Governor of Colorado facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Governor of Colorado
Seal of the Executive Office
Incumbent Jared Polis since January 8, 2019
Government of Colorado
Style	The Honorable
Residence	Colorado Governor's Mansion
Term length	Four years, renewable once consecutively
Inaugural holder	John Long Routt
Formation	August 1, 1876
Deputy	Dianne Primavera
Salary	$123,193 (2019)

The governor of Colorado is like the chief executive officer for the state of Colorado. They lead the state government's executive branch. Their main job is to make sure state laws are followed.

The governor has important powers. They can approve or reject (veto) new laws passed by the Colorado General Assembly. 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 very serious cases like treason. They are also the top commander of Colorado's military forces, the Colorado National Guard.

Before Colorado became a state, seven people served as governor of the Colorado Territory. These governors were chosen by the President of the United States. Since Colorado became a state, there have been 38 different governors. Some governors, like Alva Adams, served more than one term, but not always one right after the other.

The governors who served the longest were Richard "Dick" Lamm (1975–1987) and Roy Romer (1987–1999). Each of them served for 12 years. The shortest time anyone served as governor was less than a day! This happened on March 16 and 17, 1905. During this time, Colorado had three governors in just 24 hours.

The current governor is Jared Polis. He is a Democrat and started his term on January 8, 2019.

Colorado's Early Governors

Jefferson Territory: An Unofficial Start

The Provisional Government of the Territory of Jefferson was formed on November 7, 1859. This territory covered most of what is now Colorado, plus a bit more land around it. The United States government never officially recognized this territory. This was during a very busy time before the American Civil War.

Jefferson Territory had only one governor, Robert Williamson Steele. He was a Democrat who supported the Union. He was chosen by a public vote. Governor Steele announced that the territory was dissolved on June 6, 1861. This was just a few days after the first official governor of the Colorado Territory arrived.

Colorado Territory: Appointed Leaders

The official Territory of Colorado was created on February 28, 1861. It was made from parts of other territories like New Mexico, Utah, and Nebraska. It also included some unorganized land that used to be part of Kansas Territory.

Governors of the Territory of Colorado

No.	Governor		Term in office	Appointed by
1		William Gilpin (1813–1894)	March 25, 1861 – March 26, 1862 (successor appointed)	Lincoln, AbrahamAbraham Lincoln
2		John Evans (1814–1897)	March 26, 1862 – October 17, 1865 (resigned)	Lincoln, AbrahamAbraham Lincoln
3		Alexander Cummings (1810–1879)	October 17, 1865 – May 8, 1867 (resigned)	Johnson, AndrewAndrew Johnson
4		Alexander Cameron Hunt (1825–1894)	May 8, 1867 – April 19, 1869 (successor appointed)	Johnson, AndrewAndrew Johnson
5		Edward M. McCook (1833–1909)	April 19, 1869 – April 17, 1873 (successor appointed)	Grant, Ulysses S.Ulysses S. Grant
6		Samuel Hitt Elbert (1833–1899)	April 17, 1873 – July 26, 1874 (successor appointed)	Grant, Ulysses S.Ulysses S. Grant
7		Edward M. McCook (1833–1909)	June 19, 1874 – February 8, 1875 (successor appointed)	Grant, Ulysses S.Ulysses S. Grant
8		John Long Routt (1826–1907)	February 8, 1875 – November 3, 1876 (elected state governor)	Grant, Ulysses S.Ulysses S. Grant

Becoming a State: The Governor's Role

Colorado officially became a state on August 1, 1876. To be governor, a person must be at least 30 years old. They must also be a U.S. citizen and have lived in Colorado for at least two years before the election.

When Colorado first became a state, governors were elected every two years. Their term started in January after the election. In 1956, a change was made to the state constitution. This change meant that governors would serve for four years instead of two. This new rule started in 1959.

At first, there was no limit on how many terms a governor could serve. But in 1990, another change was made. Now, a governor can only serve two terms in a row. However, if they leave office for at least four years, they can run for governor again.

If the governor's office becomes empty, the lieutenant governor takes over. If both offices are empty, then other state leaders, like members of the state senate, can step in. Before 1968, the governor and lieutenant governor were elected separately. Now, they run for office together on the same "ticket."

Governors of the State of Colorado

No.	Governor			Term in office	Party	Election	Lt. Governor
1			John Long Routt (1826–1907)	November 3, 1876 – January 14, 1879 (did not run)	Republican	1876		Head, LafayetteLafayette Head
2			Frederick Walker Pitkin (1837–1886)	January 14, 1879 – January 9, 1883 (did not run)	Republican	1878		Tabor, HoraceHorace Tabor
						1880
3			James Benton Grant (1848–1911)	January 9, 1883 – January 13, 1885 (did not run)	Democratic	1882		Meyer, William H.William H. Meyer
4			Benjamin Harrison Eaton (1833–1904)	January 13, 1885 – January 11, 1887 (did not run)	Republican	1884		Breene, Peter W.Peter W. Breene
5			Alva Adams (1850–1922)	January 11, 1887 – January 8, 1889 (did not run)	Democratic	1886		Meldrum, Norman H.Norman H. Meldrum
6			Job Adams Cooper (1843–1899)	January 8, 1889 – January 13, 1891 (did not run)	Republican	1888		Smith, William GroverWilliam Grover Smith
7			John Long Routt (1826–1907)	January 13, 1891 – January 10, 1893 (did not run)	Republican	1890		Story, WilliamWilliam Story
8			Davis Hanson Waite (1825–1901)	January 10, 1893 – January 8, 1895 (lost election)	People's	1892		Nichols, David H.David H. Nichols
9			Albert McIntire (1853–1935)	January 8, 1895 – January 12, 1897 (did not run)	Republican	1894		Brush, Jared L.Jared L. Brush
10			Alva Adams (1850–1922)	January 12, 1897 – January 10, 1899 (did not run)	Democratic	1896
11			Charles S. Thomas (1849–1934)	January 10, 1899 – January 8, 1901 (did not run)	Democratic	1898		Carney, Francis PatrickFrancis Patrick Carney
12			James Bradley Orman (1849–1919)	January 8, 1901 – January 13, 1903 (did not run)	Democratic	1900		Coates, David C.David C. Coates
13			James Hamilton Peabody (1852–1917)	January 13, 1903 – January 10, 1905 (lost election)	Republican	1902		Haggott, Warren A.Warren A. Haggott
14			Alva Adams (1850–1922)	January 10, 1905 – March 16, 1905 (declared loser in election)	Democratic	1904		Cornforth, ArthurArthur Cornforth
15			James Hamilton Peabody (1852–1917)	March 16, 1905 – March 17, 1905 (resigned)	Republican			McDonald, Jesse FullerJesse Fuller McDonald
16			Jesse Fuller McDonald (1858–1942)	March 17, 1905 – January 8, 1907 (did not run)	Republican	Succeeded from lieutenant governor		Cornforth, ArthurArthur Cornforth (removed July 5, 1905)
								Parks, Fred W.Fred W. Parks
17			Henry Augustus Buchtel (1847–1924)	January 8, 1907 – January 12, 1909 (did not run)	Republican	1906		Harper, ErastusErastus Harper
18			John F. Shafroth (1854–1922)	January 12, 1909 – January 14, 1913 (did not run)	Democratic	1908		Fitzgarrald, Stephen R.Stephen R. Fitzgarrald
						1910
19			Elias M. Ammons (1860–1925)	January 14, 1913 – January 12, 1915 (did not run)	Democratic	1912		Montgomery, Benjamin F.Benjamin F. Montgomery
20			George Alfred Carlson (1876–1926)	January 12, 1915 – January 9, 1917 (lost election)	Republican	1914		Lewis, Moses E.Moses E. Lewis
21			Julius Caldeen Gunter (1858–1940)	January 9, 1917 – January 14, 1919 (did not run)	Democratic	1916		Pulliam, JamesJames Pulliam
22			Oliver Henry Shoup (1869–1940)	January 14, 1919 – January 9, 1923 (did not run)	Republican	1918		Stephan, GeorgeGeorge Stephan
						1920		Cooley, EarlEarl Cooley
23			William Ellery Sweet (1869–1942)	January 9, 1923 – January 13, 1925 (lost election)	Democratic	1922		Rockwell, Robert F.Robert F. Rockwell
24			Clarence Morley (1869–1948)	January 13, 1925 – January 11, 1927 (did not run)	Republican	1924		Lacy, Sterling ByrdSterling Byrd Lacy
25			Billy Adams (1861–1954)	January 11, 1927 – January 10, 1933 (did not run)	Democratic	1926		Corlett, George MiltonGeorge Milton Corlett
						1928
						1930		Johnson, Edwin C.Edwin C. Johnson
26			Edwin C. Johnson (1884–1970)	January 10, 1933 – January 2, 1937 (resigned)	Democratic	1932		Talbot, Ray HerbertRay Herbert Talbot
						1934
27			Ray Herbert Talbot (1896–1955)	January 2, 1937 – January 12, 1937 (successor took office)	Democratic	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
28			Teller Ammons (1895–1972)	January 12, 1937 – January 10, 1939 (lost election)	Democratic	1936		Hayes, FrankFrank Hayes
29			Ralph Lawrence Carr (1887–1950)	January 10, 1939 – January 12, 1943 (did not run)	Republican	1938		Vivian, John CharlesJohn Charles Vivian
						1940
30			John Charles Vivian (1887–1964)	January 12, 1943 – January 14, 1947 (did not run)	Republican	1942			Higby, William EugeneWilliam Eugene Higby
						1944
31			William Lee Knous (1889–1959)	January 14, 1947 – April 15, 1950 (resigned)	Democratic	1946		Pearson, Homer L.Homer L. Pearson
						1948		Johnson, Walter WalfordWalter Walford Johnson
32			Walter Walford Johnson (1904–1987)	April 15, 1950 – January 9, 1951 (lost election)	Democratic	Succeeded from lieutenant governor		Murphy, Charles P.Charles P. Murphy
33			Daniel I. J. Thornton (1911–1976)	January 9, 1951 – January 11, 1955 (did not run)	Republican	1950		Allott, GordonGordon Allott
						1952
34			Edwin C. Johnson (1884–1970)	January 11, 1955 – January 8, 1957 (did not run)	Democratic	1954		McNichols, StephenStephen McNichols
35			Stephen McNichols (1914–1997)	January 8, 1957 – January 8, 1963 (lost election)	Democratic	1956		Hays, Frank L.Frank L. Hays
						1958		Knous, Robert LeeRobert Lee Knous
36			John Arthur Love (1916–2002)	January 8, 1963 – July 16, 1973 (resigned)	Republican	1962
						1966		Hogan, Mark AnthonyMark Anthony Hogan
						1970		Vanderhoof, John D.John D. Vanderhoof
37			John D. Vanderhoof (1922–2013)	July 16, 1973 – January 14, 1975 (lost election)	Republican	Succeeded from lieutenant governor		Strickland, Ted L.Ted L. Strickland
38			Richard Lamm (1935–2021)	January 14, 1975 – January 13, 1987 (did not run)	Democratic	1974		Brown, George L.George L. Brown
						1978		Dick, Nancy E.Nancy E. Dick
						1982
39			Roy Romer (b. 1928)	January 13, 1987 – January 12, 1999 (term-limited)	Democratic	1986		Callihan, MikeMike Callihan (resigned May 10, 1994)
						1990
							Vacant
								Cassidy, Samuel H.Samuel H. Cassidy (took office May 11, 1994)
						1994		Schoettler, GailGail Schoettler
40			Bill Owens (b. 1950)	January 12, 1999 – January 9, 2007 (term-limited)	Republican	1998		Rogers, JoeJoe Rogers
						2002		Norton, Jane E.Jane E. Norton
41			Bill Ritter (b. 1956)	January 9, 2007 – January 11, 2011 (did not run)	Democratic	2006		O'Brien, BarbaraBarbara O'Brien
42			John Hickenlooper (b. 1952)	January 11, 2011 – January 8, 2019 (term-limited)	Democratic	2010		García, JosephJoseph García (resigned May 12, 2016)
						2014
								Lynne, DonnaDonna Lynne
43			Jared Polis (b. 1975)	January 8, 2019 – Incumbent	Democratic	2018		Primavera, DianneDianne Primavera
						2022

More About Colorado's Government

• Index of Colorado-related articles
• List of Colorado state legislatures
• Outline of Colorado
• State of Colorado
• Government of Colorado
• Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Colorado
• Lieutenant Governor of Colorado