# List of governors of North Dakota

The governor of North Dakota is the head of government of the U.S. state of North Dakota. The governor is the head of the executive branch of North Dakota's state government and is charged with enforcing state laws.
There have been 32 governors since North Dakota became a state, serving 33 distinct terms, with William Langer having been elected to multiple terms. The current officeholder is Republican Kelly Armstrong.

## Governors

Dakota Territory was organized on March 2, 1861; on November 2, 1889, it was split into the states of North Dakota and South Dakota.
The Constitution of North Dakota originally provided for the election of a governor and lieutenant governor every two years, which was changed to four years in 1964. A limit of two terms was added in 2023. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected together on a ticket, and should the office of governor become vacant, the lieutenant governor becomes governor. The term of office begins on the December 15 following the election.
Governors of the State of North Dakota :
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | Lt. Governor | Lt. Governor |
| 1 | John Miller (1843–1908) | November 20, 1889 – January 7, 1891 (did not run) | Republican | 1889 | | | Alfred Dickey |
| 2 | Andrew H. Burke (1850–1918) | January 7, 1891 – January 4, 1893 (lost election) | Republican | 1890 | | | Roger Allin |
| 3 | Eli C. D. Shortridge (1830–1908) | January 4, 1893 – January 9, 1895 (did not run) | Populist | 1892 | | | Elmer D. Wallace |
| 4 | Roger Allin (1848–1936) | January 9, 1895 – January 7, 1897 (lost nomination) | Republican | 1894 | | | John H. Worst |
| 5 | Frank A. Briggs (1858–1898) | January 7, 1897 – August 9, 1898 (died in office) | Republican | 1896 | | | Joseph M. Devine |
| 6 | Joseph M. Devine (1861–1938) | August 9, 1898 – January 3, 1899 (did not run) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant |
| 7 | Frederick B. Fancher (1852–1944) | January 3, 1899 – January 7, 1901 (withdrew) | Republican | 1898 | | | Joseph M. Devine |
| 8 | Frank White (1856–1940) | January 7, 1901 – January 4, 1905 (did not run) | Republican | 1900 | | | David Bartlett |
| 8 | Frank White (1856–1940) | January 7, 1901 – January 4, 1905 (did not run) | Republican | 1902 | | | David Bartlett |
| 9 | Elmore Y. Sarles (1859–1929) | January 4, 1905 – January 9, 1907 (lost election) | Republican | 1904 | | | David Bartlett |
| 10 | John Burke (1859–1937) | January 9, 1907 – January 8, 1913 (did not run) | Democratic | 1906 | | | Robert S. Lewis |
| 10 | John Burke (1859–1937) | January 9, 1907 – January 8, 1913 (did not run) | Democratic | 1908 | | | Robert S. Lewis |
| 10 | John Burke (1859–1937) | January 9, 1907 – January 8, 1913 (did not run) | Democratic | 1910 | | | Usher L. Burdick |
| 11 | L. B. Hanna (1861–1948) | January 8, 1913 – January 3, 1917 (did not run) | Republican | 1912 | | | Anton Kraabel |
| 11 | L. B. Hanna (1861–1948) | January 8, 1913 – January 3, 1917 (did not run) | Republican | 1914 | | | John H. Fraine |
| 12 | Lynn Frazier (1874–1947) | January 3, 1917 – November 23, 1921 (recalled) | Republican/ Nonpartisan League | 1916 | | | Anton Kraabel |
| 12 | Lynn Frazier (1874–1947) | January 3, 1917 – November 23, 1921 (recalled) | Republican/ Nonpartisan League | 1918 | | | Howard R. Wood |
| 12 | Lynn Frazier (1874–1947) | January 3, 1917 – November 23, 1921 (recalled) | Republican/ Nonpartisan League | 1920 | | | Howard R. Wood |
| 13 | Ragnvald Nestos (1877–1942) | November 23, 1921 – January 7, 1925 (lost nomination) | Republican/ Independent Voters | 1921 (recall) | | | Howard R. Wood |
| 13 | Ragnvald Nestos (1877–1942) | November 23, 1921 – January 7, 1925 (lost nomination) | Republican/ Independent Voters | 1922 | | | Frank H. Hyland |
| 14 | Arthur G. Sorlie (1874–1928) | January 7, 1925 – August 28, 1928 (died in office) | Republican/ Nonpartisan League | 1924 | | | Walter Maddock |
| 14 | Arthur G. Sorlie (1874–1928) | January 7, 1925 – August 28, 1928 (died in office) | Republican/ Nonpartisan League | 1926 | | | Walter Maddock |
| 15 | Walter Maddock (1880–1951) | August 28, 1928 – January 9, 1929 (lost election) | Republican/ Nonpartisan League | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant |
| 16 | George F. Shafer (1888–1948) | January 9, 1929 – January 4, 1933 (did not run) | Republican/ Independent Voters | 1928 | | | John W. Carr |
| 16 | George F. Shafer (1888–1948) | January 9, 1929 – January 4, 1933 (did not run) | Republican/ Independent Voters | 1930 | | | John W. Carr |
| 17 | William Langer (1886–1959) | January 4, 1933 – July 19, 1934 (removed) | Republican/ Nonpartisan League | 1932 | | | Ole H. Olson |
| 18 | Ole H. Olson (1872–1954) | July 19, 1934 – January 7, 1935 (did not run) | Republican/ Nonpartisan League | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant |
| 19 | Thomas H. Moodie (1878–1948) | January 7, 1935 – February 2, 1935 (removed) | Democratic | 1934 | | | Walter Welford |
| 20 | Walter Welford (1868–1952) | February 2, 1935 – January 6, 1937 (lost election) | Republican/ Nonpartisan League | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant |
| 21 | William Langer (1886–1959) | January 6, 1937 – January 2, 1939 (did not run) | Independent | 1936 | | | Thorstein H. H. Thoresen |
| 22 | John Moses (1885–1945) | January 2, 1939 – January 2, 1945 (did not run) | Democratic | 1938 | | | Jack A. Patterson |
| 22 | John Moses (1885–1945) | January 2, 1939 – January 2, 1945 (did not run) | Democratic | 1940 | | | Oscar W. Hagen |
| 22 | John Moses (1885–1945) | January 2, 1939 – January 2, 1945 (did not run) | Democratic | 1942 | | | Henry Holt |
| 23 | Fred G. Aandahl (1897–1966) | January 2, 1945 – January 3, 1951 (did not run) | Republican | 1944 | | | Clarence P. Dahl |
| 23 | Fred G. Aandahl (1897–1966) | January 2, 1945 – January 3, 1951 (did not run) | Republican | 1946 | | | Clarence P. Dahl |
| 23 | Fred G. Aandahl (1897–1966) | January 2, 1945 – January 3, 1951 (did not run) | Republican | 1948 | | | Clarence P. Dahl |
| 24 | Norman Brunsdale (1891–1978) | January 3, 1951 – January 7, 1957 (did not run) | Republican | 1950 | | | Ray Schnell |
| 24 | Norman Brunsdale (1891–1978) | January 3, 1951 – January 7, 1957 (did not run) | Republican | 1952 | | | Clarence P. Dahl |
| 24 | Norman Brunsdale (1891–1978) | January 3, 1951 – January 7, 1957 (did not run) | Republican | 1954 | | | Clarence P. Dahl |
| 25 | John E. Davis (1913–1990) | January 7, 1957 – January 3, 1961 (did not run) | Republican | 1956 | | | Francis Clyde Duffy |
| 25 | John E. Davis (1913–1990) | January 7, 1957 – January 3, 1961 (did not run) | Republican | 1958 | | | Clarence P. Dahl |
| 26 | William L. Guy (1919–2013) | January 3, 1961 – January 2, 1973 (did not run) | Democratic– Nonpartisan League | 1960 | | | Orville W. Hagen |
| 26 | William L. Guy (1919–2013) | January 3, 1961 – January 2, 1973 (did not run) | Democratic– Nonpartisan League | 1962 | | | Frank A. Wenstrom |
| 26 | William L. Guy (1919–2013) | January 3, 1961 – January 2, 1973 (did not run) | Democratic– Nonpartisan League | 1964 | | | Charles Tighe |
| 26 | William L. Guy (1919–2013) | January 3, 1961 – January 2, 1973 (did not run) | Democratic– Nonpartisan League | 1968 | | | Richard F. Larsen |
| 27 | Arthur A. Link (1914–2010) | January 2, 1973 – January 6, 1981 (lost election) | Democratic– Nonpartisan League | 1972 | | | Wayne Sanstead |
| 27 | Arthur A. Link (1914–2010) | January 2, 1973 – January 6, 1981 (lost election) | Democratic– Nonpartisan League | 1976 | | | Wayne Sanstead |
| 28 | Allen I. Olson (b. 1938) | January 6, 1981 – December 31, 1984 (lost election) | Republican | 1980 | | | Ernest Sands |
| 29 | George A. Sinner (1928–2018) | January 1, 1985 – December 15, 1992 (did not run) | Democratic– Nonpartisan League | 1984 | | | Ruth Meiers |
| 29 | George A. Sinner (1928–2018) | January 1, 1985 – December 15, 1992 (did not run) | Democratic– Nonpartisan League | 1988 | | | Lloyd Omdahl |
| 30 | Ed Schafer (b. 1946) | December 15, 1992 – December 15, 2000 (did not run) | Republican | 1992 | | | Rosemarie Myrdal |
| 30 | Ed Schafer (b. 1946) | December 15, 1992 – December 15, 2000 (did not run) | Republican | 1996 | | | Rosemarie Myrdal |
| 31 | John Hoeven (b. 1957) | December 15, 2000 – December 7, 2010 (resigned) | Republican | 2000 | | | Jack Dalrymple |
| 31 | John Hoeven (b. 1957) | December 15, 2000 – December 7, 2010 (resigned) | Republican | 2004 | | | Jack Dalrymple |
| 31 | John Hoeven (b. 1957) | December 15, 2000 – December 7, 2010 (resigned) | Republican | 2008 | | | Jack Dalrymple |
| 32 | Jack Dalrymple (b. 1948) | December 7, 2010 – December 15, 2016 (did not run) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | | | Drew Wrigley |
| 32 | Jack Dalrymple (b. 1948) | December 7, 2010 – December 15, 2016 (did not run) | Republican | 2012 | | | Drew Wrigley |
| 33 | Doug Burgum (b. 1956) | December 15, 2016 – December 15, 2024 (did not run) | Republican | 2016 | | | Brent Sanford |
| 33 | Doug Burgum (b. 1956) | December 15, 2016 – December 15, 2024 (did not run) | Republican | 2020 | | | Brent Sanford |
| 33 | Doug Burgum (b. 1956) | December 15, 2016 – December 15, 2024 (did not run) | Republican | 2020 | | | Tammy Miller |
| 34 | Kelly Armstrong (b. 1976) | December 15, 2024 – Incumbent | Republican | 2024 | | | Michelle Strinden |