# List of governors of Mississippi

The governor of Mississippi is the head of government of Mississippi 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 Mississippi Legislature, to convene the legislature at any time, and, except in cases of treason or impeachment, to grant pardons and reprieves.
To be elected governor, a person must be at least 30 years old, and must have been a citizen of the United States for twenty years and a resident of Mississippi for at least five years at the time of inauguration. The Constitution of Mississippi, ratified in 1890, calls for a four-year term for the governor, elected via the two-round system since a 2020 referendum. Prior to this, the governor was elected by an electoral college composed of the districts represented in the Mississippi House of Representatives, with a contingent election held in the House in the event no candidate received a majority of district electors. The term length was originally two years, with no limit on how many terms they could serve. The 1832 constitution limited governors to serving no more than four out of every six years. When terms were lengthened to four years in 1868, this limit was removed. The 1890 constitution forbid governors from succeeding themselves, but a 1986 amendment allows them to succeed themselves once. The office of the lieutenant governor was created in the 1817 constitution, abolished in 1832, and recreated in 1868. When the office of governor becomes vacant for any reason, the lieutenant governor exercises the powers of governor for the remainder of the term. The governor and the lieutenant governor are not officially elected on the same ticket.
The current governor is Republican Tate Reeves, who took office January 14, 2020.

## List of governors
### Mississippi Territory

Mississippi Territory was organized on April 7, 1798, from land ceded to the federal government by Georgia. It had four governors appointed by the president of the United States during its 19-year history, including one, David Holmes, who would later serve as state governor.
Governors of Mississippi Territory :
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Appointed by |
| 1 | Winthrop Sargent (1753–1820) | May 7, 1798 – May 25, 1801 (successor appointed) | John Adams |
| 2 | William C. C. Claiborne (d. 1817) | May 25, 1801 – March 2, 1805 (successor appointed) | Thomas Jefferson |
| 3 | Robert Williams (1770–1836) | March 2, 1805 – March 7, 1809 (successor appointed) | Thomas Jefferson |
| 4 | David Holmes (1769–1832) | March 7, 1809 – October 7, 1817 (elected state governor) | James Madison |

### State of Mississippi

Mississippi was admitted to the Union on December 10, 1817. It seceded from the Union on January 9, 1861, and was a founding member of the Confederate States of America on February 4, 1861. During the Reconstruction era following the end of the American Civil War, Mississippi was part of the Fourth Military District, which exerted some control over governor appointments and elections. Mississippi was readmitted to the Union on February 23, 1870.
Governors of the State of Mississippi :
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | Lt. Governor |
| 1 | David Holmes (1769–1832) | October 7, 1817 – January 5, 1820 (did not run) | Democratic- Republican | 1817 | | Duncan Stewart |
| 2 | George Poindexter (1779–1853) | January 5, 1820 – January 7, 1822 (did not run) | Democratic- Republican | 1819 | | James Patton |
| 3 | Walter Leake (1762–1825) | January 7, 1822 – November 17, 1825 (died in office) | Democratic- Republican | 1821 | | David C. Dickson |
| 3 | Walter Leake (1762–1825) | January 7, 1822 – November 17, 1825 (died in office) | Democratic- Republican | 1823 | | Gerard Brandon |
| 4 | Gerard Brandon (1788–1850) | November 17, 1825 – January 7, 1826 (successor took office) | Democratic- Republican | Lieutenant governor acting | | Acting as governor |
| 5 | David Holmes (1769–1832) | January 7, 1826 – July 25, 1826 (resigned) | Democratic- Republican | 1825 | | Gerard Brandon |
| 6 | Gerard Brandon (1788–1850) | July 25, 1826 – January 9, 1832 (did not run) | Democratic- Republican | Lieutenant governor acting | | Acting as governor |
| 6 | Gerard Brandon (1788–1850) | July 25, 1826 – January 9, 1832 (did not run) | Democratic- Republican | 1827 | | Abram M. Scott |
| 6 | Gerard Brandon (1788–1850) | July 25, 1826 – January 9, 1832 (did not run) | Democratic- Republican | 1829 | | Abram M. Scott |
| 7 | Abram M. Scott (1785–1833) | January 9, 1832 – June 12, 1833 (died in office) | National Republican | 1831 | | Fountain Winston (office abolished October 26, 1832) |
| Office did not exist ||
| 8 | Charles Lynch (1783–1853) | June 12, 1833 – November 21, 1833 (successor took office) | Whig | President of the Senate acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 9 | Hiram Runnels (1796–1857) | November 21, 1833 – November 21, 1835 (lost election) | Democratic | 1833 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 10 | John A. Quitman (1798–1858) | December 3, 1835 – January 7, 1836 (successor took office) | Democratic | President of the Senate acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 11 | Charles Lynch (1783–1853) | January 7, 1836 – January 8, 1838 (did not run) | Whig | 1835 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 12 | Alexander G. McNutt (1802–1848) | January 8, 1838 – January 9, 1842 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1837 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 12 | Alexander G. McNutt (1802–1848) | January 8, 1838 – January 9, 1842 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1839 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 13 | Tilghman Tucker (1802–1859) | January 10, 1842 – January 10, 1844 (lost nomination) | Democratic | 1841 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 14 | Albert G. Brown (1813–1880) | January 10, 1844 – January 10, 1848 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1843 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 14 | Albert G. Brown (1813–1880) | January 10, 1844 – January 10, 1848 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1845 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 15 | Joseph W. Matthews (1812–1862) | January 10, 1848 – January 10, 1850 (did not run) | Democratic | 1847 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 16 | John A. Quitman (1798–1858) | January 10, 1850 – February 3, 1851 (resigned) | Democratic | 1849 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 17 | John Isaac Guion (1802–1855) | February 3, 1851 – November 4, 1851 (senate term expired) | Democratic | President of the Senate acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 18 | James Whitfield (1791–1875) | November 25, 1851 – January 10, 1852 (successor took office) | Democratic | President of the Senate acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 19 | Henry S. Foote (1804–1880) | January 10, 1852 – January 5, 1854 (resigned) | Union Democratic | 1851 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 20 | John J. Pettus (1813–1867) | January 5, 1854 – January 10, 1854 (successor took office) | Democratic | President of the Senate acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 21 | John J. McRae (1815–1868) | January 10, 1854 – November 16, 1857 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1853 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 21 | John J. McRae (1815–1868) | January 10, 1854 – November 16, 1857 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1855 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 22 | William McWillie (1795–1869) | November 16, 1857 – November 21, 1859 (did not run) | Democratic | 1857 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 23 | John J. Pettus (1813–1867) | November 21, 1859 – November 16, 1863 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1859 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 23 | John J. Pettus (1813–1867) | November 21, 1859 – November 16, 1863 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1861 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 24 | Charles Clark (1811–1877) | November 16, 1863 – May 22, 1865 (arrested and removed) | Democratic | 1863 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 25 | William L. Sharkey (1798–1873) | June 13, 1865 – October 16, 1865 (successor took office) | Provisional governor appointed by President | Provisional governor appointed by President | | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 26 | Benjamin G. Humphreys (1808–1882) | October 16, 1865 – June 15, 1868 (removed) | Non-partisan | 1865 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 27 | Adelbert Ames (1835–1933) | June 15, 1868 – March 10, 1870 (state readmitted) | Provisional governor appointed by military occupation | Provisional governor appointed by military occupation | | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 28 | James L. Alcorn (1816–1894) | March 10, 1870 – November 30, 1871 (resigned) | Republican | 1869 | | Ridgley C. Powers |
| 29 | Ridgley C. Powers (1836–1912) | November 30, 1871 – January 22, 1874 (successor took office) | Republican | Lieutenant governor acting | | Acting as governor |
| 30 | Adelbert Ames (1835–1933) | January 22, 1874 – March 29, 1876 (resigned) | Republican | 1873 | | Alexander Kelso Davis (impeached and removed) |
| Vacant ||
| 31 | John Marshall Stone (1830–1900) | March 29, 1876 – January 9, 1882 (lost nomination) | Democratic | President of the Senate acting | Vacant | Vacant |
| 31 | John Marshall Stone (1830–1900) | March 29, 1876 – January 9, 1882 (lost nomination) | Democratic | 1877 | | William H. Sims |
| 32 | Robert Lowry (1829–1910) | January 9, 1882 – January 13, 1890 (did not run) | Democratic | 1881 | | G. D. Shands |
| 32 | Robert Lowry (1829–1910) | January 9, 1882 – January 13, 1890 (did not run) | Democratic | 1885 | | G. D. Shands |
| 33 | John Marshall Stone (1830–1900) | January 13, 1890 – January 21, 1896 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1889 | | M. M. Evans |
| 34 | Anselm J. McLaurin (1848–1909) | January 21, 1896 – January 16, 1900 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1895 | | J. H. Jones |
| 35 | Andrew H. Longino (1854–1942) | January 16, 1900 – January 19, 1904 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1899 | | James T. Harrison |
| 36 | James K. Vardaman (1861–1930) | January 19, 1904 – January 21, 1908 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1903 | | John Prentiss Carter |
| 37 | Edmond Noel (1856–1927) | January 21, 1908 – January 16, 1912 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1907 | | Luther Manship |
| 38 | Earl L. Brewer (1869–1942) | January 16, 1912 – January 18, 1916 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1911 | | Theodore G. Bilbo |
| 39 | Theodore G. Bilbo (1877–1947) | January 18, 1916 – January 18, 1920 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1915 | | Lee M. Russell |
| 40 | Lee M. Russell (1875–1943) | January 20, 1920 – January 22, 1924 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1919 | | Homer Casteel |
| 41 | Henry L. Whitfield (1868–1927) | January 22, 1924 – March 18, 1927 (died in office) | Democratic | 1923 | | Dennis Murphree |
| 42 | Dennis Murphree (1886–1949) | March 18, 1927 – January 17, 1928 (lost nomination) | Democratic | Lieutenant governor acting | | Acting as governor |
| 43 | Theodore G. Bilbo (1877–1947) | January 17, 1928 – January 19, 1932 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1927 | | Bidwell Adam |
| 44 | Martin Sennet Conner (1891–1950) | January 19, 1932 – January 21, 1936 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1931 | | Dennis Murphree |
| 45 | Hugh L. White (1881–1965) | January 21, 1936 – January 16, 1940 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1935 | | Jacob Buehler Snider |
| 46 | Paul B. Johnson Sr. (1880–1943) | January 16, 1940 – December 26, 1943 (died in office) | Democratic | 1939 | | Dennis Murphree |
| 47 | Dennis Murphree (1886–1949) | December 26, 1943 – January 18, 1944 (successor took office) | Democratic | Lieutenant governor acting | | Acting as governor |
| 48 | Thomas L. Bailey (1888–1946) | January 18, 1944 – November 2, 1946 (died in office) | Democratic | 1943 | | Fielding L. Wright |
| 49 | Fielding L. Wright (1895–1956) | November 2, 1946 – January 22, 1952 (term-limited) | Democratic | Lieutenant governor acting | | Acting as governor |
| 50 | Fielding L. Wright (1895–1956) | November 2, 1946 – January 22, 1952 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1947 | | Sam Lumpkin |
| 51 | Hugh L. White (1881–1965) | January 22, 1952 – January 17, 1956 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1951 | | Carroll Gartin |
| 52 | James P. Coleman (1914–1991) | January 17, 1956 – January 19, 1960 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1955 | | Carroll Gartin |
| 53 | Ross Barnett (1898–1987) | January 19, 1960 – January 21, 1964 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1959 | | Paul B. Johnson Jr. |
| 54 | Paul B. Johnson Jr. (1916–1985) | January 21, 1964 – January 16, 1968 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1963 | | Carroll Gartin (died December 19, 1966) |
| Vacant ||
| 55 | John Bell Williams (1918–1983) | January 16, 1968 – January 18, 1972 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1967 | | Charles L. Sullivan |
| 56 | Bill Waller (1926–2011) | January 18, 1972 – January 20, 1976 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1971 | | William F. Winter |
| 57 | Cliff Finch (1927–1986) | January 20, 1976 – January 22, 1980 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1975 | | Evelyn Gandy |
| 58 | William F. Winter (1923–2020) | January 22, 1980 – January 10, 1984 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1979 | | Brad Dye |
| 59 | William Allain (1928–2013) | January 10, 1984 – January 12, 1988 (did not run) | Democratic | 1983 | | Brad Dye |
| 60 | Ray Mabus (b. 1948) | January 12, 1988 – January 14, 1992 (lost election) | Democratic | 1987 | | Brad Dye |
| 61 | Kirk Fordice (1934–2004) | January 14, 1992 – January 11, 2000 (term-limited) | Republican | 1991 | | Eddie Briggs |
| 61 | Kirk Fordice (1934–2004) | January 14, 1992 – January 11, 2000 (term-limited) | Republican | 1995 | | Ronnie Musgrove |
| 62 | Ronnie Musgrove (b. 1956) | January 11, 2000 – January 13, 2004 (lost election) | Democratic | 1999 | | Amy Tuck |
| 63 | Haley Barbour (b. 1947) | January 13, 2004 – January 10, 2012 (term-limited) | Republican | 2003 | | Amy Tuck |
| 63 | Haley Barbour (b. 1947) | January 13, 2004 – January 10, 2012 (term-limited) | Republican | 2007 | | Phil Bryant |
| 64 | Phil Bryant (b. 1954) | January 10, 2012 – January 14, 2020 (term-limited) | Republican | 2011 | | Tate Reeves |
| 64 | Phil Bryant (b. 1954) | January 10, 2012 – January 14, 2020 (term-limited) | Republican | 2015 | | Tate Reeves |
| 65 | Tate Reeves (b. 1974) | January 14, 2020 – Incumbent | Republican | 2019 | | Delbert Hosemann |
| 65 | Tate Reeves (b. 1974) | January 14, 2020 – Incumbent | Republican | 2023 | | Delbert Hosemann |