List of governors of Delaware facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Governor of Delaware
Great Seal of the State of Delaware
Incumbent Matt Meyer since January 21, 2025
Government of Delaware
Style	The Honorable
Residence	Delaware Governor's Mansion Dover, Delaware
Term length	Four years, renewable once
Inaugural holder	John McKinly
Formation	February 12, 1777
Deputy	Lieutenant Governor of Delaware
Salary	$171,000 (2013)

The governor of Delaware is like the chief executive officer for the state. From 1776 to 1792, this role was called the president of Delaware. The governor is in charge of the state government. They also lead Delaware's military forces, known as the Delaware National Guard.

The governor's main jobs include making sure state laws are followed. They can also approve or reject new laws passed by the Delaware Legislature. The governor can call the legislature together for special meetings. They can also grant pardons, which means forgiving someone for a crime. However, they cannot do this in cases of impeachment, and only if the Board of Pardons recommends it.

So far, 71 different people have served as governor. Some, like Joseph Haslet, Charles Polk Jr., and Elbert N. Carvel, served more than one term but not back-to-back. Sadly, Henry Molleston was elected but passed away before he could start his term. Only four governors have been elected for two terms in a row. The longest-serving governor was Ruth Ann Minner. She served for just over eight years after taking over from someone else and then being elected twice.

The shortest terms were held by Bethany Hall-Long, who served 15 days. Dale E. Wolf served 18 days, and David P. Buckson served 19 days. These short terms happened when the previous governor left office early. The current governor is Democrat Matt Meyer. He started his term on January 21, 2025.

Understanding the Governor's Role

The governor of Delaware is the top leader of the state. They have many important duties. These include making sure laws are carried out. They also have a say in new laws. The governor can approve them or use a veto to stop them. This is a big part of how laws are made in Delaware.

How the Governor's Job Changed

Before 1776, Delaware was a colony of Great Britain. It was managed by governors from Pennsylvania. They called it the "Lower Counties on Delaware."

In 1776, Delaware became independent from Britain. The state then created its first constitution. This document set up the "President of Delaware" role. The legislature chose this leader for a three-year term. They could not be president again right away.

The name of the office changed to "Governor" in 1792. This was when a new constitution was adopted. It said the governor's term would start on the third Tuesday in January after an election. Governors could only serve three years out of any six-year period. The 1831 constitution made the term four years long. But governors could only serve one term. The current constitution from 1897 allows governors to serve two terms.

Who Takes Over if the Governor Leaves Office?

The 1776 constitution said that if the president's job was empty, the speaker of the legislative council would become a "vice-president." The 1792 constitution stated that the speaker of the senate would take over. The 1897 constitution created the lieutenant governor position. This person takes over if the governor's office becomes empty. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected at the same time. However, they are not always on the same election ticket.

Governors of the State of Delaware

No.	Governor			Term in office	Party	Election	Lt. Governor
1			John McKinly (1721–1796)	February 21, 1777 – September 12, 1777 (left office)	No parties	1777	Office did not exist
2			Thomas McKean (1734–1817)	September 12, 1777 – October 20, 1777 (successor took office)		Speaker of the Assembly acting as vice-president
3			George Read (1733–1798)	October 20, 1777 – March 31, 1778 (did not run)		Speaker of the Legislative Council serving as vice-president
4			Caesar Rodney (1728–1784)	March 31, 1778 – November 13, 1781 (term-limited)		1778
5			John Dickinson (1732–1808)	November 13, 1781 – January 13, 1783 (resigned)		1781
6			John Cook (1730–1789)	January 13, 1783 – February 8, 1783 (did not run)		Speaker of the Legislative Council serving as vice-president
7			Nicholas Van Dyke (1738–1789)	February 8, 1783 – October 28, 1786 (term-limited)		1783 (special)
8			Thomas Collins (1732–1789)	October 28, 1786 – March 29, 1789 (died in office)		1786
9			Jehu Davis (1738–1802)	March 29, 1789 – June 2, 1789 (did not run)		Speaker of the Legislative Council serving as vice-president
10			Joshua Clayton (1744–1798)	June 2, 1789 – January 13, 1796 (term-limited)	Federalist	1789
						1792
11			Gunning Bedford Sr. (1742–1797)	January 13, 1796 – September 28, 1797 (died in office)	Federalist	1795
12			Daniel Rogers (1754–1806)	September 28, 1797 – January 9, 1799 (successor took office)	Federalist	Speaker of the Senate acting
13			Richard Bassett (1745–1815)	January 9, 1799 – March 3, 1801 (resigned)	Federalist	1798
14			James Sykes (1761–1822)	March 3, 1801 – January 19, 1802 (successor took office)	Federalist	Speaker of the Senate acting
15			David Hall (1752–1817)	January 19, 1802 – January 15, 1805 (term-limited)	Democratic- Republican	1801
16			Nathaniel Mitchell (1753–1814)	January 15, 1805 – January 19, 1808 (term-limited)	Federalist	1804
17			George Truitt (1756–1818)	January 19, 1808 – January 15, 1811 (term-limited)	Federalist	1807
18			Joseph Haslet (1769–1823)	January 15, 1811 – January 18, 1814 (term-limited)	Democratic- Republican	1810
19			Daniel Rodney (1764–1846)	January 18, 1814 – January 21, 1817 (term-limited)	Federalist	1813
20			John Clark (1761–1821)	January 21, 1817 – January 15, 1820 (resigned)	Federalist	1816
—			Henry Molleston (1762–1819)	Died before taking office	Federalist	1819
21			Jacob Stout (1764–1855)	January 15, 1820 – January 16, 1821 (successor took office)	Federalist	Speaker of the Senate acting
22			John Collins (1776–1822)	January 16, 1821 – April 16, 1822 (died in office)	Democratic- Republican	1820 (special)
23			Caleb Rodney (1767–1840)	April 23, 1822 – January 21, 1823 (did not run)	Federalist	Speaker of the Senate acting
24			Joseph Haslet (1769–1823)	January 21, 1823 – June 20, 1823 (died in office)	Democratic- Republican	1822
25			Charles Thomas (1790–1848)	June 20, 1823 – January 20, 1824 (successor took office)	Democratic- Republican	Speaker of the Senate acting
26			Samuel Paynter (1768–1845)	January 20, 1824 – January 16, 1827 (term-limited)	Federalist	1823 (special)
27			Charles Polk Jr. (1788–1857)	January 16, 1827 – January 19, 1830 (term-limited)	Federalist	1826
28			David Hazzard (1781–1864)	January 19, 1830 – January 15, 1833 (term-limited)	National Republican	1829
29			Caleb P. Bennett (1758–1836)	January 15, 1833 – May 9, 1836 (died in office)	Democratic	1832
30			Charles Polk Jr. (1788–1857)	May 9, 1836 – January 17, 1837 (successor took office)	Whig	Speaker of the Senate acting
31			Cornelius P. Comegys (1780–1851)	January 17, 1837 – January 19, 1841 (term-limited)	Whig	1836
32			William B. Cooper (1771–1849)	January 19, 1841 – January 21, 1845 (term-limited)	Whig	1840
33			Thomas Stockton (1781–1846)	January 21, 1845 – March 2, 1846 (died in office)	Whig	1844
34			Joseph Maull (1781–1846)	March 2, 1846 – May 3, 1846 (died in office)	Whig	Speaker of the Senate acting
35			William Temple (1814–1863)	May 6, 1846 – January 19, 1847 (successor took office)	Whig	Speaker of the Senate acting
36			William Tharp (1803–1865)	January 19, 1847 – January 21, 1851 (term-limited)	Democratic	1846 (special)
37			William H. H. Ross (1814–1887)	January 21, 1851 – January 16, 1855 (term-limited)	Democratic	1850
38			Peter F. Causey (1801–1871)	January 16, 1855 – January 18, 1859 (term-limited)	American	1854
39			William Burton (1789–1866)	January 18, 1859 – January 20, 1863 (term-limited)	Democratic	1858
40			William Cannon (1809–1865)	January 20, 1863 – March 1, 1865 (died in office)	Republican	1862
41			Gove Saulsbury (1815–1881)	March 1, 1865 – January 17, 1871 (term-limited)	Democratic	Speaker of the Senate acting
						1866
42			James Ponder (1819–1897)	January 17, 1871 – January 19, 1875 (term-limited)	Democratic	1870
43			John P. Cochran (1809–1898)	January 19, 1875 – January 21, 1879 (term-limited)	Democratic	1874
44			John W. Hall (1817–1892)	January 21, 1879 – January 16, 1883 (term-limited)	Democratic	1878
45			Charles C. Stockley (1819–1901)	January 16, 1883 – January 18, 1887 (term-limited)	Democratic	1882
46			Benjamin T. Biggs (1821–1893)	January 18, 1887 – January 20, 1891 (term-limited)	Democratic	1886
47			Robert J. Reynolds (1838–1909)	January 20, 1891 – January 15, 1895 (term-limited)	Democratic	1890
48			Joshua H. Marvil (1825–1895)	January 15, 1895 – April 8, 1895 (died in office)	Republican	1894
49			William T. Watson (1849–1917)	April 8, 1895 – January 19, 1897 (successor took office)	Democratic	Speaker of the Senate acting
50			Ebe W. Tunnell (1844–1917)	January 19, 1897 – January 15, 1901 (did not run)	Democratic	1896
51			John Hunn (1849–1926)	January 15, 1901 – January 17, 1905 (did not run)	Republican	1900		Cannon, Philip L.Philip L. Cannon
52			Preston Lea (1841–1916)	January 17, 1905 – January 19, 1909 (did not run)	Republican	1904		Parker, Isaac T.Isaac T. Parker
53			Simeon S. Pennewill (1867–1935)	January 19, 1909 – January 21, 1913 (did not run)	Republican	1908		Mendinhall, John M.John M. Mendinhall
54			Charles R. Miller (1857–1927)	January 21, 1913 – January 16, 1917 (did not run)	Republican	1912		Ferguson, ColenColen Ferguson
55			John G. Townsend Jr. (1871–1964)	January 16, 1917 – January 18, 1921 (did not run)	Republican	1916		Eliason, Lewis E.Lewis E. Eliason
56			William D. Denney (1873–1953)	January 18, 1921 – January 20, 1925 (did not run)	Republican	1920		Bush, J. DanforthJ. Danforth Bush
57			Robert P. Robinson (1869–1939)	January 20, 1925 – January 15, 1929 (did not run)	Republican	1924		Anderson, James H.James H. Anderson
58			C. Douglass Buck (1890–1965)	January 15, 1929 – January 19, 1937 (term-limited)	Republican	1928		Hazel, James H.James H. Hazel
						1932		Corley, Roy F.Roy F. Corley
59			Richard McMullen (1868–1944)	January 19, 1937 – January 21, 1941 (did not run)	Democratic	1936		Cooch, Edward W.Edward W. Cooch
60			Walter W. Bacon (1880–1962)	January 21, 1941 – January 18, 1949 (term-limited)	Republican	1940		MacCollum, Isaac J.Isaac J. MacCollum
						1944		Carvel, Elbert N.Elbert N. Carvel
61			Elbert N. Carvel (1910–2005)	January 18, 1949 – January 20, 1953 (lost election)	Democratic	1948		Bayard, Alexis I. du PontAlexis I. du Pont Bayard
62			J. Caleb Boggs (1909–1993)	January 20, 1953 – December 30, 1960 (resigned)	Republican	1952		Rollins, John W.John W. Rollins
						1956		Buckson, David P.David P. Buckson
63			David P. Buckson (1920–2017)	December 30, 1960 – January 17, 1961 (successor took office)	Republican	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
64			Elbert N. Carvel (1910–2005)	January 17, 1961 – January 19, 1965 (term-limited)	Democratic	1960		Lammot, EugeneEugene Lammot
65			Charles L. Terry Jr. (1900–1970)	January 19, 1965 – January 21, 1969 (lost election)	Democratic	1964		Tribbitt, Sherman W.Sherman W. Tribbitt
66			Russell W. Peterson (1916–2011)	January 21, 1969 – January 16, 1973 (lost election)	Republican	1968		Bookhammer, EugeneEugene Bookhammer
67			Sherman W. Tribbitt (1922–2010)	January 16, 1973 – January 18, 1977 (lost election)	Democratic	1972
68			Pete du Pont (1935–2021)	January 18, 1977 – January 15, 1985 (term-limited)	Republican	1976		McGinnis, James D.James D. McGinnis
						1980		Castle, MikeMike Castle
69			Mike Castle (b. 1939)	January 15, 1985 – January 2, 1993 (resigned)	Republican	1984		Woo, Shien BiauShien Biau Woo
						1988		Wolf, Dale E.Dale E. Wolf
70			Dale E. Wolf (1924–2021)	January 3, 1993 – January 19, 1993 (successor took office)	Republican	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
71			Tom Carper (b. 1947)	January 19, 1993 – January 3, 2001 (resigned)	Democratic	1992		Minner, Ruth AnnRuth Ann Minner
						1996
72			Ruth Ann Minner (1935–2021)	January 3, 2001 – January 20, 2009 (term-limited)	Democratic	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
						2000		Carney, JohnJohn Carney
						2004
73			Jack Markell (b. 1960)	January 20, 2009 – January 17, 2017 (term-limited)	Democratic	2008			Denn, MatthewMatthew Denn (resigned January 6, 2015)
						2012
							Vacant
74			John Carney (b. 1956)	January 17, 2017 – January 7, 2025 (resigned)	Democratic	2016		Hall-Long, BethanyBethany Hall-Long
						2020
75			Bethany Hall-Long (b. 1963)	January 7, 2025 – January 21, 2025 (successor took office)	Democratic	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
76			Matt Meyer (b. 1971)	January 21, 2025 – Incumbent	Democratic	2024		Gay, Kyle EvansKyle Evans Gay

See Also

• Delaware gubernatorial elections
• Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Delaware