The Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of Kentucky's government,[2] and serves as commander-in-chief of the state's militia forces.[3] The governor has a duty to enforce state laws;[4] the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Kentucky Legislature;[5] the power to convene the legislature;[6] and the power to grant pardons, except in cases of treason and impeachment.[7] He or she is also empowered to reorganize the state government or reduce it in size. Historically, the office has been regarded as one of the most powerful executive positions in the United States.[8]
Fifty-seven individuals have held the office of governor of Kentucky. Prior to a 1992 amendment to the state's constitution, the governor of Kentucky was prohibited from succeeding himself in office, though four men (Isaac Shelby, John L. Helm, James B. McCreary, and A. B. "Happy" Chandler) served multiple non-consecutive terms. Paul E. Patton, the first governor eligible for a second consecutive term under the amendment, won his reelection bid in 1999. James Garrard succeeded himself in 1800, before the constitutional provision existed.
William Goebel, who was elected to the office in the disputed election of 1899, remains the only governor of any U.S. state to die from assassination while in office.[9] Martha Layne Collins, who held the office from 1983 to 1987, was the first woman to serve as governor of Kentucky and was only the third woman to serve as governor of any U.S. state who was not the wife or widow of a previous governor.[8]
Steve Beshear is the 61st and current governor, having served since December 11, 2007. He defeated incumbent Governor Ernie Fletcher in the 2007 gubernatorial election and won re-election of state senate President David L. Williams in 2011.
Governors
Kentucky was initially Kentucky County in Virginia. It achieved statehood and was admitted to the Union on June 1, 1792; see the list of governors of Virginia for the period before statehood. There have been 57 governors, serving 61 distinct terms.
An unelected group proclaimed Kentucky's secession from the Union on November 20, 1861, and it was annexed by the Confederate States of America on December 10, 1861. The Confederate government elected two governors (listed separately), but it never held much control over the state, and the main line of governors was preserved.
The original 1792 Kentucky Constitution had the governor chosen by an electoral college for a term of four years.[10] The second constitution in 1799 changed this to a popular vote, and prevented governors from succeeding themselves within seven years of their terms.[11] The third constitution in 1850 reduced the succession limitation to four years.[12] A 1992 amendment to the constitution allowed governors to have a second term before being prevented from succeeding themselves for four years.[13]
Democratic (35) Democratic-Republican (9) Know Nothing (1) National Republican (2) Republican (8) Whig (6)
# |
Governor |
Took office |
Left office |
Party |
Lt. Governor
[note 1] |
Terms
[note 2] |
1 |
|
Isaac Shelby |
June 4, 1792 |
June 7, 1796 |
Democratic-
Republican |
None |
1 |
2 |
|
James Garrard |
June 7, 1796 |
September 5, 1804 |
Democratic-
Republican |
None |
2 |
|
Alexander Scott Bullitt |
3 |
|
Christopher Greenup |
September 5, 1804 |
September 1, 1808 |
Democratic-
Republican |
|
John Caldwell |
1 |
|
Thomas Posey |
4 |
|
Charles Scott |
September 1, 1808 |
August 24, 1812 |
Democratic-
Republican |
|
Gabriel Slaughter |
1 |
5 |
|
Isaac Shelby |
August 24, 1812 |
September 5, 1816 |
Democratic-
Republican |
|
Richard Hickman |
1 |
6 |
|
George Madison |
September 5, 1816 |
October 14, 1816 |
Democratic-
Republican |
|
Gabriel Slaughter |
1⁄2
[note 3] |
7 |
|
Gabriel Slaughter |
October 14, 1816 |
August 29, 1820 |
Democratic-
Republican |
vacant |
1⁄2
[note 4] |
8 |
|
John Adair |
August 29, 1820 |
August 24, 1824 |
Democratic-
Republican |
|
William T. Barry |
1 |
9 |
|
Joseph Desha |
August 24, 1824 |
August 26, 1828 |
Democratic-
Republican |
|
Robert B. McAfee |
1 |
10 |
|
Thomas Metcalfe |
August 26, 1828 |
September 4, 1832 |
National
Republican |
|
John Breathitt |
1 |
11 |
|
John Breathitt |
September 4, 1832 |
February 21, 1834 |
Democratic |
|
James T. Morehead |
1⁄2
[note 3] |
12 |
|
James T. Morehead |
February 21, 1834 |
August 30, 1836 |
National
Republican |
vacant |
1⁄2
[note 4] |
13 |
|
James Clark |
August 30, 1836 |
August 27, 1839 |
Whig |
|
Charles A. Wickliffe |
1⁄2
[note 3] |
14 |
|
Charles A. Wickliffe |
August 27, 1839 |
September 2, 1840 |
Whig |
vacant |
1⁄2
[note 4] |
15 |
|
Robert P. Letcher |
September 2, 1840 |
September 4, 1844 |
Whig |
|
Manlius V. Thomson |
1 |
16 |
|
William Owsley |
September 4, 1844 |
September 6, 1848 |
Whig |
|
Archibald Dixon |
1 |
17 |
|
John J. Crittenden |
September 6, 1848 |
July 13, 1850 |
Whig |
|
John L. Helm |
1⁄2
[note 5] |
18 |
|
John L. Helm |
July 31, 1850 |
September 2, 1851 |
Whig |
vacant |
1⁄2
[note 4] |
19 |
|
Lazarus W. Powell |
September 2, 1851 |
September 4, 1855 |
Democratic |
|
John B. Thompson |
1 |
20 |
|
Charles S. Morehead |
September 4, 1855 |
August 30, 1859 |
Know Nothing |
|
James G. Hardy |
1 |
21 |
|
Beriah Magoffin |
August 30, 1859 |
August 18, 1862 |
Democratic |
|
Linn Boyd |
1⁄2
[note 6] |
vacant |
22 |
|
James F. Robinson |
August 18, 1862 |
September 1, 1863 |
Democratic |
vacant |
1⁄2
[note 7] |
23 |
|
Thomas E. Bramlette |
September 1, 1863 |
September 3, 1867 |
Democratic |
|
Richard T. Jacob |
1 |
24 |
|
John L. Helm |
September 3, 1867 |
September 8, 1867 |
Democratic |
|
John W. Stevenson |
1⁄2
[note 3] |
25 |
|
John W. Stevenson |
September 8, 1867 |
February 3, 1871 |
Democratic |
vacant |
1 1⁄2
[note 8]
[note 9] |
26 |
|
Preston H. Leslie |
February 3, 1871 |
August 31, 1875 |
Democratic |
|
John G. Carlisle |
1 1⁄2
[note 10] |
27 |
|
James B. McCreary |
August 31, 1875 |
September 2, 1879 |
Democratic |
|
John C. Underwood |
1 |
28 |
|
Luke P. Blackburn |
September 2, 1879 |
September 5, 1883 |
Democratic |
|
James E. Cantrill |
1 |
29 |
|
J. Proctor Knott |
September 5, 1883 |
August 30, 1887 |
Democratic |
|
James R. Hindman |
1 |
30 |
|
Simon B. Buckner |
August 30, 1887 |
September 2, 1891 |
Democratic |
|
James W. Bryan |
1 |
31 |
|
John Young Brown |
September 2, 1891 |
December 10, 1895 |
Democratic |
|
Mitchell C. Alford |
1 |
32 |
|
William O. Bradley |
December 10, 1895 |
December 12, 1899 |
Republican |
|
William J. Worthington |
1 |
33 |
|
William S. Taylor |
December 12, 1899 |
January 30, 1900 |
Republican |
|
John Marshall |
1⁄3
[note 11] |
34 |
|
William Goebel |
January 30, 1900 |
February 3, 1900 |
Democratic |
|
J. C. W. Beckham |
1⁄3
[note 11] |
35 |
|
J. C. W. Beckham |
February 3, 1900 |
December 12, 1907 |
Democratic |
vacant |
1 1⁄3
[note 12] |
|
William P. Thorne |
36 |
|
Augustus E. Willson |
December 10, 1907 |
December 12, 1911 |
Republican |
|
William Hopkinson Cox |
1 |
37 |
|
James B. McCreary |
December 12, 1911 |
December 7, 1915 |
Democratic |
|
Edward J. McDermott |
1 |
38 |
|
Augustus O. Stanley |
December 7, 1915 |
May 19, 1919 |
Democratic |
|
James D. Black |
1⁄2
[note 9] |
39 |
|
James D. Black |
May 19, 1919 |
December 9, 1919 |
Democratic |
vacant |
1⁄2
[note 4] |
40 |
|
Edwin P. Morrow |
December 9, 1919 |
December 11, 1923 |
Republican |
|
S. Thruston Ballard |
1 |
41 |
|
William J. Fields |
December 11, 1923 |
December 13, 1927 |
Democratic |
|
Henry Denhardt |
1 |
42 |
|
Flem D. Sampson |
December 13, 1927 |
December 8, 1931 |
Republican |
|
James Breathitt, Jr. |
1 |
43 |
|
Ruby Laffoon |
December 8, 1931 |
December 10, 1935 |
Democratic |
|
A. B. "Happy" Chandler |
1 |
44 |
|
A. B. "Happy" Chandler |
December 10, 1935 |
October 9, 1939 |
Democratic |
|
Keen Johnson |
1⁄2
[note 13] |
45 |
|
Keen Johnson |
October 9, 1939 |
December 7, 1943 |
Democratic |
|
Rodes K. Myers |
1 1⁄2
[note 8] |
46 |
|
Simeon S. Willis |
December 7, 1943 |
December 9, 1947 |
Republican |
|
Kenneth H. Tuggle |
1 |
47 |
|
Earle C. Clements |
December 9, 1947 |
November 27, 1950 |
Democratic |
|
Lawrence W. Wetherby |
1⁄2
[note 9] |
48 |
|
Lawrence W. Wetherby |
November 27, 1950 |
December 13, 1955 |
Democratic |
vacant |
1 1⁄2
[note 8] |
|
Emerson Beauchamp |
49 |
|
A. B. "Happy" Chandler |
December 13, 1955 |
December 8, 1959 |
Democratic |
|
Harry Lee Waterfield |
1 |
50 |
|
Bert T. Combs |
December 8, 1959 |
December 10, 1963 |
Democratic |
|
Wilson Wyatt |
1 |
51 |
|
Edward T. Breathitt |
December 10, 1963 |
December 12, 1967 |
Democratic |
|
Harry Lee Waterfield |
1 |
52 |
|
Louie B. Nunn |
December 12, 1967 |
December 7, 1971 |
Republican |
|
Wendell H. Ford |
1 |
53 |
|
Wendell H. Ford |
December 7, 1971 |
December 28, 1974 |
Democratic |
|
Julian M. Carroll |
1⁄2
[note 9] |
54 |
|
Julian M. Carroll |
December 28, 1974 |
December 11, 1979 |
Democratic |
|
Thelma Stovall |
1 1⁄2
[note 8] |
55 |
|
John Y. Brown, Jr. |
December 11, 1979 |
December 13, 1983 |
Democratic |
|
Martha Layne Collins |
1 |
56 |
|
Martha Layne Collins |
December 13, 1983 |
December 8, 1987 |
Democratic |
|
Steve Beshear |
1 |
57 |
|
Wallace G. Wilkinson |
December 8, 1987 |
December 10, 1991 |
Democratic |
|
Brereton Jones |
1 |
58 |
|
Brereton Jones |
December 10, 1991 |
December 12, 1995 |
Democratic |
|
Paul E. Patton |
1 |
59 |
|
Paul E. Patton |
December 12, 1995 |
December 9, 2003 |
Democratic |
|
Steve Henry |
2 |
60 |
|
Ernie Fletcher |
December 9, 2003 |
December 11, 2007 |
Republican |
|
Steve Pence |
1 |
61 |
|
Steve Beshear |
December 11, 2007 |
incumbent |
Democratic |
|
Daniel Mongiardo |
1
[note 14] |
Confederate governors
During the Civil War, a group of Confederate sympathizers met at the Russellville, Kentucky to form a Confederate government for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. While this government never successfully displaced the government in Frankfort, two men were elected governor of the Confederate government: George W. Johnson, who served from November 20, 1861 to his death on April 8, 1862 at the Battle of Shiloh, and, on Johnson's death, Richard Hawes, who served until the Confederate surrender on April 9, 1865. The Confederate government disbanded shortly after the end of the war in 1865.[15]
Other high offices held
This is a table of congressional seats, other federal offices, and other governorships held by governors. All representatives and senators mentioned represented Kentucky except where noted.
- * Denotes those offices for which the governor resigned the governorship.
In addition, one Confederate governor, Richard Hawes, served as a U.S. Representative.[16]
Living former governors
As of April 2011[update], seven former governors were alive, the oldest being Wendell H. Ford (1971–1975, born 1924). The most recent governor to die was Louie B. Nunn (1967–1971), on January 29, 2004.
Notes
- ^ The office of lieutenant governor was created by the second Kentucky Constitution, ratified in 1799.[14]
- ^ The fractional terms of some governors are not to be understood absolutely literally; rather, they are meant to show single terms during which multiple governors served, due to resignations, deaths and the like.
- ^ a b c d Died in office.
- ^ a b c d e As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term.
- ^ Resigned to be Attorney General of the United States
- ^ Resigned due to his disagreement with the state legislature over the American Civil War; he espoused neutrality.
- ^ As president of the senate, filled unexpired term.
- ^ a b c d As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term, and was later elected in his own right.
- ^ a b c d Resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.
- ^ As president of the senate, filled unexpired term, and was subsequently elected in his own right.
- ^ a b William S. Taylor was sworn in to office, but the legislature challenged the validity of his election win, claiming ballot fraud. William Goebel, his challenger in the election, was shot on January 30, 1900. The next day, the legislature named Goebel governor. However, Goebel died from his wounds three days later. Taylor fled the state and never returned, and was pardoned by Governor Augustus Willson in 1909.
- ^ As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term until elected to fill it in a special election.
- ^ Resigned to take an appointed seat in the United States Senate.
- ^ Governor Beshear's first term expires December 13, 2011 when he will be inagurated for a second term; at which point, he will be term-limited for four years.
References
- General
- Constitution
- Specific
- ^ "Kentucky Governor reports making $179,422 in 2009". WPSD-TV. http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/ky-state-news/92597314.html. Retrieved July 11, 2010.
- ^ Kentucky Constitution article 69
- ^ Kentucky Constitution article 75
- ^ Kentucky Constitution article 81
- ^ Kentucky Constitution article 88
- ^ Kentucky Constitution article 80
- ^ Kentucky Constitution article 77
- ^ a b Kleber, John E., ed (1992). "Governor, Office of". The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0813117720.
- ^ Kleber, John E., ed (1992). "Goebel Assassination". The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0813117720.
- ^ 1799 Kentucky Constitution article II, § 2–3
- ^ 1799 Kentucky Constitution article III, § 3–4
- ^ 1850 Kentucky Constitution article III, § 3
- ^ Kentucky Constitution article 71
- ^ 1799 Kentucky Constitution article II, § 15
- ^ Kleber, John E., ed (1992). "Confederate Government". The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0813117720.
- ^ "Hawes, Richard". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=H000363. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Greenup, Christopher". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=G000434. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Adair, John". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=A000026. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Desha, Joseph". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=D000271. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Metcalfe, Thomas". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=HM000676. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Morehead, James Turner". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M000938. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Clark, James". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C000436. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Wickliffe, Charles Anderson". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=W000442. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Letcher, Robert Perkins". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=L000257. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Crittenden, John Jordan". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C000912. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Powell, Lazarus Whitehead". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=P000481. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Morehead, Charles Slaughter". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M000936. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Stevenson, John White". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S000894. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Kentucky Governor Preston Hopkins Leslie". National Governors Association. http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=625637a59b066010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "McCreary, James Bennett". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M000382. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Knott, James Proctor". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=K000290. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Brown, John Young". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000934. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Bradley, William O'Connell". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000749. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Beckham, John Crepps Wickliffe". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000293. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Stanley, Augustus Osley". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S000796. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Fields, William Craig". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=F000112. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Chandler, Albert Benjamin (Happy)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C000290. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Clements, Earle C.". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C000506. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Bertram Thomas Combs (1911–1991)". History of the Sixth Circuit. U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. http://www.ca6.uscourts.gov/lib_hist/Courts/circuit/judges/combs/btc-bio.html. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
- ^ "Ford, Wendell Hampton". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=F000268. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
- ^ "Fletcher, Ernest L.". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=F000441. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
External links
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