List of governors of Michigan
The governor of Michigan, is the head of government of the U.S. state of Michigan as well as the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.[2] The governor has a duty to enforce state laws;[3] the power to either approve or veto appropriation bills passed by the Michigan Legislature;[4] the power to convene the legislature;[5] and the power to grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment.[6] The governor is also empowered to reorganize the executive branch of the state government.[7]
Governor of Michigan | |
---|---|
Style | Her Excellency[1] |
Status | |
Residence | Michigan Governor's Mansion |
Term length | Four years, renewable once |
Precursor | Governor of Michigan Territory |
Inaugural holder | Stevens T. Mason |
Formation | November 3, 1835 |
Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of Michigan |
Salary | $159,300 (2019) |
Website | www |
In the 17th and 18th century, Michigan was part of French and then British holdings, and administered by their colonial governors. After becoming part of the United States, areas of what is today Michigan were part of the Northwest Territory, Indiana Territory and Illinois Territory, and administered by territorial governors. In 1805, the Michigan Territory was created, and five men served as territorial governors, until Michigan was granted statehood in 1837. Forty-seven individuals have held the position of state governor. The first female governor, Jennifer Granholm, served from 2003 to 2011.
After Michigan gained statehood, governors held the office for a 2-year term, until the 1963 Michigan Constitution changed the term to 4 years. The number of times an individual could hold the office was unlimited until a 1992 constitutional amendment imposed a lifetime term limit of two 4-year governorships. The longest-serving governor in Michigan's history was William Milliken, who was promoted from lieutenant governor after Governor George W. Romney resigned to become Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, then was elected to three further successive terms. The only governors to serve non-consecutive terms were John S. Barry and Frank Fitzgerald.
Governors
Governors of the Territory of Michigan
Michigan Territory was organized on June 30, 1805, from the north half of Indiana Territory.[8] It had three governors appointed by the president of the United States, including the longest-serving governor of any territory, Lewis Cass, who served for 18 years.[9]
No. | Governor | Term in office[lower-alpha 1] | Appointed by | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | William Hull (1753–1825) [10] |
March 1, 1805[lower-alpha 2] – October 29, 1813 (successor appointed)[lower-alpha 3] |
Thomas Jefferson | |
James Madison | ||||
2 | Lewis Cass (1782–1866) [9] |
October 29, 1813[lower-alpha 4] – August 1, 1831 (resigned)[lower-alpha 5] |
James Madison | |
James Monroe | ||||
John Quincy Adams | ||||
3 | George Bryan Porter (1791–1834) [24] |
August 6, 1831[lower-alpha 6] – July 6, 1834 (died in office) |
Andrew Jackson | |
— | Stevens T. Mason (1811–1843) [27][28] |
July 6, 1834 – September 21, 1835 (successor appointed)[lower-alpha 7] |
Territorial secretary acting | |
— | John S. Horner (1802–1883) |
September 21, 1835[33] – July 3, 1836 (resigned)[lower-alpha 8] |
Territorial secretary acting |
Governors of the State of Michigan
Michigan was admitted to the Union on January 26, 1837. The original 1835 Constitution of Michigan provided for the election of a governor and a lieutenant governor every 2 years.[35] The current constitution of 1963 increased this term to four years.[36] There was no term limit on governors until a 1993 constitutional amendment limited governors to two terms.[37]
Should the office of governor become vacant, the lieutenant governor becomes governor, followed in order of succession by the secretary of state and the attorney general.[38] Prior to the current constitution, the duties of the office would devolve upon the lieutenant governor, without that person actually becoming governor.[39] Beginning in 1850, the term begins at noon on January 1 of the year following the election;[40] before, it had no set start date, and terms would last until when their successor was inaugurated, which would be at least the first Monday in January following their election.[41] Prior to the 1963 constitution, the governor and lieutenant governor were elected through separate votes, allowing them to be from different parties. In 1963, this was changed, so that votes are cast jointly for a governor and lieutenant governor of the same party.[36][42]
Notes
- The range given is from the date the governor was confirmed by the Senate, or appointed by the President during a Senate recess, to the date the governor left office.
- Hull was nominated on February 26, 1805,[11] confirmed by the Senate on March 1,[12] and took office on July 1.[10] He was reconfirmed by the Senate on March 31, 1808,[13] and January 12, 1811.[14]
- Hull was court-martialed for surrendering Detroit to the British during the War of 1812, and sentenced to death; that was later commuted.[10] but other sources say he never resigned.[15]
- Cass was appointed on October 29, 1813,[9] during a Senate recess; nominated on January 31, 1814;[16] and confirmed by the Senate on February 11, 1814.[17] He was reconfirmed by the Senate on January 21, 1817;[18] January 24, 1820;[19] December 20, 1822;[20] December 22, 1825;[21] and December 24, 1828.[22]
- Cass resigned, having been appointed United States Secretary of War.[9] He submitted his resignation on July 21, 1831, to take effect on August 1.[23]
- Porter was appointed on August 6, 1831,[24] during a Senate recess; nominated on December 7, 1831;[25] and confirmed by the Senate on February 8, 1832.[26] He took office on September 17, 1831.[24]
- Henry D. Gilpin was appointed on November 5, 1834, during a Senate recess, but he returned his commission on November 8, without declining it, saying he could not leave his present duties for several weeks.[29] He was nominated on December 18, 1834,[30] but was rejected by the Senate on January 20, 1835.[31] Charles Shaler was then appointed on August 29, 1835, but declined the post.[32] His replacement was finally appointed on September 21, 1835. Mason would win the election to be the first state governor on October 5.
- In October 1835, Michigan authorized a state constitution and elected Stevens T. Mason as governor of the new state, although Michigan was not admitted until 1837. Horner was mostly ignored by the people of Michigan, and resigned to be Secretary of Wisconsin Territory in July 1836;[34] the date given is the organization of Wisconsin Territory.
- Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
- Woodbridge resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.[44] His resignation, dated February 23, was accepted by the Senate on February 24.[47]
- Sobel writes that Barry was term-limited under the terms of the 1835 constitution, but no such limit existed.[50]
- Felch resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.[53]
- Ransom lost the Democratic nomination to John S. Barry.[58]
- McClelland resigned, having been appointed United States Secretary of the Interior.[62]
- The 1850 constitution adjusted the election schedules, shortening this term to one year.[62]
- Sources are split on when McClelland resigned and Parsons took office, with Sobel saying both occurred on March 7,[65] and the Michigan Legislative Manual saying McClelland resigned on March 6, and Parsons took office March 7.[43]
- Sources are consistent that Bingham took office on January 3;[67][43] however, the constitutional start date was January 1, and one contemporary source does not that he would have been inaugurated on January 1, and delivered his inaugural address on January 3.[69] However, as this is the only source yet found saying so, this article uses January 3.
- Sources are split on if Wisner took office on January 3,[70] or January 5[43] despite the constitutional start date being January 1.
- Represented the Republican Party
- Begole was nominated by both the Democratic and Greenback parties.[85]
- The constitutional start date of the gubernatorial term was January 1; Osborn was not sworn in until January 2, presumably because January 1 was a Sunday.[108]
- The constitutional start date of the gubernatorial term was January 1; Comstock was not sworn in until January 2, presumably because January 1 was a Sunday.[126]
- Comstock lost the Democratic nomination to Arthur J. Lacy.[124]
- January 1 was on a Sunday; Fitzgerald took the oath of office early so he could properly take office on January 1, while his formal inauguration was the next day.[133]
- Represented the Democratic Party
- Romney resigned, having been appointed United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.[152]
- Whitmer's second term began on January 1, 2023, and will expire January 1, 2027; she will be term-limited.
References
- General
- "Former Michigan Governors". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- McMullin, Thomas A. (1984). Biographical directory of American territorial governors. Westport, CT : Meckler. ISBN 978-0-930466-11-4. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- Sobel, Robert (1978). Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. II. Meckler Books. ISBN 9780930466008. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
- "Our Campaigns - Governor of Michigan - History". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
- Constitutions
- "Constitution of 1835". Michigan Legislative Council. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
- "Constitution of 1850". Michigan Legislative Council. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
- "Constitution of 1908". Michigan Legislative Council. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- "Constitution of 1963". Michigan Legislative Council. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
- Specific
- 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. p. 167 – via Google Books.
- 1963 Michigan Constitution, Article 5, Section 12
- 1963 Michigan Constitution, Article 5, Section 8
- 1963 Michigan Constitution, Article 5, Section 19
- 1963 Michigan Constitution, Article 5, Section 15
- 1963 Michigan Constitution, Article 5, Section 14
- 1963 Michigan Constitution, Article 5, Section 2
- 2 Stat. 309
- McMullin 1984, pp. 189–191.
- McMullin 1984, pp. 187–189.
- U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 8th Cong., 2nd sess., 484, accessed March 9, 2023.
- U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 8th Cong., 2nd sess., 484, accessed March 9, 2023.
- U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 10th Cong., 1st sess., 78, accessed March 9, 2023.
- U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 11th Cong., 3rd sess., 162, accessed March 9, 2023.
- Van Syckle, Raymond E. (1916). Year Book of the Michigan Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. p. 50.
- U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 13th Cong., 2nd sess., 464, accessed March 9, 2023.
- U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 13th Cong., 2nd sess., 472, accessed March 9, 2023.
- U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 14th Cong., 2nd sess., 72, accessed March 9, 2023.
- U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 16th Cong., 1st sess., 196, accessed March 9, 2023.
- U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 17th Cong., 2nd sess., 314, accessed March 9, 2023.
- U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 19th Cong., 1st sess., 457, accessed March 9, 2023.
- U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 20th Cong., 2nd sess., 624, accessed March 9, 2023.
- Carter, Clarence Edwin (1945). The Territorial Papers of the United States. Vol. XII: The Territory of Michigan 1829-1837, continued. U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 310–311.
- McMullin 1984, pp. 191–193.
- U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 22nd Cong., 1st sess., 178, accessed March 9, 2023.
- U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 22nd Cong., 1st sess., 209, accessed March 9, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, pp. 741–742.
- "Stevens Thomson Mason". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- Carter, Clarence Edwin (1945). The Territorial Papers of the United States. Vol. XII: The Territory of Michigan 1829-1837, continued. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 814.
- U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 23rd Cong., 2nd sess., 447, accessed March 9, 2023.
- U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 23rd Cong., 2nd sess., 463, accessed March 9, 2023.
- Dunbar, Willis F. & May, George S. (1995). Michigan: A History of the Wolverine State (Third Revised ed.). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. p. 187. ISBN 9780802870551.
- Carter, Clarence Edwin (1945). The Territorial Papers of the United States. Vol. XII: The Territory of Michigan 1829-1837, continued. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 979.
- Dunbar, Willis F. & May, George S. (1995). Michigan: A History of the Wolverine State (Third Revised ed.). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. pp. 208–211. ISBN 9780802870551.
- 1835 Const. art. V, § 1
- MI Const. art. V, § 21
- MI Const. art. V, § 30
- MI Const. art. V, § 26
- 1835 Const. art. V, § 13
- "Executive Branch". State of Michigan. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
- 1835 Const. art. XII, § 10
- 1835 Const. art. V, § 3
- Michigan Legislative Manual and Official Directory. 1895. p. 146.
- Sobel 1978, p. 742.
- "William Woodbridge". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- Michigan Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1840 sess., 9, accessed September 27, 2023
- Michigan Legislature. Journal of the Senate. 1841 sess., 207, accessed September 27, 2023
- Sobel 1978, pp. 742–743.
- "James Wright Gordon". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, p. 743.
- "John Stewart Barry". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- Michigan Legislature. Journal of the Senate. 1842 sess., 7, accessed September 27, 2023
- Sobel 1978, p. 744.
- "Alpheus Felch". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- Michigan Legislature. Journal of the Senate. 1846 sess., 4, accessed September 27, 2023
- "William L. Greenly". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- "Resignation of Gov. Felch". Detroit Free Press. March 4, 1847. p. 2. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, p. 745.
- "Epaphroditus Ransom". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- Michigan Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1848 sess., 7, accessed September 27, 2023
- Michigan Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1850 sess., 4, accessed September 27, 2023
- Sobel 1978, pp. 745–746.
- "Robert McClelland". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- "Gov. McClelland". Detroit Free Press. January 1, 1852. p. 2. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, p. 746.
- "Andrew Parsons". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, p. 747.
- "Kinsley Scott Bingham". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- "From Lansing". Detroit Free Press. January 3, 1855. p. 1. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, pp. 747–748.
- "Moses Wisner". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, p. 748.
- "Austin Blair". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, pp. 748–749.
- "Henry Howland Crapo". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, pp. 749–750.
- "Henry P. Baldwin". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- "The Oath of Office Administered to Gov. Baldwin". Detroit Free Press. January 4, 1869. p. 4. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, pp. 750–751.
- "John J. Bagley". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, p. 751.
- "Charles Miller Croswell". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, pp. 751–752.
- "David Howell Jerome". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, pp. 752–753.
- "Josiah Williams Begole". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- "Arrival of Gov. Begole at Lansing". Detroit Free Press. January 2, 1883. p. 7. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, p. 753.
- "Russell Alexander Alger". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, pp. 753–754.
- "Cyrus Gray Luce". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, p. 754.
- "Edwin Baruch Winans". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- "Michigan's New Executive". St. Joseph Saturday Herald. January 3, 1891. p. 1. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, p. 755.
- "John Tyler Rich". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, pp. 755–756.
- "Hazen Stuart Pingree". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- "Takes His Seat". The Herald-Palladium. January 2, 1897. p. 4. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, p. 756.
- "Aaron Thomas Bliss". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- "It Is Now Governor Bliss". Detroit Free Press. January 2, 1901. p. 1. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, p. 757.
- "Fred Maltby Warner". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- Municipal Manual of the City of Detroit. City of Detroit. 1914. p. 98. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, pp. 757–758.
- "Chase Salmon Osborn". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- "Osborn in; Names Aides". Detroit Free Press. January 3, 1911. p. 3. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, pp. 758–759.
- "Woodbridge Nathan Ferris". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- "Is First Democrat To Take Governor's Oath in the Last 22 Years". The Times Herald. January 1, 1913. p. 1. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, p. 759.
- "Albert Edson Sleeper". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- "Governor Sleeper to Take Office Today As Cannon Boom Salute". Detroit Evening Times. United Press. January 1, 1917. p. 1. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, p. 760.
- "Alexander Joseph Groesbeck". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- Murphy, Robert G. (January 2, 1921). "New Governor at State Helm". Detroit Free Press. p. 1. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, pp. 760–761.
- "Fred Warren Green". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- "Green Grasps State's Helm". Lansing State Journal. January 1, 1927. p. 1. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, p. 761.
- "Wilbur Marion Brucker". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- "Brucker Takes State Reins Today". Lansing State Journal. January 1, 1931. p. 1. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, p. 762.
- "William Alfred Comstock". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- Morris, Frank G. (January 3, 1933). "Harmony Pledges Are Made As State Government Goes Into Hands of Democrats". Detroit Free Press. p. 1. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, pp. 762–763.
- "Frank Dwight Fitzgerald". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- "New Governor Stresses Need of Wise Laws". Lansing State Journal. January 1, 1935. p. 3. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, p. 763.
- "Frank Murphy". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- "Crowds View Inaugural of New Officials". Lansing State Journal. January 1, 1937. p. 1. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- "Fitzgerald Hails Choice of Murphy". Detroit Free Press. Associated Press. January 2, 1939. p. 1. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, p. 764.
- "Luren Dudley Dickinson". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- "Weakened Heart Fails After Influenza Attack". Detroit Free Press. March 17, 1939. p. 1. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, pp. 764–765.
- "Murray Delos Van Wagoner". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- George, Hub M. (January 2, 1941). "Unified State Rule Pledged as Van Wagoner Takes Office and Both Sides Bury Hatchet". Detroit Free Press. p. 1. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, p. 765.
- "Harris Francis Kelly". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- Haswell, James M. (January 2, 1943). "Kelly Dedicates State to Achieving Victory". Detroit Free Press. p. 1. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, p. 766.
- "Kimber Cornellus Sigler". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- George, Hub (January 2, 1947). "Takes Oath as Governor of Michigan". Detroit Free Press. p. 1. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, pp. 766–767.
- "Gerhard Mennen Williams". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- George, Hub M. (January 2, 1949). "Gov. Williams Takes Oath". Detroit Free Press. p. 1. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, pp. 767–768.
- "John Burley Swainson". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- Baird, Willard (January 2, 1961). "Governor Sworn In". Lansing State Journal. p. 1. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, p. 768.
- "George Wilcken Romney". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- Baird, Willard (January 2, 1963). "Romney Urges New Confidence in State". Lansing State Journal. p. A1. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, pp. 768–769.
- "William Grawn Milliken". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- "Milliken Now 44th Governor". Lansing State Journal. January 22, 1969. p. A1. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- "James Johnston Blanchard". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- Albight, John B. (January 2, 1983). "Blanchard Takes Reins As Governor". Lansing State Journal. p. 1A. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- "John Engler". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- Andrews, Chris (January 2, 1991). "Engler Vows New Spirit of Enterprise". Lansing State Journal. p. 1A. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- "Jennifer M. Granholm". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- Andrews, Chris; Range, Stacey (January 2, 2003). "First Female Governor Takes Office". Lansing State Journal. p. 1A. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- "Rick Snyder". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- Stanton, Ryan J. "Ann Arbor's Rick Snyder Sworn In As Michigan's 48th Governor at Inauguration Ceremony". Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- "Gretchen Whitmer". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- Cappelletti, Joey (January 1, 2023). "Historic Term Begins in Michigan As Whitmer, Others Sworn In". Associated Press. Retrieved March 13, 2023.