List of Governors of Wisconsin

Governor of Wisconsin
alt=Photo of a casually dressed twenty-first-century man
Incumbent
Scott Walker
since January 3, 2011
Residence Wisconsin Governor's Mansion
Term length 4 years, no term limit
Inaugural holder Nelson Dewey
Formation June 7, 1848
Deputy Rebecca Kleefisch
Salary $147,328 (2015)[1]
Website www.wisgov.state.wi.us

The Governor of Wisconsin is the head of the executive branch of Wisconsin's state government [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]

Forty-four 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, 1856 to March 25, 1856.[6] The current governor is Scott Walker, who took office on January 3, 2011 and survived a recall election on June 5, 2012.[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 three territorial governors, one of whom served non-consecutive terms,[8][10] and one who continued on as acting governor after the territory had officially ceased to exist.

Picture Governor Appointed Left office
[note 1] 		Appointed by Notes
Portrait of a well-dressed nineteenth-century man Henry Dodge April 30, 1836 September 13, 1841[11] Andrew Jackson
Portrait of a well-dressed nineteenth-century man James Duane Doty September 30, 1841 June 21, 1844 John Tyler
Portrait of a well-dressed nineteenth-century man Nathaniel P. Tallmadge June 21, 1844 April 8, 1845 John Tyler
Portrait of a well-dressed nineteenth-century man Henry Dodge April 8, 1845 June 23, 1848 James Polk [note 2]
John Catlin June 23, 1848 March 3, 1849 none
(acting governor)		 [note 2]

Governors of the State of Wisconsin

Portrait of a well-dressed nineteenth-century man
Nelson Dewey, 1st Governor of Wisconsin
Portrait of a well-dressed nineteenth-century man
Alexander W. Randall, 6th Governor of Wisconsin
Portrait of a well-dressed nineteenth-century man
Jeremiah Rusk, 15th Governor of Wisconsin, and 2nd U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
Portrait of a well-dressed twentieth-century man sitting down
Robert La Follette, Sr., 20th Governor of Wisconsin
Portrait of a well-dressed twentieth-century man sitting down
John J. Blaine, 24th Governor of Wisconsin
Portrait of a well-dressed twentieth-century man sitting down
Gaylord Nelson, 35th Governor of Wisconsin
Portrait of a well-dressed twentieth-first-century man sitting down
Tommy Thompson, 42nd Governor of Wisconsin, and 7th U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services

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 one three-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 four-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 Took office Left office Party Lt. Governor[15][note 3] Terms
[note 4]
1   Nelson Dewey June 7, 1848 January 5, 1852 Democratic   John E. Holmes 2
  Samuel W. Beall
2   Leonard J. Farwell January 5, 1852 January 2, 1854 Whig   Timothy Burns
[note 5]		 1
3   William A. Barstow January 2, 1854 March 21, 1856 Democratic   James T. Lewis 1 1⁄3
[note 6]
  Arthur MacArthur, Sr.
4   Arthur MacArthur, Sr. March 21, 1856 March 25, 1856 Democratic   vacant 1⁄3
[note 6]
5   Coles Bashford March 25, 1856 January 4, 1858 Republican   Arthur MacArthur, Sr. 1⁄3
[note 6]
6   Alexander W. Randall January 4, 1858 January 6, 1862 Republican   Erasmus D. Campbell 2
  Butler G. Noble
7   Louis P. Harvey January 6, 1862 April 19, 1862 Republican   Edward Salomon 1⁄2
[note 5]
8   Edward Salomon April 19, 1862 January 4, 1864 Republican   vacant 1⁄2
[note 7]
9   James T. Lewis January 4, 1864 January 1, 1866 Republican   Wyman Spooner 1
10   Lucius Fairchild January 1, 1866 January 1, 1872 Republican   Wyman Spooner 3
  Thaddeus C. Pound
11   Cadwallader C. Washburn January 1, 1872 January 5, 1874 Republican   Milton H. Pettit
[note 5]		 1
12   William Robert Taylor January 5, 1874 January 3, 1876 Democratic   Charles D. Parker 1
13   Harrison Ludington January 3, 1876 January 7, 1878 Republican   Charles D. Parker 1
14   William E. Smith January 7, 1878 January 2, 1882 Republican   James M. Bingham 2
15   Jeremiah McLain Rusk January 2, 1882 January 7, 1889 Republican   Sam S. Fifield 3
[note 8]
  George W. Ryland
16   William D. Hoard January 7, 1889 January 5, 1891 Republican   George W. Ryland 1
17   George W. Peck January 5, 1891 January 7, 1895 Democratic   Charles Jonas 2
18   William H. Upham January 7, 1895 January 4, 1897 Republican   Emil Baensch 1
19   Edward Scofield January 4, 1897 January 7, 1901 Republican   Emil Baensch 2
  Jesse Stone
20   Robert M. La Follette, Sr. January 7, 1901 January 1, 1906 Republican   Jesse Stone
[note 5]		 2 1⁄2
[note 9]
  James O. Davidson
21   James O. Davidson January 1, 1906 January 2, 1911 Republican vacant 2 1⁄2
[note 7]
  William D. Connor
  John Strange
22   Francis E. McGovern January 2, 1911 January 4, 1915 Republican   Thomas Morris 2
23   Emanuel L. Philipp January 4, 1915 January 3, 1921 Republican   Edward F. Dithmar 3
24   John J. Blaine January 3, 1921 January 3, 1927 Republican   George F. Comings 3
  Henry A. Huber
25   Fred R. Zimmerman January 3, 1927 January 7, 1929 Republican   Henry A. Huber 1
26   Walter J. Kohler, Sr. January 7, 1929 January 5, 1931 Republican   Henry A. Huber 1
27   Philip La Follette January 5, 1931 January 2, 1933 Republican   Henry A. Huber 1
28   Albert G. Schmedeman January 2, 1933 January 7, 1935 Democratic   Thomas J. O'Malley 1
29   Philip La Follette January 7, 1935 January 2, 1939 Wisconsin
Progressive		   Thomas J. O'Malley
[note 5]		 2
  Henry A. Gunderson
[note 10]
  Herman L. Ekern
30   Julius P. Heil January 2, 1939 January 4, 1943 Republican   Walter S. Goodland 2
—   Orland S. Loomis did not take office Wisconsin
Progressive		   Walter S. Goodland —
[note 11]
31   Walter S. Goodland January 4, 1943 March 12, 1947 Republican   vacant 2 1⁄2
[note 5]
  Oscar Rennebohm
32   Oscar Rennebohm March 12, 1947 January 1, 1951 Republican   vacant 1 1⁄2
[note 7]
  George M. Smith
33   Walter J. Kohler, Jr. January 1, 1951 January 7, 1957 Republican   George M. Smith 3
  Warren P. Knowles
34   Vernon W. Thomson January 7, 1957 January 5, 1959 Republican   Warren P. Knowles 1
35   Gaylord A. Nelson January 5, 1959 January 7, 1963 Democratic   Philleo Nash 2
  Warren P. Knowles
36   John W. Reynolds, Jr. January 7, 1963 January 4, 1965 Democratic   Jack B. Olson 1
37   Warren P. Knowles January 4, 1965 January 4, 1971 Republican   Patrick J. Lucey 3
  Jack B. Olson
38   Patrick J. Lucey January 4, 1971 July 6, 1977 Democratic   Martin J. Schreiber 1 1⁄2
[note 12]
[note 13]
39   Martin J. Schreiber July 6, 1977 January 3, 1979 Democratic   vacant 1⁄2
[note 7]
40   Lee S. Dreyfus January 3, 1979
[note 14]		 January 3, 1983 Republican   Russell A. Olson 1
41   Anthony S. Earl January 3, 1983 January 5, 1987 Democratic   James T. Flynn 1
42   Tommy Thompson January 5, 1987 February 1, 2001 Republican   Scott McCallum 3 1⁄2
[note 15]
43   Scott McCallum February 1, 2001 January 6, 2003 Republican   Margaret A. Farrow 1⁄2
[note 16]
44   Jim Doyle January 6, 2003 January 3, 2011 Democratic   Barbara Lawton 2
45   Scott Walker January 3, 2011 Incumbent Republican   Rebecca Kleefisch 2
[note 17]

Other high offices held

This is a table of other governorships, congressional and other federal offices, and ranking diplomatic positions in foreign countries held by Wisconsin governors.

* Denotes those offices for which the governor resigned the governorship.
† Denotes those offices from which the governor resigned to take the governorship.
Governor Gubernatorial term Other offices held Source
Henry Dodge 1836–1841
1845–1848		 U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, Delegate from Wisconsin Territory [18]
James Doty 1841–1844 Delegate from Wisconsin Territory, U.S. Representative from Wisconsin, Governor of Utah Territory [19]
Nathaniel Tallmadge 1844–1845 Senator from New York† [20]
Arthur MacArthur, Sr. 1856 Justice of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia [21]
Coles Bashford 1856–1858 Delegate from Arizona Territory [22]
Alexander Randall 1858–1862 Minister to the Papal States; Postmaster General [23]
Lucius Fairchild 1866–1872 Minister to Spain [24]
Cadwallader Washburn 1872–1874 U.S. Representative from Wisconsin [25]
Jeremiah Rusk 1882–1889 U.S. Representative from Wisconsin, Secretary of Agriculture [26]
Robert La Follette, Sr. 1901–1906 U.S. Senator from Wisconsin*, U.S. Representative from Wisconsin [27]
John Blaine 1921–1927 U.S. Senator from Wisconsin [28]
Albert Schmedeman 1933–1935 Minister to Norway [29]
Vernon Thomson 1957–1959 U.S. Representative from Wisconsin [30]
Gaylord Nelson 1959–1963 U.S. Senator from Wisconsin [31]
John W. Reynolds, Jr. 1963–1965 District Judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin [32]
Patrick Lucey 1971–1977 Ambassador to Mexico* [33]
Tommy Thompson 1987–2001 Secretary of Health and Human Services* [34]

Living former U.S. governors of Wisconsin

As of May 2015, there are five former U.S. governors of Wisconsin who are currently living at this time, the oldest U.S. governor of Wisconsin being Anthony S. Earl (served 1983–1987, born 1936). The most recent death of a former U.S. governor of Wisconsin was that of Patrick Lucey (served 1971–1977, born 1918) on May 10, 2014.[6] The most recently serving governor to die was Lee S. Dreyfus (served 1979-1983, born 1926) on January 2, 2008.

Governor Gubernatorial term Date of birth (and age)
Martin J. Schreiber 1977–1979 April 8, 1939
Anthony S. Earl 1983–1987 April 12, 1936
Tommy Thompson 1987–2001 November 19, 1941
Scott McCallum 2001–2003 May 2, 1950
Jim Doyle 2003–2011 November 23, 1945

Notes

  1. ↑ Absent any other sources, it is assumed the governor left office when his successor was appointed.
  2. 1 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.[12]
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Died in office.
  6. 1 2 3 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.[16]
  7. 1 2 3 4 As lieutenant governor, acted as governor for remainder of unexpired term.
  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. ↑ Resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.
  10. ↑ Resigned to take an appointment to the state tax commission.
  11. ↑ 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, acted as governor for the term.
  12. ↑ As per a 1967 amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution, Lucey's first term was the first gubernatorial term to last 4 years
  13. ↑ Resigned to become Ambassador to Mexico
  14. ↑ Contemporary newspaper sources indicate that Dreyfus was sworn in on January 3;[17] the Wisconsin Blue Book, however, states that he was sworn in on January 1.[6]
  15. ↑ Resigned to become United States Secretary of Health and Human Services
  16. ↑ As lieutenant governor, served as governor for remainder of unexpired term.
  17. ↑ Governor Walker's second term began January 5, 2015.

References

General
Constitution
Specific
  1. ↑ "2015-16 Wisconsin Blue Book" (PDF). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. March 14, 2016. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Wisconsin Constitution article V, § 1
  3. 1 2 3 Wisconsin Constitution article V, § 4
  4. ↑ Wisconsin Constitution article V, § 10
  5. ↑ Wisconsin Constitution article V, § 6
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Wisconsin Governors since 1848". State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2005–2006 (PDF). p. 724. 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. 1 2 3 "Significant Events in Wisconsin History". State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2005–2006 (PDF). p. 696. 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. 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.
  18. ↑ "Dodge, Henry". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
  19. ↑ "Doty, James Duane". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
  20. ↑ "Tallmadge, Nathaniel Pitcher". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
  21. ↑ "Biographical Directory of Federal Judges". Federal Judicial Center. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved July 7, 2007.
  22. ↑ "Bashford, Coles". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
  23. ↑ "Randall, Alexander Williams". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
  24. ↑ "Former U.S. Ambassadors and Presidential Representatives to Spain". Spanish Embassy of the United States. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
  25. ↑ "Washburn, Cadwallader Colden". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
  26. ↑ "Rusk, Jeremiah McLain". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
  27. ↑ "La Follette, Robert Marion". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
  28. ↑ "Blaine, John James". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
  29. ↑ "Chiefs of Missions to Norway". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
  30. ↑ "Thomson, Vernon Wallace". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
  31. ↑ "Nelson, Gaylord". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
  32. ↑ "Biographical Directory of Federal Judges". Federal Judicial Center. Archived from the original on June 4, 2010. Retrieved July 7, 2007.
  33. ↑ "Chiefs of Missions to Mexico". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
  34. ↑ "Historical Highlights". U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Retrieved July 7, 2010.

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