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List of governors of Michigan

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The Governor of Michigan is the head of the executive branch of Michigan's state government and is the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.[2]

Governor of Michigan
Seal of Michigan Governor.svg
Seal of the Governor
Flag of the Governor of Michigan.svg
Flag of the Governor
Gretchen Whitmer (2021) (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Gretchen Whitmer
since January 1, 2019
StyleHis Excellency[1]
Status
ResidenceMichigan Governor's Mansion
Term lengthFour years, renewable once
PrecursorGovernor of Michigan Territory
Inaugural holderStevens T. Mason
FormationNovember 3, 1835
DeputyLieutenant Governor of Michigan
Websitewww.michigan.gov/gov

The governor has a duty to enforce state laws. He or she is also empowered to reorganize the executive branch of the state government.[3]

In 1805, the Michigan Territory was created, and five men were territorial governors, until Michigan was granted statehood in 1837. Forty-eight individuals have held the position of state governor. The first female governor, Jennifer Granholm, was elected in 2003.

Governors of Michigan state (since 1837)

Parties

      Democratic (19) <span style="border:1px solid #aaaaaa; background-color:Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Political party/W' not found.; color:Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Political party/W' not found.;">      Whig (2)       Republican (28)

# Governor Took office Left office Party Lt. Governor Notes
6 Stevens T Mason.png   Mason, Stevens T.Stevens T. Mason November 3, 1835 January 7, 1840 Democratic   Mundy, EdwardEdward Mundy
7 William Woodbridge.jpg   Woodbridge, WilliamWilliam Woodbridge January 7, 1840 February 23, 1841 Whig   Gordon, James WrightJames Wright Gordon [a]
8 J Wright Gordon.JPG   Gordon, James WrightJames Wright Gordon February 23, 1841 January 3, 1842 Whig   Drake, Thomas J.Thomas J. Drake [b]
9 Jsbarry-1-.jpg   Barry, John S.John S. Barry January 3, 1842 January 5, 1846 Democratic   Richardson, Origen D.Origen D. Richardson
10 Alpheus Felch.jpg   Felch, AlpheusAlpheus Felch January 5, 1846 March 3, 1847 Democratic   Greenly, William L.William L. Greenly [a]
11 William Greenly.png   Greenly, William L.William L. Greenly March 4, 1847 January 3, 1848 Democratic   Bush, Charles P.Charles P. Bush [b]
12 Epaphroditus Ransom 1.jpg   Ransom, EpaphroditusEpaphroditus Ransom January 3, 1848 January 7, 1850 Democratic   Fenton, William M.William M. Fenton
13 Jsbarry-1-.jpg   Barry, John S.John S. Barry January 7, 1850 January 1, 1852 Democratic   Fenton, William M.William M. Fenton
14 Robert McClelland 1.jpg   McClelland, RobertRobert McClelland[c] January 1, 1852 March 7, 1853 Democratic   Britain, CalvinCalvin Britain [d]
  Parsons, AndrewAndrew Parsons
15 Andrew parsons.jpg   Parsons, AndrewAndrew Parsons March 8, 1853 January 3, 1855 Democratic   Griswold, GeorgeGeorge Griswold [b]
16 Kingsley Bingham.jpg   Bingham, Kinsley S.Kinsley S. Bingham January 3, 1855 January 5, 1859 Republican   Coe, GeorgeGeorge Coe
17 Mwisner-1-.jpg   Wisner, MosesMoses Wisner January 5, 1859 January 2, 1861 Republican   Fairfield, Edmund B.Edmund B. Fairfield
18 Austin Blair cph.3b29566.jpg   Blair, AustinAustin Blair January 2, 1861 January 3, 1865 Republican   Birney, James M.James M. Birney
  Williams, Joseph R.Joseph R. Williams
  Backus, Henry T.Henry T. Backus
  May, Charles S.Charles S. May
19 Governor-crapo-1-.jpg   Crapo, Henry H.Henry H. Crapo January 3, 1865 January 6, 1869 Republican   Grosvenor, EbenezerEbenezer Grosvenor
  May, DwightDwight May
20 Henry P. Baldwin.png   Baldwin, Henry P.Henry P. Baldwin January 6, 1869 January 1, 1873 Republican   Bates, MorganMorgan Bates
21 Jjbagley.jpg   Bagley, John J.John J. Bagley January 1, 1873 January 3, 1877 Republican   Holt, Henry H.Henry H. Holt
22 Charles Croswell.jpg   Croswell, CharlesCharles Croswell January 3, 1877 January 1, 1881 Republican   Sessions, AlonzoAlonzo Sessions
23 David Howell Jerome.jpg   Jerome, DavidDavid Jerome January 1, 1881 January 1, 1883 Republican   Crosby, Moreau S.Moreau S. Crosby
24 Josiah W Begole.jpg   Begole, JosiahJosiah Begole January 1, 1883 January 1, 1885 Democratic   Crosby, Moreau S.Moreau S. Crosby (Republican)
25 Russell Alexander Alger by Percy Ives.jpg   Alger, RussellRussell Alger January 1, 1885 January 1, 1887 Republican   Buttars, ArchibaldArchibald Buttars
26 Cyrus Luce.jpg   Luce, Cyrus G.Cyrus G. Luce January 1, 1887 January 1, 1891 Republican   MacDonald, James H.James H. MacDonald
  Ball, WilliamWilliam Ball
27 Edwin Winans.jpg   Winans, Edwin B.Edwin B. Winans January 1, 1891 January 1, 1893 Democratic   Strong, JohnJohn Strong
28 John T Rich.JPG   Rich, John T.John T. Rich January 1, 1893 January 1, 1897 Republican   Giddings, J. WightJ. Wight Giddings
  Milnes, AlfredAlfred Milnes
  McLaughlin, Joseph R.Joseph R. McLaughlin
29 HazenSPingreeDetroitMayor.jpg   Pingree, Hazen S.Hazen S. Pingree January 1, 1897 January 1, 1901 Republican   Dunstan, Thomas B.Thomas B. Dunstan
  Robinson, Orrin W.Orrin W. Robinson
30 Aaron T Bliss.jpg   Bliss, Aaron T.Aaron T. Bliss January 1, 1901 January 1, 1905 Republican   Robinson, Orrin W.Orrin W. Robinson
  Maitland, AlexanderAlexander Maitland
31 FredMWarner.jpg   Warner, Fred M.Fred M. Warner January 1, 1905 January 2, 1911 Republican   Maitland, AlexanderAlexander Maitland
  Kelley, Patrick H.Patrick H. Kelley
32 Chase S. Osborn.png   Osborn, ChaseChase Osborn January 2, 1911 January 1, 1913 Republican   Ross, John Q.John Q. Ross
33 WoodbridgeFerris.jpg   Ferris, Woodbridge NathanWoodbridge Nathan Ferris January 1, 1913 January 1, 1917 Democratic   Ross, John Q.John Q. Ross (Republican)
  Dickinson, LurenLuren Dickinson (Republican)
34 Albert Edson Sleeper (December 31, 1862 – May 13, 1934) in 1916.jpg   Sleeper, AlbertAlbert Sleeper January 1, 1917 January 1, 1921 Republican   Dickinson, LurenLuren Dickinson
35 AlexJGroesbeck.jpg   Groesbeck, AlexAlex Groesbeck January 1, 1921 January 1, 1927 Republican   Read, ThomasThomas Read
  Welsh, George W.George W. Welsh
36 Fred Warren Green in 1917.jpg   Green, Fred W.Fred W. Green January 1, 1927 January 1, 1931 Republican   Dickinson, LurenLuren Dickinson
37 Wilber Marion Brucker.jpg   Brucker, Wilber M.Wilber M. Brucker January 1, 1931 January 1, 1933 Republican   Dickinson, LurenLuren Dickinson
38 William A. Comstock (Michigan Governor).jpg   Comstock, WilliamWilliam Comstock January 1, 1933 January 1, 1935 Democratic   Stebbins, Allen E.Allen E. Stebbins
39 Frank D. Fitzgerald.jpg   Fitzgerald, FrankFrank Fitzgerald January 1, 1935 January 1, 1937 Republican   Read, ThomasThomas Read
40 Justice Frank Murphy.jpg   Murphy, FrankFrank Murphy January 1, 1937 January 1, 1939 Democratic   Nowicki, Leo J.Leo J. Nowicki
41 Frank D. Fitzgerald.jpg   Fitzgerald, FrankFrank Fitzgerald January 1, 1939 March 16, 1939 Republican   Dickinson, LurenLuren Dickinson [e]
42 Luren D. Dickinson.jpg   Dickinson, LurenLuren Dickinson March 16, 1939 January 1, 1941 Republican   Wilson, Matilda DodgeMatilda Dodge Wilson [b]
43 Murray D. Van Wagoner.jpg   Van Wagoner, MurrayMurray Van Wagoner January 1, 1941 January 1, 1943 Democratic   Murphy, FrankFrank Murphy
44 Harry F. Kelly.jpg   Kelly, HarryHarry Kelly January 1, 1943 January 1, 1947 Republican   Keyes, Eugene C.Eugene C. Keyes
  Brown, Vernon J.Vernon J. Brown
45 Kim Sigler (Michigan Governor).jpg   Sigler, KimKim Sigler January 1, 1947 January 1, 1949 Republican   Keyes, Eugene C.Eugene C. Keyes
46 G. Mennen Williams (Michigan Governor).jpg   Williams, G. MennenG. Mennen Williams January 1, 1949 January 1, 1961 Democratic   Connolly, John W.John W. Connolly
  Vandenberg, William C.William C. Vandenberg (Republican)
  Reid, Clarence A.Clarence A. Reid (Republican)
  Hart, Philip A.Philip A. Hart
  Swainson, John B.John B. Swainson
47 John B. Swainson.jpg   Swainson, JohnJohn Swainson January 1, 1961 January 1, 1963 Democratic   Lesinski, T. JohnT. John Lesinski
48 George W. Romney official portrait.jpg   Romney, George W.George W. Romney January 1, 1963 January 22, 1969 Republican   Lesinski, T. JohnT. John Lesinski (Democratic) [f]
  Milliken, WilliamWilliam Milliken
49 William G. Milliken 2 (Michigan Governor).jpg   Milliken, WilliamWilliam Milliken January 22, 1969 January 1, 1983 Republican   Schweigert, Thomas F.Thomas F. Schweigert [g]
  Brickley, James H.James H. Brickley
  Damman, JamesJames Damman
  Brickley, James H.James H. Brickley
50 James Blanchard 1981 congressional photo.jpg   Blanchard, JamesJames Blanchard January 1, 1983 January 1, 1991 Democratic   Griffiths, MarthaMartha Griffiths
51 John Engler (cropped).jpg   Engler, JohnJohn Engler January 1, 1991 January 1, 2003 Republican   Binsfeld, ConnieConnie Binsfeld [h]
  Posthumus, DickDick Posthumus
52 Jennifer Granholm 5.jpg   Granholm, JenniferJennifer Granholm January 1, 2003 January 1, 2011 Democratic   Cherry, Jr., John D.John D. Cherry, Jr.
53 Rick Snyder in 2013.jpg   Snyder, RickRick Snyder January 1, 2011 January 1, 2019 Republican   Calley, BrianBrian Calley
54 Gretchen Whitmer (2021) (cropped).jpg   Whitmer, GretchenGretchen Whitmer January 1, 2019 Present Democratic   Gilchrist, GarlinGarlin Gilchrist

Living former U.S. governors of Michigan

As of November 2025, there are four living former governors of Michigan. The most recent death of a former governor was that of William Milliken on October 18, 2019. The state's living former governors are:

Governor Gubernatorial term Date of birth (and age)
James Blanchard 1983–1991

8 August 1942 

     (aged 83)
John Engler 1991–2003

12 October 1948 

     (aged 77)
Jennifer Granholm 2003–2011

5 February 1959 

     (aged 66)
Rick Snyder 2011–2019

19 August 1958 

     (aged 67)

List Of Governors Of Michigan Media

  • Portrait taken from life.

  • Lewis Cass, 14th United States Secretary of War

  • Engraving of George Bryan Porter

  • John Scott Horner

  • Michigan Governor Stevens T. Mason

  • William Woodbridge (6268126208)

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Resigned to take a seat in the United States Senate.[4]
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 As lieutenant governor, acted as governor for unexpired term.[4]
  3. ↑ After a new state constitution was drafted in 1850, McClelland was elected to a single one-year term in 1851. He was then re-elected to a full two-year term in 1852.[5]
  4. ↑ Resigned to become United States Secretary of the Interior.[4]
  5. ↑ Died in office.[4]
  6. ↑ Resigned to become United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.[4]
  7. ↑ As lieutenant governor, acted as governor for unexpired term, and was later elected in his own right.[4]
  8. ↑ Binsfeld served during the first two terms; Posthumus served the third term.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Macomb, Alex (1837). "No. 20: Letter from Major General Macomb, to His Excellency the Governor of Michigan, Accompanying a Copy of Military Tactics". Documents Accompanying the Journal of the Senate (Detroit: John S. Bagg, State Printer): 167. https://books.google.com/books?id=c8IlAQAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PA167. 
  2. ↑ 1963 Michigan Constitution, Article 5, Section 12
  3. ↑ 1963 Michigan Constitution, Article 5, Section 2
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Dunbar, Willis F. & May, George S. (1995). Michigan: A History of the Wolverine State (Third Revised ed.). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. pp. 276–78. ISBN 978-0-8028-7055-1.
  5. ↑ Gardner, Washington (1913). History of Calhoun County, Michigan. Lewis Pub. Co. p. 220.
  6. ↑ "Former Lieutenant Governors". State of Michigan. Archived from the original on April 3, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2013.


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