# List of governors of Maryland

The governor of Maryland is the head of government of the U.S. state of Maryland and is the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and the constitutional powers of Maryland's governors make them among the most powerful governors in the United States.
The current governor is Democrat Wes Moore, who took office on January 18, 2023.

## Governors

Maryland was one of the original Thirteen Colonies and was admitted as a state on April 28, 1788. Before it declared its independence, Maryland was a colony of the Kingdom of Great Britain.
Under the constitution of 1776, governors were appointed by the General Assembly legislature to one-year terms. They could be reelected for two additional terms, though they must take four years off after leaving office. An 1838 constitutional amendment allowed for popular election of governors to three-year terms, though they could not succeed themselves. The 1851 constitution removed the term limit, and lengthened terms to four years, to commence on the second Wednesday of January following the election. Governors were limited to two consecutive terms beginning in 1948.
The office of lieutenant governor was created in 1864, abolished in 1867, and recreated in 1970. The lieutenant governor succeeds to the office of governor should it become vacant. In the original constitution, the first named of the Governor's Council would act as governor if it were vacant, until a new governor was selected; this was changed to the secretary of state in 1837. The 1867 constitution originally called for the General Assembly to immediately elect a new governor; if they were not in session, the president of the Senate would act as governor until one was elected.
Governors of the State of Maryland :
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | Lt. Governor |
| 1 | Thomas Johnson (1732–1819) | March 21, 1777 – November 12, 1779 (did not run) | No party | 1777 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 1 | Thomas Johnson (1732–1819) | March 21, 1777 – November 12, 1779 (did not run) | No party | 1778 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 2 | Thomas Sim Lee (1745–1819) | November 12, 1779 – November 22, 1782 (term-limited) | No party | 1779 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 2 | Thomas Sim Lee (1745–1819) | November 12, 1779 – November 22, 1782 (term-limited) | No party | 1780 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 2 | Thomas Sim Lee (1745–1819) | November 12, 1779 – November 22, 1782 (term-limited) | No party | 1781 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 3 | William Paca (1740–1799) | November 22, 1782 – November 26, 1785 (term-limited) | No party | 1782 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 3 | William Paca (1740–1799) | November 22, 1782 – November 26, 1785 (term-limited) | No party | 1783 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 3 | William Paca (1740–1799) | November 22, 1782 – November 26, 1785 (term-limited) | No party | 1784 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 4 | William Smallwood (1732–1792) | November 26, 1785 – November 27, 1788 (term-limited) | No party | 1785 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 4 | William Smallwood (1732–1792) | November 26, 1785 – November 27, 1788 (term-limited) | No party | 1786 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 4 | William Smallwood (1732–1792) | November 26, 1785 – November 27, 1788 (term-limited) | No party | 1787 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 5 | John Eager Howard (1752–1827) | November 27, 1788 – November 14, 1791 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1788 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 5 | John Eager Howard (1752–1827) | November 27, 1788 – November 14, 1791 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1789 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 5 | John Eager Howard (1752–1827) | November 27, 1788 – November 14, 1791 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1790 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 6 | George Plater (1735–1792) | November 14, 1791 – February 10, 1792 (died in office) | Federalist | 1791 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| — | James Brice (1746–1801) | February 10, 1792 – April 5, 1792 (successor took office) | Federalist | Senior council member acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 2 | Thomas Sim Lee (1745–1819) | April 5, 1792 – November 17, 1794 (did not run) | Federalist | 1792 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 2 | Thomas Sim Lee (1745–1819) | April 5, 1792 – November 17, 1794 (did not run) | Federalist | 1793 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 7 | John Hoskins Stone (1749–1804) | November 17, 1794 – November 28, 1797 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1794 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 7 | John Hoskins Stone (1749–1804) | November 17, 1794 – November 28, 1797 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1795 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 7 | John Hoskins Stone (1749–1804) | November 17, 1794 – November 28, 1797 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1796 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 8 | John Henry (1750–1798) | November 28, 1797 – November 14, 1798 (did not run) | Federalist | 1797 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 9 | Benjamin Ogle (1749–1809) | November 14, 1798 – November 10, 1801 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1798 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 9 | Benjamin Ogle (1749–1809) | November 14, 1798 – November 10, 1801 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1799 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 9 | Benjamin Ogle (1749–1809) | November 14, 1798 – November 10, 1801 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1800 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 10 | John Francis Mercer (1759–1821) | November 10, 1801 – November 13, 1803 (did not run) | Democratic- Republican | 1801 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 10 | John Francis Mercer (1759–1821) | November 10, 1801 – November 13, 1803 (did not run) | Democratic- Republican | 1802 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 11 | Robert Bowie (1750–1818) | November 15, 1803 – November 12, 1806 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1803 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 11 | Robert Bowie (1750–1818) | November 15, 1803 – November 12, 1806 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1804 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 11 | Robert Bowie (1750–1818) | November 15, 1803 – November 12, 1806 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1805 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 12 | Robert Wright (1752–1826) | November 12, 1806 – May 6, 1809 (resigned) | Democratic- Republican | 1806 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 12 | Robert Wright (1752–1826) | November 12, 1806 – May 6, 1809 (resigned) | Democratic- Republican | 1807 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 12 | Robert Wright (1752–1826) | November 12, 1806 – May 6, 1809 (resigned) | Democratic- Republican | 1808 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| — | James Butcher | May 6, 1809 – June 9, 1809 (successor took office) | Democratic- Republican | Senior council member acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 13 | Edward Lloyd (1779–1834) | June 9, 1809 – November 16, 1811 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | June 1809 (special) | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 13 | Edward Lloyd (1779–1834) | June 9, 1809 – November 16, 1811 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | Nov. 1809 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 13 | Edward Lloyd (1779–1834) | June 9, 1809 – November 16, 1811 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1810 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 11 | Robert Bowie (1750–1818) | November 16, 1811 – November 23, 1812 (lost election) | Democratic- Republican | 1811 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 14 | Levin Winder (1757–1819) | November 23, 1812 – January 2, 1816 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1812 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 14 | Levin Winder (1757–1819) | November 23, 1812 – January 2, 1816 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1813 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 14 | Levin Winder (1757–1819) | November 23, 1812 – January 2, 1816 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1814 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 15 | Charles Carnan Ridgely (1760–1829) | January 2, 1816 – January 8, 1819 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1815 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 15 | Charles Carnan Ridgely (1760–1829) | January 2, 1816 – January 8, 1819 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1816 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 15 | Charles Carnan Ridgely (1760–1829) | January 2, 1816 – January 8, 1819 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1817 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 16 | Charles Goldsborough (1765–1834) | January 8, 1819 – December 20, 1819 (lost election) | Federalist | 1818 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 17 | Samuel Sprigg (1783–1855) | December 20, 1819 – December 16, 1822 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1819 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 17 | Samuel Sprigg (1783–1855) | December 20, 1819 – December 16, 1822 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1820 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 17 | Samuel Sprigg (1783–1855) | December 20, 1819 – December 16, 1822 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1821 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 18 | Samuel Stevens Jr. (1778–1860) | December 16, 1822 – January 9, 1826 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1822 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 18 | Samuel Stevens Jr. (1778–1860) | December 16, 1822 – January 9, 1826 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1823 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 18 | Samuel Stevens Jr. (1778–1860) | December 16, 1822 – January 9, 1826 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1824 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 19 | Joseph Kent (1779–1837) | January 9, 1826 – January 15, 1829 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1826 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 19 | Joseph Kent (1779–1837) | January 9, 1826 – January 15, 1829 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1827 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 19 | Joseph Kent (1779–1837) | January 9, 1826 – January 15, 1829 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1828 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 20 | Daniel Martin (1780–1831) | January 15, 1829 – January 15, 1830 (lost election) | Anti-Jacksonian | 1829 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 21 | Thomas King Carroll (1793–1873) | January 15, 1830 – January 13, 1831 (lost election) | Jacksonian | 1830 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 20 | Daniel Martin (1780–1831) | January 13, 1831 – July 11, 1831 (died in office) | Anti-Jacksonian | 1831 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 22 | George Howard (1789–1846) | July 11, 1831 – January 17, 1833 (did not run) | Anti-Jacksonian | Senior council member acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 22 | George Howard (1789–1846) | July 11, 1831 – January 17, 1833 (did not run) | Anti-Jacksonian | 1832 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 23 | James Thomas (1785–1845) | January 17, 1833 – January 14, 1836 (term-limited) | Anti-Jacksonian | 1833 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 23 | James Thomas (1785–1845) | January 17, 1833 – January 14, 1836 (term-limited) | Anti-Jacksonian | 1834 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 23 | James Thomas (1785–1845) | January 17, 1833 – January 14, 1836 (term-limited) | Anti-Jacksonian | 1835 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 24 | Thomas Veazey (1774–1842) | January 14, 1836 – January 7, 1839 (term-limited) | Whig | 1836 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 24 | Thomas Veazey (1774–1842) | January 14, 1836 – January 7, 1839 (term-limited) | Whig | 1837 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 24 | Thomas Veazey (1774–1842) | January 14, 1836 – January 7, 1839 (term-limited) | Whig | Jan. 1838 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 25 | William Grason (1788–1868) | January 7, 1839 – January 3, 1842 (term-limited) | Democratic | Oct. 1838 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 26 | Francis Thomas (1799–1876) | January 3, 1842 – January 6, 1845 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1841 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 27 | Thomas Pratt (1804–1869) | January 6, 1845 – January 3, 1848 (term-limited) | Whig | 1844 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 28 | Philip Francis Thomas (1810–1890) | January 3, 1848 – January 6, 1851 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1847 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 29 | Enoch Louis Lowe (1820–1892) | January 6, 1851 – January 11, 1854 (did not run) | Democratic | 1850 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 30 | Thomas Watkins Ligon (1810–1881) | January 11, 1854 – January 13, 1858 (did not run) | Democratic | 1853 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 31 | Thomas Holliday Hicks (1798–1865) | January 13, 1858 – January 8, 1862 (did not run) | American | 1857 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 32 | Augustus Bradford (1806–1881) | January 8, 1862 – January 10, 1866 (did not run) | Union | 1861 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 33 | Thomas Swann (1809–1883) | January 10, 1866 – January 13, 1869 (did not run) | Union | 1864 | | Christopher Christian Cox |
| 34 | Oden Bowie (1826–1894) | January 13, 1869 – January 10, 1872 (did not run) | Democratic | 1867 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 35 | William Pinkney Whyte (1824–1908) | January 10, 1872 – March 4, 1874 (resigned) | Democratic | 1871 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 36 | James Black Groome (1838–1893) | March 4, 1874 – January 12, 1876 (did not run) | Democratic | Elected governor by legislature | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 37 | John Lee Carroll (1830–1911) | January 12, 1876 – January 14, 1880 (did not run) | Democratic | 1875 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 38 | William Thomas Hamilton (1820–1888) | January 14, 1880 – January 9, 1884 (did not run) | Democratic | 1879 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 39 | Robert Milligan McLane (1815–1898) | January 9, 1884 – March 27, 1885 (resigned) | Democratic | 1883 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 40 | Henry Lloyd (1852–1920) | March 27, 1885 – January 11, 1888 (did not run) | Democratic | President of the Senate acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 41 | Elihu Emory Jackson (1837–1907) | January 11, 1888 – January 13, 1892 (did not run) | Democratic | 1887 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 42 | Frank Brown (1846–1920) | January 13, 1892 – January 8, 1896 (did not run) | Democratic | 1891 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 43 | Lloyd Lowndes Jr. (1845–1905) | January 8, 1896 – January 10, 1900 (lost election) | Republican | 1895 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 44 | John Walter Smith (1845–1925) | January 10, 1900 – January 13, 1904 (did not run) | Democratic | 1899 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 45 | Edwin Warfield (1848–1920) | January 13, 1904 – January 8, 1908 (did not run) | Democratic | 1903 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 46 | Austin Lane Crothers (1860–1912) | January 8, 1908 – January 10, 1912 (did not run) | Democratic | 1907 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 47 | Phillips Lee Goldsborough (1865–1946) | January 10, 1912 – January 12, 1916 (did not run) | Republican | 1911 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 48 | Emerson Harrington (1864–1945) | January 12, 1916 – January 14, 1920 (did not run) | Democratic | 1915 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 49 | Albert Ritchie (1876–1936) | January 14, 1920 – January 9, 1935 (lost election) | Democratic | 1919 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 49 | Albert Ritchie (1876–1936) | January 14, 1920 – January 9, 1935 (lost election) | Democratic | 1923 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 49 | Albert Ritchie (1876–1936) | January 14, 1920 – January 9, 1935 (lost election) | Democratic | 1926 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 49 | Albert Ritchie (1876–1936) | January 14, 1920 – January 9, 1935 (lost election) | Democratic | 1930 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 50 | Harry Nice (1877–1941) | January 9, 1935 – January 11, 1939 (lost election) | Republican | 1934 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 51 | Herbert O'Conor (1896–1960) | January 11, 1939 – January 3, 1947 (resigned) | Democratic | 1938 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 51 | Herbert O'Conor (1896–1960) | January 11, 1939 – January 3, 1947 (resigned) | Democratic | 1942 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 52 | William Preston Lane Jr. (1892–1967) | January 3, 1947 – January 10, 1951 (lost election) | Democratic | Elected by legislature | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 52 | William Preston Lane Jr. (1892–1967) | January 3, 1947 – January 10, 1951 (lost election) | Democratic | 1946 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 53 | Theodore McKeldin (1900–1974) | January 10, 1951 – January 14, 1959 (term-limited) | Republican | 1950 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 53 | Theodore McKeldin (1900–1974) | January 10, 1951 – January 14, 1959 (term-limited) | Republican | 1954 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 54 | J. Millard Tawes (1894–1979) | January 14, 1959 – January 25, 1967 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1958 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 54 | J. Millard Tawes (1894–1979) | January 14, 1959 – January 25, 1967 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1962 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 55 | Spiro Agnew (1918–1996) | January 25, 1967 – January 7, 1969 (resigned) | Republican | 1966 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 56 | Marvin Mandel (1920–2015) | January 7, 1969 – January 17, 1979 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1969 (special) | | Blair Lee III |
| 56 | Marvin Mandel (1920–2015) | January 7, 1969 – January 17, 1979 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1970 | | Blair Lee III |
| 56 | Marvin Mandel (1920–2015) | January 7, 1969 – January 17, 1979 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1974 | | Blair Lee III |
| — | Blair Lee III (1916–1985) | June 4, 1977 – January 15, 1979 (did not run) | Democratic | Lieutenant governor acting | | Acting as governor |
| 57 | Harry Hughes (1926–2019) | January 17, 1979 – January 21, 1987 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1978 | | Samuel Bogley |
| 57 | Harry Hughes (1926–2019) | January 17, 1979 – January 21, 1987 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1982 | | J. Joseph Curran Jr. |
| 58 | William Donald Schaefer (1921–2011) | January 21, 1987 – January 18, 1995 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1986 | | Melvin Steinberg |
| 58 | William Donald Schaefer (1921–2011) | January 21, 1987 – January 18, 1995 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1990 | | Melvin Steinberg |
| 59 | Parris Glendening (b. 1942) | January 18, 1995 – January 15, 2003 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1994 | | Kathleen Kennedy Townsend |
| 59 | Parris Glendening (b. 1942) | January 18, 1995 – January 15, 2003 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1998 | | Kathleen Kennedy Townsend |
| 60 | Bob Ehrlich (b. 1957) | January 15, 2003 – January 17, 2007 (lost election) | Republican | 2002 | | Michael Steele |
| 61 | Martin O'Malley (b. 1963) | January 17, 2007 – January 21, 2015 (term-limited) | Democratic | 2006 | | Anthony Brown |
| 61 | Martin O'Malley (b. 1963) | January 17, 2007 – January 21, 2015 (term-limited) | Democratic | 2010 | | Anthony Brown |
| 62 | Larry Hogan (b. 1956) | January 21, 2015 – January 18, 2023 (term-limited) | Republican | 2014 | | Boyd Rutherford |
| 62 | Larry Hogan (b. 1956) | January 21, 2015 – January 18, 2023 (term-limited) | Republican | 2018 | | Boyd Rutherford |
| 63 | Wes Moore (b. 1978) | January 18, 2023 – Incumbent | Democratic | 2022 | | Aruna Miller |