List of Governors of Wisconsin
| Party | Governors |
|---|---|
| Republican | 30 |
| Democratic | 12 |
| Whig | 1 |
| Progressive | 1 |
The following is a list of Governors of the State of Wisconsin. The governor is the head of the executive branch of Wisconsin's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Wisconsin Legislature, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons, except in cases of treason and impeachment.[1]
There have been 43 governors of Wisconsin since the state's admission to the Union in 1848, one of whom—Philip La Follette—served non-consecutive terms. Nelson Dewey, the first governor, took office on June 7, 1848. The current governor is Jim Doyle, who took office on January 6, 2003; his term will expire in 2010.[2] Originally, the governor's term of office lasted for two years; however, in 1967, the state constitution was amended to increase the term to four years. There is no limit to the number of terms a governor may hold.[3]
Under the state constitution, the lieutenant governor becomes governor if the current governor dies, resigns, or is removed from office, and acting governor if the current governor is absent from the state, impeached, or unable to carry out his duties. If any of these events occur while the office of lieutenant governor is vacant, the secretary of state becomes either governor or acting governor.[4] Two Wisconsin governors have died while in office, one has died after being elected but before taking office, and four have resigned.[5]
The longest-serving governor was Tommy Thompson, who took office on January 5, 1987 and resigned on February 1, 2001, a total of 14 years and 28 days. Arthur MacArthur, Sr. had the shortest term: he took office on March 21, 1856 and left March 25 of the same year after a Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling made Coles Bashford governor, a total of 5 days in office.[6]
List of Governors
Initially after the American Revolution, parts of the area now known as Wisconsin
were claimed by New York and Massachusetts; however, New
York ceded its claim in 1782, and Massachusetts's was ceded in 1785. On July 13,
1787, the Northwest Territory, including the area now
called Wisconsin, was formed. Its sole governor was Arthur St. Clair. As parts of the
Northwest Territory were admitted to the Union as states, Wisconsin became part of first
the Indiana Territory (1800–1809), then the Illinois Territory (1809–1818), and then the Michigan
Territory (1818–1836); see the lists of governors
Governors of Wisconsin Territory
During the time of its existence, the Wisconsin Territory had three territorial governors, one of whom served non-consecutive terms:[7]
| # | Name | Party | Took office | Left office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Henry Dodge | Democratic | 1836 | 1841 |
| 2 | James Duane Doty | Whig | 1841 | 1844 |
| 3 | Nathaniel P. Tallmadge | Democratic | 1844 | 1845 |
| 4 | Henry Dodge | Democratic | 1845 | 1848 |
Governors of Wisconsin
Wisconsin was admitted to the Union as a state on May 29, 1848. Since then, it has had 43 governors, one of whom served non-consecutive terms:[8]
Notes
- ^ Resigned due to fraud allegations.
- ^ a b Coles Bashford lost to William A. Barstow in the 1855 election. When Barstow resigned in 1856, Arthur MacArthur, Sr., as lieutenant governor, acted as governor until the state supreme court ruled Coles Bashford governor.
- ^ a b Died in office.
- ^ a b As lieutenant governor, acted as governor for unexpired term.
- ^ Resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.
- ^ a b As lieutenant governor, acted as governor for unexpired term, and was later elected in his own right.
- ^ a b Orland Steen Loomis won the 1942 election; however, he died before taking office. Per a ruling by the state supreme court, Lieutenant Governor Walter Samuel Goodland acted as governor for the term, and was later elected in his own right.
- ^ Resigned to be Ambassador to Mexico.
- ^ Resigned to be United States Secretary of Health and Human Services.
- ^ As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term.
- ^ Governor Doyle's term expires in 2011; he is not term limited.
Living former governors
As of October 2007, six former governors were alive, the oldest being Patrick Joseph Lucey (1972–1977, born 1918). The most recent governor to die was Gaylord A. Nelson (1959–1963), on July 3, 2005. The most recently-serving governor to die was Warren P. Knowles (1965–1971), on April 1, 1993.[10]
| Name | Gubernatorial term | Date of birth |
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Joseph Lucey | 1959–1963 | March 21, 1918 |
| Martin J. Schreiber | 1977–1979 | April 8, 1939 |
| Lee S. Dreyfus | 1979–1983 | June 20, 1926 |
| Anthony S. Earl | 1983–1987 | April 12, 1936 |
| Tommy Thompson | 1987–2001 | November 19, 1941 |
| Scott McCallum | 2001–2003 | May 2, 1950 |
References
- General
- Wisconsin Blue Book (pdf). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. Retrieved on 2007-07-16.
- Specific
- [A] ^ Wisconsin Constitution, Article V (PDF). State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2005–2006 17–19. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (July 2005). Retrieved on October 5, 2007.
- [B] ^ Wisconsin Governors since 1848 (PDF). State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2005–2006 30. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (July 2005). Retrieved on October 5, 2007.
- [C] ^ Ohm, Howard F.; Leone G. Bryhan (ed.) [1935]. The Wisconsin blue book, 1935. Madison, Wisconsin: Democrat Printing Company, 163. Retrieved on 2007-10-06.
- [D] ^ Wisconsin Constitutional Officers; Lieutenant Governors (PDF). State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2005–2006 31. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (July 2005). Retrieved on October 9, 2007.
| Lists of chief executives of the United States | |
|---|---|
| President | President of the United States |
| State governors | Alabama • Alaska •
Arizona • Arkansas • California •
Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida •
|
| Territorial executives | |
| Defunct | Pre-state territories • Panama Canal Zone • Philippine Islands • Cuba |
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