List of governors of Indiana facts for kids

The Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis, which houses the office of the governor

The governor of Indiana is like the chief leader of the state of Indiana. They are in charge of the state's main government group, called the executive branch, and their job is to make sure state laws are followed.

Before Indiana became a state, it was a territory, and two governors were chosen by the President of the United States. Since Indiana officially became a state in 1816, there have been 49 different governors. Some governors, like Isaac P. Gray and Henry F. Schricker, even served more than one term, but not back-to-back. The longest-serving governor was William Henry Harrison, who was governor for 11 years when Indiana was still a territory. The shortest-serving governor was Henry S. Lane, who only served for two days before he resigned to become a U.S. senator. The current governor is Mike Braun, who started his term on January 13, 2025.

What is a Governor?

A governor is the top leader of a state's government. Think of them as the state's chief executive officer. They work to make sure the state runs smoothly, laws are enforced, and public services are provided. They also represent the state to other states and the national government.

Indiana's First Governors

Before Indiana became a state, it was known as the Indiana Territory. This territory was created on July 4, 1800. Even though it was a territory for almost 16 years, it only had two governors. These governors were not elected by the people living there; instead, they were chosen by the President of the United States.

The first territorial governor was William Henry Harrison, who served for a very long time, from 1800 to 1812. The second and last territorial governor was Thomas Posey, who served from 1813 until Indiana became a state in 1816.

Governors of the State of Indiana

Indiana officially joined the United States on December 11, 1816. From that point on, the people of Indiana began to elect their own governors.

How Governors are Chosen

When Indiana first became a state, its original constitution from 1816 said that governors would be elected every three years. They could only serve for six years within any nine-year period. Later, in 1851, a new constitution changed the term length to four years. It also set the start date for a governor's term to the second Monday in January after their election.

In 1972, another change was made to the constitution. This allowed governors to serve for up to eight years within any twelve-year period. This means a governor can serve two four-year terms in a row. If the governor's job becomes empty, the lieutenant governor steps in. If the lieutenant governor's job is also empty, then the leader of the Indiana Senate becomes governor. This happened once when James B. Ray became governor after William Hendricks resigned.

Important Facts About Indiana's Governors

Many different people have served as governor of Indiana, each leaving their mark on the state's history. Some governors served their full terms, while others resigned to take on new roles or sadly passed away while in office. For example, Henry S. Lane served the shortest time as governor, only two days, before becoming a U.S. Senator. On the other hand, William Henry Harrison served the longest, 11 years, during the territorial period.

Two governors, Isaac P. Gray and Henry F. Schricker, are unique because they served as governor more than once, but not in a row. This means they had a break between their terms.

The most recent governors include Mitch Daniels, who served two terms from 2005 to 2013, and Mike Pence, who served from 2013 to 2017. The current governor, Mike Braun, took office on January 13, 2025.

See also

• List of governors of Indiana § Notes
• List of Indiana General Assemblies

Images for kids

• 

  William Henry Harrison

• 

  Thomas Posey

• 

  Jonathan Jennings

• 

  Ratliff Boon

• 

  William Hendricks

• 

  James B. Ray

• 

  Noah Noble

• 

  David Wallace

• 

  Samuel Bigger

• 

  James Whitcomb

• 

  Paris C. Dunning

• 

  Joseph A. Wright

• 

  Ashbel P. Willard

• 

  Abram A. Hammond

• 

  Henry S. Lane

• 

  Oliver P. Morton

• 

  Conrad Baker

• 

  Thomas A. Hendricks

• 

  James D. Williams

• 

  Isaac P. Gray

• 

  Albert G. Porter

• 

  Alvin Peterson Hovey

• 

  Ira Joy Chase

• 

  Claude Matthews

• 

  James A. Mount

• 

  Winfield T. Durbin

• 

  Frank Hanly

• 

  Thomas R. Marshall

• 

  Samuel M. Ralston

• 

  James P. Goodrich

• 

  Warren T. McCray

• 

  Emmett Forest Branch

• 

  Edward L. Jackson

• 

  Harry G. Leslie

• 

  Paul V. McNutt

• 

  M. Clifford Townsend

• 

  Henry F. Schricker

• 

  Ralph F. Gates

• 

  Henry F. Schricker

• 

  George N. Craig

• 

  Harold W. Handley

• 

  Matthew E. Welsh

• 

  Roger D. Branigin

• 

  Edgar Whitcomb

• 

  Otis Bowen

• 

  Robert D. Orr

• 

  Evan Bayh

• 

  Frank O'Bannon

• 

  Joe Kernan

• 

  Mitch Daniels

• 

  Mike Pence

• 

  Eric Holcomb

• 

  Mike Braun

Governors of Indiana Territory

No.	Governor		Term in office	Appointed by
1		William Henry Harrison (1773–1841)	May 13, 1800 – December 28, 1812 (successor appointed)	Adams, JohnJohn Adams
				Jefferson, ThomasThomas Jefferson
				Madison, JamesJames Madison
2		Thomas Posey (1750–1818)	March 3, 1813 – November 7, 1816 (lost election)	Madison, JamesJames Madison

Governors of the State of Indiana

No.	Governor			Term in office	Party	Election	Lt. Governor
1			Jonathan Jennings (1784–1834)	November 7, 1816 – September 12, 1822 (resigned)	Democratic- Republican	1816		Harrison, ChristopherChristopher Harrison (resigned December 18, 1818)
							Vacant
						1819		Boon, RatliffRatliff Boon
2			Ratliff Boon (1781–1844)	September 12, 1822 – December 4, 1822 (successor took office)	Democratic- Republican	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
3			William Hendricks (1782–1850)	December 4, 1822 – February 12, 1825 (resigned)	Democratic- Republican	1822		Boon, RatliffRatliff Boon (resigned January 30, 1824)
							Vacant
4			James B. Ray (1794–1848)	February 12, 1825 – December 7, 1831 (term-limited)	Democratic- Republican	Succeeded from president of the Senate
						1825		Thompson, John H.John H. Thompson
						1828		Stapp, MiltonMilton Stapp
5			Noah Noble (1794–1844)	December 7, 1831 – December 6, 1837 (term-limited)	National Republican	1831		Wallace, DavidDavid Wallace
					Whig	1834
6			David Wallace (1799–1859)	December 6, 1837 – December 9, 1840 (did not run)	Whig	1837		Hillis, DavidDavid Hillis
7			Samuel Bigger (1802–1846)	December 9, 1840 – December 6, 1843 (lost election)	Whig	1840		Hall, SamuelSamuel Hall
8			James Whitcomb (1795–1852)	December 6, 1843 – December 27, 1848 (resigned)	Democratic	1843		Bright, Jesse D.Jesse D. Bright (resigned December 8, 1845)
							Vacant
						1846		Dunning, Paris C.Paris C. Dunning
9			Paris C. Dunning (1806–1884)	December 27, 1848 – December 5, 1849 (did not run)	Democratic	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
10			Joseph A. Wright (1810–1867)	December 5, 1849 – January 12, 1857 (term-limited)	Democratic	1849		Lane, JimJim Lane
						1852		Willard, Ashbel P.Ashbel P. Willard
11			Ashbel P. Willard (1820–1860)	January 12, 1857 – October 4, 1860 (died in office)	Democratic	1856		Hammond, Abram A.Abram A. Hammond
12			Abram A. Hammond (1814–1874)	October 4, 1860 – January 14, 1861 (successor took office)	Democratic	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
13			Henry S. Lane (1811–1881)	January 14, 1861 – January 16, 1861 (resigned)	Republican	1860		Morton, Oliver P.Oliver P. Morton
14			Oliver P. Morton (1823–1877)	January 16, 1861 – January 24, 1867 (resigned)	Republican	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
					Union	1864		Baker, ConradConrad Baker
15			Conrad Baker (1817–1885)	January 24, 1867 – January 13, 1873 (term-limited)	Union	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
					Republican	1868		Cumback, WilliamWilliam Cumback (resigned January 11, 1871)
							Vacant
16			Thomas A. Hendricks (1819–1885)	January 13, 1873 – January 8, 1877 (term-limited)	Democratic	1872		Sexton, LeonidasLeonidas Sexton
17			James D. Williams (1808–1880)	January 8, 1877 – November 20, 1880 (died in office)	Democratic	1876		Gray, Isaac P.Isaac P. Gray
18			Isaac P. Gray (1828–1895)	November 20, 1880 – January 10, 1881 (successor took office)	Democratic	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
19			Albert G. Porter (1824–1897)	January 10, 1881 – January 12, 1885 (term-limited)	Republican	1880		Hanna, ThomasThomas Hanna
20			Isaac P. Gray (1828–1895)	January 12, 1885 – January 14, 1889 (term-limited)	Democratic	1884		Manson, Mahlon DickersonMahlon Dickerson Manson (resigned July 1886)
							Vacant
21			Alvin Peterson Hovey (1821–1891)	January 14, 1889 – November 23, 1891 (died in office)	Republican	1888		Chase, Ira JoyIra Joy Chase
22			Ira Joy Chase (1834–1895)	November 23, 1891 – January 9, 1893 (lost election)	Republican	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
23			Claude Matthews (1845–1898)	January 9, 1893 – January 11, 1897 (term-limited)	Democratic	1892		Nye, MortimerMortimer Nye
24			James A. Mount (1843–1901)	January 11, 1897 – January 14, 1901 (term-limited)	Republican	1896		Haggard, William S.William S. Haggard
25			Winfield T. Durbin (1847–1928)	January 14, 1901 – January 9, 1905 (term-limited)	Republican	1900		Gilbert, Newton W.Newton W. Gilbert
26			Frank Hanly (1863–1920)	January 9, 1905 – January 11, 1909 (term-limited)	Republican	1904		Miller, Hugh ThomasHugh Thomas Miller
27			Thomas R. Marshall (1854–1925)	January 11, 1909 – January 13, 1913 (term-limited)	Democratic	1908		Hall, Frank J.Frank J. Hall
28			Samuel M. Ralston (1857–1925)	January 13, 1913 – January 8, 1917 (term-limited)	Democratic	1912		O'Neill, William P.William P. O'Neill
29			James P. Goodrich (1864–1940)	January 8, 1917 – January 10, 1921 (term-limited)	Republican	1916		Bush, Edgar D.Edgar D. Bush
30			Warren T. McCray (1865–1938)	January 10, 1921 – April 30, 1924 (resigned)	Republican	1920		Branch, Emmett ForestEmmett Forest Branch
31			Emmett Forest Branch (1874–1932)	April 30, 1924 – January 12, 1925 (did not run)	Republican	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
32			Edward L. Jackson (1873–1954)	January 12, 1925 – January 14, 1929 (term-limited)	Republican	1924		Van Orman, F. HaroldF. Harold Van Orman
33			Harry G. Leslie (1878–1937)	January 14, 1929 – January 9, 1933 (term-limited)	Republican	1928		Bush, Edgar D.Edgar D. Bush
34			Paul V. McNutt (1891–1955)	January 9, 1933 – January 11, 1937 (term-limited)	Democratic	1932		Townsend, M. CliffordM. Clifford Townsend
35			M. Clifford Townsend (1884–1954)	January 11, 1937 – January 13, 1941 (term-limited)	Democratic	1936		Schricker, Henry F.Henry F. Schricker
36			Henry F. Schricker (1883–1966)	January 13, 1941 – January 8, 1945 (term-limited)	Democratic	1940		Dawson, Charles M.Charles M. Dawson
37			Ralph F. Gates (1893–1978)	January 8, 1945 – January 10, 1949 (term-limited)	Republican	1944		James, Richard T.Richard T. James (resigned April 1, 1948)
							Vacant
								Alexander, Rue J.Rue J. Alexander (appointed April 14, 1948) (died January 2, 1949)
							Vacant
38			Henry F. Schricker (1883–1966)	January 10, 1949 – January 12, 1953 (term-limited)	Democratic	1948		Watkins, John A.John A. Watkins
39			George N. Craig (1909–1992)	January 12, 1953 – January 14, 1957 (term-limited)	Republican	1952		Handley, Harold W.Harold W. Handley
40			Harold W. Handley (1909–1972)	January 14, 1957 – January 9, 1961 (term-limited)	Republican	1956		Parker, Crawford F.Crawford F. Parker
41			Matthew E. Welsh (1912–1995)	January 9, 1961 – January 11, 1965 (term-limited)	Democratic	1960		Ristine, Richard O.Richard O. Ristine
42			Roger D. Branigin (1902–1975)	January 11, 1965 – January 13, 1969 (term-limited)	Democratic	1964		Rock, Robert L.Robert L. Rock
43			Edgar Whitcomb (1917–2016)	January 13, 1969 – January 8, 1973 (did not run)	Republican	1968		Folz, Richard E.Richard E. Folz
44			Otis Bowen (1918–2013)	January 8, 1973 – January 12, 1981 (term-limited)	Republican	1972		Orr, Robert D.Robert D. Orr
						1976
45			Robert D. Orr (1917–2004)	January 12, 1981 – January 9, 1989 (term-limited)	Republican	1980		Mutz, JohnJohn Mutz
						1984
46			Evan Bayh (b. 1955)	January 9, 1989 – January 13, 1997 (term-limited)	Democratic	1988		O'Bannon, FrankFrank O'Bannon
						1992
47			Frank O'Bannon (1930–2003)	January 13, 1997 – September 13, 2003 (died in office)	Democratic	1996		Kernan, JoeJoe Kernan
						2000
48			Joe Kernan (1946–2020)	September 13, 2003 – January 10, 2005 (lost election)	Democratic	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
								Davis, KathyKathy Davis (appointed October 20, 2003)
49			Mitch Daniels (b. 1949)	January 10, 2005 – January 14, 2013 (term-limited)	Republican	2004		Skillman, BeckyBecky Skillman
						2008
50			Mike Pence (b. 1959)	January 14, 2013 – January 9, 2017 (withdrew)	Republican	2012		Ellspermann, SueSue Ellspermann (resigned March 2, 2016)
							Vacant
								Holcomb, EricEric Holcomb (appointed March 3, 2016)
51			Eric Holcomb (b. 1968)	January 9, 2017 – January 13, 2025 (term-limited)	Republican	2016		Crouch, SuzanneSuzanne Crouch
						2020
52			Mike Braun (b. 1954)	January 13, 2025 – Incumbent	Republican	2024		Beckwith, MicahMicah Beckwith