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Governor of Washington
Seal of the Executive Department of Washington.svg
Seal of the Governor
Jay Inslee official portrait (cropped 2).jpg
Incumbent
Jay Inslee

since January 16, 2013
Style
Residence Washington Governor's Mansion
Term length Four years, no term limit
Inaugural holder Elisha P. Ferry
Formation November 11, 1889
Deputy Lieutenant Governor of Washington
Salary $182,179 (2019)

The governor of Washington is the head of government of Washington and commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The officeholder has a duty to enforce state laws, the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Washington Legislature and line-item veto power to cancel specific provisions in spending bills. The Washington governor may also convene the legislature on "extraordinary occasions".

Washington Territory had 14 territorial governors from its organization in 1853 until the formation of the state of Washington in 1889. Territorial governors were appointed by the president of the United States. Elisha P. Ferry had the longest term of eight years and went on to become the state's first governor. William H. Wallace was appointed governor but never took office due to being elected as the territory's congressional delegate. George Edward Cole was appointed governor and took office, but his appointment was never ratified by the U.S. Senate and he was replaced as governor after four months.

Twenty-two individuals have held the office of Governor of Washington since the state's admission to the Union, with Arthur B. Langlie serving non-consecutive terms. Populist Party candidate John Rankin Rogers is the only non-Democratic or Republican nominee to win office. The most recent governor to be from Eastern Washington was Clarence Martin, elected in 1932. The current governor is Democrat Jay Inslee, who took office on January 16, 2013, and was reelected in 2016 and 2020; his term will expire on January 15, 2025. Washington has had the longest current streak of Democratic governors in the nation, with the last Republican to hold the office being John Spellman in 1985.

With the re-election of Inslee in 2020, Langlie, Daniel J. Evans and Inslee are the only three Washington governors to be elected to three terms.

Governors

Governors of the Territory of Washington

Washington Territory was created on March 2, 1853, from the northern half of Oregon Territory. At this point, Washington Territory also included the northern panhandle of modern Idaho and parts of Montana. The southern half of Idaho was assigned to the Washington Territory in 1859 after Oregon was admitted as a state. Idaho Territory was split from Washington Territory in 1863 giving Washington Territory its final borders.

Due to the long distance between Washington, D.C., and Olympia, there was often a lengthy gap between a governor being appointed and his arrival in the territory.

Governor Took office Left office Appointed by Notes
20130214073638!Governor.Gen.Stevens cropped.jpg   Isaac Stevens December 3, 1853 August 11, 1857 Franklin Pierce
LaFayette McMullen.jpg   Fayette McMullen September 10, 1857 July 1858 James Buchanan
Richard D. Gholson.jpg   Richard D. Gholson July 15, 1859 February 14, 1861
William H. Wallace.jpg   William H. Wallace Appointed April 9, 1861 Abraham Lincoln
William Pickering.jpg   William Pickering June 1862 January 8, 1867
George Edward Cole.jpg   George Edward Cole January 8, 1867 March 4, 1867 Andrew Johnson
MFMoore.jpg   Marshall F. Moore August 26, 1867 April 5, 1869
Alvan Flanders.jpg   Alvan Flanders April 5, 1869 March 14, 1870 Ulysses S. Grant
Edward Selig Salomon.jpg   Edward S. Salomon Appointed March 4, 1870 April 1872
Elisha Peyre Ferry.jpg   Elisha P. Ferry Appointed April 26, 1872 November 1, 1880
William A Newell.jpg   William A. Newell November 1, 1880 July 2, 1884 Rutherford B. Hayes
Watson C Squire.jpg   Watson C. Squire Appointed July 2, 1884 April 9, 1887 Chester A. Arthur
Eugene Semple.jpg   Eugene Semple Appointed April 9, 1887 April 9, 1889 Grover Cleveland
Miles C. Moore.jpg   Miles Conway Moore April 9, 1889 November 11, 1889 Benjamin Harrison

Governors of the State of Washington

Washington was admitted to the Union on November 11, 1889. The term for governor is four years, commencing on the second Monday in the January following the election. If the office of governor is vacant or the governor is unable to discharge their duties, the lieutenant governor assumes the duties of governor, though still officially retains the office of lieutenant governor. If both the offices of governor and lieutenant governor are unable to fulfill their duties, the secretary of state is next in line, and then the treasurer. There is no limit to the number of terms a governor may serve. The office of lieutenant governor is not elected on the same ticket as the governor.

      Democratic (11)       Populist (1)       Republican (12)
(above numbering includes one governor twice)

# Governor Took office Left office Office Prior to Ascension Party Election Terms
1   Elisha Peyre Ferry.jpg Elisha P. Ferry
August 9, 1825 – October 14, 1895
(aged 70)
November 11, 1889 January 11, 1893 10th Governor of the Washington Territory Republican 1889 1
2 John McGraw 1890.jpg John McGraw
October 4, 1850 – June 23, 1910
(aged 59)
January 11, 1893 January 13, 1897 King County Sheriff 1892 1
3 John Rankin Rogers.jpg John Rankin Rogers
September 4, 1838 – December 26, 1901
(aged 63)
January 13, 1897 December 26, 1901 Washington House of Representatives Populist 1896 1+12
Democratic 1900
4 Governor Henry McBride.jpg Henry McBride
February 7, 1856 – October 7, 1937
(aged 81)
December 26, 1901 January 11, 1905 Lieutenant Governor of Washington Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
12
5 Governor Albert E. Mead.jpg Albert E. Mead
December 14, 1861 – March 19, 1913
(aged 51)
January 11, 1905 January 27, 1909 Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney 1904 1
6 Samuel Goodlove Cosgrove.jpg Samuel G. Cosgrove
April 10, 1847 – March 28, 1909
(aged 61)
January 27, 1909 March 28, 1909 Mayor of Pomeroy 1908 12
7 Governor Marion E. Hay.jpg Marion E. Hay
December 9, 1865 – November 21, 1933
(aged 67)
March 28, 1909 January 15, 1913 Lieutenant Governor of Washington Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
12
8 Governor Ernest Lister.jpg Ernest Lister
June 15, 1870 – June 14, 1919
(aged 48)
January 15, 1913 February 13, 1919 Chairman of the State Board of Control Democratic 1912 1+12
1916
9 Louis F. Hart LCCN2014716914.jpg Louis F. Hart
January 4, 1862 – December 4, 1929
(aged 67)
February 13, 1919 January 14, 1925 Lieutenant Governor of Washington Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor
1+12
1920
10 Roland H. Hartley LCCN2014717860.tif Roland H. Hartley
June 26, 1864 – September 21, 1952
(aged 88)
January 14, 1925 January 11, 1933 Washington House of Representatives 1924 2
1928
11 Governor of Washington. Washington, D.C., Dec. 9. A new informal picture of Governor Clarence D. Martin of Washington LCCN2016876722.jpg Clarence D. Martin
June 29, 1886 – August 11, 1955
(aged 69)
January 11, 1933 January 15, 1941 Mayor of Cheney Democratic 1932 2
1936
12 Arthur Bernard Langlie (cropped).jpg Arthur B. Langlie
July 25, 1900 – July 24, 1966
(aged 65)
January 15, 1941 January 10, 1945 Mayor of Seattle Republican 1940 1
13 Governor Monrad Charles Wallgren (cropped).jpg Monrad Wallgren
April 17, 1891 – September 18, 1961
(aged 70)
January 10, 1945 January 12, 1949 U.S. Senator from Washington Democratic 1944 1
14 Arthur Bernard Langlie (cropped).jpg Arthur B. Langlie
July 25, 1900 – July 24, 1966
(aged 65)
January 12, 1949 January 16, 1957 12th Governor of Washington Republican 1948 2
1952
15 Albert D. Rosellini (cropped).jpg Albert Rosellini
January 21, 1910 – October 10, 2011
(aged 101)
January 16, 1957 January 13, 1965 Washington State Senate Democratic 1956 2
1960
16 Daniel J. Evans.jpg Daniel J. Evans
(1925-10-16) October 16, 1925 (age 98)
January 13, 1965 January 12, 1977 Washington House of Representatives Republican 1964 3
1968
1972
17 Dixy Lee Ray (cropped).jpg Dixy Lee Ray
September 3, 1914 – January 2, 1994
(aged 79)
January 12, 1977 January 14, 1981 Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Democratic 1976 1
18 JohnDSpellman.jpg John Spellman
December 29, 1926 – January 15, 2018
(aged 91)
January 14, 1981 January 16, 1985 King County Executive Republican 1980 1
19 Booth Gardner.jpg Booth Gardner
August 21, 1936 – March 15, 2013
(aged 76)
January 16, 1985 January 13, 1993 Pierce County Executive Democratic 1984 2
1988
20 Michael E. Lowry.jpg Mike Lowry
March 8, 1939 – May 1, 2017
(aged 78)
January 13, 1993 January 15, 1997 U.S. Representative from WA-7th 1992 1
21 Gary Locke official portrait small.jpg Gary Locke
(1950-01-21) January 21, 1950 (age 74)
January 15, 1997 January 12, 2005 King County Executive 1996 2
2000
22   ChristineGregoireOfficial (cropped).jpg Christine Gregoire
(1947-03-24) March 24, 1947 (age 76)
January 12, 2005 January 16, 2013 Attorney General of Washington 2004 2
2008
23 Jay Inslee official portrait (cropped 2).jpg Jay Inslee
(1951-02-09) February 9, 1951 (age 73)
January 16, 2013 Incumbent U.S. Representative from WA-01 2012 3
2016
2020

Succession

See also

  • List of Washington state legislatures
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