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List of governors of Arizona facts for kids

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Governor of Arizona
Flag of Arizona.svg
Arizona-StateSeal.svg
= Current Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs
Incumbent
Katie Hobbs

since January 2, 2023
Government of Arizona
Style The Honorable
Residence No official residence
Term length Four years, renewable once consecutively
Constituting instrument Arizona Constitution, article V
Inaugural holder George W. P. Hunt
Formation February 14, 1912
Succession Line of succession
Deputy None (until 2027)
Lieutenant Governor (expected from 2027)
Salary $95,000 (2022)

The governor of Arizona is the main leader of the state of Arizona. They are like the "boss" of the state's government. The governor makes sure that state laws are followed. They can also approve or reject new laws passed by the Arizona State Legislature. The governor can also call special meetings of the legislature.

The governor is also the leader of Arizona's military forces, called the Arizona National Guard. Arizona is one of the few states that does not have a special house for its governor.

Twenty-four different people have been governor of Arizona. Some governors served more than once. For example, George W. P. Hunt and Thomas Edward Campbell took turns being governor for 17 years. George W. P. Hunt was governor seven times, serving for almost 14 years. Bruce Babbitt served for almost nine years. Wesley Bolin had the shortest time as governor, serving less than five months.

Arizona has had five female governors. This is more than any other U.S. state. Arizona was also the first state where female governors served one after another.

The current governor, since January 2, 2023, is Katie Hobbs. She is a Democrat.

Arizona's Governors: A History

Territory of Arizona Governors

Arizona was not always a state. For 49 years, it was a territory of the United States. The Arizona Territory was officially created on February 24, 1863. During this time, the U.S. President appointed the governors.

Governors of the Territory of Arizona
No. Governor Term in office Appointing President
John Addison Gurley.jpg John A. Gurley
(1813–1863)
March 10, 1863

August 19, 1863
(died before taking office)
Lincoln, AbrahamAbraham Lincoln
1 John Noble Goodwin.jpg John Noble Goodwin
(1824–1887)
August 21, 1863

April 10, 1866
(resigned)
Lincoln, AbrahamAbraham Lincoln
2 Richard Cunningham McCormick - Brady-Handy.jpg Richard Cunningham McCormick
(1832–1901)
April 10, 1866

March 4, 1869
(resigned)
Johnson, AndrewAndrew Johnson
3 Anson P. K. Safford.jpg Anson P. K. Safford
(1830–1891)
April 8, 1869

April 5, 1877
(term expired)
Grant, Ulysses S.Ulysses S. Grant
4 John Philo Hoyt.jpg John Philo Hoyt
(1841–1926)
April 5, 1877

June 14, 1878
(resigned)
Hayes, Rutherford B.Rutherford B. Hayes
5 John Charles Fremont crop.jpg John C. Frémont
(1813–1890)
June 14, 1878

October 11, 1881
(resigned)
Hayes, Rutherford B.Rutherford B. Hayes
6 Frederick Augustus Tritle.png Frederick Augustus Tritle
(1833–1906)
February 6, 1882

October 7, 1885
(resigned)
Arthur, Chester A.Chester A. Arthur
7 C. Meyer Zulick (Arizona Governor).jpg C. Meyer Zulick
(1839–1926)
October 15, 1885

March 28, 1889
(successor appointed)
Cleveland, GroverGrover Cleveland
8 Lewis Wolfley (Arizona Governor).jpg Lewis Wolfley
(1839–1910)
March 28, 1889

August 20, 1890
(resigned)
Harrison, BenjaminBenjamin Harrison
9 John Nichol Irwin - oval.jpg John N. Irwin
(1844–1905)
October 1, 1890

April 19, 1892
(resigned)
Harrison, BenjaminBenjamin Harrison
10 N. O. Murphy.jpg Oakes Murphy
(1849–1908)
May 9, 1892

April 13, 1893
(successor appointed)
Harrison, BenjaminBenjamin Harrison
11 LC hughes.jpg L. C. Hughes
(1842–1915)
April 8, 1893

April 1, 1896
(successor appointed)
Cleveland, GroverGrover Cleveland
12 BJFranklin.jpg Benjamin Joseph Franklin
(1839–1898)
April 8, 1896

July 22, 1897
(resigned)
Cleveland, GroverGrover Cleveland
13 MyronMcCord.png Myron H. McCord
(1840–1908)
July 17, 1897

August 1, 1898
(resigned)
McKinley, WilliamWilliam McKinley
14 N. O. Murphy.jpg Oakes Murphy
(1849–1908)
July 16, 1898

July 1, 1902
(resigned)
McKinley, WilliamWilliam McKinley
15 Alexander Brodie.jpg Alexander Oswald Brodie
(1849–1918)
May 14, 1902

February 14, 1905
(resigned)
Roosevelt, TheodoreTheodore Roosevelt
16 Joseph Henry Kibbey-left profile.jpg Joseph Henry Kibbey
(1853–1924)
February 27, 1905

April 15, 1909
(successor appointed)
Roosevelt, TheodoreTheodore Roosevelt
17 Governor R E Sloan.jpg Richard Elihu Sloan
(1857–1933)
April 15, 1909

February 14, 1912
(statehood)
Taft, William HowardWilliam Howard Taft

State of Arizona Governors

Arizona became a state on February 14, 1912. It was the last state in the main part of the U.S. to join the country.

When Arizona first became a state, governors were elected every two years. In 1968, this changed to four-year terms. Originally, there was no limit to how many times a governor could serve. But in 1992, a new rule was made. Now, a governor can only serve two terms in a row. After four years out of office, they can run again.

Arizona is one of the few states that does not have a lieutenant governor. If the governor's office becomes empty, the Secretary of State usually takes over. If the Secretary of State cannot, then other elected officials follow in a specific order. This order is: Attorney General, State Treasurer, and Superintendent of Public Instruction.

For example, Bruce Babbitt became governor when Wesley Bolin passed away. Bolin had become governor when Raúl Héctor Castro left to become an ambassador. Later, Rose Mofford became governor after Evan Mecham was removed from office.

Starting with the election in 2026, Arizona will have a lieutenant governor. The governor and lieutenant governor will be elected together. If both offices become empty, the Secretary of State or another official will become governor. They will then choose a new lieutenant governor.

Governors of the State of Arizona
No. Governor Term in office Party Election
1 George WP Hunt.jpg   George W. P. Hunt
(1859–1934)
February 14, 1912

January 1, 1917
(lost election)
Democratic 1911
1914
2 Thomas E Campbell 2.jpg Thomas Edward Campbell
(1878–1944)
January 1, 1917

December 25, 1917
(removed from office)
Republican 1916
1 George WP Hunt.jpg George W. P. Hunt
(1859–1934)
December 25, 1917

January 6, 1919
(did not run)
Democratic
2 Thomas E Campbell 2.jpg Thomas Edward Campbell
(1878–1944)
January 6, 1919

January 1, 1923
(lost election)
Republican 1918
1920
1 George WP Hunt.jpg George W. P. Hunt
(1859–1934)
January 1, 1923

January 7, 1929
(lost election)
Democratic 1922
1924
1926
3 John Calhoun Phillips (Arizona Governor).jpg John Calhoun Phillips
(1870–1943)
January 7, 1929

January 5, 1931
(lost election)
Republican 1928
1 George WP Hunt.jpg George W. P. Hunt
(1859–1934)
January 5, 1931

January 2, 1933
(lost nomination)
Democratic 1930
4 Benjamin Baker Moeur (Arizona Governor).jpg Benjamin Baker Moeur
(1869–1937)
January 2, 1933

January 4, 1937
(lost nomination)
Democratic 1932
1934
5 Rawghlie Clement Stanford.jpg Rawghlie Clement Stanford
(1879–1963)
January 4, 1937

January 2, 1939
(did not run)
Democratic 1936
6 Robert Taylor Jones.jpg Robert Taylor Jones
(1884–1958)
January 2, 1939

January 6, 1941
(lost nomination)
Democratic 1938
7 Sidney Preston Osborn.jpg Sidney Preston Osborn
(1884–1948)
January 6, 1941

May 25, 1948
(died in office)
Democratic 1940
1942
1944
1946
8 Dan E. Garvey (Arizona Governor).jpg Dan Edward Garvey
(1886–1974)
May 25, 1948

January 1, 1951
(lost nomination)
Democratic Succeeded from
secretary of state
1948
9 John Howard Pyle (Arizona governor).jpg John Howard Pyle
(1906–1987)
January 1, 1951

January 3, 1955
(lost election)
Republican 1950
1952
10 Ernest W. McFarland (AZ).png Ernest McFarland
(1894–1984)
January 3, 1955

January 5, 1959
(did not run)
Democratic 1954
1956
11 Paul Fannin.jpg Paul Fannin
(1907–2002)
January 5, 1959

January 4, 1965
(did not run)
Republican 1958
1960
1962
12 Samuel Pearson Goddard, Jr (tight crop).jpg Samuel Pearson Goddard Jr.
(1919–2006)
January 4, 1965

January 2, 1967
(lost election)
Democratic 1964
13 Jack Williams (Arizona politician) (cropped).jpg Jack Williams
(1909–1998)
January 2, 1967

January 6, 1975
(did not run)
Republican 1966
1968
1970
14 Raúl Héctor Castro (AZ).png Raúl Héctor Castro
(1916–2015)
January 6, 1975

October 20, 1977
(resigned)
Democratic 1974
15 Wesley Bolin (Arizona governor).jpg Wesley Bolin
(1909–1978)
October 20, 1977

March 4, 1978
(died in office)
Democratic Succeeded from
secretary of state
16 Bruce Babbitt (AZ).png Bruce Babbitt
(b. 1938)
March 4, 1978

January 5, 1987
(did not run)
Democratic Succeeded from
attorney general
1978
1982
17 Evan Mecham (Arizona governor) (1).jpg Evan Mecham
(1924–2008)
January 5, 1987

April 4, 1988
(removed from office)
Republican 1986
18 Rose Mofford 2012.jpg Rose Mofford
(1922–2016)
April 4, 1988

March 6, 1991
(did not run)
Democratic Succeeded from
secretary of state
19 Fife Symington by Gage Skidmore.jpg Fife Symington
(b. 1945)
March 6, 1991

September 5, 1997
(resigned)
Republican 1990–1991
1994
20 Jane Dee Hull by Gage Skidmore.jpg Jane Dee Hull
(1935–2020)
September 5, 1997

January 6, 2003
(term-limited)
Republican Succeeded from
secretary of state
1998
21 Janet Napolitano by Gage Skidmore 3.jpg Janet Napolitano
(b. 1957)
January 6, 2003

January 20, 2009
(resigned)
Democratic 2002
2006
22 Jan Brewer by Gage Skidmore 5.jpg Jan Brewer
(b. 1944)
January 20, 2009

January 5, 2015
(did not run)
Republican Succeeded from
secretary of state
2010
23 Doug Ducey by Gage Skidmore 13.jpg Doug Ducey
(b. 1964)
January 5, 2015

January 2, 2023
(term-limited)
Republican 2014
2018
24 Katie Hobbs (52688750292) (cropped).jpg Katie Hobbs
(b. 1969)
January 2, 2023

Incumbent
Democratic 2022

Timeline of Governors

Katie Hobbs Doug Ducey Jan Brewer Janet Napolitano Jane Dee Hull Fife Symington Rose Mofford Evan Mecham Bruce Babbitt Wesley Bolin Raúl Héctor Castro Jack Williams (American politician) Samuel Pearson Goddard Jr. Paul Fannin Ernest McFarland John Howard Pyle Dan Edward Garvey Sidney Preston Osborn Robert Taylor Jones Rawghile Clement Stanford Benjamin Baker Moeur John Calhoun Phillips Thomas Edward Campbell George W. P. Hunt

See also

  • Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Arizona
  • Lieutenant Governor of Arizona
  • List of Arizona state legislatures
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