kids encyclopedia robot

List of governors of Nevada facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Governor of Nevada
Flag of the Governor of Nevada.svg
Standard of the Governor of Nevada
State Seal of Nevada.svg
Seal of the State of Nevada
Steve Sisolak (cropped).jpeg
Incumbent
Steve Sisolak

since January 7, 2019
Style
Residence Nevada Governor's Mansion
Term length Four years, renewable once
Constituting instrument Constitution of Nevada
Precursor Governor of the Nevada Territory
Inaugural holder Henry G. Blasdel
Formation December 5, 1864
(159 years ago)
 (1864-12-05)
Deputy Lieutenant Governor of Nevada
Salary $149,730 (2015)
Website Official website: http://gov.nv.gov/

The governor of Nevada is the head of government of the U.S. state of Nevada. The governor is the head of the executive branch of the Nevada state government. The governor is also 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 Nevada Legislature, to convene the legislature at any time, as well as, except in cases of treason or impeachment, to grant pardons and reprieves.

The governor serves a four-year term. They are limited to two terms, even if they are non-consecutive. If a person ascends to the governorship and serves more than two years of a previous governor's term, they are only eligible to run for one full term. Candidates for governor must be at least 25 years old, and must have been citizens of Nevada for at least two years, at the time of election. The lieutenant governor of Nevada is not elected on the same ticket as the governor.

The current governor is Democrat Steve Sisolak, who took office on January 7, 2019.

Qualifications

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

  • Be at least 25 years old
  • Be a registered elector
  • Be a resident of Nevada for at least two years

History

The first provisional governor of the proposed Territory of Nevada was Whig Isaac Roop, who was elected in September 1859 and took office on December 15 of that year in Genoa. When the territory was incorporated on March 2, 1861, Republican James W. Nye was appointed Territorial Governor by President Abraham Lincoln and served until statehood in 1864. Mark Twain's brother Orion Clemens served as Territorial Secretary to Nye. Nevada became a state on October 31, 1864, and Nye remained acting governor until the first governor, Henry G. Blasdel, took office on December 5, 1864.

There have been 30 Governors of Nevada, eight of whom were actually born within state boundaries. The longest-serving Nevada Governor was Bob Miller, who served two and a half terms from 1989 to 1999. The shortest-serving Nevada Governor was Acting Governor Frank Bell, who served the remaining four months of Charles C. Stevenson's term upon the governor's death. The current governor is Steve Sisolak, who took office on January 7, 2019.

List of governors

Prior to becoming a territory, parts of Nevada were part of Utah Territory and New Mexico Territory; see List of governors of Utah and List of governors of New Mexico.

      Democratic (12)       Silver (4)       Republican (15)

Governor Term in office Party Election Lieutenant governor
1 Henry Goode Blasdel.jpg   Henry G. Blasdel
    January 29, 1825 – July 26, 1900   
(aged 75)
December 5, 1864

January 2, 1871
Republican 1864 John S. Crosman
1866 James S. Slingerland
2 Lewis Rice Bradley.jpg   Lewis R. Bradley
February 18, 1805 – March 21, 1879
(aged 74)
January 2, 1871

January 6, 1879
Democratic 1870 Frank Denver
Pressly C. Hyman (Acting)
1874   Jewett W. Adams
3 John Henry Kinkead.gif   John H. Kinkead
December 10, 1826 – August 15, 1904
(aged 77)
January 6, 1879

January 1, 1883
Republican 1878
4 Adams.jpeg   Jewett W. Adams
August 6, 1835 – June 18, 1920
(aged 84)
January 1, 1883

January 3, 1887
(lost election)
Democratic 1882   Charles E. Laughton
5 Stevenson.jpeg   Charles C. Stevenson
February 20, 1826 – September 21, 1890
(aged 64)
January 3, 1887

September 21, 1890
(died)
Republican 1886 Henry C. Davis
Samuel W. Chubbuck
  Frank Bell
6 Frank Bell (Nevada Governor).jpg Frank Bell
January 28, 1840 – February 13, 1927
(aged 87)
September 21, 1890

January 5, 1891
Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
Vacant
7 Roswell K. Colcord.jpg Roswell K. Colcord
April 25, 1839 – October 30, 1939
(aged 100)
January 5, 1891

January 7, 1895
(not candidate for election)
Republican 1890 Joseph Poujade
8 Jones.jpeg   John E. Jones
December 5, 1840 – April 10, 1896
(aged 55)
January 7, 1895

April 10, 1896
(died)
Silver 1894   Reinhold Sadler
9 Sadler.jpeg Reinhold Sadler
January 10, 1848 - January 30, 1906
(aged 58)
April 10, 1896

January 5, 1903
(not candidate for election)
Silver Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
Vacant
1898 James R. Judge
10 JohnSparks.jpg John Sparks
August 30, 1843 – May 22, 1908
(aged 64)
January 5, 1903

May 22, 1908
(died)
Silver-Democratic 1902 Lemuel Allen
1906   Denver S. Dickerson
11 Denver Sylvester Dickerson.jpg Denver S. Dickerson
January 24, 1872 – November 28, 1925
(aged 53)
May 22, 1908

January 2, 1911
(lost election)
Silver-Democratic Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
Vacant
12 Senator Tasker Oddie.jpg   Tasker L. Oddie
October 20, 1870 – February 17, 1950
(aged 79)
January 2, 1911

January 4, 1915
(lost election)
Republican 1910 Gilbert C. Ross
13 Emmet D. Boyle.jpg   Emmet D. Boyle
July 26, 1879 – January 3, 1926
(aged 46)
January 4, 1915

January 1, 1923
(not candidate for election)
Democratic 1914   Maurice J. Sullivan
1918
14 James G. Scrugham (Nevada Governor and US Senator).jpg James G. Scrugham
January 19, 1880 – June 23, 1945
(aged 65)
January 1, 1923

January 3, 1927
(lost election)
Democratic 1922
15 Fred B. Balzar (Nevada Governor).jpg   Fred B. Balzar
June 15, 1880 – March 21, 1934
(aged 53)
January 3, 1927

March 21, 1934
(died)
Republican 1926   Morley Griswold
1930
16 Morley Griswold (Nevada Governor).jpg Morley Griswold
October 10, 1890 – October 3, 1951
(aged 60)
March 21, 1934

January 7, 1935
(lost election)
Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
Vacant
17 Richard Kirman Sr. (Nevada Governor).jpg   Richard Kirman Sr.
January 14, 1877 – January 19, 1959
(aged 82)
January 7, 1935

January 2, 1939
(not candidate for election)
Democratic 1934 Fred S. Alward
18 Edward P. Carville (Nevada Governor and U.S. Senator).jpg Edward P. Carville
May 14, 1885 – June 27, 1956
(aged 71)
January 2, 1939

July 24, 1945
(resigned)
Democratic 1938   Maurice J. Sullivan
1942   Vail M. Pittman
19 Vail Pittman (Nevada Governor).jpg Vail Pittman
September 17, 1880 – January 29, 1964
(aged 83)
July 24, 1945

January 1, 1951
(lost election)
Democratic Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
Vacant
1946   Clifford A. Jones
20 Charles H. Russell (Nevada Governor) 2.jpg   Charles H. Russell
December 27, 1903 – September 13, 1989
(aged 85)
January 1, 1951

January 5, 1959
(lost election)
Republican 1950
1954   Rex Bell
21 Grant Sawyer (1967).png   Grant Sawyer
December 14, 1918 – February 19, 1996
(aged 77)
January 5, 1959

January 2, 1967
(lost renomination)
Democratic 1958   Maude Frazier
1962   Paul Laxalt
22 Governor Laxalt.jpg   Paul Laxalt
August 2, 1922 – August 6, 2018
(aged 96)
January 2, 1967

January 4, 1971
(lost election)
Republican 1966   Edward Fike
23 D. N. Mike O'Callaghan (Nevada Governor).jpg   Mike O'Callaghan
September 10, 1929 – March 5, 2004
(aged 74)
January 4, 1971

January 1, 1979
(term limited)
Democratic 1970   Harry Reid
1974 Robert E. Rose
24 Robert List (NV) (cropped).jpg   Robert List
(1936-09-01) September 1, 1936 (age 87)
January 1, 1979

January 3, 1983
(lost election)
Republican 1978 Myron E. Leavitt
25 Richard Bryan (NV).png   Richard Bryan
(1937-07-16) July 16, 1937 (age 86)
January 3, 1983

January 3, 1989
(resigned)
Democratic 1982 Bob Cashell
1986 Bob Miller
26 Bob Miller at an event, Dec 22, 1994 - cropped to Miller.jpg Bob Miller
(1945-03-30) March 30, 1945 (age 78)
January 3, 1989

January 4, 1999
(term limited)
Democratic Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
Vacant
1990   Sue Wagner
1994 Lonnie Hammargren
27 Kenny Guinn.jpg   Kenny Guinn
August 24, 1936 – July 22, 2010
(aged 73)
January 4, 1999

January 1, 2007
(term limited)
Republican 1998 Lorraine Hunt
2002
28 Jimgibbons.jpg Jim Gibbons
(1944-12-16) December 16, 1944 (age 79)
January 1, 2007

January 3, 2011
(lost renomination)
Republican 2006 Brian Krolicki
29 Brian Sandoval 2010 (cropped).jpg Brian Sandoval
(1963-08-05) August 5, 1963 (age 60)
January 3, 2011

January 7, 2019
(term limited)
Republican 2010
2014 Mark Hutchison
30 Steve Sisolak (cropped).jpeg   Steve Sisolak
(1953-12-26) December 26, 1953 (age 70)
January 7, 2019

Incumbent
(lost election)
Democratic 2018   Kate Marshall
Vacant
  Lisa Cano Burkhead
31 Jonathan Carrington receives certificate from Joseph Lombardo (closer crop).jpg   Joe Lombardo (elect)
(1962-11-08) November 8, 1962 (age 61)
Taking office
January 2, 2023

Republican 2022   Stavros Anthony (elect)

Succession

Other high offices held

This is a table of congressional and other offices held by governors. All representatives and senators mentioned represented Nevada.

Governor Gubernatorial term U.S. Congress Other offices held
House Senate
James W. Nye 1861–1864 (territorial) S
John Henry Kinkead 1879–1883 Governor of the District of Alaska
Tasker Oddie 1911–1915 S
James G. Scrugham 1923–1927 H S
Edward P. Carville 1939–1945 S*
Charles H. Russell 1951–1959 H
Paul Laxalt 1967–1971 S
Richard Bryan 1983–1989 S* Attorney General of Nevada
Jim Gibbons 2007–2011 H
Brian Sandoval 2011–2019 Attorney General of Nevada

* denotes those offices which the governor resigned to take.

Electoral history

1864 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Henry G. Blasdel 9,834 59.69
Democratic D. E. Buell 6,552 39.77
Undervotes 89 0.54
Total votes 16,475 100
Republican win (new seat)
1866 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Henry G. Blasdel (inc.) 5,125 55.27
Democratic John D. Winters 4,105 22.27
Undervotes 43 0.46
Total votes 9,273 100
Republican hold
1870 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Lewis R. Bradley 7,200 53.83
Republican F.A. Tritle 6,148 45.97
Undervotes 27 0.20
Total votes 13,375 100
Democrat win (new seat)
1874 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Lewis R. Bradley (inc.) 10,310 56.98
Republican J.C. Hazlett 7,785 43.02
Total votes 9,273 100
Democratic hold
1878 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Henry Kinkead 9,747 51.24
Democratic Lewis R. Bradley (inc.) 9,252 48.64
Undervotes 23 0.12
Total votes 19,022 100
Republican gain from Democrat
1882 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jewett W. Adams 7,770 54.11
Republican Enoch Strother 6,535 45.52
Undervotes 54 0.37
Total votes 14,359 100
Democrat win (new seat)
1886 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Charles C. Stevenson 6,463 52.23
Democratic Jewett W. Adams (inc.) 5,869 47.43
Undervotes 42 0.34
Total votes 12,374 100
Republican gain from Democrat
1890 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Roswell K. Colcord 6,601 53.20
Democratic Theodore Winters 5,791 46.67
Undervotes 16 0.13
Total votes 19,022 100
Republican win (new seat)
1894 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
Silver John E. Jones 5,223 49.87
Republican A. C. Cleveland 3,861 36.87
Populist George E. Peckham 711 6.79
Democratic Theodore Winters 678 6.47
Total votes 10,473 100
Silver win (new seat)
1898 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
Silver Reinhold Sadler (inc.) 3,570 35.67
Republican William McMillan 3,548 35.45
Democratic George Russell 2,057 20.55
Populist J.B. McCullough 833 8.82
Total votes 10,008 100
Silver hold
1902 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
Silver John Sparks 6,540 57.78
Republican A.C. Cleveland 4,778 42.22
Total votes 11,318 100
Silver win (new seat)
1906 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
Silver John Sparks (inc.) 8,686 58.64
Republican James F. Mitchell 5,336 35.96
Socialist Thomas B. Casey 815 5.49
Total votes 14,837 100
Silver hold
1910 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tasker Oddie 10,435 50.59
Democratic Denver S. Dickerson (inc.) 8,798 42.65
Socialist Henry F. Gegax 1,393 6.75
Total votes 20,626 100
Republican gain from Democrat
1914 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Emmet D. Boyle 9,623 44.62
Republican Tasker Oddie (inc.) 8,537 39.58
Socialist W.A. Morgan 3,391 15.72
Undervotes 16 0.07
Total votes 21,567 100
Democrat gain from Republican
1918 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Emmet D. Boyle (inc.) 12,875 50.37
Republican Tasker Oddie 11,845 46.37
Undervote 843 3.26
Total votes 25,563 100
Democratic hold
1922 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James G. Scrugham 15,437 53.28
Republican John H. Miller 12,084 41.71
Undervotes 1450 5.01
Total votes 28,971 100
Democrat win (new seat)
1926 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Fred B. Balzar 16,374 52.40
Democratic James G. Scrugham (inc.) 14,521 46.47
Undervotes 351 1.12
Total votes 31,246 100
Republican gain from Democrat
1930 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Fred B. Balzar (inc.) 18,442 53.25
Democratic C. L. Richards 16,192 46.75
Total votes 34,634 100
Republican hold
1934 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard Kirman, Sr. 23,088 53.94
Republican Morley Griswold (inc.) 14,778 35.52
Independent Lindley C. Branson 4,940 11.54
Total votes 42,806 100
Democrat gain from Republican
1938 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Edward P. Carville 28,528 61.37
Republican John Fulton 17,586 37.83
Undervotes 370 0.80
Total votes 46,484 100
Democrat win (new seat)
1942 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Edward P. Carville (inc.) 24,505 60.25
Republican A.V. Tallman 16,164 39.75
Total votes 40,669 100
Democratic hold
1946 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Vail M. Pittman (inc.) 28,655 57.42
Republican M. E. Jepson 21,247 42.58
Total votes 49,902 100
Democratic hold
1950 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Charles H. Russell 35,609 57.64
Democratic Vail M. Pittman (inc.) 26,164 42.36
Total votes 61,773 100
Republican gain from Democrat
1954 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Charles H. Russell (inc.) 41,665 53.10
Democratic Vail M. Pittman 36,797 46.90
Total votes 78,462 100
Republican hold
1958 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Grant Sawyer 50,864 59.92
Republican Charles H. Russell (inc.) 34,025 40.08
Total votes 84,889 100
Democrat gain from Republican
1962 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Grant Sawyer (inc.) 64,784 66.84%
Republican Oran K. Gragson 32,145 33.16%
N/A Undervotes 263 0.27%
Total votes 97,192 100
Democrat hold Swing
1966 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Paul Laxalt 71,807 52.16%
Democratic Grant Sawyer (inc.) 65,870 47.84%
Total votes 137,677 100
Republican gain from Democrat Swing
1970 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Mike O'Callaghan 70,697 48.10%
Republican Ed Fike 64,400 43.81%
Independent Charles E. Springer 6,479 4.41%
Independent American Daniel M. Hansen 5,415 3.68%
N/A Undervotes 777 0.53%
Total votes 147,768 100
Democrat win (new seat)
1974 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Mike O'Callaghan (inc.) 114,114 67.38%
Republican Shirley Crumpler 28,959 17.10%
Independent American James Ray Houston 26,285 15.52%
N/A Undervotes 142 0.08%
Total votes 169,473 100
Democrat hold Swing
1978 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Robert List 108,097 56.17%
Democratic Robert E. Rose 76,361 39.68%
Independent American Thomas F. Jefferson 3,282 1.71%
None of These Candidates None of These Candidates 3,218 1.67%
Libertarian John W. Grayson, Jr. 1,487 0.77%
Total votes 192,445 100
Republican win (new seat)
1982 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Richard Bryan 128,132 53.44%
Republican Robert List (inc.) 100,104 41.75%
None of These Candidates None of These Candidates 6,894 2.88%
Libertarian Dan Becan 4,621 1.93%
N/A Undervotes 643 0.27
Total votes 240,394 100
Democrat gain from Republican Swing
1986 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Richard Bryan (inc.) 187,268 71.92%
Republican Patty Cafferata 65,081 25.00%
None of These Candidates None of These Candidates 5,471 2.10%
Libertarian Lou Tomburello 2,555 0.98%
N/A Undervotes 1,557 0.59%
Total votes 261,932 100
Democrat hold Swing
1990 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Bob Miller (inc.) 207,878 64.81%
Republican Jim Gallaway 95,789 29.86%
None of These Candidates None of These Candidates 9,017 2.81%
Libertarian James Frye 8,059 2.51%
Total votes 320,743 100
Democrat hold Swing
1994 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Bob Miller (inc.) 200,026 52.68%
Republican Jim Gibbons 156,875 41.32%
Independent American Daniel Hansen 10,012 2.64%
None of These Candidates None of These Candidates 8,785 2.31%
Libertarian Denis Sholty 3,978 1.05%
Total votes 379,676 100
Democrat hold Swing
1998 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kenny Guinn 223,892 51.63%
Democratic Jan Laverty Jones 182,281 42.04%
None of These Candidates None of These Candidates 12,641 2.92%
Independent American Chuck Horne 7,509 1.73%
Libertarian Terry C. Savage 7,307 1.69%
Total votes 433,630 100
Republican win (new seat)
2002 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kenny Guinn (inc.) 344,001 68.24% +16.61%
Democratic Joe Neal 110,935 22.01% -20.03%
None of These Candidates None of These Candidates 23,674 4.70% +1.78%
Libertarian Dick Geyer 8,104 1.61% -0.08%
Independent American David G. Holmgren 7,047 1.40% -0.33%
Independent Jerry L. Norton 5,543 1.10%
Green Charles Laws 4,775 0.95%
Majority 233,066 46.24% +36.64%
Turnout 504,079
Republican hold Swing
2006 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jim Gibbons 279,003 47.93% -20.32%
Democratic Dina Titus 255,684 43.92% +21.91%
None of These Candidates None of These Candidates 20,699 3.56% -1.14%
Independent American Christopher H. Hansen 20,019 3.44% +2.04%
Green Craig Bergland 6,753 1.16% +0.21%
Majority 23,319 4.01% -42.23%
Turnout 582,158
Republican win (new seat)
2010 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Brian Sandoval 382,350 53.36% +5.44%
Democratic Rory Reid 298,171 41.61% -2.31%
None of These Candidates None of These Candidates 12,231 1.71% -1.85%
Independent Eugene DiSimone 6,403 0.89%
Independent American Floyd Fitzgibbons 5,049 0.70% -2.73%
Libertarian Arthur Forest Lampitt, Jr. 4,672 0.65%
Green David Scott Curtis 4,437 0.62% -0.54%
Independent Aaron Y. Honig 3,216 0.45%
Majority 84,179 11.75% +7.74%
Turnout 716,529
Republican win (new seat)
2014 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Brian Sandoval (inc.) 386,340 70.58%
Democratic Bob Goodman 130,722 23.88%
None of These Candidates None of These Candidates 15,751 2.88%
Independent American David Lory VanDerBeek 14,536 2.66%
Majority 547,349 100%
Turnout
Republican hold Swing
2018 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Steve Sisolak 480,007 49.39% +25.51%
Republican Adam Laxalt 440,320 45.31% -25.27%
None of These Candidates None of These Candidates 18,865 1.94% -0.94%
Independent Ryan Bundy 13,891 1.43% N/A
Independent American Russell Best 10,076 1.04% -1.62%
Libertarian Jared Lord 8,640 0.89% N/A
Total votes 971,799 100.0% N/A
Democrat win (new seat)
2022 Nevada gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Joe Lombardo 497,377 48.8% +3.57%
Democratic Steve Sisolak (incumbent) 481,991 47.3% -2.13%
Libertarian Brandon Davis 14,919 1.5% +0.56%
None of These Candidates 14,866 1.4% -0.49%
Independent American Ed Bridges 9,918 1.0% -0.07%
Total votes 1,019,071 100.0%
Republican win (new seat)

See also

kids search engine
List of governors of Nevada Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.