List of governors of Wisconsin

The governor of Wisconsin is the head of government of Wisconsin[2] and the commander-in-chief of the state's army and air forces.[3] The governor has a duty to enforce state laws,[3] and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Wisconsin Legislature,[4] to convene the legislature,[3] and to grant pardons, except in cases of treason and impeachment.[5]

Governor of Wisconsin
Gubernatorial seal
Incumbent
Tony Evers
since January 7, 2019
ResidenceWisconsin Governor's Mansion
Term lengthFour years, no term limits
Inaugural holderNelson Dewey
FormationJune 7, 1848 (1848-06-07)
DeputyLieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
Salary$146,597.88[1]
Websiteevers.wi.gov

44 individuals have held the office of governor of Wisconsin since the state's admission to the Union in 1848, one of whom—Philip La Follette—served non-consecutive terms. Nelson Dewey, the first governor, took office on June 7, 1848. The longest-serving governor was Tommy Thompson, who took office on January 5, 1987, and resigned on February 1, 2001, a total of 14 years and 28 days. Arthur MacArthur Sr. had the shortest term: he was governor for a total of just 5 days—from March 21 to 25, 1856.[6] The current governor is Tony Evers, a Democrat who took office on January 7, 2019.[6]

Governors

Initially after the American Revolution, parts of the area now known as Wisconsin were claimed by Virginia, Massachusetts and Connecticut; however, Virginia ceded its claim in 1784, Massachusetts in 1785 and Connecticut in 1786.[7] On July 13, 1787, the Northwest Territory, including the area now called Wisconsin, was formed; Wisconsin remained part of the territory until 1800.[8] The territorial governor during this period was Arthur St. Clair.[9] As parts of the Northwest Territory were admitted to the Union as states, Wisconsin became part of first the Indiana Territory (1800–1809), then the Illinois Territory (1809–1818), and then the Michigan Territory (1818–1836);[8] see the lists of governors of Indiana, of Illinois, and of Michigan for these periods.

Governors of Wisconsin Territory

Wisconsin Territory was formed on July 3, 1836. During the time of its existence, the Wisconsin Territory had 3 territorial governors, 1 of whom served non-consecutive terms,[8][10] and 1 who continued on as acting governor after the territory had officially ceased to exist.

# Governor Appointed Left office
[lower-alpha 1]		 Appointed by Notes
1 Portrait of a well-dressed nineteenth-century man   Henry Dodge
    October 12, 1782 – June 19, 1867   
(aged 84)		 April 30, 1836 September 13, 1841[11] Andrew Jackson
2 Portrait of a well-dressed nineteenth-century man   James Duane Doty
    November 5, 1799 – June 13, 1865   
(aged 65)		 September 30, 1841 June 21, 1844 John Tyler
3 Portrait of a well-dressed nineteenth-century man   Nathaniel P. Tallmadge
    February 8, 1795 – November 2, 1864   
(aged 69)		 June 21, 1844 April 8, 1845 John Tyler
4 Portrait of a well-dressed nineteenth-century man   Henry Dodge
    October 12, 1782 – June 19, 1867   
(aged 84)		 April 8, 1845 June 23, 1848 James Polk [lower-alpha 2][12]
  John Catlin
    October 13, 1803 – August 4, 1874   
(aged 70)		 June 23, 1848 March 3, 1849 none
(acting governor)		 [lower-alpha 3][12]

Governors of the State of Wisconsin

Wisconsin was admitted to the Union on May 29, 1848. Since then, it has had 45 governors, one of whom served non-consecutive terms.[6]

Originally, governors of Wisconsin served for two-year terms, but in 1967 the state constitution was amended to change this to four.[2] Jeremiah McLain Rusk served 1 3-year term in the 1880s as the constitution was amended during his first term to move elections from odd to even years, and all officers were allowed to serve an extra year, rather than have their terms cut a year short. Patrick Lucey, elected in the 1970 election, was the first governor to serve a 4-year term.[6] Governors of Wisconsin are not term limited.

The state constitution provides for the election of a lieutenant governor; originally, the governor and lieutenant governor were elected on different tickets, and thus were not necessarily of the same party. Since the 1967 amendment, however, the two have been nominated, and voted on, together.[2] Originally, if the office of the governor was vacant for any reason, "the powers and duties of the office . . . devolve[d] upon the lieutenant governor." In 1979, the constitution was amended to make this more specific: if the governor dies, resigns, or is removed from office, the lieutenant governor becomes governor, but becomes acting governor if the governor is absent from the state, impeached, or unable to carry out of duties.[13] If any of these events occur while the office of lieutenant governor is vacant, the secretary of state becomes either governor or acting governor.[14] Two Wisconsin governors have died while in office, one has died after being elected but before taking office, and four have resigned.[6]

Parties

  Democratic (12)   Republican (31)   Whig (1)   Wisconsin Progressive (2)

# Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor[15][lower-alpha 4]
1   Nelson Dewey
    December 19, 1813 – July 21, 1889   
(aged 75)		 June 7, 1848
–
January 5, 1852		 Democratic 1848   John E. Holmes
1849   Samuel W. Beall
2   Leonard J. Farwell
    January 5, 1819 – April 11, 1889   
(aged 70)		 January 5, 1852
–
January 2, 1854		 Whig 1851   Timothy Burns
[lower-alpha 5]
3   William A. Barstow
    September 13, 1813 – December 13, 1865   
(aged 52)		 January 2, 1854
–
March 21, 1856		 Democratic 1853   James T. Lewis
1855
[lower-alpha 6][16]		   Arthur MacArthur Sr.
4   Arthur MacArthur Sr.
    January 26, 1815 – August 26, 1896   
(aged 81)		 March 21, 1856
–
March 25, 1856		 Democratic vacant
5   Coles Bashford
    January 24, 1816 – April 25, 1878   
(aged 62)		 March 25, 1856
–
January 4, 1858		 Republican   Arthur MacArthur Sr.
6   Alexander Randall
    October 31, 1819 – July 26, 1872   
(aged 52)		 January 4, 1858
–
January 6, 1862		 Republican 1857   Erasmus D. Campbell
1859   Butler G. Noble
7   Louis P. Harvey
    July 22, 1820 – April 19, 1862   
(aged 41)		 January 6, 1862
–
April 19, 1862
(died)		 Republican 1861   Edward Salomon
8   Edward Salomon
    August 11, 1828 – April 21, 1909   
(aged 80)		 April 19, 1862
–
January 4, 1864		 Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor		 vacant
9   James T. Lewis
    October 30, 1819 – August 5, 1904   
(aged 84)		 January 4, 1864
–
January 1, 1866		 Republican 1863   Wyman Spooner
10   Lucius Fairchild
    December 27, 1831 – May 23, 1896   
(aged 64)		 January 1, 1866
–
January 1, 1872		 Republican 1865
1867
1869   Thaddeus C. Pound
11   Cadwallader C. Washburn
    April 22, 1818 – May 14, 1882   
(aged 64)		 January 1, 1872
–
January 5, 1874		 Republican 1871   Milton H. Pettit
[lower-alpha 7]
12   William Robert Taylor
    July 10, 1820 – March 17, 1909   
(aged 88)		 January 5, 1874
–
January 3, 1876		 Democratic 1873   Charles D. Parker
13   Harrison Ludington
    July 30, 1812 – June 17, 1891   
(aged 78)		 January 3, 1876
–
January 7, 1878		 Republican 1875
14   William E. Smith
    June 18, 1824 – February 13, 1883   
(aged 58)		 January 7, 1878
–
January 2, 1882		 Republican 1877   James M. Bingham
1879
15   Jeremiah McLain Rusk
    June 17, 1830 – November 21, 1893   
(aged 63)		 January 2, 1882
–
January 7, 1889		 Republican 1881
[lower-alpha 8]		   Sam S. Fifield
1884
1886   George W. Ryland
16   William D. Hoard
    October 10, 1836 – November 22, 1918   
(aged 82)		 January 7, 1889
–
January 5, 1891		 Republican 1888
17   George Wilbur Peck
    September 28, 1840 – April 16, 1916   
(aged 75)		 January 5, 1891
–
January 7, 1895		 Democratic 1890   Charles Jonas
1892
18   William H. Upham
    May 3, 1841 – July 2, 1924   
(aged 83)		 January 7, 1895
–
January 4, 1897		 Republican 1894   Emil Baensch
19   Edward Scofield
    March 28, 1842 – February 3, 1925   
(aged 82)		 January 4, 1897
–
January 7, 1901		 Republican 1896
1898   Jesse Stone
[lower-alpha 9]
20   Robert M. La Follette Sr.
    June 14, 1855 – June 21, 1925   
(aged 70)		 January 7, 1901
–
January 1, 1906
(resigned)[lower-alpha 10]		 Republican 1900
1902   James O. Davidson
1904
21   James O. Davidson
    February 10, 1854 – December 16, 1922   
(aged 68)		 January 1, 1906
–
January 2, 1911		 Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor		 vacant
1906   William D. Connor
1908   John Strange
22   Francis E. McGovern
    January 21, 1866 – May 16, 1946   
(aged 80)		 January 2, 1911
–
January 4, 1915		 Republican 1910   Thomas Morris
1912
23   Emanuel L. Philipp
    March 25, 1861 – June 15, 1925   
(aged 64)		 January 4, 1915
–
January 3, 1921		 Republican 1914   Edward F. Dithmar
1916
1918
24   John J. Blaine
    May 4, 1875 – April 16, 1934   
(aged 75)		 January 3, 1921
–
January 3, 1927		 Republican 1920   George F. Comings
1922
1924   Henry A. Huber
25   Fred R. Zimmerman
    November 20, 1880 – December 14, 1954   
(aged 74)		 January 3, 1927
–
January 7, 1929		 Republican 1926
26   Walter J. Kohler Sr.
    March 5, 1875 – April 21, 1940   
(aged 65)		 January 7, 1929
–
January 5, 1931		 Republican 1928
27   Philip La Follette
    May 8, 1897 – August 18, 1965   
(aged 68)		 January 5, 1931
–
January 2, 1933
(lost renomination)		 Republican 1930
28   Albert G. Schmedeman
    November 25, 1864 – November 26, 1946   
(aged 82)		 January 2, 1933
–
January 7, 1935
(lost election)		 Democratic 1932   Thomas J. O'Malley
[lower-alpha 11]
29   Philip La Follette
    May 8, 1897 – August 18, 1965   
(aged 68)		 January 7, 1935
–
January 2, 1939
(lost election)		 Wisconsin
Progressive		 1934
1936   Henry A. Gunderson
[lower-alpha 12]
  Herman L. Ekern
30   Julius P. Heil
    July 8, 1876 – November 30, 1949   
(aged 73)		 January 2, 1939
–
January 4, 1943
(lost election)		 Republican 1938   Walter S. Goodland
1940
—   Orland Steen Loomis
    November 2, 1893 – December 7, 1942   
(aged 49)		 did not take office
[lower-alpha 13]		 Wisconsin
Progressive		 1942
31   Walter Samuel Goodland
    December 22, 1862 – March 12, 1947   
(aged 84)		 January 4, 1943
–
March 12, 1947
(died)		 Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor		 vacant
1944   Oscar Rennebohm
1946
32   Oscar Rennebohm
    May 25, 1889 – October 15, 1968   
(aged 79)		 March 12, 1947
–
January 1, 1951
(not candidate election)		 Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor		 vacant
1948   George M. Smith
33
Walter Jodok Kohler, Jr. (4728499663).jpg
   Walter J. Kohler Jr.
    April 4, 1904 – March 21, 1976   
(aged 71)		 January 1, 1951
–
January 7, 1957
(not candidate for election)		 Republican 1950
1952
1954   Warren P. Knowles
34   Vernon Wallace Thomson
    November 5, 1905 – April 2, 1988   
(aged 82)		 January 7, 1957
–
January 5, 1959
(lost election)		 Republican 1956
35   Gaylord Nelson
    June 4, 1916 – July 3, 2005   
(aged 89)		 January 5, 1959
–
January 7, 1963
(not candidate for election)		 Democratic 1958   Philleo Nash
1960   Warren P. Knowles
36   John W. Reynolds Jr.
    April 4, 1921 – January 6, 2002   
(aged 80)		 January 7, 1963
–
January 4, 1965
(lost election)		 Democratic 1962   Jack B. Olson
37   Warren P. Knowles
    August 19, 1908 – May 1, 1993   
(aged 84)		 January 4, 1965
–
January 4, 1971
(not candidate for election)		 Republican 1964   Patrick Lucey
1966   Jack B. Olson
1968
38   Patrick Lucey
    March 21, 1918 – May 10, 2014   
(aged 96)		 January 4, 1971
–
July 6, 1977
(resigned)
[lower-alpha 14]		 Democratic 1970
[lower-alpha 15]		   Martin J. Schreiber
1974
39   Martin J. Schreiber
    (1939-04-08) April 8, 1939		 July 6, 1977
–
January 3, 1979
(lost election)		 Democratic Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor		 vacant
40   Lee S. Dreyfus
    June 20, 1926 – January 2, 2008   
(aged 81)		 January 3, 1979[lower-alpha 16][17]
–
January 3, 1983
(not candidate for election)		 Republican 1978   Russell A. Olson
41   Tony Earl
    April 12, 1936 – February 23, 2023   
(aged 86)		 January 3, 1983
–
January 5, 1987
(lost election)		 Democratic 1982   James T. Flynn
42   Tommy Thompson
    (1941-11-19) November 19, 1941		 January 5, 1987
–
February 1, 2001
(resigned)
[lower-alpha 17]		 Republican 1986   Scott McCallum
1990
1994
1998
43   Scott McCallum
    (1950-05-02) May 2, 1950		 February 1, 2001
–
January 6, 2003
(lost election)		 Republican Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor		   Margaret A. Farrow
44   Jim Doyle
    (1945-11-23) November 23, 1945		 January 6, 2003
–
January 3, 2011
(not candidate for election)		 Democratic 2002   Barbara Lawton
2006
45   Scott Walker
    (1967-11-02) November 2, 1967		 January 3, 2011
–
January 7, 2019
(lost election)		 Republican 2010   Rebecca Kleefisch
2012
(special)
[lower-alpha 18]
2014
46   Tony Evers
    (1951-11-05) November 5, 1951		 January 7, 2019
–
Incumbent
[lower-alpha 19]		 Democratic 2018   Mandela Barnes
2022 Sara Rodriguez

Notes
  1. Absent any other sources, it is assumed the governor left office when his successor was appointed.
  2. When the State of Wisconsin was formed, part of Wisconsin Territory was not included in the state. This portion likely became unorganized territory; however, the Wisconsin territorial government continued to function there until the land was assigned to Minnesota Territory on March 3, 1849. Henry Dodge ceased to be territorial governor when he took his seat as a U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin on June 23, 1848. In the absence of a governor, John Catlin, as Secretary of Wisconsin Territory, acted as governor until the organization of Minnesota Territory.
  3. When the State of Wisconsin was formed, part of Wisconsin Territory was not included in the state. This portion likely became unorganized territory; however, the Wisconsin territorial government continued to function there until the land was assigned to Minnesota Territory on March 3, 1849. Henry Dodge ceased to be territorial governor when he took his seat as a U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin on June 23, 1848. In the absence of a governor, John Catlin, as Secretary of Wisconsin Territory, acted as governor until the organization of Minnesota Territory.
  4. Vacancies in the office of the lieutenant governor are only listed if they lasted for the entire term. For a full list of vacancies, see List of Lieutenant Governors of Wisconsin.
  5. Died in office
  6. Initially, Barstow was declared the winner of the 1855 election, but soon resigned amid claims that he had won through fraudulent means. MacArthur, as lieutenant governor, acted as governor for five days, until the Wisconsin Supreme Court declared Barstow's opponent, Bashford, the legitimate governor. Bashford completed the term, with MacArthur continuing to serve as lieutenant governor.
  7. Died in office
  8. During Rusk's first term, the Wisconsin Constitution was amended to say that all elections of state and county officers would henceforth take place in even-numbered years. By the provisions of the amendment, the terms of all officials who would have left office in 1884, including Rusk, were extended by one year.
  9. Died in office
  10. Resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.
  11. Died in office
  12. Resigned to take an appointment to the state tax commission.
  13. Loomis was elected in the 1942 election, but died before taking office. Per a ruling of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Goodland, who had been re-elected lieutenant governor in the same election, served as governor for the entire term.
  14. Resigned to become Ambassador to Mexico.
  15. As per a 1967 amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution, Lucey's first term was the first gubernatorial term to last 4 years.
  16. Contemporary newspaper sources indicate that Dreyfus was sworn in on January 3; the Wisconsin Blue Book, however, states that he was sworn in on January 1.
  17. Resigned to become United States Secretary of Health and Human Services.
  18. Walker survived a recall election.
  19. Evers' second term began on January 2, 2023, and will expire January 4, 2027.

    References
    General
    • "Governors Database: Wisconsin". National Governors Association. National Governors Association. 2007. Archived from the original on November 1, 2007. Retrieved December 6, 2007.
    • Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (2009). Wisconsin Blue Book 2009–2010. Madison: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. ISBN 978-0-9752820-3-8.
    Constitution
    Specific
    1. "Database: Wisconsin state employee salaries | Politics and Elections". Wisconsin State Journal. May 13, 2016. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
    2. Wisconsin Constitution article V, § 1
    3. Wisconsin Constitution article V, § 4
    4. Wisconsin Constitution article V, § 10
    5. Wisconsin Constitution article V, § 6
    6. "Wisconsin Governors since 1848". State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2005–2006 (PDF). p. 724. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 25, 2007. Retrieved October 5, 2007.
    7. Beck, J. D., ed. (1911). The blue book of the state of Wisconsin. Madison, Wisconsin: Democrat Printing Company. p. 512. Retrieved December 11, 2007.
    8. "Significant Events in Wisconsin History". State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2005–2006 (PDF). p. 696. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 25, 2007. Retrieved December 11, 2007.
    9. "St. Clair, Arthur". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Government Printing Office. 2005. Retrieved December 11, 2007.
    10. Manual for the use of the assembly, of the state of Wisconsin, for the year 1853. Madison, Wisconsin: Brown and Carpenter, Printers. 1853. p. 74. Retrieved December 11, 2007.
    11. Butterfield, C.W. (1880). The history of Columbia County, Wisconsin. p. 49. Retrieved December 17, 2007.
    12. The History of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin. Racine County, Wisconsin: Western Historical Company. 1879. pp. 54–56. Retrieved January 24, 2008.
    13. Wisconsin Constitution article V, § 7
    14. Wisconsin Constitution article V, § 8
    15. "Wisconsin Constitutional Officers; Lieutenant Governors". State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2005–2006 (PDF). p. 725. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 25, 2007. Retrieved October 9, 2007.
    16. McCann, Dennis (December 10, 1998). "3 governors held office within weeks. Corruption charges helped spark power struggle, office turnover in 1856". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
    17. "Inaugural Caps Dreyfus Miracle". Ironwood Daily Globe. Ironwood, Michigan. January 4, 1979. p. 3.
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