List of governors of Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor of Alabama |
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Standard of the Governor
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Seal of the Governor
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Residence | Alabama Governor's Mansion |
Term length | Four years, renewable once |
Precursor | Governor of Alabama Territory |
Inaugural holder | William Wyatt Bibb |
Formation | December 14, 1819 |
Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of Alabama |
Salary | $127,833 (2022) |
Website | http://www.governor.state.al.us |
The governor of Alabama is the head of government of the U.S. state of Alabama. The governor is the head of the executive branch of Alabama's state government and is charged with enforcing state laws.
There have officially been 54 governors of the state of Alabama; this official numbering skips acting and military governors. The first governor, William Wyatt Bibb, served as the only governor of the Alabama Territory. Five people have served as acting governor, bringing the total number of people serving as governor to 59, spread over 63 distinct terms. Four governors have served multiple non-consecutive terms: Bibb Graves, Jim Folsom, and Fob James each served two, and George Wallace served three non-consecutive periods. Officially, these non-consecutive terms are numbered only with the number of their first term. William D. Jelks also served non-consecutive terms, but his first term was in an acting capacity.
The longest-serving governor was George Wallace, who served 16 years over four terms. The shortest term for a non-acting governor was that of Hugh McVay, who served four and a half months after replacing the resigning Clement Comer Clay. Lurleen Wallace, wife of George Wallace, was the first woman to serve as governor of Alabama, and the third woman to serve as governor of any state. The current governor is Republican Kay Ivey, who took office on April 10, 2017 following Governor Robert J. Bentley's court-mandated resignation following a guilty plea-deal amidst a corruption scandal. She is the second female governor of Alabama.
Governors
Governor of the Territory of Alabama
Alabama Territory was formed on March 3, 1817, from Mississippi Territory. It had only one governor appointed by the President of the United States before it became a state; he became the first state governor.
Governor | Term in office | Appointed by | |
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William Wyatt Bibb October 2, 1781 – July 10, 1820 (aged 38) |
March 6, 1817 – November 9, 1819 |
James Monroe |
Governors of the State of Alabama
Alabama was admitted to the Union on December 14, 1819. It seceded from the Union on January 11, 1861, and was a founding member of the Confederate States of America on February 4, 1861. Following the end of the American Civil War, Alabama during Reconstruction was part of the Third Military District, which exerted some control over governor appointments and elections. Alabama was readmitted to the Union on July 14, 1868.
The first Alabama Constitution, ratified in 1819, provided that a governor be elected every two years, limited to serve no more than 4 out of every 6 years. This limit remained in place until the constitution of 1868, which simply allowed governors to serve terms of two years. The current constitution of 1901 increased terms to four years, but prohibited governors from succeeding themselves. Amendment 282 to the constitution, passed in 1968, allowed governors to succeed themselves once; a governor serving two consecutive terms can run again after waiting out the next term. The constitution had no set date for the commencement of a governor's term until 1901, when it was set at the first Monday after the second Tuesday in the January following an election. However, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled in 1911 that a governor's term ends at midnight at the end of Monday, and the next governor's term begins the next day, regardless of if they were sworn in on Monday.
The office of lieutenant governor was created in 1868, abolished in 1875, and recreated in 1901. According to the current constitution, should the governor be out of the state for more than 20 days, the lieutenant governor becomes acting governor, and if the office of governor becomes vacant the lieutenant governor ascends to the governorship. Earlier constitutions said the powers of the governor devolved upon the successor, rather than them necessarily becoming governor, but the official listing includes these as full governors. The governor and lieutenant governor are not elected on the same ticket.
Alabama was a strongly Democratic state before the Civil War, electing only candidates from the Democratic-Republican and Democratic parties. It had two Republican governors following Reconstruction, but after the Democratic Party re-established control, 112 years passed before voters chose another Republican.
No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | |||
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1 | William Wyatt Bibb October 2, 1781 – July 10, 1820 (aged 38) |
November 9, 1819 – July 10, 1820 (died in office) |
Democratic- Republican |
1819 | Office did not exist | |||
2 | Thomas Bibb May 8, 1783 – September 20, 1839 (aged 56) |
July 10, 1820 – November 9, 1821 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic- Republican |
Succeeded from President of the Senate |
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3 | Israel Pickens January 30, 1780 – April 24, 1827 (aged 47) |
November 9, 1821 – November 25, 1825 (term-limited) |
Democratic- Republican |
1821 | ||||
1823 | ||||||||
4 | John Murphy 1786 – September 21, 1841 (aged 54 or 55) |
November 25, 1825 – November 25, 1829 (term-limited) |
Jackson Democrat |
1825 | ||||
1827 | ||||||||
5 | Gabriel Moore 1785 – June 9, 1845 (aged 59 or 60) |
November 25, 1829 – March 3, 1831 (resigned) |
Jackson Democrat |
1829 | ||||
6 | Samuel B. Moore June 6, 1789 – November 7, 1846 (aged 57) |
March 3, 1831 – November 26, 1831 (lost election) |
Democratic | Succeeded from President of the Senate |
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7 | John Gayle September 11, 1792 – July 21, 1859 (aged 66) |
November 26, 1831 – November 21, 1835 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1831 | ||||
1833 | ||||||||
8 | Clement Comer Clay December 17, 1789 – September 6, 1866 (aged 76) |
November 21, 1835 – July 17, 1837 (resigned) |
Democratic | 1835 | ||||
9 | Hugh McVay April 29, 1766 – May 9, 1851 (aged 85) |
July 17, 1837 – November 21, 1837 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | Succeeded from President of the Senate |
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10 | Arthur P. Bagby 1794 – September 21, 1858 (aged 63 or 64) |
November 21, 1837 – November 22, 1841 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1837 | ||||
1839 | ||||||||
11 | Benjamin Fitzpatrick June 30, 1802 – November 21, 1869 (aged 67) |
November 22, 1841 – December 10, 1845 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1841 | ||||
1843 | ||||||||
12 | Joshua L. Martin December 5, 1799 – November 2, 1856 (aged 56) |
December 10, 1845 – December 16, 1847 (withdrew from election) |
Independent | 1845 | ||||
13 | Reuben Chapman July 15, 1799 – May 17, 1882 (aged 82) |
December 16, 1847 – December 17, 1849 (lost renomination) |
Democratic | 1847 | ||||
14 | Henry W. Collier January 17, 1801 – August 28, 1855 (aged 54) |
December 17, 1849 – December 20, 1853 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1849 | ||||
1851 | ||||||||
15 | John A. Winston Septembere 4, 1812 – December 21, 1871 (aged 59) |
December 20, 1853 – December 1, 1857 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1853 | ||||
1855 | ||||||||
16 | Andrew B. Moore March 7, 1807 – April 5, 1873 (aged 66) |
December 1, 1857 – December 2, 1861 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1857 | ||||
1859 | ||||||||
17 | John Gill Shorter April 23, 1818 – May 29, 1872 (aged 54) |
December 2, 1861 – December 1, 1863 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1861 | ||||
18 | Thomas H. Watts January 3, 1819 – September 16, 1892 (aged 73) |
December 1, 1863 – May 3, 1865 (arrested and removed) |
Whig | 1863 | ||||
— | Vacant | May 3, 1865 – June 21, 1865 |
— | Office vacated after civil war |
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19 | Lewis E. Parsons April 28, 1817 – June 8, 1895 (aged 78) |
June 21, 1865 – December 13, 1865 (provisional term ended) |
— | Provisional governor appointed by President |
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20 | Robert M. Patton July 10, 1809 – February 28, 1885 (aged 75) |
December 13, 1865 – July 14, 1868 (not candidate for election) |
Pre-War Whig | 1865 | ||||
— | Wager Swayne November 10, 1834 – December 20, 1903 (aged 68) |
March 2, 1867 – January 11, 1868 (removed) |
— | Military occupation |
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21 | William Hugh Smith April 26, 1826 – January 1, 1899 (aged 72) |
July 14, 1868 – November 26, 1870 (lost election) |
Republican | 1868 | ||||
Andrew J. Applegate (took office August 13, 1868) (died August 21, 1870) |
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Vacant | ||||||||
22 | Robert B. Lindsay July 4, 1824 – February 13, 1902 (aged 77) |
November 26, 1870 – November 25, 1872 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1870 | Edward H. Moren | |||
23 | David P. Lewis May 18, 1820 – July 3, 1884 (aged 64) |
November 17, 1872 – November 24, 1874 (lost election) |
Republican | 1872 | Alexander McKinstry | |||
24 | George S. Houston January 17, 1811 – December 31, 1879 (aged 68) |
November 24, 1874 – November 27, 1878 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1874 | Robert F. Ligon | |||
1876 | Office did not exist | |||||||
25 | Rufus W. Cobb February 25, 1829 – November 26, 1913 (aged 84) |
November 27, 1878 – December 1, 1882 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1878 | ||||
1880 | ||||||||
26 | Edward A. O'Neal September 20, 1818 – November 7, 1890 (aged 72) |
December 1, 1882 – December 1, 1886 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1882 | ||||
1884 | ||||||||
27 | Thomas Seay November 20, 1846 – March 30, 1896 (aged 49) |
December 1, 1886 – December 1, 1890 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1886 | ||||
1888 | ||||||||
28 | Thomas G. Jones November 26, 1844 – April 28, 1914 (aged 69) |
December 1, 1890 – December 1, 1894 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1890 | ||||
1892 | ||||||||
29 | William C. Oates November 30, 1835 – September 9, 1910 (aged 74) |
December 1, 1894 – December 1, 1896 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1894 | ||||
30 | Joseph F. Johnston March 30, 1843 – August 8, 1913 (aged 70) |
December 1, 1896 – December 1, 1900 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1896 | ||||
1898 | ||||||||
— | William D. Jelks November 7, 1855 – December 13, 1931 (aged 76) |
December 1, 1900 – December 26, 1900 (acting) |
Democratic | 1900 | ||||
31 | William J. Samford September 16, 1844 – June 11, 1901 (aged 56) |
December 1, 1900 – June 11, 1901 (died in office) |
Democratic | |||||
32 | William D. Jelks November 7, 1855 – December 13, 1931 (aged 76) |
June 11, 1901 – January 14, 1907 (term-limited) |
Democratic | Succeeded from President of the Senate |
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1902 | Russell McWhortor Cunningham (acted as governor April 25, 1904–March 5, 1905) |
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33 | B. B. Comer November 7, 1848 – August 15, 1927 (aged 78) |
January 14, 1907 – January 16, 1911 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1906 | Henry B. Gray | |||
34 | Emmet O'Neal September 23, 1853 – September 7, 1922 (aged 68) |
January 17, 1911 – January 18, 1915 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1910 | Walter D. Seed Sr. | |||
35 | Charles Henderson April 26, 1860 – January 7, 1937 (aged 76) |
January 19, 1915 – January 20, 1919 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1914 | Thomas Kilby | |||
36 | Thomas Kilby July 9, 1865 – October 33, 1943 (aged 78) |
January 21, 1919 – January 15, 1923 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1918 | Nathan Lee Miller | |||
37 | William W. Brandon June 5, 1868 – December 7, 1934 (aged 66) |
January 16, 1923 – January 17, 1927 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1922 | Charles S. McDowell (acted as governor July 10, 1924–July 11, 1924) |
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38 | Bibb Graves April 1, 1873 – March 14, 1942 (aged 68) |
January 18, 1927 – January 19, 1931 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1926 | William C. Davis | |||
39 | Benjamin M. Miller March 13, 1864 – February 6, 1944 (aged 79) |
January 20, 1931 – January 14, 1935 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1930 | Hugh Davis Merrill | |||
38 | Bibb Graves April 1, 1873 – March 14, 1942 (aged 68) |
January 15, 1935 – January 16, 1939 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1934 | Thomas E. Knight (died May 17, 1937) |
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Vacant | ||||||||
40 | Frank M. Dixon July 25, 1892 – October 11, 1965 (aged 73) |
January 17, 1939 – January 18, 1943 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1938 | Albert A. Carmichael | |||
41 | Chauncey Sparks October 8, 1884 – November 6, 1968 (aged 84) |
January 19, 1943 – January 20, 1947 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1942 | Leven H. Ellis | |||
42 | Jim Folsom October 9, 1908 – November 21, 1987 (aged 79) |
January 21, 1947 – January 15, 1951 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1946 | James C. Inzer | |||
43 | Gordon Persons February 5, 1902 – May 29, 1965 (aged 63) |
January 16, 1951 – January 17, 1955 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1950 | James Allen | |||
42 | Jim Folsom October 9, 1908 – November 21, 1987 (aged 79) |
January 18, 1955 – January 19, 1959 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1954 | William G. Hardwick | |||
44 | John M. Patterson September 27, 1921 – June 4, 2021 (aged 99) |
January 20, 1959 – January 14, 1963 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1958 | Albert Boutwell | |||
45 | George Wallace August 25, 1919 – September 13, 1998 (aged 79) |
January 15, 1963 – January 16, 1967 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1962 | James Allen | |||
46 | Lurleen Wallace September 19, 1926 – May 7, 1968 (aged 41) |
January 17, 1967 – May 7, 1968 (died in office) |
Democratic | 1966 | Albert Brewer (acted as governor July 25, 1967) |
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47 | Albert Brewer October 26, 1928 – January 2, 2017 (aged 88) |
May 7, 1968 – January 18, 1971 (lost renomination) |
Democratic | Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor |
Vacant | |||
45 | George Wallace August 25, 1919 – September 13, 1998 (aged 79) |
January 19, 1971 – January 15, 1979 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1970 | Jere Beasley (acted as governor June 5, 1972–July 7, 1972) |
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1974 | ||||||||
48 | Fob James September 15, 1934 |
January 16, 1979 – January 17, 1983 (lost renomination) |
Democratic | 1978 | George McMillan | |||
45 | George Wallace August 25, 1919 – September 13, 1998 (aged 79) |
January 18, 1983 – January 19, 1987 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1982 | Bill Baxley | |||
49 | H. Guy Hunt June 17, 1933 – January 30, 2009 (aged 75) |
January 20, 1987 – April 22, 1993 (resigned) |
Republican | 1986 | Jim Folsom Jr. | |||
1990 | ||||||||
50 | Jim Folsom Jr. May 14, 1949 |
April 22, 1993 – January 16, 1995 (lost election) |
Democratic | Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor |
Vacant | |||
48 | Fob James September 15, 1934 |
January 17, 1995 – January 18, 1999 (lost election) |
Republican | 1994 | Don Siegelman | |||
51 | Don Siegelman February 24, 1946 |
January 19, 1999 – January 20, 2003 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1998 | Steve Windom | |||
52 | Bob Riley October 3, 1944 |
January 21, 2003 – January 17, 2011 (term-limited) |
Republican | 2002 | Lucy Baxley | |||
2006 | Jim Folsom Jr. | |||||||
53 | Robert J. Bentley February 3, 1943 |
January 18, 2011 – April 10, 2017 (resigned) |
Republican | 2010 | Kay Ivey | |||
2014 | ||||||||
54 | Kay Ivey October 15, 1944 |
April 10, 2017 – Incumbent |
Republican | Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor |
Vacant | |||
2018 | Will Ainsworth | |||||||
2022 |
See also
In Spanish: Anexo:Gobernadores de Alabama para niños
- List of Alabama state legislatures