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Governor of Colorado
Seal of the Executive Office of Colorado.svg
Seal of the Executive Office
Jared Polis official photo (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Jared Polis

since January 8, 2019
Government of Colorado
Style The Honorable
Residence Colorado Governor's Mansion
Term length Four years, renewable once consecutively
Inaugural holder John Long Routt
Formation August 1, 1876
Deputy Dianne Primavera
Salary $123,193 (2019)

The governor of Colorado is the head of government of the U.S. state of Colorado. The governor is the head of the executive branch of Colorado's state government and is charged with enforcing state laws. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Colorado General Assembly, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons, except in cases of treason or impeachment. The governor is also the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.

Seven people served as governor of Colorado Territory over eight terms, appointed by the president of the United States. Since statehood, there have been 38 governors, serving 43 distinct terms. One governor Alva Adams served three non-consecutive terms, while John Long Routt, James Hamilton Peabody, and Edwin C. Johnson each served during two non-consecutive periods. The longest-serving governors were Richard "Dick" Lamm (1975–1987) and Roy Romer (1987–1999), who each served 12 years over three terms. The shortest term occurred on March 16 and 17, 1905, when the state had three governors in the span of 24 hours: Alva Adams won the election, but soon after he took office, the legislature declared his opponent, James Hamilton Peabody, governor, but on the condition that he immediately resign, so that his lieutenant governor, Jesse McDonald, could be governor. Thus, Peabody served less than a day as governor.

The current governor is Democrat Jared Polis, who took office on January 8, 2019.

List of governors

Territory of Jefferson

The self-proclaimed Provisional Government of the Territory of Jefferson was organized on November 7, 1859. Jefferson Territory included all of present-day Colorado, but extended about 3 miles (5 km) farther east, 138 miles (222 km) farther north, and about 50 miles (80 km) farther west. The territory was never recognized by the federal government in the tumultuous days before the American Civil War. The Jefferson Territory had only one governor, Robert Williamson Steele, a pro-union Democrat elected by popular vote. He proclaimed the territory dissolved on June 6, 1861, several months after the official formation of the Colorado Territory, but only days after the arrival of its first governor.

Territory of Colorado

The Territory of Colorado was organized on February 28, 1861, from parts of the territories of New Mexico, Utah, and Nebraska, and the unorganized territory that was previously the western portion of Kansas Territory.

Governors of the Territory of Colorado
No. Governor Term in office Appointed by
1 William Gilpin (governor).jpg William Gilpin
(1813–1894)
March 25, 1861

March 26, 1862
(successor appointed)
Lincoln, AbrahamAbraham Lincoln
2 John Evans.gif John Evans
(1814–1897)
March 26, 1862

October 17, 1865
(resigned)
Lincoln, AbrahamAbraham Lincoln
3 Alexander Cummings.gif Alexander Cummings
(1810–1879)
October 17, 1865

May 8, 1867
(resigned)
Johnson, AndrewAndrew Johnson
4 Alexander Hunt.gif Alexander Cameron Hunt
(1825–1894)
May 8, 1867

April 19, 1869
(successor appointed)
Johnson, AndrewAndrew Johnson
5 Edward M. McCook - Brady-Handy.jpg Edward M. McCook
(1833–1909)
April 19, 1869

April 17, 1873
(successor appointed)
Grant, Ulysses S.Ulysses S. Grant
6 Samuel Elbert.gif Samuel Hitt Elbert
(1833–1899)
April 17, 1873

July 26, 1874
(successor appointed)
Grant, Ulysses S.Ulysses S. Grant
7 Edward M. McCook - Brady-Handy.jpg Edward M. McCook
(1833–1909)
June 19, 1874

February 8, 1875
(successor appointed)
Grant, Ulysses S.Ulysses S. Grant
8 John Long Routt.jpg John Long Routt
(1826–1907)
February 8, 1875

November 3, 1876
(elected state governor)
Grant, Ulysses S.Ulysses S. Grant

State of Colorado

The State of Colorado was admitted to the Union on August 1, 1876.

To serve as governor, one must be at least 30 years old, be a citizen of the United States, and have been a resident of the state for at least two years prior to election. The state constitution of 1876 originally called for election of the governor every two years, with their term beginning on the second Tuesday of the January following the election. An amendment passed in 1956, taking effect in 1959, increased terms to four years. Originally, there was no term limit applied to the governor; a 1990 amendment allowed governors to succeed themselves only once. There is however no limit on the total number of terms one may serve as long as one who has served the two term limit is out of office for four years.

Should the office of governor become vacant, the lieutenant governor becomes governor. If both the offices governor and lieutenant governor are vacant, the line of succession moves down through the senior members of the state senate and state house of representatives of the same party as the governor. The lieutenant governor was elected separately from the governor until a 1968 amendment to the constitution made it so that they are elected on the same ticket.

Governors of the State of Colorado
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor
1 John Long Routt.jpg   John Long Routt
(1826–1907)
November 3, 1876

January 14, 1879
(did not run)
Republican 1876   Head, LafayetteLafayette Head
2 Frederick Walker Pitkin.jpg Frederick Walker Pitkin
(1837–1886)
January 14, 1879

January 9, 1883
(did not run)
Republican 1878 Tabor, HoraceHorace Tabor
1880
3 James Grant.gif James Benton Grant
(1848–1911)
January 9, 1883

January 13, 1885
(did not run)
Democratic 1882 Meyer, William H.William H. Meyer
4 Benjamin Eaton.gif Benjamin Harrison Eaton
(1833–1904)
January 13, 1885

January 11, 1887
(did not run)
Republican 1884 Breene, Peter W.Peter W. Breene
5 Alvaadams.jpg Alva Adams
(1850–1922)
January 11, 1887

January 8, 1889
(did not run)
Democratic 1886 Meldrum, Norman H.Norman H. Meldrum
6 Job Cooper.gif Job Adams Cooper
(1843–1899)
January 8, 1889

January 13, 1891
(did not run)
Republican 1888 Smith, William GroverWilliam Grover Smith
7 John Long Routt.jpg John Long Routt
(1826–1907)
January 13, 1891

January 10, 1893
(did not run)
Republican 1890 Story, WilliamWilliam Story
8 Davis Hanson Waite.gif Davis Hanson Waite
(1825–1901)
January 10, 1893

January 8, 1895
(lost election)
People's 1892 Nichols, David H.David H. Nichols
9 Albert Mcintire.gif Albert McIntire
(1853–1935)
January 8, 1895

January 12, 1897
(did not run)
Republican 1894 Brush, Jared L.Jared L. Brush
10 Alvaadams.jpg Alva Adams
(1850–1922)
January 12, 1897

January 10, 1899
(did not run)
Democratic 1896
11 Charles Spalding Thomas.jpg Charles S. Thomas
(1849–1934)
January 10, 1899

January 8, 1901
(did not run)
Democratic 1898 Carney, Francis PatrickFrancis Patrick Carney
12 James Orman.gif James Bradley Orman
(1849–1919)
January 8, 1901

January 13, 1903
(did not run)
Democratic 1900 Coates, David C.David C. Coates
13 James Hamilton Peabody.jpg James Hamilton Peabody
(1852–1917)
January 13, 1903

January 10, 1905
(lost election)
Republican 1902 Haggott, Warren A.Warren A. Haggott
14 Alvaadams.jpg Alva Adams
(1850–1922)
January 10, 1905

March 16, 1905
(declared loser in election)
Democratic 1904 Cornforth, ArthurArthur Cornforth
15 James Hamilton Peabody.jpg James Hamilton Peabody
(1852–1917)
March 16, 1905

March 17, 1905
(resigned)
Republican McDonald, Jesse FullerJesse Fuller McDonald
16 Jesse Mcdonald.gif Jesse Fuller McDonald
(1858–1942)
March 17, 1905

January 8, 1907
(did not run)
Republican Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Cornforth, ArthurArthur Cornforth
(removed July 5, 1905)
Parks, Fred W.Fred W. Parks
17 Henry Buchtel.gif Henry Augustus Buchtel
(1847–1924)
January 8, 1907

January 12, 1909
(did not run)
Republican 1906 Harper, ErastusErastus Harper
18 John Shafroth.gif John F. Shafroth
(1854–1922)
January 12, 1909

January 14, 1913
(did not run)
Democratic 1908 Fitzgarrald, Stephen R.Stephen R. Fitzgarrald
1910
19 Elias Ammons.gif Elias M. Ammons
(1860–1925)
January 14, 1913

January 12, 1915
(did not run)
Democratic 1912 Montgomery, Benjamin F.Benjamin F. Montgomery
20 George Alfred Carlson in 1914.jpg George Alfred Carlson
(1876–1926)
January 12, 1915

January 9, 1917
(lost election)
Republican 1914 Lewis, Moses E.Moses E. Lewis
21 Julius Gunter.gif Julius Caldeen Gunter
(1858–1940)
January 9, 1917

January 14, 1919
(did not run)
Democratic 1916 Pulliam, JamesJames Pulliam
22 Oliver Henry Shoup.jpg Oliver Henry Shoup
(1869–1940)
January 14, 1919

January 9, 1923
(did not run)
Republican 1918 Stephan, GeorgeGeorge Stephan
1920 Cooley, EarlEarl Cooley
23 William Sweet.gif William Ellery Sweet
(1869–1942)
January 9, 1923

January 13, 1925
(lost election)
Democratic 1922 Rockwell, Robert F.Robert F. Rockwell
24 Bench and bar of Colorado - CLARENCE J. MORLEY.png Clarence Morley
(1869–1948)
January 13, 1925

January 11, 1927
(did not run)
Republican 1924 Lacy, Sterling ByrdSterling Byrd Lacy
25 State Senator Billy Adams, Colorado, 1915.png Billy Adams
(1861–1954)
January 11, 1927

January 10, 1933
(did not run)
Democratic 1926 Corlett, George MiltonGeorge Milton Corlett
1928
1930 Johnson, Edwin C.Edwin C. Johnson
26 Edwin Johnson.jpg Edwin C. Johnson
(1884–1970)
January 10, 1933

January 2, 1937
(resigned)
Democratic 1932 Talbot, Ray HerbertRay Herbert Talbot
1934
27 Raymond Talbot (Colorado governor).jpg Ray Herbert Talbot
(1896–1955)
January 2, 1937

January 12, 1937
(successor took office)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
28 Teller Ammons (Colorado governor).gif Teller Ammons
(1895–1972)
January 12, 1937

January 10, 1939
(lost election)
Democratic 1936 Hayes, FrankFrank Hayes
29 Gov Ralph L Carr 1940 (cropped).jpg Ralph Lawrence Carr
(1887–1950)
January 10, 1939

January 12, 1943
(did not run)
Republican 1938 Vivian, John CharlesJohn Charles Vivian
1940
30 John C. Vivian (Colorado governor).jpg John Charles Vivian
(1887–1964)
January 12, 1943

January 14, 1947
(did not run)
Republican 1942 Higby, William EugeneWilliam Eugene Higby
1944
31 William Lee Knous (CO).png William Lee Knous
(1889–1959)
January 14, 1947

April 15, 1950
(resigned)
Democratic 1946 Pearson, Homer L.Homer L. Pearson
1948 Johnson, Walter WalfordWalter Walford Johnson
32 CO Gov Walter Walford Johnson.jpg Walter Walford Johnson
(1904–1987)
April 15, 1950

January 9, 1951
(lost election)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Murphy, Charles P.Charles P. Murphy
33 Dan Thornton (Colorado governor).jpg Daniel I. J. Thornton
(1911–1976)
January 9, 1951

January 11, 1955
(did not run)
Republican 1950 Allott, GordonGordon Allott
1952
34 Edwin Johnson.jpg Edwin C. Johnson
(1884–1970)
January 11, 1955

January 8, 1957
(did not run)
Democratic 1954 McNichols, StephenStephen McNichols
35 Stephen McNichols 1962.jpg Stephen McNichols
(1914–1997)
January 8, 1957

January 8, 1963
(lost election)
Democratic 1956 Hays, Frank L.Frank L. Hays
1958 Knous, Robert LeeRobert Lee Knous
36 John A. Love (CO).png John Arthur Love
(1916–2002)
January 8, 1963

July 16, 1973
(resigned)
Republican 1962
1966 Hogan, Mark AnthonyMark Anthony Hogan
1970 Vanderhoof, John D.John D. Vanderhoof
37 John D. Vanderhoof (Colorado Governor) (cropped).jpg John D. Vanderhoof
(1922–2013)
July 16, 1973

January 14, 1975
(lost election)
Republican Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Strickland, Ted L.Ted L. Strickland
38 Richard Lamm (CO).png Richard Lamm
(1935–2021)
January 14, 1975

January 13, 1987
(did not run)
Democratic 1974 Brown, George L.George L. Brown
1978 Dick, Nancy E.Nancy E. Dick
1982
39 Roy Romer (CO).jpg Roy Romer
(b. 1928)
January 13, 1987

January 12, 1999
(term-limited)
Democratic 1986 Callihan, MikeMike Callihan
(resigned May 10, 1994)
1990
Vacant
Cassidy, Samuel H.Samuel H. Cassidy
(took office May 11, 1994)
1994 Schoettler, GailGail Schoettler
40 Bill Owens 2002 (cropped).jpg Bill Owens
(b. 1950)
January 12, 1999

January 9, 2007
(term-limited)
Republican 1998 Rogers, JoeJoe Rogers
2002 Norton, Jane E.Jane E. Norton
41 Bill Ritter official photo (cropped 2).jpg Bill Ritter
(b. 1956)
January 9, 2007

January 11, 2011
(did not run)
Democratic 2006 O'Brien, BarbaraBarbara O'Brien
42 Governor John Hickenlooper 2015.jpg John Hickenlooper
(b. 1952)
January 11, 2011

January 8, 2019
(term-limited)
Democratic 2010 García, JosephJoseph García
(resigned May 12, 2016)
2014
Lynne, DonnaDonna Lynne
43 Jared Polis official photo (cropped).jpg Jared Polis
(b. 1975)
January 8, 2019

Incumbent
Democratic 2018 Primavera, DianneDianne Primavera
2022

See also

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