List of governors of Alaska

The governor of Alaska (Iñupiaq: Alaaskam kavanaa) is the head of government of Alaska. The governor is the chief executive of the state and is the holder of the highest office in the executive branch of the government as well as being the commander in chief of the Alaska's state forces.

Governor of Alaska
Alaaskam Kavanaa
The Seal of the State of Alaska
Incumbent
Mike Dunleavy
since December 3, 2018
ResidenceAlaska Governor's Mansion
Term lengthFour years, renewable once
Inaugural holderWilliam A. Egan
FormationJanuary 3, 1959
DeputyKevin Meyer
Salary$145,000 [1]
Websitegov.alaska.gov

Twelve people have served as governor of the State of Alaska over 14 distinct terms, though Alaska had over 30 civilian and military governors during its long history as a United States territory. Only two governors, William A. Egan and Bill Walker, were born in Alaska. Two people, Egan and Wally Hickel, have been elected to multiple non-consecutive terms as governor. Hickel is also noted for a rare third party win in American politics, having been elected to a term in 1990 representing the Alaskan Independence Party. The longest-serving governor of the state was Egan, who was elected three times and served nearly 12 years. The longest-serving territorial governor was Ernest Gruening, who served 131⁄2 years.

The governor is sworn in on the first Monday of December.

The current governor is Republican Mike Dunleavy, who took office on December 3, 2018.

Governors before statehood

Alaska was purchased by the United States from the Russian Empire in 1867, with formal transfer occurring on October 18, 1867,[2] which is now celebrated as Alaska Day. Before then, it was known as Russian America or Russian Alaska, controlled by the governors and general managers of the Russian-American Company.

Commanders of the Department of Alaska

The vast region was initially designated the Department of Alaska, under the jurisdiction of the Department of War and administered by the U.S. Army officers until 1877, when the Army was withdrawn from Alaska. The Department of the Treasury then took control, with the Collector of Customs as the highest ranking federal official in the territory. In 1879, the U.S. Navy was given jurisdiction over the department.[3]

Some believe the first American administrator of Alaska was Polish immigrant Włodzimierz Krzyżanowski. However, the Anchorage Daily News was unable to find any conclusive information to support this claim.[4]

Chief federal officers of the Department of Alaska
No. Commander Position Term in office
1 Jefferson C. Davis Army Colonel October 18, 1867
–
August 31, 1870
2 George K. Brady Army Captain September 1, 1870
–
September 22, 1870
3 John C. Tidball Army Major September 23, 1870
–
September 19, 1871
4 Harvey A. Allen Army Major September 20, 1871
–
January 3, 1873
5 Joseph Stewart Army Major January 4, 1873
–
April 20, 1874
6 George B. Rodney Jr. Army Captain April 21, 1874
–
August 16, 1874
7 Joseph B. Campbell Army Captain August 17, 1874
–
June 14, 1876
8 John Mendenhall Army Major June 15, 1876
–
March 4, 1877
9 Arthur Morris Army Captain March 5, 1877
–
June 14, 1877
10 Montgomery P. Berry Collector of Customs June 14, 1877
–
August 13, 1877
11 Henry Charles DeAhna Collector of Customs August 14, 1877
–
March 26, 1878
12 M. D. Ball Collector of Customs March 27, 1878
–
June 13, 1879
13 Lester A. Beardslee Navy Captain June 14, 1879
–
September 12, 1880
14 Henry Glass Navy Commander September 13, 1880
–
August 9, 1881
15 Edward P. Lull Navy Commander August 10, 1881
–
October 18, 1881
16 Henry Glass Navy Commander October 19, 1881
–
March 12, 1882
17 Frederick Pearson Navy Commander March 13, 1882
–
October 3, 1882
18 Edgar C. Merriman Navy Commander October 4, 1882
–
September 13, 1883
19 Joseph Coghlan Navy Commander September 15, 1883
–
September 13, 1884
20 Henry E. Nichols Navy Lieutenant commander September 14, 1884
–
September 15, 1884

Governors of the District of Alaska

On May 17, 1884, the Department of Alaska was redesignated the District of Alaska, an incorporated but unorganized territory with a civil government. The governor was appointed by the president of the United States.

Governors of the District of Alaska
No. Governor Term in office Appointed by
1 John Henry Kinkead July 4, 1884
–
May 7, 1885		 Chester A. Arthur
2 Alfred P. Swineford May 7, 1885
–
April 20, 1889		 Grover Cleveland
3 Lyman Enos Knapp April 20, 1889
–
June 18, 1893		 Benjamin Harrison
4 James Sheakley June 18, 1893
–
June 23, 1897		 Grover Cleveland
5 John Green Brady June 23, 1897
–
March 2, 1906[lower-alpha 1]		 William McKinley
6 Wilford Bacon Hoggatt March 10, 1906[6]
–
May 20, 1909		 Theodore Roosevelt
7 Walter Eli Clark May 20, 1909
–
August 24, 1912		 William Howard Taft

Governors of the Territory of Alaska

The District of Alaska was organized into Alaska Territory on August 24, 1912. Governors continued to be appointed by the president of the United States.

Governors of the Territory of Alaska
No. Portrait Term in office Appointed by
1 Walter Eli Clark August 24, 1912
–
April 18, 1913		 William Howard Taft
2 John Franklin Alexander Strong April 18, 1913
–
April 12, 1918[lower-alpha 2]		 Woodrow Wilson
3 Thomas Riggs Jr. April 12, 1918
–
June 16, 1921
4 Scott Cordelle Bone June 16, 1921
–
August 16, 1925		 Warren G. Harding
5 George Alexander Parks August 16, 1925
–
April 19, 1933		 Calvin Coolidge
6 John Weir Troy April 19, 1933
–
December 6, 1939		 Franklin D. Roosevelt
7 Ernest Gruening[lower-alpha 3] December 6, 1939
–
April 10, 1953
8 B. Frank Heintzleman April 10, 1953
–
January 3, 1957[lower-alpha 4]		 Dwight D. Eisenhower
— Waino Hendrickson January 3, 1957
–
April 8, 1957		 Acting[lower-alpha 5]
9 Mike Stepovich April 8, 1957
–
August 9, 1958[lower-alpha 6]		 Dwight D. Eisenhower
— Waino Hendrickson August 9, 1958
–
January 3, 1959		 Acting[lower-alpha 5]

Governors of the State of Alaska

Alaska was admitted to the Union on January 3, 1959.

The state constitution provides for the election of a governor and lieutenant governor every four years on the same ticket, with their terms commencing on the first Monday in the December following the election.[11] Governors are allowed to succeed themselves once, having to wait four years after their second term in a row before being allowed to run again.[12] Should the office of governor become vacant, the lieutenant governor assumes the office of governor.[13] The original constitution of 1956 created the office of secretary of state, which was functionally identical to a lieutenant governor, and was renamed to "lieutenant governor" in 1970.[14]

Qualifications

Anyone who seeks to be elected Governor of Alaska must meet the following qualifications:[15]

  • be at least 30 years old
  • be a qualified voter in Alaska
  • have been both an American citizen and a resident of Alaska for a minimum of seven years on election day
Governors of the State of Alaska[lower-alpha 7]
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor[lower-alpha 8][lower-alpha 9]
1   William A. Egan January 3, 1959
–
December 5, 1966
(lost election)		 Democratic 1958   Hugh Wade
1962
2 Wally Hickel December 5, 1966
–
January 29, 1969
(resigned)[lower-alpha 10]		 Republican 1966 Keith Harvey Miller
3 Keith Harvey Miller January 29, 1969
–
December 7, 1970
(lost election)[17]		 Republican Succeeded from
Secretary
of State		 Robert W. Ward
1 William A. Egan December 7, 1970
–
December 2, 1974
(lost election)		 Democratic 1970 H. A. Boucher
4 Jay Hammond December 2, 1974
–
December 6, 1982
(term limited)		 Republican 1974 Lowell Thomas Jr.
1978 Terry Miller
5 Bill Sheffield December 6, 1982
–
December 1, 1986
(lost renomination)[lower-alpha 11]		 Democratic 1982 Steve McAlpine
6 Steve Cowper December 1, 1986
–
December 3, 1990
(not candidate for election)		 Democratic 1986
2 Wally Hickel December 3, 1990
–
December 5, 1994
(not candidate for election)		 Alaskan
Independence[lower-alpha 12]		 1990 Jack Coghill
7 Tony Knowles December 5, 1994
–
December 2, 2002
(term limited)		 Democratic 1994 Fran Ulmer
1998
8 Frank Murkowski December 2, 2002
–
December 4, 2006
(lost renomination)[lower-alpha 13]		 Republican 2002 Loren Leman
9 Sarah Palin December 4, 2006
–
July 26, 2009
(resigned)[lower-alpha 14]		 Republican 2006 Sean Parnell
10 Sean Parnell July 26, 2009
–
December 1, 2014
(lost election)[22]		 Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor		 Vacant
Craig Campbell
(took office August 10, 2009)[lower-alpha 15]
2010 Mead Treadwell
11 Bill Walker December 1, 2014
–
December 3, 2018
(withdrew from election)[lower-alpha 16]		 Independent 2014 Byron Mallott
(resigned October 16, 2018)[26]
Valerie Davidson
12 Mike Dunleavy December 3, 2018
–
Incumbent[lower-alpha 17]		 Republican 2018 Kevin Meyer

Succession

Living former governors of Alaska

As of November 2022, six former U.S. governors of Alaska are currently living, the oldest being Frank Murkowski (served 2002 to 2006, born 1933). The most recent U.S. governor of Alaska to die was Bill Sheffield (served 1982 to 1986), on November 4, 2022.[27] The most recently serving governor to die was Wally Hickel (served 1966 to 1969 and 1990 to 1994), on May 7, 2010.[28]

Governor Gubernatorial term Date of birth (and age)
Frank Murkowski 2002-2006 (1933-03-28) March 28, 1933
Steve Cowper 1986-1990 (1938-08-21) August 21, 1938
Tony Knowles 1994-2002 (1943-01-01) January 1, 1943
Bill Walker 2014-2018 (1951-04-16) April 16, 1951
Sean Parnell 2009-2014 (1962-11-19) November 19, 1962
Sarah Palin 2006-2009 (1964-02-11) February 11, 1964

Timeline of governors

The following timeline depicts the progression of the governors and their political affiliation at the time of assuming office.

See also
  • List of Alaska State Legislatures
  • List of governors of dependent territories in the 19th century
  • List of governors of dependent territories in the 20th century

Notes
  1. Brady was forced to resign due to his involvement with the fraudulent Reynolds–Alaska Development Company.[5]
  2. Strong resigned on request after it was discovered he was still a Canadian citizen.[7]
  3. During most of World War II, Lt. Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr., was the military commander of Alaska, and held much executive power over the territory.[8]
  4. Heintzleman resigned; reportedly he was unhappy with the job, and did not expect to be reappointed.[9]
  5. As secretary of Alaska, acted as governor for remainder of term.[10]
  6. Stepovich resigned to run for the United States Senate, losing that election.[10]
  7. Data is sourced from the National Governors Association, unless supplemental references are required.
  8. The office of lieutenant governor was named secretary of state until 1970.[14]
  9. Lieutenant governors have all represented the same party as their governor.
  10. Hickel resigned to become United States Secretary of the Interior.[16]
  11. Sheffield lost the Democratic nomination to Steve Cowper.[18]
  12. Hickel was elected as a member of the Alaskan Independence Party, and switched to the Republican party in April 1994.[19]
  13. Murkowski finished third in the Republican primary, behind winner Sarah Palin and John Binkley.[20]
  14. Palin resigned, citing the costs of ethics investigations.[21]
  15. Campbell's position was termed "Temporary Substitute Lieutenant Governor[23] until he was confirmed by the Alaska Legislature on August 10, 2009.[24]
  16. Walker withdrew from the election on October 19, after the deadline of September 4 and so remained on the ballot.[25]
  17. Dunleavy's first term expires on December 5, 2022.

References
General
  • "Former Alaska Governors". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  • Gates, Nancy (2007). The Alaska Almanac: Facts about Alaska (30th ed.). Graphic Arts Center Publishing Co. pp. 85–87. ISBN 0-88240-652-3. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  • Sobel, Robert (1978). Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. I. Meckler Books. ISBN 9780930466015. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
Constitution
Specific
  1. "The Governors: Compensation, Staff, Travel and Residence" (PDF). The Council of State Governments. April 3, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  2. "Purchase of Alaska, 1867". United States Department of State Office of the Historian. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  3. Gates p. 86
  4. Ruskin, Liz (2002-12-20). "Barking up the wrong Pole: Hero wasn't governor". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved August 26, 2008.
  5. Janson, Lone (1975). The Copper Spike. Alaska Northwest Publishing Co. p. 44. ISBN 0-88240-045-2.
  6. "New Governor of Alaska". New York Times. March 11, 1906. p. 5.
  7. Gruening, Ernest (1973). Many Battles: The Autobiography of Ernest Gruening. Liveright. p. 216. ISBN 0-87140-565-2.
  8. Personal Justice Denied: Report of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians. University of Washington Press. 1997. p. 319. ISBN 0-295-97558-X.
  9. Naske, Claus-M. (1985). A History of Alaska Statehood. University Press of America. p. 244. ISBN 0-8191-4556-4.
  10. Naske, Claus-M.; Herman E. Slotnick (1979). Alaska: A History of the 49th State. Eerdmans. p. 309. ISBN 0-8028-7041-4.
  11. AK Const. art. III, § 4
  12. AK Const. art. III, § 5
  13. AK Const. art. III, § 11
  14. AK Const. amendments
  15. "Governor of Alaska".
  16. "Walter J. Hickel". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  17. Sobel p. 45
  18. "Alaska's Gov. Bill Sheffield, who survived a Watergate-flavored impeachment effort last summer, conceded Wednesday to challenger Steve Cowper, becoming the first state chief executive to lose a primary this year". UPI. August 27, 1986. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  19. "Alaska's Gov. Hickel Rejoins Gop Amid Speculation Over Another Term". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. April 15, 1994. Retrieved September 28, 2008.
  20. "STATE OF ALASKA - 2006 PRIMARY ELECTION AUGUST 22, 2006 OFFICIAL RESULTS". Archived from the original on March 4, 2010. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
  21. "Legal Bills Swayed Palin, Official Says". The New York Times. July 5, 2009. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  22. "2014 General Election November 4, 2014 Official Results". elections.alaska.gov. November 11, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  23. Forgey, Pat (July 28, 2009). "Alaska gets first ever 'temporary substitute' lt. governor". Juneau Empire. Archived from the original on October 13, 2017. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  24. "House Journal, Alaska State Legislature, Twenty-Sixth Legislature, First Special Session". legis.state.ak.us. State of Alaska. August 10, 2009. Retrieved December 17, 2009.
  25. Hobson, Margaret Kriz (October 24, 2018). "Chaos, questions in Alaska as governor's race shrinks". E&E News. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  26. Zak, Annie; Hanlon, Tegan; DeMarban, Alex (October 16, 2018). "Alaska Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott abruptly resigns following "inappropriate comments"". Anchorage Daily News.
  27. Bohrer, Becky (4 November 2022). "Bill Sheffield, former Alaska governor, dies at age 94". National Post. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  28. Hevesi, Dennis (2010-05-08). "Walter Hickel, Nixon Interior Secretary, Dies at 90". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
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