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Governor of Nevada
Flag of the Governor of Nevada.svg
Standard of the governor of Nevada
State Seal of Nevada.svg
Seal of Nevada
Joe Lombardo by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Incumbent
Joe Lombardo

since January 2, 2023
Government of Nevada
Style
Residence Nevada Governor's Mansion
Term length Four years, renewable once
Constituting instrument Constitution of Nevada
Precursor Governor of the Nevada Territory
Inaugural holder Henry G. Blasdel
Formation December 5, 1864
(160 years ago)
 (1864-12-05)
Succession Line of succession
Deputy Lieutenant Governor of Nevada
Salary $149,730 (2015)

The governor of Nevada is like the main leader of the state government in Nevada. They are in charge of the executive branch, which carries out the state's laws. The governor also leads Nevada's military forces, like the Nevada National Guard.

Their job is to make sure state laws are followed. They can approve or reject new laws from the state legislature. They can also call the legislature together for special meetings. And, in most cases, they can forgive people for certain crimes.

A governor serves for four years. Since 1970, a governor can only serve two terms, even if they are not back-to-back. The Lieutenant Governor is elected separately. If the governor's office becomes empty, the Lieutenant Governor takes over.

The current governor is Joe Lombardo, a Republican. He started his term on January 2, 2023.

Nevada's Governors: A Look Back

This section lists all the people who have served as governor of Nevada. It includes governors from when Nevada was a territory and after it became a state.

Governors of Nevada Territory

The Nevada Territory was created on March 2, 1861. It was formed from part of the Utah Territory. Before Nevada became a state, only one governor was chosen by the President of the United States.

Before the territory was officially set up, a local group in Genoa chose Isaac Roop to be a temporary governor. He started his role on December 15, 1859.

Governor of the Territory of Nevada
No. Governor Term in office Appointed by
1
James W. Nye - Brady-Handy
James W. Nye
James W. Nye
(1815–1876)
March 22, 1861

December 5, 1864
(statehood)
Abraham Lincoln

Governors of the State of Nevada

Nevada officially became a state on October 31, 1864. Since then, there have been thirty-one governors.

The governor who served the longest was Bob Miller. He was governor for two and a half terms, from 1989 to 1999. The shortest-serving governor was Frank Bell. He acted as governor for four months after Governor Charles C. Stevenson passed away.

The current governor is Joe Lombardo, who took office on January 2, 2023.


Governors of the State of Nevada
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor
1
Henry Goode Blasdel
Henry G. Blasdel
  Henry G. Blasdel
(1825–1900)
December 5, 1864

January 2, 1871
(did not run)
Republican 1864   Crosman, John S.John S. Crosman
1866 Slingerland, James S.James S. Slingerland
2
Lewis Rice Bradley
Lewis R. Bradley
Lewis R. Bradley
(1805–1879)
January 2, 1871

January 7, 1879
(lost election)
Democratic 1870 Denver, FrankFrank Denver
1874 Adams, Jewett W.Jewett W. Adams
3
John Henry Kinkead
John Henry Kinkead
John Henry Kinkead
(1826–1904)
January 7, 1879

January 1, 1883
(did not run)
Republican 1878
4
Adams
Jewett W. Adams
Jewett W. Adams
(1835–1920)
January 1, 1883

January 3, 1887
(lost election)
Democratic 1882 Laughton, Charles E.Charles E. Laughton
5
Stevenson
Charles C. Stevenson
Charles C. Stevenson
(1826–1890)
January 3, 1887

September 21, 1890
(died in office)
Republican 1886 Davis, Henry C.Henry C. Davis
(died)
Chubbuck, Samuel W.Samuel W. Chubbuck
(resigned)
Bell, FrankFrank Bell
6
Frank Bell (Nevada Governor)
Frank Bell
Frank Bell
(1840–1927)
September 21, 1890

January 5, 1891
(successor took office)
Republican Lieutenant
governor
acting
Acting as governor
7
Roswell K. Colcord
Roswell K. Colcord
Roswell K. Colcord
(1839–1939)
January 5, 1891

January 8, 1895
(did not run)
Republican 1890 Poujade, JosephJoseph Poujade
8
Jones
John Edward Jones
John Edward Jones
(1840–1896)
January 8, 1895

April 10, 1896
(died in office)
Silver 1894 Sadler, ReinholdReinhold Sadler
9
Sadler
Reinhold Sadler
Reinhold Sadler
(1848–1906)
April 10, 1896

January 5, 1903
(did not run)
Silver Lieutenant
governor
acting
Acting as governor
1898 Judge, James R.James R. Judge
10
JohnSparks
John Sparks
John Sparks
(1843–1908)
January 5, 1903

May 22, 1908
(died in office)
Silver-
Democratic
1902 Allen, LemuelLemuel Allen
1906 Dickerson, Denver S.Denver S. Dickerson
11
Denver Sylvester Dickerson
Denver S. Dickerson
Denver S. Dickerson
(1872–1925)
May 22, 1908

January 2, 1911
(lost election)
Silver-
Democratic
Lieutenant
governor
acting
Acting as governor
12
Senator Tasker Oddie
Tasker Oddie
Tasker Oddie
(1870–1950)
January 2, 1911

January 4, 1915
(lost election)
Republican 1910 Ross, Gilbert C.Gilbert C. Ross
13
Emmet D. Boyle
Emmet D. Boyle
Emmet D. Boyle
(1879–1926)
January 4, 1915

January 1, 1923
(did not run)
Democratic 1914 Sullivan, Maurice J.Maurice J. Sullivan
1918
14
James G. Scrugham (Nevada Governor and US Senator)
James G. Scrugham
James G. Scrugham
(1880–1945)
January 1, 1923

January 3, 1927
(lost election)
Democratic 1922
15
Fred B. Balzar (Nevada Governor)
Fred B. Balzar
Fred B. Balzar
(1880–1934)
January 3, 1927

March 21, 1934
(died in office)
Republican 1926 Griswold, MorleyMorley Griswold
1930
16
Morley Griswold (Nevada Governor)
Morley Griswold
Morley Griswold
(1890–1951)
March 21, 1934

January 7, 1935
(lost election)
Republican Lieutenant
governor
acting
Acting as governor
17
Richard Kirman Sr. (Nevada Governor)
Richard Kirman Sr.
Richard Kirman Sr.
(1877–1959)
January 7, 1935

January 2, 1939
(did not run)
Democratic 1934 Alward, Fred S.Fred S. Alward
18
Edward P. Carville (Nevada Governor and U.S. Senator)
Edward P. Carville
Edward P. Carville
(1885–1956)
January 2, 1939

July 24, 1945
(resigned)
Democratic 1938 Sullivan, Maurice J.Maurice J. Sullivan
1942 Pittman, VailVail Pittman
19
Vail Pittman (Nevada Governor)
Vail Pittman
Vail Pittman
(1880–1964)
July 24, 1945

January 2, 1951
(lost election)
Democratic Lieutenant
governor
acting
Acting as governor
1946 Jones, Clifford A.Clifford A. Jones
20
Charles H. Russell, 1954
Charles H. Russell
Charles H. Russell
(1903–1989)
January 2, 1951

January 5, 1959
(lost election)
Republican 1950
1954 Bell, RexRex Bell
(died July 4, 1962)
21
Grant Sawyer (1967)
Grant Sawyer
Grant Sawyer
(1918–1996)
January 5, 1959

January 2, 1967
(lost election)
Democratic 1958
Frazier, MaudeMaude Frazier
(appointed)
1962 Laxalt, PaulPaul Laxalt
22
Governor Laxalt
Paul Laxalt
Paul Laxalt
(1922–2018)
January 2, 1967

January 4, 1971
(did not run)
Republican 1966 Fike, EdwardEdward Fike
23
D. N. Mike O'Callaghan (Nevada Governor)
Mike O'Callaghan
Mike O'Callaghan
(1929–2004)
January 4, 1971

January 1, 1979
(term-limited)
Democratic 1970 Reid, HarryHarry Reid
1974 Rose, Robert E.Robert E. Rose
24
Robert List (NV) (cropped)
Robert List
Robert List
(born in 1936)
January 1, 1979

January 3, 1983
(lost election)
Republican 1978 Leavitt, Myron E.Myron E. Leavitt
25
Richard Bryan (NV)
Richard Bryan
Richard Bryan
(born in 1937)
January 3, 1983

January 3, 1989
(resigned)
Democratic 1982 Cashell, BobBob Cashell
1986 Miller, BobBob Miller
26
Bob Miller at an event, Dec 22, 1994 - cropped to Miller
Bob Miller
Bob Miller
(born in 1945)
January 3, 1989

January 4, 1999
(term-limited)
Democratic Lieutenant
governor
acting
Acting as governor
1990 Wagner, SueSue Wagner
1994 Hammargren, LonnieLonnie Hammargren
27
Kenny Guinn
Kenny Guinn
Kenny Guinn
(1936–2010)
January 4, 1999

January 1, 2007
(term-limited)
Republican 1998 Hunt, LorraineLorraine Hunt
2002
28
Jimgibbons
Jim Gibbons
Jim Gibbons
(born in 1944)
January 1, 2007

January 3, 2011
(lost nomination)
Republican 2006 Krolicki, BrianBrian Krolicki
29
Brian Sandoval 2010 (cropped)
Brian Sandoval
Brian Sandoval
(born in 1963)
January 3, 2011

January 7, 2019
(term-limited)
Republican 2010
2014 Hutchison, MarkMark Hutchison
30
Steve Sisolak (cropped)
Steve Sisolak
Steve Sisolak
(born in 1953)
January 7, 2019

January 2, 2023
(lost election)
Democratic 2018 Marshall, KateKate Marshall
(resigned September 17, 2021)
Vacant
Burkhead, Lisa CanoLisa Cano Burkhead
(appointed December 16, 2021)
31
Joe Lombardo by Gage Skidmore
Joe Lombardo
Joe Lombardo
(born in 1962)
January 2, 2023

Incumbent
Republican 2022 Anthony, StavrosStavros Anthony

Timeline of Governors

This timeline shows when each governor of Nevada served.

See Also

  • Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Nevada
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