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List of governors of Michigan facts for kids

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Governor of Michigan
Flag of the Governor of Michigan.svg
Flag of the governor
Seal of Michigan Governor.svg
Seal of the governor
Gretchen Whitmer (2021) (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Gretchen Whitmer

since January 1, 2019
Style Her Excellency
Residence Michigan Governor's Mansion
Term length Four years, renewable once
Precursor Governor of Michigan Territory
Inaugural holder Stevens T. Mason
Formation November 3, 1835
Deputy Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
Salary $159,300 (2019)

The governor of Michigan, is the head of government of the U.S. state of Michigan as well as the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws; the power to either approve or veto appropriation bills passed by the Michigan Legislature; the power to convene the legislature; and the power to grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment. The governor is also empowered to reorganize the executive branch of the state government.

In the 17th and 18th century, Michigan was part of French and then British holdings, and administered by their colonial governors. After becoming part of the United States, areas of what is today Michigan were part of the Northwest Territory, Indiana Territory and Illinois Territory, and administered by territorial governors. In 1805, the Michigan Territory was created, and five men served as territorial governors, until Michigan was granted statehood in 1837. Forty-seven individuals have held the position of state governor. The first female governor, Jennifer Granholm, served from 2003 to 2011.

After Michigan gained statehood, governors held the office for a 2-year term, until the 1963 Michigan Constitution changed the term to 4 years. The number of times an individual could hold the office was unlimited until a 1992 constitutional amendment imposed a lifetime term limit of two 4-year governorships. The longest-serving governor in Michigan's history was William Milliken, who was promoted from lieutenant governor after Governor George W. Romney resigned to become Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, then was elected to three further successive terms. The only governors to serve non-consecutive terms were John S. Barry and Frank Fitzgerald.

List of governors

Territory of Michigan

Michigan Territory was organized on June 30, 1805, from the north half of Indiana Territory. It had three governors appointed by the president of the United States, including the longest-serving governor of any territory, Lewis Cass, who served for 18 years.

Governors of Michigan Territory
No. Governor Term in office Appointed by
1 William Hull.jpg William Hull
(1753–1825)
March 1, 1805

October 29, 1813
(successor appointed)
Jefferson, ThomasThomas Jefferson
Madison, JamesJames Madison
2 Lewis Cass, 14th United States Secretary of War.jpg Lewis Cass
(1782–1866)
October 29, 1813

August 1, 1831
(resigned)
Madison, JamesJames Madison
Monroe, JamesJames Monroe
Adams, John QuincyJohn Quincy Adams
3 George B. Porter.png George Bryan Porter
(1791–1834)
August 6, 1831

July 6, 1834
(died in office)
Jackson, AndrewAndrew Jackson
Stevens T Mason.png Stevens T. Mason
(1811–1843)
July 6, 1834

September 21, 1835
(successor appointed)
Territorial
secretary
acting
John Scott Horner.jpg John S. Horner
(1802–1883)
September 21, 1835

July 3, 1836
(resigned)
Territorial
secretary
acting

State of Michigan

Michigan was admitted to the Union on January 26, 1837. The original 1835 Constitution of Michigan provided for the election of a governor and a lieutenant governor every 2 years. The current constitution of 1963 increased this term to four years. There was no term limit on governors until a 1993 constitutional amendment limited governors to two terms.

Should the office of governor become vacant, the lieutenant governor becomes governor, followed in order of succession by the secretary of state and the attorney general. Prior to the current constitution, the duties of the office would devolve upon the lieutenant governor, without that person actually becoming governor. Beginning in 1850, the term begins at noon on January 1 of the year following the election; before, it had no set start date, and terms would last until when their successor was inaugurated, which would be at least the first Monday in January following their election. Prior to the modern 1963 constitution, the governor and lieutenant governor were elected through separate votes, allowing them to be from different political parties. In 1963, this was changed, so that votes are cast jointly for a governor and lieutenant governor of the same political party.

Governors of the State of Michigan
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor
1 Stevens T. Mason.jpg   Stevens T. Mason
(1811–1843)
November 3, 1835

January 7, 1840
(did not run)
Democratic 1835   Mundy, EdwardEdward Mundy
1837
2 William Woodbridge (6268126208).jpg William Woodbridge
(1780–1861)
January 7, 1840

February 24, 1841
(resigned)
Whig 1839 Gordon, James WrightJames Wright Gordon
3 J Wright Gordon.JPG James Wright Gordon
(1809–1853)
February 24, 1841

January 3, 1842
(did not run)
Whig Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Drake, Thomas J.Thomas J. Drake
4 Jsbarry-1-.jpg John S. Barry
(1802–1870)
January 3, 1842

January 5, 1846
(did not run)
Democratic 1841 Richardson, Origen D.Origen D. Richardson
1843
5 Michigan Justice Alpheus Felch, The Green Bag, p. 380, w text.jpg Alpheus Felch
(1804–1896)
January 5, 1846

March 3, 1847
(resigned)
Democratic 1845 Greenly, William L.William L. Greenly
6 William Greenly.png William L. Greenly
(1813–1883)
March 3, 1847

January 3, 1848
(did not run)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Bush, Charles P.Charles P. Bush
7 Epaphroditus Ransom 1.jpg Epaphroditus Ransom
(1798–1859)
January 3, 1848

January 7, 1850
(lost nomination)
Democratic 1847 Fenton, William M.William M. Fenton
8 Jsbarry-1-.jpg John S. Barry
(1802–1870)
January 7, 1850

January 1, 1852
(did not run)
Democratic 1849
9 Robert McClelland 1.jpg Robert McClelland
(1807–1880)
January 1, 1852

March 7, 1853
(resigned)
Democratic 1851 Britain, CalvinCalvin Britain
1852 Parsons, AndrewAndrew Parsons
10 Andrew parsons.jpg Andrew Parsons
(1817–1855)
March 7, 1853

January 3, 1855
(did not run)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Griswold, GeorgeGeorge Griswold
11 Kingsley Bingham.jpg Kinsley S. Bingham
(1808–1861)
January 3, 1855

January 5, 1859
(did not run)
Republican 1854 Coe, GeorgeGeorge Coe
1856
12 Mwisner-1-.jpg Moses Wisner
(1815–1863)
January 5, 1859

January 2, 1861
(did not run)
Republican 1858 Fairfield, Edmund BurkeEdmund Burke Fairfield
13 Austin Blair cph.3b29566.jpg Austin Blair
(1818–1894)
January 2, 1861

January 4, 1865
(did not run)
Republican 1860 Birney, James M.James M. Birney
(resigned April 3, 1861)
Williams, Joseph R.Joseph R. Williams
(died June 15, 1861)
Backus, Henry T.Henry T. Backus
1862 May, Charles S.Charles S. May
14 Governor-crapo-1-.jpg Henry H. Crapo
(1804–1869)
January 4, 1865

January 1, 1869
(did not run)
Republican 1864 Grosvenor, Ebenezer O.Ebenezer O. Grosvenor
1866 May, DwightDwight May
15 Henry P. Baldwin.png Henry P. Baldwin
(1814–1892)
January 1, 1869

January 1, 1873
(did not run)
Republican 1868 Bates, MorganMorgan Bates
1870
16 John J. Bagley.jpg John J. Bagley
(1832–1881)
January 1, 1873

January 3, 1877
(did not run)
Republican 1872 Holt, Henry H.Henry H. Holt
1874
17 Charles Croswell Painting.jpg Charles Croswell
(1825–1886)
January 3, 1877

January 1, 1881
(did not run)
Republican 1876 Sessions, AlonzoAlonzo Sessions
1878
18 David Howell Jerome.jpg David Jerome
(1829–1896)
January 1, 1881

January 1, 1883
(lost election)
Republican 1880 Crosby, Moreau S.Moreau S. Crosby
19 JosiahBegole.jpg Josiah Begole
(1815–1896)
January 1, 1883

January 1, 1885
(lost election)
Democratic 1882
20 Russell Alexander Alger by Percy Ives.jpg Russell A. Alger
(1836–1907)
January 1, 1885

January 1, 1887
(did not run)
Republican 1884 Buttars, ArchibaldArchibald Buttars
21 Cyrus Luce.jpg Cyrus G. Luce
(1824–1905)
January 1, 1887

January 1, 1891
(did not run)
Republican 1886 MacDonald, James H.James H. MacDonald
1888 Ball, WilliamWilliam Ball
22 Edwin Baruch Winans.jpg Edwin B. Winans
(1826–1894)
January 1, 1891

January 1, 1893
(did not run)
Democratic 1890 Strong, JohnJohn Strong
23 John Tyler Rich.jpg John Treadway Rich
(1841–1926)
January 1, 1893

January 1, 1897
(did not run)
Republican 1892 Giddings, J. WightJ. Wight Giddings
1894 Milnes, AlfredAlfred Milnes
(resigned June 1, 1895)
McLaughlin, Joseph R.Joseph R. McLaughlin
24 HazenSPingreeDetroitMayor.jpg Hazen S. Pingree
(1840–1901)
January 1, 1897

January 1, 1901
(did not run)
Republican 1896 Dunstan, Thomas B.Thomas B. Dunstan
1898 Robinson, Orrin W.Orrin W. Robinson
25 Aaron T. Bliss, Governor of Michigan portrait.jpg Aaron T. Bliss
(1837–1906)
January 1, 1901

January 2, 1905
(did not run)
Republican 1900
1902 Maitland, AlexanderAlexander Maitland
26 FredMWarner.jpg Fred M. Warner
(1865–1923)
January 2, 1905

January 1, 1911
(did not run)
Republican 1904
1906 Kelley, Patrick H.Patrick H. Kelley
1908
27 OSBORN, CHASE. GOVERNOR LCCN2016862363.jpg Chase Osborn
(1860–1949)
January 1, 1911

January 1, 1913
(did not run)
Republican 1910 Ross, John Q.John Q. Ross
28 Business Journal (1912) (14590826058).jpg Woodbridge N. Ferris
(1853–1928)
January 1, 1913

January 1, 1917
(did not run)
Democratic 1912
1914 Dickinson, LurenLuren Dickinson
29 Albert Edson Sleeper (December 31, 1862 – May 13, 1934) in 1916.jpg Albert Sleeper
(1862–1934)
January 1, 1917

January 1, 1921
(did not run)
Republican 1916
1918
30 AlexJGroesbeck.jpg Alex J. Groesbeck
(1873–1953)
January 1, 1921

January 1, 1927
(did not run)
Republican 1920 Read, ThomasThomas Read
1922
1924 Welsh, George W.George W. Welsh
31 Fred Warren Green in 1917.jpg Fred W. Green
(1871–1936)
January 1, 1927

January 1, 1931
(did not run)
Republican 1926 Dickinson, LurenLuren Dickinson
1928
32 Attorney General Brucker 2.png Wilber M. Brucker
(1894–1968)
January 1, 1931

January 1, 1933
(lost election)
Republican 1930
33 William A. Comstock (Michigan Governor).jpg William Comstock
(1877–1949)
January 1, 1933

January 1, 1935
(lost nomination)
Democratic 1932 Stebbins, Allen E.Allen E. Stebbins
34 Frank D. Fitzgerald.jpg Frank Fitzgerald
(1885–1939)
January 1, 1935

January 1, 1937
(lost election)
Republican 1934 Read, ThomasThomas Read
35 Frank Murphy 1939.png Frank Murphy
(1890–1949)
January 1, 1937

January 1, 1939
(lost election)
Democratic 1936 Nowicki, Leo J.Leo J. Nowicki
36 Frank D. Fitzgerald.jpg Frank Fitzgerald
(1885–1939)
January 1, 1939

March 16, 1939
(died in office)
Republican 1938 Dickinson, LurenLuren Dickinson
37 Luren D. Dickinson.jpg Luren Dickinson
(1859–1943)
March 16, 1939

January 1, 1941
(lost election)
Republican Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Wilson, Matilda DodgeMatilda Dodge Wilson
38 Murray D. Van Wagoner.jpg Murray Van Wagoner
(1898–1986)
January 1, 1941

January 1, 1943
(lost election)
Democratic 1940 Murphy, FrankFrank Murphy
39 Harry F. Kelly.jpg Harry Kelly
(1895–1971)
January 1, 1943

January 1, 1947
(did not run)
Republican 1942 Keyes, Eugene C.Eugene C. Keyes
1944 Brown, Vernon J.Vernon J. Brown
40 Kim Sigler (Michigan Governor) (cropped).jpg Kim Sigler
(1894–1953)
January 1, 1947

January 1, 1949
(lost election)
Republican 1946 Keyes, Eugene C.Eugene C. Keyes
41 G. Mennen Williams 1959.png G. Mennen Williams
(1911–1988)
January 1, 1949

January 1, 1961
(did not run)
Democratic 1948 Connolly, John W.John W. Connolly
1950 Vandenberg, William C.William C. Vandenberg
1952 Reid, Clarence A.Clarence A. Reid
1954 Hart, PhilipPhilip Hart
1956
1958 Swainson, JohnJohn Swainson
42 John Swainson (1961 portrait).png John Swainson
(1925–1994)
January 1, 1961

January 1, 1963
(lost election)
Democratic 1960 Lesinski, T. JohnT. John Lesinski
43 George W. Romney official portrait.jpg George W. Romney
(1907–1995)
January 1, 1963

January 22, 1969
(resigned)
Republican 1962
1964 Milliken, WilliamWilliam Milliken
1966
44 William Milliken 1969.png William Milliken
(1922–2019)
January 22, 1969

January 1, 1983
(did not run)
Republican Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Schweigert, Thomas F.Thomas F. Schweigert
1970 Brickley, James H.James H. Brickley
1974 Damman, JamesJames Damman
1978 Brickley, James H.James H. Brickley
45 James Blanchard (DOS-1993).jpeg James Blanchard
(b. 1942)
January 1, 1983

January 1, 1991
(lost election)
Democratic 1982 Griffiths, MarthaMartha Griffiths
1986
46 Vern Ehlers and John Engler (cropped).jpeg John Engler
(b. 1948)
January 1, 1991

January 1, 2003
(term-limited)
Republican 1990 Binsfeld, ConnieConnie Binsfeld
1994
1998 Posthumus, DickDick Posthumus
47 Jennifer Granholm 5.jpg Jennifer Granholm
(b. 1959)
January 1, 2003

January 1, 2011
(term-limited)
Democratic 2002 Cherry, John D.John D. Cherry
2006
48 Rick Snyder in 2013.jpg Rick Snyder
(b. 1958)
January 1, 2011

January 1, 2019
(term-limited)
Republican 2010 Calley, BrianBrian Calley
2014
49 Gretchen Whitmer (2021) (cropped).jpg Gretchen Whitmer
(b. 1971)
January 1, 2019

Incumbent
Democratic 2018 Gilchrist, GarlinGarlin Gilchrist
2022
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