List of governors of North Dakota facts for kids

The flag of the governor

The governor of North Dakota is the top leader of the state of North Dakota. Think of the governor as the chief executive officer for the state. Their main job is to make sure state laws are followed and that the government runs smoothly.

North Dakota has had 32 different governors since it became a state. One governor, William Langer, served more than one time. The person who is governor right now is Kelly Armstrong, who is a Republican.

Governors of the State of North Dakota

No.	Governor				Term in office	Party	Election	Lt. Governor
1				John Miller (1843–1908)	November 20, 1889 – January 7, 1891 (did not run)	Republican	1889			Dickey, AlfredAlfred Dickey
2				Andrew H. Burke (1850–1918)	January 7, 1891 – January 4, 1893 (lost election)	Republican	1890			Allin, RogerRoger Allin
3				Eli C. D. Shortridge (1830–1908)	January 4, 1893 – January 9, 1895 (did not run)	Populist	1892			Wallace, Elmer D.Elmer D. Wallace
4				Roger Allin (1848–1936)	January 9, 1895 – January 7, 1897 (lost nomination)	Republican	1894			Worst, John H.John H. Worst
5				Frank A. Briggs (1858–1898)	January 7, 1897 – August 9, 1898 (died in office)	Republican	1896			Devine, Joseph M.Joseph M. Devine
6				Joseph M. Devine (1861–1938)	August 9, 1898 – January 3, 1899 (did not run)	Republican	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
7				Frederick B. Fancher (1852–1944)	January 3, 1899 – January 7, 1901 (withdrew)	Republican	1898			Devine, Joseph M.Joseph M. Devine
8				Frank White (1856–1940)	January 7, 1901 – January 4, 1905 (did not run)	Republican	1900			Bartlett, DavidDavid Bartlett
							1902
9				Elmore Y. Sarles (1859–1929)	January 4, 1905 – January 9, 1907 (lost election)	Republican	1904
10				John Burke (1859–1937)	January 9, 1907 – January 8, 1913 (did not run)	Democratic	1906			Lewis, Robert S.Robert S. Lewis
							1908
							1910			Burdick, Usher L.Usher L. Burdick
11				L. B. Hanna (1861–1948)	January 8, 1913 – January 3, 1917 (did not run)	Republican	1912			Kraabel, AntonAnton Kraabel
							1914			Fraine, John H.John H. Fraine
12				Lynn Frazier (1874–1947)	January 3, 1917 – November 23, 1921 (recalled)	Republican/ Nonpartisan League	1916			Kraabel, AntonAnton Kraabel
							1918			Wood, Howard R.Howard R. Wood
							1920
13				Ragnvald Nestos (1877–1942)	November 23, 1921 – January 7, 1925 (lost nomination)	Republican/ Independent Voters	1921 (recall)
							1922			Hyland, Frank H.Frank H. Hyland
14				Arthur G. Sorlie (1874–1928)	January 7, 1925 – August 28, 1928 (died in office)	Republican/ Nonpartisan League	1924			Maddock, WalterWalter Maddock
							1926
15				Walter Maddock (1880–1951)	August 28, 1928 – January 9, 1929 (lost election)	Republican/ Nonpartisan League	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
16				George F. Shafer (1888–1948)	January 9, 1929 – January 4, 1933 (did not run)	Republican/ Independent Voters	1928			Carr, John W.John W. Carr
							1930
17				William Langer (1886–1959)	January 4, 1933 – July 19, 1934 (removed)	Republican/ Nonpartisan League	1932			Olson, Ole H.Ole H. Olson
18				Ole H. Olson (1872–1954)	July 19, 1934 – January 7, 1935 (did not run)	Republican/ Nonpartisan League	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
19				Thomas H. Moodie (1878–1948)	January 7, 1935 – February 2, 1935 (removed)	Democratic	1934			Welford, WalterWalter Welford
20				Walter Welford (1868–1952)	February 2, 1935 – January 6, 1937 (lost election)	Republican/ Nonpartisan League	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
21				William Langer (1886–1959)	January 6, 1937 – January 2, 1939 (did not run)	Independent	1936			Thoresen, Thorstein H. H.Thorstein H. H. Thoresen
22				John Moses (1885–1945)	January 2, 1939 – January 2, 1945 (did not run)	Democratic	1938			Patterson, Jack A.Jack A. Patterson
							1940			Hagen, Oscar W.Oscar W. Hagen
							1942			Holt, HenryHenry Holt
23				Fred G. Aandahl (1897–1966)	January 2, 1945 – January 3, 1951 (did not run)	Republican	1944			Dahl, Clarence P.Clarence P. Dahl
							1946
							1948
24				Norman Brunsdale (1891–1978)	January 3, 1951 – January 7, 1957 (did not run)	Republican	1950			Schnell, RayRay Schnell
							1952			Dahl, Clarence P.Clarence P. Dahl
							1954
25				John E. Davis (1913–1990)	January 7, 1957 – January 3, 1961 (did not run)	Republican	1956			Duffy, Francis ClydeFrancis Clyde Duffy
							1958			Dahl, Clarence P.Clarence P. Dahl
26				William L. Guy (1919–2013)	January 3, 1961 – January 2, 1973 (did not run)	Democratic– Nonpartisan League	1960			Hagen, Orville W.Orville W. Hagen
							1962			Wenstrom, Frank A.Frank A. Wenstrom
							1964			Tighe, CharlesCharles Tighe
							1968			Larsen, Richard F.Richard F. Larsen
27				Arthur A. Link (1914–2010)	January 2, 1973 – January 6, 1981 (lost election)	Democratic– Nonpartisan League	1972			Sanstead, WayneWayne Sanstead
							1976
28				Allen I. Olson (b. 1938)	January 6, 1981 – December 31, 1984 (lost election)	Republican	1980			Sands, ErnestErnest Sands
29				George A. Sinner (1928–2018)	January 1, 1985 – December 15, 1992 (did not run)	Democratic– Nonpartisan League	1984			Meiers, RuthRuth Meiers
							1988			Omdahl, LloydLloyd Omdahl
30				Ed Schafer (b. 1946)	December 15, 1992 – December 15, 2000 (did not run)	Republican	1992			Myrdal, RosemarieRosemarie Myrdal
							1996
31				John Hoeven (b. 1957)	December 15, 2000 – December 7, 2010 (resigned)	Republican	2000			Dalrymple, JackJack Dalrymple
							2004
							2008
32				Jack Dalrymple (b. 1948)	December 7, 2010 – December 15, 2016 (did not run)	Republican	Succeeded from lieutenant governor			Wrigley, DrewDrew Wrigley
							2012
33				Doug Burgum (b. 1956)	December 15, 2016 – December 15, 2024 (did not run)	Republican	2016			Sanford, BrentBrent Sanford
							2020
										Miller, TammyTammy Miller
34				Kelly Armstrong (b. 1976)	December 15, 2024 – Incumbent	Republican	2024			Strinden, MichelleMichelle Strinden

Becoming a State

Before North Dakota became a state, it was part of the Dakota Territory. This territory was created on March 2, 1861. Later, on November 2, 1889, the Dakota Territory was divided into two new states: North Dakota and South Dakota.

How Governors Are Chosen

The rules for choosing a governor are in the Constitution of North Dakota. At first, governors and lieutenant governors were elected every two years. In 1964, this rule changed, and they started serving four-year terms.

In 2023, a new rule was added: a governor can only serve two terms. The governor and lieutenant governor are always elected together as a team. If the governor's job becomes empty for any reason, the lieutenant governor steps in to become the new governor. A new governor's term officially starts on December 15 after they are elected.