| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+
!No.
!Photo
! colspan="2" |Governor
!Took office
!Left office
! colspan="2" |Vice Governor
!{{abbr|R|Reference}} |
| 1
|100px
|bgcolor="gray" |
|Sutan Mohammad Amin Nasution
(1904–1993)
|19 June 1948
|17 May 1949
| colspan="2" rowspan="8" |none
| |
| rowspan="2" |2
|100px
|bgcolor="gray" |
|Daud Beureu'eh
(as the Governor of Aceh)
(1899–1987)
|1 January 1950
|17 August 1950
| |
| 100px
|bgcolor="gray" |
|Ferdinand Lumbantobing
(as the Governor of Tapanuli and East Sumatra)
(1899–1962)
|1 February 1950
|17 August 1950
| |
| —
|100px
| bgcolor="{{party color|Indonesian National Party}}" |
|Sarimin Reksodihardjo
(1905–1992)
|17 August 1950
|25 January 1951
| |
| 3
|100px
|bgcolor="black" |
|Abdul Hakim Harahap
(1905–1961)
|25 January 1951
|23 October 1953
| |
| (1)
|100px
|bgcolor="gray" |
|Sutan Mohammad Amin Nasution
(1904–1993)
|23 October 1953
|12 March 1956
|[{{cite news|date=23 October 1953|title=Mr. S.M. AMIN AANVAARDT ZIJN NIEUWE FUNCTIE|work=Het nieuwsblad voor Sumatra|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=%28S.M.+Amin+%29&page=2&sortfield=date&cql%5B%5D=%28date+_gte_+%2201-10-1953%22%29&cql%5B%5D=%28date+_lte_+%2201-11-1953%22%29&coll=ddd&redirect=true&identifier=ddd:010477679:mpeg21:a0019&resultsidentifier=ddd:010477679:mpeg21:a0019}}] |
| —
| rowspan="2" |100px
| rowspan="2" bgcolor="gray" |
| rowspan="2" |Zainal Abidin
|12 March 1956
|25 January 1957
| rowspan="2" |[{{cite news|date=25 January 1957|title=Installatie gouverneur|work=Het nieuwsblad voor Sumatra|url=https://www.delpher.nl/nl/kranten/view?query=madja+poerba&coll=ddd&sortfield=datedesc&page=1&identifier=ddd:010475686:mpeg21:a0027&resultsidentifier=ddd:010475686:mpeg21:a0027}}] |
| 4
|25 January 1957
|1 April 1960 |
| 5
|100px
|bgcolor="gray" |
|Raja Junjungan Lubis
(1906–?)
|1 April 1960
|5 April 1963
| rowspan="3" bgcolor="gray" |
| rowspan="3" |Raja Syahnan
| |
| —
|100px
|bgcolor="{{party color|Indonesian National Party}}" |
|Eny Karim
(1910–1995)
|8 April 1963
|15 July 1963
| |
| 6
|100px
|bgcolor="gray" |
|Ulung Sitepu
|15 July 1963
|16 November 1965
| |
| —
|100px
|bgcolor="{{party color|Indonesian Christian Party}}"|
|Roos Telaumbanua
(1919–1987)
|16 November 1965
|31 March 1967
| colspan="2" rowspan="7" |none
| |
| 7
| rowspan="4" |100px
| rowspan="4" bgcolor="{{party color|Golongan Karya}}" |
| rowspan="4" |Marah Halim Harahap
(1921–2015)
|31 March 1967
|31 March 1972
|[Bukit Barisan, 31 March 1967] |
| —
|31 March 1972
|4 December 1972
|[{{cite news|title=TIGA PD. GUBERNUR LAGI|work=Kompas|date=3 March 1972}}] |
| (7)
|4 December 1972
|4 December 1977
| rowspan="2" |[{{cite news|title=Pelantikan Marah Halim dan Arifin Achmad Sebagai Gubernur: Masa Jabatan Lima Tahun Tidak Mutlak|work=Kompas|date=6 December 1972}}] |
| —
|4 December 1977
|12 June 1978 |
| 8
|100px
| bgcolor="{{party color|Golongan Karya}}" |
|Edward Wellington Pahala Tambunan
(1927–2006)
|12 June 1978
|13 June 1983
|[{{cite news|title=Tujuh gubernur dilantik Juni-Juli|work=Kompas|date=5 June 1978}}] |
| 9
|100px
| bgcolor="{{party color|Golongan Karya}}" |
|Kaharuddin Nasution
(1925–1990)
|13 June 1983
|13 June 1988
|[{{cite news|title=Tajuk Rencana: Pembangunan di daerah|work=Kompas|date=15 June 1983}}] |
| rowspan="2" |10
| rowspan="2" |100px
| rowspan="2" bgcolor="{{party color|Golongan Karya}}" |
| rowspan="2" |Raja Inal Siregar
(1938–2005)
|13 June 1988
|14 June 1993
|bgcolor="{{party color|Golongan Karya}}" |
|Alimuddin Simanjuntak
|[{{cite news|title=Raja Inal Siregar Akan Dilantik Menjadi Gubernur Sumatera Utara|work=Kompas|date=4 June 1988}}] |
| 14 June 1993
|16 June 1998
|bgcolor="{{party color|Golongan Karya}}" |
|Pieter Sibarani
|[{{cite news|title=RI Siregar Dilantik Lagi Menjadi Gubernur Sumut. Diwarnai Dukungan Dan Celaan|work=Kompas|date=15 June 1993}}] |
| rowspan="2" |11
| rowspan="2" |100px
| rowspan="2" bgcolor="{{party color|Golongan Karya}}" |
| rowspan="2" |Tengku Rizal Nurdin
(1948–2005)
|16 June 1998
|16 June 2003
|bgcolor="{{party color|Golongan Karya}}" |
|Lundu Panjaitan
Abdul Wahab Dalimunthe
| |
| 16 June 2003
|5 September 2005
|bgcolor="{{party color|Indonesian Democratic Party – Struggle}}"|
|Rudolf Pardede
|[{{cite news|url=http://www.tokohindonesia.com/biografi/article/286-direktori/1969-wafat-dalam-kecelakaan-mandala-airlines|title=Wafat dalam kecelakaan Mandala Airlines|date=6 September 2005|access-date=15 November 2015|newspaper=Tokoh Indonesia}}][{{cite news|url=http://news.detik.com/berita/435543/jasad-gubernur-sumut-rizal-nurdin-teridentifikasi|title=Jasad Gubernur Sumut Rizal Nurdin Teridentifikasi|date=5 September 2005|access-date=15 November 2015|newspaper=detikNews|last=TON}}][{{cite news|url=http://news.liputan6.com/read/108607/presiden-yudhoyono-memimpin-pemakaman-rizal-nurdin|title=Presiden Yudhoyono Memimpin Pemakaman Rizal Nurdin|date=6 September 2005|access-date=15 November 2015|newspaper=Liputan6|last=AIS}}] |
| —
| rowspan="2" |100px
| rowspan="2" bgcolor="{{party color|Indonesian Democratic Party – Struggle}}"|
| rowspan="2" |Rudolf Pardede
(1942–2023)
|5 September 2005
|10 March 2006
| colspan="2" rowspan="2" |none
|[{{cite news|url=http://www.rulers.org/2005-09.html|title=The governor of Sumatera Utara, Rizal Nurdin, and his predecessor (1988–98), Raja Inal Siregar, die in a plane crash. Deputy Governor Rudolf Pardede is appointed acting governor|newspaper=Rules|access-date=15 November 2015|date=September 2015}}] |
| 12
|10 March 2006
|16 June 2008
|[{{cite news|url=http://news.liputan6.com/read/119056/rudolf-pardede-resmi-gubernur-sumut|title=Rudolf Pardede Resmi Gubernur Sumut|date=10 March 2006|access-date=14 November 2015|newspaper=Liputan6|first1=Fajar|last1=Ilham|first2=Rudi|last2=Utomo}}] |
| 13
|100px
|bgcolor="{{party color|Golongan Karya}}"|
|Syamsul Arifin
(1952–)
|16 June 2008
|21 March 2011
|bgcolor="{{party color|Prosperous Justice Party}}"|
|Gatot Pujo Nugroho
|[{{cite news|url=http://nasional.news.viva.co.id/news/read/209330-gubernur-syamsul-arifin-didakwa-korupsi|title=Gubernur Syamsul Arifin Didakwa Korupsi|first1=Arry|last1=Anggadha|first2=Desy|last2=Afrianti|newspaper=Viva|date=14 March 2011|access-date=15 November 2015}}][{{cite news|url=http://news.detik.com/berita/1599280/gubernur-sumatera-utara-syamsul-arifin-resmi-dinonaktifkan|title=Gubernur Sumatera Utara Syamsul Arifin Resmi Dinonaktifkan|last1=FJP|last2=ANW|newspaper=detikNews|date=23 March 2011|access-date=15 November 2015}}] |
| —
| rowspan="3" |100px
| rowspan="3" bgcolor="{{party color|Prosperous Justice Party}}"|
| rowspan="3" |Gatot Pujo Nugroho
(1962–)
|21 March 2011
|14 March 2013
| colspan="2" rowspan="2" |none
|[{{cite news|url=http://www.detiknews.com/read/2011/03/25/193924/1601573/10/gantikan-syamsul-arifin-pj-gubernur-sumut-langsung-gelar-evaluasi|title=Gantikan Syamsul Arifin, Pj Gubernur Sumut Langsung Gelar Evaluasi|newspaper=Detik|date=25 March 2011|access-date=26 March 2011}}] |
| rowspan="2" |14
|14 March 2013
|16 June 2013
|[{{cite news|url=http://www.merdeka.com/politik/gatot-pujo-nugroho-dilantik-jadi-gubernur-sumut.html|title=Gatot Pujo Nugroho dilantik jadi gubernur Sumut|first=Yan|last=Muhardiansyah|date=14 March 2013|access-date=15 November 2015|newspaper=Merdeka}}] |
| 16 June 2013
|4 August 2015
|bgcolor="{{party color|Golongan Karya}}"|
|Tengku Erry Nuradi
|[{{cite news|url=http://www.tribunnews.com/regional/2013/03/08/gatot-pujo-nugroho-bakal-dua-kali-dilantik|title=Gatot Pujo Nugroho Bakal Dua Kali Dilantik|first=Dewi|last=Agustina|date=8 March 2013|access-date=15 November 2015|newspaper=TribunNews}}][{{cite news|url=http://www.jpnn.com/read/2013/04/01/165239/Gatot-Pujo-Nugroho-Bakal-Tercatat-di-MURI-|title=Gatot Pujo Nugroho Bakal Tercatat di MURI|last=SAM|date=1 April 2013|access-date=15 November 2015|newspaper=Jawa Pos National Network}}] |
| —
| rowspan="3" |100px
| rowspan="3" bgcolor="#214aa0" |
| rowspan="3" |Tengku Erry Nuradi
(1964–)
|11 August 2015
|25 May 2016
| colspan="2" rowspan="2" |none
|[{{cite news|url=http://news.okezone.com/read/2015/08/10/340/1193791/besok-tengku-erry-resmi-gantikan-tugas-gatot-pujo-nugroho|title=Besok Tengku Erry Resmi Gantikan Tugas Gatot Pujo Nugroho|first=Akbar|last=Dongoran|date=10 August 2015|access-date=15 November 2015|newspaper=OkeZone.com|location=Medan}}][{{cite news|url=http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/08/11/tengku-erry-appointed-n-sumatra-acting-governor.html|title=Tengku Erry appointed as N. Sumatra acting governor|first=Apriadi|last=Gunawan|date=11 August 2015|access-date=15 November 2015|newspaper=The Jakarta Post|location=Medan}}][{{cite news|url=http://www.jpnn.com/read/2015/08/08/319339/Senin,-Tengku-Erry-Mulai-jadi-Pelaksana-Tugas-Gubernur-Sumut-|title=Senin, Tengku Erry Mulai jadi Pelaksana Tugas Gubernur Sumut|date=8 August 2015|access-date=15 November 2015|newspaper=Jawa Pos National Network|last1=GIR|last2=Kusdharmadi|location=Jatinangor}}] |
| rowspan="2" |15
|25 May 2016
|9 March 2017
|[{{Cite web|last=Okezone|date=2016-04-01|title=Gantikan Gatot, Tengku Erry Segera Dilantik Jadi Gubernur Sumut : Okezone News|url=https://news.okezone.com/read/2016/04/01/340/1351845/gantikan-gatot-tengku-erry-segera-dilantik-jadi-gubernur-sumut|access-date=2020-08-12|website=news.okezone.com|language=id-ID}}] |
| 9 March 2017
|16 June 2018
| bgcolor="{{party color|People's Conscience Party}}" |
|Nurhajizah Marpaung
|[{{cite news|url=http://www.satuharapan.com/read-detail/read/25-mei-2016|title=25 Mei 2016|access-date=25 May 2016|newspaper=Satu Harapan}}] |
| —
|100px
| bgcolor="gray" |
|R. Sabrina
(Acting)
|16 June 2018
|22 June 2018
| colspan="2" rowspan="2" |none
|[{{cite news|url=https://www.inews.id/daerah/sumut/155557/jabatan-erry-berakhir-sekda-provinsi-sabrina-jadi-plh-gubernur-sumut|title=Jabatan Erry Berakhir, Sekda Provinsi Sabrina Jadi Plh Gubernur Sumut|date=18 June 2018|access-date=26 June 2018|newspaper=iNews|first=Stepanus|last=Purba|editor-first=Maria|editor-last=Christina}}][{{cite news|url=https://bisnis.tempo.co/read/1099809/tragedi-danau-toba-ini-imbauan-gubernur-sumatera-utara?BisnisUtama&campaign=BisnisUtama_Click_1|title=Tragedi Danau Toba, Ini Imbauan Gubernur Sumatera Utara|date=22 June 2018|access-date=26 June 2018|newspaper=Tempo.co|editor-first=Rr. Ariyani Yakti|editor-last=Widyastuti}}] |
| —
|100px
| bgcolor="gray" |
|Eko Subowo
(Acting)
|22 June 2018
|5 September 2018
|[{{cite news|url=http://www.sumutprov.go.id/berita-lainnya/2685-laksanakan-tugas-pertama-mendagri-pj-gubsu-tinjau-langsung-lokasi-tenggelamnya-km-sinar-bangun-di-danau-toba|title=Laksanakan Tugas Pertama Mendagri, Pj. Gubsu Tinjau Langsung Lokasi Tenggelamnya KM Sinar Bangun di Danau Toba|date=23 June 2018|access-date=23 June 2018|newspaper=Humas Pemerintah Provinsi Sumatera Utara|last=Riva}}] |
| 16
|100px
| bgcolor="gray" |
|Edy Rahmayadi
(1961–)
|5 September 2018
|5 September 2023
| bgcolor="gray" |
|Musa Rajekshah
|[{{cite news|date=5 September 2018|title=Presiden Jokowi Lantik 9 Gubernur dan Wagub Hasil Pilkada 2018|language=id|work=KOMPAS|url=https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2018/09/05/10213161/presiden-jokowi-lantik-9-gubernur-dan-wagub-hasil-pilkada-2018|access-date=5 September 2018}}] |
| —
|100px
| bgcolor="gray" |
|Hassanudin
(Acting)
|5 September 2023
|24 June 2024
| colspan="2" colspan="2" |none
|[{{cite news|date=2 September 2023|title=Profil Hassanudin, Pj Gubsu Pengganti Edy Rahmayadi|language=id|work=detik.com|url=https://www.detik.com/sumut/berita/d-6909473/profil-hassanudin-pj-gubsu-pengganti-edy-rahmayadi/amp|access-date=4 September 2023}}] |
| |
| bgcolor="gray" |
|Agus Fatoni
(Acting)
|24 June 2024
|20 February 2025
| colspan="2" | none
| |
