Governor of Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor of theCommonwealth of Kentucky |
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| Government of Kentucky | |
| Style | Governor (informal) The Honorable (formal) His Excellency (diplomatic) |
| Member of | Kentucky Executive Branch Kentucky Cabinet |
| Residence | Kentucky Governor's Mansion |
| Appointer | Popular vote
Line of succession
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| Term length | Four years, renewable once consecutively |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Kentucky |
| Inaugural holder | Isaac Shelby |
| Formation | June 4, 1792 |
| Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky |
| Salary | $164,355 (2023) |
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The Governor of Kentucky is the top leader of the state government in Kentucky. Think of them as the chief executive or CEO of the state. So far, 62 men and one woman have served as Governor of Kentucky.
A governor serves for four years. Since 1992, they can be re-elected once, meaning they can serve two terms in a row. After two terms, they must wait four years before running again. Four people have served two terms that were not in a row. Four others have served two terms in a row. The current Governor, Andy Beshear, was re-elected for his second term on November 7, 2023. Kentucky is one of only five states that holds its governor elections in "off-years," meaning years that are not presidential election years.
The powers of the governor are written in the state constitution. Kentucky has had four different constitutions, created in 1792, 1799, 1850, and 1891. Each new constitution has given the governor more authority. The governor can grant pardons, stop laws with a veto, and call the state legislature (the Kentucky General Assembly) into special meetings. The governor is also the commander-in-chief of Kentucky's military forces, like the Kentucky National Guard. They are in charge of making sure all state laws are followed.
The governor also gets to appoint many people to lead different parts of the state government. This power is limited a bit by a "merit system" started in 1960. This system makes sure state employees are hired based on their skills, not just political connections. Because the governor controls so many appointments, this job has often been seen as one of the most powerful state leader positions in the United States. The governor's influence also comes from deciding who gets state contracts and having a lot of say over the legislature. However, this influence over the legislature has become less strong since the mid-1970s.
The history of the Governor's office shows long periods where one political party was in charge. Early on, the Democratic-Republican Party won every election until 1828. Then, the Whigs took over, winning most elections until 1851. After the Whig Party ended in the 1850s, the Democrats were mostly in charge until 1895.
When Republican William O'Connell Bradley was elected in 1895, it started a time when both Republicans and Democrats had a real chance to win. From 1895 to 1931, five Republicans and six Democrats served as governor. But since 1931, only four Republicans have been Governor of Kentucky. No Republican governor has ever been re-elected. The most recent Republican governor, Matt Bevin, lost his re-election bid.
Contents
What the Governor Does: Powers and Duties
The Kentucky Constitution lists the governor's main powers. The first power mentioned is being the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. In 1799, a rule was added that the governor would not personally lead troops in battle unless the Kentucky General Assembly advised it. One time this happened was in 1813. Governor Isaac Shelby, who fought in the American Revolutionary War, was asked to lead Kentucky troops to help William Henry Harrison at the Battle of the Thames. For his service, Shelby received special honors from Congress.
Other powers of the governor, found in all four constitutions, include enforcing all laws. They can also fill empty spots in elected offices until the next meeting of the General Assembly. The governor can also reduce fines and grant pardons. However, they cannot pardon someone who has been impeached. For cases of treason, a governor's pardon only lasts until the next legislative session. The legislature can then grant a full pardon. The 1891 constitution added that for every pardon request, the governor must write down the reasons for their decision. This record must be open for the public to see.
Historically, power in Kentucky's government was spread among many elected officials. These included the Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky, Attorney General of Kentucky, and others. But in the late 1900s, more power became centered in the Governor's office.
Calling and Ending Legislative Sessions
The governor can make the General Assembly take a break for up to four months if the two houses cannot agree on when to stop meeting. This power is in all four constitutions. The governor can also call the General Assembly into special meetings "on extraordinary occasions." Since the 1799 constitution, the governor has been allowed to call the legislature to meet somewhere other than the capital city, Frankfort, Kentucky. This could happen if the capital became unsafe due to an enemy or a serious disease. This rule was important long ago when diseases like smallpox were a big danger.
In 1900, Republican Governor William S. Taylor tried to use this power. He wanted to move the legislature to London, Kentucky, after William Goebel was shot. Taylor said there was an uprising in the capital. But the Democrats refused to move.
The 1891 constitution added a rule that the governor must explain why they are calling a special legislative session. Also, no other topics can be discussed during that special session. However, the constitution does not say the legislature *has* to do anything during the session. In 2007, Governor Ernie Fletcher called a special session for many items. The House of Representatives, controlled by Democrats, said none of the items were urgent. They believed Fletcher was just trying to improve his popularity before an election. The House met for an hour and then left without doing any business.
Veto Power
The governor of Kentucky has the power to veto (reject) laws passed by the legislature. Unlike the President of the United States, the governor cannot use a "pocket veto." If the governor does not sign or veto a bill within 10 days, it automatically becomes law. If the legislature ends its session before the governor can return a vetoed bill, the bill becomes law three days after the next session starts, unless the governor clearly vetoes it then.
The power to veto laws first appeared in the 1799 constitution. The 1891 constitution gave the governor a line-item veto. This means the governor can reject specific parts of a bill, especially spending bills, without rejecting the whole thing. However, this power cannot be used on changes to the constitution or laws about property taxes. The legislature can override a governor's veto. They need a majority vote in both houses. This is different from most states, where a larger "supermajority" vote is needed to override a veto.
State Budget
In many states, the legislature creates the state budget. But in Kentucky, the governor must present a proposed budget to the General Assembly every two years. This happens shortly after the legislature's sessions begin in even-numbered years. Often, the governor's budget has been approved with only a few changes. However, since Republicans gained control of the Kentucky Senate in 1999, approving the budget has become more difficult.
In 2002 and 2004, the General Assembly did not pass a budget before their session ended. In both cases, the state operated using a spending plan created by the governor. This continued until the legislature could meet again and pass a budget. In 2005, the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled that the governor cannot spend money without the legislature's approval. The court said that if lawmakers fail to pass a budget in the future, only spending allowed directly by the state constitution could happen.
Managing State Government and Appointments
The Kentucky constitution says the governor leads the state's executive branch. But it does not explain exactly how they should do this. The first constitution allowed the governor to nominate all major state officers. But later constitutions reduced this power as more of those jobs became elected positions. Because the constitution does not give the governor all the specific powers needed to run the state, the governor relies on laws passed by the General Assembly.
Over time, the General Assembly created many commissions and put them under the governor's control. This greatly increased the governor's influence. By 1934, the executive branch had 69 boards, commissions, and agencies. Governor Ruby Laffoon proposed a law in 1934 to organize these into 17 executive departments and 7 independent agencies. This law passed, giving the executive branch a clearer structure for the first time.
Governor Happy Chandler, who followed Laffoon, pushed for another reorganization law in 1936. This law got rid of some commissions and organized the rest into 10 main departments. It also created the Executive Cabinet, which included the main state officers and the heads of these departments. Chandler's changes made the government more efficient. This allowed him to pay off a large part of the state's debt. The 1936 law also clearly gave the governor the power to appoint department heads. It also allowed the governor to create, combine, or divide departments as needed. Later laws gave the governor more power, such as appointing advisory committees and setting rules for executive branch members.
By 1972, the executive branch had grown very large again. Governor Wendell Ford started a new plan in 1973 to combine departments into six main "program cabinets." He continued to merge departments throughout 1973. By the end of that year, there were only three program cabinets and four other departments.
By 2002, the executive branch had 14 cabinets. Governor Ernie Fletcher, elected in 2003, made the last major reorganization. He reduced the number of cabinets to nine.
The governor controls many appointments to commissions—around 2,000 according to a 1992 estimate. This is why the office is seen as very powerful. The governor also has a lot of freedom in giving out state contracts, which adds to their influence. In the second half of the 1900s, efforts were made to stop governors from using their appointment power just for political favors. Governor Happy Chandler created a "merit system" that said state employees could not be hired or fired for political reasons. His successor, Bert Combs, made this merit system a law. This protected it from being removed by a future governor. Even with the merit system, some governors have been criticized for how they use their appointment power. For example, governors have sometimes faced criticism regarding how they use their power to appoint people to jobs, even with the merit system in place.
Unofficial Powers
Many people believe the governor's unofficial powers are just as important as their official ones. These powers come from traditions and customs. Kentucky governors are often the leaders of their political parties in the state. They usually control their party's groups at state and national party meetings. Even though the constitution gives them few powers over the legislature, governors can have a lot of influence. They often help choose the leaders of both legislative houses.
However, the legislature started becoming more independent in the late 1900s. This happened especially during Governor John Y. Brown Jr.'s time (1979-1983). Brown was less involved in legislative matters than governors before him. He did not try to influence who became legislative leaders. He even went on vacation during one of the two legislative sessions of his term. This trend of a more independent legislature continued with the next two governors, Martha Layne Collins and Wallace Wilkinson.
The governor is also the most visible state official. They are the center of political attention in Kentucky. The governor is the official host when important visitors come to the state. They often give speeches at events and appear on national television with the winner of the annual Kentucky Derby. The state constitution requires the governor to give a State of the State address to the legislature regularly. This speech, usually given every year, is often meant for the state's citizens as much as for the lawmakers. The governor can use this speech to highlight their achievements and explain their plans for the upcoming legislative session. The media in Kentucky pays a lot of attention to the governor's actions. Many strong governors have used the media to gain support for their plans and criticize political opponents.
Who Can Be Governor: Qualifications and Term Length
To be a candidate for Governor of Kentucky, a person must be at least 30 years old. They must also have lived in the state for at least six years before the election. The residency rule was changed from two years to six years in the 1799 constitution and has stayed that way. The first constitution (1792) had an exception for candidates who were away from the state "on the public business of the United States or of this State." The age requirement was raised to 35 years in 1799 but went back to 30 years in the 1891 constitution.
The first three state constitutions said that a person could not be governor and hold a federal office at the same time. This rule is not in the current constitution. Also, the 1799 constitution said that a "minister of any religious society" could not be governor. This rule might have been aimed at the governor at the time, James Garrard, who was a Baptist minister and often disagreed with the legislature. This rule against ministers remained in the 1850 constitution but was removed from the 1891 constitution.
The 1891 constitution included a rule that no one could hold any state office, including governor, if they had been involved in a duel with deadly weapons. This rule showed how common dueling was in the South at that time. The oath of office for the governor includes a promise about this:
I do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this Commonwealth, and be faithful and true to the Commonwealth of Kentucky so long as I continue to be a citizen thereof, and that I will faithfully execute, to the best of my ability, the office of Governor according to law; and I do further solemnly swear that since the adoption of the present Constitution, I, being a citizen of this state, have not fought a duel with deadly weapons within this state, nor out of it, nor have I sent or accepted a challenge to fight a duel with deadly weapons, nor have I acted as second in carrying a challenge, nor aided or assisted any person thus offending, so help me God."
The governor's term has always been four years in all four state constitutions. The 1792 constitution did not limit how many terms a governor could serve. But the 1799 constitution said a governor could not be re-elected for seven years after their term ended. This rule did not apply to Governor James Garrard, who was re-elected in 1799. In the 1850 constitution, the waiting period was shortened to four years, and it stayed that way in the 1891 constitution.
In 1953, Governor Lawrence Wetherby talked about the problems with the term limit. He said a governor had to get their plans approved by the legislature very quickly in their first few months. He felt that the last part of a governor's term was often less effective because they were a "lame duck" and could not run again.
The idea of removing the term limit was first suggested in 1850 but was strongly opposed by many important state leaders. It was not until 1992 that a change to the state constitution passed. This change allowed the governor to serve two terms in a row before having to wait four years. Governor Brereton C. Jones helped this pass because he agreed that the new rule would not apply to governors already in office. Paul E. Patton was the first governor to be elected for two terms in a row after this change, winning in 1995 and 1999. Another change to the constitution in 2000 created a 30-day legislative session in odd-numbered years, in addition to the longer 60-day sessions in even-numbered years.
How the Governor is Elected
In the 1792 constitution, the governor was chosen by electors, similar to how the U.S. President is chosen. In the 1795 election, there was confusion because no candidate won a majority of electoral votes. The electors held a second vote, and James Garrard won. The secretary of state confirmed his election, even though some people questioned if the second vote was legal. The 1799 constitution changed this. It said the governor would be chosen by a direct vote of the people. If there was a tie, the Kentucky General Assembly would choose the governor by drawing lots. This rule has been in place since 1799.
Later, political parties started choosing their candidates for governor through special meetings called nominating conventions. Thomas Metcalfe was the first governor candidate chosen this way in 1827. Governor Ruby Laffoon, elected in 1931, was the last governor nominated by a convention. His lieutenant governor, Happy Chandler, pushed for laws that required party primary elections. These primary elections are still required by law today. In 1992, the state constitution was changed to require candidates for governor and lieutenant governor to run together as a "ticket."
Kentucky is one of only five U.S. states that holds its governor elections in "off-years" (odd-numbered years). The other states are Louisiana, Mississippi, Virginia, and New Jersey. The general election for governor and lieutenant governor happens on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The governor and lieutenant governor are sworn into office on the fifth Tuesday after their election. This was changed from the fourth Tuesday after the election by the 1850 constitution.
What Happens if the Governor Can't Serve: Succession
Under Kentucky's first constitution (1792), if the governor died, resigned, or was removed from office, the Speaker of the Kentucky Senate became the acting governor until a new election could be held. The 1799 constitution created the job of lieutenant governor. The lieutenant governor would become governor if the sitting governor died, resigned, or was removed. They would also act as governor if the governor was out of the state. When the lieutenant governor became the new governor, the Senate would elect a new Speaker, who would then be next in line.
The 1850 constitution added that if the governor's term had more than two years left when they left office, a special election would be called. The lieutenant governor would serve as governor until that election.
The 1891 constitution extended the line of succession. If the Senate was not meeting and had no elected Speaker, the secretary of state, or then the attorney general, would become acting governor if both the governor and lieutenant governor could not serve. That person would then have to call the Senate into session to elect a Speaker, who would then become governor.
A 1992 change to the state constitution removed the rule that the lieutenant governor became acting governor when the sitting governor was out of state. It also removed the lieutenant governor's duties in the Senate. Instead, a new position, the President of the Kentucky Senate, was created. This person is chosen from among the state senators and leads the Senate. The 1992 change also updated the line of succession. It is now as follows:
- Governor (Andy Beshear)
- Lieutenant Governor (Jacqueline Coleman)
- President of the Senate (if the Senate is meeting) (Robert Stivers)
- Attorney General (if the Senate is not meeting) (Russell Coleman)
- State Auditor (if the Senate is not meeting and the Attorney General cannot serve) (Allison Ball)
If the attorney general or state auditor becomes governor, they must call the Senate into session to elect a president, who would then become governor.
The first time a governor was succeeded in Kentucky was when Governor George Madison died in 1816. Madison was very popular. He died of tuberculosis just three weeks into his term. His lieutenant governor, Gabriel Slaughter, became governor. Slaughter immediately made two very unpopular appointments. This made many people angry, and a movement started in the House of Representatives to hold a new election for governor. Leaders of this movement, including a young John C. Breckinridge, said Slaughter was only "acting governor" until a new governor was elected. The call for a new election failed in 1815 and again in 1817. Slaughter served out the rest of Madison's term. By doing so, he set the rule that the lieutenant governor would permanently take over if the governor died, resigned, or was removed.
Besides Madison, four other governors have died while in office: John Breathitt, James Clark, John L. Helm, and William Goebel. All died of natural causes except Goebel. Goebel is the only governor of any U.S. state to have been assassinated. Goebel lost the close 1899 election to William S. Taylor but challenged the results. While the General Assembly was looking into the challenge, Goebel was shot. Days later, the General Assembly decided Goebel had won, making him governor. Goebel was sworn in from his sick bed and died two days later. His lieutenant governor, J. C. W. Beckham, took over.
Seven men have resigned as governor before their terms ended. Six of them resigned to take a higher office, like becoming the United States Attorney General or being elected to the United States Senate. Only Beriah Magoffin resigned because of pressure. He was a supporter of the Confederacy during the American Civil War. His power was completely blocked by a legislature that supported the Union. With the state government stuck, Magoffin agreed to resign if he could choose his successor. The lieutenant governor had died, and the Speaker of the Senate was not acceptable to Magoffin. So, the Speaker resigned, and the Senate elected Magoffin's choice. Magoffin then resigned, and his choice became governor.
All elected officials in Kentucky, including the governor, can be impeached for "any misdemeanors in office." The House of Representatives must issue the charges, and the Senate holds the trial. If convicted, the governor is removed from office and might be banned from holding elected office in the state again. Impeached governors can also face criminal or civil trials. No governor of Kentucky has ever been impeached.
Governor's Pay and Home
Each Kentucky Constitution has said that the governor must receive a salary. Under the first three constitutions, the governor's salary could not be changed while they were in office. This rule was extended to all public officials in the current constitution. The governor's salary is set by law. In 2014, the governor's salary was $186,730.
The Kentucky Governor's Mansion is the official home of the governor of Kentucky. The current mansion was built in 1914. It is located at 704 Capitol Avenue in the state capital of Frankfort, Kentucky. It is the second building to serve as the official home for the governor. State law says the governor can use the mansion and its furniture for free.
Kentucky's first governor's mansion was built when James Garrard was governor. It is said that future governors Thomas Metcalfe (a stonemason) and Robert P. Letcher (who worked at his father's brickyard) helped build it. After the current mansion was built, the old mansion became the official home of the lieutenant governor. Lieutenant Governor Steve Henry moved out of the old mansion in 2002 so it could be renovated. After the renovation, it became a state guest house and a place for the governor to host official events. For many years, this mansion was the oldest official residence still in use in the United States.
History of the Governor's Office
Political parties had already formed in the United States before Kentucky became a state. Most early Kentuckians came from Virginia. They naturally sided with the Democratic-Republican Party, the party of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Political wins were rare for Federalists in Kentucky. None of Kentucky's governors were Federalists. Military service was very important to voters in early Kentucky governor elections. John Breathitt, elected Kentucky's eleventh governor in 1832, was the first Kentucky governor who had not served in the military.
The Federalist Party disappeared nationally by 1820. But new party divisions soon appeared in Kentucky. The Panic of 1819 left many Kentuckians deeply in debt. Two groups formed around the issue of debt relief. Those who wanted laws to help debtors were called the "Relief Party." Those who wanted laws to protect creditors were called the "Anti-Relief Party." These groups were not formal political parties, but they shaped Kentucky politics in the 1820s. The debt relief issue started under Governor Gabriel Slaughter, who was with the Anti-Relief Party. But Slaughter's next two successors, John Adair and Joseph Desha, were from the Relief Party. The fight between these groups led to the Old Court – New Court controversy. This was when the pro-relief legislature tried to get rid of the Court of Appeals because the court said some debt relief laws were unconstitutional. The controversy ended in late 1826.
Many supporters of the "Old Court"—often wealthy people—joined the National Republican Party (later called the Whigs) in the 1820s. The main reason Kentuckians chose a party was their trust in Henry Clay, who founded the Whig Party and was from Kentucky. From the election of Thomas Metcalfe in 1828 until John L. Helm's term ended in 1851, only one Democrat was governor: John Breathitt. He died a year and a half into his term. His lieutenant governor, James Turner Morehead, a National Republican, took over.
After the Whig Party collapsed in the early 1850s, many former Whigs joined the Know Nothing Party. Charles S. Morehead was elected governor from that party in 1855. Tensions grew in the state before the Civil War. Most Kentuckians wanted to stay with the Union. But a group of Confederate supporters met and formed a Confederate government for the state. This temporary government never replaced the elected government in Frankfort. Two men served as Confederate governors of Kentucky.
From the end of the Civil War until 1895, Kentuckians elected a series of Democrats who had supported the Confederacy as governor. These included James B. McCreary and Simon Bolivar Buckner, who had served in the Confederate States Army. The Democratic control was broken by William O'Connell Bradley. He was elected the state's first Republican governor in 1895. Bradley's election started a period of 30 years where both parties had a real chance to win the governorship. Between 1895 and 1931, five Republicans and six Democrats held the office. However, since 1931, Republicans have not been able to keep this balance. In that time, only four of the 20 elected governors have been Republican.
More to Explore
- 2023 Kentucky gubernatorial election – The most recent election for governor.
