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List of governors of Illinois facts for kids

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Governor of Illinois
Flag of Illinois.svg
Seal of Illinois.svg
Governor JB Pritzker official portrait 2019 (crop).jpg
Incumbent
J. B. Pritzker

since January 14, 2019
Residence Illinois Governor's Mansion
Term length Four years, no term limits
Inaugural holder Shadrach Bond
Formation October 6, 1818 (1818-10-06)
Salary $177,412 (2015)

The governor of Illinois is like the chief executive officer for the state of Illinois. They are the main leader of the state government. Their job is to make sure state laws are followed.

The governor can approve or reject new laws made by the Illinois Legislature. They can also call the legislature together for special meetings. Another important power is granting pardons, which means forgiving someone for a crime. However, they cannot do this if someone has been impeached. The governor is also the top commander of Illinois's military groups, like the Illinois National Guard.

Since Illinois became a state in 1818, 43 people have served as governor. Before Illinois was a state, it had only one territorial governor, Ninian Edwards. The governor who served the longest was James R. Thompson. He was elected four times and served for 14 years, from 1977 to 1991. Only one governor, Richard J. Oglesby, served more than one term that were not back-to-back. He was elected in 1864, 1872, and 1884.

The current governor is J. B. Pritzker. He started his term on January 14, 2019.

Governors of Illinois

Illinois as a Territory

The Illinois Territory was created on March 1, 1809. It was formed from part of the Indiana Territory. Before Illinois became a state, only two governors were chosen by the president of the United States. However, only one of them actually took office.

Governors of Illinois Territory
No. Governor Term in office Appointed by
1 John Boyle portrait (cropped).jpg John Boyle
(1774–1834)
March 7, 1809

April 3, 1809
(resigned before taking office)
Madison, JamesJames Madison
2 Portrait of Gov. Ninian Edwards at the State Capitol in Springfield (cropped).jpg Ninian Edwards
(1775–1833)
April 24, 1809

October 6, 1818
(statehood)
Madison, JamesJames Madison

Illinois as a State

Illinois officially became a state on December 3, 1818. It joined the United States using the southern part of the Illinois Territory. The rest of the territory became part of the Michigan Territory.

The first Illinois Constitution was approved in 1818. It said that a governor would be elected every four years. Their term would begin in December after the election. The 1848 constitution changed this. It moved the start of the term to January. This made the term won in the 1844 election shorter, lasting only two years. The 1870 constitution changed the rules again. It allowed governors to serve more than one term in a row.

The job of lieutenant governor was also created in the first constitution. This person would take over if the governor's office became empty. The current constitution, from 1970, states that if the governor's job becomes vacant, the lieutenant governor becomes the new governor. Today, the governor and lieutenant governor are elected together on the same ballot. If a governor feels they cannot do their job because of a serious issue, they can let the secretary of state know. Then, the next person in line becomes the acting governor until the governor can return to their duties.


Governors of the State of Illinois
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor
1 Shadrach.Bond.png   Shadrach Bond
(1773–1832)
October 6, 1818

December 5, 1822
(term-limited)
Democratic-
Republican
1818   Menard, PierrePierre Menard
2 Edward Coles by John Henry Brown (cropped).png Edward Coles
(1786–1868)
December 5, 1822

December 6, 1826
(term-limited)
Independent 1822 Hubbard, AdolphusAdolphus Hubbard
3 Portrait of Gov. Ninian Edwards at the State Capitol in Springfield (cropped).jpg Ninian Edwards
(1775–1833)
December 6, 1826

December 6, 1830
(term-limited)
Democratic-
Republican
1826 Kinney, WilliamWilliam Kinney
4 John Reynolds (1788-1865), Governor of Illinois (cropped).jpg John Reynolds
(1788–1865)
December 6, 1830

November 17, 1834
(resigned)
Democratic 1830 Casey, ZadokZadok Casey
(resigned March 1, 1833)
Ewing, William Lee D.William Lee D. Ewing
(acting)
5 Governor Ewing Portrait (cropped).jpg William Lee D. Ewing
(1795–1846)
November 17, 1834

December 3, 1834
(successor took office)
Democratic Lieutenant
governor
acting
Vacant
6 Joseph Duncan (cropped less).png Joseph Duncan
(1794–1844)
December 3, 1834

December 7, 1838
(term-limited)
Whig 1834 Jenkins, Alexander M.Alexander M. Jenkins
(resigned December 9, 1836)
Davidson, William H.William H. Davidson
(acting)
7 Thomas Carlin (cropped less).png Thomas Carlin
(1789–1852)
December 7, 1838

December 8, 1842
(term-limited)
Democratic 1838 Anderson, StinsonStinson Anderson
8 Thomas Ford (cropped less).png Thomas Ford
(1800–1850)
December 8, 1842

December 9, 1846
(term-limited)
Democratic 1842 Moore, JohnJohn Moore
9 Augustus.C.French (cropped).jpg Augustus C. French
(1808–1864)
December 9, 1846

January 10, 1853
(term-limited)
Democratic 1846 Wells, JosephJoseph Wells
1848 McMurtry, WilliamWilliam McMurtry
10 Portrait of Gov. Joel Aldrich Matteson at the State Capitol in Springfield (cropped).jpg Joel Aldrich Matteson
(1808–1873)
January 10, 1853

January 12, 1857
(term-limited)
Democratic 1852 Koerner, GustavGustav Koerner
11 William Henry Bissell (cropped).png William Henry Bissell
(1811–1860)
January 12, 1857

March 18, 1860
(died in office)
Republican 1856 Wood, JohnJohn Wood
12 Governor John Wood of Illinois (cropped).png John Wood
(1798–1880)
March 18, 1860

January 14, 1861
(successor took office)
Republican Lieutenant
governor
acting
Marshall, ThomasThomas Marshall
(acting)
13 Richard Yates Governor LOC (cropped).jpg Richard Yates
(1815–1873)
January 14, 1861

January 16, 1865
(term-limited)
Republican 1860 Hoffmann, FrancisFrancis Hoffmann
14 Richard James Oglesby (cropped).jpg Richard J. Oglesby
(1824–1899)
January 16, 1865

January 11, 1869
(term-limited)
Republican 1864 Bross, WilliamWilliam Bross
15 JohnMPalmer (cropped).png John M. Palmer
(1817–1900)
January 11, 1869

January 13, 1873
(term-limited)
Republican 1868 Dougherty, JohnJohn Dougherty
14 Richard James Oglesby - Brady-Handy (cropped).jpg Richard J. Oglesby
(1824–1899)
January 13, 1873

January 23, 1873
(resigned)
Republican 1872 Beveridge, John LourieJohn Lourie Beveridge
16 John.L.Beveridge (cropped).jpg John Lourie Beveridge
(1824–1910)
January 23, 1873

January 8, 1877
(successor took office)
Republican Lieutenant
governor
acting
Early, JohnJohn Early
(acting)
(term ended January 8, 1875)
Glenn, Archibald A.Archibald A. Glenn
(acting)
17 Shelby Moore Cullom-cropped (1).jpg Shelby Moore Cullom
(1829–1914)
January 8, 1877

February 6, 1883
(resigned)
Republican 1876 Shuman, AndrewAndrew Shuman
1880 Hamilton, John MarshallJohn Marshall Hamilton
18 John.Marshall.Hamilton (cropped).jpg John Marshall Hamilton
(1847–1905)
February 6, 1883

January 30, 1885
(successor took office)
Republican Lieutenant
governor
acting
Campbell, William J.William J. Campbell
(acting)
14 Richard James Oglesby - Brady-Handy (cropped).jpg Richard J. Oglesby
(1824–1899)
January 30, 1885

January 14, 1889
(did not run)
Republican 1884 Smith, John C.John C. Smith
19 Joseph.W.Fifer.jpg Joseph W. Fifer
(1840–1938)
January 14, 1889

January 10, 1893
(lost election)
Republican 1888 Ray, Lyman BeecherLyman Beecher Ray
20 John Peter Altgeld Memorial Photo (cropped).png John Peter Altgeld
(1847–1902)
January 10, 1893

January 11, 1897
(lost election)
Democratic 1892 Gill, Joseph B.Joseph B. Gill
21 John.R.Tanner (cropped).jpg John Riley Tanner
(1844–1901)
January 11, 1897

January 14, 1901
(did not run)
Republican 1896 Northcott, WilliamWilliam Northcott
22 Governor Richard Yates Jr (cropped).tif Richard Yates Jr.
(1860–1936)
January 14, 1901

January 9, 1905
(lost nomination)
Republican 1900
23 C.S. Deneen LCCN2014716647 (3x4a).jpg Charles S. Deneen
(1863–1940)
January 9, 1905

February 3, 1913
(lost election)
Republican 1904 Sherman, Lawrence YatesLawrence Yates Sherman
1908 Oglesby, John G.John G. Oglesby
24 Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne (Illinois Blue Book Portrait 1915-1916) (cropped).png Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne
(1853–1937)
February 3, 1913

January 8, 1917
(lost election)
Democratic 1912 O'Hara, BarrattBarratt O'Hara
25 Frank Orren Lowden (Illinois Blue Book Portrait 1917-1918) (cropped).png Frank Orren Lowden<<small|(1861–1943)}}
January 8, 1917

January 10, 1921
(did not run)
Republican 1916 Oglesby, John G.John G. Oglesby
26 Lensmall.jpg Len Small
(1862–1936)
January 10, 1921

January 14, 1929
(did not run)
Republican 1920 Sterling, Fred E.Fred E. Sterling
1924
27 Louis Lincoln Emmerson (Illinois Blue Book Portrait 1927-1928).png Louis Lincoln Emmerson
(1863–1941)
January 14, 1929

January 9, 1933
(did not run)
Republican 1928
28 Henry Horner (Illinois Blue Book Portrait 1935-1936).png Henry Horner
(1878–1940)
January 9, 1933

October 6, 1940
(died in office)
Democratic 1932 Donovan, ThomasThomas Donovan
1936 Stelle, John HenryJohn Henry Stelle
29 John H. Stelle (IL).png John Henry Stelle
(1891–1962)
October 6, 1940

January 13, 1941
(successor took office)
Democratic Lieutenant
governor
acting
Vacant
30 Dwight H. Green (IL) (cropped).png Dwight H. Green
(1897–1958)
January 13, 1941

January 10, 1949
(lost election)
Republican 1940 Cross, Hugh W.Hugh W. Cross
1944
31 Adlai E. Stevenson II (IL 2) (cropped).jpg Adlai Stevenson II
(1900–1965)
January 10, 1949

January 12, 1953
(did not run)
Democratic 1948 Dixon, SherwoodSherwood Dixon
32 William G. Stratton (Illinois Blue Book Portrait 1955-1956).jpg William Stratton
(1914–2001)
January 12, 1953

January 9, 1961
(lost election)
Republican 1952 Chapman, John WilliamJohn William Chapman
1956
33 Governor Otto Kerner Color Portrait (cropped).png Otto Kerner Jr.
(1908–1976)
January 9, 1961

May 20, 1968
(resigned)
Democratic 1960 Shapiro, Samuel H.Samuel H. Shapiro
1964
34 Governor Samuel Shapiro Postcard Portrait (cropped).png Samuel H. Shapiro
(1907–1987)
May 21, 1968

January 13, 1969
(lost election)
Democratic Lieutenant
governor
acting
Vacant
35 Richard Ogilvie.jpg Richard B. Ogilvie
(1923–1988)
January 13, 1969

January 8, 1973
(lost election)
Republican 1968 Simon, PaulPaul Simon
36 Dan Walker (1974) (1).jpg Dan Walker
(1922–2015)
January 8, 1973

January 10, 1977
(lost nomination)
Democratic 1972 Hartigan, NeilNeil Hartigan
37 Governor James Thompson 3 (3x4).jpg James R. Thompson
(1936–2020)
January 10, 1977

January 14, 1991
(did not run)
Republican 1976 O'Neal, DaveDave O'Neal
(resigned July 31, 1981)
1978
Vacant
1982 Ryan, GeorgeGeorge Ryan
1986
38 Secretary of State Jim Edgar (1989-1990 Illinois Blue Book Portrait) (3x4).jpg Jim Edgar
(b. 1946)
January 14, 1991

January 11, 1999
(did not run)
Republican 1990 Kustra, BobBob Kustra
(resigned July 1, 1998)
1994
Vacant
39 George Ryan, 1989(crop).jpg George Ryan
(b. 1934)
January 11, 1999

January 13, 2003
(did not run)
Republican 1998 Wood, CorinneCorinne Wood
40 B-Rod.jpg Rod Blagojevich
(b. 1956)
January 13, 2003

January 29, 2009
(impeached and removed)
Democratic 2002 Quinn, PatPat Quinn
2006
41 ASC hosts governor, AMC leadership, DoD logistician (3) (cropped).jpg Pat Quinn
(b. 1948)
January 29, 2009

January 12, 2015
(lost election)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
2010 Simon, SheilaSheila Simon
42 Bruce Rauner crop.jpg Bruce Rauner
(b. 1956)
January 12, 2015

January 14, 2019
(lost election)
Republican 2014 Sanguinetti, EvelynEvelyn Sanguinetti
43 Governor JB Pritzker official portrait 2019 (crop).jpg J. B. Pritzker
(b. 1965)
January 14, 2019

Incumbent
Democratic 2018 Stratton, JulianaJuliana Stratton
2022

See also

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