List of African-American statewide elected officials facts for kids

States where African-Americans have served as statewide executive officials:      Reconstruction Era African-American statewide officeholders (all Republican) 1868–1887      States which have only elected/appointed African-American Democrats as statewide officeholders (1963–present)      States which have only elected/appointed African-American Republicans as statewide officeholders (1963–present)      States which have elected/appointed African-Americans from both parties (1963–present)

This is a list of African Americans who have served in statewide elected executive offices in the United States, whether they were elected, succeeded or appointed to such elected office. These state constitutional officers have their duties and qualifications mandated in state constitutions. This list includes those directly elected to state constitutional boards and commissions, whether statewide or by district. This list does not include those elected to serve in non-executive branches of government, such as justices of the state supreme courts or at-large members of the state legislatures. This list also excludes federal legislators, such as the two members of the United States Senate elected from each state or at-large members of the United States House of Representatives.

Summary

Governors

     Denotes incumbent governor

• Italics denotes acting governor

Portrait	Name	Party	State	Term start	Term end	Notes
	Dunn, OscarOscar Dunn (1826–1871)	Republican	Louisiana	June 27, 1868	November 22, 1871	Elevated from lieutenant governor. Died in office.
	Pinchback, P. B. S.P. B. S. Pinchback (1837–1921)	Republican	Louisiana	December 9, 1872	January 13, 1873	Elevated from lieutenant governor. Term ended.
	Wilder, DouglasDouglas Wilder (born 1931)	Democratic	Virginia	January 13, 1990	January 15, 1994	Term-limited.
	Patrick, DevalDeval Patrick (born 1956)	Democratic	Massachusetts	January 4, 2007	January 8, 2015	Retired
	Paterson, DavidDavid Paterson (born 1954)	Democratic	New York	March 17, 2008	December 31, 2010	Elevated to office from lieutenant governor. Retired.
	Moore, WesWes Moore (born 1978)	Democrat	Maryland	January 18, 2023	present

Territorial governors

     Denotes incumbent governor

• Italics denotes acting governor

Portrait	Name	Party	Territory	Term start	Term end	Notes
	Washington, WalterWalter Washington (1915–2003)	Democratic	District of Columbia	November 7, 1967	January 2, 1979	Appointed as Mayor-Commissioner before being elected in his own right Lost renomination
	Barry, MarionMarion Barry (1936–2014)	Democratic	District of Columbia	January 2, 1979	January 2, 1991	Retired
				January 2, 1995	January 2, 1999	Retired
	Pratt, SharonSharon Pratt (born 1944)	Democratic	District of Columbia	January 2, 1991	January 2, 1995	Lost renomination
	Williams, Anthony A.Anthony A. Williams (born 1951)	Democratic	District of Columbia	January 2, 1999	January 2, 2007	Retired
	Fenty, AdrianAdrian Fenty (born 1970)	Democratic	District of Columbia	January 2, 2007	January 2, 2011	Lost renomination
	Gray, Vincent C.Vincent C. Gray (born 1942)	Democratic	District of Columbia	January 2, 2011	January 2, 2015	Lost renomination
	Bowser, MurielMuriel Bowser (born 1972)	Democratic	District of Columbia	January 2, 2015	present

Lieutenant governors

     Denotes incumbent lieutenant governor

• Italics denotes acting lieutenant governor

Portrait	Name	Party	State	Term start	Term end	Notes
	Dunn, OscarOscar Dunn (1826–1871)	Republican	Louisiana	June 27, 1868	November 22, 1871	Died
	Ransier, Alonzo J.Alonzo J. Ransier (1834–1882)	Republican	South Carolina	December 3, 1870	December 7, 1872	Retired to run successfully for South Carolina's 2nd congressional district
	Davis, Alexander K.Alexander K. Davis	Republican	Mississippi	November 30, 1871	March 29, 1876	Retired
	Pinchback, P. B. S.P. B. S. Pinchback (1837–1921)	Republican	Louisiana	December 6, 1871	December 9, 1872	Elevated to governor
	Howell Gleaves, RichardRichard Howell Gleaves (1819–1907)	Republican	South Carolina	December 7, 1872	December 14, 1876	Lost reelection
	Antoine, CaesarCaesar Antoine (1836–1921)	Republican	Louisiana	May 22, 1873	April 24, 1877	Lost reelection
	Dymally, MervynMervyn Dymally (1926–2012)	Democratic	California	January 6, 1975	January 8, 1979	Lost reelection
	Brown, George L.George L. Brown (1926–2006)	Democratic	Colorado	January 14, 1975	January 10, 1979	Retired
	Wilder, DouglasDouglas Wilder (born 1931)	Democratic	Virginia	January 18, 1986	January 12, 1990	Retired to run successfully for governor
	Rogers, JoeJoe Rogers (1964–2013)	Republican	Colorado	January 12, 1999	January 14, 2003	Retired
	Bradley, JennetteJennette Bradley (born 1952)	Republican	Ohio	January 13, 2003	January 5, 2005	Resigned to become Ohio Treasurer
	Steele, MichaelMichael Steele (born 1958)	Republican	Maryland	January 15, 2003	January 17, 2007	Retired to run unsuccessfully for U.S. Senator of Maryland
	Paterson, DavidDavid Paterson (born 1954)	Democratic	New York	January 1, 2007	March 17, 2008	Elevated to governor
	Brown, AnthonyAnthony Brown (born 1961)	Democratic	Maryland	January 17, 2007	January 21, 2015	Retired to run unsuccessfully for governor
	Smith, MalcolmMalcolm Smith (born 1956)	Democratic	New York	January 7, 2009	June 8, 2009	Resigned
	Carroll, JenniferJennifer Carroll (born 1959)	Republican	Florida	January 4, 2011	March 12, 2013	Resigned
	Rutherford, BoydBoyd Rutherford (born 1957)	Republican	Maryland	January 21, 2015	January 18, 2023	Retired
	Hampton, JeneanJenean Hampton (born 1958)	Republican	Kentucky	December 8, 2015	December 9, 2019	Retired
	Fairfax, JustinJustin Fairfax (born 1979)	Democratic	Virginia	January 13, 2018	January 15, 2022	Retired to run unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for governor
	Oliver, SheilaSheila Oliver (1952-2023)	Democratic	New Jersey	January 16, 2018	August 1, 2023	Died
	Garlin Gilchrist (born 1982)	Democratic	Michigan	January 1, 2019	present
	Barnes, MandelaMandela Barnes (born 1986)	Democratic	Wisconsin	January 7, 2019	January 3, 2023	Retired to run unsuccessfully for U.S. senator
	Stratton, JulianaJuliana Stratton (born 1965)	Democratic	Illinois	January 14, 2019	present
	Robinson, MarkMark Robinson (born 1968)	Republican	North Carolina	January 9, 2021	present
	Stewart-Cousins, AndreaAndrea Stewart-Cousins (born 1950)	Democratic	New York	August 24, 2021	September 9, 2021	New Lieutenant Governor appointed
				April 12, 2022	May 25, 2022	New Lieutenant Governor appointed
	Benjamin, BrianBrian Benjamin (born 1976)	Democratic	New York	September 9, 2021	April 12, 2022	Resigned
	Sears, WinsomeWinsome Sears (born 1964)	Republican	Virginia	January 15, 2022	present
	Delgado, AntonioAntonio Delgado (born 1977)	Democratic	New York	May 25, 2022	present
	Davis, AustinAustin Davis (born 1989)	Democratic	Pennsylvania	January 17, 2023	present
	Way, TaheshaTahesha Way (born 1971)	Democratic	New Jersey	September 8, 2023	present

Attorneys general

     Denotes incumbent attorney general

• Italics denotes acting attorney general

Picture	Name	Party	State	Term start	Term end	Notes	Ref
	Brooke, EdwardEdward Brooke (1919–2015)	Republican	Massachusetts	January 3, 1963	January 3, 1967	Retired to run successfully for U.S. Senate from Massachusetts
	Burris, RolandRoland Burris (1937–present)	Democratic	Illinois	January 14, 1991	January 9, 1995	Retired to run unsuccessfully for Governor of Illinois
	Carter, PamelaPamela Carter (1949–present)	Democratic	Indiana	January 13, 1993	January 16, 1997	Retired
	Baker, ThurbertThurbert Baker (1952–present)	Democratic	Georgia	June 1, 1997	January 10, 2011	Retired to run unsuccessfully for Governor of Georgia
	Freeman-Wilson, KarenKaren Freeman-Wilson (1960–present)	Democratic	Indiana	June 8, 2000	January 14, 2001	Lost reelection
	Harvey, Peter C.Peter C. Harvey (1952–present)	Democratic	New Jersey	June 16, 2003	January 30, 2006	Retired.
	Harris, KamalaKamala Harris (1964–present)	Democratic	California	January 3, 2011	January 3, 2017	Retired to run successfully for U.S. Senate from California
	Hill, CurtisCurtis Hill (1960–present)	Republican	Indiana	January 9, 2017	January 11, 2021	Lost renomination
	James, LetitiaLetitia James (1958–present)	Democratic	New York	January 1, 2019	present
	Raoul, KwameKwame Raoul (1964–present)	Democratic	Illinois	January 14, 2019	present
	Ford, Aaron D.Aaron D. Ford (1972–present)	Democratic	Nevada	January 7, 2019	present
	Ellison, KeithKeith Ellison (1963–present)	Democratic	Minnesota	January 7, 2019	present
	Cameron, DanielDaniel Cameron (1985–present)	Republican	Kentucky	December 17, 2019	present	Elected as Attorney General, but appointed early as acting Attorney by Governor Andy Beshear, the preceding state Attorney General who himself was elected Governor, and took office early.
	Brown, AnthonyAnthony Brown (1961–present)	Democrat	Maryland	January 3, 2023	present	Elected as Attorney General on November 8, 2022. Brown is the first black Attorney General of Maryland.
	Andrea Campbell (1982–present)	Democrat	Massachusetts	January 18, 2023	present

Territorial attorneys general

     Denotes incumbent attorney general

• Italics denotes acting attorney general

Picture	Name	Party	Territory	Term start	Term end	Notes	Ref
	Racine, KarlKarl Racine (1963–present)	Democratic	District of Columbia	January 2, 2015	January 2, 2023

Secretaries of state

     Denotes incumbent secretary of state

• Italics denotes acting secretary of state

Picture	Name	Party	State	Term start	Term end	Notes	Ref
	Gibbs, Jonathan ClarksonJonathan Clarkson Gibbs (1821–1874)	Republican	Florida	1868	1872	Appointed Superintendent of Public Instruction
	Deslonde, Pierre G.Pierre G. Deslonde	Republican	Louisiana	1872	1876	Retired
	Lynch, James D.James D. Lynch (1839–1872)	Republican	Mississippi	1869	1872	Retired
	Rhodes Revels, HiramHiram Rhodes Revels (1827–1901)	Republican	Mississippi	1872	1873	Retired
	Carter, Hannibal C.Hannibal C. Carter	Republican	Mississippi	1873	1873	Retired
	M. M. McLeod	Republican	Mississippi	1873	1873	Retired
	James Hill	Republican	Mississippi	1874	1878	Retired
	Lewis Cardozo, FrancisFrancis Lewis Cardozo (1836–1903)	Republican	South Carolina	1868	1872	Elected State Treasurer
	Hayne, HenryHenry Hayne (1840–???)	Republican	South Carolina	1872	1877	Resigned
	Austin, RichardRichard Austin (1913–2001)	Democratic	Michigan	January 1, 1971	January 1, 1995	Lost re-election
	Paterson, BasilBasil Paterson (1926–2014)	Democratic	New York	January 1, 1979	January 1, 1983	Retired
	McCrary, JesseJesse McCrary (1937–2007)	Democratic	Florida	July 19, 1978	January 2, 1979	Retired
	Phillips, VelVel Phillips (1923–2018)	Democratic	Wisconsin	January 3, 1979	January 3, 1983	Lost re-nomination
	McDaniel, MyraMyra McDaniel (1932–2010)	Democratic	Texas	August 6, 1984	January 26, 1987	Retired
	Atkins, HannahHannah Atkins (1923–2010)	Democratic	Oklahoma	1987	1991	Retired
	Buckley, VikkiVikki Buckley (1948–1999)	Republican	Colorado	1994	1999	Died
	Hooks, LonnaLonna Hooks (?–)	Republican	New Jersey	1994	1998	Retired
	Soaries, DeForestDeForest Soaries (born 1951)	Republican	New Jersey	January 1, 1999	January 1, 2002	Retired
	Blackwell, KenKen Blackwell (born 1948)	Republican	Ohio	January 8, 1999	January 8, 2007	Retired to run unsuccessfully for governor
	White, JesseJesse White (born 1934)	Democratic	Illinois	January 11, 1999	January 9, 2023	Retired
	Daniels, RandyRandy Daniels (born 1950)	Democratic	New York	2001	2005	Retired
	Thomas, RegenaRegena Thomas (1957–)	Democratic	New Jersey	2002	2006	Retired
	Mitchell Wells, NinaNina Mitchell Wells (born 1950)	Democratic	New Jersey	January 19, 2006	January 19, 2010	Retired
	Crittenden, RobynRobyn Crittenden (?–?)	Republican	Georgia	November 8, 2018	January 14, 2019	Appointed by governor to fill predecessor's remaining term, retired
	Way, TaheshaTahesha Way (born 1971)	Democratic	New Jersey	January 16, 2018	present
	Weber, ShirleyShirley Weber (born 1948)	Democratic	California	January 21, 2021	present
	Thomas, StephanieStephanie Thomas (born 1969)	Democratic	Connecticut	January 4, 2023	present

Labor commissioners

     Denotes incumbent labor commissioner

• Italics denotes acting labor commissioner

Picture	Name	Party	State	Term start	Term end	Notes	Ref
	Scott, AlAl Scott (born 1947)	Democratic	Georgia	1990	1992	Appointed by governor, lost special election primary
	Thurmond, MikeMike Thurmond (born 1953)	Democratic	Georgia	January 11, 1999	January 10, 2011	Retired to run unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate

Auditors and comptrollers

     Denotes incumbent auditor or comptroller

• Italics denotes acting auditor or comptroller

Picture	Name	Party	State	Term start	Term end	Notes
	McCabe, EdwardEdward McCabe (1850–1920)	Republican	Kansas	January 8, 1883	January 10, 1887	Lost re-nomination
	Burris, RolandRoland Burris (born 1937)	Democratic	Illinois	January 8, 1979	January 14, 1991	Retired to run successfully for Attorney General of Illinois
	McCall, CarlCarl McCall (born 1935)	Democratic	New York	May 7, 1993	December 31, 2002	Retired to run unsuccessfully for Governor
	Campbell, RalphRalph Campbell (1946–2011)	Democratic	North Carolina	January 3, 1993	January 4, 2005	Lost re-election
	Brock, RandyRandy Brock (born 1943)	Republican	Vermont	January 3, 2005	January 4, 2007	Lost reelection
	Sawyer, DwayneDwayne Sawyer (born 1966)	Republican	Indiana	August 19, 2013	December 15, 2013	Resigned
	Braswell, NatalieNatalie Braswell	Democratic	Connecticut	December 31, 2021	January 4, 2023	Appointed to office; did not seek election
	DeFoor, TimothyTimothy DeFoor (born 1961)	Republican	Pennsylvania	January 19, 2022	present
	Gaines, Brian J.Brian J. Gaines	Democratic	South Carolina	May 12, 2023	present

Superintendents of education

     Denotes incumbent superintendent

• Italics denotes acting superintendent

Picture	Name	Party	State	Term start	Term end	Notes	Ref
	Brown, William G.William G. Brown (1832–1883)	Republican	Louisiana	1872	1876	Lost reelection
	Cardozo, ThomasThomas Cardozo (1838–1881)	Republican	Mississippi	1873	1875	Lost reelection
	Corbin, JosephJoseph Corbin (1833–1911)	Republican	Arkansas	1873	1875	Lost reelection
	Gibbs, Jonathan ClarksonJonathan Clarkson Gibbs (1821–1874)	Republican	Florida	1872	1874	Died
	Riles, WilsonWilson Riles (1917–1999)	Democratic	California	1971	1983	Lost reelection
	Jamerson, DougDoug Jamerson (1947–2001)	Democratic	Florida	1994	1995	Lost election
	Willoughby, PatriciaPatricia Willoughby (?–present)	Democratic	North Carolina	September 1, 2004	August 23, 2005	Retired
	Stanford Taylor, CarolynCarolyn Stanford Taylor (born 1957)	Democratic	Wisconsin	January 7, 2019	July 5, 2021	Retired
	Thurmond, TonyTony Thurmond (born 1968)	Democratic	California	January 7, 2019	present

Treasurers

     Denotes incumbent treasurer

• Italics denotes acting treasurer

Picture	Name	Party	State	Term start	Term end	Notes	Ref
	Dubuclet, AntoineAntoine Dubuclet (1810–1887)	Republican	Louisiana	1868	1878	Retired
	Lewis Cardozo, FrancisFrancis Lewis Cardozo (1836–1903)	Republican	South Carolina	August 1, 1872	May 1, 1877	Retired
	Lamb, GeraldGerald Lamb (1924–2014)	Democratic	Connecticut	1963	1970	Resigned
	Parker, Henry E.Henry E. Parker (1928–2018)	Democratic	Connecticut	1974	1986	Resigned
	Monroe, Loren E.Loren E. Monroe (1932–2019)	Republican	Michigan	1978	1982	Retired
	Lewis, James B.James B. Lewis (born 1947)	Democratic	New Mexico	1985	1990	Retired
				2007	2015	Retired
	Borges, FranciscoFrancisco Borges (born 1951)	Democratic	Connecticut	January 4, 1987	March 1, 1993	Resigned
	Hill, JimJim Hill (born 1947)	Democratic	Oregon	January 1, 1993	January 1, 2001	Retired
	Suggs Jr., Joseph M.Joseph M. Suggs Jr. (born 1940)	Democratic	Connecticut	March 3, 1993	January 4, 1995	Lost election
	Dixon, RichardRichard Dixon (1938–2012)	Democratic	Maryland	1996	2002	Retired
	Nappier, DeniseDenise Nappier (born 1951)	Democratic	Connecticut	January 3, 1999	January 9, 2019	Retired
	Bradley, JennetteJennette Bradley (born 1952)	Republican	Ohio	January 13, 2005	January 5, 2007	Lost renomination
	Davis, MichelleneMichellene Davis (born 1971)	Democratic	New Jersey	September 2007	January 2008	Acting
	Jones-Potter, VeldaVelda Jones-Potter (?–present)	Democratic	Delaware	January 1, 2009	January 1, 2011	Lost renomination
	Boyce, KevinKevin Boyce (born 1971)	Democratic	Ohio	January 7, 2009	January 9, 2011	Lost reelection
	Flowers, ChipChip Flowers (born 1974)	Democratic	Delaware	January 1, 2011	January 1, 2015	Retired
	Wooden, ShawnShawn Wooden (born 1970)	Democratic	Connecticut	January 3, 2019	January 4, 2023	Retired
	Russell, ErickErick Russell	Democratic	Connecticut	January 4, 2023	present	Incumbent

Public utilities or railroad commissioners

     Denotes incumbent statewide public utilities or railroad commissioner

• Italics denotes acting public utilities or railroad commissioner

Picture	Name	Party	State	Term start	Term end	Notes
	Irma Muse Dixon (born 1952)	Democratic	Louisiana	1992	2004
	David Burgess (born 1959)	Democratic	Georgia	1998	January 1, 2007	Appointed to office and won subsequent election; lost bid for re-election
	Michael L. Williams (born 1953)	Republican	Texas	January 3, 1999	March 31, 2011	Resigned
	Lambert Boissiere (born 1965)	Democratic	Louisiana	January 1, 2005	January 1, 2023	Lost re-election
	Kennedy, SandraSandra Kennedy	Democratic	Arizona	January 5, 2009	January 7, 2013	Lost re-election
				January 7, 2019	January 2, 2023
	Fitz Johnson (born 1963)	Republican	Georgia	2021	present	Appointed to office
	Davante Lewis	Democratic	Louisiana	2023	present

Elected State Boards of Education

See also

• African-American officeholders during and following the Reconstruction era
• List of African-American officeholders (1900–1959)
• List of African–American Republicans
• List of African American firsts
• List of first African-American mayors