List of governors of Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor of Wisconsin |
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Gubernatorial seal
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| Residence | Wisconsin Governor's Mansion |
| Term length | Four years, no term limits |
| Inaugural holder | Nelson Dewey |
| Formation | June 7, 1848 |
| Succession | Line of succession |
| Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin |
| Salary | $152,756 (2022) |
The governor of Wisconsin is like the chief executive officer for the state of Wisconsin. They are the main leader of the state government and the top commander of Wisconsin's own military forces, the Army and Air National Guard.
The governor's job is to make sure state laws are followed. They can also approve or veto (say no to) new laws that the Wisconsin Legislature (the state's lawmakers) pass. The governor can also call the lawmakers together for special meetings. They have the power to pardon people, which means forgiving them for certain crimes, except in very serious cases like treason.
Since Wisconsin became a state in 1848, 44 different people have been governor. One of them, Philip La Follette, served terms that were not back-to-back. Nelson Dewey was the very first governor, starting on June 7, 1848.
The governor who served the longest was Tommy Thompson. He was governor for more than 14 years, from January 5, 1987, to February 1, 2001. The shortest term was held by Arthur MacArthur Sr., who was governor for only 5 days in March 1856. The current governor is Tony Evers, who is a Democrat. He started his term on January 7, 2019.
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Wisconsin's Early History and Governors
Before Wisconsin became a state, it was part of different territories in the United States. After the American Revolution, parts of what is now Wisconsin were claimed by states like Virginia and Massachusetts. These claims were later given up.
On July 13, 1787, the Northwest Territory was created, and Wisconsin was part of it until 1800. After that, Wisconsin was part of the Indiana Territory (1800–1809), then the Illinois Territory (1809–1818), and finally the Michigan Territory (1818–1836). Each of these territories had its own governor.
Governors of Wisconsin Territory
The Wisconsin Territory was officially formed on July 3, 1836. During this time, three people were appointed as governor by the President of the United States. One of these governors served two terms that were not consecutive.
When most of the Wisconsin Territory became the state of Wisconsin, the remaining part was no longer officially organized. However, the people living there still kept a local government. The Territorial Secretary, John Catlin, acted as the governor for this remaining area.
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Appointing President | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Henry Dodge (1782–1867) |
April 30, 1836 – September 13, 1841 (successor appointed) |
Andrew Jackson |
| Martin Van Buren | ||||
| 2 |  |
James Duane Doty (1799–1865) |
September 13, 1841 – June 15, 1844 (successor appointed) |
John Tyler |
| 3 |  |
Nathaniel P. Tallmadge (1795–1864) |
June 15, 1844 – April 8, 1845 (successor appointed) |
John Tyler |
| 4 |  |
Henry Dodge (1782–1867) |
April 8, 1845 – June 23, 1848 (statehood) |
James K. Polk |
Governors of the State of Wisconsin
Wisconsin officially became a state on May 29, 1848. Since then, it has had 45 governors. One of these governors served terms that were not back-to-back.
Originally, governors in Wisconsin served for two-year terms. But in 1967, the state constitution was changed to make the term four years long. Jeremiah McLain Rusk served one three-year term in the 1880s because the constitution was changed during his first term. This change moved elections to even years, and all officers were allowed to serve an extra year. Patrick Lucey, elected in 1970, was the first governor to serve a full four-year term. There is no limit to how many terms a person can serve as governor of Wisconsin.
Several governors have served three terms, including Lucius Fairchild, Jeremiah McLain Rusk, and Robert M. La Follette. Tommy Thompson is the only person to have won four terms. He was elected in 1986, 1990, 1994, and 1998. He resigned in February 2001.
The state constitution also creates the job of lieutenant governor. In the past, the governor and lieutenant governor were elected separately, so they might not have been from the same political party. However, since the 1967 change, they are now chosen and voted on together.
If the governor's office becomes empty for any reason, the lieutenant governor takes over. If the governor dies, resigns, or is removed from office, the lieutenant governor becomes the new governor. If the governor is just away from the state, or unable to do their job, the lieutenant governor acts as governor. If the lieutenant governor's office is also empty, then the secretary of state takes over. So far, two Wisconsin governors have died while in office, and four have resigned.
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Nelson Dewey (1813–1889) |
June 7, 1848 – January 5, 1852 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1848 | John Edwin Holmes | ||
| 1849 | Samuel Beall | |||||||
| 2 |  |
Leonard J. Farwell (1819–1889) |
January 5, 1852 – January 2, 1854 (did not run) |
Whig | 1851 | Timothy Burns (died September 21, 1853) |
||
| Vacant | ||||||||
| 3 |  |
William A. Barstow (1813–1865) |
January 2, 1854 – March 21, 1856 (resigned) |
Democratic | 1853 | James T. Lewis | ||
| 1855 | Arthur MacArthur Sr. | |||||||
| 4 |  |
Arthur MacArthur Sr. (1815–1896) |
March 21, 1856 – March 25, 1856 (removed from office) |
Democratic | Acting as governor | |||
| 5 | .jpg) |
Coles Bashford (1816–1878) |
March 25, 1856 – January 4, 1858 (did not run) |
Republican | Arthur MacArthur Sr. | |||
| 6 |  |
Alexander Randall (1819–1872) |
January 4, 1858 – January 6, 1862 (did not run) |
Republican | 1857 | Erasmus D. Campbell | ||
| 1859 | Butler Noble | |||||||
| 7 |  |
Louis P. Harvey (1820–1862) |
January 6, 1862 – April 19, 1862 (died in office) |
Republican | 1861 | Edward Salomon | ||
| 8 |  |
Edward Salomon (1828–1909) |
April 19, 1862 – January 4, 1864 (lost nomination) |
Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | ||
| 9 |  |
James T. Lewis (1819–1904) |
January 4, 1864 – January 1, 1866 (did not run) |
Republican | 1863 | Wyman Spooner | ||
| 10 |  |
Lucius Fairchild (1831–1896) |
January 1, 1866 – January 1, 1872 (did not run) |
Republican | 1865 | |||
| 1867 | ||||||||
| 1869 | Thaddeus C. Pound | |||||||
| 11 |  |
Cadwallader C. Washburn (1818–1882) |
January 1, 1872 – January 5, 1874 (lost election) |
Republican | 1871 | Milton Pettit (died March 23, 1873) |
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| Vacant | ||||||||
| 12 |  |
William Robert Taylor (1820–1909) |
January 5, 1874 – January 3, 1876 (lost election) |
Reform | 1873 | Charles D. Parker | ||
| 13 |  |
Harrison Ludington (1812–1891) |
January 3, 1876 – January 7, 1878 (did not run) |
Republican | 1875 | |||
| 14 | William E. Smith (1824–1883) |
January 7, 1878 – January 2, 1882 (did not run) |
Republican | 1877 | James M. Bingham | |||
| 1879 | ||||||||
| 15 |  |
Jeremiah McLain Rusk (1830–1893) |
January 2, 1882 – January 7, 1889 (did not run) |
Republican | 1881 | Sam Fifield | ||
| 1884 | ||||||||
| 1886 | George Washington Ryland | |||||||
| 16 |  |
William D. Hoard (1836–1918) |
January 7, 1889 – January 5, 1891 (lost election) |
Republican | 1888 | |||
| 17 |  |
George Wilbur Peck (1840–1916) |
January 5, 1891 – January 7, 1895 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1890 | Charles Jonas (resigned April 4, 1894) |
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| 1892 | ||||||||
| Vacant | ||||||||
| 18 |  |
William H. Upham (1841–1924) |
January 7, 1895 – January 4, 1897 (did not run) |
Republican | 1894 | Emil Baensch | ||
| 19 |  |
Edward Scofield (1842–1925) |
January 4, 1897 – January 7, 1901 (did not run) |
Republican | 1896 | |||
| 1898 | Jesse Stone (died May 11, 1902) |
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| 20 |  |
Robert M. La Follette (1855–1925) |
January 7, 1901 – January 1, 1906 (resigned) |
Republican | 1900 | |||
| Vacant | ||||||||
| 1902 | James O. Davidson | |||||||
| 1904 | ||||||||
| 21 |  |
James O. Davidson (1854–1922) |
January 1, 1906 – January 2, 1911 (did not run) |
Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | ||
| 1906 | William D. Connor | |||||||
| 1908 | John Strange | |||||||
| 22 |  |
Francis E. McGovern (1866–1946) |
January 2, 1911 – January 4, 1915 (did not run) |
Republican | 1910 | Thomas Morris | ||
| 1912 | ||||||||
| 23 | .jpg) |
Emanuel L. Philipp (1861–1925) |
January 4, 1915 – January 3, 1921 (did not run) |
Republican | 1914 | Edward Dithmar | ||
| 1916 | ||||||||
| 1918 | ||||||||
| 24 | .png) |
John J. Blaine (1875–1934) |
January 3, 1921 – January 3, 1927 (did not run) |
Republican | 1920 | George Comings | ||
| 1922 | ||||||||
| 1924 | Henry Huber | |||||||
| 25 |  |
Fred R. Zimmerman (1880–1954) |
January 3, 1927 – January 7, 1929 (lost nomination) |
Republican | 1926 | |||
| 26 | .jpg) |
Walter J. Kohler Sr. (1875–1940) |
January 7, 1929 – January 5, 1931 (lost nomination) |
Republican | 1928 | |||
| 27 | .jpg) |
Philip La Follette (1897–1965) |
January 5, 1931 – January 2, 1933 (lost nomination) |
Republican | 1930 | |||
| 28 |  |
Albert G. Schmedeman (1864–1946) |
January 2, 1933 – January 7, 1935 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1932 | Thomas J. O'Malley (died May 27, 1936) |
||
| 29 | |
Philip La Follette (1897–1965) |
January 7, 1935 – January 2, 1939 (lost election) |
Progressive | 1934 | |||
| Vacant | ||||||||
| 1936 | Henry Gunderson (resigned October 16, 1937) |
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| Vacant | ||||||||
| Herman Ekern (appointed May 16, 1938) |
||||||||
| 30 |  |
Julius P. Heil (1876–1949) |
January 2, 1939 – January 4, 1943 (lost election) |
Republican | 1938 | Walter Samuel Goodland | ||
| 1940 | ||||||||
| — | .jpg) |
Orland Steen Loomis (1893–1942) |
Died before taking office |
Progressive | 1942 | |||
| 31 |  |
Walter Samuel Goodland (1862–1947) |
January 4, 1943 – March 12, 1947 (died in office) |
Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | ||
| 1944 | Oscar Rennebohm | |||||||
| 1946 | ||||||||
| 32 |  |
Oscar Rennebohm (1889–1968) |
March 12, 1947 – January 1, 1951 (did not run) |
Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | ||
| 1948 | George M. Smith | |||||||
| 33 |
|
Walter J. Kohler Jr. (1904–1976) |
January 1, 1951 – January 7, 1957 (did not run) |
Republican | 1950 | |||
| 1952 | ||||||||
| 1954 | Warren P. Knowles | |||||||
| 34 | .png) |
Vernon Wallace Thomson (1905–1988) |
January 7, 1957 – January 5, 1959 (lost election) |
Republican | 1956 | |||
| 35 | .png) |
Gaylord Nelson (1916–2005) |
January 5, 1959 – January 7, 1963 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1958 | Philleo Nash | ||
| 1960 | Warren P. Knowles | |||||||
| 36 | .png) |
John W. Reynolds Jr. (1921–2002) |
January 7, 1963 – January 4, 1965 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1962 | Jack B. Olson | ||
| 37 | .jpg) |
Warren P. Knowles (1908–1993) |
January 4, 1965 – January 4, 1971 (did not run) |
Republican | 1964 | Patrick Lucey | ||
| 1966 | Jack B. Olson | |||||||
| 1968 | ||||||||
| 38 |  |
Patrick Lucey (1918–2014) |
January 4, 1971 – July 6, 1977 (resigned) |
Democratic | 1970 | Martin J. Schreiber | ||
| 1974 | ||||||||
| 39 | .png) |
Martin J. Schreiber (b. 1939) |
July 6, 1977 – January 3, 1979 (lost election) |
Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | ||
| 40 | .jpg) |
Lee S. Dreyfus (1926–2008) |
January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1983 (did not run) |
Republican | 1978 | Russell Olson | ||
| 41 | _(cropped).jpg) |
Tony Earl (1936–2023) |
January 3, 1983 – January 5, 1987 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1982 | James Flynn | ||
| 42 | .jpg) |
Tommy Thompson (b. 1941) |
January 5, 1987 – February 1, 2001 (resigned) |
Republican | 1986 | Scott McCallum | ||
| 1990 | ||||||||
| 1994 | ||||||||
| 1998 | ||||||||
| 43 | .jpg) |
Scott McCallum (b. 1950) |
February 1, 2001 – January 6, 2003 (lost election) |
Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | ||
| Margaret Farrow (appointed May 9, 2001) |
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| 44 | _(1).jpg) |
Jim Doyle (b. 1945) |
January 6, 2003 – January 3, 2011 (did not run) |
Democratic | 2002 | Barbara Lawton | ||
| 2006 | ||||||||
| 45 |  |
Scott Walker (b. 1967) |
January 3, 2011 – January 7, 2019 (lost election) |
Republican | 2010 | Rebecca Kleefisch | ||
| 2012 (recall) |
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| 2014 | ||||||||
| 46 | .jpg) |
Tony Evers (b. 1951) |
January 7, 2019 – Incumbent |
Democratic | 2018 | Mandela Barnes | ||
| 2022 | Sara Rodriguez | |||||||
.jpg)
More About Wisconsin's Government
- Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Wisconsin
- List of Wisconsin state legislatures
See also
In Spanish: Anexo:Gobernadores de Wisconsin para niños
