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List of governors of North Dakota facts for kids

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The governor of North Dakota is the head of government of the U.S. state of North Dakota. The governor is the head of the executive branch of North Dakota's state government and is charged with enforcing state laws.

There have been 32 governors since North Dakota became a state, serving 33 distinct terms, with William Langer having been elected to multiple terms. The current officeholder is Republican Doug Burgum.

Governors

Dakota Territory was organized on March 2, 1861; on November 2, 1889, it was split into the states of North Dakota and South Dakota.

The Constitution of North Dakota originally provided for the election of a governor and lieutenant governor every two years, which was changed to four years in 1964. A limit of two terms was added in 2023. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected together on a ticket, and should the office of governor become vacant, the lieutenant governor becomes governor. The term of office begins on the December 15 following the election.

Governors of the State of North Dakota
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor
1 John Miller (North Dakota Governor).jpg   John Miller
(1843–1908)
November 20, 1889

January 7, 1891
(did not run)
Republican 1889   Dickey, AlfredAlfred Dickey
2 Andrew H. Burke (North Dakota Governor).jpg Andrew H. Burke
(1850–1918)
January 7, 1891

January 4, 1893
(lost election)
Republican 1890 Allin, RogerRoger Allin
3 Eli Shortridge.jpg Eli C. D. Shortridge
(1830–1908)
January 4, 1893

January 9, 1895
(did not run)
Populist 1892 Wallace, Elmer D.Elmer D. Wallace
4 Roger Allin (North Dakota Governor).jpg Roger Allin
(1848–1936)
January 9, 1895

January 7, 1897
(lost nomination)
Republican 1894 Worst, John H.John H. Worst
5 Frank A. Briggs (North Dakota Governor).jpg Frank A. Briggs
(1858–1898)
January 7, 1897

August 9, 1898
(died in office)
Republican 1896 Devine, Joseph M.Joseph M. Devine
6 Joseph M. Devine.gif Joseph M. Devine
(1861–1938)
August 9, 1898

January 3, 1899
(did not run)
Republican Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
7 Frederick Fancher (North Dakota Governor).jpg Frederick B. Fancher
(1852–1944)
January 3, 1899

January 7, 1901
(withdrew)
Republican 1898 Devine, Joseph M.Joseph M. Devine
8 Frank White, governor of North Dakota.gif Frank White
(1856–1940)
January 7, 1901

January 4, 1905
(did not run)
Republican 1900 Bartlett, DavidDavid Bartlett
1902
9 Sarles.gif Elmore Y. Sarles
(1859–1929)
January 4, 1905

January 9, 1907
(lost election)
Republican 1904
10 JohnBurke1908.png John Burke
(1859–1937)
January 9, 1907

January 8, 1913
(did not run)
Democratic 1906 Lewis, Robert S.Robert S. Lewis
1908
1910 Burdick, Usher L.Usher L. Burdick
11 LouisBHanna.jpg L. B. Hanna
(1861–1948)
January 8, 1913

January 3, 1917
(did not run)
Republican 1912 Kraabel, AntonAnton Kraabel
1914 Fraine, John H.John H. Fraine
12 Lynn Frazier.jpg Lynn Frazier
(1874–1947)
January 3, 1917

November 23, 1921
(recalled)
Republican/
Nonpartisan League
1916 Kraabel, AntonAnton Kraabel
1918 Wood, Howard R.Howard R. Wood
1920
13 RagnvaldANestos.jpg Ragnvald Nestos
(1877–1942)
November 23, 1921

January 7, 1925
(lost nomination)
Republican/
Independent Voters
1921
(recall)
1922 Hyland, Frank H.Frank H. Hyland
14 ArthurGSorlie.jpg Arthur G. Sorlie
(1874–1928)
January 7, 1925

August 28, 1928
(died in office)
Republican/
Nonpartisan League
1924 Maddock, WalterWalter Maddock
1926
15 No image.svg Walter Maddock
(1880–1951)
August 28, 1928

January 9, 1929
(lost election)
Republican/
Nonpartisan League
Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
16 George F. Shafer.jpg George F. Shafer
(1888–1948)
January 9, 1929

January 4, 1933
(did not run)
Republican/
Independent Voters
1928 Carr, John W.John W. Carr
1930
17 William Langer.jpg William Langer
(1886–1959)
January 4, 1933

July 19, 1934
(removed)
Republican/
Nonpartisan League
1932 Olson, Ole H.Ole H. Olson
18 No image.svg Ole H. Olson
(1872–1954)
July 19, 1934

January 7, 1935
(did not run)
Republican/
Nonpartisan League
Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
19 Thomas H. Moodie (North Dakota governor).jpg Thomas H. Moodie
(1878–1948)
January 7, 1935

February 2, 1935
(removed)
Democratic 1934 Welford, WalterWalter Welford
20 Walter Welford (North Dakota governor).jpg Walter Welford
(1868–1952)
February 2, 1935

January 6, 1937
(lost election)
Republican/
Nonpartisan League
Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
21 William Langer.jpg William Langer
(1886–1959)
January 6, 1937

January 2, 1939
(did not run)
Independent 1936 Thoresen, Thorstein H. H.Thorstein H. H. Thoresen
22 John Moses.jpg John Moses
(1885–1945)
January 2, 1939

January 2, 1945
(did not run)
Democratic 1938 Patterson, Jack A.Jack A. Patterson
1940 Hagen, Oscar W.Oscar W. Hagen
1942 Holt, HenryHenry Holt
23 No image.svg Fred G. Aandahl
(1897–1966)
January 2, 1945

January 3, 1951
(did not run)
Republican 1944 Dahl, Clarence P.Clarence P. Dahl
1946
1948
24 Clarence Brunsdale.jpg Norman Brunsdale
(1891–1978)
January 3, 1951

January 7, 1957
(did not run)
Republican 1950 Schnell, RayRay Schnell
1952 Dahl, Clarence P.Clarence P. Dahl
1954
25 John E. Davis in 1969 Civil Defense film.png John E. Davis
(1913–1990)
January 7, 1957

January 3, 1961
(did not run)
Republican 1956 Duffy, Francis ClydeFrancis Clyde Duffy
1958 Dahl, Clarence P.Clarence P. Dahl
26 William L. Guy North Dakota Governor 1968.jpg William L. Guy
(1919–2013)
January 3, 1961

January 2, 1973
(did not run)
Democratic–
Nonpartisan League
1960 Hagen, Orville W.Orville W. Hagen
1962 Wenstrom, Frank A.Frank A. Wenstrom
1964 Tighe, CharlesCharles Tighe
1968 Larsen, Richard F.Richard F. Larsen
27 Arthur A. Link.jpg Arthur A. Link
(1914–2010)
January 2, 1973

January 6, 1981
(lost election)
Democratic–
Nonpartisan League
1972 Sanstead, WayneWayne Sanstead
1976
28 Allen Olson.jpg Allen I. Olson
(b. 1938)
January 6, 1981

December 31, 1984
(lost election)
Republican 1980 Sands, ErnestErnest Sands
29 George Sinner.png George A. Sinner
(1928–2018)
January 1, 1985

December 15, 1992
(did not run)
Democratic–
Nonpartisan League
1984 Meiers, RuthRuth Meiers
1988 Omdahl, LloydLloyd Omdahl
30 Ed Schafer -- February 2008.jpg Ed Schafer
(b. 1946)
December 15, 1992

December 15, 2000
(did not run)
Republican 1992 Myrdal, RosemarieRosemarie Myrdal
1996
31 John Hoeven, Official Senate Portrait, 112th Congress.jpg John Hoeven
(b. 1957)
December 15, 2000

December 7, 2010
(resigned)
Republican 2000 Dalrymple, JackJack Dalrymple
2004
2008
32 Jack Dalrymple 2013 (cropped 2).jpg Jack Dalrymple
(b. 1948)
December 7, 2010

December 15, 2016
(did not run)
Republican Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Wrigley, DrewDrew Wrigley
2012
33 Governor Doug Burgum (cropped).jpg Doug Burgum
(b. 1956)
December 15, 2016

Incumbent
Republican 2016 Sanford, BrentBrent Sanford
2020
Miller, TammyTammy Miller

See also

  • Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#North Dakota
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