List of governors of Nebraska facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Governor of Nebraska
Seal of Nebraska
Incumbent Jim Pillen since January 5, 2023
Style	The Honorable
Residence	Nebraska Governor's Mansion
Term length	4 years, renewable once consecutively
Inaugural holder	David Butler
Formation	Constitution of Nebraska
Succession	Line of succession
Deputy	Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska
Salary	$105,000 USD (2022)

The governor of Nebraska is like the chief executive officer for the state of Nebraska. This important job is described in the state's constitution. The person holding this office is chosen by voters for a four-year term. Elections for governor happen two years after the big presidential elections.

A governor can be elected many times, but they can only serve two terms in a row. The current governor is Jim Pillen, who is a Republican. He started his term on January 5, 2023.

Becoming Governor of Nebraska

To become the governor of Nebraska, a person must be at least 30 years old. They also need to have been a citizen and lived in Nebraska for five years before the election.

Before 1966, governors were elected for two-year terms. In 1962, a change was made to the state's constitution. This change made the governor's term four years long, starting with the 1966 election. Another change in 1966 added a limit. It said a governor could only serve two terms in a row. The lieutenant governor has the same limits. They run for office together with the governor.

Only one person, Charles W. Bryan, has served as Governor of Nebraska at different times, not back-to-back. Dave Heineman holds the record for serving the longest. He was governor for 10 years.

What Happens When a Governor Starts or Can't Serve?

The governor's term, along with other statewide elected officials, begins in January. It starts on the first Thursday after the first Tuesday of the month. This happens after an election.

If the governor is unable to do their job, or if they are out of the state, the lieutenant governor steps in. They act as governor during that time. If the governor's office becomes empty, or if the governor can no longer serve permanently, the lieutenant governor becomes the new governor. They then finish the rest of the term.

If both the governor and lieutenant governor offices become empty, there's a plan for who takes over. The next person in line is the Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature. After that, the leaders of different committees in the legislature would be next.

Governors Through History

Nebraska Territory Governors

The area known as Nebraska Territory was officially set up on May 30, 1854. During this time, five governors were chosen by the president of the United States.

Before the territory was officially organized, in 1853, William Walker was chosen as a temporary governor. This event actually helped push the federal government to officially organize the territory.

Governors of the Territory of Nebraska

No.	Governor		Term in office	Appointed by
1		Francis Burt (1807–1854)	August 2, 1854 – October 18, 1854 (died in office)	Pierce, FranklinFranklin Pierce
2		Mark W. Izard (1799–1866)	December 20, 1854 – October 25, 1857 (resigned)	Pierce, FranklinFranklin Pierce
3		William Alexander Richardson (1811–1875)	December 10, 1857 – December 5, 1858 (resigned)	Buchanan, JamesJames Buchanan
4		Samuel W. Black (1816–1862)	February 8, 1859 – February 24, 1861 (resigned)	Buchanan, JamesJames Buchanan
5		Alvin Saunders (1817–1899)	March 27, 1861 – March 27, 1867 (statehood)	Lincoln, AbrahamAbraham Lincoln
				Johnson, AndrewAndrew Johnson

Governors of the State of Nebraska

Nebraska officially became a state on March 1, 1867. Since then, many people have served as its governor.

Governors of the State of Nebraska

No.	Governor			Term in office	Party	Election	Lt. Governor
1			David Butler (1829–1891)	March 27, 1867 – June 2, 1871 (impeached and removed)	Republican	1866	Office did not exist
						1868
						1870
–			William H. James (1831–1920)	June 2, 1871 – January 13, 1873 (successor took office)	Republican	Secretary of state acting
2			Robert Wilkinson Furnas (1824–1905)	January 13, 1873 – January 12, 1875 (did not run)	Republican	1872
3			Silas Garber (1833–1905)	January 12, 1875 – January 9, 1879 (did not run)	Republican	1874
						1876		Abbott, Othman A.Othman A. Abbott
4			Albinus Nance (1848–1911)	January 9, 1879 – January 4, 1883 (did not run)	Republican	1878		Carns, Edmund C.Edmund C. Carns
						1880
5			James W. Dawes (1845–1918)	January 4, 1883 – January 6, 1887 (did not run)	Republican	1882		Agee, Alfred W.Alfred W. Agee
						1884		Shedd, Hibbard H.Hibbard H. Shedd
6			John Milton Thayer (1820–1906)	January 6, 1887 – January 15, 1891 (did not run)	Republican	1886
						1888		de Rue Meiklejohn, GeorgeGeorge de Rue Meiklejohn
								Majors, Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson Majors
7			James E. Boyd (1834–1906)	January 15, 1891 – May 5, 1891 (removed)	Democratic	1890
6			John Milton Thayer (1820–1906)	May 5, 1891 – February 8, 1892 (removed)	Republican
7			James E. Boyd (1834–1906)	February 8, 1892 – January 13, 1893 (did not run)	Democratic
8			Lorenzo Crounse (1834–1909)	January 13, 1893 – January 3, 1895 (did not run)	Republican	1892
9			Silas A. Holcomb (1858–1920)	January 3, 1895 – January 5, 1899 (did not run)	Fusion	1894		Moore, Robert E.Robert E. Moore
						1896		Harris, James E.James E. Harris
10			William A. Poynter (1848–1909)	January 5, 1899 – January 3, 1901 (lost election)	Fusion	1898		Gilbert, Edward A.Edward A. Gilbert
11			Charles Henry Dietrich (1853–1924)	January 3, 1901 – May 1, 1901 (resigned)	Republican	1900		Savage, Ezra P.Ezra P. Savage
12			Ezra P. Savage (1842–1920)	May 1, 1901 – January 8, 1903 (did not run)	Republican	Succeeded from lieutenant governor		Steele, Calvin F.Calvin F. Steele (acting)
13			John H. Mickey (1845–1910)	January 8, 1903 – January 3, 1907 (did not run)	Republican	1902		McGilton, Edmund G.Edmund G. McGilton
						1904
14			George L. Sheldon (1870–1960)	January 3, 1907 – January 7, 1909 (lost election)	Republican	1906		Hopewell, Melville R.Melville R. Hopewell (died May 2, 1911)
15			Ashton C. Shallenberger (1862–1938)	January 7, 1909 – January 5, 1911 (lost nomination)	Democratic	1908
16			Chester Hardy Aldrich (1863–1924)	January 5, 1911 – January 9, 1913 (lost election)	Republican	1910
								Morehead, John H.John H. Morehead (acting)
17			John H. Morehead (1861–1942)	January 9, 1913 – January 4, 1917 (did not run)	Democratic	1912		McKelvie, Samuel RoySamuel Roy McKelvie
						1914		Pearson, JamesJames Pearson
18			Keith Neville (1884–1959)	January 4, 1917 – January 9, 1919 (lost election)	Democratic	1916		Howard, EdgarEdgar Howard
19			Samuel Roy McKelvie (1881–1956)	January 9, 1919 – January 4, 1923 (did not run)	Republican	1918		Barrows, Pelham A.Pelham A. Barrows
						1920
20			Charles W. Bryan (1867–1945)	January 4, 1923 – January 8, 1925 (did not run)	Democratic	1922		Johnson, Fred GustusFred Gustus Johnson
21			Adam McMullen (1872–1959)	January 8, 1925 – January 3, 1929 (did not run)	Republican	1924		Williams, George A.George A. Williams
						1926
22			Arthur J. Weaver (1873–1945)	January 3, 1929 – January 8, 1931 (lost election)	Republican	1928
23			Charles W. Bryan (1867–1945)	January 8, 1931 – January 3, 1935 (did not run)	Democratic	1930		Metcalfe, Theodore W.Theodore W. Metcalfe
						1932		Jurgensen, Walter H.Walter H. Jurgensen (removed June 26, 1938)
24			Robert Leroy Cochran (1886–1963)	January 3, 1935 – January 9, 1941 (did not run)	Democratic	1934
						1936
							Vacant
								Parsons, Nate M.Nate M. Parsons (elected November 8, 1938)
						1938		Johnson, William E.William E. Johnson
25			Dwight Griswold (1893–1954)	January 9, 1941 – January 9, 1947 (did not run)	Republican	1940
						1942		Johnson, Roy W.Roy W. Johnson
						1944
26			Val Peterson (1903–1983)	January 9, 1947 – January 8, 1953 (did not run)	Republican	1946		Crosby, Robert B.Robert B. Crosby
						1948		Warner, Charles J.Charles J. Warner (died September 24, 1955)
						1950
27			Robert B. Crosby (1911–2000)	January 8, 1953 – January 6, 1955 (did not run)	Republican	1952
28			Victor Emanuel Anderson (1902–1962)	January 6, 1955 – January 8, 1959 (lost election)	Republican	1954
							Vacant
						1956		Burney, Dwight W.Dwight W. Burney
29			Ralph G. Brooks (1898–1960)	January 8, 1959 – September 9, 1960 (died in office)	Democratic	1958
30			Dwight W. Burney (1892–1987)	September 9, 1960 – January 5, 1961 (did not run)	Republican	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
31			Frank B. Morrison (1905–2004)	January 5, 1961 – January 5, 1967 (did not run)	Democratic	1960		Burney, Dwight W.Dwight W. Burney
						1962
						1964		Sorensen, Philip C.Philip C. Sorensen
32			Norbert Tiemann (1924–2012)	January 5, 1967 – January 7, 1971 (lost election)	Republican	1966		Everroad, John E.John E. Everroad
33			J. James Exon (1921–2005)	January 7, 1971 – January 4, 1979 (term-limited)	Democratic	1970		Marsh, FrankFrank Marsh
						1974		Whelan, Gerald T.Gerald T. Whelan
34			Charles Thone (1924–2018)	January 4, 1979 – January 6, 1983 (lost election)	Republican	1978		Luedtke, Roland A.Roland A. Luedtke
35			Bob Kerrey (b. 1943)	January 6, 1983 – January 8, 1987 (did not run)	Democratic	1982		McGinley, DonaldDonald McGinley
36			Kay A. Orr (b. 1939)	January 8, 1987 – January 10, 1991 (lost election)	Republican	1986		Nichol, William E.William E. Nichol
37			Ben Nelson (b. 1941)	January 10, 1991 – January 7, 1999 (term-limited)	Democratic	1990		Moul, MaxineMaxine Moul (resigned October 6, 1993)
								Robak, Kim M.Kim M. Robak (appointed October 6, 1993)
						1994
38			Mike Johanns (b. 1950)	January 7, 1999 – January 20, 2005 (resigned)	Republican	1998		Maurstad, DavidDavid Maurstad (resigned October 1, 2001)
								Heineman, DaveDave Heineman (appointed October 1, 2001)
						2002
39			Dave Heineman (b. 1948)	January 20, 2005 – January 8, 2015 (term-limited)	Republican	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
								Sheehy, RickRick Sheehy (appointed January 24, 2005) (resigned February 2, 2013)
						2006
						2010
							Vacant
								Heidemann, LavonLavon Heidemann (appointed February 13, 2013) (resigned September 9, 2014)
							Vacant
								Nelson, John E.John E. Nelson (appointed September 29, 2014)
40			Pete Ricketts (b. 1964)	Republican	2014	Foley, MikeMike Foley
					2018			January 8, 2015 – January 5, 2023 (term-limited)
41			Jim Pillen (b. 1955)	January 5, 2023 – Incumbent	Republican	2022		Kelly, JoeJoe Kelly

Timeline of Governors

Timeline of Nebraska governors

More to Explore

• United States congressional delegations from Nebraska
• Political party strength in Nebraska
• Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Nebraska
• List of Nebraska state legislatures