List of governors of California
The Governor of California is the head of government of California, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced. The governor is also the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The current governor is Gavin Newsom, who has been in office since 2019.
Thirty-nine people have served as governor, over 40 distinct terms; many have been influential nationwide in areas far-flung from politics. Leland Stanford founded Stanford University in 1891. Earl Warren, later Chief Justice of the United States, won an election with the nominations of the three major parties – the only person ever to run essentially unopposed for governor of California. Ronald Reagan, who was president of the Screen Actors Guild and later President of the United States, and Arnold Schwarzenegger both came to prominence through acting. Gray Davis, the 37th governor of California, was the second governor in American history to be recalled by voters. The shortest tenure was that of Milton Latham, who served only five days before being elected by the legislature to fill a vacant United States Senate seat. The longest tenure is that of Jerry Brown, who previously served as governor from 1975 to 1983 and again from 2011 to 2019, the only governor to serve non-consecutive terms. He is the son of former governor Pat Brown who served from 1959 to 1967.
List of governors
California was obtained by the United States in the Mexican Cession following the Mexican–American War. Unlike most other states, it was never organized as a territory, and was admitted as the 31st state on September 9, 1850.
The original California Constitution of 1849 called for elections every two years, with no set start date for the term. An amendment ratified in 1862 increased the term to four years,[1] and the 1879 constitution set the term to begin on the first Monday after January 1 following an election.[lower-alpha 1] In 1990, Proposition 140 led to a constitutional amendment[2] implementing a term limit of two terms;[3] prior to this limit, only one governor, Earl Warren, served more than two terms. Jerry Brown was able to be elected to a third term in 2010 because his previous terms were before the term limit was enacted. The 1849 constitution also created the office of lieutenant governor, who, in cases of vacancy in the office of governor, becomes governor.[4] The governor and lieutenant governor are not elected on the same ticket.
See also
Notes
- The rule of the term beginning on the first Monday after January 1 does not seem to have been followed until 1939; all terms between 1880 and 1931, except for 1923, began on the "wrong" day, often just one or two days off. This is well sourced, and it is unknown why the terms did not match the constitution, or why they began to match the constitution in 1939.
- Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
- A civilian government was formed in late 1849 prior to official statehood, and operated as the state government for ten months before official statehood was granted.[6]
- Burnett abruptly resigned after his first annual address was criticized by the legislature.[6]
- The 1849 election was non-partisan;[5][9] sources say Burnett was an Independent Democrat.[7]
- The 1849 election was non-partisan;[5][9] sources say McDougal was an Independent Democrat.[12]
- Represented the Democratic Party
- Latham resigned, having been elected to in the United States Senate.[29]
- First term under an 1862 constitutional amendment, which lengthened terms to four years.[1]
- Booth resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.[50]
- Represented the Republican Party
- Gage lost the Republican nomination to George Pardee.[85]
- Pardee lost the Republican nomination to James Gillett.[89]
- Johnson resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.[98]
- Stephens lost the Republican nomination to Friend Richardson.[101]
- Richardson lost the Republican nomination to C. C. Young.[109]
- Young lost the Republican nomination to James Rolph.[114]
- Warren resigned, having been appointed Chief Justice of the United States.[128] His resignation letter specified he would leave office at "12 o'clock midnight, Sunday, Oct 4, 1953".[131]
- Warren ran as a Republican for his first and third terms. For his second term, he won the nomination of the Republican, Democratic, and Progressive parties.[132]
- Davis was recalled and Schwarzenegger elected to replace him in a special election.[158]
- Newsom delayed his swearing in as lieutenant governor until January 10, 2011, to remain mayor of San Francisco; Maldonado stayed on as lieutenant governor until then.[163]
- Newsom's second term began on January 2, 2023, and will expire January 4, 2027; he will be term-limited.
- Newsom survived a recall election.[167]
References
- General
- "Governors of California". California State Library. Official Site of the State of California. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
- "Former California Governors". National Governors Association. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
- Sobel, Robert (1978). Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. I. Meckler Books. ISBN 9780930466015. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
- Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-1439-0.
- Kallenbach, Joseph Ernest (1977). American State Governors, 1776-1976. Oceana Publications. ISBN 978-0-379-00665-0. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
- "Our Campaigns - Governor of California - History". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
- Constitutions
- "Constitution of the State of California". Legislative Counsel of California. 1879. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
- "Constitution of the State of California". California Secretary of State. 1849. Archived from the original on January 28, 2010. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
- Specific
- Henning, W.F. (1899). Constitution of the State of California. C.W. Palm Company. Retrieved January 18, 2008.
- "California Ballot Propositions 1990-1999". Los Angeles County Law Library. Archived from the original on October 7, 2010. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
- CA Const. art. V, § 2
- CA Const. art. V, § 10
- Sobel 1978, p. 101.
- "Peter Hardeman Burnett". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
- "Peter Burnett". California State Library. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
- Calif. State Legislature. Journal of the Senate. 1849–1850 sess., 20, accessed August 1, 2023
- Kallenbach 1977, p. 75.
- Sobel 1978, pp. 101–102.
- "John McDougal". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
- "John McDougal". California State Library. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
- Calif. State Legislature. Journal of the Senate. 1851 sess., 43–47, accessed August 1, 2023
- Sobel 1978, pp. 102–103.
- "John Bigler". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
- "John Bigler". California State Library. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
- Calif. State Legislature. Journal of the Assembly. 1852 sess., 27, accessed August 1, 2023
- Dubin 2003, p. 13.
- Sobel 1978, p. 103.
- "John Neely Johnson". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
- "J. Neely Johnson". California State Library. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
- Calif. State Legislature. Journal of the Assembly. 1856 sess., 82, accessed August 1, 2023
- Dubin 2003, p. 14.
- Sobel 1978, pp. 103–104.
- "John B. Weller". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
- "John Weller". California State Library. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
- Calif. State Legislature. Journal of the Assembly. 1858 sess., 71, accessed August 1, 2023
- Sobel 1978, pp. 104–105.
- "Milton Slocum Latham". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
- "Milton Latham". California State Library. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
- Calif. State Legislature. Journal of the Assembly. 1860 sess., 106, accessed August 1, 2023
- Sobel 1978, p. 105.
- "John G. Downey". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
- "John Downey". California State Library. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
- Calif. State Legislature. Journal of the Assembly. 1860 sess., 153, accessed August 1, 2023
- Kallenbach 1977, pp. 69–70.
- Sobel 1978, p. 106.
- "Amasa Leland Stanford". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
- "Leland Stanford". California State Library. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
- Calif. State Legislature. Journal of the Assembly. 1862 sess., 97–98, accessed August 1, 2023
- Sobel 1978, p. 107.
- "Frederick Ferdinand Low". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
- "Frederick Low". California State Library. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
- Calif. State Legislature. Journal of the Assembly. 1863–1864 sess., 93, accessed August 1, 2023
- Sobel 1978, pp. 107–108.
- "Henry Huntly Haight". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "Henry Haight". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- Calif. State Legislature. Journal of the Assembly. 1867–1868 sess., 91, accessed August 1, 2023
- Sobel 1978, p. 108.
- "Newton Booth". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "Newton Booth". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- Calif. State Legislature. Journal of the Assembly. 1871–1872 sess., 119, accessed August 1, 2023
- Sobel 1978, p. 109.
- "Romualdo Pacheco". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "Romualdo Pacheco". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "Our New Governor". San Francisco Chronicle. February 28, 1875. p. 8. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, pp. 109–110.
- "William Irwin". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "William Irwin". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- Calif. State Legislature. Journal of the Assembly. 1875–1876 sess., 19, accessed August 1, 2023
- Sobel 1978, pp. 110–111.
- "George Clement Perkins". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "George Perkins". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- Calif. State Legislature. Journal of the Assembly. 1880 sess., 31, accessed August 1, 2023
- Sobel 1978, pp. 111–112.
- "George Stoneman". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "George Stoneman". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- Calif. State Legislature. Journal of the Assembly. 1883 sess., 15, accessed August 1, 2023
- Sobel 1978, p. 112.
- "Washington Bartlett". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "Washington Bartlett". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- Calif. State Legislature. Journal of the Assembly. 1887 sess., 39, accessed August 1, 2023
- Sobel 1978, p. 113.
- "Robert Whitney Waterman". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "Robert Waterman". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "Pain Is Over". Oakland Tribune. September 13, 1887. p. 3. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, pp. 113–114.
- "Henry Harrison Markham". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "Henry Harrison Markham". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- Calif. State Legislature. Journal of the Assembly. 1891 sess., 44, accessed August 1, 2023
- Sobel 1978, pp. 114–115.
- "James Herbert Budd". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "James Budd". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- Calif. State Legislature. Journal of the Assembly. 1895 sess., 32, accessed August 1, 2023
- Sobel 1978, p. 115.
- "Henry Tifft Gage". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "Henry Gage". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- Calif. State Legislature. Journal of the Assembly. 1899 sess., 45, accessed August 1, 2023
- Sobel 1978, p. 116.
- "George Cooper Pardee". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "George Pardee". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- Calif. State Legislature. Journal of the Assembly. 1903 sess., 69, accessed August 1, 2023
- Sobel 1978, p. 117.
- "James Norris Gillett". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "James Gillett". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- Calif. State Legislature. Journal of the Assembly. 1907 sess., 34, accessed August 1, 2023
- Sobel 1978, p. 118.
- "Hiram Warren Johnson". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "Hiram Johnson". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- Calif. State Legislature. Journal of the Assembly. 1911 sess., 53, accessed August 1, 2023
- Sobel 1978, p. 119.
- "William Dennison Stephens". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "William Stephens". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "Governor Quits Job To Become U.S. Senator". Record Searchlight. March 15, 1917. p. 1. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, p. 120.
- "Friend William Richardson". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "Friend Richardson". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- Calif. State Legislature. Journal of the Assembly. 1923 sess., 97, accessed August 1, 2023
- "Young Wins Republican Nomination". Mendocino Coast Beacon. September 11, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, pp. 120–121.
- "Clement Calhoun Young". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "C. C. Young". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- Calif. State Legislature. Journal of the Assembly. 1927 sess., 60, accessed August 1, 2023
- "Rolph Nominated for Governor by Margin of 24,000". The Fresno Bee. August 28, 1930. p. 1. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, p. 121.
- "James Rolph". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "James Rolph". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- Calif. State Legislature. Journal of the Assembly. 1931 sess., 176, accessed August 1, 2023
- Sobel 1978, p. 122.
- "Frank Finley Merriam". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "Frank Merriam". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "F.F. Merriam Assumes Post of Governor". Los Angeles Evening Post-Record. June 2, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, pp. 122–123.
- "Culbert L. Olson". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "Culbert Olson". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- Calif. State Legislature. Journal of the Assembly. 1939 sess., 26, accessed August 1, 2023
- Sobel 1978, pp. 123–124.
- "Earl Warren". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "Earl Warren". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- Calif. State Legislature. Journal of the Assembly. 1943 sess., 20, accessed August 1, 2023
- "Warren Resigns as Governor in 32 Words". Evening Vanguard. Associated Press. October 5, 1953. p. 7. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- "Biography of Earl Warren". Earl Warren College. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
- Sobel 1978, pp. 124–125.
- "Goodwin Jess Knight". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "Goodwin Knight". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- Phillips, Herbert L. (October 5, 1953). "Knight Takes Oath As Governor; Warren Becomes Chief Justice". The Sacramento Bee. p. 1. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, pp. 125–126.
- "Edmund Gerald Brown". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "Edmund G. "Pat" Brown". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- Calif. State Legislature. Journal of the Assembly. 1959 sess., 18, accessed August 1, 2023
- Sobel 1978, p. 126.
- "Ronald Wilson Reagan". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "Ronald Reagan". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- Salzman, Ed (January 2, 1967). "Reagan Takes Midnight Oath". Oakland Tribune. p. 1. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, p. 127.
- "Edmund G. Brown Jr". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "Edmond G. "Jerry" Brown". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- Calif. State Legislature. Journal of the Assembly. 1975 sess., 192, accessed August 1, 2023
- "George Deukmejian". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "George Deukmejian". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- Shuit, Douglas (January 3, 1983). "Deukmejian Takes Oath As Governor". The Los Angeles Times. p. 1. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- "Pete Wilson". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "Pete Wilson". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- Skelton, George (January 8, 1991). "Government Must Renew Credibility, Wilson Declares". The Los Angeles Times. p. A1. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- "Gray Davis". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "Gray Davis". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- Lesher, Dave (January 5, 1999). "Davis Sworn In, Pledges 'Common Sense' Approach". The Los Angeles Times. p. A1. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- "Arnold Schwarzenegger". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "Arnold Schwarzenegger". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- Nicholas, Peter; Mathews, Joe (November 18, 2003). "Schwarzenegger Sworn In, Rescinds Car Tax Increase". The Los Angeles Times. p. A1. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- "Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- Siders, David (January 4, 2011). "Governor Seens a Year of Courage, Sacrifice". The Sacramento Bee. p. A1. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- Upton, John (January 7, 2011). "Newsom's Dual Role Raises Legal Quandary". The Bay Citizen. Archived from the original on April 19, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
- "Gavin Newsom". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- "Gavin Newsom". California State Library. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- Willon, Phil; Luna, Taryn; Mason, Melanie (January 8, 2019). "'We'll Be There for Each Other'". The Los Angeles Times. p. A1. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- Ronayne, Kathleen; Blood, Michael R. (September 15, 2021). "California Gov. Gavin Newsom beats back GOP-led recall". Associated Press News. Retrieved September 20, 2021.