List of governors of Delaware facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor of Delaware |
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Government of Delaware | |
Style | The Honorable |
Residence | Delaware Governor's Mansion Dover, Delaware |
Term length | Four years, renewable once |
Inaugural holder | John McKinly |
Formation | February 12, 1777 |
Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of Delaware |
Salary | $171,000 (2013) |
The governor of Delaware is like the chief executive officer for the state. From 1776 to 1792, this role was called the president of Delaware. The governor is in charge of the state government. They also lead Delaware's military forces, known as the Delaware National Guard.
The governor's main jobs include making sure state laws are followed. They can also approve or reject new laws passed by the Delaware Legislature. The governor can call the legislature together for special meetings. They can also grant pardons, which means forgiving someone for a crime. However, they cannot do this in cases of impeachment, and only if the Board of Pardons recommends it.
So far, 71 different people have served as governor. Some, like Joseph Haslet, Charles Polk Jr., and Elbert N. Carvel, served more than one term but not back-to-back. Sadly, Henry Molleston was elected but passed away before he could start his term. Only four governors have been elected for two terms in a row. The longest-serving governor was Ruth Ann Minner. She served for just over eight years after taking over from someone else and then being elected twice.
The shortest terms were held by Bethany Hall-Long, who served 15 days. Dale E. Wolf served 18 days, and David P. Buckson served 19 days. These short terms happened when the previous governor left office early. The current governor is Democrat Matt Meyer. He started his term on January 21, 2025.
Contents
Understanding the Governor's Role
The governor of Delaware is the top leader of the state. They have many important duties. These include making sure laws are carried out. They also have a say in new laws. The governor can approve them or use a veto to stop them. This is a big part of how laws are made in Delaware.
How the Governor's Job Changed
Before 1776, Delaware was a colony of Great Britain. It was managed by governors from Pennsylvania. They called it the "Lower Counties on Delaware."
In 1776, Delaware became independent from Britain. The state then created its first constitution. This document set up the "President of Delaware" role. The legislature chose this leader for a three-year term. They could not be president again right away.
The name of the office changed to "Governor" in 1792. This was when a new constitution was adopted. It said the governor's term would start on the third Tuesday in January after an election. Governors could only serve three years out of any six-year period. The 1831 constitution made the term four years long. But governors could only serve one term. The current constitution from 1897 allows governors to serve two terms.
Who Takes Over if the Governor Leaves Office?
The 1776 constitution said that if the president's job was empty, the speaker of the legislative council would become a "vice-president." The 1792 constitution stated that the speaker of the senate would take over. The 1897 constitution created the lieutenant governor position. This person takes over if the governor's office becomes empty. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected at the same time. However, they are not always on the same election ticket.
No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | |||
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1 | ![]() |
John McKinly (1721–1796) |
February 21, 1777 – September 12, 1777 (left office) |
No parties | 1777 | Office did not exist | ||
2 | ![]() |
Thomas McKean (1734–1817) |
September 12, 1777 – October 20, 1777 (successor took office) |
Speaker of the Assembly acting as vice-president |
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3 | ![]() |
George Read (1733–1798) |
October 20, 1777 – March 31, 1778 (did not run) |
Speaker of the Legislative Council serving as vice-president |
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4 | ![]() |
Caesar Rodney (1728–1784) |
March 31, 1778 – November 13, 1781 (term-limited) |
1778 | ||||
5 | ![]() |
John Dickinson (1732–1808) |
November 13, 1781 – January 13, 1783 (resigned) |
1781 | ||||
6 | ![]() |
John Cook (1730–1789) |
January 13, 1783 – February 8, 1783 (did not run) |
Speaker of the Legislative Council serving as vice-president |
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7 | ![]() |
Nicholas Van Dyke (1738–1789) |
February 8, 1783 – October 28, 1786 (term-limited) |
1783 (special) |
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8 | ![]() |
Thomas Collins (1732–1789) |
October 28, 1786 – March 29, 1789 (died in office) |
1786 | ||||
9 | ![]() |
Jehu Davis (1738–1802) |
March 29, 1789 – June 2, 1789 (did not run) |
Speaker of the Legislative Council serving as vice-president |
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10 | ![]() |
Joshua Clayton (1744–1798) |
June 2, 1789 – January 13, 1796 (term-limited) |
Federalist | 1789 | |||
1792 | ||||||||
11 | ![]() |
Gunning Bedford Sr. (1742–1797) |
January 13, 1796 – September 28, 1797 (died in office) |
Federalist | 1795 | |||
12 | ![]() |
Daniel Rogers (1754–1806) |
September 28, 1797 – January 9, 1799 (successor took office) |
Federalist | Speaker of the Senate acting |
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13 | ![]() |
Richard Bassett (1745–1815) |
January 9, 1799 – March 3, 1801 (resigned) |
Federalist | 1798 | |||
14 | ![]() |
James Sykes (1761–1822) |
March 3, 1801 – January 19, 1802 (successor took office) |
Federalist | Speaker of the Senate acting |
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15 | ![]() |
David Hall (1752–1817) |
January 19, 1802 – January 15, 1805 (term-limited) |
Democratic- Republican |
1801 | |||
16 | ![]() |
Nathaniel Mitchell (1753–1814) |
January 15, 1805 – January 19, 1808 (term-limited) |
Federalist | 1804 | |||
17 | ![]() |
George Truitt (1756–1818) |
January 19, 1808 – January 15, 1811 (term-limited) |
Federalist | 1807 | |||
18 | ![]() |
Joseph Haslet (1769–1823) |
January 15, 1811 – January 18, 1814 (term-limited) |
Democratic- Republican |
1810 | |||
19 | ![]() |
Daniel Rodney (1764–1846) |
January 18, 1814 – January 21, 1817 (term-limited) |
Federalist | 1813 | |||
20 | ![]() |
John Clark (1761–1821) |
January 21, 1817 – January 15, 1820 (resigned) |
Federalist | 1816 | |||
— | ![]() |
Henry Molleston (1762–1819) |
Died before taking office |
Federalist | 1819 | |||
21 | ![]() |
Jacob Stout (1764–1855) |
January 15, 1820 – January 16, 1821 (successor took office) |
Federalist | Speaker of the Senate acting |
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22 | ![]() |
John Collins (1776–1822) |
January 16, 1821 – April 16, 1822 (died in office) |
Democratic- Republican |
1820 (special) |
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23 | ![]() |
Caleb Rodney (1767–1840) |
April 23, 1822 – January 21, 1823 (did not run) |
Federalist | Speaker of the Senate acting |
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24 | ![]() |
Joseph Haslet (1769–1823) |
January 21, 1823 – June 20, 1823 (died in office) |
Democratic- Republican |
1822 | |||
25 | ![]() |
Charles Thomas (1790–1848) |
June 20, 1823 – January 20, 1824 (successor took office) |
Democratic- Republican |
Speaker of the Senate acting |
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26 | ![]() |
Samuel Paynter (1768–1845) |
January 20, 1824 – January 16, 1827 (term-limited) |
Federalist | 1823 (special) |
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27 | ![]() |
Charles Polk Jr. (1788–1857) |
January 16, 1827 – January 19, 1830 (term-limited) |
Federalist | 1826 | |||
28 | ![]() |
David Hazzard (1781–1864) |
January 19, 1830 – January 15, 1833 (term-limited) |
National Republican |
1829 | |||
29 | ![]() |
Caleb P. Bennett (1758–1836) |
January 15, 1833 – May 9, 1836 (died in office) |
Democratic | 1832 | |||
30 | ![]() |
Charles Polk Jr. (1788–1857) |
May 9, 1836 – January 17, 1837 (successor took office) |
Whig | Speaker of the Senate acting |
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31 | ![]() |
Cornelius P. Comegys (1780–1851) |
January 17, 1837 – January 19, 1841 (term-limited) |
Whig | 1836 | |||
32 | ![]() |
William B. Cooper (1771–1849) |
January 19, 1841 – January 21, 1845 (term-limited) |
Whig | 1840 | |||
33 | ![]() |
Thomas Stockton (1781–1846) |
January 21, 1845 – March 2, 1846 (died in office) |
Whig | 1844 | |||
34 | ![]() |
Joseph Maull (1781–1846) |
March 2, 1846 – May 3, 1846 (died in office) |
Whig | Speaker of the Senate acting |
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35 | ![]() |
William Temple (1814–1863) |
May 6, 1846 – January 19, 1847 (successor took office) |
Whig | Speaker of the Senate acting |
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36 | ![]() |
William Tharp (1803–1865) |
January 19, 1847 – January 21, 1851 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1846 (special) |
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37 | ![]() |
William H. H. Ross (1814–1887) |
January 21, 1851 – January 16, 1855 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1850 | |||
38 | ![]() |
Peter F. Causey (1801–1871) |
January 16, 1855 – January 18, 1859 (term-limited) |
American | 1854 | |||
39 | ![]() |
William Burton (1789–1866) |
January 18, 1859 – January 20, 1863 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1858 | |||
40 | ![]() |
William Cannon (1809–1865) |
January 20, 1863 – March 1, 1865 (died in office) |
Republican | 1862 | |||
41 | ![]() |
Gove Saulsbury (1815–1881) |
March 1, 1865 – January 17, 1871 (term-limited) |
Democratic | Speaker of the Senate acting |
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1866 | ||||||||
42 | ![]() |
James Ponder (1819–1897) |
January 17, 1871 – January 19, 1875 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1870 | |||
43 | ![]() |
John P. Cochran (1809–1898) |
January 19, 1875 – January 21, 1879 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1874 | |||
44 | ![]() |
John W. Hall (1817–1892) |
January 21, 1879 – January 16, 1883 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1878 | |||
45 | ![]() |
Charles C. Stockley (1819–1901) |
January 16, 1883 – January 18, 1887 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1882 | |||
46 | ![]() |
Benjamin T. Biggs (1821–1893) |
January 18, 1887 – January 20, 1891 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1886 | |||
47 | ![]() |
Robert J. Reynolds (1838–1909) |
January 20, 1891 – January 15, 1895 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1890 | |||
48 | ![]() |
Joshua H. Marvil (1825–1895) |
January 15, 1895 – April 8, 1895 (died in office) |
Republican | 1894 | |||
49 | ![]() |
William T. Watson (1849–1917) |
April 8, 1895 – January 19, 1897 (successor took office) |
Democratic | Speaker of the Senate acting |
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50 | ![]() |
Ebe W. Tunnell (1844–1917) |
January 19, 1897 – January 15, 1901 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1896 | |||
51 | ![]() |
John Hunn (1849–1926) |
January 15, 1901 – January 17, 1905 (did not run) |
Republican | 1900 | Philip L. Cannon | ||
52 | ![]() |
Preston Lea (1841–1916) |
January 17, 1905 – January 19, 1909 (did not run) |
Republican | 1904 | Isaac T. Parker | ||
53 | ![]() |
Simeon S. Pennewill (1867–1935) |
January 19, 1909 – January 21, 1913 (did not run) |
Republican | 1908 | John M. Mendinhall | ||
54 | ![]() |
Charles R. Miller (1857–1927) |
January 21, 1913 – January 16, 1917 (did not run) |
Republican | 1912 | Colen Ferguson | ||
55 | John G. Townsend Jr. (1871–1964) |
January 16, 1917 – January 18, 1921 (did not run) |
Republican | 1916 | Lewis E. Eliason | |||
56 | ![]() |
William D. Denney (1873–1953) |
January 18, 1921 – January 20, 1925 (did not run) |
Republican | 1920 | J. Danforth Bush | ||
57 | ![]() |
Robert P. Robinson (1869–1939) |
January 20, 1925 – January 15, 1929 (did not run) |
Republican | 1924 | James H. Anderson | ||
58 | ![]() |
C. Douglass Buck (1890–1965) |
January 15, 1929 – January 19, 1937 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1928 | James H. Hazel | ||
1932 | Roy F. Corley | |||||||
59 | ![]() |
Richard McMullen (1868–1944) |
January 19, 1937 – January 21, 1941 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1936 | Edward W. Cooch | ||
60 | ![]() |
Walter W. Bacon (1880–1962) |
January 21, 1941 – January 18, 1949 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1940 | Isaac J. MacCollum | ||
1944 | Elbert N. Carvel | |||||||
61 | ![]() |
Elbert N. Carvel (1910–2005) |
January 18, 1949 – January 20, 1953 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1948 | Alexis I. du Pont Bayard | ||
62 | ![]() |
J. Caleb Boggs (1909–1993) |
January 20, 1953 – December 30, 1960 (resigned) |
Republican | 1952 | John W. Rollins | ||
1956 | David P. Buckson | |||||||
63 | ![]() |
David P. Buckson (1920–2017) |
December 30, 1960 – January 17, 1961 (successor took office) |
Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | ||
64 | ![]() |
Elbert N. Carvel (1910–2005) |
January 17, 1961 – January 19, 1965 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1960 | Eugene Lammot | ||
65 | ![]() |
Charles L. Terry Jr. (1900–1970) |
January 19, 1965 – January 21, 1969 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1964 | Sherman W. Tribbitt | ||
66 | ![]() |
Russell W. Peterson (1916–2011) |
January 21, 1969 – January 16, 1973 (lost election) |
Republican | 1968 | Eugene Bookhammer | ||
67 | ![]() |
Sherman W. Tribbitt (1922–2010) |
January 16, 1973 – January 18, 1977 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1972 | |||
68 | ![]() |
Pete du Pont (1935–2021) |
January 18, 1977 – January 15, 1985 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1976 | James D. McGinnis | ||
1980 | Mike Castle | |||||||
69 | ![]() |
Mike Castle (b. 1939) |
January 15, 1985 – January 2, 1993 (resigned) |
Republican | 1984 | Shien Biau Woo | ||
1988 | Dale E. Wolf | |||||||
70 | ![]() |
Dale E. Wolf (1924–2021) |
January 3, 1993 – January 19, 1993 (successor took office) |
Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | ||
71 | ![]() |
Tom Carper (b. 1947) |
January 19, 1993 – January 3, 2001 (resigned) |
Democratic | 1992 | Ruth Ann Minner | ||
1996 | ||||||||
72 | ![]() |
Ruth Ann Minner (1935–2021) |
January 3, 2001 – January 20, 2009 (term-limited) |
Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | ||
2000 | John Carney | |||||||
2004 | ||||||||
73 | ![]() |
Jack Markell (b. 1960) |
January 20, 2009 – January 17, 2017 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 2008 | Matthew Denn (resigned January 6, 2015) |
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2012 | ||||||||
Vacant | ||||||||
74 | ![]() |
John Carney (b. 1956) |
January 17, 2017 – January 7, 2025 (resigned) |
Democratic | 2016 | Bethany Hall-Long | ||
2020 | ||||||||
75 | ![]() |
Bethany Hall-Long (b. 1963) |
January 7, 2025 – January 21, 2025 (successor took office) |
Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | ||
76 | ![]() |
Matt Meyer (b. 1971) |
January 21, 2025 – Incumbent |
Democratic | 2024 | Kyle Evans Gay |
See Also
- Delaware gubernatorial elections
- Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Delaware