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List of governors of Michigan

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
1     Mason, Stevens T.Stevens T. Mason November 3, 1835 January 7, 1840 Democratic   Mundy, EdwardEdward Mundy
2     Woodbridge, WilliamWilliam Woodbridge January 7, 1840 February 23, 1841 Whig   Gordon, James WrightJames Wright Gordon [a]
3     Gordon, James WrightJames Wright Gordon February 23, 1841 January 3, 1842 Whig   Drake, Thomas J.Thomas J. Drake [b]
4     Barry, John S.John S. Barry January 3, 1842 January 5, 1846 Democratic   Richardson, Origen D.Origen D. Richardson
5     Felch, AlpheusAlpheus Felch January 5, 1846 March 3, 1847 Democratic   Greenly, William L.William L. Greenly [a]
6     Greenly, William L.William L. Greenly March 4, 1847 January 3, 1848 Democratic   Bush, Charles P.Charles P. Bush [b]
7     Ransom, EpaphroditusEpaphroditus Ransom January 3, 1848 January 7, 1850 Democratic   Fenton, William M.William M. Fenton
8     Barry, John S.John S. Barry January 7, 1850 January 1, 1852 Democratic   Fenton, William M.William M. Fenton
9     McClelland, RobertRobert McClelland[c] January 1, 1852 March 7, 1853 Democratic   Britain, CalvinCalvin Britain [d]
  Parsons, AndrewAndrew Parsons
10     Parsons, AndrewAndrew Parsons March 8, 1853 January 3, 1855 Democratic   Griswold, GeorgeGeorge Griswold [b]
11     Bingham, Kinsley S.Kinsley S. Bingham January 3, 1855 January 5, 1859 Republican   Coe, GeorgeGeorge Coe
12     Wisner, MosesMoses Wisner January 5, 1859 January 2, 1861 Republican   Fairfield, Edmund B.Edmund B. Fairfield
13     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
14     Crapo, Henry H.Henry H. Crapo January 3, 1865 January 6, 1869 Republican   Grosvenor, EbenezerEbenezer Grosvenor
  May, DwightDwight May
15     Baldwin, Henry P.Henry P. Baldwin January 6, 1869 January 1, 1873 Republican   Bates, MorganMorgan Bates
16     Bagley, John J.John J. Bagley January 1, 1873 January 3, 1877 Republican   Holt, Henry H.Henry H. Holt
17     Croswell, CharlesCharles Croswell January 3, 1877 January 1, 1881 Republican   Sessions, AlonzoAlonzo Sessions
18     Jerome, DavidDavid Jerome January 1, 1881 January 1, 1883 Republican   Crosby, Moreau S.Moreau S. Crosby
19     Begole, JosiahJosiah Begole January 1, 1883 January 1, 1885 Democratic   Crosby, Moreau S.Moreau S. Crosby (Republican)
20     Alger, RussellRussell Alger January 1, 1885 January 1, 1887 Republican   Buttars, ArchibaldArchibald Buttars
21     Luce, Cyrus G.Cyrus G. Luce January 1, 1887 January 1, 1891 Republican   MacDonald, James H.James H. MacDonald
  Ball, WilliamWilliam Ball
22     Winans, Edwin B.Edwin B. Winans January 1, 1891 January 1, 1893 Democratic   Strong, JohnJohn Strong
23     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
24     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
25     Bliss, Aaron T.Aaron T. Bliss January 1, 1901 January 1, 1905 Republican   Robinson, Orrin W.Orrin W. Robinson
  Maitland, AlexanderAlexander Maitland
26     Warner, Fred M.Fred M. Warner January 1, 1905 January 2, 1911 Republican   Maitland, AlexanderAlexander Maitland
  Kelley, Patrick H.Patrick H. Kelley
27     Osborn, ChaseChase Osborn January 2, 1911 January 1, 1913 Republican   Ross, John Q.John Q. Ross
28     Ferris, Woodbridge NathanWoodbridge Nathan Ferris January 1, 1913 January 1, 1917 Democratic   Ross, John Q.John Q. Ross (Republican)
  Dickinson, LurenLuren Dickinson (Republican)
29     Sleeper, AlbertAlbert Sleeper January 1, 1917 January 1, 1921 Republican   Dickinson, LurenLuren Dickinson
30     Groesbeck, AlexAlex Groesbeck January 1, 1921 January 1, 1927 Republican   Read, ThomasThomas Read
  Welsh, George W.George W. Welsh
31     Green, Fred W.Fred W. Green January 1, 1927 January 1, 1931 Republican   Dickinson, LurenLuren Dickinson
32     Brucker, Wilber M.Wilber M. Brucker January 1, 1931 January 1, 1933 Republican   Dickinson, LurenLuren Dickinson
33     Comstock, WilliamWilliam Comstock January 1, 1933 January 1, 1935 Democratic   Stebbins, Allen E.Allen E. Stebbins
34     Fitzgerald, FrankFrank Fitzgerald January 1, 1935 January 1, 1937 Republican   Read, ThomasThomas Read
35     Murphy, FrankFrank Murphy January 1, 1937 January 1, 1939 Democratic   Nowicki, Leo J.Leo J. Nowicki
36     Fitzgerald, FrankFrank Fitzgerald January 1, 1939 March 16, 1939 Republican   Dickinson, LurenLuren Dickinson [e]
37     Dickinson, LurenLuren Dickinson March 16, 1939 January 1, 1941 Republican   Wilson, Matilda DodgeMatilda Dodge Wilson [b]
38     Van Wagoner, MurrayMurray Van Wagoner January 1, 1941 January 1, 1943 Democratic   Murphy, FrankFrank Murphy
39     Kelly, HarryHarry Kelly January 1, 1943 January 1, 1947 Republican   Keyes, Eugene C.Eugene C. Keyes
  Brown, Vernon J.Vernon J. Brown
40     Sigler, KimKim Sigler January 1, 1947 January 1, 1949 Republican   Keyes, Eugene C.Eugene C. Keyes
41     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
42     Swainson, JohnJohn Swainson January 1, 1961 January 1, 1963 Democratic   Lesinski, T. JohnT. John Lesinski
43     Romney, George W.George W. Romney January 1, 1963 January 22, 1969 Republican   Lesinski, T. JohnT. John Lesinski (Democratic) [f]
  Milliken, WilliamWilliam Milliken
44     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
45     Blanchard, JamesJames Blanchard January 1, 1983 January 1, 1991 Democratic   Griffiths, MarthaMartha Griffiths
46     Engler, JohnJohn Engler January 1, 1991 January 1, 2003 Republican   Binsfeld, ConnieConnie Binsfeld [h]
  Posthumus, DickDick Posthumus
47     Granholm, JenniferJennifer Granholm January 1, 2003 January 1, 2011 Democratic   Cherry, Jr., John D.John D. Cherry, Jr.
48     Snyder, RickRick Snyder January 1, 2011 January 1, 2019 Republican   Calley, BrianBrian Calley
49     Whitmer, GretchenGretchen Whitmer January 1, 2019 Present Democratic   Gilchrist, GarlinGarlin Gilchrist

Living former U.S. governors of Michigan

As of August 2024, 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 (1942-08-08) August 8, 1942 (age 82)
John Engler 1991–2003 (1948-10-12) October 12, 1948 (age 75)
Jennifer Granholm 2003–2011 (1959-02-05) February 5, 1959 (age 65)
Rick Snyder 2011–2019 (1958-08-19) August 19, 1958 (age 66)

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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