List of governors of Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor of Washington |
|
|---|---|
Seal of the governor
|
|
| Style |
|
| Residence | Washington Governor's Mansion |
| Term length | Four years, no term limit |
| Inaugural holder | Elisha P. Ferry |
| Formation | November 11, 1889 |
| Succession | Line of succession |
| Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of Washington |
| Salary | $218,744 |
The governor of Washington is the leader of the government in Washington. This person is also the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces, like the Washington National Guard. The governor's main jobs include making sure state laws are followed. They can also approve or reject new laws passed by the Washington Legislature. Sometimes, they can even cancel specific parts of spending bills. The governor can also call the legislature together for special meetings if needed.
Before Washington became a state in 1889, it was a territory. It had 14 governors during that time. These territorial governors were chosen by the President of the United States. Elisha P. Ferry served the longest as a territorial governor for eight years. He later became the very first governor of the state of Washington. One person, William H. Wallace, was chosen to be governor but never actually started the job. This was because he was elected to represent the territory in Congress instead. Another governor, George Edward Cole, started his term but was replaced after only four months. This happened because his appointment was not officially approved by the U.S. Senate.
Since Washington became a state, 22 different people have served as governor. Arthur B. Langlie is unique because he served two terms that were not back-to-back. John Rankin Rogers was the only governor who was not from the Democratic or Republican parties. He was from the Populist Party. The last governor from Eastern Washington was Clarence D. Martin, who was elected in 1932. The current governor is Bob Ferguson. He is a Democrat and started his term on January 15, 2025.
Contents
Past Leaders: Washington Territory Governors
Washington Territory was created on March 2, 1853. It was formed from the northern part of the Oregon Territory. These governors were appointed by the U.S. President.
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Appointing President | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | .jpg) |
Isaac Stevens (1818–1862) |
March 17, 1853 – August 11, 1857 (resigned) |
Franklin Pierce |
| 2 |  |
Fayette McMullen (1805–1880) |
May 13, 1857 – March 5, 1859 (successor appointed) |
James Buchanan |
| 3 |  |
Richard D. Gholson (1804–1862) |
March 5, 1859 – February 14, 1861 (resigned) |
James Buchanan |
| — | .jpg) |
William H. Wallace (1811–1879) |
April 9, 1861 – July 8, 1861 (resigned before taking office) |
Abraham Lincoln |
| 4 |  |
William Pickering (1798–1873) |
December 19, 1861 – November 21, 1866 (removed) |
Abraham Lincoln |
| Andrew Johnson | ||||
| 5 |  |
George Edward Cole (1826–1906) |
November 21, 1866 – March 4, 1867 (rejected by Senate) |
Andrew Johnson |
| 6 |  |
Marshall F. Moore (1829–1870) |
April 20, 1867 – April 5, 1869 (successor appointed) |
Andrew Johnson |
| 7 |  |
Alvan Flanders (1825–1894) |
April 5, 1869 – March 14, 1870 (successor appointed) |
Ulysses S. Grant |
| 8 |  |
Edward S. Salomon (1836–1913) |
March 14, 1870 – April 26, 1872 (resigned) |
Ulysses S. Grant |
| 9 |  |
Elisha P. Ferry (1825–1895) |
April 26, 1872 – April 26, 1880 (successor appointed) |
Ulysses S. Grant |
| 10 |  |
William A. Newell (1817–1901) |
April 26, 1880 – July 2, 1884 (successor appointed) |
Rutherford B. Hayes |
| 11 |  |
Watson C. Squire (1838–1926) |
July 2, 1884 – April 9, 1887 (successor appointed) |
Chester A. Arthur |
| 12 |  |
Eugene Semple (1840–1908) |
April 9, 1887 – March 23, 1889 (successor appointed) |
Grover Cleveland |
| 13 |  |
Miles Conway Moore (1845–1919) |
March 23, 1889 – November 18, 1889 (statehood) |
Benjamin Harrison |
State of Washington Governors: Since 1889
Washington officially became a state on November 11, 1889. A governor's term lasts four years. It begins on the second Monday of January after the election. If the governor's job becomes empty, or if the governor cannot do their duties, the lieutenant governor takes over. They still keep their title as lieutenant governor. If both the governor and lieutenant governor cannot do their jobs, the secretary of state is next in line. After that, it's the treasurer. There is no limit to how many terms a governor can serve. The lieutenant governor is elected separately from the governor.
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |
Elisha P. Ferry (1825–1895) |
November 18, 1889 – January 11, 1893 (did not run) |
Republican | 1889 | Charles E. Laughton | ||
| 2 |  |
John McGraw (1850–1910) |
January 11, 1893 – January 13, 1897 (did not run) |
Republican | 1892 | F. H. Luce | ||
| 3 |  |
John Rankin Rogers (1838–1901) |
January 13, 1897 – December 26, 1901 (died in office) |
Populist | 1896 | Thurston Daniels | ||
| Democratic | 1900 | Henry McBride | ||||||
| 4 |  |
Henry McBride (1856–1937) |
December 26, 1901 – January 11, 1905 (lost nomination) |
Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | ||
| 5 |  |
Albert E. Mead (1861–1913) |
January 11, 1905 – January 27, 1909 (lost nomination) |
Republican | 1904 | Charles E. Coon | ||
| 6 |  |
Samuel G. Cosgrove (1847–1909) |
January 27, 1909 – March 28, 1909 (died in office) |
Republican | 1908 | Marion E. Hay | ||
| 7 |  |
Marion E. Hay (1865–1933) |
March 28, 1909 – January 15, 1913 (lost election) |
Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | ||
| 8 |  |
Ernest Lister (1870–1919) |
January 15, 1913 – June 14, 1919 (died in office) |
Democratic | 1912 | Louis F. Hart | ||
| 1916 | ||||||||
| 9 |  |
Louis F. Hart (1862–1929) |
June 14, 1919 – January 14, 1925 (did not run) |
Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | ||
| 1920 | William J. Coyle | |||||||
| 10 |  |
Roland H. Hartley (1864–1952) |
January 14, 1925 – January 11, 1933 (lost nomination) |
Republican | 1924 | W. Lon Johnson | ||
| 1928 | John Arthur Gellatly | |||||||
| 11 |  |
Clarence D. Martin (1886–1955) |
January 11, 1933 – January 15, 1941 (lost nomination) |
Democratic | 1932 | Victor Aloysius Meyers | ||
| 1936 | ||||||||
| 12 | .jpg) |
Arthur B. Langlie (1900–1966) |
January 15, 1941 – January 10, 1945 (lost election) |
Republican | 1940 | |||
| 13 | .jpg) |
Monrad Wallgren (1891–1961) |
January 10, 1945 – January 12, 1949 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1944 | |||
| 14 | |
Arthur B. Langlie (1900–1966) |
January 12, 1949 – January 16, 1957 (did not run) |
Republican | 1948 | |||
| 1952 | Emmett T. Anderson | |||||||
| 15 | .jpg) |
Albert Rosellini (1910–2011) |
January 16, 1957 – January 13, 1965 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1956 | John Cherberg | ||
| 1960 | ||||||||
| 16 |  |
Daniel J. Evans (1925–2024) |
January 13, 1965 – January 12, 1977 (did not run) |
Republican | 1964 | |||
| 1968 | ||||||||
| 1972 | ||||||||
| 17 | .jpg) |
Dixy Lee Ray (1914–1994) |
January 12, 1977 – January 14, 1981 (lost nomination) |
Democratic | 1976 | |||
| 18 |  |
John Spellman (1926–2018) |
January 14, 1981 – January 16, 1985 (lost election) |
Republican | 1980 | |||
| 19 | .jpg) |
Booth Gardner (1936–2013) |
January 16, 1985 – January 13, 1993 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1984 | |||
| 1988 | Joel Pritchard | |||||||
| 20 |  |
Mike Lowry (1939–2017) |
January 13, 1993 – January 15, 1997 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1992 | |||
| 21 |  |
Gary Locke (b. 1950) |
January 15, 1997 – January 12, 2005 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1996 | Brad Owen | ||
| 2000 | ||||||||
| 22 | .jpg) |
Christine Gregoire (b. 1947) |
January 12, 2005 – January 16, 2013 (did not run) |
Democratic | 2004 | |||
| 2008 | ||||||||
| 23 | .jpg) |
Jay Inslee (b. 1951) |
January 16, 2013 – January 15, 2025 (did not run) |
Democratic | 2012 | |||
| 2016 | Cyrus Habib | |||||||
| 2020 | Denny Heck | |||||||
| 24 | .jpg) |
Bob Ferguson (b. 1965) |
January 15, 2025 – Incumbent |
Democratic | 2024 | |||
Timeline of Washington Governors
This timeline shows when each governor served in Washington, both for the territory and the state.
| Timeline of Washington governors |
 |
More Information
- List of Washington state legislatures
- Who takes over if the governor can't serve?
