List of governors of Virginia facts for kids

Glenn Youngkin, the 74th and current governor of Virginia

The governor of Virginia is like the state's main leader, similar to a president for the state. They are in charge of the state government and also the head of Virginia's National Guard.

The idea for a governor in Virginia started with the first Constitution in 1776. Back then, the governor was chosen every year by the Virginia State Legislature (the state's law-making group). A governor could serve for up to three years in a row. After that, they had to wait four years before they could be governor again.

In 1830, the rules changed. A governor could serve for three years, but they couldn't be re-elected right away. This rule, which stops governors from serving back-to-back terms, is still in place today. The 1851 Constitution made another big change: people, not the legislature, would now vote for the governor. The term also became four years long. The start date for a governor's term has moved a few times, and with the current Constitution from 1971, it begins on the Saturday after the second Wednesday in January.

If the governor's office becomes empty because the governor passes away, resigns, or is removed from office, the lieutenant governor of Virginia steps in to become governor. The role of lieutenant governor was created in 1851. Before that, a group called the Council of State would choose one of its members to act as governor if needed. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected at the same time, but people vote for them separately. Virginia has had 74 official governors. People who acted as governor for a short time are not usually counted in this official number.

Virginia's Governors: A Look Back

Virginia was one of the first 13 colonies in America. It became a state on June 25, 1788. Before that, it was a colony of Great Britain. During the American Civil War, Virginia left the United States on April 17, 1861, and joined the Confederate States of America on May 7, 1861. After the war, during a time called Reconstruction, the federal government had some control over who became governor. Virginia rejoined the United States on January 26, 1870.

During the Civil War, the U.S. government recognized a group called the Restored Government of Virginia, which was based in Wheeling. This group elected its own governors. After West Virginia became its own state in 1863, the restored government moved to Alexandria.

Governors of the Commonwealth of Virginia

No.	Governor			Term in office	Party	Election	Lt. Governor
1			Patrick Henry (1736–1799)	July 6, 1776 – June 1, 1779 (term-limited)	None	1776	Office did not exist
						1777
						1778
2			Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)	June 1, 1779 – June 4, 1781 (did not run)	None	1779
						1780
3			William Fleming (1727–1795)	June 4, 1781 – June 12, 1781 (did not run)	None	Senior member of Governor's Council acting
4			Thomas Nelson Jr. (1738–1789)	June 12, 1781 – November 22, 1781 (resigned)	None	June 1781
–			David Jameson (1723–1793)	November 22, 1781 – December 1, 1781 (did not run)	None	Senior member of Governor's Council acting
5			Benjamin Harrison V (1726–1791)	December 1, 1781 – November 30, 1784 (term-limited)	None	Nov. 1781
						1782
						1783
6			Patrick Henry (1736–1799)	November 30, 1784 – November 30, 1786 (did not run)	None	1784
						1785
7			Edmund Randolph (1753–1813)	November 30, 1786 – November 12, 1788 (resigned)	None	1786
						1787
8			Beverley Randolph (1754–1797)	November 12, 1788 – December 1, 1791 (term-limited)	None	Senior member of Governor's Council acting
						1788
						1789
						1790
9			Henry Lee III (1756–1818)	December 1, 1791 – December 1, 1794 (term-limited)	Federalist	1791
						1792
						1793
10			Robert Brooke (d. 1800)	December 1, 1794 – November 30, 1796 (resigned)	Democratic- Republican	1794
						1795
11			James Wood (1741–1813)	November 30, 1796 – December 19, 1799 (term-limited)	Democratic- Republican	Senior member of Governor's Council acting
						1796
						1797
						1798
12			James Monroe (1758–1831)	December 19, 1799 – December 29, 1802 (term-limited)	Democratic- Republican	1799
						1800
						1801
13			John Page (1743–1808)	December 29, 1802 – December 11, 1805 (term-limited)	Democratic- Republican	1802
						1803
						1804
14			William H. Cabell (1772–1853)	December 11, 1805 – December 12, 1808 (term-limited)	Democratic- Republican	1805
						1806
						1807
15			John Tyler Sr. (1747–1813)	December 12, 1808 – January 15, 1811 (resigned)	Democratic- Republican	1808
						1809
						1810
—			George William Smith (1762–1811)	January 15, 1811 – January 19, 1811 (lost election)	Democratic- Republican	Senior member of Governor's Council acting
16			James Monroe (1758–1831)	January 19, 1811 – April 3, 1811 (resigned)	Democratic- Republican	1811 (special)
17			George William Smith (1762–1811)	April 3, 1811 – December 26, 1811 (died in office)	Democratic- Republican	Senior member of Governor's Council acting
						1811
—			Peyton Randolph (1779–1828)	December 26, 1811 – January 4, 1812 (successor took office)	Democratic- Republican	Senior member of Governor's Council acting
18			James Barbour (1775–1842)	January 4, 1812 – December 11, 1814 (did not run)	Democratic- Republican	Jan. 1812
						1812
						1813
19			Wilson Cary Nicholas (1761–1820)	December 11, 1814 – December 11, 1816 (did not run)	Democratic- Republican	1814
						1815
20			James Patton Preston (1774–1843)	December 11, 1816 – December 11, 1819 (term-limited)	Democratic- Republican	1816
						1817
						1818
21			Thomas Mann Randolph Jr. (1768–1828)	December 11, 1819 – December 11, 1822 (term-limited)	Democratic- Republican	1819
						1820
						1821
22			James Pleasants (1769–1836)	December 11, 1822 – December 11, 1825 (term-limited)	Democratic- Republican	1822
						1823
						1824
23			John Tyler (1790–1862)	December 11, 1825 – March 4, 1827 (resigned)	Democratic- Republican	1825
24			William Branch Giles (1762–1830)	March 4, 1827 – March 4, 1830 (term-limited)	Democratic- Republican	1827
						1828
						1829
25			John Floyd (1783–1837)	March 4, 1830 – March 31, 1834 (term-limited)	Democratic	1830
						1831
26			Littleton Waller Tazewell (1774–1860)	March 31, 1834 – March 30, 1836 (resigned)	Democratic	1834
—			Wyndham Robertson (1803–1888)	March 30, 1836 – March 31, 1837 (successor took office)	Whig	Senior member of Governor's Council acting
27			David Campbell (1779–1859)	March 31, 1837 – March 31, 1840 (term-limited)	Democratic	1837
28			Thomas Walker Gilmer (1802–1844)	March 31, 1840 – March 20, 1841 (resigned)	Whig	1840
—			John M. Patton (1797–1858)	March 20, 1841 – March 31, 1841 (successor took office)	Whig	Senior member of Governor's Council acting
—			John Rutherfoord (1792–1866)	March 31, 1841 – March 31, 1842 (successor took office)	Democratic	Senior member of Governor's Council acting
—			John Munford Gregory (1804–1884)	March 31, 1842 – January 5, 1843 (successor took office)	Whig	Senior member of Governor's Council acting
29			James McDowell (1775–1851)	January 5, 1843 – January 1, 1846 (term-limited)	Whig	1842
30			William Smith (1797–1887)	January 1, 1846 – January 1, 1849 (term-limited)	Democratic	1845
31			John B. Floyd (1806–1863)	January 1, 1849 – January 1, 1852 (term-limited)	Democratic	1848
32			Joseph Johnson (1785–1877)	January 1, 1852 – January 1, 1856 (term-limited)	Democratic	1851		Leake, SheltonShelton Leake
33			Henry A. Wise (1806–1876)	January 1, 1856 – January 1, 1860 (term-limited)	Democratic	1855		McComas, Elisha W.Elisha W. McComas (resigned December 7, 1857)
								Jackson, William LowtherWilliam Lowther Jackson
34			John Letcher (1813–1884)	January 1, 1860 – January 1, 1864 (term-limited)	Democratic	1859		Montague, Robert LataneRobert Latane Montague
—			William Smith (1797–1887)	January 1, 1864 – May 9, 1865 (government disestablished)	Democratic	1863 (Confederate)		Price, SamuelSamuel Price
35			Francis Harrison Pierpont (1814–1889)	June 20, 1861 – April 4, 1868 (removed)	Union	1861 (Union)		Polsley, DanielDaniel Polsley
							Vacant
						1863 (Union)		Cowper, Leopold Copeland ParkerLeopold Copeland Parker Cowper
—			Henry H. Wells (1823–1900)	April 4, 1868 – September 21, 1869 (resigned)	Military occupation		Vacant
36			Gilbert Carlton Walker (1833–1885)	September 21, 1869 – January 1, 1874 (term-limited)	Installed by military occupation			Lewis, John F.John F. Lewis
					Republican	1869		Marye Jr., John LawrenceJohn Lawrence Marye Jr.
37			James L. Kemper (1823–1895)	January 1, 1874 – January 1, 1878 (term-limited)	Democratic	1873		Withers, Robert E.Robert E. Withers (resigned March 1, 1875)
								Thomas, Henry WirtzHenry Wirtz Thomas
38			Frederick W. M. Holliday (1828–1899)	January 1, 1878 – January 1, 1882 (term-limited)	Democratic	1877		Walker, James A.James A. Walker
39			William E. Cameron (1842–1927)	January 1, 1882 – January 1, 1886 (term-limited)	Readjuster	1881		Lewis, John F.John F. Lewis
40			Fitzhugh Lee (1835–1905)	January 1, 1886 – January 1, 1890 (term-limited)	Democratic	1885		Massey, John E.John E. Massey
41			Philip W. McKinney (1832–1899)	January 1, 1890 – January 1, 1894 (term-limited)	Democratic	1889		Tyler, James H.James H. Tyler
42			Charles Triplett O'Ferrall (1840–1905)	January 1, 1894 – January 1, 1898 (term-limited)	Democratic	1893		Kent, Robert C.Robert C. Kent
43			James Hoge Tyler (1846–1925)	January 1, 1898 – January 1, 1902 (term-limited)	Democratic	1897		Echols, EdwardEdward Echols
44			Andrew Jackson Montague (1862–1937)	January 1, 1902 – February 1, 1906 (term-limited)	Democratic	1901		Willard, Joseph EdwardJoseph Edward Willard
45			Claude A. Swanson (1862–1939)	February 1, 1906 – February 1, 1910 (term-limited)	Democratic	1905		Ellyson, James TaylorJames Taylor Ellyson
46			William Hodges Mann (1843–1927)	February 1, 1910 – February 1, 1914 (term-limited)	Democratic	1909
47			Henry Carter Stuart (1855–1933)	February 1, 1914 – February 1, 1918 (term-limited)	Democratic	1913
48			Westmoreland Davis (1859–1942)	February 1, 1918 – February 1, 1922 (term-limited)	Democratic	1917		Buchanan, Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin Buchanan
49			Elbert Lee Trinkle (1876–1939)	February 1, 1922 – February 1, 1926 (term-limited)	Democratic	1921		West, Junius EdgarJunius Edgar West
50			Harry F. Byrd (1887–1966)	February 1, 1926 – January 15, 1930 (term-limited)	Democratic	1925
51			John Garland Pollard (1871–1937)	January 15, 1930 – January 16, 1934 (term-limited)	Democratic	1929		Price, James HubertJames Hubert Price
52			George C. Peery (1873–1952)	January 17, 1934 – January 18, 1938 (term-limited)	Democratic	1933
53			James Hubert Price (1878–1943)	January 19, 1938 – January 20, 1942 (term-limited)	Democratic	1937		Holt, Saxon W.Saxon W. Holt (died March 31, 1940)
							Vacant
54			Colgate Darden (1897–1981)	January 21, 1942 – January 15, 1946 (term-limited)	Democratic	1941		Tuck, William M.William M. Tuck
55			William M. Tuck (1896–1983)	January 16, 1946 – January 17, 1950 (term-limited)	Democratic	1945		Collins II, Lewis PrestonLewis Preston Collins II (died September 20, 1952)
56			John S. Battle (1890–1972)	January 18, 1950 – January 19, 1954 (term-limited)	Democratic	1949
							Vacant
								Stephens, Allie Edward StakesAllie Edward Stakes Stephens (elected December 2, 1952)
57			Thomas B. Stanley (1890–1970)	January 20, 1954 – January 11, 1958 (term-limited)	Democratic	1953
58			J. Lindsay Almond (1898–1986)	January 11, 1958 – January 13, 1962 (term-limited)	Democratic	1957
59			Albertis Harrison (1907–1995)	January 13, 1962 – January 15, 1966 (term-limited)	Democratic	1961		Godwin, MillsMills Godwin
60			Mills Godwin (1914–1999)	January 15, 1966 – January 17, 1970 (term-limited)	Democratic	1965		Pollard, Fred G.Fred G. Pollard
61			Linwood Holton (1923–2021)	January 17, 1970 – January 12, 1974 (term-limited)	Republican	1969		Reynolds, J. SargeantJ. Sargeant Reynolds (died June 13, 1971)
							Vacant
								Howell, HenryHenry Howell (elected December 4, 1971)
62			Mills Godwin (1914–1999)	January 12, 1974 – January 14, 1978 (term-limited)	Republican	1973		Dalton, John N.John N. Dalton
63			John N. Dalton (1931–1986)	January 14, 1978 – January 16, 1982 (term-limited)	Republican	1977		Robb, ChuckChuck Robb
64			Chuck Robb (b. 1939)	January 16, 1982 – January 11, 1986 (term-limited)	Democratic	1981		Davis, DickDick Davis
65			Gerald Baliles (1940–2019)	January 11, 1986 – January 13, 1990 (term-limited)	Democratic	1985		Wilder, DouglasDouglas Wilder
66			Douglas Wilder (b. 1931)	January 13, 1990 – January 15, 1994 (term-limited)	Democratic	1989		Beyer, DonDon Beyer
67			George Allen (b. 1952)	January 15, 1994 – January 17, 1998 (term-limited)	Republican	1993
68			Jim Gilmore (b. 1949)	January 17, 1998 – January 12, 2002 (term-limited)	Republican	1997		Hager, John H.John H. Hager
69			Mark Warner (b. 1954)	January 12, 2002 – January 14, 2006 (term-limited)	Democratic	2001		Kaine, TimTim Kaine
70			Tim Kaine (b. 1958)	January 14, 2006 – January 16, 2010 (term-limited)	Democratic	2005		Bolling, BillBill Bolling
71			Bob McDonnell (b. 1954)	January 16, 2010 – January 11, 2014 (term-limited)	Republican	2009
72			Terry McAuliffe (b. 1957)	January 11, 2014 – January 13, 2018 (term-limited)	Democratic	2013		Northam, RalphRalph Northam
73			Ralph Northam (b. 1959)	January 13, 2018 – January 15, 2022 (term-limited)	Democratic	2017		Fairfax, JustinJustin Fairfax
74			Glenn Youngkin (b. 1966)	January 15, 2022 – Incumbent	Republican	2021		Sears, WinsomeWinsome Sears

More to Explore

• Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Virginia
• List of Virginia state legislatures
• First ladies of Virginia

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Gobernadores de Virginia para niños