List of governors of Kentucky: Difference between revisions

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Formal name of Kentucky is the Commonwealth of Kentucky, changed the table name of the list of governors from "State of Kentucky" to "Commonwealth" of the same.
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{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Governors of the State of Kentucky
|+ Governors of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
!scope="col" data-sort-type="number"|{{abbr|No.|Number}}{{efn|The state labels Matt Bevin as the 62nd governor;<ref>{{cite web | url=https://governor.ky.gov/about/governor-matt-bevin/ | title=Governor Matt Bevin | publisher=Governor of Kentucky | access-date=November 19, 2018}}</ref> based on this, subsequent terms of repeat governors are numbered.}}
!scope="col" data-sort-type="number"|{{abbr|No.|Number}}{{efn|The state labels Matt Bevin as the 62nd governor;<ref>{{cite web | url=https://governor.ky.gov/about/governor-matt-bevin/ | title=Governor Matt Bevin | publisher=Governor of Kentucky | access-date=November 19, 2018}}</ref> based on this, subsequent terms of repeat governors are numbered.}}
!scope="col" colspan="3"|Governor
!scope="col" colspan="3"|Governor

Revision as of 19:02, 14 May 2021

The Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of Kentucky's state government,[1] and serves as commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.[2] The governor has a duty to enforce state laws;[3] the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Kentucky General Assembly;[4] the power to convene the legislature;[5] and the power to grant pardons, except in cases of treason and impeachment.[6] He or she is also empowered to reorganize the state government or reduce it in size. Historically, the office has been regarded as one of the most powerful executive positions in the United States.[7]

Fifty-eight individuals have held the office of Governor. Prior to a 1992 amendment to the state's constitution, the Governor was prohibited from succeeding himself in office, though four men (Isaac Shelby, John L. Helm, James B. McCreary and Happy Chandler) served multiple non-consecutive terms. Paul E. Patton, the first Kentucky Governor eligible for a second consecutive term under the amendment, won his reelection bid in 1999. James Garrard succeeded himself in 1800, before the constitutional provision existed.

William Goebel, who was elected to the office in the disputed election of 1899, remains the only Governor of any U.S. state to die from assassination while in office.[8] Martha Layne Collins, who held the office from 1983 to 1987, was the first woman to serve as governor and was only the third woman to serve as governor of any U.S. state who was not the wife or widow of a previous governor.[7] The 63rd and current Kentucky Governor is Democrat Andy Beshear, who took office on December 10, 2019.

Governors

Kentucky was initially Kentucky County in Virginia. It achieved statehood and was admitted to the Union on June 1, 1792; see the list of governors of Virginia for the period before statehood. There have been 57 governors, serving 61 distinct terms.

An unelected group proclaimed Kentucky's secession from the Union on November 20, 1861, and it was annexed by the Confederate States of America on December 10, 1861. The Confederate government elected two governors (listed separately), but it never held much control over the state, and the main line of governors was preserved.

The original 1792 Kentucky Constitution had the governor chosen by an electoral college for a term of four years.[9] The second constitution in 1799 changed this to a popular vote, and prevented governors from succeeding themselves within seven years of their terms.[10] The third constitution in 1850 reduced the succession limitation to four years.[11] A 1992 amendment to the constitution allowed governors to have a second term before being prevented from succeeding themselves for four years.[12]

Governors of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
No.[a] Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor[b][c]
1 rowspan="12" style="background: Template:Democratic-Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Isaac Shelby June 4, 1792
–
June 7, 1796
(not candidate for election) 		Democratic-
Republican 		1792 Office did not exist
2 James Garrard June 7, 1796
–
September 5, 1804
(term limited) 		Democratic-
Republican 		1796
1800 rowspan="2" style="background: Template:Democratic-Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Alexander Scott Bullitt
3 Christopher Greenup September 5, 1804
–
September 1, 1808
(term limited) 		Democratic-
Republican 		1804 John Caldwell
(died November 19, 1804)
Vacant
rowspan="4" style="background: Template:Democratic-Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Thomas Posey
(acting, elected Speaker in 1805)
4 Charles Scott September 1, 1808
–
August 24, 1812
(term limited) 		Democratic-
Republican 		1808 Gabriel Slaughter
5 Isaac Shelby August 24, 1812
–
September 5, 1816
(term limited) 		Democratic-
Republican 		1812 Richard Hickman
6 George Madison September 5, 1816
–
October 14, 1816
(died in office) 		Democratic-
Republican 		1816 Gabriel Slaughter
7 Gabriel Slaughter October 14, 1816
–
August 29, 1820
(not candidate for election) 		Democratic-
Republican 		Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor 		Vacant
8 John Adair August 29, 1820
–
August 24, 1824
(term limited) 		Democratic-
Republican 		1820 rowspan="2" style="background: Template:Democratic-Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| William T. Barry
9 Joseph Desha August 24, 1824
–
August 26, 1828
(term limited) 		Democratic-
Republican 		1824 Robert B. McAfee
10 style="background: Template:National Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Thomas Metcalfe August 26, 1828
–
September 4, 1832
(term limited) 		National
Republican 		1828 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| John Breathitt[d]
11 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| John Breathitt September 4, 1832
–
February 21, 1834
(died in office) 		Democratic 1832 style="background: Template:National Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| James Turner Morehead[e]
12 style="background: Template:National Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| James Turner Morehead February 21, 1834
–
August 30, 1836
(not candidate for election) 		National
Republican[f] 		Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor 		Vacant
13 rowspan="6" style="background: Template:Whig Party (United States)/meta/color;"| James Clark August 30, 1836
–
August 27, 1839
(died in office) 		Whig 1836 style="background: Template:Whig Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Charles A. Wickliffe
14 Charles A. Wickliffe August 27, 1839
–
September 2, 1840
(not candidate for election) 		Whig Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor 		Vacant
15 Robert P. Letcher September 2, 1840
–
September 4, 1844
(term limited) 		Whig 1840 rowspan="3" style="background: Template:Whig Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Manlius Valerius Thomson
16 William Owsley September 4, 1844
–
September 6, 1848
(term limited) 		Whig 1844 Archibald Dixon
17 John J. Crittenden September 6, 1848
–
July 31, 1850
(resigned)[g] 		Whig 1848[h] John L. Helm
18 John L. Helm July 31, 1850
–
September 2, 1851
(not candidate for election) 		Whig Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor 		Vacant
19 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Lazarus W. Powell September 2, 1851
–
September 4, 1855
(term limited) 		Democratic 1851 style="background: Template:Whig Party (United States)/meta/color;"| John Burton Thompson[i]
20 style="background: Template:Know Nothing/meta/color;"| Charles S. Morehead September 4, 1855
–
August 30, 1859
(term limited) 		Know Nothing 1855 style="background: Template:Know Nothing/meta/color;"| James Greene Hardy
21 rowspan="14" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Beriah Magoffin August 30, 1859
–
August 18, 1862
(resigned)[j] 		Democratic 1859 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Linn Boyd
(died December 17, 1859)
Vacant
22 James Fisher Robinson August 18, 1862
–
September 1, 1863
(not candidate for election) 		Democratic Succeeded from
President of
the Senate
23 Thomas E. Bramlette September 1, 1863
–
September 3, 1867
(term limited) 		Democratic 1863 rowspan="2" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Richard Taylor Jacob
24 John L. Helm September 3, 1867
–
September 8, 1867
(died in office) 		Democratic 1867 John W. Stevenson
25 John W. Stevenson September 8, 1867
–
February 3, 1871
(resigned)[k] 		Democratic Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor 		Vacant
1868
(special)
26 Preston Leslie February 3, 1871
–
August 31, 1875
(term limited) 		Democratic Succeeded from
President of
the Senate
1871 rowspan="6" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| John G. Carlisle
27 James B. McCreary August 31, 1875
–
September 2, 1879
(term limited) 		Democratic 1875 John C. Underwood
28 Luke P. Blackburn September 2, 1879
–
September 5, 1883
(term limited) 		Democratic 1879 James E. Cantrill
29 J. Proctor Knott September 5, 1883
–
August 30, 1887
(term limited) 		Democratic 1883 James R. Hindman
30 Simon Bolivar Buckner August 30, 1887
–
September 2, 1891
(term limited) 		Democratic 1887 James William Bryan
31 John Y. Brown September 2, 1891
–
December 10, 1895
(term limited) 		Democratic 1891 Mitchell Cary Alford
32 rowspan="2" style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| William O'Connell Bradley December 10, 1895
–
December 12, 1899
(term limited) 		Republican 1895 rowspan="2" style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| William Jackson Worthington
33 William S. Taylor December 12, 1899
–
January 31, 1900
(removed from office)[l] 		Republican 1899 John Marshall
34 rowspan="4" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| William Goebel January 31, 1900
–
February 3, 1900
(died in office)[l] 		Democratic style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| J. C. W. Beckham
35 J. C. W. Beckham February 3, 1900
–
December 10, 1907
(term limited) 		Democratic Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor[l] 		Vacant
1900
(special)
1903 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| William P. Thorne
36 style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Augustus E. Willson December 10, 1907
–
December 12, 1911
(term limited) 		Republican 1907 style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| William Hopkinson Cox
37 rowspan="3" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| James B. McCreary December 12, 1911
–
December 7, 1915
(term limited) 		Democratic 1911 rowspan="2" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Edward J. McDermott
38 Augustus Owsley Stanley December 7, 1915
–
May 19, 1919
(resigned)[m] 		Democratic 1915 James D. Black
39 James D. Black May 19, 1919
–
December 9, 1919
(lost election) 		Democratic Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor 		Vacant
40 style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Edwin P. Morrow December 9, 1919
–
December 11, 1923
(term limited) 		Republican 1919 style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| S. Thruston Ballard
41 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| William J. Fields December 11, 1923
–
December 13, 1927
(term limited) 		Democratic 1923 rowspan="4" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Henry Denhardt
42 style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Flem D. Sampson December 13, 1927
–
December 8, 1931
(term limited) 		Republican 1927 James Breathitt Jr.[d]
43 rowspan="4" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Ruby Laffoon December 8, 1931
–
December 10, 1935
(term limited) 		Democratic 1931 Happy Chandler
44 Happy Chandler December 10, 1935
–
October 9, 1939
(resigned)[n] 		Democratic 1935 Keen Johnson
45 Keen Johnson October 9, 1939
–
December 7, 1943
(term limited) 		Democratic Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor 		Vacant
1939 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Rodes K. Myers
46 style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Simeon Willis December 7, 1943
–
December 9, 1947
(term limited) 		Republican 1943 style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Kenneth H. Tuggle
47 rowspan="6" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Earle Clements December 9, 1947
–
November 27, 1950
(resigned)[o] 		Democratic 1947 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Lawrence Wetherby
48 Lawrence Wetherby November 27, 1950
–
December 13, 1955
(term limited) 		Democratic Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor 		Vacant
1951 rowspan="6" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Emerson Beauchamp
49 Happy Chandler December 13, 1955
–
December 8, 1959
(term limited) 		Democratic 1955 Harry Lee Waterfield
50 Bert Combs December 8, 1959
–
December 10, 1963
(term limited) 		Democratic 1959 Wilson W. Wyatt
51 Ned Breathitt December 10, 1963
–
December 12, 1967
(term limited) 		Democratic 1963 Harry Lee Waterfield
52 style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Louie Nunn December 12, 1967
–
December 7, 1971
(term limited) 		Republican 1967 Wendell Ford[d]
53 rowspan="9" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Wendell Ford December 7, 1971
–
December 28, 1974
(resigned)[p] 		Democratic 1971 Julian Carroll
54 Julian Carroll December 28, 1974
–
December 11, 1979
(term limited) 		Democratic Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor 		Vacant
1975 rowspan="7" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Thelma Stovall
55 John Y. Brown Jr. December 11, 1979
–
December 13, 1983
(term limited) 		Democratic 1979 Martha Layne Collins
56 Martha Layne Collins December 13, 1983
–
December 8, 1987
(term limited) 		Democratic 1983 Steve Beshear
57 Wallace Wilkinson December 8, 1987
–
December 10, 1991
(term limited) 		Democratic 1987 Brereton Jones
58 Brereton Jones December 10, 1991
–
December 12, 1995
(term limited) 		Democratic 1991 Paul E. Patton
59 Paul E. Patton December 12, 1995
–
December 9, 2003
(term limited) 		Democratic 1995 Steve Henry
1999
60 style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Ernie Fletcher December 9, 2003
–
December 11, 2007
(lost election) 		Republican 2003 style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Steve Pence
61 rowspan="3" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Steve Beshear December 11, 2007
–
December 8, 2015
(term limited) 		Democratic 2007 rowspan="3" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Daniel Mongiardo
2011 Jerry Abramson
(resigned November 13, 2014)
Crit Luallen
62 style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Matt Bevin December 8, 2015
–
December 10, 2019
(lost election) 		Republican 2015 style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Jenean Hampton
63 Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Andy Beshear December 10, 2019
–
Incumbent[q] 		Democratic 2019 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Jacqueline Coleman

Confederate governors

George W. Johnson, 1st Confederate Governor of Kentucky
Richard Hawes, 2nd Confederate Governor of Kentucky

During the Civil War, a group of secessionists met at Russellville to form a Confederate government for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. While this government never successfully displaced the government in Frankfort, two men were elected governor of the Confederate government: George W. Johnson, who served from November 20, 1861 to his death on April 8, 1862 at the Battle of Shiloh, and, on Johnson's death, Richard Hawes, who served until the Confederate surrender on April 9, 1865. The Confederate government disbanded shortly after the end of the war in 1865.[15]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The state labels Matt Bevin as the 62nd governor;[13] based on this, subsequent terms of repeat governors are numbered.
  2. ^ The office of Lieutenant Governor was created in the 1799 constitution.[14]
  3. ^ Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
  4. ^ a b c Represented the Democratic Party.
  5. ^ Represented the National Republican Party.
  6. ^ The National Republican Party changed its name to the Whig Party in 1834.
  7. ^ Crittenden resigned to be Attorney General of the United States.
  8. ^ The 1850 Constitution shifted the election schedule forward, shortening this term by a year.
  9. ^ Represented the Whig Party.
  10. ^ Magoffin resigned due to his disagreement with the state legislature over neutrality in the American Civil War.
  11. ^ Stevenson resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.
  12. ^ a b c Taylor won the 1899 election and was sworn into office. However, the legislature challenged the validity of his win, claiming ballot fraud. His challenger, Goebel, was shot on January 30, 1900, but was named governor by the legislature and sworn in the next day; he died three days later. Since Lieutenant Governor Marshall's win had also been invalidated, Beckham, having been named lieutenant governor, succeeded Goebel.
  13. ^ Stanley resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.
  14. ^ Chandler resigned so that his successor would appoint him to the United States Senate.
  15. ^ Clements resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.
  16. ^ Ford resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.
  17. ^ Beshear's first term expires on December 12, 2023.

References

General
  • "Kentucky's Governors". Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Archived from the original on July 8, 2010. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
  • "Governors of Kentucky". National Governors Association. Archived from the original on 2011-03-16. Retrieved January 18, 2008.
  • "Texts of the Constitutions of Kentucky". Kentucky Court of Justice. Archived from the original on 2010-03-18. Retrieved January 18, 2008.
Constitution
Specific
  1. ^ KY Const. art. 69.
  2. ^ KY Const. art. 75.
  3. ^ KY Const. art. 81
  4. ^ KY Const. art. 88.
  5. ^ KY Const. art. 80.
  6. ^ KY Const. art. 77.
  7. ^ a b Kleber, John E., ed. (1992). "Governor, Office of". The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-1772-0.
  8. ^ Kleber, John E., ed. (1992). "Goebel Assassination". The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-1772-0.
  9. ^ 1799 Const. art. II, § 2–3
  10. ^ 1799 Const. art. III, § 3–4
  11. ^ 1850 Const. art. III, § 3
  12. ^ KY Const. art. 71
  13. ^ "Governor Matt Bevin". Governor of Kentucky. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  14. ^ 1799 Const. art. II, § 15
  15. ^ Kleber, John E., ed. (1992). "Confederate Government". The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-1772-0.

External links

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