| Governor of Missouri | |
|---|---|
| Style | The Honorable |
| Residence | Missouri Governor's Mansion |
| Term length |
|
| Precursor | Governor of Missouri Territory |
| Inaugural holder | Alexander McNair |
| Formation | September 18, 1820 Constitution of Missouri |
| Succession | Line of succession |
| Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of Missouri |
| Salary | $137,167 (2022) |
| Website | governor |
| Elections in Missouri |
|---|
The governor of Missouri is the head of government of the U.S. state of Missouri and the commander-in-chief of the Missouri National Guard. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Missouri Legislature, to convene the legislature and grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment.
The current governor is Republican Mike Kehoe, who took office on January 13, 2025.
Louisiana was purchased from France in 1803, with it being proclaimed in St. Louis in Upper Louisiana on March 10, 1804, by Amos Stoddard, who remained as military commander of the region until October 1, 1804, when Orleans Territory was split from it. The remainder was designated the District of Louisiana and placed under the jurisdiction of Indiana Territory and its governor, William Henry Harrison.
The District of Louisiana was organized as Louisiana Territory on July 4, 1805; it was renamed Missouri Territory on June 4, 1812, after the admission of the state of Louisiana. It had four governors appointed by the president of the United States, including both Meriwether Lewis and William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Appointed by | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Wilkinson (1757–1825) |
July 4, 1805 – March 3, 1807 (608 days; replaced) |
Thomas Jefferson | |
| 2 | Meriwether Lewis (1774–1809) |
March 3, 1807 – October 11, 1809 (954 days; died in office) | ||
| 3 | Benjamin Howard (1760–1814) |
April 18, 1810 – October 31, 1812 (928 days; resigned) |
James Madison | |
| 4 | William Clark (1770–1838) |
July 1, 1813 – September 18, 1820 (2637 days; lost election) | ||
| James Monroe | ||||
Missouri was admitted to the union on August 10, 1821.
The original constitution of 1820 created the offices of governor and lieutenant governor, to serve terms of four years without being able to succeed themselves. Terms were shortened to 2 years in 1865, with a limit of serving no more than four out of every six years. They were returned in 1875 to the four-year term and limit on succession of the 1820 constitution, and the term limit changed to two terms in 1965. Originally, the lieutenant governor would act as governor in the event of a vacancy; a 1968 amendment made it so that the lieutenant governor becomes governor in that situation.
A group including the governor, lieutenant governor, and members of the Missouri General Assembly, proclaimed Missouri's secession from the Union on October 31, 1861, and it was admitted to the Confederate States of America on November 28, 1861. The Confederate government elected two governors, but only had any control in the south of the state, and was forced into exile in Marshall, Texas, after the Battle of Pea Ridge in March 1862.
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexander McNair (1775–1826) |
September 18, 1820 – November 17, 1824 (1522 days; term-limited) |
Democratic- Republican |
1820 | William Henry Ashley | |||
| 2 | Frederick Bates (1777–1825) |
November 17, 1824 – August 4, 1825 (261 days; died in office) |
Democratic- Republican |
1824 | Benjamin Harrison Reeves (resigned July 1825) | |||
| Vacant | ||||||||
| 3 | Abraham J. Williams (1781–1839) |
August 4, 1825 – January 20, 1826 (170 days; retired) |
Democratic- Republican |
President of the Senate acting | ||||
| 4 | John Miller (1781–1846) |
January 20, 1826 – November 21, 1832 (2498 days; term-limited) |
Democratic | 1825 (special) | ||||
| 1828 | Daniel Dunklin | |||||||
| 5 | Daniel Dunklin (1790–1844) |
November 21, 1832 – September 30, 1836 (1410 days; resigned) |
Democratic | 1832 | Lilburn Boggs | |||
| 6 | Lilburn Boggs (1796–1860) |
September 30, 1836 – November 18, 1840 (1511 days; term-limited) |
Democratic | Lieutenant governor acting |
Acting as governor | |||
| 1836 | Franklin Cannon | |||||||
| 7 | Thomas Reynolds (1796–1844) |
November 18, 1840 – February 9, 1844 (1179 days; died in office) |
Democratic | 1840 | Meredith Miles Marmaduke | |||
| 8 | Meredith Miles Marmaduke (1791–1864) |
February 9, 1844 – November 20, 1844 (286 days; retired) |
Democratic | Lieutenant governor acting |
Acting as governor | |||
| 9 | John Cummins Edwards (1804–1888) |
November 20, 1844 – December 27, 1848 (1499 days; term-limited) |
Democratic | 1844 | James Young | |||
| 10 | Austin Augustus King (1802–1870) |
December 27, 1848 – January 3, 1853 (1469 days; term-limited) |
Democratic | 1848 | Thomas Lawson Price | |||
| 11 | Sterling Price (1809–1867) |
January 3, 1853 – January 5, 1857 (1464 days; term-limited) |
Democratic | 1852 | Wilson Brown (died August 27, 1855) | |||
| Vacant | ||||||||
| 12 | Trusten Polk (1811–1876) |
January 5, 1857 – February 27, 1857 (54 days; resigned) |
Democratic | 1856 | Hancock Lee Jackson | |||
| 13 | Hancock Lee Jackson (1796–1876) |
February 27, 1857 – October 22, 1857 (238 days; retired) |
Democratic | Lieutenant governor acting |
Acting as governor | |||
| 14 | Robert Marcellus Stewart (1815–1871) |
October 22, 1857 – January 3, 1861 (1170 days; term-limited) |
Democratic | 1857 (special) |
Hancock Lee Jackson | |||
| 15 | Claiborne Fox Jackson (1806–1862) |
January 3, 1861 – July 31, 1861 (210 days; office declared vacant) |
Democratic | 1860 | Thomas Caute Reynolds | |||
| 16 | Hamilton Rowan Gamble (1798–1864) |
July 31, 1861 – January 31, 1864 (915 days; died in office) |
Union | Provisional governor elected by convention |
Willard Preble Hall | |||
| 17 | Willard Preble Hall (1820–1882) |
January 31, 1864 – January 2, 1865 (338 days; retired) |
Union | Lieutenant governor acting |
Acting as governor | |||
| 18 | Thomas Clement Fletcher (1827–1899) |
January 2, 1865 – January 12, 1869 (1472 days; term-limited) |
Republican | 1864 | George Smith | |||
| 19 | Joseph W. McClurg (1818–1900) |
January 12, 1869 – January 9, 1871 (728 days; lost election) |
Republican | 1868 | Edwin O. Stanard | |||
| 20 | Benjamin Gratz Brown (1826–1885) |
January 9, 1871 – January 8, 1873 (731 days; retired) |
Liberal Republican |
1870 | Joseph J. Gravely (died April 28, 1872) | |||
| Vacant | ||||||||
| 21 | Silas Woodson (1819–1896) |
January 8, 1873 – January 12, 1875 (735 days; retired) |
Democratic | 1872 | Charles Phillip Johnson | |||
| 22 | Charles Henry Hardin (1820–1892) |
January 12, 1875 – January 8, 1877 (728 days; retired) |
Democratic | 1874 | Norman Jay Colman | |||
| 23 | John S. Phelps (1814–1886) |
January 8, 1877 – January 10, 1881 (1464 days; term-limited) |
Democratic | 1876 | Henry Clay Brockmeyer | |||
| 24 | Thomas Theodore Crittenden (1832–1909) |
January 10, 1881 – January 12, 1885 (1464 days; term-limited) |
Democratic | 1880 | Robert Alexander Campbell | |||
| 25 | John S. Marmaduke (1833–1887) |
January 12, 1885 – December 28, 1887 (1081 days; died in office) |
Democratic | 1884 | Albert P. Morehouse | |||
| 26 | Albert P. Morehouse (1835–1891) |
December 28, 1887 – January 14, 1889 (384 days; lost nomination) |
Democratic | Lieutenant governor acting |
Acting as governor | |||
| 27 | David R. Francis (1850–1927) |
January 14, 1889 – January 9, 1893 (1457 days; term-limited) |
Democratic | 1888 | Stephen Hugh Claycomb | |||
| 28 | William J. Stone (1848–1918) |
January 9, 1893 – January 11, 1897 (1464 days; term-limited) |
Democratic | 1892 | John Baptiste O'Meara | |||
| 29 | Lawrence Vest Stephens (1858–1923) |
January 11, 1897 – January 14, 1901 (1464 days; term-limited) |
Democratic | 1896 | August Bolte | |||
| 30 | Alexander Monroe Dockery (1845–1926) |
January 14, 1901 – January 9, 1905 (1457 days; term-limited) |
Democratic | 1900 | John Adams Lee (resigned April 25, 1903) | |||
| Thomas L. Rubey (appointed April 25, 1903) | ||||||||
| 31 | Joseph W. Folk (1869–1923) |
January 9, 1905 – January 11, 1909 (1464 days; term-limited) |
Democratic | 1904 | John C. McKinley | |||
| 32 | Herbert S. Hadley (1872–1927) |
January 11, 1909 – January 13, 1913 (1464 days; term-limited) |
Republican | 1908 | Jacob F. Gmelich | |||
| 33 | Elliott Woolfolk Major (1864–1949) |
January 13, 1913 – January 8, 1917 (1457 days; term-limited) |
Democratic | 1912 | William Rock Painter | |||
| 34 | Frederick D. Gardner (1869–1933) |
January 8, 1917 – January 10, 1921 (1464 days; term-limited) |
Democratic | 1916 | Wallace Crossley | |||
| 35 | Arthur M. Hyde (1877–1947) |
January 10, 1921 – January 12, 1925 (1464 days; term-limited) |
Republican | 1920 | Hiram Lloyd | |||
| 36 | Sam Aaron Baker (1874–1933) |
January 12, 1925 – January 14, 1929 (1464 days; term-limited) |
Republican | 1924 | Philip Allen Bennett | |||
| 37 | Henry S. Caulfield (1873–1966) |
January 14, 1929 – January 9, 1933 (1457 days; term-limited) |
Republican | 1928 | Edward Henry Winter | |||
| 38 | Guy Brasfield Park (1872–1946) |
January 9, 1933 – January 11, 1937 (1464 days; term-limited) |
Democratic | 1932 | Frank Gaines Harris (died December 30, 1944) | |||
| 39 | Lloyd C. Stark (1886–1972) |
January 11, 1937 – February 26, 1941 (1508 days; term-limited) |
Democratic | 1936 | ||||
| 40 | Forrest C. Donnell (1884–1980) |
February 26, 1941 – January 8, 1945 (1413 days; term-limited) |
Republican | 1940 | ||||
| Vacant | ||||||||
| 41 | Phil M. Donnelly (1891–1961) |
January 8, 1945 – January 10, 1949 (1464 days; term-limited) |
Democratic | 1944 | Walter Naylor Davis | |||
| 42 | Forrest Smith (1886–1962) |
January 10, 1949 – January 12, 1953 (1464 days; term-limited) |
Democratic | 1948 | James T. Blair Jr. | |||
| 43 | Phil M. Donnelly (1891–1961) |
January 12, 1953 – January 14, 1957 (1464 days; term-limited) |
Democratic | 1952 | ||||
| 44 | James T. Blair Jr. (1902–1962) |
January 14, 1957 – January 9, 1961 (1457 days; term-limited) |
Democratic | 1956 | Edward V. Long (resigned September 23, 1960) | |||
| Vacant | ||||||||
| 45 | John M. Dalton (1900–1972) |
January 9, 1961 – January 11, 1965 (1464 days; term-limited) |
Democratic | 1960 | Hilary A. Bush | |||
| 46 | Warren E. Hearnes (1923–2009) |
January 11, 1965 – January 8, 1973 (2920 days; term-limited) |
Democratic | 1964 | Thomas Eagleton (resigned December 27, 1968) | |||
| Vacant | ||||||||
| 1968 | William S. Morris | |||||||
| 47 | Kit Bond (1939–2025) |
January 8, 1973 – January 10, 1977 (1464 days; lost election) |
Republican | 1972 | Bill Phelps | |||
| 48 | Joseph P. Teasdale (1936–2014) |
January 10, 1977 – January 12, 1981 (1464 days; lost election) |
Democratic | 1976 | ||||
| 49 | Kit Bond (1939–2025) |
January 12, 1981 – January 14, 1985 (1464 days; retired) |
Republican | 1980 | Ken Rothman | |||
| 50 | John Ashcroft (b. 1942) |
January 14, 1985 – January 11, 1993 (2920 days; term-limited) |
Republican | 1984 | Harriett Woods | |||
| 1988 | Mel Carnahan | |||||||
| 51 | Mel Carnahan (1934–2000) |
January 11, 1993 – October 16, 2000 (2836 days; died in office) |
Democratic | 1992 | Roger B. Wilson | |||
| 1996 | ||||||||
| 52 | Roger B. Wilson (b. 1948) |
October 16, 2000 – January 8, 2001 (85 days; retired) |
Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | |||
| Joe Maxwell (appointed November 15, 2000) | ||||||||
| 53 | Bob Holden (b. 1949) |
January 8, 2001 – January 10, 2005 (1464 days; lost nomination) |
Democratic | 2000 | ||||
| 54 | Matt Blunt (b. 1970) |
January 10, 2005 – January 12, 2009 (1464 days; retired) |
Republican | 2004 | Peter Kinder | |||
| 55 | Jay Nixon (b. 1956) |
January 12, 2009 – January 9, 2017 (2920 days; term-limited) |
Democratic | 2008 | ||||
| 2012 | ||||||||
| 56 | Eric Greitens (b. 1974) |
January 9, 2017 – June 1, 2018 (509 days; resigned) |
Republican | 2016 | Mike Parson | |||
| 57 | Mike Parson (b. 1955) |
June 1, 2018 – January 13, 2025 (2419 days; term-limited) |
Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | |||
| Mike Kehoe (appointed June 18, 2018) | ||||||||
| 2020 | ||||||||
| 58 | Mike Kehoe (b. 1962) |
January 13, 2025 – Incumbent (in office 653 days) |
Republican | 2024 | David Wasinger | |||
| Timeline of Missouri governors |
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During the Civil War, after the capture of Jefferson City by the Union, a constitutional convention declared the office then held by Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson to be vacant. In October, Jackson, Lieutenant Governor Thomas Caute Reynolds, and some members of the General Assembly, organized at Neosho and passed an Ordinance of Secession. This Confederate government never displaced the government in Jefferson City, and Missouri remained in the Union through the entire war. Jackson continued on as governor until his death on December 6, 1862, at which time Reynolds took over, serving until he fled to Mexico in June 1865 after the end of the war.
A person who has served as governor for more than one and one-half terms in two consecutive terms shall not be elected governor for the succeeding term.
On the next day, General John Miller was declared to be duly elected Governor - and after being qualified, communicated to the Legislature the following...
On this morning a joint committee from the two Houses waited upon Gov. Edwards and Lt. Governor Young, and escorted them to the Hall of the House, where the oaths of office were administered...