List of governors of Utah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor of Utah |
|
---|---|
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.
Contents
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.
No. | Governor | Time in Office | President Who Appointed Them | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Brigham Young (1801–1877) |
September 28, 1850 – July 11, 1857 (new governor appointed) |
Millard Fillmore |
2 | ![]() |
Alfred Cumming (1802–1873) |
July 11, 1857 – May 17, 1861 (left territory) |
James Buchanan |
3 | ![]() |
John W. Dawson (1820–1877) |
October 3, 1861 – December 31, 1861 (left territory) |
Abraham Lincoln |
4 | ![]() |
Stephen S. Harding (1808–1891) |
March 31, 1862 – June 2, 1863 (new governor appointed) |
Abraham Lincoln |
5 | ![]() |
James Duane Doty (1799–1865) |
June 2, 1863 – June 13, 1865 (died in office) |
Abraham Lincoln |
6 | ![]() |
Charles Durkee (1805–1870) |
July 15, 1865 – January 17, 1870 (new governor appointed) |
Andrew Johnson |
7 | ![]() |
John Shaffer (1827–1870) |
January 17, 1870 – October 31, 1870 (died in office) |
Ulysses S. Grant |
8 | ![]() |
Vernon H. Vaughan (1838–1878) |
October 31, 1870 – February 2, 1871 (new governor appointed) |
Ulysses S. Grant |
9 | ![]() |
George Lemuel Woods (1832–1890) |
February 2, 1871 – February 2, 1875 (new governor appointed) |
Ulysses S. Grant |
10 | ![]() |
Samuel Beach Axtell (1819–1891) |
February 2, 1875 – July 1, 1875 (resigned) |
Ulysses S. Grant |
11 | ![]() |
George W. Emery (1830–1909) |
July 1, 1875 – January 27, 1880 (new governor appointed) |
Ulysses S. Grant |
12 | ![]() |
Eli Houston Murray (1843–1896) |
January 27, 1880 – March 16, 1886 (resigned) |
Rutherford B. Hayes |
Chester A. Arthur | ||||
13 | ![]() |
Caleb Walton West (1844–1909) |
April 21, 1886 – May 6, 1889 (new governor appointed) |
Grover Cleveland |
14 | ![]() |
Arthur Lloyd Thomas (1851–1924) |
May 6, 1889 – May 9, 1893 (new governor appointed) |
Benjamin Harrison |
15 | ![]() |
Caleb Walton West (1844–1909) |
May 9, 1893 – January 4, 1896 (Utah became a state) |
Grover 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.
No. | Governor | Time in Office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
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 (1846–1928) |
January 2, 1905 – January 4, 1909 (did not run again) |
Republican | 1904 | |||
3 | ![]() |
William Spry (1864–1929) |
January 4, 1909 – January 1, 1917 (lost nomination) |
Republican | 1908 | |||
1912 | ||||||||
4 | ![]() |
Simon Bamberger (1845–1926) |
January 1, 1917 – January 3, 1921 (did not run again) |
Democratic | 1916 | |||
5 | ![]() |
Charles R. Mabey (1877–1959) |
January 3, 1921 – January 5, 1925 (lost election) |
Republican | 1920 | |||
6 | ![]() |
George Dern (1872–1936) |
January 5, 1925 – January 2, 1933 (did not run again) |
Democratic | 1924 | |||
1928 | ||||||||
7 | ![]() |
Henry H. Blood (1872–1942) |
January 2, 1933 – January 6, 1941 (did not run again) |
Democratic | 1932 | |||
1936 | ||||||||
8 | ![]() |
Herbert B. Maw (1893–1990) |
January 6, 1941 – January 3, 1949 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1940 | |||
1944 | ||||||||
9 | ![]() |
J. Bracken Lee (1899–1996) |
January 3, 1949 – January 7, 1957 (lost election) |
Republican | 1948 | |||
1952 | ||||||||
10 | ![]() |
George Dewey Clyde (1898–1972) |
January 7, 1957 – January 4, 1965 (did not run again) |
Republican | 1956 | |||
1960 | ||||||||
11 | ![]() |
Cal Rampton (1913–2007) |
January 4, 1965 – January 3, 1977 (did not run again) |
Democratic | 1964 | |||
1968 | ||||||||
1972 | Clyde L. Miller | |||||||
12 | Scott M. Matheson (1929–1990) |
January 3, 1977 – January 7, 1985 (did not run again) |
Democratic | 1976 | David Smith Monson | |||
1980 | ||||||||
13 | ![]() |
Norman H. Bangerter (1933–2015) |
January 7, 1985 – January 4, 1993 (did not run again) |
Republican | 1984 | W. Val Oveson | ||
1988 | ||||||||
14 | ![]() |
Mike Leavitt (b. 1951) |
January 4, 1993 – November 5, 2003 (resigned) |
Republican | 1992 | Olene Walker | ||
1996 | ||||||||
2000 | ||||||||
15 | Olene Walker (1930–2015) |
November 5, 2003 – January 3, 2005 (lost nomination) |
Republican | Became governor from lieutenant governor |
Gayle McKeachnie | |||
16 | ![]() |
Jon Huntsman Jr. (b. 1960) |
January 3, 2005 – August 11, 2009 (resigned) |
Republican | 2004 | Gary Herbert | ||
2008 | ||||||||
17 | Gary Herbert (b. 1947) |
August 11, 2009 – January 4, 2021 (did not run again) |
Republican | Became governor from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | |||
Greg Bell (appointed September 1, 2009) (resigned October 16, 2013) |
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2010 (special) |
||||||||
2012 | ||||||||
Spencer Cox (appointed October 16, 2013) |
||||||||
2016 | ||||||||
18 | ![]() |
Spencer Cox (b. 1975) |
January 4, 2021 – Incumbent |
Republican | 2020 | Deidre Henderson | ||
2024 |
See Also
- List of Utah state legislatures
- Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Utah