List of governors of Maine facts for kids
The Blaine House is the official home of the governor of Maine. It became the official residence in 1919 and is located in Augusta, Maine, right across from the Maine State House.
The governor of Maine is the main leader of the state of Maine. They are in charge of the state government. The governor also leads Maine's military forces.
The governor's job is to make sure state laws are followed. They can also approve or reject new laws passed by the Maine Legislature. The governor can call the legislature together for meetings at any time. They can also grant pardons, which means forgiving someone for a crime, except in cases where someone is removed from office by impeachment.
Maine has had 71 governors since it became a state. These governors have served 75 different terms. Four governors served more than one term, but not one right after the other. These were Edward Kent, John Fairfield, John W. Dana, and Burton M. Cross. The governor who served the longest was Joseph E. Brennan. He was governor for two terms, from 1979 to 1987. The governors who served the shortest time were Nathaniel M. Haskell and Richard H. Vose. Each of them served for only one day! John W. Dana also served for just one day in 1844 after the governor at the time resigned, but he was later elected governor. The current governor is Janet Mills. She is a Democrat and started her term on January 2, 2019.
Becoming a State and Governor's Terms
Maine became a state on March 15, 1820. Before that, it was part of Massachusetts. The first Maine Constitution in 1820 said that the governor would serve for one year. Their term would start on the first Wednesday of January. Later, in 1879, this was changed to two years. Then, in 1957, it was changed again to four years. The 1957 change also added a rule that governors could not serve more than two terms in a row.
Maine does not have a lieutenant governor. If the governor's office becomes empty, the president of the Maine Senate takes over. Before 1964, the president of the Senate would only act as governor. After 1964, they would fully become the governor.
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
William King (1768–1852) |
May 31, 1820 – May 28, 1821 (resigned) |
Democratic– Republican |
1820 | |
| 2 |  |
William D. Williamson (1779–1846) |
May 28, 1821 – December 25, 1821 (resigned) |
Democratic– Republican |
President of the Senate acting |
|
| 3 |  |
Benjamin Ames (1778–1835) |
December 25, 1821 – January 2, 1822 (resigned) |
Democratic– Republican |
Speaker of the House acting |
|
| 4 | |
Daniel Rose (1772–1833) |
January 2, 1822 – January 4, 1822 (successor took office) |
Democratic– Republican |
President of the Senate acting |
|
| 5 |  |
Albion Parris (1788–1857) |
January 4, 1822 – January 3, 1827 (did not run) |
Democratic– Republican |
1821 | |
| 1822 | ||||||
| 1823 | ||||||
| 1824 | ||||||
| 1825 | ||||||
| 6 |  |
Enoch Lincoln (1788–1829) |
January 3, 1827 – October 8, 1829 (died in office) |
Democratic– Republican |
1826 | |
| 1827 | ||||||
| 1828 | ||||||
| 7 |  |
Nathan Cutler (1775–1861) |
October 8, 1829 – February 5, 1830 (presidency expired) |
Democratic– Republican |
President of the Senate acting |
|
| 8 |  |
Joshua Hall (1768–1862) |
February 5, 1830 – February 10, 1830 (successor took office) |
Democratic– Republican |
Speaker of the House acting |
|
| 9 | .jpg) |
Jonathan G. Hunton (1781–1851) |
February 10, 1830 – January 8, 1831 (lost election) |
National Republican |
1829 | |
| 10 |  |
Samuel E. Smith (1788–1860) |
January 8, 1831 – January 2, 1834 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1830 | |
| 1831 | ||||||
| 1832 | ||||||
| 11 |  |
Robert P. Dunlap (1794–1859) |
January 2, 1834 – January 3, 1838 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1833 | |
| 1834 | ||||||
| 1835 | ||||||
| 1836 | ||||||
| 12 |  |
Edward Kent (1802–1877) |
January 19, 1838 – January 2, 1839 (lost election) |
Whig | 1837 | |
| 13 | .jpg) |
John Fairfield (1797–1847) |
January 2, 1839 – January 12, 1841 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1838 | |
| 1839 | ||||||
| 14 | .jpg) |
Richard H. Vose (1803–1864) |
January 12, 1841 – January 13, 1841 (successor took office) |
Whig | President of the Senate acting |
|
| 15 | |
Edward Kent (1802–1877) |
January 13, 1841 – January 5, 1842 (lost election) |
Whig | 1840 | |
| 16 | |
John Fairfield (1797–1847) |
January 5, 1842 – March 7, 1843 (resigned) |
Democratic | 1841 | |
| 1842 | ||||||
| 17 | .jpg) |
Edward Kavanagh (1795–1844) |
March 7, 1843 – January 1, 1844 (resigned) |
Democratic | President of the Senate acting |
|
| 18 |  |
David Dunn (1811–1894) |
January 1, 1844 – January 3, 1844 (resigned) |
Democratic | Speaker of the House acting |
|
| 19 | .jpg) |
John W. Dana (1808–1867) |
January 3, 1844 – January 5, 1844 (successor took office) |
Democratic | President of the Senate acting |
|
| 20 | .jpg) |
Hugh J. Anderson (1801–1881) |
January 5, 1844 – May 18, 1847 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1843 | |
| 1844 | ||||||
| 1845 | ||||||
| 21 | |
John W. Dana (1808–1867) |
May 18, 1847 – May 13, 1850 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1846 | |
| 1847 | ||||||
| 1848 | ||||||
| 22 |  |
John Hubbard (1794–1869) |
May 13, 1850 – January 18, 1853 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1849 | |
| 1850 | ||||||
| 23 | .jpg) |
William G. Crosby (1805–1881) |
January 18, 1853 – January 6, 1855 (did not run) |
Whig | 1852 | |
| 1853 | ||||||
| 24 | .jpg) |
Anson Morrill (1803–1887) |
January 6, 1855 – January 4, 1856 (lost election) |
Republican | 1854 | |
| 25 | .jpg) |
Samuel Wells (1801–1868) |
January 4, 1856 – January 8, 1857 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1855 | |
| 26 |  |
Hannibal Hamlin (1809–1891) |
January 8, 1857 – February 26, 1857 (resigned) |
Republican | 1856 | |
| 27 | .jpg) |
Joseph H. Williams (1814–1896) |
February 26, 1857 – January 8, 1858 (successor took office) |
Republican | President of the Senate acting |
|
| 28 |  |
Lot M. Morrill (1813–1883) |
January 8, 1858 – January 3, 1861 (did not run) |
Republican | 1857 | |
| 1858 | ||||||
| 1859 | ||||||
| 29 |  |
Israel Washburn Jr. (1813–1883) |
January 3, 1861 – January 8, 1863 (did not run) |
Republican | 1860 | |
| 1861 | ||||||
| 30 |  |
Abner Coburn (1803–1885) |
January 8, 1863 – January 7, 1864 (did not run) |
Republican | 1862 | |
| 31 |  |
Samuel Cony (1811–1870) |
January 7, 1864 – January 3, 1867 (did not run) |
Republican | 1863 | |
| 1864 | ||||||
| 1865 | ||||||
| 32 |  |
Joshua Chamberlain (1828–1914) |
January 3, 1867 – January 5, 1871 (did not run) |
Republican | 1866 | |
| 1867 | ||||||
| 1868 | ||||||
| 1869 | ||||||
| 33 |  |
Sidney Perham (1819–1907) |
January 5, 1871 – January 8, 1874 (did not run) |
Republican | 1870 | |
| 1871 | ||||||
| 1872 | ||||||
| 34 |  |
Nelson Dingley Jr. (1832–1899) |
January 8, 1874 – January 6, 1876 (did not run) |
Republican | 1873 | |
| 1874 | ||||||
| 35 | .jpg) |
Seldon Connor (1839–1917) |
January 6, 1876 – January 8, 1879 (lost election) |
Republican | 1875 | |
| 1876 | ||||||
| 1877 | ||||||
| 36 |  |
Alonzo Garcelon (1813–1906) |
January 8, 1879 – January 17, 1880 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1878 | |
| 37 | .jpg) |
Daniel F. Davis (1843–1897) |
January 17, 1880 – January 13, 1881 (lost election) |
Republican | 1879 | |
| 38 |  |
Harris M. Plaisted (1828–1898) |
January 13, 1881 – January 4, 1883 (lost election) |
Greenback/ Democratic |
1880 | |
| 39 | .jpg) |
Frederick Robie (1822–1912) |
January 4, 1883 – January 6, 1887 (did not run) |
Republican | 1882 | |
| 1884 | ||||||
| 40 |  |
Joseph R. Bodwell (1818–1887) |
January 6, 1887 – December 15, 1887 (died in office) |
Republican | 1886 | |
| 41 | .jpg) |
Sebastian Streeter Marble (1817–1902) |
December 15, 1887 – January 3, 1889 (lost nomination) |
Republican | President of the Senate acting |
|
| 42 |  |
Edwin C. Burleigh (1843–1916) |
January 3, 1889 – January 5, 1893 (did not run) |
Republican | 1888 | |
| 1890 | ||||||
| 43 | .jpg) |
Henry B. Cleaves (1840–1912) |
January 5, 1893 – January 7, 1897 (did not run) |
Republican | 1892 | |
| 1894 | ||||||
| 44 |  |
Llewellyn Powers (1836–1908) |
January 7, 1897 – January 3, 1901 (did not run) |
Republican | 1896 | |
| 1898 | ||||||
| 45 |  |
John Fremont Hill (1855–1912) |
January 3, 1901 – January 5, 1905 (did not run) |
Republican | 1900 | |
| 1902 | ||||||
| 46 | .jpg) |
William T. Cobb (1857–1937) |
January 5, 1905 – January 7, 1909 (did not run) |
Republican | 1904 | |
| 1906 | ||||||
| 47 |  |
Bert M. Fernald (1858–1926) |
January 7, 1909 – January 5, 1911 (lost election) |
Republican | 1908 | |
| 48 |  |
Frederick W. Plaisted (1865–1943) |
January 5, 1911 – January 2, 1913 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1910 | |
| 49 |  |
William T. Haines (1854–1919) |
January 2, 1913 – January 7, 1915 (lost election) |
Republican | 1912 | |
| 50 |  |
Oakley C. Curtis (1865–1924) |
January 7, 1915 – January 4, 1917 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1914 | |
| 51 |  |
Carl Milliken (1877–1961) |
January 4, 1917 – January 6, 1921 (lost nomination) |
Republican | 1916 | |
| 1918 | ||||||
| 52 |  |
Frederic Hale Parkhurst (1864–1921) |
January 6, 1921 – January 31, 1921 (died in office) |
Republican | 1920 | |
| 53 | _LCCN2016848421_(cropped).jpg) |
Percival P. Baxter (1876–1969) |
January 31, 1921 – January 8, 1925 (did not run) |
Republican | President of the Senate acting |
|
| 1922 | ||||||
| 54 |  |
Ralph Owen Brewster (1888–1961) |
January 8, 1925 – January 3, 1929 (did not run) |
Republican | 1924 | |
| 1926 | ||||||
| 55 |  |
William Tudor Gardiner (1892–1953) |
January 3, 1929 – January 5, 1933 (did not run) |
Republican | 1928 | |
| 1930 | ||||||
| 56 | _2.jpg) |
Louis J. Brann (1876–1948) |
January 5, 1933 – January 7, 1937 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1932 | |
| 1934 | ||||||
| 57 | .jpg) |
Lewis O. Barrows (1893–1967) |
January 7, 1937 – January 2, 1941 (did not run) |
Republican | 1936 | |
| 1938 | ||||||
| 58 |  |
Sumner Sewall (1897–1965) |
January 2, 1941 – January 4, 1945 (did not run) |
Republican | 1940 | |
| 1942 | ||||||
| 59 |  |
Horace Hildreth (1902–1988) |
January 4, 1945 – January 6, 1949 (did not run) |
Republican | 1944 | |
| 1946 | ||||||
| 60 |  |
Frederick G. Payne (1904–1978) |
January 6, 1949 – December 25, 1952 (resigned) |
Republican | 1948 | |
| 1950 | ||||||
| — |  |
Burton M. Cross (1902–1998) |
December 26, 1952 – January 7, 1953 (presidency expired) |
Republican | President of the Senate acting |
|
| — | .jpg) |
Nathaniel M. Haskell (1912–1983) |
January 7, 1953 – January 8, 1953 (successor took office) |
Republican | President of the Senate acting |
|
| 61 | |
Burton M. Cross (1902–1998) |
January 8, 1953 – January 6, 1955 (lost election) |
Republican | 1952 | |
| 62 | .jpg) |
Edmund Muskie (1914–1996) |
January 6, 1955 – January 2, 1959 (resigned) |
Democratic | 1954 | |
| 1956 | ||||||
| 63 |  |
Robert Haskell (1903–1987) |
January 3, 1959 – January 8, 1959 (successor took office) |
Republican | President of the Senate acting |
|
| 64 |  |
Clinton Clauson (1895–1959) |
January 8, 1959 – December 30, 1959 (died in office) |
Democratic | 1958 | |
| 65 |  |
John H. Reed (1921–2012) |
December 30, 1959 – January 5, 1967 (lost election) |
Republican | President of the Senate acting |
|
| 1960 (special) |
||||||
| 1962 | ||||||
| 66 | .jpg) |
Kenneth M. Curtis (b. 1931) |
January 5, 1967 – January 2, 1975 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1966 | |
| 1970 | ||||||
| 67 | _(cropped).jpg) |
James B. Longley (1924–1980) |
January 2, 1975 – January 3, 1979 (did not run) |
Independent | 1974 | |
| 68 | .png) |
Joseph E. Brennan (1934–2024) |
January 4, 1979 – January 8, 1987 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1978 | |
| 1982 | ||||||
| 70 | .jpg) |
John R. McKernan Jr. (b. 1948) |
January 8, 1987 – January 5, 1995 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1986 | |
| 1990 | ||||||
| 71 |  |
Angus King (b. 1944) |
January 5, 1995 – January 8, 2003 (term-limited) |
Independent | 1994 | |
| 1998 | ||||||
| 72 |  |
John Baldacci (b. 1955) |
January 8, 2003 – January 5, 2011 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 2002 | |
| 2006 | ||||||
| 73 |  |
Paul LePage (b. 1948) |
January 5, 2011 – January 2, 2019 (term-limited) |
Republican | 2010 | |
| 2014 | ||||||
| 74 |  |
Janet Mills (b. 1947) |
January 2, 2019 – Incumbent |
Democratic | 2018 | |
| 2022 | ||||||
See also
- Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States § Maine
- List of Maine state legislatures
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List of governors of Maine Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.