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List of governors of Florida facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Ron DeSantis official photo
Ron DeSantis has been Florida's governor since January 8, 2019.

The governor of Florida is like the chief leader of the state of Florida. They are in charge of the executive branch of the state government. This means they help make sure the state's laws are carried out. The governor is also the commander-in-chief of the Florida National Guard and Florida State Guard, which are like Florida's own defense forces.

The current governor is Ron DeSantis. He is a member of the Republican Party and started his term on January 8, 2019.

Florida's Early Leaders

Florida became a part of the United States on July 10, 1821, after being acquired from Spain. Before it was officially organized as a territory, a military commissioner was in charge.

First Commissioner: Andrew Jackson

The very first person to lead Florida as a U.S. territory was Andrew Jackson. He was a military general who later became a U.S. President. He served as the military commissioner from March 10, 1821, to December 31, 1821.

Governors of Florida Territory

Florida officially became a U.S. territory on March 30, 1822. This combined East and West Florida into one area.

The first governor of the Florida Territory was William Pope Duval. He served for a long time, from April 17, 1822, to April 17, 1834. Other governors followed, helping to shape Florida before it became a state.

Florida Becomes a State

Florida officially joined the United States as a state on March 3, 1845. This was a big step for Florida!

Florida During the Civil War

Later, on January 10, 1861, Florida decided to leave the Union (the United States) and joined the Confederate States of America on February 8, 1861. This was during the American Civil War. After the war ended, Florida was readmitted to the Union on June 25, 1868.

How Governors Are Chosen and Serve

Over the years, the rules for how Florida's governors are elected and how long they can serve have changed.

  • Term Length: The first Florida Constitution in 1838 said a governor would be elected every four years. They couldn't serve two terms in a row.
  • Changes Over Time: After the Civil War, the term limit was removed for a while, but it was brought back in 1885. The current rules, from 1968, say that a governor cannot be elected for the next term if they have served more than six years in two terms in a row.
  • Starting a Term: Since 1885, a governor's term officially starts on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January, right after their election.

Who Takes Over if the Governor Can't Serve?

If the governor's office becomes empty, someone else needs to step in.

  • Early Days: Originally, the president of the state senate would become the acting governor.
  • Lieutenant Governor: In 1865 and 1868, the state created the job of lieutenant governor. This person would take over if the governor couldn't serve. This job was removed in 1885, and the Senate president took over again.
  • Today: The 1968 constitution brought back the lieutenant governor's role. Now, the lieutenant governor becomes governor if the governor is absent. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected together as a team.

Political Parties in Florida's History

Florida's political landscape has changed a lot.

  • Early Years: Before the Civil War, Florida was mostly a Democratic state.
  • After Reconstruction: After the Reconstruction era (following the Civil War), Florida elected three Republican governors.
  • Democratic Control: Then, the Democratic Party took control again for about 90 years.
  • Recent Years: Since 1998, Florida has been a strongly Republican state.

Governors of the State of Florida

Here are some of the governors who have led Florida as a state:

Governors of the State of Florida
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor
1 8 Moseley.jpg William Dunn Moseley
(1795–1863)
June 25, 1845

October 1, 1849
(term-limited)
Democratic 1845 Office did not exist
2 Florida Governor Thomas Brown.jpg   Thomas Brown
(1785–1867)
October 1, 1849

October 3, 1853
(term-limited)
Whig 1848
3 Florida Governor James E. Broome.jpg James E. Broome
(1808–1883)
October 3, 1853

October 5, 1857
(term-limited)
Democratic 1852
4 Florida Governor Madison S. Perry.jpg Madison S. Perry
(1814–1865)
October 5, 1857

October 7, 1861
(term-limited)
Democratic 1856
5 John Milton Florida.jpg John Milton
(1807–1865)
October 7, 1861

April 1, 1865
(died in office)
Democratic 1860
6 Florida Governor Abraham K. Allison (cropped).jpg Abraham K. Allison
(1810–1893)
April 1, 1865

May 19, 1865
(resigned)
Democratic President of
the Senate
acting
Vacant May 19, 1865

July 13, 1865
Office vacated
after civil war
7 Florida Governor William Marvin.jpg William Marvin
(1808–1902)
July 13, 1865

December 20, 1865
(provisional term ended)
Provisional governor
appointed by President
8 Florida Governor David S. Walker.jpg David S. Walker
(1815–1891)
December 20, 1865

July 4, 1868
(did not run)
Conservative 1865   Kelly, William W. J.William W. J. Kelly
9 Governor Harrison Reed of Florida.jpg Harrison Reed
(1813–1899)
July 4, 1868

January 7, 1873
(did not run)
Republican 1868 Gleason, William HenryWilliam Henry Gleason
(removed December 14, 1868)
Vacant
Weeks, Edmund C.Edmund C. Weeks
(appointed January 24, 1870)
(term ended December 27, 1870)
Day, Samuel T.Samuel T. Day
(took office December 27, 1870)
10 Florida Governor Ossian B. Hart (3x4 cropped).jpg Ossian B. Hart
(1821–1874)
January 7, 1873

March 18, 1874
(died in office)
Republican 1872 Stearns, MarcellusMarcellus Stearns
11 Florida Governor Marcellus Stearns.png Marcellus Stearns
(1839–1891)
March 18, 1874

January 2, 1877
(lost election)
Republican Lieutenant
governor
acting
Acting as governor
12 Florida Governor George Franklin Drew.jpg George Franklin Drew
(1827–1900)
January 2, 1877

January 4, 1881
(did not run)
Democratic 1876 Hull, Noble A.Noble A. Hull
(resigned March 3, 1879)
Vacant
13 Florida Governor William Bloxham (3x4 cropped).jpg William D. Bloxham
(1835–1911)
January 4, 1881

January 6, 1885
(lost nomination)
Democratic 1880 Bethel, Livingston W.Livingston W. Bethel
14 Florida Governor Edward A. Perry (3x4 cropped).jpg Edward A. Perry
(1831–1889)
January 6, 1885

January 8, 1889
(term-limited)
Democratic 1884 Mabry, Milton H.Milton H. Mabry
15 FPFleming (3x4 cropped).jpg Francis P. Fleming
(1841–1908)
January 8, 1889

January 3, 1893
(term-limited)
Democratic 1888 Office did not exist
16 Henry L Mitchell (3x4 cropped).jpg Henry L. Mitchell
(1831–1903)
January 3, 1893

January 5, 1897
(term-limited)
Democratic 1892
17 Florida Governor William Bloxham (3x4 cropped).jpg William D. Bloxham
(1835–1911)
January 5, 1897

January 8, 1901
(term-limited)
Democratic 1896
18 William Sherman Jennings (3x4 cropped).jpg William Sherman Jennings
(1863–1920)
January 8, 1901

January 3, 1905
(term-limited)
Democratic 1900
19 N.B. Broward, cameo portrait (3x4 cropped).jpg Napoleon B. Broward
(1857–1910)
January 3, 1905

January 5, 1909
(term-limited)
Democratic 1904
20 Florida Governor Albert W. Gilchrist (3x4 cropped).jpg Albert W. Gilchrist
(1858–1926)
January 5, 1909

January 7, 1913
(term-limited)
Democratic 1908
21 Park Trammell (3x4 cropped).jpg Park Trammell
(1876–1936)
January 7, 1913

January 2, 1917
(term-limited)
Democratic 1912
22 Sidney Johnston Catts in 1916 (cropped).jpg Sidney Johnston Catts
(1863–1936)
January 2, 1917

January 4, 1921
(term-limited)
Prohibition 1916
23 Cary Hardee portrait.jpg Cary A. Hardee
(1876–1957)
January 4, 1921

January 6, 1925
(term-limited)
Democratic 1920
24 Florida Governor John Martin.jpg John W. Martin
(1884–1958)
January 6, 1925

January 8, 1929
(term-limited)
Democratic 1924
25 Doyle E. Carlton (3x4 cropped).jpg Doyle E. Carlton
(1885–1972)
January 8, 1929

January 3, 1933
(term-limited)
Democratic 1928
26 David Sholtz.jpg David Sholtz
(1891–1953)
January 3, 1933

January 5, 1937
(term-limited)
Democratic 1932
27 Florida Governor Frederick Cone (3x4 cropped).jpg Fred P. Cone
(1871–1948)
January 5, 1937

January 7, 1941
(term-limited)
Democratic 1936
28 Sen Spessard Holland (3x4 cropped).jpg Spessard Holland
(1892–1971)
January 7, 1941

January 2, 1945
(term-limited)
Democratic 1940
29 Millard F. Caldwell (3x4 cropped).jpg Millard Caldwell
(1897–1984)
January 2, 1945

January 4, 1949
(term-limited)
Democratic 1944
30 37 Warren (3x4 cropped).jpg Fuller Warren
(1905–1973)
January 4, 1949

January 6, 1953
(term-limited)
Democratic 1948
31 Daniel T. McCarty (3x4 cropped).jpg Daniel T. McCarty
(1912–1953)
January 6, 1953

September 28, 1953
(died in office)
Democratic 1952
32 Charley Eugene Johns 1963 (3x4 cropped).jpg Charley Eugene Johns
(1905–1990)
September 28, 1953

January 4, 1955
(lost nomination)
Democratic President of
the Senate
acting
33 LeRoy Collins sl148 (3x4 cropped).jpg LeRoy Collins
(1909–1991)
January 4, 1955

January 3, 1961
(term-limited)
Democratic 1954
(special)
1956
34 C. Farris Bryant (3x4 cropped).jpg C. Farris Bryant
(1914–2002)
January 3, 1961

January 5, 1965
(term-limited)
Democratic 1960
35 W Haydon Burns (3x4 cropped).jpg W. Haydon Burns
(1912–1987)
January 5, 1965

January 3, 1967
(lost nomination)
Democratic 1964
36 Governor Claude R Kirk (3x4 cropped).jpg Claude R. Kirk Jr.
(1926–2011)
January 3, 1967

January 5, 1971
(lost election)
Republican 1966
Osborne, Ray C.Ray C. Osborne
(office created January 7, 1969)
37 Governor Reubin Askew.jpg Reubin Askew
(1928–2014)
January 5, 1971

January 2, 1979
(term-limited)
Democratic 1970 Adams Jr., Thomas BurtonThomas Burton Adams Jr.
1974 Williams, JimJim Williams
38 Bob Graham, official Senate photo portrait, color (3x4 cropped).jpg Bob Graham
(1936–2024)
January 2, 1979

January 3, 1987
(resigned)
Democratic 1978 Mixson, WayneWayne Mixson
1982
39 Official Portrait of Wayne Mixson (3x4 cropped).jpg Wayne Mixson
(1922–2020)
January 3, 1987

January 6, 1987
(successor took office)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
40 Portrait of Gov. Bob Martinez (3x4 cropped).jpg Bob Martinez
(b. 1934)
January 6, 1987

January 8, 1991
(lost election)
Republican 1986 Brantley, BobbyBobby Brantley
41 Lawton Chiles Governor portrait (cropped).jpg Lawton Chiles
(1930–1998)
January 8, 1991

December 12, 1998
(died in office)
Democratic 1990 MacKay, BuddyBuddy MacKay
1994
42 Buddy MacKay portrait.jpg Buddy MacKay
(1933–2024)
December 12, 1998

January 5, 1999
(successor took office)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
43 Jeb Bush 1999 (cropped).jpg Jeb Bush
(b. 1953)
January 5, 1999

January 2, 2007
(term-limited)
Republican 1998 Brogan, FrankFrank Brogan
(resigned March 3, 2003)
2002
Jennings, ToniToni Jennings
44 Charlie Crist official portrait crop.jpg Charlie Crist
(b. 1956)
January 2, 2007

January 4, 2011
(did not run)
Republican 2006 Kottkamp, JeffJeff Kottkamp
45 Governor Rick Scott 2013 (3x4 cropped).jpg Rick Scott
(b. 1952)
January 4, 2011

January 7, 2019
(term-limited)
Republican 2010 Carroll, JenniferJennifer Carroll
(resigned March 12, 2013)
Vacant
Lopez-Cantera, CarlosCarlos Lopez-Cantera
(appointed February 3, 2014)
2014
46 Ron DeSantis official photo (cropped).jpg Ron DeSantis
(b. 1978)
January 8, 2019

Incumbent
Republican 2018 Nuñez, JeanetteJeanette Nuñez
(resigned February 16, 2025)
2022
Vacant

When a Governor Can't Serve

Sometimes, a governor might not be able to do their job, even for a short time. Florida has rules for this.

  • Historical Rule: In the past, if the governor left the state, the person next in line (like the Senate president) would become the acting governor. For example, in 1853, when Governor Thomas Brown was out of state, the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, A.K. Allison, became acting governor for 17 days.
  • Modern Rule: Today, if the governor is physically or mentally unable to do their job, the lieutenant governor steps in to "act as Governor." This happened on June 18, 2008, when Governor Charlie Crist had knee surgery. He officially transferred his power to Lieutenant Governor Jeff Kottkamp for that time.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Gobernadores de Florida para niños

  • Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Florida
  • List of Florida state legislatures
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