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Governor of Wisconsin | |
---|---|
Gubernatorial seal | |
Incumbent Tony Evers since January 7, 2019 | |
Residence | Wisconsin Governor's Mansion |
Term length | Four years, no term limits |
Inaugural holder | Nelson Dewey |
Formation | June 7, 1848 (1848-06-07) |
Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin |
Salary | $146,597.88 |
Website | evers |
The governor of Wisconsin is the head of government of Wisconsin and the commander-in-chief of the state's army and air 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.
44 individuals have held the office of governor 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 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 was governor for a total of just 5 days—from March 21 to 25, 1856. The current governor is Tony Evers, a Democrat who took office on January 7, 2019.
Governors
Initially after the American Revolution, parts of the area now known as Wisconsin were claimed by Virginia, Massachusetts and Connecticut; however, Virginia ceded its claim in 1784, Massachusetts in 1785 and Connecticut in 1786. On July 13, 1787, the Northwest Territory, including the area now called Wisconsin, was formed; Wisconsin remained part of the territory until 1800. The territorial governor during this period 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 of Indiana, of Illinois, and of Michigan for these periods.
Governors of Wisconsin Territory
Wisconsin Territory was formed on July 3, 1836. During the time of its existence, the Wisconsin Territory had three people appointed governor by the President of the United States, one of whom served non-consecutive terms.
When most of Wisconsin Territory was admitted as the state of Wisconsin, the remainder became unorganized territory. However, the citizens of the region maintained a territorial government, and even elected a delegate to the United States House of Representatives, essentially making it a de facto continuation of Wisconsin Territory. As the region no longer had an official governor, Territorial Secretary John Catlin acted as governor of the region.
No. | Governor | Term in office | Appointing President | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Henry Dodge (1782–1867) |
April 30, 1836 – September 13, 1841 (successor appointed) |
Andrew Jackson | |
Martin Van Buren | ||||
2 | James Duane Doty (1799–1865) |
September 13, 1841 – June 15, 1844 (successor appointed) |
John Tyler | |
3 | Nathaniel P. Tallmadge (1795–1864) |
June 15, 1844 – April 8, 1845 (successor appointed) |
John Tyler | |
4 | Henry Dodge (1782–1867) |
April 8, 1845 – June 23, 1848 (statehood) |
James K. Polk |
Governors of the State of Wisconsin
Wisconsin was admitted to the Union on May 29, 1848. Since then, it has had 45 governors, one of whom served non-consecutive terms.
Originally, governors of Wisconsin served for two-year terms, but in 1967 the state constitution was amended to change this to four. Jeremiah McLain Rusk served 1 3-year term in the 1880s as the constitution was amended during his first term to move elections from odd to even years, and all officers were allowed to serve an extra year, rather than have their terms cut a year short. Patrick Lucey, elected in the 1970 election, was the first governor to serve a 4-year term. Governors of Wisconsin are not term limited.
The state constitution provides for the election of a lieutenant governor; originally, the governor and lieutenant governor were elected on different tickets, and thus were not necessarily of the same party. Since the 1967 amendment, however, the two have been nominated, and voted on, together. Originally, if the office of the governor was vacant for any reason, "the powers and duties of the office . . . devolve upon the lieutenant governor." In 1979, the constitution was amended to make this more specific: if the governor dies, resigns, or is removed from office, the lieutenant governor becomes governor, but becomes acting governor if the governor is absent from the state, impeached, or unable to carry out of 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. Two Wisconsin governors have died while in office, one has died after being elected but before taking office, and four have resigned.
No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nelson Dewey (1813–1889) |
June 7, 1848 – January 5, 1852 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1848 | John E. Holmes | |||
1849 | Samuel W. Beall | |||||||
2 | Leonard J. Farwell (1819–1889) |
January 5, 1852 – January 2, 1854 (did not run) |
Whig | 1851 | Timothy Burns | |||
3 | William A. Barstow (1813–1865) |
January 2, 1854 – March 21, 1856 (resigned) |
Democratic | 1853 | James T. Lewis | |||
1855 | Arthur MacArthur Sr. | |||||||
4 | Arthur MacArthur Sr. (1815–1896) |
March 21, 1856 – March 25, 1856 (removed from office) |
Democratic | vacant | ||||
5 | Coles Bashford (1816–1878) |
March 25, 1856 – January 4, 1858 (did not run) |
Republican | Arthur MacArthur Sr. | ||||
6 | Alexander Randall (1819–1872) |
January 4, 1858 – January 6, 1862 (did not run) |
Republican | 1857 | Erasmus D. Campbell | |||
1859 | Butler G. Noble | |||||||
7 | Louis P. Harvey (1820–1862) |
January 6, 1862 – April 19, 1862 (died in office) |
Republican | 1861 | Edward Salomon | |||
8 | Edward Salomon (1828–1909) |
April 19, 1862 – January 4, 1864 (lost nomination) |
Republican | Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor |
vacant | |||
9 | James T. Lewis (1819–1904) |
January 4, 1864 – January 1, 1866 (did not run) |
Republican | 1863 | Wyman Spooner | |||
10 | Lucius Fairchild (1831–1896) |
January 1, 1866 – January 1, 1872 (did not run) |
Republican | 1865 | ||||
1867 | ||||||||
1869 | Thaddeus C. Pound | |||||||
11 | Cadwallader C. Washburn (1818–1882) |
January 1, 1872 – January 5, 1874 (lost election) |
Republican | 1871 | Milton H. Pettit | |||
12 | William Robert Taylor (1820–1909) |
January 5, 1874 – January 3, 1876 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1873 | Charles D. Parker | |||
13 | Harrison Ludington (1812–1891) |
January 3, 1876 – January 7, 1878 (did not run) |
Republican | 1875 | ||||
14 | William E. Smith (1824–1883) |
January 7, 1878 – January 2, 1882 (did not run) |
Republican | 1877 | James M. Bingham | |||
1879 | ||||||||
15 | Jeremiah McLain Rusk (1830–1893) |
January 2, 1882 – January 7, 1889 (did not run) |
Republican | 1881 | Sam Fifield | |||
1884 | ||||||||
1886 | George Washington Ryland | |||||||
16 | William D. Hoard (1836–1918) |
January 7, 1889 – January 5, 1891 (lost election) |
Republican | 1888 | ||||
17 | George Wilbur Peck (1840–1916) |
January 5, 1891 – January 7, 1895 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1890 | Charles Jonas | |||
1892 | ||||||||
18 | William H. Upham (1841–1924) |
January 7, 1895 – January 4, 1897 (did not run) |
Republican | 1894 | Emil Baensch | |||
19 | Edward Scofield (1842–1925) |
January 4, 1897 – January 7, 1901 (did not run) |
Republican | 1896 | ||||
1898 | Jesse Stone | |||||||
20 | Robert M. La Follette (1855–1925) |
January 7, 1901 – January 1, 1906 (resigned) |
Republican | 1900 | ||||
1902 | James O. Davidson | |||||||
1904 | ||||||||
21 | James O. Davidson (1854–1922) |
January 1, 1906 – January 2, 1911 (did not run) |
Republican | Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor |
vacant | |||
1906 | William D. Connor | |||||||
1908 | John Strange | |||||||
22 | Francis E. McGovern (1866–1946) |
January 2, 1911 – January 4, 1915 (did not run) |
Republican | 1910 | Thomas Morris | |||
1912 | ||||||||
23 | Emanuel L. Philipp (1861–1925) |
January 4, 1915 – January 3, 1921 (did not run) |
Republican | 1914 | Edward Dithmar | |||
1916 | ||||||||
1918 | ||||||||
24 | John J. Blaine (1875–1934) |
January 3, 1921 – January 3, 1927 (did not run) |
Republican | 1920 | George Comings | |||
1922 | ||||||||
1924 | Henry Huber | |||||||
25 | Fred R. Zimmerman (1880–1954) |
January 3, 1927 – January 7, 1929 (lost nomination) |
Republican | 1926 | ||||
26 | Walter J. Kohler Sr. (1875–1940) |
January 7, 1929 – January 5, 1931 (lost nomination) |
Republican | 1928 | ||||
27 | Philip La Follette (1897–1965) |
January 5, 1931 – January 2, 1933 (lost nomination) |
Republican | 1930 | ||||
28 | Albert G. Schmedeman (1864–1946) |
January 2, 1933 – January 7, 1935 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1932 | Thomas J. O'Malley | |||
29 | Philip La Follette (1897–1965) |
January 7, 1935 – January 2, 1939 (lost election) |
Wisconsin Progressive |
1934 | ||||
1936 | Henry Gunderson (resigned) | |||||||
Herman Ekern | ||||||||
30 | Julius P. Heil (1876–1949) |
January 2, 1939 – January 4, 1943 (lost election) |
Republican | 1938 | Walter Samuel Goodland | |||
1940 | ||||||||
— | Orland Steen Loomis (1893–1942) |
Died before taking office |
Wisconsin Progressive |
1942 | ||||
31 | Walter Samuel Goodland (1862–1947) |
January 4, 1943 – March 12, 1947 (died in office) |
Republican | Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor |
vacant | |||
1944 | Oscar Rennebohm | |||||||
1946 | ||||||||
32 | Oscar Rennebohm (1889–1968) |
March 12, 1947 – January 1, 1951 (did not run) |
Republican | Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor |
vacant | |||
1948 | George M. Smith | |||||||
33 | Walter J. Kohler Jr. (1904–1976) |
January 1, 1951 – January 7, 1957 (did not run) |
Republican | 1950 | ||||
1952 | ||||||||
1954 | Warren P. Knowles | |||||||
34 | Vernon Wallace Thomson (1905–1988) |
January 7, 1957 – January 5, 1959 (lost election) |
Republican | 1956 | ||||
35 | Gaylord Nelson (1916–2005) |
January 5, 1959 – January 7, 1963 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1958 | Philleo Nash | |||
1960 | Warren P. Knowles | |||||||
36 | John W. Reynolds Jr. (1921–2002) |
January 7, 1963 – January 4, 1965 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1962 | Jack B. Olson | |||
37 | File:WarrenPKnowles.jpg | Warren P. Knowles (1908–1993) |
January 4, 1965 – January 4, 1971 (did not run) |
Republican | 1964 | Patrick Lucey | ||
1966 | Jack B. Olson | |||||||
1968 | ||||||||
38 | Patrick Lucey (1918–2014) |
January 4, 1971 – July 6, 1977 (resigned) |
Democratic | 1970 | Martin J. Schreiber | |||
1974 | ||||||||
39 | Martin J. Schreiber (b. 1939) |
July 6, 1977 – January 3, 1979 (lost election) |
Democratic | Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor |
vacant | |||
40 | Lee S. Dreyfus (1926–2008) |
January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1983 (did not run) |
Republican | 1978 | Russell A. Olson | |||
41 | Tony Earl (1936–2023) |
January 3, 1983 – January 5, 1987 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1982 | James T. Flynn | |||
42 | Tommy Thompson (b. 1941) |
January 5, 1987 – February 1, 2001 (resigned) |
Republican | 1986 | Scott McCallum | |||
1990 | ||||||||
1994 | ||||||||
1998 | ||||||||
43 | Scott McCallum (b. 1950) |
February 1, 2001 – January 6, 2003 (lost election) |
Republican | Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor |
Margaret Farrow | |||
44 | Jim Doyle (b. 1945) |
January 6, 2003 – January 3, 2011 (did not run) |
Democratic | 2002 | Barbara Lawton | |||
2006 | ||||||||
45 | Scott Walker (b. 1967) |
January 3, 2011 – January 7, 2019 (lost election) |
Republican | 2010 | Rebecca Kleefisch | |||
2012 (recall) | ||||||||
2014 | ||||||||
46 | Tony Evers (b. 1951) |
January 7, 2019 – Incumbent |
Democratic | 2018 | Mandela Barnes | |||
2022 | Sara Rodriguez |
See also
Notes
- The range given is from the date the governor was confirmed by the Senate, or appointed by the President during a Senate recess, to the date the governor's successor was confirmed, unless noted.
- Dodge was nominated and confirmed by the Senate on April 30, 1836. He was reconfirmed by the Senate on March 2, 1839.
- Doty was appointed on April 15, 1841, during a Senate recess; nominated on June 17; and confirmed by the Senate on September 13.
- Tallmadge was nominated and confirmed by the Senate on June 15, 1844.
- Dodge was appointed on April 8, 1845, during a Senate recess; nominated on December 23, 1846; and confirmed by the Senate on February 3.
- Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
- A convention of Free Soilers and others nominated Farwell, but he declined.
- Died in office
- ^ The 1855 election was very close, with Barstow initially named the winner by the Democratic state canvassing board, but irregularities were found and Republicans challenged it to the Supreme Court. Barstow resigned on March 21, before the Supreme Court could reach a decision. Lieutenant Governor MacArthur then acted as governor, though there was uncertainty as to the legitimacy of his position; this was complicated further when the Supreme Court ruled on March 25 that Bashford was the winner. Bashford arrived at the capitol and, due to fears of violence, MacArthur did not resist. The legislature recognized Bashford as governor on March 27.
- Salomon lost the Republican nomination to James T. Lewis.
- Died in office
- Died in office
- La Follette was elected to the United States Senate on January 25, 1905, but did not resign to take the seat until January 1, 1906.
- Zimmerman lost the Republican nomination to Walter J. Kohler Sr.
- Kohler lost the Republican nomination to Philip La Follette.
- La Follette lost the Republican nomination to Walter J. Kohler Sr.
- Died in office
- Loomis was elected in the 1942 election, but died before taking office. Per a ruling of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Goodland, who had been re-elected lieutenant governor in the same election, served as governor term.
- Lucey resigned, having been appointed ambassador to Mexico.
- Thompson resigned, having been appointed United States Secretary of Health and Human Services.
- Evers' second term began on January 2, 2023, and will expire January 4, 2027.
References
- General
- "Former Wisconsin Governors". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel, Robert (1978). Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. IV. Meckler Books. ISBN 9780930466008. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
- Kallenbach, Joseph Ernest (1977). American State Governors, 1776-1976. Oceana Publications. ISBN 978-0-379-00665-0. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
- McMullin, Thomas A. (1984). Biographical directory of American territorial governors. Westport, CT : Meckler. ISBN 978-0-930466-11-4. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- Specific
- "Database: Wisconsin state employee salaries | Politics and Elections". Wisconsin State Journal. May 13, 2016. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
- ^ Wisconsin Constitution article V, § 1
- ^ Wisconsin Constitution article V, § 4
- Wisconsin Constitution article V, § 10
- Wisconsin Constitution article V, § 6
- ^ "Wisconsin Governors since 1848". State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2005–2006 (PDF). p. 724. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 25, 2007. Retrieved October 5, 2007.
- Beck, J. D., ed. (1911). The blue book of the state of Wisconsin. Madison, Wisconsin: Democrat Printing Company. p. 512. Retrieved December 11, 2007.
- ^ "Significant Events in Wisconsin History". State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2005–2006 (PDF). p. 696. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 25, 2007. Retrieved December 11, 2007.
- "St. Clair, Arthur". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Government Printing Office. 2005. Retrieved December 11, 2007.
- Williams, J. Fletcher (1894). Henry Hastings Sibley: A Memoir. Minnesota Historical Society. pp. 277–281. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
- The History of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin. Racine County, Wisconsin: Western Historical Company. 1879. pp. 54–56. Retrieved January 24, 2008.
- ^ McMullin pp. 329–331
- U.S. Senate Exec. Journal. 24th Cong., 1st sess., 30 April 1836, 535. Accessed July 22, 2023.
- U.S. Senate Exec. Journal. 24th Cong., 1st sess., 30 April 1836, 536. Accessed July 22, 2023.
- U.S. Senate Exec. Journal. 25th Cong., 3rd sess., 2 March 1839, 219. Accessed July 22, 2023.
- ^ McMullin pp. 331–333
- U.S. Senate Exec. Journal. 27th Cong., 1st sess., 17 June 1841, 386. Accessed July 22, 2023.
- U.S. Senate Exec. Journal. 27th Cong., 1st sess., 13 September 1841, 441. Accessed July 22, 2023.
- McMullin pp. 333–335
- U.S. Senate Exec. Journal. 28th Cong., 1st sess., 15 June 1844, 343. Accessed July 22, 2023.
- U.S. Senate Exec. Journal. 29th Cong., 1st sess., 23 December 1846, 10. Accessed July 22, 2023.
- U.S. Senate Exec. Journal. 29th Cong., 1st sess., 3 February 1846, 41. Accessed July 22, 2023.
- Wisconsin Constitution article V, § 7
- Wisconsin Constitution article V, § 8
- Sobel pp. 1717–1718
- "Nelson Dewey". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- ^ Sobel pp. 1718–1719
- "Leonard James Farwell". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- ^ Sobel pp. 1719–1720
- "William Augustus Barstow". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- ^ Sobel pp. 1720–1721
- ^ Sobel pp. 1721–1723
- "Arthur MacArthur". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- "Coles Bashford". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1723–1724
- "Alexander Williams Randall". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1724–1725
- "Louis Powell Harvey". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1725–1726
- "Edward Salomon". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- "Lewis nominated". The Telegraph-Courier. August 27, 1863. p. 2. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1727–1728
- "James Taylor Lewis". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1728–1729
- "Lucius Fairchild". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1729–1731
- "Cadwallader Colden Washburn". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1731–1732
- "William R. Taylor". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1732–1733
- "Harrison Ludington". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1733–1734
- "William E. Smith". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1734–1735
- "Jeremiah M. Rusk". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel p. 1736
- "William Dempster Hoard". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel p. 1737
- "George W. Peck". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1738–1739
- "William H. Upham". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1739–1740
- "Edward Scofield". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1740–1741
- "Robert M. La Follette". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Kallenbach p. 637
- Sobel pp. 1741–1742
- "James O. Davidson". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1742–1743
- "Francis E. McGovern". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1743–1745
- "Emanuel L. Philipp". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1745–1746
- "John J. Blaine". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- ^ Sobel pp. 1746–1747
- "Fred R. Zimmerman". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- ^ Sobel pp. 1747–1748
- "Walter J. Kohler". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- ^ Sobel pp. 1748–1749
- ^ "Philip F. La Follette". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1749–1750
- "Albert G. Schmedeman". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel p. 1751
- "Julius Peter Heil". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel p. 1752
- ^ Sobel pp. 1752–1754
- "Walter S. Goodland". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel p. 1754
- "Oscar Rennebohm". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel p. 1755
- "Walter J. Kohler Jr". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel p. 1756
- "Vernon W. Thomson". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel p. 1757
- "Gaylord Anton Nelson". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1758–1759
- "John W. Reynolds". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1759–1760
- "Warren P. Knowles". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- ^ Sobel pp. 1760–1761
- "Patrick Joseph Lucey". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1761–1762
- "Martin James Schreiber". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- "Lee Sherman Dreyfus". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- "Anthony S. Earl". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- ^ "Tommy G. Thompson". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- "Scott McCallum". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- "Jim Doyle". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- "Scott Walker". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- "Tony Evers". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
External links
Constitutional officers of Wisconsin | |||||
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Category:Lists of state governors of the United States
Governors
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