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List of governors of California

Updated: Wikipedia source

List of governors of California

The governor of California is the head of government of California, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced. The governor is also the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The current governor is Gavin Newsom, who has been in office since 2019. 39 people have served as governor, over 40 distinct terms. Many have been influential nationwide in areas far-flung from state politics. Leland Stanford founded Stanford University in 1891. Earl Warren, later chief justice of the United States, won an election with the nominations of the three major parties – the only person to run essentially unopposed for governor of California. Ronald Reagan, who was president of the Screen Actors Guild and later president of the United States, and Arnold Schwarzenegger both came to prominence through acting. Gray Davis, the 37th governor of California, was the second governor in American history to be recalled by voters. The shortest tenure was that of Milton Latham, who served only five days before being elected to fill a vacant United States Senate seat. The longest tenure is that of Jerry Brown, who served as governor from 1975 to 1983 and again from 2011 to 2019, the only governor to serve non-consecutive terms. He is the son of former governor Pat Brown who served from 1959 to 1967.

Tables

Governors of the State of California · List of governors
1
1
No.
1
Governor
Governor
Peter Hardeman Burnett (1807–1895)
Governor
December 20, 1849 – January 9, 1851 (resigned)
Term in office
Nonpartisan
Party
1849
Lt. Governor
John McDougal
2
2
No.
2
Governor
Governor
John McDougal (1818–1866)
Governor
January 9, 1851 – January 8, 1852 (did not run)
Governor
Nonpartisan
Term in office
Succeeded from lieutenant governor
Election
David C. Broderick (acting)
3
3
No.
3
Governor
Governor
John Bigler (1805–1871)
Governor
January 8, 1852 – January 9, 1856 (lost election)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1851
Election
Samuel Purdy
1853
1853
No.
1853
4
4
No.
4
Governor
Governor
J. Neely Johnson (1825–1872)
Governor
January 9, 1856 – January 8, 1858 (did not run)
Term in office
American
Party
1855
Lt. Governor
Robert M. Anderson
5
5
No.
5
Governor
Governor
John B. Weller (1812–1875)
Governor
January 8, 1858 – January 9, 1860 (did not run)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1857
Lt. Governor
Joseph Walkup
6
6
No.
6
Governor
Governor
Milton S. Latham (1827–1882)
Term in office
January 9, 1860 – January 14, 1860 (resigned)
Party
Lecompton Democratic
Election
1859
Lt. Governor
John G. Downey
7
7
No.
7
Governor
Governor
John G. Downey (1827–1894)
Governor
January 14, 1860 – January 10, 1862 (did not run)
Governor
Lecompton Democratic
Term in office
Succeeded from lieutenant governor
Party
Isaac N. Quinn (acting) (term ended January 7, 1861)
Pablo de la Guerra (acting)
Pablo de la Guerra (acting)
No.
Pablo de la Guerra (acting)
8
8
No.
8
Governor
Governor
Leland Stanford (1824–1893)
Governor
January 10, 1862 – December 10, 1863 (did not run)
Term in office
Republican
Party
1861
Lt. Governor
John F. Chellis
9
9
No.
9
Governor
Governor
Frederick Low (1828–1894)
Governor
December 10, 1863 – December 5, 1867 (did not run)
Term in office
Union
Party
1863
Lt. Governor
Tim N. Machin
10
10
No.
10
Governor
Governor
Henry Huntly Haight (1825–1878)
Governor
December 5, 1867 – December 8, 1871 (lost election)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1867
Lt. Governor
William Holden
11
11
No.
11
Governor
Governor
Newton Booth (1825–1892)
Governor
December 8, 1871 – February 27, 1875 (resigned)
Term in office
Republican
Party
1871
Lt. Governor
Romualdo Pacheco
12
12
No.
12
Governor
Governor
Romualdo Pacheco (1831–1899)
Governor
February 27, 1875 – December 9, 1875 (did not run)
Governor
Republican
Term in office
Succeeded from lieutenant governor
Election
William Irwin (acting)
13
13
No.
13
Governor
Governor
William Irwin (1827–1886)
Governor
December 9, 1875 – January 8, 1880 (did not run)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1875
Election
James A. Johnson
14
14
No.
14
Governor
Governor
George C. Perkins (1839–1923)
Governor
January 8, 1880 – January 10, 1883 (did not run)
Term in office
Republican
Party
1879
Lt. Governor
John Mansfield
15
15
No.
15
Governor
Governor
George Stoneman (1822–1894)
Governor
January 10, 1883 – January 8, 1887 (did not run)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1882
Lt. Governor
John Daggett
16
16
No.
16
Governor
Governor
Washington Bartlett (1824–1887)
Governor
January 8, 1887 – September 12, 1887 (died in office)
Governor
Democratic
Term in office
1886
Election
Robert Waterman
17
17
No.
17
Governor
Governor
Robert Waterman (1826–1891)
Governor
September 12, 1887 – January 8, 1891 (did not run)
Term in office
Republican
Party
Succeeded from lieutenant governor
Lt. Governor
Stephen M. White (acting)
18
18
No.
18
Governor
Governor
Henry Markham (1840–1923)
Governor
January 8, 1891 – January 11, 1895 (did not run)
Governor
Republican
Term in office
1890
Election
John B. Reddick
19
19
No.
19
Governor
Governor
James Budd (1851–1908)
Governor
January 11, 1895 – January 4, 1899 (did not run)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1894
Election
Spencer G. Millard (died October 24, 1895)
Vacant
Vacant
No.
Vacant
20
20
No.
20
Governor
Governor
Henry T. Gage (1852–1924)
Governor
January 4, 1899 – January 7, 1903 (lost nomination)
Term in office
Republican
Party
1898
Lt. Governor
Jacob H. Neff
21
21
No.
21
Governor
Governor
George Pardee (1857–1941)
Governor
January 7, 1903 – January 9, 1907 (lost nomination)
Governor
Republican
Term in office
1902
Party
Alden Anderson
22
22
No.
22
Governor
Governor
James Gillett (1860–1937)
Governor
January 9, 1907 – January 3, 1911 (did not run)
Governor
Republican
Term in office
1906
Party
Warren R. Porter
23
23
No.
23
Governor
Governor
Hiram Johnson (1866–1945)
Governor
January 3, 1911 – March 15, 1917 (resigned)
Governor
Republican
Term in office
1910
Party
Albert Joseph Wallace
Vacant
Vacant
No.
Vacant
24
24
No.
24
Governor
Governor
William Stephens (1859–1944)
Governor
March 15, 1917 – January 9, 1923 (lost nomination)
Term in office
Republican
Party
Succeeded from lieutenant governor
Election
Vacant
1918
1918
No.
1918
Governor
C. C. Young
25
25
No.
25
Governor
Governor
Friend Richardson (1865–1943)
Governor
January 9, 1923 – January 4, 1927 (lost nomination)
Governor
Republican
Term in office
1922
26
26
No.
26
Governor
Governor
C. C. Young (1869–1947)
Governor
January 4, 1927 – January 6, 1931 (lost nomination)
Governor
Republican
Term in office
1926
Party
Buron Fitts (resigned November 30, 1928)
Vacant
Vacant
No.
Vacant
27
27
No.
27
Governor
Governor
James Rolph (1869–1934)
Governor
January 6, 1931 – June 2, 1934 (died in office)
Governor
Republican
Term in office
1930
Party
Frank Merriam
28
28
No.
28
Governor
Governor
Frank Merriam (1865–1955)
Governor
June 2, 1934 – January 2, 1939 (lost election)
Governor
Republican
Term in office
Succeeded from lieutenant governor
Party
Vacant
1934
1934
No.
1934
Governor
George J. Hatfield
29
29
No.
29
Governor
Governor
Culbert Olson (1876–1962)
Governor
January 2, 1939 – January 4, 1943 (lost election)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1938
Lt. Governor
Ellis E. Patterson
30
30
No.
30
Governor
Governor
Earl Warren (1891–1974)
Governor
January 4, 1943 – October 4, 1953 (resigned)
Term in office
Republican
Party
1942
Lt. Governor
Frederick F. Houser
1946
1946
No.
1946
Governor
Goodwin Knight
1950
1950
No.
1950
31
31
No.
31
Governor
Governor
Goodwin Knight (1896–1970)
Governor
October 5, 1953 – January 5, 1959 (did not run)
Governor
Republican
Term in office
Succeeded from lieutenant governor
Party
Harold J. Powers
1954
1954
No.
1954
32
32
No.
32
Governor
Governor
Pat Brown (1905–1996)
Governor
January 5, 1959 – January 2, 1967 (lost election)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1958
Lt. Governor
Glenn M. Anderson
1962
1962
No.
1962
33
33
No.
33
Governor
Governor
Ronald Reagan (1911–2004)
Governor
January 2, 1967 – January 6, 1975 (did not run)
Term in office
Republican
Party
1966
Lt. Governor
Robert Finch (resigned January 8, 1969)
Edwin Reinecke (resigned October 2, 1974)
Edwin Reinecke (resigned October 2, 1974)
No.
Edwin Reinecke (resigned October 2, 1974)
1970
1970
No.
1970
John L. Harmer
John L. Harmer
No.
John L. Harmer
34
34
No.
34
Governor
Governor
Jerry Brown (b. 1938)
Governor
January 6, 1975 – January 3, 1983 (did not run)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1974
Lt. Governor
Mervyn M. Dymally
1978
1978
No.
1978
Governor
Michael Curb
35
35
No.
35
Governor
Governor
George Deukmejian (1928–2018)
Governor
January 3, 1983 – January 7, 1991 (did not run)
Term in office
Republican
Party
1982
Lt. Governor
Leo T. McCarthy
1986
1986
No.
1986
36
36
No.
36
Governor
Governor
Pete Wilson (b. 1933)
Governor
January 7, 1991 – January 4, 1999 (term-limited)
Governor
Republican
Term in office
1990
1994
1994
No.
1994
Governor
Gray Davis
37
37
No.
37
Governor
Governor
Gray Davis (b. 1942)
Governor
January 4, 1999 – November 17, 2003 (recalled)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1998
Election
Cruz Bustamante
2002
2002
No.
2002
38
38
No.
38
Governor
Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger (b. 1947)
Governor
November 17, 2003 – January 3, 2011 (term-limited)
Term in office
Republican
Party
2003 (recall)
2006
2006
No.
2006
Governor
John Garamendi (resigned November 3, 2009)
Mona Pasquil (acting)
Mona Pasquil (acting)
No.
Mona Pasquil (acting)
39
39
No.
39
Governor
Governor
Jerry Brown (b. 1938)
Governor
January 3, 2011 – January 7, 2019 (term-limited)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
2010
2014
2014
No.
2014
40
40
No.
40
Governor
Governor
Gavin Newsom (b. 1967)
Governor
January 7, 2019 – Incumbent
Governor
Democratic
Term in office
2018
Party
Eleni Kounalakis
2021 (recall)
2021 (recall)
No.
2021 (recall)
2022
2022
No.
2022
No.
Governor
Term in office
Party
Election
Lt. Governor
1
Peter Hardeman Burnett (1807–1895)
December 20, 1849 – January 9, 1851 (resigned)
Nonpartisan
1849
John McDougal
2
John McDougal (1818–1866)
January 9, 1851 – January 8, 1852 (did not run)
Nonpartisan
Succeeded from lieutenant governor
David C. Broderick (acting)
3
John Bigler (1805–1871)
January 8, 1852 – January 9, 1856 (lost election)
Democratic
1851
Samuel Purdy
1853
4
J. Neely Johnson (1825–1872)
January 9, 1856 – January 8, 1858 (did not run)
American
1855
Robert M. Anderson
5
John B. Weller (1812–1875)
January 8, 1858 – January 9, 1860 (did not run)
Democratic
1857
Joseph Walkup
6
Milton S. Latham (1827–1882)
January 9, 1860 – January 14, 1860 (resigned)
Lecompton Democratic
1859
John G. Downey
7
John G. Downey (1827–1894)
January 14, 1860 – January 10, 1862 (did not run)
Lecompton Democratic
Succeeded from lieutenant governor
Isaac N. Quinn (acting) (term ended January 7, 1861)
Pablo de la Guerra (acting)
8
Leland Stanford (1824–1893)
January 10, 1862 – December 10, 1863 (did not run)
Republican
1861
John F. Chellis
9
Frederick Low (1828–1894)
December 10, 1863 – December 5, 1867 (did not run)
Union
1863
Tim N. Machin
10
Henry Huntly Haight (1825–1878)
December 5, 1867 – December 8, 1871 (lost election)
Democratic
1867
William Holden
11
Newton Booth (1825–1892)
December 8, 1871 – February 27, 1875 (resigned)
Republican
1871
Romualdo Pacheco
12
Romualdo Pacheco (1831–1899)
February 27, 1875 – December 9, 1875 (did not run)
Republican
Succeeded from lieutenant governor
William Irwin (acting)
13
William Irwin (1827–1886)
December 9, 1875 – January 8, 1880 (did not run)
Democratic
1875
James A. Johnson
14
George C. Perkins (1839–1923)
January 8, 1880 – January 10, 1883 (did not run)
Republican
1879
John Mansfield
15
George Stoneman (1822–1894)
January 10, 1883 – January 8, 1887 (did not run)
Democratic
1882
John Daggett
16
Washington Bartlett (1824–1887)
January 8, 1887 – September 12, 1887 (died in office)
Democratic
1886
Robert Waterman
17
Robert Waterman (1826–1891)
September 12, 1887 – January 8, 1891 (did not run)
Republican
Succeeded from lieutenant governor
Stephen M. White (acting)
18
Henry Markham (1840–1923)
January 8, 1891 – January 11, 1895 (did not run)
Republican
1890
John B. Reddick
19
James Budd (1851–1908)
January 11, 1895 – January 4, 1899 (did not run)
Democratic
1894
Spencer G. Millard (died October 24, 1895)
Vacant
William T. Jeter (appointed October 26, 1895)
20
Henry T. Gage (1852–1924)
January 4, 1899 – January 7, 1903 (lost nomination)
Republican
1898
Jacob H. Neff
21
George Pardee (1857–1941)
January 7, 1903 – January 9, 1907 (lost nomination)
Republican
1902
Alden Anderson
22
James Gillett (1860–1937)
January 9, 1907 – January 3, 1911 (did not run)
Republican
1906
Warren R. Porter
23
Hiram Johnson (1866–1945)
January 3, 1911 – March 15, 1917 (resigned)
Republican
1910
Albert Joseph Wallace
Progressive
1914
John M. Eshleman (died February 28, 1916)
Vacant
William Stephens (took office July 22, 1916)
24
William Stephens (1859–1944)
March 15, 1917 – January 9, 1923 (lost nomination)
Republican
Succeeded from lieutenant governor
Vacant
1918
C. C. Young
25
Friend Richardson (1865–1943)
January 9, 1923 – January 4, 1927 (lost nomination)
Republican
1922
26
C. C. Young (1869–1947)
January 4, 1927 – January 6, 1931 (lost nomination)
Republican
1926
Buron Fitts (resigned November 30, 1928)
Vacant
Herschel L. Carnahan (appointed December 4, 1928)
27
James Rolph (1869–1934)
January 6, 1931 – June 2, 1934 (died in office)
Republican
1930
Frank Merriam
28
Frank Merriam (1865–1955)
June 2, 1934 – January 2, 1939 (lost election)
Republican
Succeeded from lieutenant governor
Vacant
1934
George J. Hatfield
29
Culbert Olson (1876–1962)
January 2, 1939 – January 4, 1943 (lost election)
Democratic
1938
Ellis E. Patterson
30
Earl Warren (1891–1974)
January 4, 1943 – October 4, 1953 (resigned)
Republican
1942
Frederick F. Houser
1946
Goodwin Knight
1950
31
Goodwin Knight (1896–1970)
October 5, 1953 – January 5, 1959 (did not run)
Republican
Succeeded from lieutenant governor
Harold J. Powers
1954
32
Pat Brown (1905–1996)
January 5, 1959 – January 2, 1967 (lost election)
Democratic
1958
Glenn M. Anderson
1962
33
Ronald Reagan (1911–2004)
January 2, 1967 – January 6, 1975 (did not run)
Republican
1966
Robert Finch (resigned January 8, 1969)
Edwin Reinecke (resigned October 2, 1974)

References

  1. The rule of the term beginning on the first Monday after January 1 does not seem to have been followed until 1939; all t
  2. Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
  3. A civilian government was formed in late 1849 prior to official statehood, and operated as the state government for ten
  4. Burnett abruptly resigned after his first annual address was criticized by the legislature.
  5. The 1849 election was non-partisan; sources say Burnett was an Independent Democrat.
  6. The 1849 election was non-partisan; sources say McDougal was an Independent Democrat.
  7. Represented the Democratic Party
  8. Latham resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.
  9. Stanford withdrew after losing the early primaries of the Union/Republican nomination.
  10. First term under an 1862 constitutional amendment, which lengthened terms to four years.
  11. Booth resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.
  12. Represented the Republican Party
  13. Johnson resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.
  14. Warren resigned, having been appointed Chief Justice of the United States. His resignation letter specified he would lea
  15. Warren ran as a Republican for his first and third terms. For his second term, he won the nomination of the Republican,
  16. Knight instead ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate.
  17. Under a 1990 amendment to the constitution, governors may not serve more than two terms.
  18. Davis was recalled and Schwarzenegger elected to replace him in a special election.
  19. Newsom delayed his swearing in as lieutenant governor until January 10, 2011, to remain mayor of San Francisco; Maldonad
  20. Newsom's second term began on January 6, 2023, and will expire on January 4, 2027; he will be term-limited.
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