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Governor of Michigan
Flag of the Governor of Michigan.svg
Flag of the governor
Seal of Michigan Governor.svg
Seal of the governor
Gretchen Whitmer (2021) (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Gretchen Whitmer

since January 1, 2019
Style Her Excellency
Residence Michigan Governor's Mansion
Term length Four years, renewable once
Precursor Governor of Michigan Territory
Inaugural holder Stevens T. Mason
Formation November 3, 1835
Succession Line of succession
Deputy Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
Salary $159,300 (2019)

The governor of Michigan is like the chief executive officer of the state. They are the main leader of the state government. The governor is also the boss of Michigan's military forces, like the Michigan National Guard.

The governor has several important jobs. They make sure state laws are followed. They can approve or reject new laws about money that the Michigan Legislature passes. The governor can also call the legislature together for special meetings. They have the power to grant pardons, which means forgiving someone for a crime, but not in cases of impeachment. The governor can also change how the state government is organized.

For a long time, Michigan was controlled by France and then Britain. It was managed by their colonial governors. Later, parts of Michigan were part of other U.S. territories. In 1805, the Michigan Territory was created. Five people served as governors of this territory. Michigan officially became a state in 1837. Since then, 47 different people have been the state governor. The first female governor, Jennifer Granholm, served from 2003 to 2011.

When Michigan first became a state, governors served for two years. This changed to four years with the 1963 Michigan Constitution. A rule was added in 1992 that a person can only be governor for two four-year terms in their lifetime. The governor who served the longest was William Milliken. He became governor after George W. Romney left office. Milliken was then elected three more times. Only two governors, John S. Barry and Frank Fitzgerald, served terms that were not back-to-back.

Michigan's Governors: A Historical Look

Governors of Michigan Territory

The Michigan Territory was set up on June 30, 1805. It was formed from the northern part of the Indiana Territory. Three governors were chosen by the president of the United States for this territory. Lewis Cass served the longest of any territorial governor, for 18 years!

Governors of Michigan Territory
No. Governor Term in office Appointed by
1 William Hull.jpg William Hull
(1753–1825)
March 1, 1805

October 29, 1813
(successor appointed)
Jefferson, ThomasThomas Jefferson
Madison, JamesJames Madison
2 Lewis Cass, 14th United States Secretary of War.jpg Lewis Cass
(1782–1866)
October 29, 1813

August 1, 1831
(resigned)
Madison, JamesJames Madison
Monroe, JamesJames Monroe
Adams, John QuincyJohn Quincy Adams
3 George B. Porter.png George Bryan Porter
(1791–1834)
August 6, 1831

July 6, 1834
(died in office)
Jackson, AndrewAndrew Jackson
Stevens T Mason.png Stevens T. Mason
(1811–1843)
July 6, 1834

September 21, 1835
(successor appointed)
Territorial
secretary
acting
John Scott Horner.jpg John S. Horner
(1802–1883)
September 21, 1835

July 3, 1836
(resigned)
Territorial
secretary
acting

Governors of the State of Michigan

Michigan became a state on January 26, 1837. The first state constitution in 1835 said that the governor and lieutenant governor would be elected every two years. The current constitution, from 1963, changed this to four-year terms. There was no limit on how many terms a governor could serve until 1993. That's when a new rule limited governors to two terms in total.

If the governor's office becomes empty, the lieutenant governor takes over. If they can't, then the secretary of state is next in line, followed by the attorney general. Before the 1963 constitution, the lieutenant governor would just do the governor's duties without actually becoming governor. Since 1850, a governor's term starts at noon on January 1st of the year after the election. Before that, there wasn't a set start date.

In the past, the governor and lieutenant governor were elected separately. This meant they could be from different political parties. But in 1963, this changed. Now, people vote for a governor and lieutenant governor as a team, and they must be from the same political party.


Governors of the State of Michigan
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor
1 Stevens T. Mason.jpg   Stevens T. Mason
(1811–1843)
November 3, 1835

January 7, 1840
(retired)
Democratic 1835   Mundy, EdwardEdward Mundy
1837
2 William Woodbridge (6268126208).jpg William Woodbridge
(1780–1861)
January 7, 1840

February 24, 1841
(resigned)
Whig 1839 Gordon, James WrightJames Wright Gordon
3 J Wright Gordon.JPG James Wright Gordon
(1809–1853)
February 24, 1841

January 3, 1842
(retired)
Whig Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Drake, Thomas J.Thomas J. Drake
4 Jsbarry-1-.jpg John S. Barry
(1802–1870)
January 3, 1842

January 5, 1846
(retired)
Democratic 1841 Richardson, Origen D.Origen D. Richardson
1843
5 Michigan Justice Alpheus Felch, The Green Bag, p. 380, w text.jpg Alpheus Felch
(1804–1896)
January 5, 1846

March 3, 1847
(resigned)
Democratic 1845 Greenly, William L.William L. Greenly
6 William Greenly.png William L. Greenly
(1813–1883)
March 3, 1847

January 3, 1848
(retired)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Bush, Charles P.Charles P. Bush
7 Epaphroditus Ransom 1.jpg Epaphroditus Ransom
(1798–1859)
January 3, 1848

January 7, 1850
(lost re-nomination)
Democratic 1847 Fenton, William M.William M. Fenton
8 Jsbarry-1-.jpg John S. Barry
(1802–1870)
January 7, 1850

January 1, 1852
(retired)
Democratic 1849
9 Robert McClelland 1.jpg Robert McClelland
(1807–1880)
January 1, 1852

March 7, 1853
(resigned)
Democratic 1851 Britain, CalvinCalvin Britain
1852 Parsons, AndrewAndrew Parsons
10 Andrew parsons.jpg Andrew Parsons
(1817–1855)
March 7, 1853

January 3, 1855
(retired)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Griswold, GeorgeGeorge Griswold
11 Kingsley Bingham.jpg Kinsley S. Bingham
(1808–1861)
January 3, 1855

January 5, 1859
(retired)
Republican 1854 Coe, GeorgeGeorge Coe
1856
12 Mwisner-1-.jpg Moses Wisner
(1815–1863)
January 5, 1859

January 2, 1861
(retired)
Republican 1858 Fairfield, Edmund BurkeEdmund Burke Fairfield
13 Austin Blair cph.3b29566.jpg Austin Blair
(1818–1894)
January 2, 1861

January 4, 1865
(retired)
Republican 1860 Birney, James M.James M. Birney
(resigned April 3, 1861)
Williams, Joseph R.Joseph R. Williams
(died June 15, 1861)
Backus, Henry T.Henry T. Backus
1862 May, Charles S.Charles S. May
14 Governor-crapo-1-.jpg Henry H. Crapo
(1804–1869)
January 4, 1865

January 1, 1869
(retired)
Republican 1864 Grosvenor, Ebenezer O.Ebenezer O. Grosvenor
1866 May, DwightDwight May
15 Henry P. Baldwin.png Henry P. Baldwin
(1814–1892)
January 1, 1869

January 1, 1873
(retired)
Republican 1868 Bates, MorganMorgan Bates
1870
16 John J. Bagley.jpg John J. Bagley
(1832–1881)
January 1, 1873

January 3, 1877
(retired)
Republican 1872 Holt, Henry H.Henry H. Holt
1874
17 Charles Croswell Painting.jpg Charles Croswell
(1825–1886)
January 3, 1877

January 1, 1881
(retired)
Republican 1876 Sessions, AlonzoAlonzo Sessions
1878
18 David Howell Jerome.jpg David Jerome
(1829–1896)
January 1, 1881

January 1, 1883
(lost re-election)
Republican 1880 Crosby, Moreau S.Moreau S. Crosby
19 JosiahBegole.jpg Josiah Begole
(1815–1896)
January 1, 1883

January 1, 1885
(lost re-election)
Democratic 1882
20 Russell Alexander Alger by Percy Ives.jpg Russell A. Alger
(1836–1907)
January 1, 1885

January 1, 1887
(retired)
Republican 1884 Buttars, ArchibaldArchibald Buttars
21 Cyrus Luce.jpg Cyrus G. Luce
(1824–1905)
January 1, 1887

January 1, 1891
(retired)
Republican 1886 MacDonald, James H.James H. MacDonald
1888 Ball, WilliamWilliam Ball
22 Edwin Baruch Winans.jpg Edwin B. Winans
(1826–1894)
January 1, 1891

January 1, 1893
(retired)
Democratic 1890 Strong, JohnJohn Strong
23 John Tyler Rich.jpg John Treadway Rich
(1841–1926)
January 1, 1893

January 1, 1897
(retired)
Republican 1892 Giddings, J. WightJ. Wight Giddings
1894 Milnes, AlfredAlfred Milnes
(resigned June 1, 1895)
McLaughlin, Joseph R.Joseph R. McLaughlin
24 HazenSPingreeDetroitMayor.jpg Hazen S. Pingree
(1840–1901)
January 1, 1897

January 1, 1901
(retired)
Republican 1896 Dunstan, Thomas B.Thomas B. Dunstan
1898 Robinson, Orrin W.Orrin W. Robinson
25 Aaron T. Bliss, Governor of Michigan portrait.jpg Aaron T. Bliss
(1837–1906)
January 1, 1901

January 2, 1905
(retired)
Republican 1900
1902 Maitland, AlexanderAlexander Maitland
26 FredMWarner.jpg Fred M. Warner
(1865–1923)
January 2, 1905

January 1, 1911
(retired)
Republican 1904
1906 Kelley, Patrick H.Patrick H. Kelley
1908
27 OSBORN, CHASE. GOVERNOR LCCN2016862363 (cropped).jpg Chase Osborn
(1860–1949)
January 1, 1911

January 1, 1913
(retired)
Republican 1910 Ross, John Q.John Q. Ross
28 Business Journal (1912) (14590826058).jpg Woodbridge N. Ferris
(1853–1928)
January 1, 1913

January 1, 1917
(retired)
Democratic 1912
1914 Dickinson, LurenLuren Dickinson
29 Albert Edson Sleeper (December 31, 1862 – May 13, 1934) in 1916 (cropped).jpg Albert Sleeper
(1862–1934)
January 1, 1917

January 1, 1921
(retired)
Republican 1916
1918
30 AlexJGroesbeck.jpg Alex J. Groesbeck
(1873–1953)
January 1, 1921

January 1, 1927
(retired)
Republican 1920 Read, ThomasThomas Read
1922
1924 Welsh, George W.George W. Welsh
31 Fred Warren Green circa 1927 (cropped).jpg Fred W. Green
(1871–1936)
January 1, 1927

January 1, 1931
(retired)
Republican 1926 Dickinson, LurenLuren Dickinson
1928
32 Attorney General Brucker 2.png Wilber M. Brucker
(1894–1968)
January 1, 1931

January 1, 1933
(lost re-election)
Republican 1930
33 William A. Comstock (Michigan Governor).jpg William Comstock
(1877–1949)
January 1, 1933

January 1, 1935
(lost re-nomination)
Democratic 1932 Stebbins, Allen E.Allen E. Stebbins
34 Frank D. Fitzgerald.jpg Frank Fitzgerald
(1885–1939)
January 1, 1935

January 1, 1937
(lost re-election)
Republican 1934 Read, ThomasThomas Read
35 Frank Murphy 1939.png Frank Murphy
(1890–1949)
January 1, 1937

January 1, 1939
(lost re-election)
Democratic 1936 Nowicki, Leo J.Leo J. Nowicki
36 Frank D. Fitzgerald.jpg Frank Fitzgerald
(1885–1939)
January 1, 1939

March 16, 1939
(died in office)
Republican 1938 Dickinson, LurenLuren Dickinson
37 Luren D. Dickinson.jpg Luren Dickinson
(1859–1943)
March 16, 1939

January 1, 1941
(lost election)
Republican Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Wilson, Matilda DodgeMatilda Dodge Wilson
38 Murray D. Van Wagoner.jpg Murray Van Wagoner
(1898–1986)
January 1, 1941

January 1, 1943
(lost re-election)
Democratic 1940 Murphy, FrankFrank Murphy
39 Harry F. Kelly.jpg Harry Kelly
(1895–1971)
January 1, 1943

January 1, 1947
(retired)
Republican 1942 Keyes, Eugene C.Eugene C. Keyes
1944 Brown, Vernon J.Vernon J. Brown
40 Kim Sigler (Michigan Governor) (cropped).jpg Kim Sigler
(1894–1953)
January 1, 1947

January 1, 1949
(lost re-election)
Republican 1946 Keyes, Eugene C.Eugene C. Keyes
41 G. Mennen Williams 1959.png G. Mennen Williams
(1911–1988)
January 1, 1949

January 1, 1961
(retired)
Democratic 1948 Connolly, John W.John W. Connolly
1950 Vandenberg, William C.William C. Vandenberg
1952 Reid, Clarence A.Clarence A. Reid
1954 Hart, PhilipPhilip Hart
1956
1958 Swainson, JohnJohn Swainson
42 John Swainson (1961 portrait).png John Swainson
(1925–1994)
January 1, 1961

January 1, 1963
(lost re-election)
Democratic 1960 Lesinski, T. JohnT. John Lesinski
43 George W. Romney official portrait.jpg George W. Romney
(1907–1995)
January 1, 1963

January 22, 1969
(resigned)
Republican 1962
1964 Milliken, WilliamWilliam Milliken
1966
44 William Milliken (cropped).png William Milliken
(1922–2019)
January 22, 1969

January 1, 1983
(retired)
Republican Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Schweigert, Thomas F.Thomas F. Schweigert
1970 Brickley, James H.James H. Brickley
1974 Damman, JamesJames Damman
1978 Brickley, James H.James H. Brickley
45 James Blanchard (DOS-1993).jpeg James Blanchard
(b. 1942)
January 1, 1983

January 1, 1991
(lost re-election)
Democratic 1982 Griffiths, MarthaMartha Griffiths
1986
46 Vern Ehlers and John Engler (cropped).jpeg John Engler
(b. 1948)
January 1, 1991

January 1, 2003
(term-limited)
Republican 1990 Binsfeld, ConnieConnie Binsfeld
1994
1998 Posthumus, DickDick Posthumus
47 Jennifer Granholm 5.jpg Jennifer Granholm
(b. 1959)
January 1, 2003

January 1, 2011
(term-limited)
Democratic 2002 Cherry, John D.John D. Cherry
2006
48 Rick Snyder in 2013.jpg Rick Snyder
(b. 1958)
January 1, 2011

January 1, 2019
(term-limited)
Republican 2010 Calley, BrianBrian Calley
2014
49 Gretchen Whitmer (2021) (cropped).jpg Gretchen Whitmer
(b. 1971)
January 1, 2019

Incumbent
Democratic 2018 Gilchrist, GarlinGarlin Gilchrist
2022

More About Michigan Government

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