List of governors of Missouri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor of Missouri |
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Style | The Honorable |
Residence | Missouri Governor's Mansion |
Term length | Four years, renewable once |
Precursor | Governor of Missouri Territory |
Inaugural holder | Alexander McNair |
Formation | September 18, 1820Constitution of Missouri |
Succession | Line of succession |
Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of Missouri |
Salary | $137,167 (2022) |
The governor of Missouri is the leader of the state government in Missouri. This person is also the top commander of the Missouri National Guard. The governor's main jobs include making sure state laws are followed. They can also approve or reject (veto) new laws passed by the Missouri Legislature. The governor can call the legislature together for special meetings and can grant pardons, which means forgiving someone for a crime, except in cases where they have been impeached.
The current governor is Republican Mike Kehoe. He started his term on January 13, 2025.
Contents
History of Missouri's Governors
Missouri became part of the United States in 1803. This happened when the U.S. bought a large area called Louisiana from France. On March 10, 1804, Amos Stoddard became the military commander in St. Louis. This area was then called Upper Louisiana.
Governors of the Louisiana and Missouri Territories
The area was first called the District of Louisiana. It was managed by the governor of Indiana Territory, William Henry Harrison. On July 4, 1805, it became the Louisiana Territory. Later, on June 4, 1812, it was renamed the Missouri Territory. This change happened after the state of Louisiana joined the United States.
Four governors were chosen by the president of the United States to lead the Missouri Territory. Two famous explorers, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, were among them. They were known for their Lewis and Clark Expedition.
No. | Governor | Term in office | Appointed by | |
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1 | ![]() |
James Wilkinson (1757–1825) |
July 4, 1805 – March 3, 1807 (successor appointed) |
Thomas Jefferson |
2 | ![]() |
Meriwether Lewis (1774–1809) |
March 3, 1807 – October 11, 1809 (died in office) |
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3 | ![]() |
Benjamin Howard (1760–1814) |
April 18, 1810 – October 31, 1812 (resigned) |
James Madison |
4 | ![]() |
William Clark (1770–1838) |
July 1, 1813 – September 18, 1820 (lost election) |
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James Monroe |
Governors of the State of Missouri
Missouri officially became a state on August 10, 1821.
The first constitution of Missouri in 1820 created the roles of governor and lieutenant governor. They served four-year terms and could not serve right after themselves. In 1865, terms were shortened to two years. Governors could serve no more than four years out of every six. In 1875, the four-year term returned, along with the original limit on serving consecutive terms. In 1965, the limit changed to two terms in total. If the governor's office became empty, the lieutenant governor would take over. A change in 1968 made it so the lieutenant governor officially becomes governor in such a situation.
During the American Civil War, a group of state leaders, including Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson, decided Missouri would leave the Union. This happened on October 31, 1861. Missouri then joined the Confederate States of America on November 28, 1861. This Confederate government elected two governors. However, they only controlled parts of southern Missouri. After the Battle of Pea Ridge in March 1862, they were forced to leave the state. Missouri remained part of the Union throughout the entire war.
No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | |||
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1 | ![]() |
Alexander McNair (1775–1826) |
September 18, 1820 – November 17, 1824 (term-limited) |
Democratic- Republican |
1820 | William Henry Ashley | ||
2 | ![]() |
Frederick Bates (1777–1825) |
November 17, 1824 – August 4, 1825 (died in office) |
Democratic- Republican |
1824 | Benjamin Harrison Reeves (resigned July 1825) |
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Vacant | ||||||||
3 | ![]() |
Abraham J. Williams (1781–1839) |
August 4, 1825 – January 20, 1826 (successor took office) |
Democratic- Republican |
President of the Senate acting |
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4 | ![]() |
John Miller (1781–1846) |
January 20, 1826 – November 21, 1832 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1825 (special) |
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1828 | Daniel Dunklin | |||||||
5 | ![]() |
Daniel Dunklin (1790–1844) |
November 21, 1832 – September 30, 1836 (resigned) |
Democratic | 1832 | Lilburn Boggs | ||
6 | ![]() |
Lilburn Boggs (1796–1860) |
September 30, 1836 – November 18, 1840 (term-limited) |
Democratic | Lieutenant governor acting |
Acting as governor | ||
1836 | Franklin Cannon | |||||||
7 | Thomas Reynolds (1796–1844) |
November 18, 1840 – February 9, 1844 (died in office) |
Democratic | 1840 | Meredith Miles Marmaduke | |||
8 | ![]() |
Meredith Miles Marmaduke (1791–1864) |
February 9, 1844 – November 20, 1844 (successor took office) |
Democratic | Lieutenant governor acting |
Acting as governor | ||
9 | ![]() |
John Cummins Edwards (1804–1888) |
November 20, 1844 – December 27, 1848 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1844 | James Young | ||
10 | ![]() |
Austin Augustus King (1802–1870) |
December 27, 1848 – January 3, 1853 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1848 | Thomas Lawson Price | ||
11 | ![]() |
Sterling Price (1809–1867) |
January 3, 1853 – January 5, 1857 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1852 | Wilson Brown (died August 27, 1855) |
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Vacant | ||||||||
12 | ![]() |
Trusten Polk (1811–1876) |
January 5, 1857 – February 27, 1857 (resigned) |
Democratic | 1856 | Hancock Lee Jackson | ||
13 | ![]() |
Hancock Lee Jackson (1796–1876) |
February 27, 1857 – October 22, 1857 (successor took office) |
Democratic | Lieutenant governor acting |
Acting as governor | ||
14 | ![]() |
Robert Marcellus Stewart (1815–1871) |
October 22, 1857 – January 3, 1861 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1857 (special) |
Hancock Lee Jackson | ||
15 | ![]() |
Claiborne Fox Jackson (1806–1862) |
January 3, 1861 – July 31, 1861 (office declared vacant) |
Democratic | 1860 | Thomas Caute Reynolds | ||
16 | ![]() |
Hamilton Rowan Gamble (1798–1864) |
July 31, 1861 – January 31, 1864 (died in office) |
Union | Provisional governor elected by convention |
Willard Preble Hall | ||
17 | ![]() |
Willard Preble Hall (1820–1882) |
January 31, 1864 – January 2, 1865 (successor took office) |
Union | Lieutenant governor acting |
Acting as governor | ||
18 | ![]() |
Thomas Clement Fletcher (1827–1899) |
January 2, 1865 – January 12, 1869 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1864 | George Smith | ||
19 | ![]() |
Joseph W. McClurg (1818–1900) |
January 12, 1869 – January 9, 1871 (lost election) |
Republican | 1868 | Edwin O. Stanard | ||
20 | ![]() |
Benjamin Gratz Brown (1826–1885) |
January 9, 1871 – January 8, 1873 (did not run) |
Liberal Republican |
1870 | Joseph J. Gravely (died April 28, 1872) |
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Vacant | ||||||||
21 | ![]() |
Silas Woodson (1819–1896) |
January 8, 1873 – January 12, 1875 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1872 | Charles Phillip Johnson | ||
22 | ![]() |
Charles Henry Hardin (1820–1892) |
January 12, 1875 – January 8, 1877 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1874 | Norman Jay Colman | ||
23 | ![]() |
John S. Phelps (1814–1886) |
January 8, 1877 – January 10, 1881 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1876 | Henry Clay Brockmeyer | ||
24 | ![]() |
Thomas Theodore Crittenden (1832–1909) |
January 10, 1881 – January 12, 1885 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1880 | Robert Alexander Campbell | ||
25 | ![]() |
John S. Marmaduke (1833–1887) |
January 12, 1885 – December 28, 1887 (died in office) |
Democratic | 1884 | Albert P. Morehouse | ||
26 | ![]() |
Albert P. Morehouse (1835–1891) |
December 28, 1887 – January 14, 1889 (lost nomination) |
Democratic | Lieutenant governor acting |
Acting as governor | ||
27 | ![]() |
David R. Francis (1850–1927) |
January 14, 1889 – January 9, 1893 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1888 | Stephen Hugh Claycomb | ||
28 | ![]() |
William J. Stone (1848–1918) |
January 9, 1893 – January 11, 1897 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1892 | John Baptiste O'Meara | ||
29 | ![]() |
Lawrence Vest Stephens (1858–1923) |
January 11, 1897 – January 14, 1901 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1896 | August Henry Bolte | ||
30 | ![]() |
Alexander Monroe Dockery (1845–1926) |
January 14, 1901 – January 9, 1905 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1900 | John Adams Lee (resigned April 25, 1903) |
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Thomas L. Rubey (appointed April 25, 1903) |
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31 | ![]() |
Joseph W. Folk (1869–1923) |
January 9, 1905 – January 11, 1909 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1904 | John C. McKinley | ||
32 | ![]() |
Herbert S. Hadley (1872–1927) |
January 11, 1909 – January 13, 1913 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1908 | Jacob F. Gmelich | ||
33 | ![]() |
Elliott Woolfolk Major (1864–1949) |
January 13, 1913 – January 8, 1917 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1912 | William Rock Painter | ||
34 | ![]() |
Frederick D. Gardner (1869–1933) |
January 8, 1917 – January 10, 1921 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1916 | Wallace Crossley | ||
35 | ![]() |
Arthur M. Hyde (1877–1947) |
January 10, 1921 – January 12, 1925 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1920 | Hiram Lloyd | ||
36 | ![]() |
Sam Aaron Baker (1874–1933) |
January 12, 1925 – January 14, 1929 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1924 | Philip Allen Bennett | ||
37 | ![]() |
Henry S. Caulfield (1873–1966) |
January 14, 1929 – January 9, 1933 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1928 | Edward Henry Winter | ||
38 | ![]() |
Guy Brasfield Park (1872–1946) |
January 9, 1933 – January 11, 1937 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1932 | Frank Gaines Harris (died December 30, 1944) |
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39 | ![]() |
Lloyd C. Stark (1886–1972) |
January 11, 1937 – February 26, 1941 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1936 | |||
40 | ![]() |
Forrest C. Donnell (1884–1980) |
February 26, 1941 – January 8, 1945 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1940 | |||
Vacant | ||||||||
41 | ![]() |
Phil M. Donnelly (1891–1961) |
January 8, 1945 – January 10, 1949 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1944 | Walter Naylor Davis | ||
42 | ![]() |
Forrest Smith (1886–1962) |
January 10, 1949 – January 12, 1953 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1948 | James T. Blair Jr. | ||
43 | ![]() |
Phil M. Donnelly (1891–1961) |
January 12, 1953 – January 14, 1957 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1952 | |||
44 | ![]() |
James T. Blair Jr. (1902–1962) |
January 14, 1957 – January 9, 1961 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1956 | Edward V. Long (resigned September 23, 1960) |
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Vacant | ||||||||
45 | ![]() |
John M. Dalton (1900–1972) |
January 9, 1961 – January 11, 1965 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1960 | Hilary A. Bush | ||
46 | ![]() |
Warren E. Hearnes (1923–2009) |
January 11, 1965 – January 8, 1973 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1964 | Thomas Eagleton (resigned December 27, 1968) |
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Vacant | ||||||||
1968 | William S. Morris | |||||||
47 | ![]() |
Kit Bond (1939–2025) |
January 8, 1973 – January 10, 1977 (lost election) |
Republican | 1972 | Bill Phelps | ||
48 | ![]() |
Joseph P. Teasdale (1936–2014) |
January 10, 1977 – January 12, 1981 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1976 | |||
49 | ![]() |
Kit Bond (1939–2025) |
January 12, 1981 – January 14, 1985 (did not run) |
Republican | 1980 | Ken Rothman | ||
50 | ![]() |
John Ashcroft (b. 1942) |
January 14, 1985 – January 11, 1993 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1984 | Harriett Woods | ||
1988 | Mel Carnahan | |||||||
51 | ![]() |
Mel Carnahan (1934–2000) |
January 11, 1993 – October 16, 2000 (died in office) |
Democratic | 1992 | Roger B. Wilson | ||
1996 | ||||||||
52 | ![]() |
Roger B. Wilson (b. 1948) |
October 16, 2000 – January 8, 2001 (did not run) |
Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | |||
Joe Maxwell (appointed November 15, 2000) |
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53 | ![]() |
Bob Holden (b. 1949) |
January 8, 2001 – January 10, 2005 (lost nomination) |
Democratic | 2000 | |||
54 | ![]() |
Matt Blunt (b. 1970) |
January 10, 2005 – January 12, 2009 (did not run) |
Republican | 2004 | Peter Kinder | ||
55 | ![]() |
Jay Nixon (b. 1956) |
January 12, 2009 – January 9, 2017 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 2008 | |||
2012 | ||||||||
56 | ![]() |
Eric Greitens (b. 1974) |
January 9, 2017 – June 1, 2018 (resigned) |
Republican | 2016 | Mike Parson | ||
57 | ![]() |
Mike Parson (b. 1955) |
June 1, 2018 – January 13, 2025 (term-limited) |
Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | ||
Mike Kehoe (appointed June 18, 2018) |
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2020 | ||||||||
58 | ![]() |
Mike Kehoe (b. 1962) |
January 13, 2025 – Incumbent |
Republican | 2024 | David Wasinger |
Timeline of Governors
Timeline of Missouri governors |
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Confederate Governors During the Civil War
During the Civil War, Union forces took control of Jefferson City. A special meeting of state leaders then said that Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson's office was empty. In October, Governor Jackson, Lieutenant Governor Thomas Caute Reynolds, and some lawmakers met in Neosho. They voted for Missouri to leave the Union.
This group formed a Confederate government. However, it never took full control from the Union government in Jefferson City. Missouri stayed in the Union throughout the war. Jackson continued as governor until he passed away on December 6, 1862. Reynolds then took over. He served until he left for Mexico in June 1865, after the war ended.
See Also
- Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Missouri
- List of Missouri General Assemblies