List of governors of Washington

Governor of Washington
Seal of the governor
Incumbent
Bob Ferguson
since January 15, 2025
Style
Status
ResidenceWashington Governor's Mansion
Term lengthFour years, no term limit
Inaugural holderElisha P. Ferry
FormationNovember 11, 1889
DeputyLieutenant Governor of Washington
Salary$182,179 (2019)
Websitegovernor.wa.gov

The Governor of Washington is the leader of the Executive branch of the State of Washington's government. Jay Inslee is currently serving as governor.

Governors

Governors of the Territory of Washington

Governor Took office Left office Appointed by Notes
  Isaac Stevens December 3, 1853 August 11, 1857 Franklin Pierce
  LaFayette McMullen September 10, 1857 July 1858 James Buchanan
  Richard D. Gholson July 15, 1859 February 14, 1861 James Buchanan
  William H. Wallace Appointed April 9, 1861 — Abraham Lincoln
  William Pickering June 1862 January 8, 1867 Abraham Lincoln
  George E. Cole January 8, 1867 March 4, 1867 Andrew Johnson
  Marshall F. Moore August 26, 1867 1869 Andrew Johnson
  Alvan Flanders April 5, 1869 March 14, 1870 Ulysses S. Grant
  Edward Selig Salomon Appointed March 4, 1870 April 1872 Ulysses S. Grant
  Elisha Peyre Ferry Appointed April 26, 1872 November 1, 1880 Ulysses S. Grant
  William Augustus Newell November 1, 1880 1884 Rutherford B. Hayes
  Watson Carvasso Squire Appointed July 2, 1884 April 1887 Chester A. Arthur
  Eugene Semple Appointed April 9, 1887 1889 Grover Cleveland
  Miles Conway Moore April 9, 1889 November 11, 1889 Benjamin Harrison

Governors of the State of Washington

Washington became a state on November 11, 1889. The term for governor is four years,. It begins on the second Monday in the January after the election.

Parties

  Democratic (11)   Populist (1)   Republican (12)
(above numbering includes one governor twice)

Governors of the State of Washington
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor
1   Elisha P. Ferry
(1825–1895)
 November 18, 1889
–
January 11, 1893
(did not run)		 Republican 1889   Charles E. Laughton
2 John McGraw
(1850–1910)
 January 11, 1893
–
January 13, 1897
(did not run)		 Republican 1892 F. H. Luce
3 John Rankin Rogers
(1838–1901)
 January 13, 1897
–
December 26, 1901
(died in office)		 Populist 1896 Thurston Daniels
Democratic 1900 Henry McBride
4 Henry McBride
(1856–1937)
 December 26, 1901
–
January 11, 1905
(lost nomination)		 Republican Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor		 Vacant
5 Albert E. Mead
(1861–1913)
 January 11, 1905
–
January 27, 1909
(lost nomination)		 Republican 1904 Charles E. Coon
6 Samuel G. Cosgrove
(1847–1909)
 January 27, 1909
–
March 28, 1909
(died in office)		 Republican 1908 Marion E. Hay
7 Marion E. Hay
(1865–1933)
 March 28, 1909
–
January 15, 1913
(lost election)		 Republican Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor		 Vacant
8 Ernest Lister
(1870–1919)
 January 15, 1913
–
June 14, 1919
(died in office)		 Democratic 1912 Louis F. Hart
1916
9 Louis F. Hart
(1862–1929)
 June 14, 1919
–
January 14, 1925
(did not run)		 Republican Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor		 Vacant
1920 William J. Coyle
10 Roland H. Hartley
(1864–1952)
 January 14, 1925
–
January 11, 1933
(lost nomination)		 Republican 1924 W. Lon Johnson
1928 John Arthur Gellatly
11 Clarence D. Martin
(1886–1955)
 January 11, 1933
–
January 15, 1941
(lost nomination)		 Democratic 1932 Victor Aloysius Meyers
1936
12 Arthur B. Langlie
(1900–1966)
 January 15, 1941
–
January 10, 1945
(lost election)		 Republican 1940
13 Monrad Wallgren
(1891–1961)
 January 10, 1945
–
January 12, 1949
(lost election)		 Democratic 1944
14 Arthur B. Langlie
(1900–1966)
 January 12, 1949
–
January 16, 1957
(did not run)		 Republican 1948
1952 Emmett T. Anderson
15 Albert Rosellini
(1910–2011)
 January 16, 1957
–
January 13, 1965
(lost election)		 Democratic 1956 John Cherberg
1960
16 Daniel J. Evans
(1925–2024)
 January 13, 1965
–
January 12, 1977
(did not run)		 Republican 1964
1968
1972
17 Dixy Lee Ray
(1914–1994)
 January 12, 1977
–
January 14, 1981
(lost nomination)		 Democratic 1976
18 John Spellman
(1926–2018)
 January 14, 1981
–
January 16, 1985
(lost election)		 Republican 1980
19 Booth Gardner
(1936–2013)
 January 16, 1985
–
January 13, 1993
(did not run)		 Democratic 1984
1988 Joel Pritchard
20 Mike Lowry
(1939–2017)
 January 13, 1993
–
January 15, 1997
(did not run)		 Democratic 1992
21 Gary Locke
(b. 1950)
 January 15, 1997
–
January 12, 2005
(did not run)		 Democratic 1996 Brad Owen
2000
22 Christine Gregoire
(b. 1947)
 January 12, 2005
–
January 16, 2013
(did not run)		 Democratic 2004
2008
23 Jay Inslee
(b. 1951)
 January 16, 2013
–
January 15, 2025
(did not run)		 Democratic 2012
2016 Cyrus Habib
2020 Denny Heck
24 Bob Ferguson
(b. 1965)		 January 15, 2025

– Incumbent

 Democratic 2024

Notes

  1. ↑ Due to the long distance between Washington D.C. and Washington Territory, and the slow speed of communications and travel of the day, weeks or months could go by between the appointment of a governor and the governor actually taking office. The actual dates governors took office are sometimes vague; the ones in this list are cited mostly with contemporary news coverage, but other resources and almanacs give slightly different dates.
  2. ↑ Received a leave of absence in May 1860 to move his wife from Texas to Kentucky. He never returned to Washington Territory.
  3. ↑ Appointed as governor, but did not take office as he was elected as a delegate from Washington Territory.
  4. 1 2 President Johnson removed Governor Pickering in November 1866. Governor Cole arrived on January 8, 1867 after being appointed governor. Governor Pickering would not relinquish power until the U.S. Senate approved of Governor Cole's nomination on the basis that President Johnson was being impeached. However, the state's legislature looked to Governor Cole as the real governor. The U.S. Senate eventually failed to ratify his nomination.
  5. 1 2 3 Was a resident of Washington Territory at the time of appointment. This could have cut down on the time between appointment and taking office.
  6. ↑ The official numbering includes ten Democrats, 12 Republicans, and John Rogers, who served as both a Democrat and a Populist. Rogers' term is counted as both Populist and Democratic.
  7. ↑ Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
  8. 1 2 3 Represented the Republican Party
  9. ↑ Hartley lost the Republican nomination to John Arthur Gellatly.
  10. ↑ Martin lost the Democratic nomination to Clarence Dill.
  11. 1 2 Represented the Democratic Party
  12. ↑ Ray lost the Democratic nomination to Jim McDermott.

References

  1. ↑ "2013 and 2014 Salary Schedule, Adopted May 22, 2013" (PDF). Washington Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 10, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Glorious News for Washington! Arrival of Governor Stevens" (PDF). Washington Pioneer. Olympia. December 3, 1853. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Letter from Gov. Stevens" (PDF). Pioneer and Democrat. Olympia. August 14, 1857. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
  4. ↑ "Arrival of Governor McMullen" (PDF). Pioneer and Democrat. Olympia. September 11, 1857. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
  5. ↑ Bancroft, Hubert Howe (1890). History of Washington, Idaho, and Montana: 1845–1889, Volume 31. Washington State Library. p. 209. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Sworn In" (PDF). Pioneer and Democrat. Olympia. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
  7. 1 2 McMullin and Walker p. 314
  8. ↑ "Granted Leave of Absence" (PDF). Pioneer and Democrat. Olympia. May 18, 1860. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
  9. ↑ McMullin and Walker p. 315
  10. ↑ "Wallace, William". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Our New Governor" (PDF). Puget Sound Herald. June 12, 1862. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
  12. 1 2 3 "Gubernatorial War!" (PDF). Puget Sound Weekly. January 14, 1867. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
  13. ↑ McMullin and Walker pp. 317–318
  14. ↑ "Arrival of General Moore" (PDF). The Vancouver Register. August 31, 1867. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
  15. ↑ "Flanders, Alvan". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  16. ↑ McMullin and Walker p. 320
  17. 1 2 McMullin and Walker p. 321
  18. 1 2 McMullin and Walker p. 322
  19. 1 2 "Governor Ferry's Retirement" (PDF). Puget Sound Mail. October 31, 1880. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
  20. ↑ McMullin and Walker pp. 322–328.
  21. ↑ McMullin and Walker p. 325
  22. ↑ McMullin and Walker p. 326
  23. ↑ Snowden, Clinton (1911). History of Washington: the rise and progress of an American state. New York: Century History Company. p. 153. Retrieved July 3, 2010.
  24. ↑ WA Const. art. III, § 2
  25. ↑ WA Const. art. III, § 4
  26. 1 2 Sobel 1978, p. 1675.
  27. ↑ "Elisha Peyre Ferry". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Garb of Statehood". The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. November 19, 1889. p. 2. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Kallenbach 1977, pp. 622–623.
  30. ↑ Sobel 1978, p. 1676.
  31. ↑ "John Harte McGraw". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  32. ↑ Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 3rd legislature, 44 Archived 2024-06-22 at the Wayback Machine, accessed July 20, 2023
  33. 1 2 3 Sobel 1978, pp. 1677–1678.
  34. ↑ "John Rankin Rogers". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  35. ↑ Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 5th legislature, 34 Archived 2024-06-22 at the Wayback Machine, accessed July 20, 2023
  36. 1 2 Sobel 1978, p. 1678.
  37. ↑ "Henry McBride". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  38. ↑ "Gov. McBride of Washington". The Spokesman-Review. December 27, 1901. p. 1. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  39. 1 2 Sobel 1978, p. 1679.
  40. ↑ "Albert E. Mead". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  41. ↑ Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 9th legislature, 33 Archived 2024-06-22 at the Wayback Machine, accessed July 20, 2023
  42. ↑ Sobel 1978, pp. 1679–1680.
  43. ↑ "Samuel G. Cosgrove". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  44. ↑ Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 11th legislature, 152 Archived 2023-05-27 at the Wayback Machine, accessed July 20, 2023
  45. ↑ Sobel 1978, pp. 1680–1681.
  46. ↑ "Marion E. Hay". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  47. ↑ "Governor S. G. Cosgrove Passes Away Suddenly". The Tacoma Daily Ledger. March 29, 1909. p. 1. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  48. ↑ Sobel 1978, pp. 1681–1682.
  49. ↑ "Ernest Lister". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  50. ↑ Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 13th legislature, 44 Archived 2024-06-22 at the Wayback Machine, accessed July 20, 2023
  51. 1 2 Sobel 1978, p. 1682.
  52. ↑ "Louis Folwell Hart". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  53. ↑ "Louis F. Hart Goes to Executive Chair". The News Tribune. June 14, 1919. p. 1. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  54. ↑ Sobel 1978, p. 1683.
  55. ↑ "Roland H. Hartley". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  56. ↑ Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 19th legislature, 23 Archived 2024-06-22 at the Wayback Machine, accessed July 20, 2023
  57. ↑ Sobel 1978, pp. 1683–1684.
  58. ↑ "Clarence Daniel Martin". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  59. ↑ "Martin Takes Oath as New Governor". The Bellingham Herald. January 11, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  60. 1 2 3 Sobel 1978, pp. 1684–1685.
  61. 1 2 "Arthur B. Langlie". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  62. ↑ Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 27th legislature, 32 Archived 2024-06-16 at the Wayback Machine, accessed July 20, 2023
  63. ↑ Sobel 1978, p. 1685.
  64. ↑ "Monrad Charles Wallgren". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  65. ↑ Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 29th legislature, 31 Archived 2024-06-13 at the Wayback Machine, accessed July 20, 2023
  66. ↑ Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 31st legislature, 39 Archived 2024-06-22 at the Wayback Machine, accessed July 20, 2023
  67. ↑ Sobel 1978, p. 1686.
  68. ↑ "Albert Dean Rosellini". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  69. ↑ Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 35th legislature, 41 Archived 2024-06-16 at the Wayback Machine, accessed July 20, 2023
  70. 1 2 Sobel 1978, pp. 1686–1687.
  71. ↑ "Daniel Jackson Evans". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  72. ↑ Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 39th legislature, 60 Archived 2024-06-22 at the Wayback Machine, accessed July 20, 2023
  73. ↑ Sobel 1978, pp. 1687–1688.
  74. 1 2 "Dixy Lee Ray". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  75. ↑ Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 45th legislature, 44 Archived 2024-06-22 at the Wayback Machine, accessed July 20, 2023
  76. 1 2 "John Dennis Spellman". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  77. ↑ Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 47th legislature, 52 Archived 2024-06-16 at the Wayback Machine, accessed July 20, 2023
  78. 1 2 "Booth Gardner". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  79. ↑ Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 49th legislature, 44 Archived 2024-06-13 at the Wayback Machine, accessed July 20, 2023
  80. 1 2 "Michael Lowry". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  81. ↑ Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 53rd legislature, 55 Archived 2024-06-22 at the Wayback Machine, accessed July 20, 2023
  82. 1 2 "Gary Locke". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  83. ↑ Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 55th legislature, 96 Archived 2024-06-22 at the Wayback Machine, accessed July 20, 2023
  84. 1 2 "Chris Gregoire". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  85. ↑ Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 59th legislature, 69 Archived 2024-06-22 at the Wayback Machine, accessed July 20, 2023
  86. 1 2 "Jay Inslee". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  87. ↑ Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 63rd legislature, 50 Archived 2024-06-22 at the Wayback Machine, accessed July 20, 2023