# Governor of Tamaulipas

This is a list of governors of Tamaulipas since it became a state of Mexico in 1822, it includes the list of governors of Nuevo Santander (New Santander) the name of the Spanish province in northeast New Spain before the Mexican War of Independence, which included present-day Tamaulipas and South Texas.

## Nuevo Santander

| Name | Term |
| José de Escandón y Helguera | 31 May 1748–8 Apr 1767 |
| Juan Fernando de Palacio | 8 Apr 1767–20 Jan 1768 |
| José Rubio | 20 Jan 1768–18 Sep 1769 |
| Vicente González Santianés | 18 Sep 1769–12 Aug 1777 |
| Francisco de Echegaray | Aug 1777–19 Feb 1779 |
| Vacant | 19 Feb 1779–17 Apr 1779 |
| Manuel Medina | 17 Apr 1779–21 Nov 1779 |
| Vacant | 21 Nov 1779–17 Feb 1780 |
| Manuel Ignacio de Escandón (1st time) | 17 Feb 1780–17 Mar 1781 |
| Diego Lazaga | 17 Mar 1781–20 Feb 1786 |
| Juan Miguel Zozaya (1st time) | 20 Feb 1786–23 Dec 1788 |
| Melchor Vidal de Lorca | 23 Dec 1788–18 Jun 1789 |
| Juan Miguel Zozaya (2nd time) | 20 Jun 1789–10 Sep 1789 |
| Manuel Muñoz | 10 Sep 1789–10 Jul 1790 |
| Manuel Ignacio de Escandón (2nd time) | 10 Jul 1790–21 May 1800 |
| José Blanco | 21 May 1800–Jan 1802 |
| Francisco de Ixart | Jan 1802–18 Apr 1804 |
| Pedro de Alba | 18 Apr 1804–18 Sep 1804 |
| Manuel de Iturbe e Iraeta | 18 Sep 1804–15 Apr 1811 |
| Joaquín de Arredondo | 15 Apr 1811–1 May 1819 |
| Juan Fermín de Janicotena | Sep 1811–Sep 1812 |
| José María Echeagaray | 1 May 1819–7 Jul 1821 |
| Felipe de la Garza Cisneros | 7 Jul 1821–22 Sep 1822 |

## State of Tamaulipas

The Governor is elected to a six-year term and may only hold the title once. This term begins on February 5 of the year before a presidential election and finishes on February 4 after a period of six years.
To be a candidate for Governor, one must be a Mexican citizen by birth, at least 30 years of age, and a native or resident of Tamaulipas for at least 5 years prior to the election.

### Independence to Revolution

| Name | Term |
| Don Pedro José de Lanuza | September 26, 1822 – November 28, 1822 |
| Juan de Echeandía | November 28, 1822 – April 13, 1823 |
| José Antonio Flores | April 21, 1823 – May 17, 1823 |
| Jose Manuel Zozaya | May 17, 1823 – September 8, 1823 |
| José Lino Perea | September 8, 1823 – September 23, 1823 |
| Juan Francisco Gutierrez | September 23, 1823 – October 20, 1823 |
| José Lino Perea | October 20, 1823 – October 28, 1823 |
| Juan Francisco Gutierrez | October 28, 1823 – April 9, 1824 |
| José Lino Perea | April 9, 1824 – April 18, 1824 |
| Juan Francisco Gutierrez | April 18, 1824 – July 18, 1824 |
| José Bernardo Maximiliano Gutiérrez de Lara | July 19, 1824 – July 28, 1824 |
| Enrique Camilo Suarez | July 28, 1824 – October 2, 1824 |
| José Bernardo Maximiliano Gutiérrez de Lara | October 2, 1824 – March 4, 1825 |
| Enrique Camilo Suarez | March 4, 1825 – January 15, 1826 |
| Lucas Fernandez | January 15, 1826 – June 10, 1828 |
| Enrique Camilo Suarez | June 10, 1828 – October 1, 1828 |
| Lucas Fernandez | October 1, 1828 – October 1, 1829 |
| José Antonio Fernández Izaguirre | October 1, 1829 – December 27, 1829 |
| Francisco Vital Fernandez | December 27, 1829 – January 13, 1830 |
| Enrique Camilo Suarez | January 13, 1830 – February 18, 1830 |
| Jose Manuel Zozaya | February 18, 1830 – April 5, 1830 |
| Enrique Camilo Suarez | April 5, 1830 – April 20, 1830 |
| Jose Manuel Zozaya | April 20, 1830 – July 7, 1830 |
| Juan Guerra | July 7, 1830 – August 20, 1831 |
| Francisco Vital Fernandez | August 20, 1831 – March 19, 1832 |
| Jose Honorato de la Garza | March 19, 1832 – August 7, 1832 |
| General Francisco Vital Fernandez | August 7, 1832 – March 1, 1833 |
| Juan Nepomuceno Molano | March 1, 1833 – September 4, 1833 |
| Francisco Vital Fernandez | September 4, 1833 – July 16, 1834 |
| Ramon Cardenas | July 16, 1834 – September 17, 1834 |
| Francisco Vital Fernandez | September 17, 1834 – March 20, 1835 |
| José Guadalupe de Samano | March 20, 1835 – April 25, 1835 |
| Francisco Vital Fernandez | April 25, 1835 – September 15, 1835 |
| José Antonio Fernández Izaguirre | September 15, 1835 – August 1, 1836 |
| José Guadalupe de Samano | August 1, 1836 – September 15, 1836 |
| José Antonio Fernández Izaguirre | September 15, 1836 – May 29, 1837 |
| Jose Antonio Quintero | May 29, 1837 – December 11, 1838 |
| José Antonio Fernández Izaguirre | December 11, 1838 – March 24, 1839 |
| Jose Antonio Quintero | March 24, 1839 – June 23, 1841 |
| Jose Antonio Salazar y Boeta | June 23, 1841 – September 19, 1841 |
| General Francisco Vital Fernandez | September 19, 1841 – June 9, 1843 |
| Jose Ignacio Gutierrez | June 9, 1843 – July 10, 1843 |
| Juan Nepomuceno Cortina | July 10, 1843 – August 21, 1843 |
| Jose Ignacio Gutierrez | August 21, 1843 – December 18, 1844 |
| Juan Nepomuceno Cortina | December 18, 1844 – January 18, 1845 |
| Manuel de Saldaña | January 18, 1845 – February 4, 1845 |
| Pedro José de la Garza | February 4, 1845 – July 21, 1845 |
| Victorino T. Canales | July 21, 1845 – November 23, 1845 |
| Juan Martin de la Garza Flores | November 23, 1845 – October 19, 1846 |
| Manuel Núñez Ponce | August 28, 1846-did not take possession |
| Manuel Saldaña | October 19, 1846 – November 10, 1846 |
| Francisco Vital Fernandez | November 10, 1846 – September 18, 1848 |
| Eleno de Vargas | July 26, 1847 – August 16, 1847 |
| Jesús de Cárdenas | September 18, 1848 – August 17, 1851 |
| Antonio Canales Rosillo | August 17, 1851 – September 30, 1851 |
| Jesús de Cárdenas | September 30, 1851 – November 19, 1852 |
| Juan José de la Garza Cisneros | November 19, 1852 – December 21, 1852 |
| Ramon Prieto | December 21, 1852 – January 13, 1853 |
| Rafael Chovel | January 13, 1853 – March 20, 1853 |
| Juan Francisco Villasana | March 20, 1853 – May 2, 1853 |
| Adrian Woll | May 2, 1853 – January 28, 1855 |
| Romulo Diaz de la Vega | January 28, 1855 – April 4, 1855 |
| Adrian Woll | April 4, 1855 – September 8, 1855 |
| Juan José de la Garza Cisneros | September 30, 1855 – May 9, 1856 |
| Ramon Guerra | May 9, 1856 – August 9, 1856 |
| José de la Garza Cisneros | August 9, 1856 – February 19, 1857 |
| Tomás Moreno | February 19, 1857 – August 1, 1857 |
| Andrés José de Cos | August 1, 1857 – August 27, 1857 |
| Juan Fernández Flores | August 27, 1857 – October 19, 1857 |
| Juan José de la Garza Cisneros | October 19, 1857 – January 7, 1858 |
| Ramón Guerra | January 7, 1857 – January 17, 1858 |
| Juan José de la Garza Cisneros | January 17, 1858 – March 12, 1858 |
| Ramon Guerra | March 12, 1858 – July 30, 1858 |
| Juan José de la Garza Cisneros | July 30, 1858 – February 26, 1859 |
| Andrés Treviño | February 26, 1859 – January 13, 1860 |
| Juan José de la Garza | April 16, 1860 – August 1, 1861 |
| Manuel Saavedra | November 26, 1860 – February 9, 1861 |
| Modesto Ortíz | August 1, 1861 – September 1, 1861 |
| Jesús de la Serna | September 1, 1861 – January 30, 1862 |
| Ignacio Comonfort | January 30, 1862 – August 9, 1862 |
| Albino López | August 9, 1862 – September 15, 1862 |
| Juan B. Troconis | September 15, 1862 – October 23, 1862 |
| Albino López | October 23, 1862 – August 1, 1863 |
| Manuel Ruíz | August 1, 1863 – November 5, 1863 |
| Jesús de la Serna | November 5, 1863 – January 1, 1864 |
| Manuel Ruíz | January 1, 1864 – January 12, 1864 |
| Juan Nepomuceno Cortina | January 12, 1864 – September 26, 1864 |
| Jose Maria Carvajal | September 26, 1864 – April 15, 1865 |
| Francisco de León | April 1865-December 1865 |
| Juan Nepomuceno Cortina | March 1865-late 1866 |
| Jose Maria Carvajal | March 4, 1866 – August 20, 1866 |
| Servando Canales Molano | August 20, 1866 – August 31, 1866 |
| Santiago Tapia | August 31, 1866 – November 3, 1866 |
| Felipe Berriozábal (Northern District) | September 30, 1866 – September 1, 1867 |
| Ascensión Gómez (Central District) | September 30, 1866-March 1867 |
| Francisco de León (Central District) | March 6, 1867 – June 27, 1867 |
| Felipe Escandón (Central District) | June 27, 1867 – July 5, 1867 |
| Juan de Haro | September 30, 1866 – April 3, 1867 |
| Desiderio Pavón | August 14, 1867 – April 16, 1868 |
| Francisco L. Saldaña | April 16, 1868 – July 31, 1868 |
| Juan José de la Garza Cisneros | August 1, 1868 – December 1, 1869 |
| Francisco L. Saldaña | December 1, 1869 – August 30, 1870 |
| Servando Canales Molano | September 1, 1870 – June 1, 1872 |
| Ramón Guerra | June 1, 1872 – August 5, 1872 |
| Servando Canales Molano | August 5, 1872 – September 10, 1874 |
| Francisco Echartea | September 10, 1874 – June 1, 1875 |
| Servando Canales Molano | June 1, 1875 – September 6, 1875 |
| Francisco Echartea | September 25, 1875 – April 20, 1876 |
| Servando Canales Molano | April 20, 1876 – November 6, 1876 |
| José Martínez | October 17, 1865 – October 28, 1876 |
| Gómez Ascensión Mansilla | November 6, 1876 – January 13, 1877 |
| Juan Gojón | January 13, 1877 – February 6, 1877 |
| Francisco Echartea | February 6, 1877 – November 22, 1877 |
| Juan Gójon | November 22, 1877 – October 16, 1878 |
| Francisco Echartea | October 16, 1878 – April 10, 1879 |
| Juan Gójon | April 11, 1879 – May 12, 1880 |
| Antonio Canales Molano | May 12, 1880 – May 3, 1884 |
| Juan Gójon | January 18, 1884 – March 12, 1884 |
| Romulo Cuellar | May 4, 1884 – May 3, 1888 |
| Alejandro Prieto Quintero | May 4, 1888 – May 3, 1896 |
| José Guadalupe Mainero Juárez | May 4, 1896 – July 31, 1901 |
| Alejandro Prieto Quintero | July 31, 1901 – August 10, 1901 |
| Matías Guerra | August 10, 1901 – September 30, 1901 |
| Pedro Argüelles | October 1, 1901 – March 3, 1908 |
| Juan B. Castelló | March 4, 1908 – June 1, 1911 |
| Espiridión Espiridión | June 1, 1911 – November 30, 1911 |
| Matías Guerra | November 30, 1911 – February 4, 1912 |
| Joaquin Argüelles | February 5, 1912 – May 5, 1912 |
| Matías Guerra | May 5, 1912 – January 12, 1913 |
| José C. Mainero | January 12, 1913 – January 30, 1913 |
| Joaquín Argüelles | June 28, 1913 – July 24, 1913 |
| Antonio Rabago | July 24, 1913 – November 18, 1913 |
| Ignacio Zaragoza Morelos | November 19, 1913 – May 14, 1914 |
| Luis Caballero Vargas | November 18, 1913 – July 26, 1916 |
| Gonzalo Castro | October 15, 1914 – October 20, 1914 |
| Máximo García | April 16, 1915 – June 9, 1915 |
| Raúl Garate Legleú | October 7, 1915 – November 24, 1915 |
| Raúl Garate Legleú | March 1916-June 1916 |
| Flores Trejo Fidencio | July 26, 1916 – February 22, 1917 |

### Constitution of 1917

| Name | Party | Term | Notes: |
| Américo Villarreal Anaya | MORENA | 2022–present | |
| Francisco García Cabeza de Vaca | PAN | 2016–2022 | First governor not affiliated with the PRI, since 1933. |
| Egidio Torre Cantú | PRI | 2011–2016 | |
| Eugenio Hernández Flores | PRI | 2005–2011 | Fugitive pursued by United States Department of Justice for an alleged money laundering done in association with his brother-in-law Gomez Guerra. |
| Tomás Yarrington | PRI | 1999–2005 | Yarrington pled guilty of money laundering and accepting bribes as governor on March 26, 2021. Ten other charges, related to drug trafficking, were dismissed. Yarrington can be sentenced to between eight and eleven years in prison, and his condominium in Puerto Isabel, Texas, was seized. |
| Manuel Cavazos Lerma | PRI | (1993–1999) | |
| Américo Villarreal Guerra | PRI | (1987–1993) | |
| Emilio Martínez Manautou | PRI | (1981–1987) | |
| Enrique Cárdenas González | PRI | (1975–1981) | |
| Manuel A. Rabize | PRI | (1969–1975) | |
| Praxedis Balboa | PRI | (1963–1969) | |
| Norberto Treviño Zapata | PRI | (1957–1963) | |
| Horacio Terán | PRI | (1951–1957) | |
| Raúl Garate | PRI | (1947–1951) | |
| Hugo Pedrero González | Party of the Mexican Revolution, PRM | (1945–1947) | |
| Magdaleno Aguilar | PRM | (1941–1945) | |
| Marte R. Gómez | National Revolutionary Party, PNR | (1937–1941) | |
| Enrique Canseco | PNR | (1935–1937) | |
| Aniceto Villanueva | PNR | (1935) | |
| Loreto Garza | PNR | (1935) | |
| Ramón Rocha | PNR | (1934–1935) | |
| Albino Hernández | PNR | (1933) | |
| Rafael Villarreal | PNR | (1933–1935) | |
| Zeferino Fajardo | PNR | (1929–1933) | |
| Baudelio Villanueva | PNR | (1929) | |
| Francisco Castellanos | PNR | (1929–1933) | |
| Juan Rincón | | (1928–1929) | |
| Benito Juárez Ochoa | | (1927) | |
| Emilio Portes Gil | | (1925–1929) | President of Mexico, 1928-1930 |
| Gregorio Garza Salinas | | (1924–1925) | |
| Candelario Garza | | (1924) | |
| Pelayo Quintana | | (1924) | |
| Benecio López Padilla | | (1923–1924) | |
| Juan Manuel Ramírez | | (1922–1923) | |
| José F. Montesinos | | (1922) | |
| César López Lara | | (1921–1923) | |
| José Morante | | (1920–1921) | |
| Federico Martínez Rojas | | (1920) | |
| Emilio Portes Gil | | (1920) | |
| Rafael Cárdenas | | (1920) | |
| Francisco González Villarreal | | (1919–1920) | |
| Andrés Osuna | | (1918–1919) | |
| Alfredo Ricaut | | (1917–1918) | |
| Luis Ilizaliturri | | (1917) | |
| Gregorio Osuna | | (1917) | |