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List of governors of Arizona facts for kids

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Governor of Arizona
Flag of Arizona.svg
Arizona-StateSeal.svg
= Current Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs
Incumbent
Katie Hobbs

since January 2, 2023
Government of Arizona
Style The Honorable
Residence No official residence
Term length Four years, renewable once consecutively
Constituting instrument Arizona Constitution, article V
Inaugural holder George W. P. Hunt
Formation February 14, 1912
Succession Line of succession
Deputy None (until 2027)
Lieutenant Governor (expected from 2027)
Salary $95,000 (2022)

The governor of Arizona is the main leader of the state of Arizona. Think of them as the "chief executive" of Arizona. They are in charge of the executive branch of the state government. This means they make sure state laws are followed.

The governor has several important jobs. They can approve or reject (this is called a veto) new laws passed by the Arizona State Legislature. They can also call the legislature together for special meetings. The governor can also grant pardons, which means forgiving someone for a crime, except in cases of impeachment. The governor is also the leader of Arizona's military forces, like the Arizona National Guard. Arizona is one of the few states that does not have a special house for its governor.

Many people have served as governor of Arizona. Twenty-four different people have held the job over 28 terms. Some governors, like George W. P. Hunt and Thomas Edward Campbell, served multiple times. Hunt was elected seven times and served for almost 14 years, making him the longest-serving governor. Bruce Babbitt served for nearly nine years. Sadly, one governor, Wesley Bolin, served for less than five months before he passed away.

Arizona has had five female governors. This is more than any other state in the United States! Arizona was also the first state where female governors served one after another.

The current governor, as of January 2, 2023, is Katie Hobbs. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

Arizona's Governors: A Look Back

Early Leaders: Confederate Arizona

Before Arizona became a state, there were some early attempts to form a government. In 1860, settlers in southern New Mexico Territory tried to create their own "Arizona Territory." They even elected a governor named Lewis S. Owings. However, the U.S. Congress did not approve this idea.

Later, in 1861, as the American Civil War began, some people in the territory decided to join the Confederacy. Lewis S. Owings continued as their provisional governor. In 1861, Confederate forces took control, and Lieutenant Colonel John R. Baylor declared himself governor. The Confederacy officially organized Arizona Territory in 1862. However, Baylor was later removed from his position by Confederate President Jefferson Davis because of a controversial order he gave. By July 1862, Union forces had taken back the territory, and the Confederate government of Arizona was no longer in power there.

Governors of Arizona Territory

Arizona Territory was officially created by the United States on February 24, 1863. It remained a territory for 49 years before becoming a state. During this time, the U.S. President appointed the governors.


Governors of the Territory of Arizona
No. Governor Term in office Appointing President
John Addison Gurley.jpg John A. Gurley
(1813–1863)
March 10, 1863

August 19, 1863
(died before taking office)
Lincoln, AbrahamAbraham Lincoln
1 John Noble Goodwin.jpg John Noble Goodwin
(1824–1887)
August 21, 1863

April 10, 1866
(resigned)
Lincoln, AbrahamAbraham Lincoln
2 Richard Cunningham McCormick - Brady-Handy.jpg Richard Cunningham McCormick
(1832–1901)
April 10, 1866

March 4, 1869
(resigned)
Johnson, AndrewAndrew Johnson
3 Anson P. K. Safford.jpg Anson P. K. Safford
(1830–1891)
April 8, 1869

April 5, 1877
(term expired)
Grant, Ulysses S.Ulysses S. Grant
4 John Philo Hoyt.jpg John Philo Hoyt
(1841–1926)
April 5, 1877

June 14, 1878
(resigned)
Hayes, Rutherford B.Rutherford B. Hayes
5 John Charles Fremont crop.jpg John C. Frémont
(1813–1890)
June 14, 1878

October 11, 1881
(resigned)
Hayes, Rutherford B.Rutherford B. Hayes
6 Frederick Augustus Tritle.png Frederick Augustus Tritle
(1833–1906)
February 6, 1882

October 7, 1885
(resigned)
Arthur, Chester A.Chester A. Arthur
7 C. Meyer Zulick (Arizona Governor).jpg C. Meyer Zulick
(1839–1926)
October 15, 1885

March 28, 1889
(successor appointed)
Cleveland, GroverGrover Cleveland
8 Lewis Wolfley (Arizona Governor).jpg Lewis Wolfley
(1839–1910)
March 28, 1889

August 20, 1890
(resigned)
Harrison, BenjaminBenjamin Harrison
9 John Nichol Irwin - oval.jpg John N. Irwin
(1844–1905)
October 1, 1890

April 19, 1892
(resigned)
Harrison, BenjaminBenjamin Harrison
10 N. O. Murphy.jpg Oakes Murphy
(1849–1908)
May 9, 1892

April 13, 1893
(successor appointed)
Harrison, BenjaminBenjamin Harrison
11 LC hughes.jpg L. C. Hughes
(1842–1915)
April 8, 1893

April 1, 1896
(successor appointed)
Cleveland, GroverGrover Cleveland
12 BJFranklin.jpg Benjamin Joseph Franklin
(1839–1898)
April 8, 1896

July 22, 1897
(resigned)
Cleveland, GroverGrover Cleveland
13 MyronMcCord.png Myron H. McCord
(1840–1908)
July 17, 1897

August 1, 1898
(resigned)
McKinley, WilliamWilliam McKinley
14 N. O. Murphy.jpg Oakes Murphy
(1849–1908)
July 16, 1898

July 1, 1902
(resigned)
McKinley, WilliamWilliam McKinley
15 Alexander Brodie.jpg Alexander Oswald Brodie
(1849–1918)
May 14, 1902

February 14, 1905
(resigned)
Roosevelt, TheodoreTheodore Roosevelt
16 Joseph Henry Kibbey-left profile.jpg Joseph Henry Kibbey
(1853–1924)
February 27, 1905

April 15, 1909
(successor appointed)
Roosevelt, TheodoreTheodore Roosevelt
17 Governor R E Sloan.jpg Richard Elihu Sloan
(1857–1933)
April 15, 1909

February 14, 1912
(statehood)
Taft, William HowardWilliam Howard Taft

Governors of the State of Arizona

Arizona officially became a state on February 14, 1912. It was the last of the connected states to join the United States.

When Arizona became a state, its constitution said that governors would be elected every two years. In 1968, this was changed to a four-year term. Originally, there was no limit to how many times a governor could be elected. But in 1992, a new rule was added. Now, a governor can only serve two terms in a row. After four years out of office, they can run again. Governors start their terms on the first Monday in January after their election.

What Happens if a Governor Leaves Office?

Arizona is one of the few states that does not have a lieutenant governor. A lieutenant governor is usually the second-in-command. Instead, if the governor's office becomes empty, the secretary of state takes over. This happens if the secretary of state was elected by the people. If not, or if they can't be governor, other elected officials follow in a specific order. This order is called the "line of succession."

The line of succession in Arizona is:

  • Secretary of State
  • Attorney General
  • State Treasurer
  • Superintendent of Public Instruction

If the governor is out of the state or is being impeached, the next elected official in line becomes the acting governor. They serve until the governor returns or is cleared. Any time served as acting governor counts towards the two-term limit.

Only once has the line of succession gone past the secretary of state. This happened when Attorney General Bruce Babbitt became governor after Wesley Bolin passed away. Before that, Rose Mofford had been appointed secretary of state. She took over when Bolin became governor after Raúl Héctor Castro resigned to become an ambassador. Mofford later became acting governor when Evan Mecham was impeached. She then became governor when Mecham was removed from office.

Starting with the election in 2026, Arizona will have a lieutenant governor. This change was made in 2022. The candidates for governor will choose their running mates for lieutenant governor. Then, voters will choose both the governor and lieutenant governor together. If both offices become empty at the same time, the secretary of state or the next person in line will become governor. That person will then appoint a new lieutenant governor, with approval from the state legislature.


Governors of the State of Arizona
No. Governor Term in office Party Election
1 George WP Hunt.jpg   George W. P. Hunt
(1859–1934)
February 14, 1912

January 1, 1917
(lost election)
Democratic 1911
1914
2 Thomas E Campbell 2.jpg Thomas Edward Campbell
(1878–1944)
January 1, 1917

December 25, 1917
(removed from office)
Republican 1916
1 George WP Hunt.jpg George W. P. Hunt
(1859–1934)
December 25, 1917

January 6, 1919
(did not run)
Democratic
2 Thomas E Campbell 2.jpg Thomas Edward Campbell
(1878–1944)
January 6, 1919

January 1, 1923
(lost election)
Republican 1918
1920
1 George WP Hunt.jpg George W. P. Hunt
(1859–1934)
January 1, 1923

January 7, 1929
(lost election)
Democratic 1922
1924
1926
3 John Calhoun Phillips (Arizona Governor).jpg John Calhoun Phillips
(1870–1943)
January 7, 1929

January 5, 1931
(lost election)
Republican 1928
1 George WP Hunt.jpg George W. P. Hunt
(1859–1934)
January 5, 1931

January 2, 1933
(lost nomination)
Democratic 1930
4 Benjamin Baker Moeur (Arizona Governor).jpg Benjamin Baker Moeur
(1869–1937)
January 2, 1933

January 4, 1937
(lost nomination)
Democratic 1932
1934
5 Rawghlie Clement Stanford.jpg Rawghlie Clement Stanford
(1879–1963)
January 4, 1937

January 2, 1939
(did not run)
Democratic 1936
6 Robert Taylor Jones.jpg Robert Taylor Jones
(1884–1958)
January 2, 1939

January 6, 1941
(lost nomination)
Democratic 1938
7 Sidney Preston Osborn.jpg Sidney Preston Osborn
(1884–1948)
January 6, 1941

May 25, 1948
(died in office)
Democratic 1940
1942
1944
1946
8 Dan E. Garvey (Arizona Governor).jpg Dan Edward Garvey
(1886–1974)
May 25, 1948

January 1, 1951
(lost nomination)
Democratic Succeeded from
secretary of state
1948
9 John Howard Pyle (Arizona governor).jpg John Howard Pyle
(1906–1987)
January 1, 1951

January 3, 1955
(lost election)
Republican 1950
1952
10 Ernest W. McFarland (AZ).png Ernest McFarland
(1894–1984)
January 3, 1955

January 5, 1959
(did not run)
Democratic 1954
1956
11 Paul Fannin.jpg Paul Fannin
(1907–2002)
January 5, 1959

January 4, 1965
(did not run)
Republican 1958
1960
1962
12 Samuel Pearson Goddard, Jr (tight crop).jpg Samuel Pearson Goddard Jr.
(1919–2006)
January 4, 1965

January 2, 1967
(lost election)
Democratic 1964
13 Jack Williams (Arizona politician) (cropped).jpg Jack Williams
(1909–1998)
January 2, 1967

January 6, 1975
(did not run)
Republican 1966
1968
1970
14 Raúl Héctor Castro (AZ).png Raúl Héctor Castro
(1916–2015)
January 6, 1975

October 20, 1977
(resigned)
Democratic 1974
15 Wesley Bolin (Arizona governor).jpg Wesley Bolin
(1909–1978)
October 20, 1977

March 4, 1978
(died in office)
Democratic Succeeded from
secretary of state
16 Bruce Babbitt (AZ).png Bruce Babbitt
(b. 1938)
March 4, 1978

January 5, 1987
(did not run)
Democratic Succeeded from
attorney general
1978
1982
17 Evan Mecham (Arizona governor) (1).jpg Evan Mecham
(1924–2008)
January 5, 1987

April 4, 1988
(impeached and removed)
Republican 1986
18 Rose Mofford 2012.jpg Rose Mofford
(1922–2016)
April 4, 1988

March 6, 1991
(did not run)
Democratic Succeeded from
secretary of state
19 Fife Symington by Gage Skidmore.jpg Fife Symington
(b. 1945)
March 6, 1991

September 5, 1997
(resigned)
Republican 1990–1991
1994
20 Jane Dee Hull by Gage Skidmore.jpg Jane Dee Hull
(1935–2020)
September 5, 1997

January 6, 2003
(term-limited)
Republican Succeeded from
secretary of state
1998
21 Janet Napolitano by Gage Skidmore 3.jpg Janet Napolitano
(b. 1957)
January 6, 2003

January 20, 2009
(resigned)
Democratic 2002
2006
22 Jan Brewer by Gage Skidmore 5.jpg Jan Brewer
(b. 1944)
January 20, 2009

January 5, 2015
(did not run)
Republican Succeeded from
secretary of state
2010
23 Doug Ducey by Gage Skidmore 13.jpg Doug Ducey
(b. 1964)
January 5, 2015

January 2, 2023
(term-limited)
Republican 2014
2018
24 Katie Hobbs (52688750292) (cropped).jpg Katie Hobbs
(b. 1969)
January 2, 2023

Incumbent
Democratic 2022

Timeline of Arizona's Governors

Learn More

  • Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Arizona
  • Lieutenant Governor of Arizona
  • List of Arizona state legislatures
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