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 to 25, 1856. The current governor is Tony Evers, a Democrat who took office on January 7, 2019.
List of 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. On July 13, 1787, the Northwest Territory, including the area now called Wisconsin, was formed; Wisconsin remained part of the territory until 1800. The territorial governor during this period was Arthur St. Clair. 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); see the lists of governors of Indiana, of Illinois, and of Michigan for these periods.
Wisconsin Territory
Wisconsin Territory was formed on July 3, 1836. During the time of its existence, the Wisconsin Territory had three people appointed governor by the President of the United States, one of whom served non-consecutive terms.
When most of Wisconsin Territory was admitted as the state of Wisconsin, the remainder became unorganized territory. However, the citizens of the region maintained a territorial government, and even elected a delegate to the United States House of Representatives, essentially making it a de facto continuation of Wisconsin Territory. As the region no longer had an official governor, Territorial Secretary John Catlin acted as governor of the region.
Wisconsin was admitted to the Union on May 29, 1848. Since then, it has had 45 governors, one of whom served non-consecutive terms.
Originally, governors of Wisconsin served for two-year terms, but in 1967 the state constitution was amended to change this to four. 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. 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. 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. If any of these events occur while the office of lieutenant governor is vacant, the secretary of state becomes either governor or acting governor. Two Wisconsin governors have died while in office, one has died after being elected but before taking office, and four have resigned.
↑The range given is from the date the governor was confirmed by the Senate, or appointed by the President during a Senate recess, to the date the governor's successor was confirmed, unless noted.
↑Dodge was nominated and confirmed by the Senate on April 30, 1836. He was reconfirmed by the Senate on March 2, 1839.
↑Doty was appointed on April 15, 1841, during a Senate recess; nominated on June 17; and confirmed by the Senate on September 13.
↑Tallmadge was nominated and confirmed by the Senate on June 15, 1844.
↑Dodge was appointed on April 8, 1845, during a Senate recess; nominated on December 23, 1846; and confirmed by the Senate on February 3.
↑Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
↑A convention of Free Soilers and others nominated Farwell, but he declined.
123The 1855 election was very close, with Barstow initially named the winner by the Democratic state canvassing board, but irregularities were found and Republicans challenged it to the Supreme Court. Barstow resigned on March 21, before the Supreme Court could reach a decision. Lieutenant Governor MacArthur then acted as governor, though there was uncertainty as to the legitimacy of his position; this was complicated further when the Supreme Court ruled on March 25 that Bashford was the winner. Bashford arrived at the capitol and, due to fears of violence, MacArthur did not resist. The legislature recognized Bashford as governor on March 27.
↑Loomis was elected in the 1942 election, but died before taking office. Per a ruling of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Goodland, who had been reelected lieutenant governor in the same election, served as governor for the term.
↑Williams, J. Fletcher (1894). Henry Hastings Sibley: A Memoir. Minnesota Historical Society. pp.277–281. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
↑"none". The Sheboygan Mercury. January 10, 1852. p.2. Retrieved July 22, 2023. Our first Whig governor, Leonard J. Farwell, took the oath of office, administered by Chief Justice Whiton, at Madison, on Monday last...
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