:List of governors of Washington
{{Short description|None}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Governor
| body = Washington
| insignia = Seal of the Executive Department of Washington.svg
| insigniasize = 110px
| insigniacaption = Seal of the governor
| image = Bob Ferguson at his 2023 Shrimp Feed 02 (cropped).jpg
| imagesize = 200px
| incumbent = Bob Ferguson
| incumbentsince = January 15, 2025
| style = {{ublist|Governor (informal)|The Honorable (formal)}}
| status = {{ublist|Head of state|Head of government}}
| residence = Washington Governor's Mansion
| termlength = Four years, no term limit
| inaugural = Elisha P. Ferry
| formation = November 11, 1889
| succession = Line of succession
| deputy = Lieutenant Governor of Washington
| website = {{URL|governor.wa.gov}}
}}
The governor of Washington is the head of government of Washington and commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.WA Const. art. III, § 2.WA Const. art. III, § 8. The officeholder has a duty to enforce state laws,WA Const. art. III, § 5. the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Washington Legislature and line-item veto power to cancel specific provisions in spending bills.WA Const. art. III, § 12. The Washington governor may also convene the legislature on "extraordinary occasions".
Washington Territory had 14 territorial governors from its organization in 1853 until the formation of the state of Washington in 1889. Territorial governors were appointed by the president of the United States. Elisha P. Ferry had the longest term of eight years and went on to become the state's first governor. William H. Wallace was appointed governor but never took office due to being elected as the territory's congressional delegate. George Edward Cole was appointed governor and took office, but his appointment was never ratified by the U.S. Senate and he was replaced as governor after four months.
Twenty-two individuals have held the office of Governor of Washington since the state's admission to the Union, with Arthur B. Langlie serving non-consecutive terms. Populist Party candidate John Rankin Rogers is the only non-Democratic or Republican nominee to win office. The most recent governor to be from Eastern Washington was Clarence D. Martin, elected in 1932.{{Cite news |last=Brunner |first=Jim |date=September 20, 2020 |title=Meet Loren Culp, the Republican gubernatorial candidate who wants to unseat Jay Inslee |work=The Seattle Times |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/who-is-loren-culp-the-gubernatorial-candidate-who-lives-on-goa-way-with-eyes-fixed-on-olympia/ |access-date=August 1, 2023}} The current governor is Democrat Bob Ferguson, who took office on January 15, 2025.
List of governors
=Territory of Washington=
Washington Territory was organized on March 2, 1853, from the northern half of Oregon Territory.
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Governors of the Territory of Washington !scope="col" data-sort-type="number"|{{abbr|No.|Number}} !scope="colgroup" colspan="2"|Governor !scope="col"|Term in office{{efn|The range given is from the date the governor was confirmed by the Senate, or appointed by the President during a Senate recess, to the date the governor's successor was confirmed, unless noted.}} !scope="col"|Appointing President |
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!scope="row"|1 |data-sort-value="Stevens, Isaac"|75px |Isaac Stevens |{{dts|March 17, 1853}}{{efn|Stevens was nominatedU.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 33rd Cong., special sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=USxRI4KXAbwC&pg=PA77 77], accessed July 19, 2023. and confirmed by the SenateU.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 33rd Cong., special sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=USxRI4KXAbwC&pg=PA81 81], accessed July 19, 2023. on March 17, 1853, and arrived in Olympia on November 25.{{Cite book |last=Stevens |first=Hazard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yIw-AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA414 |title=The Life of Isaac Ingalls Stevens |date=1901 |publisher=Houghton, Mifflin |isbn=978-0-598-28143-2 |page=414 |language=en}}}} |{{sortname|Franklin|Pierce}} |
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!scope="row"|2 |data-sort-value="McMullen, Fayette"|75px |Fayette McMullen |{{dts|May 13, 1857}}{{efn|James Patton Anderson was nominated on March 12, 1857,U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 35th Cong., special sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=AC3jtBfAEa0C&pg=PA241 241], accessed July 19, 2023. and confirmed by the Senate on March 13,U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 35th Cong., special sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=AC3jtBfAEa0C&pg=PA253 253], accessed July 19, 2023. but declined.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6IVHAQAAMAAJ |title=The Territorial Papers of the United States: Volume I: General |date=1934 |publisher=United States Government Publishing Office |page=31 |language=en}} McMullen was appointed on May 13, 1857, during a Senate recess;{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=312–313}} nominated on December 22, 1857;U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 35th Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=AC3jtBfAEa0C&pg=PA275 275], accessed July 19, 2023. and confirmed by the Senate on January 18, 1858.U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 35th Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=AC3jtBfAEa0C&pg=PA294 294], accessed July 19, 2023. He took office on September 10, 1857.{{Cite news |date=September 11, 1857 |title=Arrival of Governor McMullen |page=2 |work=Pioneer and Democrat |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pioneer-and-democrat-mcmullen-inaugurate/128534002/ |access-date=July 20, 2023}}}} |{{sortname|James|Buchanan}} |
| style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|3 |data-sort-value="Gholson, Richard"|75px |Richard D. Gholson |{{dts|March 5, 1859}}{{efn|Gholson was nominatedU.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 36th Cong., special sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=2dOGAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA72 72], accessed July 19, 2023. and confirmed by the SenateU.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 36th Cong., special sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=2dOGAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA75 75], accessed July 19, 2023. on March 5, 1859, and he arrived in the territory on July 10.{{Cite news |date=July 15, 1859 |title=none | quote=Gov. Gholson, who some time since received the appointment as Executive for this Territory, arrived here on the steamer Northerner, on Sunday last. |page=2 |work=Pioneer and Democrat |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pioneer-and-democrat-gholson-arrives-jul/128534626/ |access-date=July 20, 2023}}}} |{{sortname|James|Buchanan}} |
| style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|— |data-sort-value="Wallace, William"|75px |William H. Wallace |{{dts|April 9, 1861}} |{{sortname|Abraham|Lincoln}} |
| style="height:2em;"
!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|4 |rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Pickering, William"|75px |rowspan="2"|William Pickering |rowspan="2"|{{dts|December 19, 1861}}{{efn|Pickering was nominated on December 5, 1861;U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 37th Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=OdqGAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA1 1], accessed July 19, 2023. confirmed by the Senate on December 19;U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 37th Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=OdqGAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA25 25], accessed July 19, 2023. and arrived in the territory in June 1862.{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=316–317}} He was reconfirmed by the Senate on January 6, 1866.U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 39th Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=6wm4wavLZY4C&pg=PA317 317], accessed July 19, 2023.}} |{{sortname|Abraham|Lincoln}} |
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|{{sortname|Andrew|Johnson}} |
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!scope="row"|5 |data-sort-value="Cole, George"|75px |George Edward Cole |{{dts|November 21, 1866}}{{efn|Cole was appointed on November 21, 1866, during a Senate recess;{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=317–318}} nominated on December 14;U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 39th Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=hPSGAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA7 7], accessed July 19, 2023. but was rejected by the Senate on March 1, 1867.U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 39th Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=hPSGAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA281 281], accessed July 19, 2023.}} |{{sortname|Andrew|Johnson}} |
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!scope="row"|6 |data-sort-value="Moore, Marshall"|75px |Marshall F. Moore |{{dts|April 20, 1867}}{{efn|Charles E. De Long was nominated on April 15, 1867,U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 40th Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=Ml2ZXQj8SxQC&pg=PA717 717], accessed July 19, 2023. but was rejected by the Senate on April 17.U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 40th Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=Ml2ZXQj8SxQC&pg=PA750 750], accessed July 19, 2023. Moore was then nominated on April 19,U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 40th Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=Ml2ZXQj8SxQC&pg=PA761 761], accessed July 19, 2023. and confirmed by the Senate on April 20.U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 40th Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=Ml2ZXQj8SxQC&pg=PA780 780], accessed July 19, 2023.}} |{{sortname|Andrew|Johnson}} |
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!scope="row"|7 |data-sort-value="Flanders, Alvan"|75px |Alvan Flanders |{{dts|April 5, 1869}}{{efn|Flanders was nominated on April 3, 1869,U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 41st Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=J45NAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA76 76], accessed July 19, 2023. and confirmed by the Senate on April 5.U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 41st Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=J45NAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA88 88], accessed July 19, 2023.}} |{{sortname|Ulysses S.|Grant}} |
| style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|8 |data-sort-value="Salomon, Edward"|75px |Edward S. Salomon |{{dts|March 14, 1870}}{{efn|Salomon was nominated on January 10, 1870,U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 41st Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=TRhHAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA333 333], accessed July 19, 2023. and confirmed by the Senate on March 14.U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 41st Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=TRhHAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA391 391], accessed July 19, 2023.}} |{{sortname|Ulysses S.|Grant}} |
| style="height:2em;"
!scope="row"|9 |data-sort-value="Ferry, Elisha"|75px |Elisha P. Ferry |{{dts|April 26, 1872}}{{efn|James F. Legate was nominated on January 11, 1872,U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 42nd Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=QHKiAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA165 165], accessed July 19, 2023. but was withdrawn on April 9.U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 42nd Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=QHKiAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA229 229], accessed July 19, 2023. Ferry was then nominated on April 24,U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 42nd Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=QHKiAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA238 238], accessed July 19, 2023. and confirmed by the Senate on April 26.U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 42nd Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=QHKiAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA241 241], accessed July 19, 2023. He was reconfirmed by the Senate on May 2, 1876.U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 44th Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=oalECQ5Lc5sC&pg=PA233 233], accessed July 26, 2023.}} |{{sortname|Ulysses S.|Grant}} |
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!scope="row"|10 |data-sort-value="Newell, William"|75px |William A. Newell |{{dts|April 26, 1880}}{{efn|Newell was nominated on April 9, 1880, for a term to begin April 26;U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 46th Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=5TctAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA305 305], accessed July 19, 2023. and was confirmed by the Senate on April 21.U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 46th Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=5TctAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA314 314], accessed July 19, 2023.}} |{{sortname|Rutherford B.|Hayes}} |
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!scope="row"|11 |data-sort-value="Squire, Watson"|75px |Watson C. Squire |{{dts|July 2, 1884}}{{efn|Squire was nominated on July 1, 1884,U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 48th Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=Zd-tAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA313 313], accessed July 19, 2023. and confirmed by the Senate on July 2.U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 48th Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=Zd-tAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA316 316], accessed July 19, 2023.}} |{{sortname|Chester A.|Arthur}} |
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!scope="row"|12 |data-sort-value="Semple, Eugene"|75px |Eugene Semple |{{dts|April 9, 1887}}{{efn|Semple was appointed on April 9, 1887, during a Senate recess;{{sfn|McMullin|1984|pp=326–327}} nominated on January 4, 1888;U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 50th Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=UY2IAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA102 102], accessed July 19, 2023. and confirmed by the Senate on January 16.U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 50th Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=UY2IAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA141 141], accessed July 19, 2023.}} |{{sortname|Grover|Cleveland}} |
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!scope="row"|13 |data-sort-value="Moore, Miles"|75px |Miles Conway Moore |{{dts|March 23, 1889}}{{efn|Moore was nominated on March 21, 1889,U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 51st Cong., special sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=ubzy660-TXoC&pg=PA28 28], accessed July 19, 2023. and confirmed by the Senate on March 23.U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 51st Cong., special sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=ubzy660-TXoC&pg=PA38 38], accessed July 19, 2023.}} |{{sortname|Benjamin|Harrison}} |
=State of Washington=
Washington was admitted to the Union on November 11, 1889. The term for governor is four years, commencing on the second Monday in the January following the election.WA Const. art. III, § 4 If the office of governor is vacant or the governor is unable to discharge their duties, the lieutenant governor assumes the duties of governor, though still officially retains the office of lieutenant governor.{{Cite web |title=AG, Secretary of State issue joint statement regarding gubernatorial succession in the event of a vacancy |url=https://www.sos.wa.gov/office/news-releases.aspx |access-date=November 25, 2020 |publisher=Washington Secretary of State}} If both the offices of governor and lieutenant governor are unable to fulfill their duties, the secretary of state is next in line, and then the treasurer.WA Const. art. III, § 10 There is no limit to the number of terms a governor may serve.{{Cite web |title=Constitutional and Statutory Provisions for Number of Consecutive Terms of Elected State Officials |url=http://www.nga.org/Files/pdf/BOS4-9.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629023725/http://www.nga.org/files/pdf/BOS4-9.pdf |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |access-date=July 3, 2010 |publisher=National Governor's Association}} The office of lieutenant governor is not elected on the same ticket as the governor.
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See also
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
;General
{{refbegin}}
- {{Cite web |title=Former Washington Governors |url=https://www.nga.org/former-governors/washington/ |access-date=July 5, 2023 |publisher=National Governors Association}}
- {{Cite book |last=Sobel |first=Robert |url=https://archive.org/details/biographicaldire0004unse/ |title=Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. IV |publisher=Meckler Books |year=1978 |isbn=9780930466008 |access-date=June 13, 2023}}
- {{Cite book |last=McMullin |first=Thomas A. |url=http://archive.org/details/biographicaldire0000mcmu |title=Biographical directory of American territorial governors |date=1984 |publisher=Westport, CT : Meckler |isbn=978-0-930466-11-4 |access-date=January 19, 2023}}
- {{Cite book |last=Kallenbach |first=Joseph Ernest |url=http://archive.org/details/americanstategov0000kall |title=American State Governors, 1776-1976 |date=1977 |publisher=Oceana Publications |isbn=978-0-379-00665-0 |access-date=September 23, 2023}}
- {{Cite book |last=Dubin |first=Michael J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WYJAIOabIPgC |title=United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1861-1911: The Official Results by State and County |date=2014 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-5646-8 |language=en}}
- {{Cite book |last=Glashan |first=Roy R. |url=http://archive.org/details/americangovernor0000glas |title=American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978 |date=1979 |publisher=Meckler Books |isbn=978-0-930466-17-6}}
- {{Cite journal |last=Ficken |first=Robert E. |date=Winter 2005–2006 |title=Figureheads of State |url=http://columbia.washingtonhistory.org/anthology/fromtriballands/figureheads.aspx |url-status=dead |journal=Columbia Magazine |volume=19 |issue=4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008093244/http://columbia.washingtonhistory.org/anthology/fromtriballands/figureheads.aspx |archive-date=October 8, 2011 |access-date=January 27, 2011}}
- {{Cite book |last=Meany, Edmond S |url=http://www.secstate.wa.gov/history/publications_detail.aspx?p=30 |title=Governors of Washington : territorial and state |publisher=University of Washington |year=1915 |location=Seattle |author-link=Meany, Edmond S |access-date=June 30, 2010}}
- {{Cite web |title=Washington Territorial and State Governors |url=http://www.sos.wa.gov/library/WashingtonTerritorialandStateGovernors.aspx |access-date=July 1, 2010 |publisher=Washington Secretary of State}}
- {{Cite web |title=Our Campaigns - Governor of Washington - History |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/ContainerHistory.html?ContainerID=290 |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}
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;Specific
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://www.governor.wa.gov Office of the Governor of Washington]
{{Governors of Washington}}
{{Current U.S. governors}}
{{US Chief Executives}}
{{Washington}}
{{Washington statewide elected officials}}
{{Government of Washington}}
{{featured list}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Washington, List of Governors of}}
Category:Lists of state governors of the United States
Governors of Washington Territory