List of governors of Louisiana
Updated: 5/24/2026, 6:53:08 PM Wikipedia source
The governor of Louisiana is the head of government of the U . state of Louisiana. The governor is the head of the executive branch of Louisiana's state government and is charged with enforcing state laws. Republican Jeff Landry has served as the current governor since January 8, 2024.
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Governor of the Territory of Orleans · List of governors › Territory of Orleans
James Madison
James Madison
Governor
James Madison
| Governor | Term in office | Appointed by | |
| | William C. C. Claiborne (d. 1817) | December 20, 1803 – July 30, 1812 (elected state governor) | Thomas Jefferson |
| James Madison | |||
Governors of the State of Louisiana · List of governors › State of Louisiana
1
1
No.
1
Governor
Governor
William C. C. Claiborne
(d. 1817)
Term in office
July 30, 1812
–
December 17, 1816
(term-limited)
Party
Democratic-
Republican
Election
1812
Lt. Governor
Office did not exist
2
2
No.
2
Governor
Governor
Jacques Villeré
(1761–1830)
Governor
December 17, 1816
–
December 18, 1820
(term-limited)
Term in office
Democratic-
Republican
Party
1816
3
3
No.
3
Governor
Governor
Thomas B. Robertson
(1779–1828)
Governor
December 18, 1820
–
November 15, 1824
(resigned)
Term in office
Democratic-
Republican
Party
1820
4
4
No.
4
Governor
Governor
Henry S. Thibodaux
(1769–1827)
Governor
November 15, 1824
–
December 13, 1824
(successor took office)
Term in office
Democratic-
Republican
Party
President of
the Senate
acting
5
5
No.
5
Governor
Governor
Henry Johnson
(1783–1864)
Term in office
December 13, 1824
–
December 15, 1828
(term-limited)
Party
Adams
Republican
Election
1824
6
6
No.
6
Governor
Governor
Pierre Derbigny
(1769–1829)
Governor
December 15, 1828
–
October 6, 1829
(died in office)
Term in office
Adams
Republican
Party
1828
7
7
No.
7
Governor
Governor
Arnaud Beauvais
(1783–1843)
Governor
October 6, 1829
–
January 14, 1830
(senate term ended)
Term in office
National
Republican
Party
President of
the Senate
acting
8
8
No.
8
Governor
Governor
Jacques Dupré
(1773–1846)
Governor
January 14, 1830
–
January 31, 1831
(successor took office)
Term in office
National
Republican
Party
President of
the Senate
acting
9
9
No.
9
Governor
Governor
André B. Roman
(1795–1866)
Governor
January 31, 1831
–
February 2, 1835
(term-limited)
Term in office
National
Republican
Party
1830
(special)
10
10
No.
10
Governor
Governor
Edward Douglass White Sr.
(1795–1847)
Term in office
February 2, 1835
–
February 4, 1839
(term-limited)
Party
Whig
Election
1834
9
9
No.
9
Governor
Governor
André B. Roman
(1795–1866)
Governor
February 4, 1839
–
January 30, 1843
(term-limited)
Term in office
Whig
Party
1838
11
11
No.
11
Governor
Governor
Alexandre Mouton
(1804–1885)
Term in office
January 30, 1843
–
February 12, 1846
(term-limited)
Party
Democratic
Election
1842
12
12
No.
12
Governor
Governor
Isaac Johnson
(1803–1853)
Governor
February 12, 1846
–
January 28, 1850
(term-limited)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1846
Lt. Governor
Trasimond Landry
13
13
No.
13
Governor
Governor
Joseph Marshall Walker
(1784–1856)
Governor
January 28, 1850
–
January 20, 1853
(term-limited)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1849
Election
Jean Baptiste Plauché
14
14
No.
14
Governor
Governor
Paul Octave Hébert
(1818–1880)
Governor
January 20, 1853
–
January 28, 1856
(term-limited)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1852
Election
William Wood Farmer
(died October 29, 1854)
Robert C. Wickliffe
Robert C. Wickliffe
No.
Robert C. Wickliffe
15
15
No.
15
Governor
Governor
Robert C. Wickliffe
(1819–1895)
Governor
January 28, 1856
–
January 23, 1860
(term-limited)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1855
Election
Charles Homer Mouton
(resigned 1856)
William F. Griffin
William F. Griffin
No.
William F. Griffin
16
16
No.
16
Governor
Governor
Thomas Overton Moore
(1804–1876)
Governor
January 23, 1860
–
January 25, 1864
(term-limited)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1859
Election
Henry M. Hyams
17
17
No.
17
Governor
Governor
George Foster Shepley
(1819–1878)
Term in office
July 2, 1862
–
March 4, 1864
(successor took office)
Party
Military governor
Election
Vacant
18
18
No.
18
Governor
Governor
Henry Watkins Allen
(1820–1866)
Term in office
January 25, 1864
–
June 2, 1865
(resigned)
Party
Democratic
Election
1863
(Confederate)
Lt. Governor
Benjamin W. Pearce
19
19
No.
19
Governor
Governor
Michael Hahn
(1830–1886)
Term in office
March 4, 1864
–
March 4, 1865
(resigned)
Party
Union Free Trade
(Republican)
Election
1864
(Union)
Lt. Governor
James Madison Wells
20
20
No.
20
Governor
Governor
James Madison Wells
(1808–1899)
Term in office
March 4, 1865
–
June 3, 1867
(removed)
Party
Citizens Ticket
Election
Lieutenant
governor
acting
Lt. Governor
Vacant
1865
1865
No.
1865
Governor
Albert Voorhies
21
21
No.
21
Governor
Governor
Benjamin Flanders
(1816–1896)
Term in office
June 6, 1867
–
January 2, 1868
(resigned)
Party
Appointed by
military occupation
Election
Vacant
22
22
No.
22
Governor
Governor
Joshua Baker
(1799–1885)
Governor
January 2, 1868
–
June 27, 1868
(removed)
Term in office
Appointed by
military occupation
23
23
No.
23
Governor
Governor
Henry C. Warmoth
(1842–1931)
Governor
June 27, 1868
–
December 9, 1872
(removed)
Term in office
Appointed by
military occupation
Vacant
Vacant
No.
Vacant
24
24
No.
24
Governor
Governor
P. B. S. Pinchback
(1837–1921)
Governor
December 9, 1872
–
January 13, 1873
(successor took office)
Term in office
Republican
Party
Lieutenant
governor
acting
Election
Vacant
25
25
No.
25
Governor
Governor
John McEnery
(1833–1891)
Term in office
January 13, 1873
–
May 22, 1873
(removed)
Party
Democratic
Election
1872
Lt. Governor
Davidson B. Penn
26
26
No.
26
Governor
Governor
William Pitt Kellogg
(1830–1918)
Term in office
January 13, 1873
–
January 8, 1877
(did not run)
Party
Republican
Lt. Governor
Caesar Antoine
27
27
No.
27
Governor
Governor
Stephen B. Packard
(1839–1922)
Governor
January 8, 1877
–
April 25, 1877
(removed)
Term in office
Republican
Party
1876
28
28
No.
28
Governor
Governor
Francis T. Nicholls
(1834–1912)
Term in office
January 8, 1877
–
January 14, 1880
(did not run)
Party
Democratic
Lt. Governor
Louis A. Wiltz
29
29
No.
29
Governor
Governor
Louis A. Wiltz
(1843–1881)
Governor
January 14, 1880
–
October 16, 1881
(died in office)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1879
Election
Samuel D. McEnery
30
30
No.
30
Governor
Governor
Samuel D. McEnery
(1837–1910)
Governor
October 16, 1881
–
May 21, 1888
(lost nomination)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
Lieutenant
governor
acting
Election
William A. Robertson
(removed December 24, 1881)
George L. Walton
George L. Walton
No.
George L. Walton
1884
1884
No.
1884
Governor
Clay Knobloch
28
28
No.
28
Governor
Governor
Francis T. Nicholls
(1834–1912)
Governor
May 21, 1888
–
May 16, 1892
(did not run)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1888
Election
James Jeffries
31
31
No.
31
Governor
Governor
Murphy J. Foster
(1849–1921)
Governor
May 16, 1892
–
May 21, 1900
(term-limited)
Term in office
Anti-Lottery
Democratic
Party
1892
Election
Charles Parlange
(resigned December 11, 1893)
Hiram R. Lott
(died June 2, 1895)
Hiram R. Lott
(died June 2, 1895)
No.
Hiram R. Lott
(died June 2, 1895)
Robert H. Snyder
Robert H. Snyder
No.
Robert H. Snyder
1896
1896
No.
1896
32
32
No.
32
Governor
Governor
William Wright Heard
(1853–1926)
Governor
May 21, 1900
–
May 16, 1904
(term-limited)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1900
Election
Albert Estopinal
33
33
No.
33
Governor
Governor
Newton C. Blanchard
(1849–1922)
Governor
May 16, 1904
–
May 18, 1908
(term-limited)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1904
Election
Jared Y. Sanders Sr.
34
34
No.
34
Governor
Governor
Jared Y. Sanders Sr.
(1869–1944)
Governor
May 18, 1908
–
May 20, 1912
(term-limited)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1908
Election
Paul M. Lambremont
35
35
No.
35
Governor
Governor
Luther E. Hall
(1869–1921)
Governor
May 20, 1912
–
May 15, 1916
(term-limited)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1912
Election
Thomas C. Barret
36
36
No.
36
Governor
Governor
Ruffin G. Pleasant
(1871–1937)
Governor
May 15, 1916
–
May 17, 1920
(term-limited)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1916
Election
Fernand Mouton
37
37
No.
37
Governor
Governor
John M. Parker
(1863–1939)
Governor
May 17, 1920
–
May 19, 1924
(term-limited)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1920
Election
Hewitt Bouanchaud
(resigned April 12, 1924)
Delos R. Johnson
Delos R. Johnson
No.
Delos R. Johnson
38
38
No.
38
Governor
Governor
Henry L. Fuqua
(1865–1926)
Governor
May 19, 1924
–
October 11, 1926
(died in office)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1924
Election
Oramel H. Simpson
39
39
No.
39
Governor
Governor
Oramel H. Simpson
(1870–1932)
Governor
October 11, 1926
–
May 21, 1928
(lost nomination)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Election
Philip H. Gilbert
40
40
No.
40
Governor
Governor
Huey Long
(1893–1935)
Governor
May 21, 1928
–
January 25, 1932
(resigned)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1928
Election
Paul N. Cyr
(removed March 4, 1931)
Alvin Olin King
Alvin Olin King
No.
Alvin Olin King
41
41
No.
41
Governor
Governor
Alvin Olin King
(1890–1958)
Governor
January 25, 1932
–
May 16, 1932
(successor took office)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Election
Vacant
42
42
No.
42
Governor
Governor
Oscar K. Allen
(1882–1936)
Governor
May 16, 1932
–
January 28, 1936
(died in office)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1932
Lt. Governor
John B. Fournet
(resigned January 2, 1935)
James A. Noe
James A. Noe
No.
James A. Noe
43
43
No.
43
Governor
Governor
James A. Noe
(1890–1976)
Governor
January 28, 1936
–
May 12, 1936
(successor took office)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Election
Vacant
44
44
No.
44
Governor
Governor
Richard W. Leche
(1898–1965)
Governor
May 12, 1936
–
June 26, 1939
(resigned)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1936
Lt. Governor
Earl Long
45
45
No.
45
Governor
Governor
Earl Long
(1895–1960)
Governor
June 26, 1939
–
May 14, 1940
(lost nomination)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Election
Coleman Lindsey
46
46
No.
46
Governor
Governor
Sam H. Jones
(1897–1978)
Governor
May 14, 1940
–
May 9, 1944
(term-limited)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1940
Election
Marc M. Mouton
47
47
No.
47
Governor
Governor
Jimmie Davis
(1899–2000)
Governor
May 9, 1944
–
May 11, 1948
(term-limited)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1944
Election
J. Emile Verret
45
45
No.
45
Governor
Governor
Earl Long
(1895–1960)
Governor
May 11, 1948
–
May 13, 1952
(term-limited)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1948
Election
Bill Dodd
48
48
No.
48
Governor
Governor
Robert F. Kennon
(1902–1988)
Governor
May 13, 1952
–
May 15, 1956
(term-limited)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1952
Election
C. E. Barham
45
45
No.
45
Governor
Governor
Earl Long
(1895–1960)
Governor
May 15, 1956
–
May 10, 1960
(term-limited)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1956
Election
Lether Frazar
47
47
No.
47
Governor
Governor
Jimmie Davis
(1899–2000)
Governor
May 10, 1960
–
May 12, 1964
(term-limited)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1960
Election
Taddy Aycock
49
49
No.
49
Governor
Governor
John McKeithen
(1918–1999)
Governor
May 12, 1964
–
May 9, 1972
(term-limited)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1964
1968
1968
No.
1968
50
50
No.
50
Governor
Governor
Edwin Edwards
(1927–2021)
Governor
May 9, 1972
–
March 10, 1980
(term-limited)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1972
Election
Jimmy Fitzmorris
1975
1975
No.
1975
51
51
No.
51
Governor
Governor
Dave Treen
(1928–2009)
Term in office
March 10, 1980
–
March 12, 1984
(lost election)
Party
Republican
Election
1979
Lt. Governor
Robert Louis Freeman Sr.
50
50
No.
50
Governor
Governor
Edwin Edwards
(1927–2021)
Term in office
March 12, 1984
–
March 14, 1988
(withdrew)
Party
Democratic
Election
1983
52
52
No.
52
Governor
Governor
Buddy Roemer
(1943–2021)
Governor
March 14, 1988
–
January 13, 1992
(lost election)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1987
Lt. Governor
Paul Hardy
50
50
No.
50
Governor
Governor
Edwin Edwards
(1927–2021)
Governor
January 13, 1992
–
January 8, 1996
(did not run)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1991
Lt. Governor
Melinda Schwegmann
53
53
No.
53
Governor
Governor
Mike Foster
(1930–2020)
Term in office
January 8, 1996
–
January 12, 2004
(term-limited)
Party
Republican
Election
1995
Lt. Governor
Kathleen Blanco
1999
1999
No.
1999
54
54
No.
54
Governor
Governor
Kathleen Blanco
(1942–2019)
Term in office
January 12, 2004
–
January 14, 2008
(did not run)
Party
Democratic
Election
2003
Lt. Governor
Mitch Landrieu
(resigned May 3, 2010)
55
55
No.
55
Governor
Governor
Bobby Jindal
(b. 1971)
Term in office
January 14, 2008
–
January 11, 2016
(term-limited)
Party
Republican
Election
2007
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | |||
| 1 | | William C. C. Claiborne (d. 1817) | July 30, 1812 – December 17, 1816 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1812 | Office did not exist | ||
| 2 | | Jacques Villeré (1761–1830) | December 17, 1816 – December 18, 1820 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1816 | |||
| 3 | | Thomas B. Robertson (1779–1828) | December 18, 1820 – November 15, 1824 (resigned) | Democratic- Republican | 1820 | |||
| 4 | | Henry S. Thibodaux (1769–1827) | November 15, 1824 – December 13, 1824 (successor took office) | Democratic- Republican | President of the Senate acting | |||
| 5 | | Henry Johnson (1783–1864) | December 13, 1824 – December 15, 1828 (term-limited) | Adams Republican | 1824 | |||
| 6 | | Pierre Derbigny (1769–1829) | December 15, 1828 – October 6, 1829 (died in office) | Adams Republican | 1828 | |||
| 7 | | Arnaud Beauvais (1783–1843) | October 6, 1829 – January 14, 1830 (senate term ended) | National Republican | President of the Senate acting | |||
| 8 | | Jacques Dupré (1773–1846) | January 14, 1830 – January 31, 1831 (successor took office) | National Republican | President of the Senate acting | |||
| 9 | | André B. Roman (1795–1866) | January 31, 1831 – February 2, 1835 (term-limited) | National Republican | 1830 (special) | |||
| 10 | | Edward Douglass White Sr. (1795–1847) | February 2, 1835 – February 4, 1839 (term-limited) | Whig | 1834 | |||
| 9 | | André B. Roman (1795–1866) | February 4, 1839 – January 30, 1843 (term-limited) | Whig | 1838 | |||
| 11 | | Alexandre Mouton (1804–1885) | January 30, 1843 – February 12, 1846 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1842 | |||
| 12 | | Isaac Johnson (1803–1853) | February 12, 1846 – January 28, 1850 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1846 | Trasimond Landry | ||
| 13 | | Joseph Marshall Walker (1784–1856) | January 28, 1850 – January 20, 1853 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1849 | Jean Baptiste Plauché | ||
| 14 | | Paul Octave Hébert (1818–1880) | January 20, 1853 – January 28, 1856 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1852 | William Wood Farmer (died October 29, 1854) | ||
| Robert C. Wickliffe | ||||||||
| 15 | | Robert C. Wickliffe (1819–1895) | January 28, 1856 – January 23, 1860 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1855 | Charles Homer Mouton (resigned 1856) | ||
| William F. Griffin | ||||||||
| 16 | | Thomas Overton Moore (1804–1876) | January 23, 1860 – January 25, 1864 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1859 | Henry M. Hyams | ||
| 17 | | George Foster Shepley (1819–1878) | July 2, 1862 – March 4, 1864 (successor took office) | Military governor | Vacant | |||
| 18 | | Henry Watkins Allen (1820–1866) | January 25, 1864 – June 2, 1865 (resigned) | Democratic | 1863 (Confederate) | Benjamin W. Pearce | ||
| 19 | | Michael Hahn (1830–1886) | March 4, 1864 – March 4, 1865 (resigned) | Union Free Trade (Republican) | 1864 (Union) | James Madison Wells | ||
| 20 | | James Madison Wells (1808–1899) | March 4, 1865 – June 3, 1867 (removed) | Citizens Ticket | Lieutenant governor acting | Vacant | ||
| 1865 | Albert Voorhies | |||||||
| 21 | | Benjamin Flanders (1816–1896) | June 6, 1867 – January 2, 1868 (resigned) | Appointed by military occupation | Vacant | |||
| 22 | | Joshua Baker (1799–1885) | January 2, 1868 – June 27, 1868 (removed) | Appointed by military occupation | ||||
| 23 | | Henry C. Warmoth (1842–1931) | June 27, 1868 – December 9, 1872 (removed) | Appointed by military occupation | ||||
| Republican | 1868 | Oscar Dunn (died November 22, 1871) | ||||||
| Vacant | ||||||||
| P. B. S. Pinchback (appointed December 6, 1871) | ||||||||
| 24 | | P. B. S. Pinchback (1837–1921) | December 9, 1872 – January 13, 1873 (successor took office) | Republican | Lieutenant governor acting | Vacant | ||
| 25 | | John McEnery (1833–1891) | January 13, 1873 – May 22, 1873 (removed) | Democratic | 1872 | Davidson B. Penn | ||
| 26 | | William Pitt Kellogg (1830–1918) | January 13, 1873 – January 8, 1877 (did not run) | Republican | Caesar Antoine | |||
| 27 | | Stephen B. Packard (1839–1922) | January 8, 1877 – April 25, 1877 (removed) | Republican | 1876 | |||
| 28 | | Francis T. Nicholls (1834–1912) | January 8, 1877 – January 14, 1880 (did not run) | Democratic | Louis A. Wiltz | |||
| 29 | | Louis A. Wiltz (1843–1881) | January 14, 1880 – October 16, 1881 (died in office) | Democratic | 1879 | Samuel D. McEnery | ||
| 30 | | Samuel D. McEnery (1837–1910) | October 16, 1881 – May 21, 1888 (lost nomination) | Democratic | Lieutenant governor acting | William A. Robertson (removed December 24, 1881) | ||
| George L. Walton | ||||||||
| 1884 | Clay Knobloch | |||||||
| 28 | | Francis T. Nicholls (1834–1912) | May 21, 1888 – May 16, 1892 (did not run) | Democratic | 1888 | James Jeffries | ||
| 31 | | Murphy J. Foster (1849–1921) | May 16, 1892 – May 21, 1900 (term-limited) | Anti-Lottery Democratic | 1892 | Charles Parlange (resigned December 11, 1893) | ||
| Hiram R. Lott (died June 2, 1895) | ||||||||
| Robert H. Snyder | ||||||||
| 1896 | ||||||||
| 32 | | William Wright Heard (1853–1926) | May 21, 1900 – May 16, 1904 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1900 | Albert Estopinal | ||
| 33 | | Newton C. Blanchard (1849–1922) | May 16, 1904 – May 18, 1908 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1904 | Jared Y. Sanders Sr. | ||
| 34 | | Jared Y. Sanders Sr. (1869–1944) | May 18, 1908 – May 20, 1912 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1908 | Paul M. Lambremont | ||
| 35 | | Luther E. Hall (1869–1921) | May 20, 1912 – May 15, 1916 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1912 | Thomas C. Barret | ||
| 36 | | Ruffin G. Pleasant (1871–1937) | May 15, 1916 – May 17, 1920 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1916 | Fernand Mouton | ||
References
- Claiborne was authorized by President Thomas Jefferson on October 31, 1803, to receive the new lands purchased from Fran
- The office of lieutenant governor was created in 1845.
- Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
- Louisiana became a state on April 30, 1812, but Claiborne was not sworn in as state governor until July 30.
- Under the 1812 constitution, governors were ineligible for four years after the expiration of their elected term.
- Robertson resigned, having been confirmed to a joint seat on the United States District Court for both the Eastern and W
- Sources disagree on why Beauvais' term ended; some say he lost his bid to be reelected as senate president, while others
- Special election called due to the death of Pierre Derbigny and the succession crisis that followed.
- The 1845 constitution adjusted the election schedule, shortening this term to three years.
- Under the 1845 constitution, governors were ineligible for four years after the expiration of their elected term.
- Under the 1852 constitution, governors were ineligible for four years after the expiration of their elected term.
- While some sources state Walker resigned due to objections to the 1852 constitution, no contemporary news reports of his
- The 1852 constitution adjusted the election schedule, shortening this term to three years.
- Under the 1861 constitution, governors were ineligible for four years after the expiration of their elected term.
- The area around New Orleans was captured by the Union on April 25, 1862. The control was enough that it operated within
- Shepley was appointed military governor by General Benjamin Butler.
- Allen fled to Mexico to avoid capture following the American Civil War.
- Hahn resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate; however, congressmen from the Confederate states were de
- Wells was removed from office by General Philip Sheridan for failing to properly implement Reconstruction reforms.
- Thomas J. Durant was appointed to replace Wells, but declined the appointment. Flanders was then appointed on June 6 by