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List of governors of North Dakota facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The governor of North Dakota is like the main leader or "boss" of the U.S. state of North Dakota. This person is in charge of the state's executive branch, which means they help make sure state laws are followed.

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

Governors of North Dakota

North Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. Before that, it was part of the Dakota Territory.

The rules for choosing a governor have changed over time. At first, governors and lieutenant governors were elected every two years. In 1964, this changed to every four years. Starting in 2023, a governor can only serve two terms. The governor and lieutenant governor run for election together. If the governor's job becomes empty, the lieutenant governor steps in to become governor. Their term officially starts on December 15 after the election.

Governors of the State of North Dakota
No. Governor Time in office Party Election Lt. Governor
1 John Miller (North Dakota Governor).jpg   John Miller
(1843–1908)
 November 20, 1889
–
January 7, 1891
(did not run)		 Republican 1889   Dickey, AlfredAlfred Dickey
2 Andrew H. Burke (North Dakota Governor).jpg Andrew H. Burke
(1850–1918)
 January 7, 1891
–
January 4, 1893
(lost election)		 Republican 1890 Allin, RogerRoger Allin
3 Eli Shortridge.jpg 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 (North Dakota Governor).jpg Roger Allin
(1848–1936)
 January 9, 1895
–
January 7, 1897
(lost nomination)		 Republican 1894 Worst, John H.John H. Worst
5 Frank A. Briggs (North Dakota Governor).jpg 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.gif Joseph M. Devine
(1861–1938)
 August 9, 1898
–
January 3, 1899
(did not run)		 Republican Became governor from
lieutenant
governor		 Vacant
7 Frederick Fancher (North Dakota Governor).jpg Frederick B. Fancher
(1852–1944)
 January 3, 1899
–
January 7, 1901
(withdrew)		 Republican 1898 Devine, Joseph M.Joseph M. Devine
8 Frank White, governor of North Dakota.gif Frank White
(1856–1940)
 January 7, 1901
–
January 4, 1905
(did not run)		 Republican 1900 Bartlett, DavidDavid Bartlett
1902
9 Elmore Y. Sarles.gif Elmore Y. Sarles
(1859–1929)
 January 4, 1905
–
January 9, 1907
(lost election)		 Republican 1904
10 Portrait of Governor John Burke of North Dakota.jpeg 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 LouisBHanna.jpg 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.jpg 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 RagnvaldANestos.jpg 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 ArthurGSorlie.jpg Arthur G. Sorlie
(1874–1928)
 January 7, 1925
–
August 28, 1928
(died in office)		 Republican/
Nonpartisan League		 1924 Maddock, WalterWalter Maddock
1926
15 Walter J. Maddock (North Dakota governor).jpg Walter Maddock
(1880–1951)
 August 28, 1928
–
January 9, 1929
(lost election)		 Republican/
Nonpartisan League		 Became governor from
lieutenant
governor		 Vacant
16 George F. Shafer (Governor of North Dakota, circa. 1929-1933).jpg 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.jpg 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 Alt Edit.jpg Ole H. Olson
(1872–1954)
 July 19, 1934
–
January 7, 1935
(did not run)		 Republican/
Nonpartisan League		 Became governor from
lieutenant
governor		 Vacant
19 Thomas H. Moodie (North Dakota governor).jpg Thomas H. Moodie
(1878–1948)
 January 7, 1935
–
February 2, 1935
(removed)		 Democratic 1934 Welford, WalterWalter Welford
20 Walter Welford (North Dakota governor).jpg Walter Welford
(1868–1952)
 February 2, 1935
–
January 6, 1937
(lost election)		 Republican/
Nonpartisan League		 Became governor from
lieutenant
governor		 Vacant
21 William Langer.jpg 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.jpg 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 (North Dakota governor).png 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 Clarence Brunsdale.jpg 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 in 1969 Civil Defense film.png 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 North Dakota Governor 1968.jpg 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.jpg Arthur A. Link
(1914–2010)
 January 2, 1973
–
January 6, 1981
(lost election)		 Democratic–
Nonpartisan League		 1972 Sanstead, WayneWayne Sanstead
1976
28 Allen Olson.jpg Allen I. Olson
(b. 1938)
 January 6, 1981
–
December 31, 1984
(lost election)		 Republican 1980 Sands, ErnestErnest Sands
29 George Sinner.png 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 -- February 2008.jpg Ed Schafer
(b. 1946)
 December 15, 1992
–
December 15, 2000
(did not run)		 Republican 1992 Myrdal, RosemarieRosemarie Myrdal
1996
31 John Hoeven, Official Senate Portrait, 112th Congress.jpg John Hoeven
(b. 1957)
 December 15, 2000
–
December 7, 2010
(resigned)		 Republican 2000 Dalrymple, JackJack Dalrymple
2004
2008
32 Jack Dalrymple 2013 (cropped 2).jpg Jack Dalrymple
(b. 1948)
 December 7, 2010
–
December 15, 2016
(did not run)		 Republican Became governor from
lieutenant
governor		 Wrigley, DrewDrew Wrigley
2012
33 Governor Doug Burgum (cropped).jpg 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 (cropped).jpg Kelly Armstrong
(b. 1976)
 December 15, 2024
–
Incumbent		 Republican 2024 Strinden, MichelleMichelle Strinden

See also

  • Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#North Dakota
  • List of North Dakota Legislative Assemblies
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