List of governors of Maine facts for kids
Seal of the governor of Maine
The Blaine House is the official residence of the governor of Maine. The Executive Mansion was officially declared the residence of the governor in 1919 with the name "The Blaine House". It is located in Augusta, Maine, across the street from the Maine State House.
The governor of Maine is the head of government of Maine and the commander-in-chief of its military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Maine Legislature, to convene the legislature at any time, and, except in cases of impeachment, to grant pardons.
There have been 71 governors of Maine since statehood, serving 75 distinct terms. Four governors served multiple non-consecutive terms (Edward Kent, John Fairfield, John W. Dana, and Burton M. Cross). The longest-serving governor was Joseph E. Brennan, who served two terms from 1979 to 1987. The shortest-serving governors were Nathaniel M. Haskell and Richard H. Vose, who each served only one day. John W. Dana also served for one day in 1844, after the incumbent governor resigned, but was later elected to the governorship. The current governor is Democrat Janet Mills, who took office on January 2, 2019.
Governors
The District of Maine of Massachusetts was admitted to the Union on March 15, 1820, as the State of Maine. The Maine Constitution of 1820 originally established a gubernatorial term of one year, to begin on the first Wednesday of January; constitutional amendments expanded this to two years in 1879 and to four years in 1957. The 1957 amendment also prohibited governors from succeeding themselves after serving two terms. The constitution does not establish an office of lieutenant governor; a vacancy in the office of governor is filled by the president of the Maine Senate. Prior to an amendment in 1964, the president of the senate only acted as governor.
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
William King (1768–1852) |
May 31, 1820 – May 28, 1821 (resigned) |
Democratic– Republican |
1820 | |
| 2 |  |
William D. Williamson (1779–1846) |
May 28, 1821 – December 25, 1821 (resigned) |
Democratic– Republican |
President of the Senate acting |
|
| 3 |  |
Benjamin Ames (1778–1835) |
December 25, 1821 – January 2, 1822 (resigned) |
Democratic– Republican |
Speaker of the House acting |
|
| 4 | |
Daniel Rose (1772–1833) |
January 2, 1822 – January 4, 1822 (successor took office) |
Democratic– Republican |
President of the Senate acting |
|
| 5 |  |
Albion Parris (1788–1857) |
January 4, 1822 – January 3, 1827 (did not run) |
Democratic– Republican |
1821 | |
| 1822 | ||||||
| 1823 | ||||||
| 1824 | ||||||
| 1825 | ||||||
| 6 |  |
Enoch Lincoln (1788–1829) |
January 3, 1827 – October 8, 1829 (died in office) |
Democratic– Republican |
1826 | |
| 1827 | ||||||
| 1828 | ||||||
| 7 |  |
Nathan Cutler (1775–1861) |
October 8, 1829 – February 5, 1830 (presidency expired) |
Democratic– Republican |
President of the Senate acting |
|
| 8 |  |
Joshua Hall (1768–1862) |
February 5, 1830 – February 10, 1830 (successor took office) |
Democratic– Republican |
Speaker of the House acting |
|
| 9 | .jpg) |
Jonathan G. Hunton (1781–1851) |
February 10, 1830 – January 8, 1831 (lost election) |
National Republican |
1829 | |
| 10 |  |
Samuel E. Smith (1788–1860) |
January 8, 1831 – January 2, 1834 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1830 | |
| 1831 | ||||||
| 1832 | ||||||
| 11 |  |
Robert P. Dunlap (1794–1859) |
January 2, 1834 – January 3, 1838 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1833 | |
| 1834 | ||||||
| 1835 | ||||||
| 1836 | ||||||
| 12 |  |
Edward Kent (1802–1877) |
January 19, 1838 – January 2, 1839 (lost election) |
Whig | 1837 | |
| 13 | .jpg) |
John Fairfield (1797–1847) |
January 2, 1839 – January 12, 1841 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1838 | |
| 1839 | ||||||
| 14 | .jpg) |
Richard H. Vose (1803–1864) |
January 12, 1841 – January 13, 1841 (successor took office) |
Whig | President of the Senate acting |
|
| 15 | |
Edward Kent (1802–1877) |
January 13, 1841 – January 5, 1842 (lost election) |
Whig | 1840 | |
| 16 | |
John Fairfield (1797–1847) |
January 5, 1842 – March 7, 1843 (resigned) |
Democratic | 1841 | |
| 1842 | ||||||
| 17 | .jpg) |
Edward Kavanagh (1795–1844) |
March 7, 1843 – January 1, 1844 (resigned) |
Democratic | President of the Senate acting |
|
| 18 |  |
David Dunn (1811–1894) |
January 1, 1844 – January 3, 1844 (resigned) |
Democratic | Speaker of the House acting |
|
| 19 | .jpg) |
John W. Dana (1808–1867) |
January 3, 1844 – January 5, 1844 (successor took office) |
Democratic | President of the Senate acting |
|
| 20 | .jpg) |
Hugh J. Anderson (1801–1881) |
January 5, 1844 – May 18, 1847 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1843 | |
| 1844 | ||||||
| 1845 | ||||||
| 21 | |
John W. Dana (1808–1867) |
May 18, 1847 – May 13, 1850 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1846 | |
| 1847 | ||||||
| 1848 | ||||||
| 22 |  |
John Hubbard (1794–1869) |
May 13, 1850 – January 18, 1853 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1849 | |
| 1850 | ||||||
| 23 | .jpg) |
William G. Crosby (1805–1881) |
January 18, 1853 – January 6, 1855 (did not run) |
Whig | 1852 | |
| 1853 | ||||||
| 24 |  |
Anson Morrill (1803–1887) |
January 6, 1855 – January 4, 1856 (lost election) |
Republican | 1854 | |
| 25 | .jpg) |
Samuel Wells (1801–1868) |
January 4, 1856 – January 8, 1857 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1855 | |
| 26 |  |
Hannibal Hamlin (1809–1891) |
January 8, 1857 – February 26, 1857 (resigned) |
Republican | 1856 | |
| 27 | .jpg) |
Joseph H. Williams (1814–1896) |
February 26, 1857 – January 8, 1858 (successor took office) |
Republican | President of the Senate acting |
|
| 28 |  |
Lot M. Morrill (1813–1883) |
January 8, 1858 – January 3, 1861 (did not run) |
Republican | 1857 | |
| 1858 | ||||||
| 1859 | ||||||
| 29 |  |
Israel Washburn Jr. (1813–1883) |
January 3, 1861 – January 8, 1863 (did not run) |
Republican | 1860 | |
| 1861 | ||||||
| 30 |  |
Abner Coburn (1803–1885) |
January 8, 1863 – January 7, 1864 (did not run) |
Republican | 1862 | |
| 31 |  |
Samuel Cony (1811–1870) |
January 7, 1864 – January 3, 1867 (did not run) |
Republican | 1863 | |
| 1864 | ||||||
| 1865 | ||||||
| 32 |  |
Joshua Chamberlain (1828–1914) |
January 3, 1867 – January 5, 1871 (did not run) |
Republican | 1866 | |
| 1867 | ||||||
| 1868 | ||||||
| 1869 | ||||||
| 33 |  |
Sidney Perham (1819–1907) |
January 5, 1871 – January 8, 1874 (did not run) |
Republican | 1870 | |
| 1871 | ||||||
| 1872 | ||||||
| 34 |  |
Nelson Dingley Jr. (1832–1899) |
January 8, 1874 – January 6, 1876 (did not run) |
Republican | 1873 | |
| 1874 | ||||||
| 35 | .jpg) |
Seldon Connor (1839–1917) |
January 6, 1876 – January 8, 1879 (lost election) |
Republican | 1875 | |
| 1876 | ||||||
| 1877 | ||||||
| 36 |  |
Alonzo Garcelon (1813–1906) |
January 8, 1879 – January 17, 1880 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1878 | |
| 37 | .jpg) |
Daniel F. Davis (1843–1897) |
January 17, 1880 – January 13, 1881 (lost election) |
Republican | 1879 | |
| 38 |  |
Harris M. Plaisted (1828–1898) |
January 13, 1881 – January 4, 1883 (lost election) |
Greenback/ Democratic |
1880 | |
| 39 | .jpg) |
Frederick Robie (1822–1912) |
January 4, 1883 – January 6, 1887 (did not run) |
Republican | 1882 | |
| 1884 | ||||||
| 40 |  |
Joseph R. Bodwell (1818–1887) |
January 6, 1887 – December 15, 1887 (died in office) |
Republican | 1886 | |
| 41 | .jpg) |
Sebastian Streeter Marble (1817–1902) |
December 15, 1887 – January 3, 1889 (lost nomination) |
Republican | President of the Senate acting |
|
| 42 |  |
Edwin C. Burleigh (1843–1916) |
January 3, 1889 – January 5, 1893 (did not run) |
Republican | 1888 | |
| 1890 | ||||||
| 43 | .jpg) |
Henry B. Cleaves (1840–1912) |
January 5, 1893 – January 7, 1897 (did not run) |
Republican | 1892 | |
| 1894 | ||||||
| 44 |  |
Llewellyn Powers (1836–1908) |
January 7, 1897 – January 3, 1901 (did not run) |
Republican | 1896 | |
| 1898 | ||||||
| 45 |  |
John Fremont Hill (1855–1912) |
January 3, 1901 – January 5, 1905 (did not run) |
Republican | 1900 | |
| 1902 | ||||||
| 46 | .jpg) |
William T. Cobb (1857–1937) |
January 5, 1905 – January 7, 1909 (did not run) |
Republican | 1904 | |
| 1906 | ||||||
| 47 |  |
Bert M. Fernald (1858–1926) |
January 7, 1909 – January 5, 1911 (lost election) |
Republican | 1908 | |
| 48 |  |
Frederick W. Plaisted (1865–1943) |
January 5, 1911 – January 2, 1913 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1910 | |
| 49 |  |
William T. Haines (1854–1919) |
January 2, 1913 – January 7, 1915 (lost election) |
Republican | 1912 | |
| 50 |  |
Oakley C. Curtis (1865–1924) |
January 7, 1915 – January 4, 1917 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1914 | |
| 51 |  |
Carl Milliken (1877–1961) |
January 4, 1917 – January 6, 1921 (lost nomination) |
Republican | 1916 | |
| 1918 | ||||||
| 52 |  |
Frederic Hale Parkhurst (1864–1921) |
January 6, 1921 – January 31, 1921 (died in office) |
Republican | 1920 | |
| 53 |  |
Percival P. Baxter (1876–1969) |
January 31, 1921 – January 8, 1925 (did not run) |
Republican | President of the Senate acting |
|
| 1922 | ||||||
| 54 |  |
Ralph Owen Brewster (1888–1961) |
January 8, 1925 – January 3, 1929 (did not run) |
Republican | 1924 | |
| 1926 | ||||||
| 55 |  |
William Tudor Gardiner (1892–1953) |
January 3, 1929 – January 5, 1933 (did not run) |
Republican | 1928 | |
| 1930 | ||||||
| 56 | _2.jpg) |
Louis J. Brann (1876–1948) |
January 5, 1933 – January 7, 1937 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1932 | |
| 1934 | ||||||
| 57 | .jpg) |
Lewis O. Barrows (1893–1967) |
January 7, 1937 – January 2, 1941 (did not run) |
Republican | 1936 | |
| 1938 | ||||||
| 58 |  |
Sumner Sewall (1897–1965) |
January 2, 1941 – January 4, 1945 (did not run) |
Republican | 1940 | |
| 1942 | ||||||
| 59 |  |
Horace Hildreth (1902–1988) |
January 4, 1945 – January 6, 1949 (did not run) |
Republican | 1944 | |
| 1946 | ||||||
| 60 |  |
Frederick G. Payne (1904–1978) |
January 6, 1949 – December 25, 1952 (resigned) |
Republican | 1948 | |
| 1950 | ||||||
| — |  |
Burton M. Cross (1902–1998) |
December 26, 1952 – January 7, 1953 (presidency expired) |
Republican | President of the Senate acting |
|
| — | .jpg) |
Nathaniel M. Haskell (1912–1983) |
January 7, 1953 – January 8, 1953 (successor took office) |
Republican | President of the Senate acting |
|
| 61 | |
Burton M. Cross (1902–1998) |
January 8, 1953 – January 6, 1955 (lost election) |
Republican | 1952 | |
| 62 | .jpg) |
Edmund Muskie (1914–1996) |
January 6, 1955 – January 2, 1959 (resigned) |
Democratic | 1954 | |
| 1956 | ||||||
| 63 |  |
Robert Haskell (1903–1987) |
January 3, 1959 – January 8, 1959 (successor took office) |
Republican | President of the Senate acting |
|
| 64 |  |
Clinton Clauson (1895–1959) |
January 8, 1959 – December 30, 1959 (died in office) |
Democratic | 1958 | |
| 65 |  |
John H. Reed (1921–2012) |
December 30, 1959 – January 5, 1967 (lost election) |
Republican | President of the Senate acting |
|
| 1960 (special) |
||||||
| 1962 | ||||||
| 66 | .jpg) |
Kenneth M. Curtis (b. 1931) |
January 5, 1967 – January 2, 1975 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1966 | |
| 1970 | ||||||
| 67 | _(cropped).jpg) |
James B. Longley (1924–1980) |
January 2, 1975 – January 3, 1979 (did not run) |
Independent | 1974 | |
| 68 | .png) |
Joseph E. Brennan (1934–2024) |
January 4, 1979 – January 8, 1987 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1978 | |
| 1982 | ||||||
| 70 | .png) |
John R. McKernan Jr. (b. 1948) |
January 8, 1987 – January 5, 1995 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1986 | |
| 1990 | ||||||
| 71 |  |
Angus King (b. 1944) |
January 5, 1995 – January 8, 2003 (term-limited) |
Independent | 1994 | |
| 1998 | ||||||
| 72 |  |
John Baldacci (b. 1955) |
January 8, 2003 – January 5, 2011 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 2002 | |
| 2006 | ||||||
| 73 |  |
Paul LePage (b. 1948) |
January 5, 2011 – January 2, 2019 (term-limited) |
Republican | 2010 | |
| 2014 | ||||||
| 74 |  |
Janet Mills (b. 1947) |
January 2, 2019 – Incumbent |
Democratic | 2018 | |
| 2022 | ||||||
See also
- Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States § Maine
- List of Maine state legislatures
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List of governors of Maine Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.