kids encyclopedia robot

List of governors of Illinois facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
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 the head of government of the U.S. state of Illinois. The governor is the head of the executive branch of Illinois's state government and is charged with enforcing state laws. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Illinois Legislature, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment. The governor is also the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.

Since becoming a state in 1818, 43 people have served as governor of Illinois; before statehood, it had only one territorial governor, Ninian Edwards. The longest-serving governor was James R. Thompson, who was elected to four terms lasting 14 years, from 1977 to 1991. Only one governor, Richard J. Oglesby, has served multiple non-consecutive terms, having been elected in 1864, 1872, and 1884.

The current governor is J. B. Pritzker, who took office on January 14, 2019.

List of governors

Territory of Illinois

Illinois Territory was formed on March 1, 1809, from Indiana Territory. It had only two governors appointed by the president of the United States before it became a state, and only one ever took office.

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

April 3, 1809
(resigned before taking office)
Madison, JamesJames Madison
2 Ninian.Edwards.png Ninian Edwards
(1775–1833)
April 24, 1809

October 6, 1818
(statehood)
Madison, JamesJames Madison

State of Illinois

Illinois was admitted to the Union on December 3, 1818, consisting of the southern portion of Illinois Territory; the remainder was assigned to Michigan Territory.

The first Illinois Constitution, ratified in 1818, provided that a governor be elected every 4 years for a term starting on the first Monday in the December following an election. The constitution of 1848 moved the start of the term to the second Monday in January starting in 1849, thus shortening the term won in the 1844 election to 2 years. Governors were not allowed to succeed themselves until the 1870 constitution, which removed this limit.

The office of lieutenant governor was created in the first constitution, to exercise the power of governor if that office becomes vacant. The 1848 constitution changed this to say the power "devolves" upon the lieutenant governor in case of a vacancy. The current constitution of 1970 made it so that, in the event of a vacancy, the lieutenant becomes governor, and the governor and lieutenant governor are now elected on the same ticket. If the governor feels seriously impeded in performing their job, they can inform the secretary of state and the next in the line of succession, who becomes acting governor until the governor can resume office.

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.png Edward Coles
(1786–1868)
December 5, 1822

December 6, 1826
(term-limited)
Democratic-
Republican
1822 Hubbard, AdolphusAdolphus Hubbard
3 Ninian.Edwards.png Ninian Edwards
(1775–1833)
December 6, 1826

December 6, 1830
(term-limited)
Democratic-
Republican
1826 Kinney, WilliamWilliam Kinney
4 John.Reynolds.png John Reynolds
(1788–1865)
December 6, 1830

November 17, 1834
(resigned)
Democratic-
Republican
1830 Casey, ZadokZadok Casey
(resigned March 1, 1833)
Ewing, William Lee D.William Lee D. Ewing
(acting)
5 William Lee Davidson Ewing bioguide.jpg William Lee D. Ewing
(1795–1846)
November 17, 1834

December 3, 1834
(successor took office)
Democratic Lieutenant
governor
acting
Vacant
6 Governor Joseph Duncan.jpg 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 Governor Thomas Carlin.jpg Thomas Carlin
(1789–1852)
December 7, 1838

December 8, 1842
(term-limited)
Democratic 1838 Anderson, StinsonStinson Anderson
8 Governor Thomas Ford.jpg Thomas Ford
(1800–1850)
December 8, 1842

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

January 10, 1853
(term-limited)
Democratic 1846 Wells, JosephJoseph Wells
1848 McMurtry, WilliamWilliam McMurtry
10 Joel.A.Matteson.png Joel Aldrich Matteson
(1808–1873)
January 10, 1853

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

March 18, 1860
(died in office)
Republican 1856 Wood, JohnJohn Wood
12 John.Wood.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.1.jpg Richard Yates
(1815–1873)
January 14, 1861

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

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

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

January 23, 1873
(resigned)
Republican 1872 Beveridge, John LourieJohn Lourie Beveridge
16 John.L.Beveridge.1.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 - Brady-Handy.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.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.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.jpg 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.jpg John Riley Tanner
(1844–1901)
January 11, 1897

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

January 9, 1905
(lost nomination)
Republican 1900
23 Charles.S.Deneen.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 EFDunne.jpg Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne
(1853–1937)
February 3, 1913

January 8, 1917
(lost election)
Democratic 1912 O'Hara, BarrattBarratt O'Hara
25 Frank O Lowden portrait.jpg Frank Orren Lowden
(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.jpg Louis Lincoln Emmerson
(1863–1941)
January 14, 1929

January 9, 1933
(did not run)
Republican 1928
28 Henry Horner.jpg 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).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).jpg Adlai Stevenson II
(1900–1965)
January 10, 1949

January 12, 1953
(did not run)
Democratic 1948 Dixon, SherwoodSherwood Dixon
32 William Stratton.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.jpg Otto Kerner Jr.
(1908–1976)
January 9, 1961

May 20, 1968
(resigned)
Democratic 1960 Shapiro, Samuel H.Samuel H. Shapiro
1964
34 Samuel H. Shapiro (IL).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 Gov. Dan Walker Official Portrait (3x4).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 (cropped).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 Governor Pat Quinn.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

kids search engine
List of governors of Illinois Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.