List of governors of Indiana Facts for Kids

The Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis, where the governor works

The governor of Indiana is like the top leader for the state of Indiana. They are in charge of the state's main government group, called the executive branch. Their job is to make sure that state laws are followed.

Before Indiana became a state, it was a territory. During that time, two governors were chosen by the president of the United States. Since Indiana became a state in 1816, there have been 49 different governors. Some governors, like Isaac P. Gray and Henry F. Schricker, even served their terms at different times.

Four governors have served two full four-year terms. The longest-serving governor was William Henry Harrison, who led for 11 years when Indiana was still a territory. The shortest-serving governor was Henry S. Lane. He was governor for only two days before he left to become a U.S. senator. The current governor is Mike Braun, who will start his term on January 13, 2025.

Understanding Indiana's Governors
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Understanding Indiana's Governors

The governor of Indiana is a very important role. They lead the state government and work to make Indiana a better place for everyone.

Governors in Indiana's Early Days

Indiana was a territory before it became a state. This means it was not yet a full state in the United States. The Indiana Territory was created on July 4, 1800. Even though it was a territory for almost 16 years, only two governors were appointed by the U.S. President.

The first territorial governor was William Henry Harrison. He served from May 13, 1800, to December 28, 1812. The second territorial governor was Thomas Posey. He served from March 3, 1813, until November 7, 1816.

Indiana Becomes a State

Indiana officially became a state on December 11, 1816. This was a big step for the region!

The first Constitution of Indiana in 1816 said that the governor and a lieutenant governor would be elected every three years. A governor could serve for six years within any nine-year period. Later, in 1851, a new constitution changed the terms to four years. It also set the start date for the governor's term to the second Monday in January after the election.

Rules about how long a governor can serve have changed over time. At first, they could serve for four years in any eight-year period. But in 1972, a change allowed governors to serve for eight years within any twelve-year period.

If the governor's job becomes empty, the lieutenant governor steps in. If both jobs are empty, the leader of the Indiana Senate (called the president pro tempore) becomes governor. This has happened only once, when James B. Ray became governor after William Hendricks left office.

Notable Indiana Governors

Many people have served as governor of Indiana. Here are a few examples:

Jonathan Jennings was Indiana's very first state governor, serving from 1816 to 1822.
Oliver P. Morton was governor during the American Civil War. He served from 1861 to 1867.
Henry F. Schricker is one of only two governors who served terms that were not back-to-back. He was governor from 1941-1945 and again from 1949-1953.
Mitch Daniels served two full terms from 2005 to 2013.
Mike Pence was governor from 2013 to 2017 before becoming the Vice President of the United States.
Eric Holcomb has been governor since 2017 and will serve until January 2025.
Mike Braun is the newest governor, taking office in January 2025.