List of governors of Kentucky facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of government of Kentucky, and serves as commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws; the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Kentucky General Assembly; the power to convene the legislature; and the power to grant pardons, except in cases of treason and impeachment. The governor is also empowered to reorganize the state government or reduce it in size. Historically, the office has been regarded as one of the most powerful executive positions in the United States.

Fifty-nine individuals have held the office of governor. Prior to a 1992 amendment to the state's constitution, the governor was prohibited from succeeding himself or herself in office, though four men (Isaac Shelby, John L. Helm, James B. McCreary and Happy Chandler) served multiple non-consecutive terms. Paul E. Patton, the first Kentucky governor eligible for a second consecutive term under the amendment, won his reelection bid in 1999. James Garrard succeeded himself in 1800, before the constitutional provision existed. Garrard is also the longest serving governor, serving for a total period of eight years and 90 days. In 2023 Democrat Andy Beshear became the 3rd incumbent governor in Kentucky history to be reelected to a second consecutive term.

William Goebel, who was elected to the office in the disputed election of 1899, remains the only governor of any U.S. state to die from assassination while in office. Goebel is also the shortest serving governor, serving for a period of only three days. Martha Layne Collins, who held the office from 1983 to 1987, was the first woman to serve as governor and was only the third woman to serve as governor of any U.S. state who was not the wife or widow of a previous governor. The 63rd and current Kentucky governor is Democrat Andy Beshear, who took office on December 10, 2019.

Governors

Kentucky County, Virginia was admitted to the Union as Kentucky on June 1, 1792. There have been 59 governors, serving 63 distinct terms.

An unelected group proclaimed Kentucky's secession from the Union on November 20, 1861, and it was annexed by the Confederate States of America on December 10, 1861. The Confederate government elected two governors, but it never held much control over the state.

The original 1792 Kentucky Constitution had the governor chosen by an electoral college for a term of four years, commencing on the first day of June. The second constitution in 1799 changed this to a popular vote, prevented governors from succeeding themselves within seven years of their terms, and moved the start date to the fourth Tuesday after the election. The third constitution in 1850 reduced the succession limitation to four years, and moved the start date of the term to the fifth Tuesday after the election. A 1992 amendment allowed governors to have a second term before being prevented from succeeding themselves for four years. Originally, should the office of governor be vacant, the speaker of the Senate would exercise the powers of the office; in 1799, the office of lieutenant governor was created to fill this role, and, as of 1992, is elected on the same ticket as the governor.

Governors of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
No.		Term in office	Party	Election	Lt. Governor
1	Isaac Shelby (1750–1826)	June 4, 1792 – June 1, 1796 (did not run)	Democratic- Republican	1792	Office did not exist
2	James Garrard (1749–1822)	June 1, 1796 – September 5, 1804 (term-limited)	Democratic- Republican	1796	Office did not exist
2	James Garrard (1749–1822)	June 1, 1796 – September 5, 1804 (term-limited)	Democratic- Republican	1800		Bullitt, Alexander ScottAlexander Scott Bullitt
3	Christopher Greenup (1750–1818)	September 5, 1804 – August 23, 1808 (term-limited)	Democratic- Republican	1804		Caldwell, JohnJohn Caldwell (died November 19, 1804)
					Vacant
						Posey, ThomasThomas Posey (acting, elected Speaker in 1805)
4	Charles Scott (1739–1813)	August 23, 1808 – August 24, 1812 (term-limited)	Democratic- Republican	1808		Slaughter, GabrielGabriel Slaughter
5	Isaac Shelby (1750–1826)	August 24, 1812 – September 5, 1816 (term-limited)	Democratic- Republican	1812		Hickman, RichardRichard Hickman
6	George Madison (1763–1816)	September 5, 1816 – October 14, 1816 (died in office)	Democratic- Republican	1816		Slaughter, GabrielGabriel Slaughter
7	Gabriel Slaughter (1767–1830)	October 14, 1816 – September 7, 1820 (did not run)	Democratic- Republican	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
8	John Adair (1757–1840)	September 7, 1820 – August 24, 1824 (term-limited)	Democratic- Republican	1820		Barry, William T.William T. Barry
9	Joseph Desha (1768–1842)	August 24, 1824 – August 26, 1828 (term-limited)	Democratic- Republican	1824		McAfee, Robert B.Robert B. McAfee
10	Thomas Metcalfe (1780–1855)	August 26, 1828 – August 28, 1832 (term-limited)	National Republican	1828		Breathitt, JohnJohn Breathitt
11	John Breathitt (1786–1834)	August 28, 1832 – February 21, 1834 (died in office)	Democratic	1832		Morehead, James TurnerJames Turner Morehead
12	James Turner Morehead (1797–1854)	February 21, 1834 – August 30, 1836 (did not run)	National Republican	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
13	James Clark (1779–1839)	August 30, 1836 – August 27, 1839 (died in office)	Whig	1836		Wickliffe, Charles A.Charles A. Wickliffe
14	Charles A. Wickliffe (1788–1869)	August 27, 1839 – September 2, 1840 (did not run)	Whig	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
15	Robert P. Letcher (1788–1861)	September 2, 1840 – September 4, 1844 (term-limited)	Whig	1840		Thomson, Manlius ValeriusManlius Valerius Thomson
16	William Owsley (1782–1862)	September 4, 1844 – September 6, 1848 (term-limited)	Whig	1844		Dixon, ArchibaldArchibald Dixon
17	John J. Crittenden (1787–1863)	September 6, 1848 – July 30, 1850 (resigned)	Whig	1848		Helm, John L.John L. Helm
18	John L. Helm (1802–1867)	July 30, 1850 – September 2, 1851 (did not run)	Whig	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
19	Lazarus W. Powell (1812–1867)	September 2, 1851 – September 4, 1855 (term-limited)	Democratic	1851		Thompson, John BurtonJohn Burton Thompson
20	Charles S. Morehead (1802–1868)	September 4, 1855 – August 30, 1859 (term-limited)	American	1855		Hardy, James GreeneJames Greene Hardy
21	Beriah Magoffin (1815–1885)	August 30, 1859 – August 18, 1862 (resigned)	Democratic	1859		Boyd, LinnLinn Boyd (died December 17, 1859)
21	Beriah Magoffin (1815–1885)	August 30, 1859 – August 18, 1862 (resigned)	Democratic	1859	Vacant
22	James Fisher Robinson (1800–1882)	August 18, 1862 – September 1, 1863 (did not run)	Democratic	Succeeded from president of the Senate	Vacant
23	Thomas E. Bramlette (1817–1875)	September 1, 1863 – September 3, 1867 (term-limited)	Union Democratic	1863		Jacob, Richard TaylorRichard Taylor Jacob
24	John L. Helm (1802–1867)	September 3, 1867 – September 8, 1867 (died in office)	Democratic	1867		Stevenson, John W.John W. Stevenson
25	John W. Stevenson (1812–1886)	September 8, 1867 – February 13, 1871 (resigned)	Democratic	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
25	John W. Stevenson (1812–1886)	September 8, 1867 – February 13, 1871 (resigned)	Democratic	1868 (special)
26	Preston Leslie (1819–1907)	February 13, 1871 – August 31, 1875 (term-limited)	Democratic	Succeeded from president of the Senate
26	Preston Leslie (1819–1907)	February 13, 1871 – August 31, 1875 (term-limited)	Democratic	1871		Carlisle, John G.John G. Carlisle
27	James B. McCreary (1838–1918)	August 31, 1875 – September 2, 1879 (term-limited)	Democratic	1875		Underwood, John C.John C. Underwood
28	Luke P. Blackburn (1816–1887)	September 2, 1879 – September 4, 1883 (term-limited)	Democratic	1879		Cantrill, James E.James E. Cantrill
29	J. Proctor Knott (1830–1911)	September 4, 1883 – August 30, 1887 (term-limited)	Democratic	1883		Hindman, James R.James R. Hindman
30	Simon Bolivar Buckner (1823–1914)	August 30, 1887 – September 1, 1891 (term-limited)	Democratic	1887		Bryan, James WilliamJames William Bryan
31	John Y. Brown (1835–1904)	September 1, 1891 – December 10, 1895 (term-limited)	Democratic	1891		Alford, Mitchell CaryMitchell Cary Alford
32	William O'Connell Bradley (1847–1914)	December 10, 1895 – December 12, 1899 (term-limited)	Republican	1895		Worthington, William JacksonWilliam Jackson Worthington
33	William S. Taylor (1853–1928)	December 12, 1899 – January 31, 1900 (removed from office)	Republican	1899		Marshall, JohnJohn Marshall
34	William Goebel (1856–1900)	January 31, 1900 – February 3, 1900 (died in office)	Democratic	1899		Beckham, J. C. W.J. C. W. Beckham
35	J. C. W. Beckham (1869–1940)	February 3, 1900 – December 10, 1907 (term-limited)	Democratic	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
				1900 (special)	Vacant
				1903		Thorne, William P.William P. Thorne
36	Augustus E. Willson (1846–1931)	December 10, 1907 – December 12, 1911 (term-limited)	Republican	1907		Cox, William HopkinsonWilliam Hopkinson Cox
37	James B. McCreary (1838–1918)	December 12, 1911 – December 7, 1915 (term-limited)	Democratic	1911		McDermott, Edward J.Edward J. McDermott
38	Augustus Owsley Stanley (1867–1958)	December 7, 1915 – May 19, 1919 (resigned)	Democratic	1915		Black, James D.James D. Black
39	James D. Black (1849–1938)	May 19, 1919 – December 9, 1919 (lost election)	Democratic	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
40	Edwin P. Morrow (1877–1935)	December 9, 1919 – December 11, 1923 (term-limited)	Republican	1919		Ballard, S. ThrustonS. Thruston Ballard
41	William J. Fields (1874–1954)	December 11, 1923 – December 13, 1927 (term-limited)	Democratic	1923		Denhardt, HenryHenry Denhardt
42	Flem D. Sampson (1875–1967)	December 13, 1927 – December 8, 1931 (term-limited)	Republican	1927		Breathitt Jr., JamesJames Breathitt Jr.
43	Ruby Laffoon (1869–1941)	December 8, 1931 – December 10, 1935 (term-limited)	Democratic	1931		Chandler, HappyHappy Chandler
44	Happy Chandler (1898–1991)	December 10, 1935 – October 9, 1939 (resigned)	Democratic	1935		Johnson, KeenKeen Johnson
45	Keen Johnson (1896–1970)	October 9, 1939 – December 7, 1943 (term-limited)	Democratic	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
45	Keen Johnson (1896–1970)	October 9, 1939 – December 7, 1943 (term-limited)	Democratic	1939		Myers, Rodes K.Rodes K. Myers
46	Simeon Willis (1879–1965)	December 7, 1943 – December 9, 1947 (term-limited)	Republican	1943		Tuggle, Kenneth H.Kenneth H. Tuggle
47	Earle Clements (1896–1985)	December 9, 1947 – November 27, 1950 (resigned)	Democratic	1947		Wetherby, LawrenceLawrence Wetherby
48	Lawrence Wetherby (1908–1994)	November 27, 1950 – December 13, 1955 (term-limited)	Democratic	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
48	Lawrence Wetherby (1908–1994)	November 27, 1950 – December 13, 1955 (term-limited)	Democratic	1951		Beauchamp, EmersonEmerson Beauchamp
49	Happy Chandler (1898–1991)	December 13, 1955 – December 8, 1959 (term-limited)	Democratic	1955		Waterfield, Harry LeeHarry Lee Waterfield
50	Bert Combs (1911–1991)	December 8, 1959 – December 10, 1963 (term-limited)	Democratic	1959		Wyatt, Wilson W.Wilson W. Wyatt
51	Ned Breathitt (1924–2003)	December 10, 1963 – December 12, 1967 (term-limited)	Democratic	1963		Waterfield, Harry LeeHarry Lee Waterfield
52	Louie Nunn (1924–2004)	December 12, 1967 – December 7, 1971 (term-limited)	Republican	1967		Ford, WendellWendell Ford
53	Wendell Ford (1924–2015)	December 7, 1971 – December 28, 1974 (resigned)	Democratic	1971		Carroll, JulianJulian Carroll
54	Julian Carroll (1931–2023)	December 28, 1974 – December 11, 1979 (term-limited)	Democratic	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
54	Julian Carroll (1931–2023)	December 28, 1974 – December 11, 1979 (term-limited)	Democratic	1975		Stovall, ThelmaThelma Stovall
55	John Y. Brown Jr. (1933–2022)	December 11, 1979 – December 13, 1983 (term-limited)	Democratic	1979		Collins, Martha LayneMartha Layne Collins
56	Martha Layne Collins (b. 1936)	December 13, 1983 – December 8, 1987 (term-limited)	Democratic	1983		Beshear, SteveSteve Beshear
57	Wallace Wilkinson (1941–2002)	December 8, 1987 – December 10, 1991 (term-limited)	Democratic	1987		Jones, Brereton C.Brereton C. Jones
58	Brereton C. Jones (1939–2023)	December 10, 1991 – December 12, 1995 (term-limited)	Democratic	1991		Patton, Paul E.Paul E. Patton
59	Paul E. Patton (b. 1937)	December 12, 1995 – December 9, 2003 (term-limited)	Democratic	1995		Henry, SteveSteve Henry
59	Paul E. Patton (b. 1937)	December 12, 1995 – December 9, 2003 (term-limited)	Democratic	1999		Henry, SteveSteve Henry
60	Ernie Fletcher (b. 1952)	December 9, 2003 – December 11, 2007 (lost election)	Republican	2003		Pence, SteveSteve Pence
61	Steve Beshear (b. 1944)	December 11, 2007 – December 8, 2015 (term-limited)	Democratic	2007		Mongiardo, DanielDaniel Mongiardo
				2011		Abramson, JerryJerry Abramson (resigned November 13, 2014)
				2011		Luallen, CritCrit Luallen
62	Matt Bevin (b. 1967)	December 8, 2015 – December 10, 2019 (lost election)	Republican	2015		Hampton, JeneanJenean Hampton
63	Andy Beshear (b. 1977)	December 10, 2019 – Incumbent	Democratic	2019		Coleman, JacquelineJacqueline Coleman
63	Andy Beshear (b. 1977)	December 10, 2019 – Incumbent	Democratic	2023		Coleman, JacquelineJacqueline Coleman

Confederate governors

George W. Johnson, 1st Confederate Governor of Kentucky

Richard Hawes, 2nd Confederate Governor of Kentucky

During the Civil War, a group of secessionists met at Russellville to form a Confederate government for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This government never successfully displaced the government in Frankfort, and Kentucky remained in the Union through the entire war. Two men were elected governor of the Confederate government: George W. Johnson, who served from November 20, 1861, to his death on April 8, 1862, at the Battle of Shiloh, and, on Johnson's death, Richard Hawes, who served until the Confederate surrender on April 9, 1865. The Confederate government disbanded shortly after the end of the war in 1865.

List of governors of Kentucky facts for kids

Governors

Confederate governors

See also