kids encyclopedia robot

List of governors of Utah facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Governor of Utah
Spencer Cox at the Economic Club of Washington D.C. (53545313288).jpg
Incumbent
Spencer Cox

since January 4, 2021
Style The Honorable
Residence Utah Governor's Mansion
Term length Four years, renewable, no term limits
Inaugural holder Heber Manning Wells
Formation January 6, 1896
Deputy Deidre Henderson
Salary $150,000 (2019)

The Governor of Utah is the state's top leader. They are like the chief executive of Utah. The governor makes sure that state laws are followed. They can also approve or reject new laws passed by the Utah Legislature. The governor leads Utah's military forces, called the National Guard.

Before Utah became a state, it was a territory. It had 15 governors appointed by the U.S. President. The first one was Brigham Young, who served for seven years. One governor, John W. Dawson, only served for three weeks!

So far, 18 people have been the Governor of Utah. Cal Rampton served the longest, for 12 years (three terms). Olene Walker served the shortest time, about 14 months. The youngest governor was Heber Manning Wells (36 years old). The oldest elected was Simon Bamberger (70 years old).

Governors serve for four years. There is no limit to how many terms a governor can serve. Elections for governor happen in November, usually at the same time as the U.S. presidential election.

The current governor is Spencer Cox. He took office on January 4, 2021. Governor Cox was elected in November 2020.

Becoming Governor: What It Takes

To become the Governor of Utah, a person must meet certain requirements. These rules help make sure the governor is ready for the job.

Age and Residency Rules

To be elected Governor of Utah, you must:

  • Be at least 30 years old.
  • Have lived in Utah for at least five years by election day.
  • Be a citizen of the United States.
  • Be a registered voter in Utah when the election happens.

History of Utah's Governors

The land that is now Utah became part of the United States in 1848. This happened after the Mexican–American War and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

The State of Deseret (Early Days)

In 1849, people in Salt Lake City held a meeting. They wanted to create a state or territory. This led to the temporary State of Deseret. This "state" was much larger than Utah is today. It included parts of many other states.

Brigham Young was chosen as its governor in March 1849. But the U.S. government never officially recognized Deseret. So, it was dissolved in 1851.

Governors of Utah Territory

In 1850, the Utah Territory was officially created by the U.S. government. This happened as part of the Compromise of 1850. The news reached Salt Lake City in 1851.

The U.S. President appointed the governors for the Utah Territory. Many of these governors were not from Utah. They were often chosen as political favors.

Governors of the Territory of Utah
No. Governor Time in Office President Who Appointed Them
1 Portrait of a well-dressed nineteenth-century man, sitting. Brigham Young
(1801–1877)
September 28, 1850

July 11, 1857
(new governor appointed)
Fillmore, MillardMillard Fillmore
2 Upper-body portrait of a mid-nineteenth-century man in a suit. Alfred Cumming
(1802–1873)
July 11, 1857

May 17, 1861
(left territory)
Buchanan, JamesJames Buchanan
3 Upper-body portrait of a mid-nineteenth-century man in a suit. John W. Dawson
(1820–1877)
October 3, 1861

December 31, 1861
(left territory)
Lincoln, AbrahamAbraham Lincoln
4 Upper-body portrait of a mid-nineteenth-century man in a suit. Stephen S. Harding
(1808–1891)
March 31, 1862

June 2, 1863
(new governor appointed)
Lincoln, AbrahamAbraham Lincoln
5 Upper-body portrait of a mid-nineteenth-century man in a suit. James Duane Doty
(1799–1865)
June 2, 1863

June 13, 1865
(died in office)
Lincoln, AbrahamAbraham Lincoln
6 Upper-body portrait of a mid-nineteenth-century man in a suit. Charles Durkee
(1805–1870)
July 15, 1865

January 17, 1870
(new governor appointed)
Johnson, AndrewAndrew Johnson
7 Upper-body portrait of a mid-nineteenth-century man in a suit. John Shaffer
(1827–1870)
January 17, 1870

October 31, 1870
(died in office)
Grant, Ulysses S.Ulysses S. Grant
8 Upper-body portrait of a mid-nineteenth-century man in a suit. Vernon H. Vaughan
(1838–1878)
October 31, 1870

February 2, 1871
(new governor appointed)
Grant, Ulysses S.Ulysses S. Grant
9 Upper-body portrait of a mid-nineteenth-century man in a suit. George Lemuel Woods
(1832–1890)
February 2, 1871

February 2, 1875
(new governor appointed)
Grant, Ulysses S.Ulysses S. Grant
10 Upper-body portrait of a late-nineteenth-century man in a suit. Samuel Beach Axtell
(1819–1891)
February 2, 1875

July 1, 1875
(resigned)
Grant, Ulysses S.Ulysses S. Grant
11 Upper-body portrait of a late-nineteenth-century man in a suit. George W. Emery
(1830–1909)
July 1, 1875

January 27, 1880
(new governor appointed)
Grant, Ulysses S.Ulysses S. Grant
12 Upper-body portrait of a late-nineteenth-century man in a suit. Eli Houston Murray
(1843–1896)
January 27, 1880

March 16, 1886
(resigned)
Hayes, Rutherford B.Rutherford B. Hayes
Arthur, Chester A.Chester A. Arthur
13 Upper-body portrait of a late-nineteenth-century man in a suit. Caleb Walton West
(1844–1909)
April 21, 1886

May 6, 1889
(new governor appointed)
Cleveland, GroverGrover Cleveland
14 Upper-body portrait of a late-nineteenth-century man in a suit. Arthur Lloyd Thomas
(1851–1924)
May 6, 1889

May 9, 1893
(new governor appointed)
Harrison, BenjaminBenjamin Harrison
15 Upper-body portrait of a late-nineteenth-century man in a suit. Caleb Walton West
(1844–1909)
May 9, 1893

January 4, 1896
(Utah became a state)
Cleveland, GroverGrover Cleveland

Governors of the State of Utah

Utah officially became a state on January 4, 1896. Since then, the governor has served a four-year term. This term starts on the first Monday of January after an election.

Utah also has a Lieutenant Governor. This position was created in 1976. If the governor's office becomes empty, the lieutenant governor takes over. If it happens in the first year, they become governor until the next election. If it's after the first year, they finish the term. The governor and lieutenant governor run for office together.

Utah used to have term limits for governors. This meant a governor could only serve three terms. But in 2003, these limits were removed. Now, a governor can serve as many terms as they are elected for.


Governors of the State of Utah
No. Governor Time in Office Party Election Lt. Governor
1 Heber Wells (Utah Governor).jpg   Heber Manning Wells
(1859–1938)
January 6, 1896

January 2, 1905
(did not run again)
Republican 1895 Office did not exist
1900
2 John Christopher Cutler.jpg John Christopher Cutler
(1846–1928)
January 2, 1905

January 4, 1909
(did not run again)
Republican 1904
3 William Spry.jpg William Spry
(1864–1929)
January 4, 1909

January 1, 1917
(lost nomination)
Republican 1908
1912
4 Simon Bamberger.jpg Simon Bamberger
(1845–1926)
January 1, 1917

January 3, 1921
(did not run again)
Democratic 1916
5 CharlesRMabey.jpg Charles R. Mabey
(1877–1959)
January 3, 1921

January 5, 1925
(lost election)
Republican 1920
6 George H Dern.jpg George Dern
(1872–1936)
January 5, 1925

January 2, 1933
(did not run again)
Democratic 1924
1928
7 Henry H. Blood.jpg Henry H. Blood
(1872–1942)
January 2, 1933

January 6, 1941
(did not run again)
Democratic 1932
1936
8 Herbert B. Maw (UT).png Herbert B. Maw
(1893–1990)
January 6, 1941

January 3, 1949
(lost election)
Democratic 1940
1944
9 J. Bracken Lee.jpg J. Bracken Lee
(1899–1996)
January 3, 1949

January 7, 1957
(lost election)
Republican 1948
1952
10 George Dewey Clyde.jpg George Dewey Clyde
(1898–1972)
January 7, 1957

January 4, 1965
(did not run again)
Republican 1956
1960
11 Calvin L. Rampton.jpg Cal Rampton
(1913–2007)
January 4, 1965

January 3, 1977
(did not run again)
Democratic 1964
1968
1972   Miller, Clyde L.Clyde L. Miller
12 Scott Matheson speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the USS Salt Lake City, May 12, 1984 (cropped).JPEG Scott M. Matheson
(1929–1990)
January 3, 1977

January 7, 1985
(did not run again)
Democratic 1976 Monson, David SmithDavid Smith Monson
1980
13 Norman Bangerter (Utah governor).png Norman H. Bangerter
(1933–2015)
January 7, 1985

January 4, 1993
(did not run again)
Republican 1984 Oveson, W. ValW. Val Oveson
1988
14 Mike Leavitt.jpg Mike Leavitt
(b. 1951)
January 4, 1993

November 5, 2003
(resigned)
Republican 1992 Walker, OleneOlene Walker
1996
2000
15 Olene Walker.JPG Olene Walker
(1930–2015)
November 5, 2003

January 3, 2005
(lost nomination)
Republican Became governor from
lieutenant
governor
McKeachnie, GayleGayle McKeachnie
16 Ambassador Jon Huntsman (cropped).jpg Jon Huntsman Jr.
(b. 1960)
January 3, 2005

August 11, 2009
(resigned)
Republican 2004 Herbert, GaryGary Herbert
2008
17 2013-05-23 Gary R Herbert.JPG Gary Herbert
(b. 1947)
August 11, 2009

January 4, 2021
(did not run again)
Republican Became governor from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
Bell, GregGreg Bell
(appointed September 1, 2009)
(resigned October 16, 2013)
2010
(special)
2012
Cox, SpencerSpencer Cox
(appointed October 16, 2013)
2016
18 DCM Reception for the Governor of Utah. September 12, 2022 47 (crop) (cropped).jpg Spencer Cox
(b. 1975)
January 4, 2021

Incumbent
Republican 2020 Henderson, DeidreDeidre Henderson
2024

See Also

  • List of Utah state legislatures
  • Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Utah
kids search engine
List of governors of Utah Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.