List of governors of West Virginia - wikipedia List of governors of West Virginia Governor of West Virginia Seal of the Governor Incumbent Jim Justice since January 16, 2017 Style His Excellency Residence West Virginia Governor 's Mansion Term length Four years, renewable once Inaugural holder Arthur I. Boreman Formation June 20, 1863 Deputy None Salary $150,000 ( 2013 ) Website www.governor.wv.gov The Governor of West Virginia is the head of the executive branch of West Virginia 's state government and the commander - in - chief of the state 's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the West Virginia Legislature, to convene the legislature at any time, and, except when prosecution has been carried out by the House of Delegates, to grant pardons and reprieves. Since West Virginia was admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, during the American Civil War, 34 men have served as governor. Two, Arch A. Moore Jr. ( West Virginia 's 28th and 30th governor ) and Cecil H. Underwood ( West Virginia 's 25th and 32nd governor ), served two nonconsecutive terms in office. The longest - serving governor was Moore, who served for three terms over twelve years. The state 's first governor, Arthur I. Boreman, served the most consecutive terms, resigning a week before the end of his third term. Daniel D.T. Farnsworth was Senate President at the time ; he filled the last seven days of Boreman 's term and remains the shortest - serving governor. Underwood has the unusual distinction of being both the youngest person to be elected as governor ( age 34 upon his first term in 1957 ) and the oldest to both be elected and serve ( age 74 upon his second term in 1997 ; age 78 at the end of his second term in 2001 ). The current governor is Republican Jim Justice, who assumed office on January 16, 2017. West Virginia 's 36th governor, Justice was elected as a Democrat, but switched to the Republican Party on August 4 of that year. To serve as governor, a person must be at least 30 years old, and must have been a citizen of West Virginia for at least five years at the time of inauguration. The Constitution of West Virginia, ratified in 1872, calls for a four - year term for the governor, commencing on the Monday after the second Wednesday in the January following an election. The original constitution of 1863 had only a two - year term for governor. The constitution makes no mention of a lieutenant governor ; if the governorship becomes vacant, the Senate President acts as governor. If more than one year remains in the governor 's term at the time of vacancy, a new election is held ; otherwise, the Senate President serves the remainder of the term. A bill passed in 2000 grants the Senate President the honorary title of Lieutenant Governor, but this title is rarely used in practice and the terms of the Senate President do not correspond with governorships. The same bill states that the line of succession after the Senate President will be the Speaker of the House of Delegates, followed by the state attorney general, the state auditor and former governors, in inverse order of term, that are in residence in the state at the time of the vacancy. Contents 1 List of Governors 2 Other high offices held 3 Living former governors of West Virginia 4 Notes 5 References 6 External links List of governors For a list of governors who served the region before West Virginia became a state, see List of Governors of Virginia. Parties Democratic ( 19 ) People 's Independent ( 1 ) Republican ( 16 ) # Governor Term start Term end Party Terms Arthur I. Boreman June 20, 1863 February 26, 1869 Republican 2 ⁄ Daniel D.T. Farnsworth February 26, 1869 March 4, 1869 Republican ⁄ William E. Stevenson March 4, 1869 March 4, 1871 Republican John J. Jacob March 4, 1871 March 4, 1877 Democratic Independent 5 Henry M. Mathews March 4, 1877 March 4, 1881 Democratic 6 Jacob B. Jackson March 4, 1881 March 4, 1885 Democratic 7 Emanuel Willis Wilson March 4, 1885 February 6, 1890 Democratic 8 Aretas B. Fleming February 6, 1890 March 4, 1893 Democratic 9 William A. MacCorkle March 4, 1893 March 4, 1897 Democratic 10 George W. Atkinson March 4, 1897 March 4, 1901 Republican 11 Albert B. White March 4, 1901 March 4, 1905 Republican 12 William M.O. Dawson March 4, 1905 March 4, 1909 Republican 13 William E. Glasscock March 4, 1909 March 14, 1913 Republican 14 Henry D. Hatfield March 14, 1913 March 5, 1917 Republican 15 John J. Cornwell March 5, 1917 March 4, 1921 Democratic 16 Ephraim F. Morgan March 4, 1921 March 4, 1925 Republican 17 Howard M. Gore March 4, 1925 March 4, 1929 Republican 18 William G. Conley March 4, 1929 March 4, 1933 Republican 19 H. Guy Kump March 4, 1933 January 18, 1937 Democratic 20 Homer A. Holt January 18, 1937 January 13, 1941 Democratic 21 Matthew M. Neely January 13, 1941 January 15, 1945 Democratic 22 Clarence W. Meadows January 15, 1945 January 17, 1949 Democratic 23 Okey L. Patteson January 17, 1949 January 19, 1953 Democratic 24 William C. Marland January 19, 1953 January 14, 1957 Democratic 25 Cecil H. Underwood January 14, 1957 January 16, 1961 Republican 26 William Wallace Barron January 16, 1961 January 18, 1965 Democratic 27 Hulett C. Smith January 18, 1965 January 13, 1969 Democratic 28 Arch A. Moore, Jr. January 13, 1969 January 17, 1977 Republican 29 Jay Rockefeller January 17, 1977 January 14, 1985 Democratic 30 Arch A. Moore, Jr. January 14, 1985 January 16, 1989 Republican 31 Gaston Caperton January 16, 1989 January 13, 1997 Democratic 32 Cecil H. Underwood January 13, 1997 January 15, 2001 Republican 33 Bob Wise January 15, 2001 January 17, 2005 Democratic 34 Joe Manchin January 17, 2005 November 15, 2010 Democratic 1 ⁄ 35 Earl Ray Tomblin November 15, 2010 November 13, 2011 Democratic 1 ⁄ November 13, 2011 January 16, 2017 36 Jim Justice January 16, 2017 Incumbent Democratic Republican Other high offices held This is a table of congressional offices held by governors. All representatives and senators listed represented West Virginia. No governor of West Virginia has held any other federal office. * Denotes those offices that the governor resigned to take. † Denotes those offices that the governor resigned to be governor. Governor Gubernatorial term U.S. House U.S. Senate Source Arthur I. Boreman 1863 -- 1869 -- S * George W. Atkinson 1897 -- 1901 -- Henry D. Hatfield 1913 -- 1917 -- Matthew M. Neely 1941 -- 1945 S † Arch A. Moore, Jr. 1969 -- 1977 1985 -- 1989 -- Jay Rockefeller 1977 -- 1985 -- Bob Wise 2001 -- 2005 -- Joe Manchin 2005 -- 2010 -- S * Living former governors of West Virginia As of January 2017, there are five former governors of West Virginia who are currently living at this time, the oldest of whom is Jay Rockefeller ( served 1977 - 1985, born 1937 ). The most recent governor to die was Arch A. Moore, Jr. ( served 1969 - 1977 and 1985 - 1989, born 1923 ), who died on January 7, 2015. The most recently serving governor to die was Cecil H. Underwood ( served 1957 -- 1961 and 1997 -- 2001, born 1922 ), who died on November 24, 2008. Governor Gubernatorial term Date of birth ( and age ) Jay Rockefeller 1977 -- 1985 ( 1937 - 06 - 18 ) June 18, 1937 ( age 80 ) Gaston Caperton 1989 -- 1997 ( 1940 - 02 - 21 ) February 21, 1940 ( age 77 ) Bob Wise 2001 -- 2005 ( 1948 - 01 - 06 ) January 6, 1948 ( age 69 ) Joe Manchin 2005 -- 2010 ( 1947 - 08 - 24 ) August 24, 1947 ( age 70 ) Earl Ray Tomblin 2010 -- 2011 ( acting ), 2011 -- 2017 ( 1952 - 03 - 15 ) March 15, 1952 ( age 65 ) Notes Jump up ^ The fractional terms of some governors are not to be understood literally ; rather, they are meant to show single terms during which multiple governors served, due to resignations, deaths and the like. Jump up ^ Resigned to run for the United States Senate, winning election. Jump up ^ As president of the state senate, filled unexpired term. Jump up ^ Jacob 's second term was under the 1872 constitution, which increased term lengths from two to four years. Jump up ^ Jacob was elected as a Democrat for his first term, and as an independent for his second. Jump up ^ Did not run for re-election in 1888, but due to the election being disputed, remained in office until the investigation was completed. Jump up ^ Resigned to take an elected seat in the U.S. Senate. Jump up ^ As president of the state senate, acted as governor from November 15, 2010 until November 13, 2011 when he was inaugurated as governor after the special election held on October 4, 2011. Tomblin was term limited. Jump up ^ Justice was elected as a member of the West Virginia Democratic Party in the West Virginia gubernatorial election, 2016. He switched to the Republican Party six months into his term, on August 4, 2017. Jump up ^ Governor Justice 's first term expires on January 18, 2021 ; he is not yet term limited. References Specific Jump up ^ `` CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries ''. The Council of State Governments. June 25, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2014. ^ Jump up to : WV Constitution article VII, § 5. Jump up ^ WV Constitution article VII, § 12. Jump up ^ WV Constitution article VII, § 14. Jump up ^ WV Constitution article VI, § 18 -- 19. Jump up ^ WV Constitution article VII, § 11. ^ Jump up to : `` West Virginia Governor to Switch from Democrat to Republican ''. New York Times. August 3, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2017. ^ Jump up to : WV Constitution article VII, § 1. Jump up ^ WV 1863 Constitution article V, § 1. ^ Jump up to : WV Constitution article VII, § 16. ^ Jump up to : `` H.B. 4781 ( Enrolled March 11, 2009 ) ''. West Virginia Legislature, 2000 Sessions. Retrieved August 16, 2009. ^ Jump up to : `` Boreman, Arthur Ingram ''. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved August 16, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Arthur Ingram Boreman ''. Charleston, West Virginia : West Virginia Division of Culture and History. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2013. Jump up ^ `` West Virginia Governor Daniel Duane Tompkins Farnsworth ''. National Governors Association. Archived from the original on 2011 - 01 - 09. Retrieved August 18, 2009. Jump up ^ `` West Virginia Governor Emanuel Willis Wilson ''. National Governors Association. Archived from the original on 2009 - 10 - 20. Retrieved August 18, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Emanuel Willis Wilson ''. Charleston, West Virginia : West Virginia Division of Culture and History. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Aretas Brooks Fleming ''. Charleston, West Virginia : West Virginia Division of Culture and History. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2013. Jump up ^ Acting from November 15, 2010 to November 13, 2011 Jump up ^ `` Tomblin succeeds Manchin as West Virginia governor ''. Washington Post. November 15, 2010. Retrieved November 17, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Atkinson, George Wesley ''. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved August 16, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Hatfield, Henry Drury -- Biographical Directory of the United States Congress ''. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved August 16, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Neely, Matthew Mansfield ''. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved August 16, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Moore, Arch Alfred, Jr ''. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved August 16, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Rockefeller, John Davison IV ( Jay ) ''. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved August 16, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Wise, Robert Ellsworth, Jr ''. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved August 18, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Dems keep key Senate seat with Manchin win in WV ''. Houston Chronicle. November 2, 2010. Archived from the original on November 7, 2010. Retrieved November 3, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Former Gov. Cecil Underwood has died at 86 ''. Charleston Daily Mail. November 24, 2008. Archived from the original on April 7, 2010. Retrieved August 12, 2009. General `` Governors of West Virginia ''. National Governors Association. Archived from the original on August 14, 2009. Retrieved August 16, 2009. Richard E. Fast. The history and government of West Virginia ( 1901 ) to 1900 online edition Constitutions `` Constitution of West Virginia ( 1872 ) ''. West Virginia Legislature. Archived from the original on October 5, 2015. Retrieved August 16, 2009. West Virginia. Constitution of West Virginia ( 1863 ). Wheeling. Retrieved August 19, 2009. External links Appearances on C - SPAN Wikimedia Commons has media related to Governors of West Virginia. Office of the Governor of West Virginia Governors of West Virginia Boreman Farnsworth Stevenson Jacob Mathews Jackson Wilson Fleming MacCorkle Atkinson White Dawson Glasscock Hatfield Cornwell Morgan Gore Conley Kump Holt Neely Meadows Patteson Marland Underwood Barron Smith Moore Rockefeller Moore Caperton Underwood Wise Manchin Tomblin Justice State of West Virginia Charleston ( capital ) Topics Cities Towns Villages Census - designated places History Environment People Government Governors Delegations Colleges and universities Tourist attractions Seal of West Virginia Society Culture Crime Demographics Economy Education Elections Media Newspapers Radio TV Insignia Coat of arms Flag Motto Seal Regions Allegheny Mountains Allegheny Plateau Baltimore - Washington Metropolitan Area Blue Ridge Charleston Metropolitan Area Cumberland Plateau Cumberland Mountains Eastern Panhandle Huntington Metropolitan Area North - Central West Virginia Northern Panhandle Potomac Highlands Ridge - and - Valley Appalachians Shenandoah Valley Southern West Virginia Western West Virginia Metro areas Charleston Huntington Morgantown Martinsburg Parkersburg - Vienna Wheeling Winchester Weirton Largest cities Beckley Charleston Fairmont Huntington Martinsburg Morgantown Parkersburg Wheeling Weirton Counties Barbour Berkeley Boone Braxton Brooke Cabell Calhoun Clay Doddridge Fayette Gilmer Grant Greenbrier Hampshire Hancock Hardy Harrison Jackson Jefferson Kanawha Lewis Lincoln Logan Marion Marshall Mason McDowell Mercer Mineral Mingo Monongalia Monroe Morgan Nicholas Ohio Pendleton Pleasants Pocahontas Preston Putnam Raleigh Randolph Ritchie Roane Summers Taylor Tucker Tyler Upshur Wayne Webster Wetzel Wirt Wood Wyoming Years in West Virginia ( 1863 -- present ) 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 2017 2018 2019 2020 Chief executives of the United States Federal President of the United States State governors ( current list ) Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Territorial ( current list ) American Samoa District of Columbia Guam Northern Mariana Islands Puerto Rico United States Virgin Islands Defunct Pre-state territories Panama Canal Zone Cuba Philippine Islands ( until 1935 ) Philippine Commonwealth ( until 1946 ) Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands West Virginia statewide elected officials Governor Secretary of State Attorney General Treasurer Auditor Commissioner of Agriculture Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Governors_of_West_Virginia&oldid=806129467 '' Categories : Lists of state governors of the United States Governors of West Virginia Lists of West Virginia politicians State constitutional officers of West Virginia Hidden categories : Articles containing potentially dated statements from January 2017 All articles containing potentially dated statements Featured lists Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Ελληνικά Français Latina Magyar Nederlands Русский Slovenščina Edit links This page was last edited on 19 October 2017, at 22 : 03. 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Question: is the governor of west virginia a democrat or republican
Answer: Republican