View source for Governor (United States)

{{Short description|Heads of government of each U.S. state and territory}}
{{See also|List of current United States governors}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2023}}
{{US state gov}}
In the [[United States]], a '''governor''' serves as the chief executive and [[commander-in-chief]] in each of the fifty [[U.S. state|states]] and in the five permanently inhabited [[Territories of the United States|territories]], functioning as [[head of state]] and [[head of government]] therein.{{refn|group=nb|The [[federal district]] of [[Washington, D.C.]] has been led by [[List of mayors of Washington, D.C.|a chief executive officer of varying titles]], including governor. The current governor-equivalent of D.C. is the [[Mayor of the District of Columbia]].}} While like all officials in the United States, checks and balances are placed on the office the governor, significant powers may include ceremonial head of state (representing the state), executive (overseeing the state's government), legislative (proposing, and signing or vetoing laws), judicial (granting state law pardons or commutations), and military (overseeing the militia and organized armed forces of the state).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ferguson |first=Margaret R. |url=https://governors.rutgers.edu/introduction-to-governors/ |title=The Executive Branch of State Government: People, Process and Politics |publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]], Inc. |year=2006 |editor-last=Ferguson |editor-first=Margaret R. |location= university webpage reprint with permission |chapter=ch. 1 and 2 |format=chapters reprinted in full |access-date=August 2, 2024 |via=Center on the American Governor – Rutgers University}}</ref> As such, governors are responsible for implementing state laws and overseeing the operation of the state [[Executive (government)|executive branch]]. As state leaders, governors advance and pursue new and revised policies and programs using a variety of tools, among them [[State executive order|executive orders]], executive budgets, and legislative proposals and vetoes. Governors carry out their management and leadership responsibilities and objectives with the support and assistance of department and agency heads, many of whom they are empowered to appoint. A majority of governors have the authority to appoint state court judges as well, in most cases from a list of names submitted by a nominations committee.<ref>{{cite web|title=Governors' Powers and Authority|url=http://www.nga.org/cms/home/management-resources/governors-powers-and-authority.html|website=Nga.org|publisher=[[National Governors Association]]|location=Washington, D.C.|date=2011}}</ref>

All with the exception of four states and one territory ([[Maine]], [[New Hampshire]], [[Oregon]], [[Puerto Rico]], and [[Wyoming]]) have a [[Lieutenant governor (United States)|lieutenant governor]]. The lieutenant governor succeeds to the gubernatorial office (the powers and duties but not the office, in [[Massachusetts]] and [[West Virginia]]), if vacated by impeachment, death, or resignation of the previous governor. Lieutenant governors also serve as unofficial acting state governors in case the incumbent governors are unable to fulfill their duties, and they often serve as presiding officers of the upper houses of state legislatures. In such cases, they cannot participate in political debates, and they have no vote whenever these houses are not equally divided.

==Role and powers==
States are semi-sovereign republics sharing sovereignty with the [[Federal government of the United States|federal government]] of the United States, and possess a number of powers and rights under the [[Constitution of the United States|United States Constitution]], such as regulating intrastate commerce, holding [[Elections in the United States|elections]], creating [[Local government in the United States|local governments]], and ratifying [[Constitutional amendment#United States|constitutional amendments]]. Each state has its own [[State constitution (United States)|constitution]], grounded in [[Republicanism in the United States|republican principles]], and government, consisting of three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/faq/faqtoc.aspx?subject=1 | title=Frequently Asked Questions About the Minnesota Legislature | publisher=[[Minnesota State Legislature]]}}</ref> Also, due to the shared [[sovereignty]] between each state and the [[federal government of the United States|federal government]], [[Americans]] are [[Citizenship of the United States|citizens]] of both the [[federal republic]] and of the state in which they [[Domicile (law)|reside]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Erler|first1=Edward|title=Essays on Amendment XIV: Citizenship|url=http://www.heritage.org/constitution/#!/amendments/14/essays/167/citizenship|publisher=The Heritage Foundation}}</ref>

The governor heads the government's executive branch in each state or territory and, depending on the individual jurisdiction, may have considerable control over government budgeting, the power of appointment of many officials (including many judges), and a considerable role in legislation. The governor may also have additional roles, such as that of [[commander-in-chief]] of the state's [[United States National Guard|National Guard]] (when not federalized) and of that state's respective [[State defense force|defense force]] (which is not subject to federalization). In many states and territories the governor also has partial or absolute power to [[Commutation (law)|commute]] or [[pardon]] a [[Criminal law|criminal]] [[Sentence (law)|sentence]]. All U.S. governors serve four-year terms except those in [[New Hampshire]] and [[Vermont]], who serve two-year terms.

In all states, the governor is directly elected, and in most cases has considerable practical powers, though this may be moderated by the [[State legislature (United States)|state legislature]] and in some cases by other elected executive officials. In the five extant U.S. territories, all governors are now directly elected as well, though in the past many territorial governors were historically appointed by the President of the United States. Governors can [[veto]] state bills, and in all but seven states they have the power of the [[line-item veto]] on appropriations bills (a power the President does not have). In some cases legislatures can override a gubernatorial veto by a two-thirds vote, in others by three-fifths.

In [[Alabama]], [[Indiana]], [[Kentucky]], and [[Tennessee]], the governor's veto can be overridden by a [[majority|simple majority]] vote. In [[List of governors of Arkansas|Arkansas]], a gubernatorial veto may be overridden by an [[Supermajority|absolute majority]]. The [[governor of North Carolina]] had no veto power until a 1996 referendum. In 47 of the 50 states, whenever there is a vacancy of one of the state's [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] seats, that state's governor has the power to appoint someone to fill the vacancy until a [[By-election|special election]] is held; the governors of [[Oregon]], [[Alaska]], and [[Wisconsin]] do not have this power.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/Vacancies.pdf|title=CRS Report for Congress|date=January 22, 2003|website=Senate.gov|access-date=October 4, 2017}}</ref>

A state governor may give an annual [[State of the State address]] in order to satisfy a constitutional stipulation that a governor must report annually (or in older constitutions described as being "from time to time") on the state or condition of the state. Governors of states may also perform ceremonial roles, such as greeting dignitaries, conferring state decorations, issuing symbolic proclamations or attending the [[state fair]]. The governor may also have an [[official residence]] (see [[List of governors' residences in the United States|Governor's Mansion]]).

In a ranking of the power of the governorship in all 50 states, University of North Carolina political scientist Thad Beyle makes the distinction between "personal powers" of governors, which are factors that vary from person to person, season to season – and the "institutional powers" that are set in place by law. Examples of measurable personal factors are how large a governor's margin of victory was on election day, and standing in public opinion polls. Whether a governor has strong budget controls, appointment authority, and [[Veto|veto powers]] are examples of institutional powers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2001/09/02/governors-powers-ranked/ |title=Governors' powers ranked |first=Stevenson |last=Swanson |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=September 2, 2001 |access-date=November 4, 2014}}</ref>

==History==
{{main|Colonial government in the Thirteen Colonies}}
In colonial North America, governors were chosen in a variety of ways, depending on how the colony was organized. In the [[crown colony|crown colonies]] of Great Britain, France, and Spain, the governor was chosen by the ruling monarch of the colonizing power, or his designees; in British colonies, the [[Board of Trade]] was often the primary decision maker. Colonies based on a corporate charter, such as the [[Connecticut Colony]] and the [[Massachusetts Bay Colony]], elected their own governors based on rules spelled out in the charter or other colonial legislation. In [[Proprietary colony|proprietary colonies]], such as the [[Province of Carolina]] before it became a crown colony (and was divided into [[Province of North Carolina|North]] and [[Province of South Carolina|South]]), governors were chosen by the [[Lord proprietor|Lords Proprietor]] who controlled the colony. In the early years of the [[American Revolutionary War]], eleven of the [[Thirteen Colonies]] evicted (with varying levels of violence) royal and proprietary governors. The other two colonies ([[Connecticut]] and [[Rhode Island]]) had corporate charters; Connecticut Governor [[Jonathan Trumbull]] was governor before and during the war period, while in Rhode Island, Governor [[Joseph Wanton]] was removed from office in 1775 for failing to support the rebel war effort.

Before achieving statehood, many of the 50 states were [[Territories of the United States|territories]] or parts of territories. Administered by the federal government, they had governors who were appointed by the [[President of the United States|president]] and confirmed by the [[United States Senate|Senate]] rather than elected by the resident population. Election of territorial governors began in [[Puerto Rico]] in 1948. The last appointed territorial governor, [[H. Rex Lee|Hyrum Rex Lee]] in [[American Samoa]], left office in 1978.

==Demographics==
===Party===
[[File:United States Governors map.svg|thumb|'''Party affiliation of current United States Governors:'''<br>
{{legend|#3333FF|Democratic}}
{{legend|#161687|New Progressive/Democratic}}
{{legend|#FF3333|Republican}}
]]
As of January 2024, there are 27 states with a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] governor and 23 states with a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] governor. Four Democrats (including the [[Mayor of the District of Columbia]]), one Independent, and one [[New Progressive Party (Puerto Rico)|New Progressive]] also occupy territorial governorships or mayorships. No independent and other third parties currently hold a state governorship.<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 State & Legislative Partisan Composition |url=https://www.ncsl.org/Portals/1/Documents/Elections/Legis_Control_2020_April%201.pdf |website=National Conference of State Legislatures |access-date=September 16, 2020 |date=April 1, 2020}}</ref>

===Tenure===
{{main|List of longest-serving governors of U.S. states}}
[[File:United States gubernatorial term limits.svg|thumb|Governors' terms by state{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
{{legend|#ffee00|No limit}}
{{legend|#995500|No limit, two-year terms}}
{{legend|#000000|One; re-eligible after 4 years}}
{{Col-2}}
{{legend|#eeeeee|Two; re-eligible after 4 years}}
{{legend|#ccddff|Two; eligible 8 out of 12 years}}
{{legend|#22aaff|Two; eligible 8 out of 16 years}}
{{legend|#0022dd|Two, absolute}}
{{Col-end}}]]
For each term, governors serve four years in office. The exceptions are [[Vermont]] and [[New Hampshire]] where tenures are two years long.

The longest-serving current governor is [[Jay Inslee]] of [[Washington (state)|Washington]], who was re-elected to his third term in 2020.

The [[List of longest-serving governors of U.S. States|longest-serving governor]] of all time was [[Terry Branstad]] of [[Iowa]], who was elected to his sixth (non-consecutive) term in [[2014 Iowa gubernatorial election|2014]]. Governor Branstad resigned on May 24, 2017, to become the United States Ambassador to China. He held the title of [[List of governors of Iowa|Governor of Iowa]] for 22 years. On December 14, 2015, he became the longest-serving governor in US history, breaking the record held by [[George Clinton (vice president)|George Clinton]] of [[New York (state)|New York]], who served 21 years from 1777 to 1795 and from 1801 to 1804.

In the majority of states and territories, [[Term limits in the United States#Gubernatorial term limits|term limit laws]] officially cap a governor's tenure.

===Age===
The oldest current governor is [[Kay Ivey]] of [[Alabama]], born on {{birth date and age|1944|10|15}}. The youngest current state governor is [[Sarah Huckabee Sanders]] of [[Arkansas]] who was born on {{birth date and age|1982|8|13}}. Among territorial governors, [[Albert Bryan (politician)|Albert Bryan]] of the [[United States Virgin Islands]] is the youngest, born on {{birth date and age|1968|2|21}}.

The youngest person to ever serve as a governor in the United States was [[Stevens T. Mason]] of the [[Michigan Territory]], first elected in 1835 having just turned 24. Mason would later become the first governor of the state of [[Michigan]] when it was admitted to the Union in January 1837, when he was 25. Mason was re-elected in November 1837, then age 26.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-17451_18670_18793-52864--,00.html|title=Stevens Thomson Mason – Background Reading|website=Michigan.gov|access-date=October 4, 2017}}</ref>

The second youngest governor ever elected was [[Henry C. Warmoth]] of [[Louisiana]], who was elected during reconstruction in 1868 at the age of 26. The third youngest governor was [[William Sprague IV]] of [[Rhode Island]], who was elected in 1860 at the age of 29. When future President [[Bill Clinton]] was elected [[List of governors of Arkansas|Governor of Arkansas]] in 1978 at age 32, he became the youngest governor since [[Harold Stassen]] of [[Minnesota]], elected in 1938 at age 31.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mnhs.org/library/tips/history_topics/136stassen.htm|title=LibGuides: Harold E. Stassen|first=MNHS Reference|last=Staff|website=Mnhs.org|access-date=October 4, 2017}}</ref>

In 35 states, the minimum age requirement of the governor is age 30 years old or older, though in some it is age 25 years old or older (7), age 21 years old or older (1), or age 18 years old or older (5). Oklahoma is the only state with an older minimum age requirement, age 31 years old or older. Some states require the governor to be a qualified elector/voter, implying a minimum age of 18. Vermont requires candidates to be residents of the state for at least four years as of Election Day, which would preclude small children from running, but has no other implicit or explicit age limit.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sec.state.vt.us/|title=Candidates|website=Vermont Secretary of State|access-date=February 25, 2019|archive-date=April 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411205733/https://www.sec.state.vt.us/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Gender===
{{Main|List of female governors in the United States}}
[[File:United States Governor gender map.svg|thumb|State and territorial governors, colored as male (blue) and female (pink).]]
As of January 2023, there are 38 male state governors. The 12 female governors are: [[Kay Ivey]] of [[Alabama]], [[Katie Hobbs]] of [[Arizona]], [[Sarah Huckabee Sanders]] of [[Arkansas]], [[Kim Reynolds]] of [[Iowa]], [[Laura Kelly]] of [[Kansas]], [[Janet Mills]] of [[Maine]], [[Maura Healey]] of [[Massachusetts]], [[Gretchen Whitmer]] of [[Michigan]], [[Michelle Lujan Grisham]] of [[New Mexico]], [[Kathy Hochul]] of [[New York (state)|New York]], [[Tina Kotek]] of [[Oregon]], and [[Kristi Noem]] of [[South Dakota]]. Of those, Ivey, Huckabee Sanders, Noem, and Reynolds are [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]], while Hobbs, Kelly, Mills, Healey, Whitmer, Grisham, Hochul, and Kotek are [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]].

Four territorial governors are male; one territorial governor and the mayor of Washington, D.C. are female.

Forty-three women have served or are currently serving as state or territorial governors, including two in an acting capacity.

The first female governor was [[Nellie Tayloe Ross]] of [[Wyoming]] (widow of the late Wyoming Governor [[William B. Ross]]) who was elected on November 4, 1924, and sworn in on January 5, 1925, succeeding [[Frank Lucas (Wyoming politician)|Frank Lucas]]. Also elected on November 4, 1924, was [[Miriam A. Ferguson]] of [[Texas]] (wife of former Texas Governor [[James E. Ferguson]]), succeeding [[Pat Morris Neff]] on January 21, 1925. The first female governor elected without being the wife or widow of a past state governor was [[Ella Grasso|Ella T. Grasso]] of [[Connecticut]], elected in 1974 and sworn in on January 8, 1975.

[[Connecticut]], [[Arizona]], and [[New Mexico]] are the only three states to have elected female governors from both major parties. [[New Hampshire]] has also had female governors from two parties, but Republican [[Vesta M. Roy]] served only in the acting capacity for a short time. Arizona was the first state where a woman followed another woman as governor (they were from different parties). Arizona also has had the most female governors with a total of five, and is the first state to have three women in a row serve as governor. [[Washington (state)|Washington]] was the first state to have both a female governor and female U.S. Senators serving at the same time ([[Christine Gregoire]]; [[Patty Murray]]; [[Maria Cantwell]], respectively), from 2005 to 2013. [[New Hampshire]] was the first and currently only state to have a female governor and entirely female Congressional delegation serving at the same time, from 2013 to 2015.

Twelve women have been serving as chief executive of their states since January 10, 2023, when [[Sarah Huckabee Sanders]] was inaugurated as the first female governor of [[Arkansas]]. This beats the record of eleven set just days earlier following [[Maura Healey]]'s inauguration as Governor of [[Massachusetts]] on January 5, 2023.

===LGBT status===
There are currently three governors who identify as [[LGBT]]: [[Jared Polis]] (Colorado), who identifies as gay, and [[Tina Kotek]] (Oregon) and [[Maura Healey]] (Massachusetts) who identify as lesbians.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/09/style/jared-polis-gay-governor.html|title=Colorado's Got a Gay Governor. Who Cares?|last=Schneier|first=Matthew|date=January 9, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 10, 2019|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

===Race and ethnicity===
{{main|List of minority governors and lieutenant governors in the United States}}

Ethnic minorities as [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|defined by the United States Census]] currently constitute 38.9% of the total population of the U.S. as of 2018.<ref name=acs17>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=united%20states&g=0100000US&hidePreview=false&tid=ACSDP5Y2018.DP05&vintage=2018&cid=DP05_0001E|title=ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates|date=December 2019|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]] |access-date=March 4, 2020}}</ref> There are currently 46 state governors who are non-Hispanic whites of [[European Americans|European American]] background. There are 4 minority governors: [[Wes Moore]] of [[Maryland]], who is black, [[Michelle Lujan Grisham]] of [[New Mexico]], who is of Hispanic descent; [[Chris Sununu]] of [[New Hampshire]], who is of Lebanese, Palestinian, Latin American, Irish and British descent; and [[Kevin Stitt]] of [[Oklahoma]], who is a member of the [[Cherokee Nation]]. Sununu and Stitt are [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]], while Grisham and Moore are [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]].

Among the five U.S. territories, one Hispanic ([[Pedro Pierluisi]] of [[Puerto Rico]]), one Black ([[Albert Bryan (politician)|Albert Bryan]] of the [[United States Virgin Islands|U.S. Virgin Islands]]), and three [[Pacific Islander Americans]] ([[Lou Leon Guerrero]] of [[Guam]], [[Lemanu Peleti Mauga]] of [[American Samoa]], and [[Arnold Palacios]] of the [[Northern Mariana Islands]]) currently serve as governor. African-American [[Muriel Bowser]] is the current [[Mayor of the District of Columbia]], an office equivalent to a governor.

In 1990, [[Douglas Wilder]] of [[Virginia]] became the first African-American governor of any state since the [[Reconstruction era]].

===Birthplace===
{{main|List of United States governors born outside the United States}}
Thirteen of the current state governors were born outside the state they are serving: [[Mike Dunleavy (politician)|Mike Dunleavy]] of Alaska (born in Pennsylvania), [[Ned Lamont]] of Connecticut (born in Washington, D.C.), [[Josh Green (politician)|Josh Green]] of Hawaii (born in New York), [[J. B. Pritzker]] of Illinois (born in California), [[Laura Kelly]] of Kansas (born in New York), [[Maura Healey]] of Massachusetts (born in Maryland), [[Tim Walz]] of Minnesota (born in Nebraska), [[Greg Gianforte]] of Montana (born in California), [[Joe Lombardo]] of Nevada (born in Japan), [[Phil Murphy]] of New Jersey (born in Massachusetts), [[Kevin Stitt]] of Oklahoma (born in Florida), [[Tina Kotek]] of Oregon (born in Pennsylvania), [[Josh Shapiro]] of Pennsylvania (born in Missouri), and [[Mark Gordon (politician)|Mark Gordon]] of Wyoming (born in New York). One governor, [[Joe Lombardo]] of Nevada, was born outside the United States (born in Sapporo, Japan).

State constitutions have varying requirements for the length of citizenship and residency of the governor but unlike the President, state governors do not need to be [[Natural-born-citizen clause|natural-born citizens]]. There is some ambiguity in some state constitutions if a governor must be a citizen or just a resident.

===Physical disability===
Two legally blind governors have served: [[Bob C. Riley]], who was acting governor of Arkansas for eleven days in January 1975, and [[David Paterson]], who was governor of New York from 2008 until 2010.

The current governor of Texas, [[Greg Abbott]], has been [[Paraplegia|paraplegic]] since an accident in 1984; he has used a wheelchair ever since. Governor of New York [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] was paraplegic; he later became the first wheelchair-using president. Governor of Alabama [[George Wallace]] was paralyzed from the waist down after being shot in 1972. He never walked again.

==Salary==
The average salary of a state governor in 2009 was $124,398. The highest salary currently being accepted is that of [[New York (state)|New York]] Governor [[Kathy Hochul]] at $225,000. The lowest salaries are those of Maine Governor [[Janet Mills]] and [[Pedro Pierluisi]] of Puerto Rico at $70,000 each.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2013/06/25/governors-salaries-range-from-70000-to-187256|title=Governors' Salaries Range From $70,000 to $187,256|website=Pewtrusts.org|date=June 25, 2013 |access-date=October 4, 2017}}</ref>

There have been several instances where the governor of a state has either refused their salary in its entirety or instead only taken $1.00 per year. Alabama Governor [[Robert J. Bentley]] refused his yearly salary of $119,950.00 until the state reached full employment. Michigan Governor [[Rick Snyder]] took a $1.00 yearly salary. Texas Governor [[Greg Abbott]] has returned his salary to the state during each year he has held office. During his tenure as [[Governor of California]], [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] also did not accept his salary of $170,000 per year. However, several governors instead have decided to take a reduction in their salary instead of refusing it entirely. New York Governor [[Andrew Cuomo]] took a 5 percent reduction in his salary in 2015, and Kentucky Governor [[Steve Beshear]] reduced his salary by 10 percent during the same year.

Only nine states (Massachusetts,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cthrupayroll.mass.gov |title=Statewide Payroll |access-date=June 5, 2019}}</ref> California, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina,<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.cbs17.com/news/capitol-report/elected-officials-getting-bigger-pay-raises-than-teachers-state-workers-in-budget/| title = Elected officials getting bigger pay raises than teachers, state workers in budget| last = Hyland| first = Michael| date = September 22, 2023| website = CBS17| publisher = Nexstar Media| access-date = December 5, 2023}}</ref> and Virginia) currently offer their governors a higher salary than the $174,000 paid to members of Congress. In many states, the governor is not the highest-paid state employee; most often, that distinction is held by the head [[College football|football]] or men's [[basketball]] coach at a major state university.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

==Gubernatorial election timeline==
All states except Louisiana hold gubernatorial elections on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November. The earliest possible date for the election is therefore November 2 (if that date falls on a Tuesday), and the latest possible date is November 8 (if November 1 falls on a Tuesday). Louisiana holds its gubernatorial primary on the third or fourth Saturday of October and the general election (commonly referred to as the runoff within the state) on the third Saturday of November, but the general election is cancelled if one candidate wins the primary outright (see primary section below).
* '''Two states hold their gubernatorial elections every even numbered year'''. Recent years are [[2012 United States gubernatorial elections|2012]], [[2014 United States gubernatorial elections|2014]], [[2016 United States gubernatorial elections|2016]], [[2018 United States gubernatorial elections|2018]], [[2020 United States gubernatorial elections|2020]] and [[2022 United States gubernatorial elections|2022]].
:New Hampshire and Vermont

The other 48 states hold gubernatorial elections every four years.
* '''Thirty-four states and three territories hold their gubernatorial elections during a midterm election year. Washington D.C. also holds their mayoral election during a midterm election year.''' Recent years are [[2006 United States gubernatorial elections|2006]], [[2010 United States gubernatorial elections|2010]], [[2014 United States gubernatorial elections|2014]], [[2018 United States gubernatorial elections|2018]] and [[2022 United States gubernatorial elections|2022]].
:Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Washington, D.C.
* '''Nine states and two territories hold their gubernatorial elections during a presidential election year''' (although Puerto Rico and American Samoa do not hold an election for president). Recent years are [[2004 United States gubernatorial elections|2004]], [[2008 United States gubernatorial elections|2008]], [[2012 United States gubernatorial elections|2012]], [[2016 United States gubernatorial elections|2016]], and [[2020 United States gubernatorial elections|2020]].
:Delaware, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, American Samoa, and Puerto Rico.
* '''Three states hold their gubernatorial elections the year before a presidential election year.''' Recent years are [[2007 United States gubernatorial elections|2007]], [[2011 United States gubernatorial elections|2011]], [[2015 United States gubernatorial elections|2015]], [[2019 United States gubernatorial elections|2019]], and [[2023 United States gubernatorial elections|2023]].
:Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi
* '''Two states hold their gubernatorial elections the year after a presidential election year.''' Recent years are [[2005 United States gubernatorial elections|2005]], [[2009 United States gubernatorial elections|2009]], [[2013 United States gubernatorial elections|2013]], [[2017 United States gubernatorial elections|2017]], and [[2021 United States gubernatorial elections|2021]].
:New Jersey and Virginia

===Gubernatorial primaries===
All states except for California, Louisiana, and Washington hold primaries in which each political party holds a primary election, and the winner of the primary election moves on to compete in a general election. In California, Louisiana, and Washington, all the candidates run in a [[blanket primary]] against each other. Regardless of political party, the top two candidates move on to the general election. In Louisiana, the general election occurs between the top two candidates if no candidate obtains more than 50% of the votes cast, and is cancelled if one of the candidates receives more than 50%. In California and Washington, the top two vote getters proceed to the general election regardless of how many votes the top vote getter received in the primary, and California prohibits [[Write-in candidate|write-in]] candidates from competing in the general election.

===Comparison with other U.S. general elections===
{{US elections}}

==Term limits==
{{See|Term limits in the United States#Gubernatorial term limits}}In most states, governors can serve two four-year terms.

==Relationship with lieutenant governor==
[[File:Methods for electing lieutenant governors.svg|thumb|{{Legend|#D3D3D3|Position nonexistent}}{{Legend|#FF0000|Title given to the leader of state senate}}{{Legend|#FFDF00|Separate election}}{{Legend|#00BFFF|Same ticket in the general election, separate election in the primaries}}{{Legend|#0000FF|Same ticket}}]]
The type of relationship between the governor and the lieutenant governor greatly varies by state. In some states the governor and lieutenant governor are completely independent of each other, while in others the governor gets to choose (prior to the election) who would be their lieutenant governor.
* '''Four states [[List of current United States lieutenant governors#States which do not have lieutenant governors|do not have a lieutenant governor]]'''. In those states, a different [[State constitutional officer|constitutional officer]] assumes the office of the governor should there be a vacancy in the office. Those states are Oregon and Wyoming where the Secretary of State is next in line, and Maine and New Hampshire, where the President of the Senate is next in line. This may exactly lead to the constitutional officers sometimes occasionally originating from the different political parties.
* '''Two states have the State Senate appoint the lieutenant governor''', which may sometimes occasionally mean that the governor and the lieutenant governor may be from different parties. Those states are Tennessee and West Virginia.
* '''Seventeen states have the separate elections for the governor and the lieutenant governor''', which may lead to the governor and the lieutenant governor being from very different political parties. Those states are Alabama, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.
* '''Eight states have the governor and the lieutenant governor run together on the same ticket, but the governor does not get to choose their own running mate'''. In those states, the primaries for governor and lieutenant governor are held separately, and the winners run together as a joint ticket in the general election. The governor and lieutenant governor would therefore be from the same party, but not necessarily political allies. Those states are Alaska, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
* '''Nineteen states have the governor and the lieutenant governor run together on the same ticket, where the gubernatorial candidate gets to choose their running mate''' similar to the President and Vice President of the United States. In nine of those states, Arizona, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, and Utah, the gubernatorial candidates pick their running mates before the primaries. In the other ten states, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, South Carolina, and South Dakota, the running mate is chosen after the primary. The latter system allows the nominee to potentially select a defeated primary competitor.

==Constitutional gubernatorial qualifications by state==
[[File:US-State-Governor-Citizenship-requirement.svg|thumb|Citizenship requirements to become Governor of a US State. States with Numbers are of US states with Citizenship requirements by Years]]
With the notable exception of Kansas,<ref name="No gubernatorial qualifications in Kansas whatsoever">{{Cite web |url=http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article175956836.html |title=As third teen joins Kansas governor race, consider this: No rule says a dog can't run |last=Woodall |first=Hunter |date=September 28, 2017 |website=The Kansas City Star |access-date=September 29, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Kansas Gubernatorial Race Flooded With Teen Candidates">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thecut.com/2017/09/teens-running-kansas-governors-race-2018.html |title=Kansas Gubernatorial Race Flooded With Teen Candidates |last=Paiella |first=Gabriella |date=September 28, 2017 |website=The Cut |access-date=September 29, 2017}}</ref> each of the states specifies in its [[State constitution (United States)|constitution]] its qualifications for Governor.
{| class="wikitable sortable" width="100%"
|- valign="top"
! style="text-align:left" width="15%" | State and statute
! style="text-align:left" width="10%" | [[Age of candidacy laws in the United States|Minimum age]]
! style="text-align:left" width="20%" | [[Residency (domicile)|Residency]]
! style="text-align:left" width="20%" | [[Citizenship of the United States|U.S. citizenship]]
! style="text-align:left" width="10%" | [[Voter registration in the United States|Registered voter/elector]]
! style="text-align:left" width="10%" | Sole employment
! style="text-align:left" width="10%" | Sole office
! style="text-align:left" width="35%" | Notes
|- valign="top"
|{{flagicon|Alabama}}Alabama: [[Constitution of Alabama|Article V, Section 116]]<ref name="Governor of Alabama">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Alabama |title=Governor of Alabama |website=Ballotpedia|access-date=September 29, 2017}}</ref>||30||For at least seven years by the date of the election||For at least ten years by the date of the election||||||Yes||Federal positions and any other state positions are precluded
|-
|{{flagicon|Alaska}}Alaska: [[Constitution of Alaska|Article III, Section 2]]<ref name="Constitution of Alaska">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Article_III,_Alaska_Constitution#Section_2 |title=Article III, Alaska Constitution |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=September 29, 2017}}</ref>
||30 ||At least seven years prior to filing ||At least seven years prior to filing||Yes|||||Yes||"qualified voter of the State..."
"The governor shall not hold any other office or position of profit under the United States, the State, or its political subdivisions."
|-
|{{flagicon|Arizona}}Arizona: [[Constitution of Arizona|Article V, Section 2]]:<ref name="Governor of Arizona">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Arizona |title=Governor of Arizona |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=September 29, 2017}}</ref>||25||Five years by election day||Five years by election day||Yes||||||
|-
|{{flagicon|Arkansas}}Arkansas: [[Constitution of Arkansas|Article 6, Section 11]]<ref name="Governor of Arkansas">{{Cite web|title=Governor of Arkansas|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Arkansas|access-date=September 30, 2017|website=Ballotpedia}}</ref>||30||By at least seven years on election day||Yes||||||Yes||
"May not hold any federal office, any civil or military commission, any office in another state, or any other office in Arkansas." 
|-
|{{flagicon|California}}California: [[Constitution of California|Article 5, Section 2]]<ref name="Governor of California">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_California |title=Governor of California |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=September 30, 2017}}</ref>||18 <small>(by virtue that the candidate must be a registered voter)</small>||For five years immediately preceding the Governor's election ||For five years immediately preceding the Governor's election||Yes||||Yes||
|-
|{{flagicon|Colorado}}Colorado: [[Constitution of Colorado|Article IV, Section 4]]<ref name="Governor of Colorado">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Colorado |title=Covernor of Colorado |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 1, 2017}}</ref>||30||For at least two years on the day of the election||Yes||||||Any legislative or judicial office is precluded|| The standard for residency is not affected by time out of the state due to civil or military service
|-
|{{flagicon|Connecticut}}Connecticut: [[Constitution of Connecticut|Article IV, Section 5]]<ref name="Governor of Connecticut">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Connecticut |title=Governor of Connecticut|website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 1, 2017}}</ref>||30||On election day||On election day||On election day|||||||
|-
|{{flagicon|Delaware}}Delaware: [[Constitution of Delaware|Article III, Section 1]]<ref name="Governor of Delaware">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Delaware |title=Governor of Delaware |access-date=October 1, 2017}}</ref>||30||Six years on election day||12 years on election day||||||||"...and have been a citizen and inhabitant of the United States twelve years next before the day of his election, and the last six years of that term an inhabitant of this State, unless he shall have been absent on public business of the United States or of this State."
|-
|{{flagicon|Florida}}Florida: [[Constitution of Florida|Article IV, Section 5]]<ref name="Governor of Florida">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Florida |title=Governor of Florida |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 1, 2017}}</ref>||30||Seven years||||Seven years||||||
|-
|{{flagicon image|Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg}}Georgia: [[Constitution of Georgia (U.S. state)|Article V, Section 1, Paragraph IV]]<ref name="Governor of Georgia">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Georgia |title=Governor of Georgia |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 5, 2017}}</ref>||30||Six years immediately preceding the election||Fifteen years immediately preceding the election||Yes||||||
|-
|{{flagicon|Hawaii}}Hawaii: [[Constitution of Hawaii|Article V, Section 1]]<ref name="Governor of Hawaii">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Hawaii |title=Governor of Hawaii |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 2, 2017}}</ref>||30||||Five years consecutive years previous to election||||||Yes||"The governor shall not hold any other office or employment of profit under the State or the United States during the governor's term of office."
|-
|{{flagicon|Idaho}}Idaho: [[Constitution of Idaho|Article IV, Section 3]]||30||At least two years prior to the election||Yes||||||||
|-
|{{flagicon|Illinois}}Illinois: [[Constitution of Illinois|Article V, Section 3]]||25||Three years preceding his election||Yes||||||||
|-
|{{flagicon|Indiana}}Indiana: [[Constitution of Indiana|Article 5, Section 1]]||30||Five consecutive years before the election||Five consecutive years before the election||||||Yes||The governor may not hold any other state or federal office during his term
|-
|{{flagicon|Iowa}}Iowa: [[Constitution of Iowa|Article IV, Section 6]]||30||At least two years before the election||Yes||||||||
|-
|{{flagicon|Kansas}}Kansas: [[Constitution of Kansas]]||18||||||||||||No requirements set forth in the Constitution, however a law was passed in 2018 requiring gubernatorial candidates to be residents of the state and at least 18 years of age.
|-
|{{flagicon|Kentucky}}Kentucky: [[Constitution of Kentucky|Article IV, Section 72]]<ref name="The Governor of Kentucky">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/The_Executive_Department,_Kentucky_Constitution |title=The Executive Department, Kentucky Constitutions |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 2, 2017}}</ref>||30||At least six years preceding the general election||||||||||
|-
|{{flagicon|Louisiana}}Louisiana: [[Constitution of Louisiana|Article IV, Section 2]]<ref name="Governor of Louisiana">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Louisiana |title=Governor of Louisiana |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 4, 2017}}</ref>||25||Must have been a citizen of Louisiana for at least the preceding five years||Yes||Yes||||Yes||
|-
|{{flagicon|Maine}}Maine: [[Constitution of Maine|Article IV, Part 1]]<ref name="Governor of Maine">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Maine |title=Governor of Maine |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 5, 2017}}</ref>||30||A resident for at least five years||At least fifteen years||Yes||||Yes||During his/her tenure in office, a statewide elected official shall hold no other public office
|-
|{{flagicon|Maryland}}Maryland: [[Constitution of Maryland|Article II, Section I]]<ref name="Governor of Maryland">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Maryland |title=Governor of Maryland |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 7, 2017}}</ref>||30||For five years preceding the election|||||For five years preceding the election||||||
|-
|{{flagicon|Massachusetts}}Massachusetts:[[Constitution of Massachusetts|Section I, Article II]]<ref name="Governor of Massachusetts">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Chapter_2,_Massachusetts_Constitution |title=Chapter 2, Massachusetts Constitution |website=Ballotpedia }}</ref> ||30||Seven years||||||||||
|-
|{{flagicon|Michigan}}Michigan:[[Constitution of Michigan|Section 22]]<ref name="Governor of Michigan">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Michigan |title=Governor of Michigan |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 7, 2017}}</ref>||30||||||For at least four years preceding the election||||||
|-
|{{flagicon|Minnesota}}Minnesota: [[Constitution of Minnesota|Article V, Section 2]]<ref name="Governor of Minnesota">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Minnesota |title=Governor of Minnesota |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 7, 2017}}</ref> ||25||At least two years before the election||||Yes||||||
|-
|{{flagicon|Mississippi}}Mississippi: [[Constitution of Mississippi|Article V]]<ref name="Governor of Mississippi">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Mississippi |title=Governor of Mississippi |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 8, 2017}}</ref>||30||Five years||Twenty years||||||||
|-
|{{flagicon|Missouri}}Missouri: [[Constitution of Missouri|Article IV]]<ref name="Governor of Missouri">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Missouri |title=Governor of Missouri |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 8, 2017}}</ref>||30||For at least ten years||For at least fifteen years||||||||
|-
|{{flagicon|Montana}}Montana: [[Constitution of Montana|Article VI]]<ref name="Governor of Montana">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Montana |title=Governor of Montana |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 8, 2017}}</ref>||25||For least two years at his election||Yes||||||||
|-
|{{flagicon|Nebraska}}Nebraska: [[Constitution of Nebraska|Article IV]]<ref name="Governor of Nebraska">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Nebraska |title=Governor of Nebraska |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref>||30||For at least five years||Yes||||||||
|-
|{{flagicon|Nevada}}Nevada: [[Constitution of Nevada|Article V, Section I]]<ref name="Governor of Nevada">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Nevada |title=Governor of Nevada |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref>||25||For at least two years||||Yes||||Yes||While in office, the governor may not hold any federal level office.
|-
|{{flagicon|New Hampshire}}New Hampshire: [[Constitution of New Hampshire]]<ref name="Governor of New Hampshire">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_New_Hampshire |title=Governor of New Hampshire |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref>|||30||For at least seven years on election day||||Yes||||||
|-
|{{flagicon|New Jersey}}New Jersey: [[Constitution of New Jersey|Article V]]<ref name="Governor of New Jersey">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_New_Jersey |title=Governor of New Jersey |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref>||30||For at least seven years||For at least twenty years||||||Yes||No governor shall hold office in any other state or under the federal government, nor shall a sitting governor be elected to any legislative seat. Governors who accept any state or federal position or profit are considered to have vacated their seat.
|-
|{{flagicon|New Mexico}}New Mexico: [[Constitution of New Mexico|Article V, Section 3]]<ref name="Governor of New Mexico">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_New_Mexico |title=Governor of New Mexico |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref>||30||Must have been a resident of New Mexico continuously for five years on the day of the election||Yes||||||||
|-
|{{flagicon|New York}}New York: [[Constitution of New York|Article IV]]<ref name="Governor of New York">{{Cite web|title=Governor of New York|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_New_York|access-date=October 9, 2017|website=Ballotpedia}}</ref>||30||For at least five years prior to the election||Yes||||||||
|-
|{{flagicon|North Carolina}}North Carolina: [[Constitution of North Carolina|Article III]]<ref name="Governor of North Carolina">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_North_Carolina |title=Governor of North Carolina |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref>||30||For at least two years||For at least five years||||||||
|-
|{{flagicon|North Dakota}}North Dakota: [[Constitution of North Dakota]]<ref name="Governor of North Dakota">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_North_Dakota |title=Governor of North Dakota |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref>||30||For at least five years||||Yes||||||
|-
|{{flagicon|Ohio}}Ohio: [[Constitution of Ohio]]<ref name="Governor of Ohio">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Ohio |title=Governor of Ohio |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref>||18||||||||||||A candidate for the governor's office may not hold any congressional or federal office or any other state office.
|-
|{{flagicon|Oklahoma}}Oklahoma: [[Constitution of Oklahoma]]<ref name="Governor of Oklahoma">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Oklahoma |title=Governor of Oklahoma |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref>||31||For at least ten years||Yes||||||||
|-
|{{flagicon|Oregon}}Oregon: [[Constitution of Oregon]]<ref name="Governor of Oregon">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Oregon |title=Governor of Oregon |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref>||30||For at least three years||Yes||||||||The age requirements do not apply to someone who succeeds to office under Section 8a of Article V.
|-
|{{flagicon|Pennsylvania}}Pennsylvania: [[Constitution of Pennsylvania]]<ref name="Governor of Pennsylvania">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Pennsylvania |title=Governor of Pennsylvania |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref>||30||For at least seven years||Yes||||||Yes|| The governor may not hold Congressional office, any other office under the Commonwealth, or any federal office. The exception is that the governor may be a reserve member of the [[National Guard of the United States|National Guard]].
|-
|{{flagicon|Rhode Island}}Rhode Island: [[Constitution of Rhode Island|Article III, Of Qualification of Office]]<ref name="Governor of Rhode Island">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Rhode_Island |title=Governor of Rhode Island |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref> ||||||||Yes||||Yes|| Governors shall not be serving a sentence for, on probation for, or on parole for any felony.
|-
|{{flagicon|South Carolina}}South Carolina: [[Constitution of South Carolina|Article IV]]<ref name="Governor of South Carolina">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_South_Carolina |title=Governor of South Carolina |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref>||30||For at least five years||Yes||||||Yes||The statute that a candidate for the governor must believe in the existence of the "Supreme Being" was declared unconstitutional by the South Carolina Supreme Court in 1996; although it has not been repealed, it is unenforceable. Furthermore, the Governor may not hold office or a commission under any other power, excepting that of a [[National Guard of the United States|militia]].
|-
|{{flagicon|South Dakota}}South Dakota: [[Constitution of South Dakota|Article IV]]<ref name="Governor of South Dakota">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_South_Dakota |title=Governor of South Dakota |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref>||21||For at least two years as of the election||Yes||||||||
|-
|{{flagicon|Tennessee}}Tennessee: [[Constitution of Tennessee|Article III]]<ref name="Governor of Tennessee">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Tennessee |title=Governor of Tennessee |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref>||30||For at least seven years upon his election||Yes|||||||||
|-
|{{flagicon|Texas}} [[Texas]]: [[Constitution of Texas|Article 4, Section 4]]<ref name="Governor of Texas">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Texas |title=Governor of Texas |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref>||30||For at least five years immediately preceding his election||Yes||||Yes||Yes||The Governor... shall not hold any other of&shy;fice: civ&shy;il, mili&shy;tary or corpor&shy;ate; nor shall he prac&shy;tice any profes&shy;sion, and re&shy;ceive compen&shy;sation, re&shy;ward, fee, or the prom&shy;ise there&shy;of for the same; nor receive any sal&shy;ary, reward or compen&shy;sation or the promise there&shy;of from any per&shy;son or corpor&shy;ation, for any service rend&shy;ered or performed dur&shy;ing the time he is Gover&shy;nor, or to be there&shy;after rendered or performed.
|-
|{{flagicon|Utah}}Utah: [[Constitution of Utah|Article VII]]<ref name="Governor of Utah">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Utah |title=Governor of Utah |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref>||30||For at least five years on the day of the election||Yes||Yes||||Yes||Sitting Governors may not hold any federal office, any state office other than the governorship, or be elected to the United States Senate during his term.
|-
|{{flagicon|Vermont}}Vermont: [[Constitution of Vermont|Chapter II]]<ref name="Governor of Vermont">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Vermont |title=Governor of Vermont |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref>||||A candidate for governor must be a resident of Vermont for at least four years on the day of the election||||||||Yes|||Governors may not hold any legislative office or any other constitutional office. Excepting positions in [[Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces|military reserves]], they also may not hold any office under the federal government. Nor is the governor eligible for any appointed position made by any branch of the Vermont government.
|-
|{{flagicon|Virginia}}Virginia: [[Constitution of Virginia|Article VI, Section 1]]<ref name="Governor of Virginia">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Virginia |title=Governor of Virginia |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref>||30||For at least five years at the time of the election||Yes||For at least one year preceding the election||||||
|-
|{{flagicon|Washington}}Washington: [[Constitution of Washington|Article III, Section 2]]<ref name="Governor of Washington">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Washington |title=Governor of Washington |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref>||||||Yes||Yes||||||
|-
|{{flagicon|West Virginia}}West Virginia: [[Constitution of West Virginia|Article VII]]||30||For at least five years preceding the election||Yes||Yes||||Yes||Under Article IV, Section 10, no individual who has fought a duel with deadly weapons, sent a challenge for such a duel, or knowingly acted as a second in such a duel in West Virginia or in any other state may hold any office in West Virginia.
|-
|{{flagicon|Wisconsin}}Wisconsin: [[Constitution of Wisconsin]]<ref name="Governor of Wisconsin">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Wisconsin |title=Governor of Wisconsin |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref>||18<ref>{{Cite web |title=Governor of Wisconsin |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Wisconsin |access-date=December 9, 2023 |website=Ballotpedia}}</ref>|| ||Yes||Yes||||Partially||No gubernatorial may hold any office, honor or profit under any foreign power, nor 
hold any federal office, be a convicted felon, or be convicted of any misdemeanor involving a violation of the public trust.
|-
|{{flagicon|Wyoming}}Wyoming: [[Constitution of Wyoming|Article 4]]<ref name="Governor of Wyoming">{{Cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Governor_of_Wyoming |title=Governor of Wyoming |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=October 9, 2017}}</ref>||30||For at least five years preceding the election||Yes||On the day of the election||||Yes||Any governor who asks for, receives, or agrees to receive a bribe automatically forfeits his office and his right to hold any other office in Wyoming upon his conviction.
|}

==See also==
* The [[Flags of governors of the U.S. states|flags]] and [[Seals of governors of the U.S. states|seals]] of governors of the U.S. states
* [[Governor]] and [[lieutenant governor]] (non-U.S.)
* [[List of U.S. state governors born outside the United States]]
* [[List of current state governors in Mexico|Mexican state governors]]
* [[Premier (Australia)]] {{ndash}} similar position of state/territorial government in Australia
* [[Premier (Canada)]] {{ndash}} similar position of provincial/territorial government in Canada

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist|group=nb}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links are==
{{sister project links|constitution}}
*[http://www.thegreenpapers.com/slg/constitution.phtml The Green Papers: Constitutions of the states]
*[http://www.thegreenpapers.com/slg/explanation-constitution.phtml The Green Papers: State constitutions, an explanation]
*[http://www.thegreenpapers.com/slg/links.phtml The Green Papers: Links to state constitutions]
*[http://www.americangenesis.com Citings of Religious Influence in First State Constitutions]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100304170455/http://governors.rutgers.edu/index.htm Rutgers Program on the Governor]

{{US Chief Executives}}
{{Current U.S. governors}}
{{U.S. state cabinets}}
{{United States topics}}
{{Constitutions of the United States}}
{{USStateLists}}

[[Category:Government occupations]]
[[Category:Gubernatorial titles]]
[[Category:State government in the United States]]
[[Category:State governors of the United States| ]]