List of governors of West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor of West Virginia |
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Seal of the governor
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| Style |
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| Residence | West Virginia Governor's Mansion |
| Term length | Four years, renewable once consecutively |
| Inaugural holder | Arthur I. Boreman |
| Formation | June 20, 1863 |
| Salary | $150,000 (2022) |
The governor of West Virginia is like the top boss of the state. They are the head of government for West Virginia. This means they lead the state's government and make sure things run smoothly. The governor is also the commander-in-chief of West Virginia's military forces.
The governor has many important jobs. They must make sure state laws are followed. They can also approve or reject new laws passed by the West Virginia Legislature. The governor can call the legislature together at any time if needed. They also have the power to forgive people for certain crimes, except in special cases.
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West Virginia's Governors: A Look Back
West Virginia became a state on June 20, 1863, during the American Civil War. Since then, 35 different people have served as governor.
Some governors have served more than once. For example, Arch A. Moore Jr. and Cecil H. Underwood each served two terms, but not back-to-back. Governor Moore served the longest, for three terms over twelve years.
The very first governor of West Virginia was Arthur I. Boreman. He served the most terms in a row. He even resigned just a week before his third term ended.
The shortest-serving governor was Daniel D. T. Farnsworth. He was the Senate President and filled in for only seven days after Governor Boreman resigned.
Cecil H. Underwood holds two special records. He was the youngest person ever elected governor at age 34 in 1957. He was also the oldest person to be elected and serve, starting his second term at age 74 in 1997. He finished his term at age 78.
The current governor is Patrick Morrisey. He is a Republican and started his term on January 13, 2025.
Becoming Governor: What It Takes
To become the governor of West Virginia, a person must meet a few requirements:
- They must be at least 30 years old.
- They must have lived in West Virginia for at least five years before the election.
- They must be a citizen of the United States.
- They must be a qualified voter in West Virginia.
The governor serves a four-year term. This term starts on the third Wednesday in January after the election. The first constitution in 1863 only allowed for two-year terms. Since 1968, a governor can be reelected many times. However, they can only serve two terms in a row. If someone serves part of a term, it counts towards this two-term limit.
What Happens if the Governor Can't Serve?
West Virginia does not have a lieutenant governor. If the governor's job becomes empty, the Senate President is next in line.
If there is more than one year left in the governor's term, a new election is held. This election is to choose someone to finish the rest of the term. If there is less than a year left, the Senate President acts as governor for the rest of that term.
In 2000, a law was passed that gives the Senate President the honorary title of lieutenant governor. But this title is not used very often. After the Senate President, the next in line are the Speaker of the House of Delegates, then the state Attorney General, and then the state Auditor.
List of West Virginia Governors
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Arthur I. Boreman (1823–1896) |
June 20, 1863 – February 26, 1869 (resigned) |
Republican | 1863 | |
| 1864 | ||||||
| 1866 | ||||||
| 2 |  |
Daniel D. T. Farnsworth (1819–1892) |
February 26, 1869 – March 4, 1869 (successor took office) |
Republican | President of the Senate acting |
|
| 3 |  |
William E. Stevenson (1820–1883) |
March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1871 (lost election) |
Republican | 1868 | |
| 4 |  |
John J. Jacob (1829–1893) |
March 4, 1871 – March 4, 1877 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1870 | |
| People's Independent |
1872 | |||||
| 5 |  |
Henry M. Mathews (1834–1884) |
March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1881 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1876 | |
| 6 |  |
Jacob B. Jackson (1829–1893) |
March 4, 1881 – March 4, 1885 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1880 | |
| 7 |  |
Emanuel Willis Wilson (1844–1905) |
March 4, 1885 – February 6, 1890 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1884 | |
| 8 |  |
Aretas B. Fleming (1839–1923) |
February 6, 1890 – March 4, 1893 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1888 | |
| 9 |  |
William A. MacCorkle (1857–1930) |
March 4, 1893 – March 4, 1897 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1892 | |
| 10 |  |
George W. Atkinson (1845–1925) |
March 4, 1897 – March 4, 1901 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1896 | |
| 11 |  |
Albert B. White (1856–1941) |
March 4, 1901 – March 4, 1905 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1900 | |
| 12 |  |
William M. O. Dawson (1853–1916) |
March 4, 1905 – March 4, 1909 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1904 | |
| 13 |  |
William E. Glasscock (1862–1925) |
March 4, 1909 – March 4, 1913 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1908 | |
| 14 |  |
Henry D. Hatfield (1875–1962) |
March 4, 1913 – March 4, 1917 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1912 | |
| 15 |  |
John J. Cornwell (1867–1953) |
March 4, 1917 – March 4, 1921 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1916 | |
| 16 |  |
Ephraim F. Morgan (1869–1950) |
March 4, 1921 – March 4, 1925 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1920 | |
| 17 |  |
Howard Mason Gore (1877–1947) |
March 4, 1925 – March 4, 1929 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1924 | |
| 18 |  |
William G. Conley (1866–1940) |
March 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1928 | |
| 19 | .jpg) |
Herman G. Kump (1877–1962) |
March 4, 1933 – January 18, 1937 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1932 | |
| 20 |  |
Homer A. Holt (1898–1975) |
January 18, 1937 – January 13, 1941 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1936 | |
| 21 |  |
Matthew M. Neely (1874–1958) |
January 13, 1941 – January 15, 1945 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1940 | |
| 22 |  |
Clarence W. Meadows (1904–1961) |
January 15, 1945 – January 17, 1949 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1944 | |
| 23 |  |
Okey Patteson (1898–1989) |
January 17, 1949 – January 19, 1953 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1948 | |
| 24 |  |
William C. Marland (1918–1965) |
January 19, 1953 – January 14, 1957 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1952 | |
| 25 |  |
Cecil H. Underwood (1922–2008) |
January 14, 1957 – January 16, 1961 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1956 | |
| 26 |  |
Wally Barron (1911–2002) |
January 16, 1961 – January 18, 1965 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1960 | |
| 27 |  |
Hulett C. Smith (1918–2012) |
January 18, 1965 – January 13, 1969 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1964 | |
| 28 |  |
Arch A. Moore Jr. (1923–2015) |
January 13, 1969 – January 17, 1977 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1968 | |
| 1972 | ||||||
| 29 |  |
Jay Rockefeller (b. 1937) |
January 17, 1977 – January 14, 1985 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1976 | |
| 1980 | ||||||
| 30 |  |
Arch A. Moore Jr. (1923–2015) |
January 14, 1985 – January 16, 1989 (lost election) |
Republican | 1984 | |
| 31 |  |
Gaston Caperton (b. 1940) |
January 16, 1989 – January 13, 1997 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1988 | |
| 1992 | ||||||
| 32 | .jpg) |
Cecil H. Underwood (1922–2008) |
January 13, 1997 – January 15, 2001 (lost election) |
Republican | 1996 | |
| 33 |  |
Bob Wise (b. 1948) |
January 15, 2001 – January 17, 2005 (did not run) |
Democratic | 2000 | |
| 34 |  |
Joe Manchin (b. 1947) |
January 17, 2005 – November 15, 2010 (resigned) |
Democratic | 2004 | |
| 2008 | ||||||
| 35 | .jpg) |
Earl Ray Tomblin (b. 1952) |
November 15, 2010 – January 16, 2017 (term-limited) |
Democratic | President of the Senate acting |
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| 2011 (special) |
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| 2012 | ||||||
| 36 |  |
Jim Justice (b. 1951) |
January 16, 2017 – January 13, 2025 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 2016 | |
| Republican | 2020 | |||||
| 37 |  |
Patrick Morrisey (b. 1967) |
January 13, 2025 – Incumbent |
Republican | 2024 | |
See also
- Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States § West Virginia
- List of West Virginia state legislatures
