| Governor of Delaware | |
|---|---|
| Government of Delaware | |
| Style | The Honorable |
| Residence | Delaware Governor's Mansion Dover, Delaware |
| Term length | Four years, renewable once |
| Inaugural holder | John McKinly |
| Formation | February 12, 1777 |
| Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of Delaware |
| Salary | $171,000 (2013) |
| Website | governor |
The Governor of Delaware (President of Delaware from 1776 to 1792) is the head of the executive branch of Delaware's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.
The current governor is Democrat Matt Meyer, who took office on January 21, 2025.
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John McKinly (1721–1796) |
February 21, 1777 – September 12, 1777 (arrested and removed) |
No parties | 1777 | Office did not exist | |||
| 2 | Thomas McKean (1734–1817) |
September 12, 1777 – October 20, 1777 (successor took office) |
Speaker of the Assembly acting as vice-president | |||||
| 3 | George Read (1733–1798) |
October 20, 1777 – March 31, 1778 (did not run) |
Speaker of the Legislative Council serving as vice-president | |||||
| 4 | Caesar Rodney (1728–1784) |
March 31, 1778 – November 13, 1781 (term-limited) |
1778 | |||||
| 5 | John Dickinson (1732–1808) |
November 13, 1781 – January 13, 1783 (resigned) |
1781 | |||||
| 6 | John Cook (1730–1789) |
January 13, 1783 – February 8, 1783 (did not run) |
Speaker of the Legislative Council serving as vice-president | |||||
| 7 | Nicholas Van Dyke (1738–1789) |
February 8, 1783 – October 28, 1786 (term-limited) |
1783 (special) | |||||
| 8 | Thomas Collins (1732–1789) |
October 28, 1786 – March 29, 1789 (died in office) |
1786 | |||||
| 9 | Jehu Davis (1738–1802) |
March 29, 1789 – June 2, 1789 (did not run) |
Speaker of the Legislative Council serving as vice-president | |||||
| 10 | Joshua Clayton (1744–1798) |
June 2, 1789 – January 13, 1796 (term-limited) |
Federalist | 1789 | ||||
| 1792 | ||||||||
| 11 | Gunning Bedford Sr. (1742–1797) |
January 13, 1796 – September 28, 1797 (died in office) |
Federalist | 1795 | ||||
| 12 | Daniel Rogers (1754–1806) |
September 28, 1797 – January 9, 1799 (successor took office) |
Federalist | Speaker of the Senate acting | ||||
| 13 | Richard Bassett (1745–1815) |
January 9, 1799 – March 3, 1801 (resigned) |
Federalist | 1798 | ||||
| 14 | James Sykes (1761–1822) |
March 3, 1801 – January 19, 1802 (successor took office) |
Federalist | Speaker of the Senate acting | ||||
| 15 | David Hall (1752–1817) |
January 19, 1802 – January 15, 1805 (term-limited) |
Democratic- Republican |
1801 | ||||
| 16 | Nathaniel Mitchell (1753–1814) |
January 15, 1805 – January 19, 1808 (term-limited) |
Federalist | 1804 | ||||
| 17 | George Truitt (1756–1818) |
January 19, 1808 – January 15, 1811 (term-limited) |
Federalist | 1807 | ||||
| 18 | Joseph Haslet (1769–1823) |
January 15, 1811 – January 18, 1814 (term-limited) |
Democratic- Republican |
1810 | ||||
| 19 | Daniel Rodney (1764–1846) |
January 18, 1814 – January 21, 1817 (term-limited) |
Federalist | 1813 | ||||
| 20 | John Clark (1761–1821) |
January 21, 1817 – January 15, 1820 (resigned) |
Federalist | 1816 | ||||
| — | Henry Molleston (1762–1819) |
Died before taking office |
Federalist | 1819 | ||||
| 21 | Jacob Stout (1764–1855) |
January 15, 1820 – January 16, 1821 (successor took office) |
Federalist | Speaker of the Senate acting | ||||
| 22 | John Collins (1776–1822) |
January 16, 1821 – April 16, 1822 (died in office) |
Democratic- Republican |
1820 (special) | ||||
| 23 | Caleb Rodney (1767–1840) |
April 23, 1822 – January 21, 1823 (did not run) |
Federalist | Speaker of the Senate acting | ||||
| 24 | Joseph Haslet (1769–1823) |
January 21, 1823 – June 20, 1823 (died in office) |
Democratic- Republican |
1822 | ||||
| 25 | Charles Thomas (1790–1848) |
June 20, 1823 – January 20, 1824 (successor took office) |
Democratic- Republican |
Speaker of the Senate acting | ||||
| 26 | Samuel Paynter (1768–1845) |
January 20, 1824 – January 16, 1827 (term-limited) |
Federalist | 1823 (special) | ||||
| 27 | Charles Polk Jr. (1788–1857) |
January 16, 1827 – January 19, 1830 (term-limited) |
Federalist | 1826 | ||||
| 28 | David Hazzard (1781–1864) |
January 19, 1830 – January 15, 1833 (term-limited) |
National Republican |
1829 | ||||
| 29 | Caleb P. Bennett (1758–1836) |
January 15, 1833 – May 9, 1836 (died in office) |
Democratic | 1832 | ||||
| 30 | Charles Polk Jr. (1788–1857) |
May 9, 1836 – January 17, 1837 (successor took office) |
Whig | Speaker of the Senate acting | ||||
| 31 | Cornelius P. Comegys (1780–1851) |
January 17, 1837 – January 19, 1841 (term-limited) |
Whig | 1836 | ||||
| 32 | William B. Cooper (1771–1849) |
January 19, 1841 – January 21, 1845 (term-limited) |
Whig | 1840 | ||||
| 33 | Thomas Stockton (1781–1846) |
January 21, 1845 – March 2, 1846 (died in office) |
Whig | 1844 | ||||
| 34 | Joseph Maull (1781–1846) |
March 2, 1846 – May 3, 1846 (died in office) |
Whig | Speaker of the Senate acting | ||||
| 35 | William Temple (1814–1863) |
May 6, 1846 – January 19, 1847 (successor took office) |
Whig | Speaker of the Senate acting | ||||
| 36 | William Tharp (1803–1865) |
January 19, 1847 – January 21, 1851 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1846 (special) | ||||
| 37 | William H. H. Ross (1814–1887) |
January 21, 1851 – January 16, 1855 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1850 | ||||
| 38 | Peter F. Causey (1801–1871) |
January 16, 1855 – January 18, 1859 (term-limited) |
American | 1854 | ||||
| 39 | William Burton (1789–1866) |
January 18, 1859 – January 20, 1863 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1858 | ||||
| 40 | William Cannon (1809–1865) |
January 20, 1863 – March 1, 1865 (died in office) |
Republican | 1862 | ||||
| 41 | Gove Saulsbury (1815–1881) |
March 1, 1865 – January 17, 1871 (term-limited) |
Democratic | Speaker of the Senate acting | ||||
| 1866 | ||||||||
| 42 | James Ponder (1819–1897) |
January 17, 1871 – January 19, 1875 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1870 | ||||
| 43 | John P. Cochran (1809–1898) |
January 19, 1875 – January 21, 1879 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1874 | ||||
| 44 | John W. Hall (1817–1892) |
January 21, 1879 – January 16, 1883 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1878 | ||||
| 45 | Charles C. Stockley (1819–1901) |
January 16, 1883 – January 18, 1887 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1882 | ||||
| 46 | Benjamin T. Biggs (1821–1893) |
January 18, 1887 – January 20, 1891 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1886 | ||||
| 47 | Robert J. Reynolds (1838–1909) |
January 20, 1891 – January 15, 1895 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1890 | ||||
| 48 | Joshua H. Marvil (1825–1895) |
January 15, 1895 – April 8, 1895 (died in office) |
Republican | 1894 | ||||
| 49 | William T. Watson (1849–1917) |
April 8, 1895 – January 19, 1897 (successor took office) |
Democratic | Speaker of the Senate acting | ||||
| 50 | Ebe W. Tunnell (1844–1917) |
January 19, 1897 – January 15, 1901 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1896 | ||||
| 51 | John Hunn (1849–1926) |
January 15, 1901 – January 17, 1905 (did not run) |
Republican | 1900 | Philip L. Cannon | |||
| 52 | Preston Lea (1841–1916) |
January 17, 1905 – January 19, 1909 (did not run) |
Republican | 1904 | Isaac T. Parker | |||
| 53 | Simeon S. Pennewill (1867–1935) |
January 19, 1909 – January 21, 1913 (did not run) |
Republican | 1908 | John M. Mendinhall | |||
| 54 | Charles R. Miller (1857–1927) |
January 21, 1913 – January 16, 1917 (did not run) |
Republican | 1912 | Colen Ferguson | |||
| 55 | John G. Townsend Jr. (1871–1964) |
January 16, 1917 – January 18, 1921 (did not run) |
Republican | 1916 | Lewis E. Eliason | |||
| 56 | William D. Denney (1873–1953) |
January 18, 1921 – January 20, 1925 (did not run) |
Republican | 1920 | J. Danforth Bush | |||
| 57 | Robert P. Robinson (1869–1939) |
January 20, 1925 – January 15, 1929 (did not run) |
Republican | 1924 | James H. Anderson | |||
| 58 | C. Douglass Buck (1890–1965) |
January 15, 1929 – January 19, 1937 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1928 | James H. Hazel | |||
| 1932 | Roy F. Corley | |||||||
| 59 | Richard McMullen (1868–1944) |
January 19, 1937 – January 21, 1941 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1936 | Edward W. Cooch | |||
| 60 | Walter W. Bacon (1880–1962) |
January 21, 1941 – January 18, 1949 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1940 | Isaac J. MacCollum | |||
| 1944 | Elbert N. Carvel | |||||||
| 61 | Elbert N. Carvel (1910–2005) |
January 18, 1949 – January 20, 1953 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1948 | Alexis I. du Pont Bayard | |||
| 62 | J. Caleb Boggs (1909–1993) |
January 20, 1953 – December 30, 1960 (resigned) |
Republican | 1952 | John W. Rollins | |||
| 1956 | David P. Buckson | |||||||
| 63 | David P. Buckson (1920–2017) |
December 30, 1960 – January 17, 1961 (successor took office) |
Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | |||
| 64 | Elbert N. Carvel (1910–2005) |
January 17, 1961 – January 19, 1965 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1960 | Eugene Lammot | |||
| 65 | Charles L. Terry Jr. (1900–1970) |
January 19, 1965 – January 21, 1969 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1964 | Sherman W. Tribbitt | |||
| 66 | Russell W. Peterson (1916–2011) |
January 21, 1969 – January 16, 1973 (lost election) |
Republican | 1968 | Eugene Bookhammer | |||
| 67 | Sherman W. Tribbitt (1922–2010) |
January 16, 1973 – January 18, 1977 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1972 | ||||
| 68 | Pete du Pont (1935–2021) |
January 18, 1977 – January 15, 1985 (term-limited) |
Republican | 1976 | James D. McGinnis | |||
| 1980 | Mike Castle | |||||||
| 69 | Mike Castle (1939–2025) |
January 15, 1985 – January 2, 1993 (resigned) |
Republican | 1984 | Shien Biau Woo | |||
| 1988 | Dale E. Wolf | |||||||
| 70 | Dale E. Wolf (1924–2021) |
January 3, 1993 – January 19, 1993 (successor took office) |
Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | |||
| 71 | Tom Carper (b. 1947) |
January 19, 1993 – January 3, 2001 (resigned) |
Democratic | 1992 | Ruth Ann Minner | |||
| 1996 | ||||||||
| 72 | Ruth Ann Minner (1935–2021) |
January 3, 2001 – January 20, 2009 (term-limited) |
Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | |||
| 2000 | John Carney | |||||||
| 2004 | ||||||||
| 73 | Jack Markell (b. 1960) |
January 20, 2009 – January 17, 2017 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 2008 | Matthew Denn (resigned January 6, 2015) | |||
| 2012 | ||||||||
| Vacant | ||||||||
| 74 | John Carney (b. 1956) |
January 17, 2017 – January 7, 2025 (resigned) |
Democratic | 2016 | Bethany Hall-Long | |||
| 2020 | ||||||||
| 75 | Bethany Hall-Long (b. 1963) |
January 7, 2025 – January 21, 2025 (successor took office) |
Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | |||
| 76 | Matt Meyer (b. 1971) |
January 21, 2025 – Incumbent |
Democratic | 2024 | Kyle Evans Gay | |||
As of February 2026, there are four living former Governors of Delaware, the oldest being Tom Carper, who served as the 71st Governor of Delaware from 1993-2001 and then as a U.S. Senator for the state from 2001-2025, at 70. The most recent death of a former governor was that of Mike Castle, who served as the 69th Governor of Connecticut (served 1985-1992) on August 14, 2025.
{{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)On Tuesday the 19th inst. colonel David Hall, governor elect, was installed into office...
... the following address was delivered on the 15th inst. by Mr. Mitchell, who succeeds him.
On Tuesday last, the federal governor of the state of Delaware, G. Truitt, was sworn into power and place.
{{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)We also learn that Charles Thomas, esq. the speaker of the senate, on whom the duties of governor now devolve, lies dangerously ill.
Governor Ponder was inaugurated yesterday...