Jump to content

List of governors of Kansas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Agent00x (talk | contribs) at 19:34, 29 January 2021 (Reverted edits by Dekupp (talk): nonconstructive edits (HG) (3.4.9)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Governor of Kansas
State Seal
Standard of the Governor
Incumbent
Laura Kelly
since January 14, 2019
ResidenceCedar Crest
Term lengthFour years, renewable once
Inaugural holderCharles L. Robinson
FormationFebruary 9, 1861
Salary$99,636 (2017)[1]
Websitegovernor.kansas.gov

The Governor of Kansas is the head of the executive branch of Kansas's state government[2] and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.[3] The governor has a duty to enforce state laws,[2] and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Kansas Legislature,[4] to convene the legislature at any time,[5] and to grant pardons.[6]

The governor has a 4-year term, commencing on the second Monday of January after election.[7] The governor originally had a 2-year term; this was changed to four years by a constitutional amendment in 1974. The lieutenant governor is elected at the same time as the governor.[7] When the office of governor becomes vacant for any reason, the lieutenant governor becomes governor for the remainder of the term.[8]

Since becoming a state, Kansas has had 48 governors. The state's longest-serving governors were Robert Docking, John W. Carlin, and Bill Graves, each of whom served 8 years and 4 days (Docking served four two-year terms; Carlin and Graves each served 2 4-year terms). The shortest-serving governor was John McCuish, who served only 11 days after the resignation of Fred Hall.

The current governor is Democrat Laura Kelly, who took office on January 14, 2019.

History

The office was created in 1861 when Kansas was officially admitted to the United States as the 34th state. Prior to statehood in 1861, the office was preceded by a Presidential appointed Governor of Kansas Territory with similar powers.

Despite being an executive branch official, the Governor also possesses legislative and judicial powers. The Governor's responsibilities include making yearly "State of the State" addresses to the Kansas Legislature, submitting the budget, ensuring that state laws are enforced, and that the peace is preserved.

Gubernatorial term of office and requirements for running

Flag of the Governor prior to 1961. It is unclear when the Governor's flag was first created

There is no lifetime limit on the number of times he or she may be elected, but a governor who has been elected to two consecutive terms must be out of office for at least one election cycle before being eligible once again for re-election. Elections occur at the same time as the Congressional midterm elections, and each term begins on the second Monday of January following the election. The lieutenant governor is subject to the same limitations and runs on a combined ticket with the governor.[9] From the establishment of the state in 1859 with the Wyandotte Constitution until 2018, there was neither an age requirement nor a residency requirement to run for the office; as of 2017 three Kansan teenagers were doing so.[10] In 2018, a law was passed establishing the age to run for Governor and Lieutenant Governor at 25, beginning with the 2022 election.[11]

If the governor becomes incapacitated, the lieutenant governor assumes the duties of the governor. However, if both offices become vacant, the line of succession is determined by the legislature. Under present law, the President of the Senate would be next in line to assume the governorship, followed by the Speaker of the House.

Residence

Since 1962, the Governor of Kansas has resided in the governor's mansion, known as Cedar Crest. It was designed by the architect firm Wight and Wight. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Succession

Main article: Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States § Kansas

Governors

Governors of Kansas Territory

Governors of the Territory of Kansas
No. Governor Term in office Appointed by
1 Andrew Horatio Reeder
    July 12, 1807 – July 5, 1864   
(aged 56) 		July 7, 1854
–
August 16, 1855 		Franklin Pierce
2 Wilson Shannon
    February 24, 1802 – August 30, 1877   
(aged 75) 		September 5, 1855
–
August 18, 1856
3 John W. Geary
    December 30, 1819 – February 8, 1873   
(aged 53) 		September 9, 1856
–
March 20, 1857
4 Robert J. Walker
    July 19, 1801 – November 11, 1869   
(aged 68) 		May 27, 1857
–
December 15, 1857 		James Buchanan
5 James W. Denver
    October 23, 1817 – August 9, 1892   
(aged 75) 		December 1857
–
November 1858
6 Samuel Medary
    February 25, 1801 – November 7, 1864   
(aged 63) 		December 1858
–
December 1860

Governors of Kansas

The eastern bulk of Kansas Territory was admitted to the Union as Kansas on January 29, 1861; the remainder become unorganized territory which would shortly be assigned to Colorado Territory. The Kansas Constitution provided that a governor and lieutenant governor be elected every 2 years.[12] An amendment in 1972 increased terms to four years,[13] and provided that the governor and lieutenant governor are elected on the same ticket. In the original constitution, should the office of governor be vacant, the powers would devolve upon the lieutenant governor, who nonetheless would remain in that office;[14] an amendment in 1972 changed that so that, in such an event, the lieutenant governor becomes governor, and relies on the legislature to provide for succession after that.[15]

Governors of the State of Kansas
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor[a]
1 rowspan="13" style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Charles L. Robinson
    July 21, 1818 – August 17, 1894   
(aged 76) 		February 9, 1861
–
January 12, 1863
(not candidate for election) 		Republican 1860 rowspan="4" style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"|  Joseph Pomeroy Root
2 Thomas Carney
    August 20, 1824 – July 28, 1888   
(aged 63) 		January 12, 1863
–
January 9, 1865
(not candidate for election) 		Republican 1862 Thomas A. Osborn
3 Samuel J. Crawford
    April 10, 1835 – October 21, 1913   
(aged 78) 		January 9, 1865
–
November 4, 1868
(resigned)[b] 		Republican 1864 James McGrew
1866 Nehemiah Green
4 Nehemiah Green
    March 8, 1837 – January 12, 1890   
(aged 52) 		November 4, 1868
–
January 11, 1869
(successor took office) 		Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor 		Vacant
5 James M. Harvey
    September 21, 1833 – April 15, 1894   
(aged 60) 		January 11, 1869
–
January 13, 1873
(not candidate for election) 		Republican 1868 rowspan="13" style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Charles Vernon Eskridge
1870 Peter Percival Elder
6 Thomas A. Osborn
    October 26, 1836 – February 4, 1898   
(aged 61) 		January 13, 1873
–
January 8, 1877
(not candidate for election) 		Republican 1872 Elias S. Stover
1874 Melville J. Salter
7 George T. Anthony
    June 9, 1824 – August 5, 1896   
(aged 72) 		January 8, 1877
–
January 13, 1879
(not candidate for election) 		Republican 1876
Lyman U. Humphrey
8 John St. John
    February 25, 1833 – August 31, 1916   
(aged 72) 		January 13, 1879
–
January 8, 1883
(lost election) 		Republican 1878
1880 David Wesley Finney[c]
9 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| George Washington Glick
    July 4, 1827 – April 13, 1911   
(aged 83) 		January 8, 1883
–
January 12, 1885
(lost election) 		Democratic 1882
10 rowspan="4" style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| John Martin
    March 10, 1839 – October 2, 1889   
(aged 50) 		January 12, 1885
–
January 14, 1889
(not candidate for election) 		Republican 1884 Alexander P. Riddle
1886
11 Lyman U. Humphrey
    July 25, 1844 – September 12, 1915   
(aged 71) 		January 14, 1889
–
January 8, 1893
(not candidate for election) 		Republican 1888 Andrew Jackson Felt
1890
12 style="background: Template:Populist Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Lorenzo D. Lewelling
    December 21, 1846 – September 3, 1900   
(aged 53) 		January 8, 1893
–
January 14, 1895
(lost election) 		Populist 1892 style="background: Template:Populist Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Percy Daniels
13 style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Edmund Needham Morrill
    February 12, 1834 – March 14, 1909   
(aged 75) 		January 14, 1895
–
January 11, 1897
(lost election) 		Republican 1894 style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| James Armstrong Troutman
14 style="background: Template:Populist Party (United States)/meta/color;"| John W. Leedy
    March 8, 1849 – March 24, 1935   
(aged 86) 		January 11, 1897
–
January 9, 1899
(lost election) 		Populist 1896 style="background: Template:Populist Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Alexander Miller Harvey
15 rowspan="7" style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| William Eugene Stanley
    December 28, 1844 – October 13, 1910   
(aged 65) 		January 9, 1899
–
January 12, 1903
(not candidate for election) 		Republican 1898 rowspan="19" style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Harry E. Richter
1900
16 Willis J. Bailey
    October 12, 1854 – May 19, 1932   
(aged 77) 		January 12, 1903
–
January 9, 1905
(not candidate for election) 		Republican 1902 David John Hanna
17 Edward W. Hoch
    March 17, 1849 – June 1, 1925   
(aged 76) 		January 9, 1905
–
January 11, 1909
(not candidate for election) 		Republican 1904
1906 William James Fitzgerald
18 Walter R. Stubbs
    November 7, 1858 – March 25, 1929   
(aged 70) 		January 11, 1909
–
January 13, 1913
(not candidate for election) 		Republican 1908
1910 Richard Joseph Hopkins
19 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| George H. Hodges
    February 6, 1866 – October 7, 1947   
(aged 81) 		January 13, 1913
–
January 11, 1915
(lost election) 		Democratic 1912 Sheffield Ingalls[c]
20 rowspan="4" style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Arthur Capper
    July 14, 1865 – December 19, 1951   
(aged 86) 		January 11, 1915
–
January 13, 1919
(not candidate for election) 		Republican 1914 William Yoast Morgan
1916
21 Henry Justin Allen
    September 11, 1868 – January 17, 1950   
(aged 81) 		January 13, 1919
–
January 8, 1923
(not candidate for election) 		Republican 1918 Charles Solomon Huffman
1920
22 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Jonathan M. Davis
    April 27, 1871 – June 27, 1943   
(aged 72) 		January 8, 1923
–
January 12, 1925
(lost election) 		Democratic 1922 Benjamin S. Paulen[c]
23 rowspan="3" style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Benjamin S. Paulen
    July 14, 1869 – July 11, 1961   
(aged 81) 		January 12, 1925
–
January 14, 1929
(not candidate for election) 		Republican 1924 De Lanson Alson Newton Chase
1926
24 Clyde M. Reed
    October 19, 1871 – November 8, 1949   
(aged 81) 		January 14, 1929
–
January 12, 1931
(not candidate for election) 		Republican 1928 Jacob W. Graybill[c]
25 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Harry Hines Woodring
    May 31, 1887 – September 9, 1967   
(aged 80) 		January 12, 1931
–
January 9, 1933
(lost election) 		Democratic 1930
26 rowspan="2" style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Alf Landon
    September 9, 1887 – October 12, 1987   
(aged 100) 		January 9, 1933
–
January 11, 1937
(not candidate for election) 		Republican 1932 Charles W. Thompson
1934
27 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Walter A. Huxman
    February 16, 1887 – June 25, 1972   
(aged 85) 		January 11, 1937
–
January 9, 1939
(lost election) 		Democratic 1936 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| William M. Lindsay
28 rowspan="11" style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Payne Ratner
    October 3, 1896 – December 27, 1974   
(aged 78) 		January 9, 1939
–
January 11, 1943
(not candidate for election) 		Republican 1938 rowspan="6" style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Carl E. Friend
1940
29 Andrew Frank Schoeppel
    November 23, 1894 – January 21, 1962   
(aged 67) 		January 11, 1943
–
January 13, 1947
(not candidate for election) 		Republican 1942 Jess C. Denious
1944
30 Frank Carlson
    January 23, 1893 – May 30, 1987   
(aged 94) 		January 13, 1947
–
November 28, 1950
(resigned)[d] 		Republican 1946 Frank L. Hagaman
1948
31 Frank L. Hagaman
    June 1, 1894 – June 23, 1966   
(aged 72) 		November 28, 1950
–
January 8, 1951
(successor took office) 		Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor 		Vacant
32 Edward F. Arn
    May 19, 1906 – January 22, 1998   
(aged 91) 		January 8, 1951
–
January 10, 1955
(not candidate for election) 		Republican 1950 rowspan="3" style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Fred Hall
1952
33 Fred Hall
    July 24, 1916 – March 18, 1970   
(aged 53) 		January 10, 1955
–
January 3, 1957
(resigned)[e] 		Republican 1954 John McCuish
34 John McCuish
    June 22, 1906 – March 12, 1962   
(aged 55) 		January 3, 1957
–
January 14, 1957
(successor took office) 		Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor 		Vacant
35 rowspan="2" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| George Docking
    February 23, 1904 – January 20, 1964   
(aged 59) 		January 14, 1957
–
January 9, 1961
(lost election) 		Democratic 1956 rowspan="2" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Joseph W. Henkle Sr.
1958
36 rowspan="3" style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| John Anderson Jr.
    May 8, 1917 – September 15, 2014   
(aged 97) 		January 9, 1961
–
January 11, 1965
(not candidate for election) 		Republican 1960 rowspan="4" style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Harold H. Chase
1962
37 William H. Avery
    August 11, 1911 – November 4, 2009   
(aged 98) 		January 11, 1965
–
January 9, 1967
(lost election) 		Republican 1964 John Crutcher[c]
38 rowspan="4" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Robert Docking
    October 9, 1925 – October 8, 1983   
(aged 57) 		January 9, 1967
–
January 13, 1975
(term limited) 		Democratic 1966
1968 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| James H. DeCoursey Jr.
1970 rowspan="3" style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Reynolds Shultz[c]
1972 Dave Owen[c]
39 style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Robert Frederick Bennett
    May 23, 1927 – October 9, 2000   
(aged 73) 		January 13, 1975
–
January 8, 1979
(lost election) 		Republican 1974[f] Shelby Smith
40 rowspan="2" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| John W. Carlin
    (1940-08-05) August 5, 1940 (age 84)   
January 8, 1979
–
January 12, 1987
(term limited) 		Democratic 1978 rowspan="2" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Paul Dugan
1982 Thomas Docking
41 style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Mike Hayden
    (1944-03-16) March 16, 1944 (age 80)   
January 12, 1987
–
January 14, 1991
(lost election) 		Republican 1986 style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Jack D. Walker
42 File:Joan Finney (Kansas Governor).jpg style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Joan Finney
    February 12, 1925 – July 28, 2001   
(aged 76) 		January 14, 1991
–
January 9, 1995
(not candidate for election) 		Democratic 1990 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Jim Francisco
43 rowspan="4" style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Bill Graves
    (1953-01-09) January 9, 1953 (age 71)   
January 9, 1995
–
January 13, 2003
(term limited) 		Republican 1994 style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Sheila Frahm
(resigned June 11, 1996)
Vacant
rowspan="2" style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Gary Sherrer
(appointed July 18, 1996)
1998
44 rowspan="4" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Kathleen Sebelius
    (1948-05-15) May 15, 1948 (age 76)   
January 13, 2003
–
April 28, 2009
(resigned)[g] 		Democratic 2002 rowspan="2" style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| John E. Moore
2006 Mark Parkinson
45 Mark Parkinson
    (1957-06-24) June 24, 1957 (age 67)   
April 28, 2009
–
January 10, 2011
(not candidate for election) 		Democratic Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor 		Vacant
style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Troy Findley
(appointed May 15, 2009)
46 rowspan="3" style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Sam Brownback
    (1956-09-15) September 15, 1956 (age 68)   
January 10, 2011
–
January 31, 2018
(resigned)[h] 		Republican 2010 rowspan="3" style="background: Template:Republican Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Jeff Colyer
2014
47 Jeff Colyer
    (1960-06-03) June 3, 1960 (age 64)   
January 31, 2018
–
January 14, 2019
(lost primary) 		Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor 		Tracey Mann
(appointed February 14, 2018)
48 rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Laura Kelly
    (1950-01-24) January 24, 1950 (age 74)   
January 14, 2019
–
present[i] 		Democratic 2018 style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| Lynn Rogers
(resigned January 2, 2021)
style="background: Template:Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color;"| David Toland
(appointed January 2, 2021)

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
  2. ^ Crawford resigned to take command of the 19th Kansas Infantry.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Represented the Republican Party
  4. ^ Carlson resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.
  5. ^ Hall resigned so that his successor would appoint him to the Kansas Supreme Court.
  6. ^ First term under a 1972 constitutional amendment which lengthened terms to four years.
  7. ^ Sebelius resigned to become United States Secretary of Health and Human Services.
  8. ^ Brownback resigned on January 31, 2018, to become United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom.
  9. ^ Kelly's first term expires on January 9, 2023.

References

General
Constitutions
Specific
  1. ^ "Kansas Government Employee Payroll List". Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  2. ^ a b KS Const. art. I, § 3.
  3. ^ KS Const. art. VIII, § 4.
  4. ^ KS Const. art. II, § 14.
  5. ^ KS Const. art. I, § 5.
  6. ^ KS Const. art. I, § 7.
  7. ^ a b KS Const. art. I, § 1.
  8. ^ KS Const. art. I, § 11.
  9. ^ Constitution of the State of Kansas Archived November 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ Woodall, Hunter (September 28, 2017). "As third teen joins Kansas governor race, consider this: No rule says a dog can't run". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  11. ^ KWCH (May 18, 2018). "New law sets minimum age for Kansas governor candidates". KWCH.
  12. ^ 1861 Const. art. I, § 1
  13. ^ KS Const. art. 1, § 1
  14. ^ 1861 Const. art I, § 11
  15. ^ KS Const. art I, § 11
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Governors of Kansas.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_governors_of_Kansas&oldid=1003599976"