January 9, 1933

January 11, 1937
(did not run)
Republican 1932 Thompson, Charles W.Charles W. Thompson
1934
27 Walter A. Huxman (KS).png Walter A. Huxman
(1887–1972)
January 11, 1937

January 9, 1939
(lost election)
Democratic 1936 Lindsay, William M.William M. Lindsay
28 PayneRatner (cropped).jpg Payne Ratner
(1896–1974)
January 9, 1939

January 11, 1943
(did not run)
Republican 1938 Friend, Carl E.Carl E. Friend
1940
29 Andrew F. Schoeppel (KS).png Andrew Frank Schoeppel
(1894–1962)
January 11, 1943

January 13, 1947
(did not run)
Republican 1942 Denious, Jess C.Jess C. Denious
1944
30 Frank Carlson.png Frank Carlson
(1893–1987)
January 13, 1947

November 28, 1950
(resigned)
Republican 1946 Hagaman, Frank L.Frank L. Hagaman
1948
31 Frank Hagaman (1949).png Frank L. Hagaman
(1894–1966)
November 28, 1950

January 8, 1951
(successor took office)
Republican Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
32 Edward F. Arn.jpg Edward F. Arn
(1906–1998)
January 8, 1951

January 10, 1955
(did not run)
Republican 1950 Hall, FredFred Hall
1952
33 Fred Hall (cropped).jpg Fred Hall
(1916–1970)
January 10, 1955

January 3, 1957
(resigned)
Republican 1954 McCuish, JohnJohn McCuish
34 John McCuish (Kansas governor).jpg John McCuish
(1906–1962)
January 3, 1957

January 14, 1957
(successor took office)
Republican Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
35 George Docking.jpg George Docking
(1904–1964)
January 14, 1957

January 9, 1961
(lost election)
Democratic 1956 Henkle Sr., Joseph W.Joseph W. Henkle Sr.
1958
36 John Anderson Governor.jpg John Anderson Jr.
(1917–2014)
January 9, 1961

January 11, 1965
(did not run)
Republican 1960 Chase, Harold H.Harold H. Chase
1962
37 Avery William H.jpg William H. Avery
(1911–2009)
January 11, 1965

January 9, 1967
(lost election)
Republican 1964 Crutcher, JohnJohn Crutcher
38 Robert Docking.jpg Robert Docking
(1925–1983)
January 9, 1967

January 13, 1975
(term-limited)
Democratic 1966
1968 DeCoursey Jr., James H.James H. DeCoursey Jr.
1970 Shultz, ReynoldsReynolds Shultz
1972 Owen, DaveDave Owen
39 Robert Bennett (1978) (cropped).png Robert Frederick Bennett
(1927–2000)
January 13, 1975

January 8, 1979
(lost election)
Republican 1974 Smith, ShelbyShelby Smith
40 John Carlin.jpg John W. Carlin
(b. 1940)
January 8, 1979

January 12, 1987
(term-limited)
Democratic 1978 Dugan, PaulPaul Dugan
1982 Docking, ThomasThomas Docking
41 Mike Hayden.jpg Mike Hayden
(b. 1944)
January 12, 1987

January 14, 1991
(lost election)
Republican 1986 Walker, Jack D.Jack D. Walker
42 No image.svg Joan Finney
(1925–2001)
January 14, 1991

January 9, 1995
(did not run)
Democratic 1990 Francisco, JimJim Francisco
43 Bill Graves.jpg Bill Graves
(b. 1953)
January 9, 1995

January 13, 2003
(term-limited)
Republican 1994 Frahm, SheilaSheila Frahm
(resigned June 11, 1996)
Vacant
Sherrer, GaryGary Sherrer
(appointed July 18, 1996)
1998
44 Sebeliusofficialphoto.jpg Kathleen Sebelius
(b. 1948)
January 13, 2003

April 28, 2009
(resigned)
Democratic 2002 Moore, John E.John E. Moore
2006 Parkinson, MarkMark Parkinson
45 Mark Parkinson (cropped).jpg Mark Parkinson
(b. 1957)
April 28, 2009

January 10, 2011
(did not run)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
Findley, TroyTroy Findley
(appointed May 15, 2009)
46 Sam Brownback headshot.jpg Sam Brownback
(b. 1956)
January 10, 2011

January 31, 2018
(resigned)
Republican 2010 Colyer, JeffJeff Colyer
2014
47 Jeff Colyer official portrait (cropped).jpg Jeff Colyer
(b. 1960)
January 31, 2018

January 14, 2019
(lost nomination)
Republican Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
Mann, TraceyTracey Mann
(appointed February 14, 2018)
48 Laura Kelly official photo (cropped).jpg Laura Kelly
(b. 1950)
January 14, 2019

Incumbent
Democratic 2018 Rogers, LynnLynn Rogers
(resigned January 2, 2021)
Toland, DavidDavid Toland
(appointed January 2, 2021)
2022
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