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List of governors of Kansas facts for kids

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Governor of Kansas
Flag of the Governor of Kansas.svg
Standard of the Governor
Seal of Kansas.svg
Laura Kelly official photo (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Laura Kelly

since January 14, 2019
Residence Cedar Crest
Term length Four years, renewable once consecutively
Inaugural holder Charles L. Robinson
Formation February 9, 1861
Salary $99,636 (2017)

The governor of Kansas is the head of state of Kansas and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Kansas Legislature, to convene the legislature at any time, and to grant pardons.

The governor has a 4-year term, commencing on the second Monday of January after election. 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. When the office of governor becomes vacant for any reason, the lieutenant governor becomes governor for the remainder of the term.

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

Standard of the Governor of Kansas (pre-1961)
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 a governor may be elected. 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. 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. In 2018, a law was passed establishing the age to run for Governor and Lieutenant Governor at 25, beginning with the 2022 election.

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

Governors

Governors of Kansas Territory

Status

     Denotes service as acting governor before appointment or after resignation

Governors of the Territory of Kansas
No. Governor Term in office Appointed by
1 AReeder.jpg Andrew Horatio Reeder
    July 12, 1807 – July 5, 1864   
(aged 56)
July 7, 1854

August 16, 1855
Franklin Pierce
2 WShannon.jpg Wilson Shannon
    February 24, 1802 – August 30, 1877   
(aged 75)
September 5, 1855

August 18, 1856
3 Gearysfmayor.jpeg John W. Geary
    December 30, 1819 – February 8, 1873   
(aged 53)
September 9, 1856

March 20, 1857
4 Frederick Perry Stanton
    December 22, 1814 – June 4, 1894   
(aged 79)
April 15, 1857

May 27, 1857
James Buchanan
5 Hon. Robert J. Walker, Miss - NARA - 528738.jpg Robert J. Walker
    July 19, 1801 – November 11, 1869   
(aged 68)
May 27, 1857

December 15, 1857
6 James W Denver by Whitehurst Studio c1856.jpg James W. Denver
    October 23, 1817 – August 9, 1892   
(aged 74)
December 1857

November 1858
7 SamuelMedary.jpg 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. An amendment in 1972 increased terms to four years, 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; 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.

Governors of the State of Kansas
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor
1 CRobinson.jpg   Charles L. Robinson
    July 21, 1818 – August 17, 1894   
(aged 76)
February 9, 1861

January 12, 1863
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1860   Joseph Pomeroy Root
2 TCarney.jpg 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.jpg Samuel J. Crawford
    April 10, 1835 – October 21, 1913   
(aged 78)
January 9, 1865

November 4, 1868
(resigned)
Republican 1864 James McGrew
1866 Nehemiah Green
4 NehemiahGreen.gif 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.gif James M. Harvey
    September 21, 1833 – April 15, 1894   
(aged 60)
January 11, 1869

January 13, 1873
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1868 Charles Vernon Eskridge
1870 Peter Percival Elder
6 ThosAOsborn.gif 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 GeoTAnthony.gif 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 1880.jpg John St. John
    February 25, 1833 – August 31, 1916   
(aged 83)
January 13, 1879

January 8, 1883
(lost election)
Republican 1878
1880 David Wesley Finney
9 GWGlick.jpg George Washington Glick
    July 4, 1827 – April 13, 1911   
(aged 83)
January 8, 1883

January 12, 1885
(lost election)
Democratic 1882
10 John alexander martin.jpeg 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 LUHumphrey.jpg 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 LDLewelling.jpg Lorenzo D. Lewelling
    December 21, 1846 – September 3, 1900   
(aged 53)
January 8, 1893

January 14, 1895
(lost election)
Populist 1892 Percy Daniels
13 ENMorrill.jpg Edmund Needham Morrill
    February 12, 1834 – March 14, 1909   
(aged 75)
January 14, 1895

January 11, 1897
(lost election)
Republican 1894 James Armstrong Troutman
14 JWLeedy.gif John W. Leedy
    March 8, 1849 – March 24, 1935   
(aged 86)
January 11, 1897

January 9, 1899
(lost election)
Populist 1896 Alexander Miller Harvey
15 WEStanley.jpg William Eugene Stanley
    December 28, 1844 – October 13, 1910   
(aged 65)
January 9, 1899

January 12, 1903
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1898 Harry E. Richter
1900
16 WJBailey.gif 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 EWHoch.gif 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 WRStubbs.gif 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 Portrait of George H. Hodges.jpg George H. Hodges
    February 6, 1866 – October 7, 1947   
(aged 81)
January 13, 1913

January 11, 1915
(lost election)
Democratic 1912 Sheffield Ingalls
20 Arthur Capper.png 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.jpg 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 JonathanMDavis.jpg Jonathan M. Davis
    April 27, 1871 – June 27, 1943   
(aged 72)
January 8, 1923

January 12, 1925
(lost election)
Democratic 1922 Benjamin S. Paulen
23 BenPaulen.jpg Benjamin S. Paulen
    July 14, 1869 – July 11, 1961   
(aged 91)
January 12, 1925

January 14, 1929
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1924 De Lanson Alson Newton Chase
1926
24 ClydeMartinReed.jpg Clyde M. Reed
    October 19, 1871 – November 8, 1949   
(aged 78)
January 14, 1929

January 12, 1931
(lost renomination)
Republican 1928 Jacob W. Graybill
25 Harry Hines Woodring, 53rd United States Secretary of War.jpg Harry Hines Woodring
    May 31, 1887 – September 9, 1967   
(aged 80)
January 12, 1931

January 9, 1933
(lost election)
Democratic 1930
26 LandonPortr.jpg 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 Walter A. Huxman (KS).png Walter A. Huxman
    February 16, 1887 – June 25, 1972   
(aged 85)
January 11, 1937

January 9, 1939
(lost election)
Democratic 1936 William M. Lindsay
28 PayneRatner (cropped).jpg Payne Ratner
    October 3, 1896 – December 27, 1974   
(aged 78)
January 9, 1939

January 11, 1943
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1938 Carl E. Friend
1940
29 Andrew F. Schoeppel (KS).png 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.png Frank Carlson
    January 23, 1893 – May 30, 1987   
(aged 94)
January 13, 1947

November 28, 1950
(resigned)
Republican 1946 Frank L. Hagaman
1948
31 Frank Hagaman (1949).png 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.jpg Edward F. Arn
    May 19, 1906 – January 22, 1998   
(aged 91)
January 8, 1951

January 10, 1955
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1950 Fred Hall
1952
33 Fred Hall (cropped).jpg Fred Hall
    July 24, 1916 – March 18, 1970   
(aged 53)
January 10, 1955

January 3, 1957
(resigned)
Republican 1954 John McCuish
34 John McCuish (Kansas governor).jpg 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 George Docking.jpg George Docking
    February 23, 1904 – January 20, 1964   
(aged 59)
January 14, 1957

January 9, 1961
(lost election)
Democratic 1956 Joseph W. Henkle Sr.
1958
36 John Anderson Governor.jpg John Anderson Jr.
    May 8, 1917 – September 15, 2014   
(aged 97)
January 9, 1961

January 11, 1965
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1960 Harold H. Chase
1962
37 Avery William H.jpg William H. Avery
    August 11, 1911 – November 4, 2009   
(aged 98)
January 11, 1965

January 9, 1967
(lost election)
Republican 1964 John Crutcher
38 Robert Docking.jpg Robert Docking
    October 9, 1925 – October 8, 1983   
(aged 57)
January 9, 1967

January 13, 1975
(term limited)
Democratic 1966
1968 James H. DeCoursey Jr.
1970 Reynolds Shultz
1972 Dave Owen
39 Robert Bennett (1978) (cropped).png Robert Frederick Bennett
    May 23, 1927 – October 9, 2000   
(aged 73)
January 13, 1975

January 8, 1979
(lost election)
Republican 1974 Shelby Smith
40 John Carlin.jpg John W. Carlin
    (1940-08-03) August 3, 1940 (age 83)   
January 8, 1979

January 12, 1987
(term limited)
Democratic 1978 Paul Dugan
1982 Thomas Docking
41 Mike Hayden.jpg Mike Hayden
    (1944-03-16) March 16, 1944 (age 80)   
January 12, 1987

January 14, 1991
(lost election)
Republican 1986 Jack D. Walker
42 Joan Finney (Kansas governor).jpg Joan Finney
    February 12, 1925 – July 28, 2001   
(aged 76)
January 14, 1991

January 9, 1995
(not candidate for election)
Democratic 1990 Jim Francisco
43 Bill Graves.jpg Bill Graves
    (1953-01-09) January 9, 1953 (age 71)   
January 9, 1995

January 13, 2003
(term limited)
Republican 1994 Sheila Frahm
(resigned June 11, 1996)
Vacant
Gary Sherrer
(appointed July 18, 1996)
1998
44 Sebeliusofficialphoto.jpg Kathleen Sebelius
    (1948-05-15) May 15, 1948 (age 75)   
January 13, 2003

April 28, 2009
(resigned)
Democratic 2002 John E. Moore
2006 Mark Parkinson
45 Mark Parkinson (cropped).jpg Mark Parkinson
    (1957-06-24) June 24, 1957 (age 66)   
April 28, 2009

January 10, 2011
(not candidate for election)
Democratic Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
Vacant
Troy Findley
(appointed May 15, 2009)
46 Sam Brownback headshot.jpg Sam Brownback
    (1956-09-15) September 15, 1956 (age 67)   
January 10, 2011

January 31, 2018
(resigned)
Republican 2010 Jeff Colyer
2014
47 Jeff Colyer official portrait (cropped).jpg Jeff Colyer
    (1960-06-03) June 3, 1960 (age 63)   
January 31, 2018

January 14, 2019
(lost nomination)
Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
Tracey Mann
(appointed February 14, 2018)
48 Laura Kelly official photo (cropped).jpg Laura Kelly
    (1950-01-24) January 24, 1950 (age 74)   
January 14, 2019

Incumbent
Democratic 2018 Lynn Rogers
(resigned January 2, 2021)
David Toland
(appointed January 2, 2021)
2022

See also

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List of governors of Kansas Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.