List of governors of New Jersey
The governor of New Jersey is the head of government of New Jersey and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the New Jersey Legislature, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons, except in cases of treason or impeachment.[1]
Governor of New Jersey | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Style |
|
Status | |
Residence | Drumthwacket |
Seat | Trenton, New Jersey |
Term length | Four years, renewable once consecutively |
Constituting instrument | New Jersey Constitution of 1776 |
Precursor | Governor of New Jersey (Great Britain) |
Inaugural holder | William Livingston |
Formation | August 31, 1776 |
Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey |
Website | state |
The first New Jersey State Constitution, ratified in 1776, provided that a governor be elected annually by the state legislature, the members of which were selected by the several counties.[2] Under this constitution, the governor was president of the upper house of the legislature, then called the Legislative Council.[2] The 1844 constitution provided for a popular vote to elect the governor,[3] who no longer presided over the upper house of the legislature, now called the Senate. The 1844 constitution also lengthened the governor's term to three years, set to start on the third Tuesday in January following an election, and barred governors from succeeding themselves.[4] The 1947 constitution extended terms to four years, and limits governors from being elected to more than two consecutive terms, though they can run again after a third term has passed.[5] Joseph Bloomfield, Peter Dumont Vroom, Daniel Haines, Joel Parker, Leon Abbett, and Walter Evans Edge each served two non-consecutive stints as governor while A. Harry Moore served three non-consecutive stints. Foster McGowan Voorhees, James Fairman Fielder, and Richard Codey each served two non-consecutive stints, one as acting governor and one as official governor.
The 1776 constitution provided that the vice-president of the Legislative Council would act as governor (who was president of the Council) should that office be vacant.[2] The 1844 constitution placed the president of the Senate first in the line of succession,[6] as did the subsequent 1947 constitution.[7] A constitutional amendment in 2006 created the office of lieutenant governor,[8] to be elected on the same ticket for the same term as the governor,[9] and if the office of governor is vacant, the lieutenant governor becomes governor.[10] This office was first filled in 2010.
There have been 55 official governors of New Jersey, 1 of whom was female, with several others acting as governor for a time.[lower-alpha 1] In the official numbering, governors are counted only once each, and traditionally, only elected governors were included. However, legislation signed on January 10, 2006, allowed acting governors who had served at least 180 days to be considered full governors. The law was retroactive to January 1, 2001; it therefore changed the titles of Donald DiFrancesco and Richard Codey, affecting Jim McGreevey's numbering.[11] The current governor is Phil Murphy, who took office on January 16, 2018.
Governors
New Jersey was one of the original Thirteen Colonies and was admitted as a state on December 18, 1787. Before it declared its independence, New Jersey was a colony of the Kingdom of Great Britain.
Prior to 2010, unlike most other states, New Jersey did not have the office of lieutenant governor. Until 2010, when the office of governor was vacant or the governor was unable to fulfill his/her duties through injury, the president of the State Senate served as the acting governor. The Senate president continued in the legislative role during his/her tenure as the state's acting chief executive, thus giving the person control over executive and legislative authority. The acting governor served either until a special election was held (which would occur if the governor died, resigned, or was removed from office with more than 16 months before the end of the term), until the governor recovered from his/her injuries, or, if the governor died, resigned, or was removed from office less than 16 months before end of the term, until the end of the term.
Following the resignation of Christine Todd Whitman in 2001 to become EPA Administrator, Donald DiFrancesco assumed the acting governor's post. Following Whitman's resignation and DiFrancesco's departure, John O. Bennett served as acting governor for three and a half days. During that time, he signed a few bills into law, gave a State of the State Address, and held parties at Drumthwacket, the New Jersey governor's mansion. Similarly, Richard J. Codey served as acting governor as well. Because control of the New Jersey State Senate was split, resulting in two Senate co-presidents, Codey and Bennett, each held the office of acting governor for three days. For a second time, Richard Codey served as acting governor of New Jersey until January 2006, following the resignation of Jim McGreevey in late 2004. Perhaps the spectacle of having six changes in the governorship in a four-year span, in as much as any other factor, led to the voters' decision to amend the state constitution in 2005 to create the office of lieutenant governor of New Jersey effective with the 2009 state elections.
No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor[lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 3] | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
William Livingston (1723–1790) [12][13] |
August 31, 1776[14] – July 25, 1790 (died in office) |
Federalist | 1776 | Office did not exist | ||
1777 | ||||||||
1778 | ||||||||
1779 | ||||||||
1780 | ||||||||
1781 | ||||||||
1782 | ||||||||
1783 | ||||||||
1784 | ||||||||
1785 | ||||||||
1786 | ||||||||
1787 | ||||||||
1788 | ||||||||
1789 | ||||||||
— | Elisha Lawrence (1746–1799) |
July 25, 1790[15] – October 29, 1790 (successor took office) |
Federalist | Vice-president of the Legislative Council acting | ||||
2 | ![]() |
William Paterson (1745–1806) [16][17] |
October 29, 1790[18] – May 27, 1793 (resigned)[lower-alpha 4] |
Federalist | 1790 | |||
1791 | ||||||||
1792 | ||||||||
— | Thomas Henderson (1743–1824) [20][21] |
May 27, 1793[lower-alpha 5] – June 3, 1793 (successor took office) |
Federalist | Vice-president of the Legislative Council acting | ||||
3 | ![]() |
Richard Howell[lower-alpha 6] (1754–1802) [24][25] |
June 3, 1793[22] – October 31, 1801 (did not run) |
Federalist | 1793 | |||
1794 | ||||||||
1795 | ||||||||
1796 | ||||||||
1797 | ||||||||
1798 | ||||||||
1799 | ||||||||
1800 | ||||||||
4 | ![]() |
Joseph Bloomfield (1753–1823) [26][27] |
October 31, 1801[28] – October 28, 1802 (deadlocked election)[lower-alpha 7] |
Democratic- Republican |
1801 | |||
— | ![]() |
John Lambert (1746–1823) [29][30] |
October 28, 1802[29] – October 27, 1803 (did not run) |
Democratic- Republican |
1802[lower-alpha 7] | |||
4 | ![]() |
Joseph Bloomfield (1753–1823) [26][27] |
October 27, 1803[32] – October 29, 1812 (did not run)[lower-alpha 8] |
Democratic- Republican |
1803 | |||
1804 | ||||||||
1805 | ||||||||
1806 | ||||||||
1807 | ||||||||
1808 | ||||||||
1809 | ||||||||
1810 | ||||||||
1811 | ||||||||
5 | ![]() |
Aaron Ogden (1756–1839) [35][36] |
October 29, 1812[37] – October 29, 1813 (lost election) |
Federalist | 1812 | |||
6 | ![]() |
William Sanford Pennington (1757–1826) [38][39] |
October 29, 1813[40] – June 19, 1815 (resigned)[lower-alpha 9] |
Democratic- Republican |
1813 | |||
1814 | ||||||||
— | William Kennedy (1775–1826) |
June 19, 1815[41] – October 26, 1815 (did not run) |
Democratic- Republican |
Vice-president of the Legislative Council acting | ||||
7 | ![]() |
Mahlon Dickerson (1770–1853) [42][43] |
October 26, 1815[44] – February 1, 1817 (resigned)[lower-alpha 10] |
Democratic- Republican |
1815 | |||
1816 | ||||||||
8 | ![]() |
Isaac Halstead Williamson (1767–1844) [45][46] |
February 6, 1817[47] – October 30, 1829 (lost election) |
Federalist[lower-alpha 11] | 1817[lower-alpha 12] | |||
1818 | ||||||||
1819 | ||||||||
1820 | ||||||||
1821 | ||||||||
1822 | ||||||||
1823 | ||||||||
1824 | ||||||||
1825 | ||||||||
1826 | ||||||||
1827 | ||||||||
1828 | ||||||||
— | ![]() |
Garret D. Wall (1783–1850) |
October 30, 1829[53] – November 2, 1829 (declined)[lower-alpha 13] |
Democratic | 1829[lower-alpha 13] | |||
9 | ![]() |
Peter Dumont Vroom (1791–1873) [56][57] |
November 6, 1829[58] – October 26, 1832 (lost election) |
Democratic | ||||
1830 | ||||||||
1831 | ||||||||
10 | ![]() |
Samuel L. Southard (1787–1842) [59][60] |
October 26, 1832[61] – February 27, 1833 (resigned)[lower-alpha 14] |
Whig | 1832[lower-alpha 15] | |||
11 | ![]() |
Elias P. Seeley (1791–1846) [62][63] |
February 27, 1833[64] – October 25, 1833 (lost election) |
Whig | ||||
9 | ![]() |
Peter Dumont Vroom (1791–1873) [56][57] |
October 25, 1833[65] – November 3, 1836 (resigned)[lower-alpha 16] |
Democratic | 1833 | |||
1834 | ||||||||
1835 | ||||||||
12 | ![]() |
Philemon Dickerson (1788–1862) [67][68] |
November 3, 1836[66] – October 27, 1837 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1836 | |||
13 | ![]() |
William Pennington (1796–1862) [69] |
October 27, 1837[70] – October 27, 1843 (did not run) |
Whig | 1837 | |||
1838 | ||||||||
1839 | ||||||||
1840 | ||||||||
1841 | ||||||||
1842 | ||||||||
14 | ![]() |
Daniel Haines (1801–1877) [71][72] |
October 27, 1843[73] – January 21, 1845 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1843 | |||
15 | ![]() |
Charles C. Stratton (1796–1859) [74][75] |
January 21, 1845[76] – January 18, 1848 (term-limited) |
Whig | 1844 | |||
14 | ![]() |
Daniel Haines (1801–1877) [71][72] |
January 18, 1848[77] – January 21, 1851 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1847 | |||
16 | ![]() |
George Franklin Fort (1809–1872) [78][79] |
January 21, 1851[80] – January 17, 1854 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1850 | |||
17 | ![]() |
Rodman M. Price (1816–1894) [81][82] |
January 17, 1854[83] – January 20, 1857 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1853 | |||
18 | ![]() |
William A. Newell (1817–1901) [84][85] |
January 20, 1857[86] – January 17, 1860 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1856 | |||
19 | ![]() |
Charles Smith Olden (1799–1876) [87][88] |
January 17, 1860[89] – January 20, 1863 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1859 | |||
20 | ![]() |
Joel Parker (1816–1888) [90][91] |
January 20, 1863[92] – January 16, 1866 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1862 | |||
21 | ![]() |
Marcus Lawrence Ward (1812–1884) [93][94] |
January 16, 1866[95] – January 19, 1869 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1865 | |||
22 | ![]() |
Theodore Fitz Randolph (1826–1883) [96][97] |
January 19, 1869[98] – January 16, 1872 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1868 | |||
20 | ![]() |
Joel Parker (1816–1888) [90][91] |
January 16, 1872[99] – January 19, 1875 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1871 | |||
23 | ![]() |
Joseph D. Bedle (1831–1894) [100][101] |
January 19, 1875[102] – January 15, 1878 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1874 | |||
24 | ![]() |
George B. McClellan (1826–1885) [103][104] |
January 15, 1878[105] – January 18, 1881 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1877 | |||
25 | ![]() |
George C. Ludlow (1830–1900) [106][107] |
January 18, 1881[108] – January 15, 1884 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1880 | |||
26 | ![]() |
Leon Abbett (1836–1894) [109][110] |
January 15, 1884[111] – January 18, 1887 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1883 | |||
27 | ![]() |
Robert Stockton Green (1831–1895) [112][113] |
January 18, 1887[114] – January 21, 1890 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1886 | |||
26 | ![]() |
Leon Abbett (1836–1894) [109][110] |
January 21, 1890[115] – January 17, 1893 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1889 | |||
28 | ![]() |
George Theodore Werts (1846–1910) [116][117] |
January 17, 1893[118] – January 21, 1896 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1892 | |||
29 | ![]() |
John W. Griggs (1849–1927) [119][120] |
January 21, 1896[121] – January 31, 1898 (resigned)[lower-alpha 17] |
Republican | 1895 | |||
— | ![]() |
Foster McGowan Voorhees (1856–1927) [122][123] |
January 31, 1898[124] – October 18, 1898 (resigned)[lower-alpha 18] |
Republican | President of the Senate acting | |||
— | ![]() |
David Ogden Watkins (1862–1938) [126][127] |
October 18, 1898[128] – January 17, 1899 (did not run) |
Republican | Speaker of the Assembly acting | |||
30 | ![]() |
Foster McGowan Voorhees (1856–1927) [122][123] |
January 17, 1899[129] – January 21, 1902 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1898[lower-alpha 19] | |||
31 | ![]() |
Franklin Murphy (1846–1920) [133][134] |
January 21, 1902[135] – January 17, 1905 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1901[lower-alpha 20] | |||
32 | ![]() |
Edward C. Stokes (1860–1942) [137][138] |
January 17, 1905[139] – January 21, 1908 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1904 | |||
33 | ![]() |
John Franklin Fort (1852–1920) [140][141] |
January 21, 1908[142] – January 17, 1911 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1907[lower-alpha 21] | |||
34 | ![]() |
Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) [144][145] |
January 17, 1911[146] – March 1, 1913 (resigned)[lower-alpha 22] |
Democratic | 1910[lower-alpha 23] | |||
— | ![]() |
James Fairman Fielder (1867–1954) [151][152] |
March 1, 1913[153] – October 28, 1913 (resigned)[lower-alpha 24] |
Democratic | President of the Senate acting | |||
— | ![]() |
Leon Rutherford Taylor (1883–1924) [155][156] |
October 28, 1913[157] – January 20, 1914 (did not run) |
Democratic | Speaker of the Assembly acting | |||
35 | ![]() |
James Fairman Fielder (1867–1954) [151][152] |
January 20, 1914[158] – January 16, 1917 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1913[lower-alpha 25][lower-alpha 26] | |||
36 | ![]() |
Walter Evans Edge (1873–1956) [162][163] |
January 16, 1917[164] – May 16, 1919 (resigned)[lower-alpha 27] |
Republican | 1916[lower-alpha 26][lower-alpha 28] | |||
— | ![]() |
William Nelson Runyon (1871–1931) [165][166] |
May 16, 1919[167] – January 13, 1920 (senate term expired) |
Republican | President of the Senate acting | |||
— | ![]() |
Clarence E. Case (1877–1961) [168][169] |
January 13, 1920[170] – January 20, 1920 (successor took office) |
Republican | President of the Senate acting | |||
37 | ![]() |
Edward I. Edwards (1863–1931) [171][172] |
January 20, 1920[173] – January 15, 1923 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1919 | |||
38 | ![]() |
George Sebastian Silzer (1870–1940) [174][175] |
January 15, 1923[176] – January 19, 1926 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1922 | |||
39 | ![]() |
A. Harry Moore (1877–1952) [177][178] |
January 19, 1926[179] – January 15, 1929 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1925 | |||
40 | ![]() |
Morgan Foster Larson (1882–1961) [180][181] |
January 15, 1929[182] – January 19, 1932 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1928 | |||
39 | ![]() |
A. Harry Moore (1877–1952) [177][178] |
January 19, 1932[183] – January 3, 1935 (resigned)[lower-alpha 29] |
Democratic | 1931 | |||
— | ![]() |
Clifford Ross Powell (1893–1973) |
January 3, 1935[184] – January 8, 1935 (senate term expired) |
Republican | President of the Senate acting | |||
— | ![]() |
Horace Griggs Prall (1881–1951) [185][186] |
January 8, 1935[187] – January 15, 1935 (successor took office) |
Republican | President of the Senate acting | |||
41 | ![]() |
Harold G. Hoffman (1896–1954) [188][189] |
January 15, 1935[190] – January 18, 1938 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1934 | |||
39 | ![]() |
A. Harry Moore (1877–1952) [177][178] |
January 18, 1938[191] – January 21, 1941 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1937 | |||
42 | ![]() |
Charles Edison (1890–1969) [192][193] |
January 21, 1941[194] – January 18, 1944 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1940 | |||
36 | ![]() |
Walter Evans Edge (1873–1956) [162][163] |
January 18, 1944[195] – January 21, 1947 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1943 | |||
43 | ![]() |
Alfred E. Driscoll (1902–1975) [196][197] |
January 21, 1947[198] – January 19, 1954 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1946 | |||
1949 | ||||||||
44 | ![]() |
Robert B. Meyner (1908–1990) [199][200] |
January 19, 1954[201] – January 16, 1962 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1953 | |||
1957 | ||||||||
45 | ![]() |
Richard J. Hughes (1909–1992) [202][203] |
January 16, 1962[204] – January 20, 1970 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1961 | |||
1965 | ||||||||
46 | ![]() |
William T. Cahill (1912–1996) [205][206] |
January 20, 1970[207] – January 15, 1974 (lost nomination)[lower-alpha 30] |
Republican | 1969 | |||
47 | ![]() |
Brendan Byrne (1924–2018) [208][209] |
January 15, 1974[210] – January 19, 1982 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1973 | |||
1977 | ||||||||
48 | ![]() |
Thomas Kean (b. 1935) [211] |
January 19, 1982[212] – January 16, 1990 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1981 | |||
1985 | ||||||||
49 | ![]() |
James Florio (1937–2022) [213] |
January 16, 1990[214] – January 18, 1994 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1989 | |||
50 | ![]() |
Christine Todd Whitman (b. 1946) [215] |
January 18, 1994[216] – January 31, 2001 (resigned)[lower-alpha 31] |
Republican | 1993 | |||
1997 | ||||||||
51 | ![]() |
Donald DiFrancesco (b. 1944) [217] |
January 31, 2001 – January 8, 2002 (senate term expired) |
Republican | Succeeded from president of the Senate[lower-alpha 32] | |||
— | ![]() |
John Farmer Jr. (b. 1957) |
January 8, 2002[219] – January 8, 2002 (successor took office) |
Republican | Attorney general acting[lower-alpha 33] | |||
— | John O. Bennett (b. 1948) [220] |
January 8, 2002[221] – January 12, 2002 (successor took office) |
Republican | President of the Senate acting[lower-alpha 34] | ||||
— | ![]() |
Richard Codey (b. 1946) [223] |
January 12, 2002[224] – January 15, 2002 (successor took office) |
Democratic | President of the Senate acting[lower-alpha 34] | |||
52 | ![]() |
Jim McGreevey (b. 1957) [225] |
January 15, 2002[226] – November 15, 2004 (resigned) |
Democratic | 2001 | |||
53 | ![]() |
Richard Codey (b. 1946) [223] |
November 15, 2004[227] – January 17, 2006 (did not run) |
Democratic | Succeeded from president of the Senate[lower-alpha 35] | |||
54 | ![]() |
Jon Corzine (b. 1947) [228] |
January 17, 2006[229] – January 19, 2010 (lost election) |
Democratic | 2005[lower-alpha 36] | |||
55 | ![]() |
Chris Christie (b. 1962) [232] |
January 19, 2010[233] – January 16, 2018 (term-limited) |
Republican | 2009 | Kim Guadagno | ||
2013 | ||||||||
56 | ![]() |
Phil Murphy (b. 1957) [234] |
January 16, 2018[235] – Incumbent[lower-alpha 37] |
Democratic | 2017 | Sheila Oliver | ||
2021 |
See also
Notes
- Only acting governors who filled a vacant office are included in the list. People who acted as governor for a period when the governor was out of state or unable to serve for a period are noted with their governor. It is possible other people acted as governor for short periods but were not recorded.
- The office of lieutenant governor was created in 2006 and first filled in 2010.
- All lieutenant governors have represented the same party as their governor.
- Paterson resigned to be an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.[16] He submitted his resignation on March 30, but it was not accepted by the legislature until May 27.[19]
- Sobel says that Henderson acted as governor because Howell was commanding troops during the Whiskey Rebellion until June 3;[20] however, Howell wasn't elected governor until June 3, and did not accept until June 4.[22]
- Howell was in Pennsylvania in command of the New Jersey militia during the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794; during his absence, Vice-President of the Legislative Council Thomas Henderson acted as governor from September 20 to December 25.[23]
- The 1802 election was deadlocked, with the legislature unable to pick a candidate, giving up on November 25, 1802. Lambert, as vice-president of the Legislative Council, acted as governor until the next election.[31]
- Bloomfield was commissioned a brigadier general in March 1812, to serve in the War of 1812,[26] and Charles Clark, vice-president of the Legislative Council, acted as governor until his successor took office.[33] The specific dates are in question; the state report says Bloomfield was commissioned March 30 and Clark took office June 1, while Lee says Bloomfield was commissioned March 27.[34] It is unknown if Bloomfield formally resigned; Sobel says he did, but no sources list Clark as a full governor.
- Pennington resigned to be take a seat on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.[38]
- Dickerson resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.[42]
- Williamson was known to be a Federalist; though the Federalist Party ceased existing around 1820, no sources say Williamson changed his party affiliation, perhaps choosing to remain loyal to the Federalist ideals.[48] One source describes him as an "ex-Federalist" before he was even elected.[49] A contemporary source says he remained in office until the "Jackson party" controlled the legislature; as this is a reference to the Democratic-Republican Party, it can be assumed Williamson did not switch to that party.[50]
- Williamson was elected by the legislature to succeed him Dickerson.[51] No source mentions anyone acting as governor between Dickerson's resignation and Williamson's election; Jesse Upson, vice-president of the Legislative Council, likely acted as governor.[52]
- Wall was elected on October 30, 1829, but declined the post on November 2;[54] some sources say the resignation was effective November 6, when his successor was elected.[55]
- Southard resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.[59]
- Seeley was vice-president of the Legislative Council at the time of Southard's resignation, but he was elected governor rather than simply acting in the post for the rest of the term.[62]
- Contemporary sources say Vroom resigned due to ill health.[66]
- Griggs resigned to be United States Attorney General.[119]
- Voorhees wanted to run for governor, but as governors were prohibited from succeeding themselves, he had to resign first.[125]
- Voorhees was out of the country in Europe for several weeks in 1900; President of the Senate William M. Johnson acted as governor from May 21 to June 19.[130][131][132]
- Murphy was out of the state twice in 1904; President of the Senate Edmund W. Wakelee acted as governor twice, and according to page 284 the 1905 Manual of the Legislature, served from April 25 to June 5, when Murphy was in Europe, and from June 14 to June 27, when Murphy was visiting Chicago and St. Louis.[136] However, page 16 of the same book states that he served from April 25 to June 5, and June 15 to June 27.[130] He actually took the oaths of office on April 26 and June 14.[132]
- Fort was out of the state for some time in 1909; President of the Senate Joseph Sherman Frelinghuysen, Sr. acted as governor for an unknown period.[143]
- Wilson resigned to be President of the United States.[144]
- Wilson was out of the state for multiple periods during his administration.[131] Documented episodes include from May 3 to June 3, 1911, during which time President of the Senate Ernest R. Ackerman acted as governor,[147][148] though another source states he took the oath on May 4.[149] Ackerman also acted as governor from October 25, 1911, for about a week, and again for about a week in mid-November, 1911.[150] John Dyneley Prince became president of the Senate in 1912, and is known to have acted as governor on at least 11 different occasions.[150]
- Fielder wanted to run for governor, but as governors were prohibited from succeeding themselves, he had to resign first.[154]
- Fielder was out of the state for a time in June 1914; President of the Senate John W. Slocum acted as governor for an unknown period.[159] Walter Evans Edge later became president of the Senate, and acted as governor for five weeks in 1915.[160] Later again, George W. F. Gaunt became president of the Senate and acted as governor, though only two days are specifically known: September 19, 1916 and October 9, 1916.[161]
- One source states that President of the Senate George W. F. Gaunt acted as governor in 1917, but it is unknown if he was acting in place of James Fairman Fielder or Walter Evans Edge.[131]
- Edge resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.[162]
- Edge was out of the state for a time in 1918; Thomas F. McCran, as president of the Senate, is known to have acted as governor, but for an unknown period.[131]
- Moore resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.[177]
- Cahill lost the Republican nomination to Charles W. Sandman Jr..
- Whitman resigned to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.[215]
- A 2006 law considers anyone who has acted as governor longer than 180 days to be considered a full governor, retroactive to January 1, 2001, and as such, DiFrancesco is considered to have fully succeeded to the post.[218]
- There were 90 minutes between the end of the DiFrancesco's senate term and the beginning of the next one; during this time, Attorney General Farmer acted as governor.[219]
- The new state senate was evenly split between Republicans and Democrats.[222] The compromise to pick a senate president – and therefore, an acting governor – was to have Republican John Bennett act as governor from 1:30pm January 8 to 12:01am January 12, and Democrat Richard Codey would then act from 12:01am January 12 to noon on January 15, at which point the elected governor took office.[220]
- A 2006 law considers anyone who has acted as governor longer than 180 days to be considered a full governor, retroactive to January 1, 2001, and as such, Codey is considered to have fully succeeded to the post.[218]
- Corzine was severely injured in a car accident on April 12, 2007; President of the Senate Richard Codey acted as governor until May 7, 2007.[230] Corzine also left the country in 2010 for a vacation to Switzerland; President of the Senate Stephen M. Sweeney acted as governor from January 14 to around January 17.[231]
- Murphy's second term will expire on January 20, 2026; he will be term-limited.
References
- General
- "Former New Jersey Governors". National Governors Association. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
- Sobel, Robert (1978). Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. III. Meckler Books. ISBN 9780930466008. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- Lee, Francis Bazley (1902). New Jersey as a Colony and a State. New York City: The Publishing Society of New Jersey. ISBN 1-146-76658-0. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- Report of the Adjutant-General of the State of New Jersey for the year ending October 31st, 1906. Somerville, New Jersey: The Union-Gazette Printing House. 1907. pp. 122–131. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- Specific
- NJ Constitution article V
- 1776 Constitution article 7
- 1844 Constitution article V, § 2
- 1844 Constitution article V, § 3
- NJ Constitution article V, § 1, cl. 5
- 1844 Constitution article V, § 12
- NJ Constitution article V, § 1, cl. 6, original
- NJ Constitution article XI, § 7
- NJ Constitution article V, § 1, cl. 4
- NJ Constitution article V, § 1, cl. 6, as amended
- New Jersey Legislature. P.L.2005, c. 282.: Provides title of person who serves as Acting Governor for continuous period of at least 180 days will be "Governor of the State of New Jersey" for official and historical purposes. Approved January 9, 2006, retroactive to January 1, 2001. Accessed January 6, 2008.
- Sobel p. 1007
- "William Livingston". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- New Jersey Legislature. Minutes and proceedings of the Council and General Assembly of the state of New-Jersey, in joint-meeting, from August 30, 1776 to October 29, 1799. p. 4.
- Report p. 122
- Sobel pp. 1007–1008
- "William Paterson". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- New Jersey Legislature. Minutes and proceedings of the Council and General Assembly of the state of New-Jersey, in joint-meeting, from August 30, 1776 to October 29, 1799. p. 41.
- New Jersey Legislature. Minutes and proceedings of the Council and General Assembly of the state of New-Jersey, in joint-meeting, from August 30, 1776 to October 29, 1799. p. 25.
- Sobel pp. 1008–1009
- "Thomas Henderson". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- New Jersey Legislature. Minutes and proceedings of the Council and General Assembly of the state of New-Jersey, in joint-meeting, from August 30, 1776 to October 29, 1799. p. 27.
- Report p. 123
- Sobel p. 1009
- "Richard Howell". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Sobel p. 1010
- "Joseph Bloomfield". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- "Bloomfield becomes governor October 31". Aurora General Advertiser. 1801-11-06. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
- Sobel pp. 1010–1011
- "John Lambert". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Lee pp. 155–156
- Lee p. 156
- Report p. 124
- Lee p. 102
- Sobel pp. 1011–1012
- "Aaron Ogden". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Legislative-Council of the State of New-Jersey. 1812. pp. 246–247.
- Sobel p. 1012
- "William Sanford Pennington". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Legislative-Council of the State of New-Jersey. 1813. pp. 274–275.
- Report pp. 125–126
- Sobel p. 1013
- "Mahlon Dickerson". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- New Jersey Legislature (1816). Journal of the Senate of the State of New Jersey. p. 326. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1013–1014
- "Issac Halsted Williamson". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Report p. 126
- Whitehead, John (1897). The Civil and Judicial History of New Jersey, Volume I. The Boston History Company. p. 361. Retrieved January 15, 2010.
- Birkner, Michael (1984). Samuel L. Southard: Jeffersonian Whig. p. 39. ISBN 978-0-8386-3160-7. Retrieved January 15, 2010.
- Elmer, Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus (1872). Collections of the New Jersey Historical Society, Volume VII. p. 175. Retrieved January 15, 2010.
- Lee pp. 160–161
- Lundy et al. (1921) p. 127
- "Wall elected October 30". Burlington Weekly Free Press. 1829-11-13. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
- New Jersey (1829). Journal of the proceedings of the Legislative-Council of the State of New-Jersey. p. 9.
- Lee p. 378
- Sobel pp. 1014–1015
- "Peter Dumont Vroom". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- "Vroom elected governor November 6". The United States Gazette. 1829-11-10. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
- Sobel pp. 1015–1016
- "Samuel Lewis Southard". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- "Southard elected governor October 26". The Philadelphia Inquirer. 1832-10-27. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
- Sobel p. 1016
- "Elias Pettit Seeley". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Report p. 127
- "Vroom elected October 25". Alexandria Gazette. 1833-10-29. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
- "Vroom resigned, Dickerson elected November 3". Niles National Register. 1836-11-12. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
- Sobel pp. 1016–1017
- "Philemon Dickerson". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Sobel p. 1017
- "Pennington elected October 27". Illinois State Register. 1837-11-17. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
- Sobel p. 1018
- "Daniel Haines". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- "Haines elected October 27". The Baltimore Sun. 1843-10-30. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
- Sobel pp. 1018–1019
- "Charles Creighton Stratton". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1845. 165. Accessed April 20, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1848. 101. Accessed May 1, 2023.
- Sobel p. 1019
- "George Franklin Fort". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1851. 94. Accessed May 1, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1019–1020
- "Rodman M. Price". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1854. 56. Accessed May 1, 2023.
- Sobel p. 1020
- "William Augustus Newell". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1857. 44. Accessed May 1, 2023.
- Sobel p. 1021
- "Charles Smith Olden". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1860. 40. Accessed May 1, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1021–1022
- "Joel Parker". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1863. 20. Accessed May 1, 2023.
- Sobel p. 1022
- "Marcus Lawrence Ward". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1866. 29. Accessed May 1, 2023.
- Sobel p. 1023
- "Theodore Fitz Randolph". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1869. 26. Accessed May 1, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1872. 39. Accessed May 1, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1023–1024
- "Joseph Dorsett Bedle". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1875. 58. Accessed May 2, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1024–1025
- "George Brinton McClellan". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1878. 78. Accessed May 2, 2023.
- Sobel p. 1025
- "George Craig Ludlow". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1881. 58. Accessed May 2, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1025–1026
- "Leon Abbett". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- "Governor Abbett's Inaugural". Retrieved 2023-05-02.
- Sobel pp. 1026–1027
- "Robert Stockton Green". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- "Green inaugurated January 18". Retrieved 2023-05-02.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1890. 72. Accessed May 2, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1027–1028
- "George Theodore Werts". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1893. 94. Accessed May 2, 2023.
- Sobel p. 1028
- "John William Griggs". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1896. 64. Accessed May 2, 2023.
- Sobel p. 1029
- "Foster McGowan Voorhees". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1898. 68. Accessed May 3, 2023.
- "Foster McGowan Voorhees" (PDF). New Jersey State Library. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 20, 2007. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- Sobel pp. 1029–1030
- "David Ogden Watkins". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- "Voorhees' Resignation". Retrieved 2023-05-03.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1899. 30. Accessed May 2, 2023.
- Lundy et al. (1905) p. 16
- Lundy et al. (1921) p. 22
- "Governor's Oaths". New Jersey Department of State. Archived from the original on January 15, 2009. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
- Sobel p. 1030
- "Franklin Murphy". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1902. 37. Accessed May 3, 2023.
- Lundy et al. (1905) p. 284
- Sobel p. 1031
- "Edward Casper Stokes". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1905. 35. Accessed May 3, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1031–1032
- "John Franklin Fort". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1908. 70. Accessed May 3, 2023.
- Lundy et al. (1921) p. 252
- Sobel pp. 1032–1033
- "Thomas Woodrow Wilson". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1911. 57. Accessed May 3, 2023.
- Documents of the One Hundred and Thirty-Sixth Legislature of the State of New Jersey and the Sixty-Eighth Under the New Constitution. Vol. I. Trenton, New Jersey: State Gazette Publishing Company. 1912. p. 475. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
- Lundy et al. (1921) p. 262
- Kerney p. 140
- Kerney p. 141
- Sobel p. 1033
- "James Fairman Fielder". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1913. 464. Accessed May 3, 2023.
- "James Fairman Fielder" (PDF). New Jersey State Library. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 20, 2007. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
- Sobel p. 1034
- "Leon R. Taylor". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- "Taylor Sworn In Today As Head of N.J. Government". Retrieved 2023-05-03.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1914. 33. Accessed May 3, 2023.
- Lundy et al. (1921) p. 361
- Congress, United States (1920). Official Congressional Directory, 2nd Edition, February 1920. p. 64. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
- Jersey, New (1916). Acts of the Legislature of the State of New Jersey. pp. 1009–1010. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
- Sobel pp. 1034–1035
- "Walter Evans Edge". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1917. 30. Accessed May 3, 2023.
- Sobel p. 1035
- "William Nelson Runyon". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- "The News 16 May 1919, page 4". Retrieved 2023-05-04.
- Sobel p. 1036
- "Clarence Edwards Case". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- "Runyon Pleads in Legislature for Dry State". Retrieved 2023-05-04.
- Sobel pp. 1036–1037
- "Edward Irving Edwards". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1920. 204. Accessed May 3, 2023.
- Sobel p. 1037
- "George Sebastian Silzer". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1923. 60. Accessed May 3, 2023.
- Sobel p. 1038
- "Arthur Harry Moore". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- "Inaugurated Today with Much Pomp, New Governor Moore Suggests Plan to Fight Anthracite Coal Trust". Retrieved 2023-05-04.
- Sobel p. 1039
- "Morgan Foster Larson". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- "Larson Is Inaugurated As Governor of State With Full Ceremonies". Retrieved 2023-05-04.
- "Governor, Sworn In, Asks Halt in Highway Work, Park Plans; Would Give Town $16,500,000". Retrieved 2023-05-04.
- "Powell To Be Sworn As Jersey's Governor Today". Retrieved 2023-05-04.
- Sobel pp. 1039–1040
- "Horace Griggs Prall". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- "Prall in 2 Offices". Retrieved 2023-05-04.
- Sobel pp. 1040–1041
- "Harold Giles Hoffman". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- "Hoffman Becomes Governor". Retrieved 2023-05-04.
- "Moore Inaugurated Governor Third Time". Retrieved 2023-05-05.
- Sobel pp. 1041–1042
- "Charles Edison". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- "Edison Takes Oath As New Governor". Retrieved 2023-05-05.
- "State Leaders Pay Tributes To Marsh". Retrieved 2023-05-05.
- Sobel pp. 1042–1043
- "Alfred Eastlack Driscoll". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- "Driscoll Sworn As Governor; Talk Praised". Retrieved 2023-05-05.
- Sobel pp. 1043–1044
- "Robert Baumie Meyner". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- "Jubilant Democrats See Meyner Become Governor". Retrieved 2023-05-05.
- Sobel pp. 1044–1045
- "Richard Joseph Hughes". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1962. 59. Accessed May 3, 2023.
- Sobel p. 1045
- "William T. Cahill". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1970. [https://archive.org/details/journalofsenateo00newj_9/page/128 129. Accessed May 3, 2023.
- Sobel pp. 1045–1046
- "Brendan Thomas Byrne". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate of the State of New Jersey, 1974. 45. Accessed May 3, 2023.
- "Thomas H. Kean". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- "Party over, Kean rolls up sleeves". Retrieved 2023-05-05.
- "Jim Florio". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- "Florio's turn - 49th governor stresses need for new ideas". Retrieved 2023-05-05.
- "Christine Todd Whitman". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- "Whitman vows retroactive tax cut". Retrieved 2023-05-05.
- "Donald T. DiFrancesco". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- "2009 New Jersey Code :: TITLE 52 - STATE GOVERNMENT, DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICERS :: Section 52:15 :: 52:15-5 - Title and signature of acting governor; continuous service of at least 180 days confers title of Governor".
- David Kocieniewski (January 8, 2002). "Newark Stadium Bill Dies in Final Session". The New York Times. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
During the 90 minutes between Mr. DiFrancesco's departure and Mr. Bennett's swearing in, Attorney General John J. Farmer Jr. will formally hold the title of acting governor.
- "John O. Bennett". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- "GOP lawmaker takes helm for three-day term". Retrieved 2023-05-05.
- David Kocieniewski (January 12, 2002). "The Hours of Power of an Acting Governor: Deconstructing Bennett's 3-Day Legacy". The New York Times. Retrieved January 22, 2010.
- "Richard J. Codey". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- "Richard Codey becomes fourth acting governor in five days". Retrieved 2023-05-05.
- "James E. McGreevey". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- "Inaugural address offers few specifics". Retrieved 2023-05-05.
- "Codey to put 'new face' on state's government". November 16, 2004. Retrieved 2023-05-05.
- "Jon Corzine". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- "His goal: no more politics as usual". January 18, 2006. Retrieved 2023-05-05.
- David W. Chen (May 6, 2007). "Corzine to Resume Duties as Governor on Monday". The New York Times. Retrieved January 15, 2010.
- "New Jersey's New Senate President Fills in for Corzine". WNYC. January 15, 2010. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
- "Christopher Christie". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- "Inaugural day begins at Newark cathedral". January 20, 2010. Retrieved 2023-05-05.
- "Phil Murphy". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
- Racioppi, Dustin (January 16, 2018). "Phil Murphy becomes governor of New Jersey, plans new direction for state". Retrieved 2023-05-05.
External links
