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Governor of Nebraska
Nebraska-StateSeal.svg
Seal of Nebraska
Pete Ricketts by Gage Skidmore (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Pete Ricketts

since January 8, 2015
Style The Honorable
Residence Nebraska Governor's Mansion
Term length 4 years, not eligible for more than two consecutive terms
Inaugural holder David Butler
Formation Constitution of Nebraska
Salary $105,000 USD (2022)

The governor of Nebraska is the head of government of the U.S. state of Nebraska as provided by the fourth article of the Constitution of Nebraska. The officeholder is elected to a four-year term, with elections held two years after presidential elections. The governor may be elected any number of times, but not more than twice in a row. The current officeholder is Pete Ricketts, a Republican, who was sworn in on January 8, 2015. The current Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska is Mike Foley, who also assumed office on January 8, 2015.

Governors of Nebraska must be at least 30 years old and have been citizens and residents of the state for five years before being elected. Before 1966, the governor was elected to a two-year term. In 1962, a constitutional amendment extended the gubernatorial term to four years, effective with the 1966 election. In 1966, another amendment imposed a term limit of two consecutive terms. The lieutenant governor is subject to the same limitations and runs on a combined ticket with the governor. Charles W. Bryan is the only Governor of Nebraska to serve non-consecutive terms. Dave Heineman holds the record as Nebraska's longest-serving Governor with 10 years.

The governor's term, along with all other elected statewide officers, begins on the first Thursday after the first Tuesday in the month of January after an election. If the governor becomes incapacitated or is out of the state, the lieutenant governor acts as governor; if there is a vacancy or permanent incapacitation, the lieutenant governor becomes governor and serves the balance of the term. However, if both offices become vacant, the next person in the line of succession is the Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, who is then followed by the chairs of various committees in the legislature.

Qualifications

Anyone who seeks to be elected Governor of Nebraska must meet the following qualifications:

Territorial governors

See List of governors of Missouri for the period from 1805 to 1821. Between 1821 and 1854, the land was unorganized territory.

Before statehood, governors were appointed to a four-year term by the President of the United States.

No. Governor
(Birth–Death)
Term in office Notes
      Democratic (8)

      Republican (2)

William Walker (Wyandot leader).jpg William Walker
(1800–1874)
July 23, 1853

October 16, 1854
Not recognized by the federal government
1 Francis Burt.jpg Francis Burt
(1807–1854)
October 16, 1854

October 18, 1854
Died
Thomas B Cuming.jpg Thomas B. Cuming
(1827–1858)
October 18, 1854

February 23, 1855
Acting
2 Mark Whitaker Izard.jpg Mark W. Izard
(1799–1866)
February 23, 1855

October 25, 1857
Resigned
Thomas B Cuming.jpg Thomas B. Cuming
(1827–1858)
October 25, 1857

January 12, 1858
Acting
3 William Alexander Richardson - Brady-Handy.jpg William A. Richardson
(1811–1875)
January 12, 1858

December 5, 1858
Resigned
JSMorton.jpg J. Sterling Morton
(1832–1902)
December 5, 1858

May 2, 1859
Acting
4 SamuelWBlack.jpg Samuel W. Black
(1816–1862)
May 2, 1859

February 24, 1861
Resigned
JSMorton.jpg J. Sterling Morton
(1832–1902)
February 24, 1861

March 6, 1861
Acting
Algernon Paddock - Brady-Handy.jpg Algernon S. Paddock
(1830–1897)
March 6, 1861

May 15, 1861
Acting
5 Alvin Saunders - Brady-Handy.jpg Alvin Saunders
(1817–1899)
May 15, 1861

March 1, 1867

State governors

Popularly elected, beginning in 1866, to a two-year term. In 1962, the voters approved a constitutional amendment expanding terms beginning in 1966 to four years. In 1966, the voters limited the number of consecutive full terms that any one governor could serve to two (i.e. only one possible re-election while still in office after election to a full term.)

No. Governor
(Birth–Death)
Term in office Party Election Lieutenant Governor
      Republican (26)

      Democratic (12)       Fusion (Democratic/Populist) (2)

1 Hon. David Butler. Governor Nebraska - NARA - 528665.jpg David Butler
(1829–1891)
February 21, 1867

June 2, 1871
Republican 1866 None
1868
1870
William H. James.gif William H. James
(1831–1920)
June 2, 1871

January 13, 1873
Republican Acting Governor
as Secretary
of State
2 Robert Wilkinson Furnace.jpg Robert Wilkinson Furnas
(1824–1905)
January 13, 1873

January 11, 1875
Republican 1872
3 Silas Garber published 1913.jpg Silas Garber
(1833–1905)
January 11, 1875

January 9, 1879
Republican 1874
1876 Othman A. Abbott
4 Albinus Nance.jpg Albinus Nance
(1848–1911)
January 9, 1879

January 4, 1883
Republican 1878 Edmund C. Carns
1880
5 James William Dawes.jpg James W. Dawes
(1844–1918)
January 4, 1883

January 6, 1887
Republican 1882 Alfred W. Agee
Hibbard H. Shedd
1884
6 John Milton Thayer - Brady-Handy.jpg John Milton Thayer
(1820–1906)
January 6, 1887

February 8, 1892
Republican 1886 Hibbard H. Shedd
George D. Meiklejohn
Thomas J. Majors
1888
7 James E Boyd Nebraska Governor.jpg James E. Boyd
(1834–1906)
February 8, 1892

January 13, 1893
Democratic 1890 Thomas J. Majors
8 Lorenzo Crounse - Brady-Handy.jpg Lorenzo Crounse
(1834–1909)
January 13, 1893

January 3, 1895
Republican 1892 Thomas J. Majors
9 Silas A. Holcomb.jpg Silas A. Holcomb
(1858–1920)
January 3, 1895

January 5, 1899
(not candidate for election)
Fusion 1894 Robert E. Moore
James E. Harris
1896
10 William.A.Poynter.gif William A. Poynter
(1848–1909)
January 5, 1899

January 3, 1901
(lost election)
Fusion 1898 Edward A. Gilbert
11 Charles Henry Dietrich.jpg Charles H. Dietrich
(1853–1924)
January 3, 1901

May 1, 1901
(resigned)
Republican 1900 Ezra P. Savage
12 Ezra Savage ca 1901 (sketch).jpg Ezra P. Savage
(1842–1920)
May 1, 1901

January 8, 1903
(not candidate for election)
Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
Calvin F. Steele
(Acting)
13 John H. Mickey2.jpg John H. Mickey
(1845–1910)
January 8, 1903

January 3, 1907
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1902 Edmund G. McGilton
1904
14 GeorgeLSheldon.jpg George L. Sheldon
(1870–1960)
January 3, 1907

January 7, 1909
(lost election)
Republican 1906 Melville R. Hopewell
15 AshtonShallenberger.jpg Ashton C. Shallenberger
(1862–1938)
January 7, 1909

January 5, 1911
(lost renomination)
Democratic 1908 Melville R. Hopewell
16 Chester Aldrich cph.3b35048.jpg Chester H. Aldrich
(1863–1924)
January 5, 1911

January 9, 1913
(lost election)
Republican 1910 Melville R. Hopewell
John H. Morehead
(Acting)
17 JohnHMorehead.jpg John H. Morehead
(1861–1942)
January 9, 1913

January 4, 1917
(not candidate for election)
Democratic 1912 Samuel R. McKelvie
1914 James Pearson
18 KeithNeville.jpg Keith Neville
(1884–1959)
January 4, 1917

January 9, 1919
(lost election)
Democratic 1916 Edgar Howard
19 SamuelMcKelvie.jpg Samuel R. McKelvie
(1881–1956)
January 9, 1919

January 3, 1923
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1918 Pelham A. Barrows
1920
20 CharlesBryan.png Charles W. Bryan
(1867–1945)
January 3, 1923

January 8, 1925
(not candidate for election)
Democratic 1922 Fred Gustus Johnson
21 Adam McMullen 1928.jpg Adam McMullen
(1872–1959)
January 8, 1925

January 3, 1929
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1924 George A. Williams
1926
22 Arthur J. Weaver.jpg Arthur J. Weaver
(1873–1945)
January 3, 1929

January 8, 1931
(lost election)
Republican 1928 George A. Williams
23 CharlesBryan.png Charles W. Bryan
(1867–1945)
January 8, 1931

January 3, 1935
(not candidate for election)
Democratic 1930 Theodore Metcalfe
1932 Walter H. Jurgensen
24 Gov. Roy L. Cochran.jpg Robert Leroy Cochran
(1886–1963)
January 3, 1935

January 9, 1941
(not candidate for election)
Democratic 1934 Walter H. Jurgensen
Nate M. Parsons
1936
1938 William E. Johnson
25 Dwight P. Griswold (1893–1954).jpg Dwight Griswold
(1893–1954)
January 9, 1941

January 9, 1947
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1940 William E. Johnson
Roy W. Johnson
1942
1944
26 Val Peterson.jpg Val Peterson
(1903–1983)
January 9, 1947

January 8, 1953
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1946 Robert B. Crosby
Charles J. Warner
1948
1950
27 Robert Crosby (Governor of Nebraska).jpg Robert B. Crosby
(1911–2000)
January 8, 1953

January 6, 1955
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1952 Charles J. Warner
28 Gov. Victor Andeson (cropped).jpg Victor E. Anderson
(1902–1962)
January 6, 1955

January 8, 1959
(lost election)
Republican 1954 Charles J. Warner
Dwight W. Burney
1956
29 Ralph G. Brooks.jpg Ralph G. Brooks
(1898–1960)
January 8, 1959

September 9, 1960
(died)
Democratic 1958 Dwight W. Burney
30 Dwight W. Burney.jpg Dwight W. Burney
(1892–1987)
September 9, 1960

January 5, 1961
(not candidate for election)
Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
Dwight W. Burney
31 Gov. Frank Morrison (cropped).jpg Frank B. Morrison
(1905–2004)
January 5, 1961

January 5, 1967
(not candidate for election)
Democratic 1960 Dwight W. Burney
1962
1964 Philip C. Sorensen
32 Gov. Norbert Tiemann (cropped).jpg Norbert Tiemann
(1924–2012)
January 5, 1967

January 7, 1971
(lost election)
Republican 1966 John E. Everroad
33 1979 p80 J James Exon.jpg J. James Exon
(1921–2005)
January 7, 1971

January 4, 1979
(term limited)
Democratic 1970 Frank Marsh
1974 Gerald T. Whelan
34 Charles Thone (NE).png Charles Thone
(1924–2018)
January 4, 1979

January 6, 1983
(lost election)
Republican 1978 Roland A. Luedtke
35 Senator Bob Kerrey.jpg J. Robert Kerrey
(b. 1943)
January 6, 1983

January 9, 1987
(not candidate for election)
Democratic 1982 Donald F. McGinley
36 Kay A. Orr.jpg Kay A. Orr
(b. 1939)
January 9, 1987

January 9, 1991
(lost election)
Republican 1986 William E. Nichol
37 Ben Nelson official photo.jpg Ben Nelson
(b. 1941)
January 9, 1991

January 7, 1999
(term limited)
Democratic 1990 Maxine B. Moul
Kim M. Robak
1994
38 Mike Johanns.jpg Mike Johanns
(b. 1950)
January 7, 1999

January 20, 2005
(resigned)
Republican 1998 David I. Maurstad
Dave Heineman
2002
39 Dave Heineman official photo (cropped).jpg Dave Heineman
(b. 1948)
January 20, 2005

January 8, 2015
(term limited)
Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
Rick Sheehy
Lavon Heidemann
John E. Nelson
2006
2010
40 Pete Ricketts by Gage Skidmore (cropped).jpg Pete Ricketts
(b. 1964)
January 8, 2015

Incumbent
Republican 2014 Mike Foley
2018
41 Jim Pillen.jpg Jim Pillen (elect)
(b. 1955)
Taking office
January 5, 2023

Republican 2022 Joe Kelly (elect)

Succession

Other high offices held

This is a table of other governorships, congressional seats and other national public offices held by governors of Nebraska. All representatives and senators mentioned represented Nebraska except where noted.

* denotes those offices which the governor resigned to take.

Parties

      Republican (26)       Democratic (12)

Name Service as
Governor
U.S. Congress Other offices held
(beyond Nebraska)
House Senate
William A. Richardson 1858 (territorial) U.S. Representative & Senator from Illinois (D, 1847–1856; 1861-1865)
J. Sterling Morton 1858–1859
1861 (territorial)
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
Algernon Paddock 1861 (territorial) S
Alvin Saunders 1861–1867 (territorial) S
John Milton Thayer 1887–1892 S Governor of Wyoming Territory (1875-1878)
Lorenzo Crounse 1893–1895 H
Charles Henry Dietrich 1901 S *
Ashton C. Shallenberger 1909–1911 H
John H. Morehead 1913–1917 H
Charles W. Bryan 1923–1925
1931–1935
1924 Democratic nominee for Vice President (lost)
Robert Leroy Cochran 1935–1941 Ambassador (UNRRA; Am. Mission for Aid to Greece)
Dwight Griswold 1941–1947 S
Val Peterson 1947–1953 Ambassador to Denmark; Ambassador to Finland
J. James Exon 1971–1979 S
Charles Thone 1979–1983 H
Bob Kerrey 1983–1987 S
Ben Nelson 1991–1999 S
Mike Johanns 1999–2005 S U.S. Secretary of Agriculture *

=See also

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