List of governors of Kansas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Governor of Kansas
Standard of the governor
State seal
Incumbent Laura Kelly since January 14, 2019
Government of Kansas
Residence	Cedar Crest
Term length	Four years, renewable once consecutively
Inaugural holder	Charles L. Robinson
Formation	February 9, 1861
Salary	$99,636 (2017)

The Governor of Kansas is a very important leader in the state of Kansas. Think of them as the main boss for the state government. They are the head of state for Kansas. This means they represent the state and its people.

The governor is also the leader of Kansas's military forces, like the Kansas National Guard. Their main job is to make sure state laws are followed. They can also approve or reject new laws made by the Kansas Legislature. The governor can call the legislature together whenever needed. They also have the power to grant pardons, which means forgiving someone for a crime.

Kansas has had 48 governors since it became a state. Some governors served for a long time. Robert Docking, John W. Carlin, and Bill Graves each served for 8 years. The governor who served the shortest time was John McCuish. He was governor for only 11 days!

The current governor is Laura Kelly. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Governor Kelly started her term on January 14, 2019.

Kansas Governors: A Historical Look

Early Leaders: Kansas Territory

Before Kansas became a state, it was known as Kansas Territory. This territory was created on May 30, 1854. It was formed from land that used to be part of the Missouri Territory. Even though it was only a territory for six years, it had six different governors. These governors were chosen by the president of the United States.

Governors of Kansas Territory

No.	Governor		Term in office	Appointed by
1		Andrew Horatio Reeder (1807–1864)	June 29, 1854 – July 31, 1855 (removed)	Pierce, FranklinFranklin Pierce
2		Wilson Shannon (1802–1877)	August 10, 1855 – August 18, 1856 (resigned)	Pierce, FranklinFranklin Pierce
3		John W. Geary (1819–1873)	July 31, 1856 – March 4, 1857 (resigned)	Pierce, FranklinFranklin Pierce
4		Robert J. Walker (1801–1869)	March 30, 1857 – December 17, 1857 (resigned)	Buchanan, JamesJames Buchanan
5		James W. Denver (1817–1892)	February 24, 1858 – November 8, 1858 (resigned)	Buchanan, JamesJames Buchanan
6		Samuel Medary (1801–1864)	November 23, 1858 – December 20, 1860 (resigned)	Buchanan, JamesJames Buchanan

Becoming a State: Governors of Kansas

Flag of the governor before 1961.

Kansas officially became a state on January 29, 1861. This happened when the eastern part of Kansas Territory joined the United States. The state's first constitution, called the Wyandotte Constitution, set up how the governor would be elected.

At first, the governor and lieutenant governor were elected every two years. Their terms started in January after the election. In 1972, a change was made to the constitution. Governors now serve four-year terms. They can only serve two terms in a row. Also, the governor and lieutenant governor are now elected together on the same ticket.

If the governor's office became empty before 1972, the lieutenant governor would take over the governor's duties but stay as lieutenant governor. After the 1972 change, if the governor's office becomes empty, the lieutenant governor actually becomes the new governor.

For a long time, there was no age rule to run for governor. In 2017, some teenagers even tried to run! But in 2018, a new law was passed. Now, you must be at least 25 years old to run for governor or lieutenant governor in Kansas.

Governors of the State of Kansas

No.	Governor			Term in office	Party	Election	Lt. Governor
1			Charles L. Robinson (1818–1894)	February 9, 1861 – January 12, 1863 (lost nomination)	Republican	1859		Root, Joseph PomeroyJoseph Pomeroy Root
2			Thomas Carney (1824–1888)	January 12, 1863 – January 9, 1865 (lost nomination)	Republican	1862		Osborn, Thomas A.Thomas A. Osborn
3			Samuel J. Crawford (1835–1913)	January 9, 1865 – November 4, 1868 (resigned)	Republican	1864		McGrew, JamesJames McGrew
						1866		Green, NehemiahNehemiah Green
4			Nehemiah Green (1837–1890)	November 4, 1868 – January 11, 1869 (successor took office)	Republican	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
5			James M. Harvey (1833–1894)	January 11, 1869 – January 13, 1873 (did not run)	Republican	1868		Eskridge, Charles VernonCharles Vernon Eskridge
						1870		Elder, Peter PercivalPeter Percival Elder
6			Thomas A. Osborn (1836–1898)	January 13, 1873 – January 8, 1877 (did not run)	Republican	1872		Stover, Elias S.Elias S. Stover
						1874		Salter, Melville J.Melville J. Salter
7			George T. Anthony (1824–1896)	January 8, 1877 – January 13, 1879 (lost nomination)	Republican	1876
								Humphrey, Lyman U.Lyman U. Humphrey
8			John St. John (1833–1916)	January 13, 1879 – January 8, 1883 (lost election)	Republican	1878
						1880		Finney, David WesleyDavid Wesley Finney
9			George Washington Glick (1827–1911)	January 8, 1883 – January 12, 1885 (lost election)	Democratic	1882
10			John Martin (1839–1889)	January 12, 1885 – January 14, 1889 (did not run)	Republican	1884		Riddle, Alexander P.Alexander P. Riddle
						1886
11			Lyman U. Humphrey (1844–1915)	January 14, 1889 – January 9, 1893 (did not run)	Republican	1888		Felt, Andrew JacksonAndrew Jackson Felt
						1890
12			Lorenzo D. Lewelling (1846–1900)	January 9, 1893 – January 14, 1895 (lost election)	Populist	1892		Daniels, PercyPercy Daniels
13			Edmund Needham Morrill (1834–1909)	January 14, 1895 – January 11, 1897 (lost election)	Republican	1894		Troutman, James ArmstrongJames Armstrong Troutman
14			John W. Leedy (1849–1935)	January 11, 1897 – January 9, 1899 (lost election)	Populist	1896		Harvey, Alexander MillerAlexander Miller Harvey
15			William Eugene Stanley (1844–1910)	January 9, 1899 – January 12, 1903 (did not run)	Republican	1898		Richter, Harry E.Harry E. Richter
						1900
16			Willis J. Bailey (1854–1932)	January 12, 1903 – January 9, 1905 (lost nomination)	Republican	1902		Hanna, David JohnDavid John Hanna
17			Edward W. Hoch (1849–1925)	January 9, 1905 – January 11, 1909 (did not run)	Republican	1904
						1906		Fitzgerald, William JamesWilliam James Fitzgerald
18			Walter R. Stubbs (1858–1929)	January 11, 1909 – January 13, 1913 (did not run)	Republican	1908
						1910		Hopkins, Richard JosephRichard Joseph Hopkins
19			George H. Hodges (1866–1947)	January 13, 1913 – January 11, 1915 (lost election)	Democratic	1912		Ingalls, SheffieldSheffield Ingalls
20			Arthur Capper (1865–1951)	January 11, 1915 – January 13, 1919 (did not run)	Republican	1914		Morgan, William YoastWilliam Yoast Morgan
						1916
21			Henry Justin Allen (1868–1950)	January 13, 1919 – January 8, 1923 (did not run)	Republican	1918		Huffman, Charles SolomonCharles Solomon Huffman
						1920
22			Jonathan M. Davis (1871–1943)	January 8, 1923 – January 12, 1925 (lost election)	Democratic	1922		Paulen, Benjamin S.Benjamin S. Paulen
23			Benjamin S. Paulen (1869–1961)	January 12, 1925 – January 14, 1929 (did not run)	Republican	1924		Chase, De Lanson Alson NewtonDe Lanson Alson Newton Chase
						1926
24			Clyde M. Reed (1871–1949)	January 14, 1929 – January 12, 1931 (lost nomination)	Republican	1928		Graybill, Jacob W.Jacob W. Graybill
25			Harry Hines Woodring (1887–1967)	January 12, 1931 – January 9, 1933 (lost election)	Democratic	1930
26			Alf Landon (1887–1987)	January 9, 1933 – January 11, 1937 (did not run)	Republican	1932		Thompson, Charles W.Charles W. Thompson
						1934
27			Walter A. Huxman (1887–1972)	January 11, 1937 – January 9, 1939 (lost election)	Democratic	1936		Lindsay, William M.William M. Lindsay
28			Payne Ratner (1896–1974)	January 9, 1939 – January 11, 1943 (did not run)	Republican	1938		Friend, Carl E.Carl E. Friend
						1940
29			Andrew Frank Schoeppel (1894–1962)	January 11, 1943 – January 13, 1947 (did not run)	Republican	1942		Denious, Jess C.Jess C. Denious
						1944
30			Frank Carlson (1893–1987)	January 13, 1947 – November 28, 1950 (resigned)	Republican	1946		Hagaman, Frank L.Frank L. Hagaman
						1948
31			Frank L. Hagaman (1894–1966)	November 28, 1950 – January 8, 1951 (successor took office)	Republican	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
32			Edward F. Arn (1906–1998)	January 8, 1951 – January 10, 1955 (did not run)	Republican	1950		Hall, FredFred Hall
						1952
33			Fred Hall (1916–1970)	January 10, 1955 – January 3, 1957 (resigned)	Republican	1954		McCuish, JohnJohn McCuish
34			John McCuish (1906–1962)	January 3, 1957 – January 14, 1957 (successor took office)	Republican	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
35			George Docking (1904–1964)	January 14, 1957 – January 9, 1961 (lost election)	Democratic	1956		Henkle Sr., Joseph W.Joseph W. Henkle Sr.
						1958
36			John Anderson Jr. (1917–2014)	January 9, 1961 – January 11, 1965 (did not run)	Republican	1960		Chase, Harold H.Harold H. Chase
						1962
37			William H. Avery (1911–2009)	January 11, 1965 – January 9, 1967 (lost election)	Republican	1964		Crutcher, JohnJohn Crutcher
38			Robert Docking (1925–1983)	January 9, 1967 – January 13, 1975 (term-limited)	Democratic	1966
						1968		DeCoursey Jr., James H.James H. DeCoursey Jr.
						1970		Shultz, ReynoldsReynolds Shultz
						1972		Owen, DaveDave Owen
39			Robert Frederick Bennett (1927–2000)	January 13, 1975 – January 8, 1979 (lost election)	Republican	1974		Smith, ShelbyShelby Smith
40			John W. Carlin (b. 1940)	January 8, 1979 – January 12, 1987 (term-limited)	Democratic	1978		Dugan, PaulPaul Dugan
						1982		Docking, ThomasThomas Docking
41			Mike Hayden (b. 1944)	January 12, 1987 – January 14, 1991 (lost election)	Republican	1986		Walker, Jack D.Jack D. Walker
42			Joan Finney (1925–2001)	January 14, 1991 – January 9, 1995 (did not run)	Democratic	1990		Francisco, JimJim Francisco
43			Bill Graves (b. 1953)	January 9, 1995 – January 13, 2003 (term-limited)	Republican	1994		Frahm, SheilaSheila Frahm (resigned June 11, 1996)
							Vacant
								Sherrer, GaryGary Sherrer (appointed July 18, 1996)
						1998
44			Kathleen Sebelius (b. 1948)	January 13, 2003 – April 28, 2009 (resigned)	Democratic	2002		Moore, John E.John E. Moore
						2006		Parkinson, MarkMark Parkinson
45			Mark Parkinson (b. 1957)	April 28, 2009 – January 10, 2011 (did not run)	Democratic	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
								Findley, TroyTroy Findley (appointed May 15, 2009)
46			Sam Brownback (b. 1956)	January 10, 2011 – January 31, 2018 (resigned)	Republican	2010		Colyer, JeffJeff Colyer
						2014
47			Jeff Colyer (b. 1960)	January 31, 2018 – January 14, 2019 (lost nomination)	Republican	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
								Mann, TraceyTracey Mann (appointed February 14, 2018)
48			Laura Kelly (b. 1950)	January 14, 2019 – Incumbent	Democratic	2018		Rogers, LynnLynn Rogers (resigned January 2, 2021)
								Toland, DavidDavid Toland (appointed January 2, 2021)
						2022

See Also

• List of Kansas state legislatures
• Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Kansas