List of governors of Arizona

Governor of Arizona
Seal of Arizona
= Current Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs
Incumbent
Katie Hobbs
since January 2, 2023
Style
TypeHead of state
Head of government
Member ofArizona Executive Branch
Arizona Cabinet
ResidenceNo official residence
SeatPhoenix, Arizona
AppointerPopular election
Term lengthFour years, renewable once
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Arizona
Inaugural holderGeorge W. P. Hunt
FormationFebruary 14, 1912
Salary$95,000 (2013)
Websitewww.azgovernor.gov

The governor of Arizona is the head of state and government of the U.S. state of Arizona and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor is also the head of the executive branch of the state government and is the chairwoman of the gubernatorial cabinet.

Katie Hobbs is the 24th and current governor of Arizona, in office since January 2023.

Powers and duties

The governor has the power to enforce state laws and the duty to either approve or veto bills passed by the Arizona Legislature or the Arizona Senate to assemble the legislature and grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment.

Eligibility & requirements

Article V, Section 2 of the state's constitution states for a person to serve as governor must:

Election process and gubernatorial term limits

The governor is elected by the people through the popular election to a four-year term. The gubernatorial candidate or incumbent governor must have the majority of the popular vote in order to win the election.

The state's constitution forbids anyone from being elected governor more than twice. The state constitution, however, does not state that these are not lifeterm term limits and permits for the governor to run for a third term after their successor has served a full term as Governor.

List of governors of Arizona

No. Governor Term in office Party Election Terms
1   George W. P. Hunt

(1859–1934)

February 14, 1912

– January 1, 1917 (lost election)

 Democratic 1911 2
1914
2 Thomas Edward Campbell

(1878–1944)

January 1, 1917

– December 25, 1917 (removed from office)

 Republican 1916 ​1⁄2
1 George W. P. Hunt

(1859–1934)

December 25, 1917

– January 6, 1919 (did not run)

 Democratic ​1⁄2
2 Thomas Edward Campbell

(1878–1944)

January 6, 1919

– January 1, 1923 (lost election)

 Republican 1918 2
1920
1 George W. P. Hunt

(1859–1934)

January 1, 1923

– January 7, 1929 (lost election)

 Democratic 1922 3
1924
1926
3 John Calhoun Phillips

(1870–1943)

January 7, 1929

– January 3, 1931 (lost election)

 Republican 1928 1
-
1 George W. P. Hunt

(1859–1934)

January 3, 1931

– January 2, 1933 (lost nomination)

 Democratic 1930 1
-
4 Benjamin Baker Moeur

(1869–1937)

January 2, 1933

– January 4, 1937 (lost nomination)

 Democratic 1932 2
1934
5 Rawghlie Clement Stanford

(1879–1963)

January 4, 1937

– January 2, 1939 (did not run)

 Democratic 1936 1
6 Robert Taylor Jones

(1884–1958)

January 2, 1939

– January 6, 1941 (lost nomination)

 Democratic 1938 1
-
7 Sidney Preston Osborn

(1884–1948)

January 6, 1941

– May 25, 1948 (died in office)

 Democratic 1940 ​3 1⁄2
1942
1944
1946
8 Dan Edward Garvey

(1886–1974)

May 25, 1948

– January 1, 1951 (lost nomination)

 Democratic Succeeded from
secretary of state		 ​1 1⁄2
1948
9 John Howard Pyle

(1906–1987)

January 1, 1951

– January 3, 1955 (lost election)

 Republican 1950 2
1952
10 Ernest McFarland

(1894–1984)

January 3, 1955

– January 5, 1959 (did not run)

 Democratic 1954 2
1956
11 Paul Fannin

(1907–2002)

January 5, 1959

– January 4, 1965 (did not run)

 Republican 1958 3
1960
1962
12 Samuel Pearson Goddard Jr.

(1919–2006)

January 4, 1965

– January 2, 1967 (lost election)

 Democratic 1964 1
13 Jack Williams

(1909–1998)

January 2, 1967

– January 6, 1975 (did not run)

 Republican 1966 2
1968
1970
14 Raúl Héctor Castro

(1916–2015)

January 6, 1975

– October 20, 1977 (resigned)

 Democratic 1974 ​1⁄3
15 Wesley Bolin

(1909–1978)

October 20, 1977

– March 4, 1978 (lost election)

 Democratic Succeeded from
secretary of state		 ​1⁄3
16 Bruce Babbitt
(b. 1938)		 March 4, 1978

– January 5, 1987 (did not run)

 Democratic Succeeded from
attorney general		 2​1⁄3
1978
1982
17 Evan Mecham

(1924–2002)

 January 5, 1987

– April 4, 1988 (impeached and removed)

 Republican 1986 ​1⁄2
18 Rose Mofford

(1922–2016)

 April 4, 1988

– March 6, 1991 (did not run)

 Democratic Succeeded from
secretary of state		 ​1⁄2
19 Fife Symington

(b. 1945)

 March 6, 1991

– September 5, 1997 (lost election)

 Republican 1990-1991 ​1 1⁄2
1994
20 Jane Dee Hull

(1935–2020)

 September 5, 1997–

January 6, 2003

(term-limited)

 Republican Succeeded from
secretary of state		 ​1 1⁄2
1998
21 Janet Napolitano

(b. 1957)

 January 6, 2003

– January 20, 2009 (lost election)

 Democratic 2002 ​1 1⁄2
2006
21 Jan Brewer

(b. 1944)

 January 20, 2009

– January 1, 1923 (lost election)

 Republican Succeeded from
secretary of state		 ​1 1⁄2
2010
22 Doug Ducey

(b. 1964)

 January 6, 1919

– January 1, 1923 (lost election)

 Republican 2014 2
2018
23 Katie Hobbs

(b. 1969)

 January 2, 2023

– Incumbent (running for re-election)

 Democratic 2022 ​3⁄4

Living former Governors of Arizona

As of February 2026, there are five living former Governors of Arizona, the oldest being Bruce Babbitt, who served as the 16th Governor from 1978-1987 at 87. The most recent death of a former governor was that of Jane Dee Hull, who served as the 20th Governor and the first elected female governor from 1997-2003 on April 16, 2020.

Notes

  1. ↑ After two full terms have been served as Governor by an individual, they may run and serve again as governor after their successor has served one full term as Governor, as mentioned in Article 5, Section 1 of the Arizona State Constitution.
  2. ↑ After two full terms have been served as Governor by an individual, they may run and serve again as governor after their successor has served one full term as Governor, as mentioned in Article 5, Section 1 of the Arizona State Constitution.
  3. ↑ The governor's website labeled Katie Hobbs as the 24th governor; based on this, each governor is numbered only once, regardless of how many distinct terms they served. Repeat terms are listed with the governor's original number in italics.
  4. 1 2 Initial results showed that Campbell had won by 30 votes, but Hunt challenged the results, claiming that several precincts had experienced fraudulent voting. The Arizona Supreme Court named Campbell governor on January 27, 1917, and forced Hunt to surrender his office. Hunt continued fighting in court, and on December 22, was declared the winner of the election by 43 votes. Campbell vacated the office three days later.
  5. 1 2 Thomas Edward Campbell's close election win was overturned by the Arizona Supreme Court on December 22, 1917, which, following a recount, gave the office to George W. P. Hunt. Campbell would leave the office three days later.
  6. ↑ Castro resigned, having been confirmed as United States Ambassador to Argentina.
  7. ↑ Castro resigned, having been confirmed as United States Ambassador to Argentina.
  8. ↑
  9. ↑ The secretary of state at the time of Bolin's death had been appointed, not elected, and thus not in the line of succession according to the Arizona constitution, making Attorney General Babbitt governor.
  10. ↑ Mecham was impeached and removed from office on charges of obstruction of justice and misuse of government funds, though he was later acquitted.
  11. ↑
  12. ↑ Arizona adopted runoff voting after Evan Mecham won with only 43% of the vote. The 1990 election was very close, and a runoff was held on February 26, 1991, which Symington won, and he was inaugurated on March 6, 1991.
  13. ↑ Resigned after being convicted of bank fraud, since state law does not allow felons to hold office; the conviction was later overturned and he was pardoned by President Bill Clinton.
  14. 1 2 Fife Symington resigned on September 5, 1997; Jane Dee Hull did not take the oath of office until September 8, but she was governor for those three days regardless of the delay.
  15. ↑ Under a 1992 amendment to the state constitution, governors who have served two back to back terms are not able to serve again until another full term has passed.
  16. 1 2

References

  1. ↑ "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries". The Council of State Governments. June 25, 2013. Archived from the original on October 22, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Meet Governor Katie Hobbs". State of Arizona. December 11, 2014. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Sobel 1978, pp. 49–50.
  4. 1 2 3 "George Wylie Hunt". National Governors Association. January 7, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Bright Folds of Old Glory Have New Star". Arizona Republic. 1912-02-15. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Sobel 1978, pp. 50–51.
  7. ↑ "Campbell inaugurated January 1". The Arizona Republic. 1917-01-02. p. 1. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
  8. ↑ "Gov. Hunt Refuses to Yield Office". New York Times. January 2, 1917. p. 4.
  9. ↑ "Gov. Hunt Put Out of Office by Court". New York Times. January 28, 1917. p. 14.
  10. ↑ "Court Declares Hunt Governor of Arizona". New York Times. December 23, 1917. p. 5.
  11. ↑
  12. ↑ "Arizona Governor Thomas Edward Campbell". National Governors Association. Archived from the original on February 10, 2009. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
  13. ↑ "Gubernatorial Change Will Bring Executive Chair As Christmas Gift to Mr. Hunt". Arizona Republic. 1917-12-25. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  14. "Arizona Governor Thomas Edward Campbell". National Governors Association. Archived from the original on February 10, 2009. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
  15. ↑ "Campbell Again Is Arizona Governor". Arizona Republic. 1919-01-07. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  16. ↑ Died in office.
  17. ↑ As secretary of state, filled unexpired term, and was subsequently elected in their own right.
  18. 1 2 Sobel 1978, p. 59.
  19. ↑ As secretary of state, filled unexpired term.
  20. ↑
  21. ↑
  22. ↑
  23. ↑ Sullivan, Patricia (February 23, 2008). "Evan Mecham, 83; Was Removed as Arizona Governor". Washington Post. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  24. ↑ Mullaney, Marie Marmo (1994). Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1988–1994. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 29–30. ISBN 0-313-28312-5. Retrieved October 11, 2008.
  25. ↑ "Arizona Governor J. Fife Symington III". National Governors Association. Archived from the original on February 9, 2009. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
  26. ↑ Todd S., Purdum (1997-09-04). "Arizona Governor Convicted Of Fraud and Will Step Down". The New York Times. Retrieved October 11, 2008.
  27. ↑ "Ariz. Const. amend. 176". www.stateconstitutions.umd.edu. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  28. ↑ "Campbell Again Is Arizona Governor". Arizona Republic. 1919-01-07. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  29. ↑ Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security.
  30. ↑ "Campbell Again Is Arizona Governor". Arizona Republic. 1919-01-07. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  31. ↑ "Campbell Again Is Arizona Governor". Arizona Republic. 1919-01-07. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  32. ↑ "Campbell Again Is Arizona Governor". Arizona Republic. 1919-01-07. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  33. ↑ Governor Hobbs's term expires on January 5, 2027.