# List of governors of North Carolina

The governor of North Carolina is the head of government of the U.S. state of North Carolina and commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.
There have been 70 governors of North Carolina, with six serving non-consecutive terms, totaling 76 terms. The current governor is Democrat Josh Stein, who took office on January 1, 2025.

## Governors
### Presidents of the Council

Prior to declaring its independence, North Carolina was a colony of the Kingdom of Great Britain. The 13-member Provincial Council, renamed the Council of Safety in April 1776, was essentially the executive authority during the second year of the revolution, and was appointed by the Provincial Congress. The Presidency of the Council and the Presidency of the Congress could each be considered the highest offices in the state during this time, but the council was supreme when the congress was not in session.
Cornelius Harnett served as the first president from October 18, 1775, to August 21, 1776. Samuel Ashe then served until September 27, 1776, and Willie Jones until October 25, 1776, at which time a state government had been formed.

### State governors

North Carolina was one of the original Thirteen Colonies, and was admitted as a state on November 21, 1789. It seceded from the Union on May 20, 1861, and joined the Confederate States of America on February 4, 1861. Following the end of the American Civil War, North Carolina during Reconstruction was part of the Second Military District, which exerted some control over governor appointments and elections. North Carolina was readmitted to the Union on July 4, 1868.
The first constitution of 1776 created the office of governor, to be chosen by the legislature annually, and whom may only serve up to three out of every six years. An amendment in 1835 changed this to popular election for a term of two years, allowing them to succeed themselves once. The 1868 constitution lengthened terms to four years, to commence on the first day of January after the election, but they could not succeed themselves, a limit that was changed in 1977 to allow them to succeed themselves once.
The office of lieutenant governor was created in 1868, to act as governor when that office is vacant; in 1971 this was changed so that the lieutenant governor becomes governor. Before the office was created, the speaker of the senate would act as governor should it be vacant. The governor and the lieutenant governor are not officially elected on the same ticket.
Governors of the State of North Carolina :
| No. | Governor | Governor | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | Lt. Governor |
| 1 | | | Richard Caswell (1729–1789) | December 19, 1776 – April 21, 1780 (term-limited) | None | 1776 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 1 | | | Richard Caswell (1729–1789) | December 19, 1776 – April 21, 1780 (term-limited) | None | 1777 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 1 | | | Richard Caswell (1729–1789) | December 19, 1776 – April 21, 1780 (term-limited) | None | 1778 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 1 | | | Richard Caswell (1729–1789) | December 19, 1776 – April 21, 1780 (term-limited) | None | 1779 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 2 | | | Abner Nash (1740–1786) | April 21, 1780 – June 26, 1781 (did not run) | None | 1780 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 3 | | | Thomas Burke (1747–1783) | June 26, 1781 – April 22, 1782 (did not run) | None | 1781 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 4 | | | Alexander Martin (1740–1807) | April 22, 1782 – May 13, 1785 (did not run) | None | 1782 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 4 | | | Alexander Martin (1740–1807) | April 22, 1782 – May 13, 1785 (did not run) | None | 1783 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 5 | | | Richard Caswell (1729–1789) | May 13, 1785 – December 20, 1787 (did not run) | None | 1784 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 5 | | | Richard Caswell (1729–1789) | May 13, 1785 – December 20, 1787 (did not run) | None | 1785 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 5 | | | Richard Caswell (1729–1789) | May 13, 1785 – December 20, 1787 (did not run) | None | 1786 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 6 | | | Samuel Johnston (1733–1816) | December 20, 1787 – December 17, 1789 (resigned) | Federalist | 1787 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 6 | | | Samuel Johnston (1733–1816) | December 20, 1787 – December 17, 1789 (resigned) | Federalist | 1788 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 6 | | | Samuel Johnston (1733–1816) | December 20, 1787 – December 17, 1789 (resigned) | Federalist | 1789 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 7 | | | Alexander Martin (1740–1807) | December 17, 1789 – December 14, 1792 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1789 (special) | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 7 | | | Alexander Martin (1740–1807) | December 17, 1789 – December 14, 1792 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1790 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 7 | | | Alexander Martin (1740–1807) | December 17, 1789 – December 14, 1792 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1791 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 8 | | | Richard Dobbs Spaight (1758–1802) | December 14, 1792 – November 19, 1795 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1792 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 8 | | | Richard Dobbs Spaight (1758–1802) | December 14, 1792 – November 19, 1795 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1793 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 8 | | | Richard Dobbs Spaight (1758–1802) | December 14, 1792 – November 19, 1795 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1794 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 9 | | | Samuel Ashe (1725–1813) | November 19, 1795 – December 7, 1798 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1795 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 9 | | | Samuel Ashe (1725–1813) | November 19, 1795 – December 7, 1798 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1796 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 9 | | | Samuel Ashe (1725–1813) | November 19, 1795 – December 7, 1798 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1797 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 10 | | | William Richardson Davie (1756–1820) | December 7, 1798 – November 23, 1799 (did not run) | Federalist | 1798 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 11 | | | Benjamin Williams (1751–1814) | November 23, 1799 – December 6, 1802 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1799 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 11 | | | Benjamin Williams (1751–1814) | November 23, 1799 – December 6, 1802 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1800 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 11 | | | Benjamin Williams (1751–1814) | November 23, 1799 – December 6, 1802 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1801 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| — | | | John Baptista Ashe (1748–1802) | Died before taking office | Democratic- Republican | 1802 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 12 | | | James Turner (1766–1824) | December 6, 1802 – December 10, 1805 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1802 (special) | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 12 | | | James Turner (1766–1824) | December 6, 1802 – December 10, 1805 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1803 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 12 | | | James Turner (1766–1824) | December 6, 1802 – December 10, 1805 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1804 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 13 | | | Nathaniel Alexander (1756–1808) | December 10, 1805 – December 1, 1807 (did not run) | Democratic- Republican | 1805 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 13 | | | Nathaniel Alexander (1756–1808) | December 10, 1805 – December 1, 1807 (did not run) | Democratic- Republican | 1806 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 14 | | | Benjamin Williams (1751–1814) | December 1, 1807 – December 12, 1808 (did not run) | Federalist | 1807 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 15 | | | David Stone (1770–1818) | December 12, 1808 – December 5, 1810 (lost election) | Democratic- Republican | 1808 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 15 | | | David Stone (1770–1818) | December 12, 1808 – December 5, 1810 (lost election) | Democratic- Republican | 1809 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 16 | | | Benjamin Smith (1756–1826) | December 5, 1810 – December 9, 1811 (did not run) | Democratic- Republican | 1810 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 17 | | | William Hawkins (1777–1819) | December 9, 1811 – December 7, 1814 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1811 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 17 | | | William Hawkins (1777–1819) | December 9, 1811 – December 7, 1814 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1812 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 17 | | | William Hawkins (1777–1819) | December 9, 1811 – December 7, 1814 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1813 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 18 | | | William Miller (1783–1825) | December 7, 1814 – December 6, 1817 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1814 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 18 | | | William Miller (1783–1825) | December 7, 1814 – December 6, 1817 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1815 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 18 | | | William Miller (1783–1825) | December 7, 1814 – December 6, 1817 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1816 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 19 | | | John Branch (1782–1863) | December 6, 1817 – December 7, 1820 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1817 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 19 | | | John Branch (1782–1863) | December 6, 1817 – December 7, 1820 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1818 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 19 | | | John Branch (1782–1863) | December 6, 1817 – December 7, 1820 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1819 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 20 | | | Jesse Franklin (1760–1823) | December 7, 1820 – December 7, 1821 (did not run) | Democratic- Republican | 1820 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 21 | | | Gabriel Holmes (1769–1829) | December 7, 1821 – December 7, 1824 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1821 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 21 | | | Gabriel Holmes (1769–1829) | December 7, 1821 – December 7, 1824 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1822 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 21 | | | Gabriel Holmes (1769–1829) | December 7, 1821 – December 7, 1824 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1823 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 22 | | | Hutchins Gordon Burton (1774–1836) | December 7, 1824 – December 8, 1827 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1824 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 22 | | | Hutchins Gordon Burton (1774–1836) | December 7, 1824 – December 8, 1827 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1825 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 22 | | | Hutchins Gordon Burton (1774–1836) | December 7, 1824 – December 8, 1827 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1826 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 23 | | | James Iredell Jr. (1788–1853) | December 8, 1827 – December 12, 1828 (did not run) | Democratic- Republican | 1827 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 24 | | | John Owen (1787–1841) | December 12, 1828 – December 18, 1830 (did not run) | Democratic- Republican | 1828 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 24 | | | John Owen (1787–1841) | December 12, 1828 – December 18, 1830 (did not run) | Democratic- Republican | 1829 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 25 | | | Montfort Stokes (1762–1842) | December 18, 1830 – December 6, 1832 (did not run) | Democratic- Republican | 1830 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 25 | | | Montfort Stokes (1762–1842) | December 18, 1830 – December 6, 1832 (did not run) | Democratic- Republican | 1831 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 26 | | | David Lowry Swain (1801–1868) | December 6, 1832 – December 10, 1835 (term-limited) | National Republican | 1832 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 26 | | | David Lowry Swain (1801–1868) | December 6, 1832 – December 10, 1835 (term-limited) | National Republican | 1833 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 26 | | | David Lowry Swain (1801–1868) | December 6, 1832 – December 10, 1835 (term-limited) | National Republican | 1834 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 27 | | | Richard Dobbs Spaight Jr. (1796–1850) | December 10, 1835 – December 31, 1836 (lost election) | Democratic | 1835 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 28 | | | Edward Bishop Dudley (1789–1855) | December 31, 1836 – January 1, 1841 (term-limited) | Whig | 1836 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 28 | | | Edward Bishop Dudley (1789–1855) | December 31, 1836 – January 1, 1841 (term-limited) | Whig | 1838 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 29 | | | John Motley Morehead (1796–1866) | January 1, 1841 – January 1, 1845 (term-limited) | Whig | 1840 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 29 | | | John Motley Morehead (1796–1866) | January 1, 1841 – January 1, 1845 (term-limited) | Whig | 1842 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 30 | | | William Alexander Graham (1804–1875) | January 1, 1845 – January 1, 1849 (term-limited) | Whig | 1844 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 30 | | | William Alexander Graham (1804–1875) | January 1, 1845 – January 1, 1849 (term-limited) | Whig | 1846 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 31 | | | Charles Manly (1795–1871) | January 1, 1849 – January 1, 1851 (lost election) | Whig | 1848 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 32 | | | David Settle Reid (1813–1891) | January 1, 1851 – December 6, 1854 (resigned) | Democratic | 1850 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 32 | | | David Settle Reid (1813–1891) | January 1, 1851 – December 6, 1854 (resigned) | Democratic | 1852 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 33 | | | Warren Winslow (1810–1862) | December 6, 1854 – January 1, 1855 (successor took office) | Democratic | Speaker of the Senate acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 34 | | | Thomas Bragg (1810–1872) | January 1, 1855 – January 1, 1859 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1854 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 34 | | | Thomas Bragg (1810–1872) | January 1, 1855 – January 1, 1859 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1856 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 35 | | | John Willis Ellis (1820–1861) | January 1, 1859 – July 7, 1861 (died in office) | Democratic | 1858 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 35 | | | John Willis Ellis (1820–1861) | January 1, 1859 – July 7, 1861 (died in office) | Democratic | 1860 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 36 | | | Henry Toole Clark (1808–1874) | July 7, 1861 – September 8, 1862 (successor took office) | Democratic | Speaker of the Senate acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 37 | | | Zebulon Baird Vance (1830–1894) | September 8, 1862 – May 13, 1865 (arrested and removed) | Conservative | 1862 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 37 | | | Zebulon Baird Vance (1830–1894) | September 8, 1862 – May 13, 1865 (arrested and removed) | Conservative | 1864 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| — | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | May 13, 1865 – May 29, 1865 | Office vacated after civil war | Office vacated after civil war | | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 38 | | | William Woods Holden (1818–1892) | May 29, 1865 – December 15, 1865 (lost election) | Provisional governor appointed by President | Provisional governor appointed by President | | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 39 | | | Johnathan Worth (1802–1869) | December 15, 1865 – July 1, 1868 (did not run) | Conservative | 1865 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 39 | | | Johnathan Worth (1802–1869) | December 15, 1865 – July 1, 1868 (did not run) | Conservative | 1866 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 40 | | | William Woods Holden (1818–1892) | July 1, 1868 – March 22, 1871 (impeached and removed) | Republican | 1868 | | Tod Robinson Caldwell |
| 41 | | | Tod Robinson Caldwell (1818–1874) | March 22, 1871 – July 11, 1874 (died in office) | Republican | Lieutenant governor acting | | Acting as governor |
| 41 | | | Tod Robinson Caldwell (1818–1874) | March 22, 1871 – July 11, 1874 (died in office) | Republican | 1872 | | Curtis Hooks Brogden |
| 42 | | | Curtis Hooks Brogden (1816–1901) | July 11, 1874 – January 1, 1877 (successor took office) | Republican | Lieutenant governor acting | | Acting as governor |
| 43 | | | Zebulon Baird Vance (1830–1894) | January 1, 1877 – February 5, 1879 (resigned) | Democratic | 1876 | | Thomas Jordan Jarvis |
| 44 | | | Thomas Jordan Jarvis (1836–1915) | February 5, 1879 – January 21, 1885 (term-limited) | Democratic | Lieutenant governor acting | | Acting as governor |
| 44 | | | Thomas Jordan Jarvis (1836–1915) | February 5, 1879 – January 21, 1885 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1880 | | James L. Robinson |
| 45 | | | Alfred Moore Scales (1827–1892) | January 21, 1885 – January 17, 1889 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1884 | | Charles Manly Stedman |
| 46 | | | Daniel Gould Fowle (1831–1891) | January 17, 1889 – April 7, 1891 (died in office) | Democratic | 1888 | | Thomas Michael Holt |
| 47 | | | Thomas Michael Holt (1831–1896) | April 7, 1891 – January 18, 1893 (lost nomination) | Democratic | Lieutenant governor acting | | Acting as governor |
| 48 | | | Elias Carr (1839–1900) | January 18, 1893 – January 12, 1897 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1892 | | Rufus A. Doughton |
| 49 | | | Daniel Lindsay Russell (1845–1908) | January 12, 1897 – January 15, 1901 (term-limited) | Republican | 1896 | | Charles A. Reynolds |
| 50 | | | Charles Brantley Aycock (1859–1912) | January 15, 1901 – January 11, 1905 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1900 | | Wilfred D. Turner |
| 51 | | | Robert Broadnax Glenn (1854–1920) | January 11, 1905 – January 12, 1909 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1904 | | Francis D. Winston |
| 52 | | | William Walton Kitchin (1866–1924) | January 12, 1909 – January 15, 1913 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1908 | | William C. Newland |
| 53 | | | Locke Craig (1860–1924) | January 15, 1913 – January 11, 1917 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1912 | | Elijah L. Daughtridge |
| 54 | | | Thomas Walter Bickett (1869–1921) | January 11, 1917 – January 12, 1921 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1916 | | Oliver Max Gardner |
| 55 | | | Cameron A. Morrison (1869–1953) | January 12, 1921 – January 14, 1925 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1920 | | William B. Cooper |
| 56 | | | Angus Wilton McLean (1870–1935) | January 14, 1925 – January 11, 1929 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1924 | | J. Elmer Long |
| 57 | | | Oliver Max Gardner (1882–1947) | January 11, 1929 – January 5, 1933 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1928 | | Richard T. Fountain |
| 58 | | | John C. B. Ehringhaus (1882–1949) | January 5, 1933 – January 7, 1937 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1932 | | Alexander H. Graham |
| 59 | | | Clyde R. Hoey (1877–1954) | January 7, 1937 – January 9, 1941 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1936 | | Wilkins P. Horton |
| 60 | | | J. Melville Broughton (1888–1949) | January 9, 1941 – January 4, 1945 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1940 | | Reginald L. Harris |
| 61 | | | R. Gregg Cherry (1891–1957) | January 4, 1945 – January 6, 1949 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1944 | | Lynton Y. Ballentine |
| 62 | | | W. Kerr Scott (1896–1958) | January 6, 1949 – January 8, 1953 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1948 | | Hoyt Patrick Taylor |
| 63 | | | William B. Umstead (1895–1954) | January 8, 1953 – November 7, 1954 (died in office) | Democratic | 1952 | | Luther H. Hodges |
| 64 | | | Luther H. Hodges (1898–1974) | November 7, 1954 – January 5, 1961 (term-limited) | Democratic | Lieutenant governor acting | | Acting as governor |
| 64 | | | Luther H. Hodges (1898–1974) | November 7, 1954 – January 5, 1961 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1956 | | Luther E. Barnhardt |
| 65 | | | Terry Sanford (1917–1998) | January 5, 1961 – January 8, 1965 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1960 | | Harvey Cloyd Philpott |
| Vacant ||
| 66 | | | Dan K. Moore (1906–1986) | January 8, 1965 – January 3, 1969 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1964 | | Robert W. Scott |
| 67 | | | Robert W. Scott (1929–2009) | January 3, 1969 – January 5, 1973 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1968 | | Hoyt Patrick Taylor Jr. |
| 68 | | | James Holshouser (1934–2013) | January 5, 1973 – January 8, 1977 (term-limited) | Republican | 1972 | | Jim Hunt |
| 69 | | | Jim Hunt (b. 1937) | January 8, 1977 – January 5, 1985 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1976 | | James C. Green |
| 69 | | | Jim Hunt (b. 1937) | January 8, 1977 – January 5, 1985 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1980 | | James C. Green |
| 70 | | | James G. Martin (b. 1935) | January 5, 1985 – January 9, 1993 (term-limited) | Republican | 1984 | | Robert B. Jordan |
| 70 | | | James G. Martin (b. 1935) | January 5, 1985 – January 9, 1993 (term-limited) | Republican | 1988 | | Jim Gardner |
| 71 | | | Jim Hunt (b. 1937) | January 9, 1993 – January 6, 2001 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1992 | | Dennis A. Wicker |
| 71 | | | Jim Hunt (b. 1937) | January 9, 1993 – January 6, 2001 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1996 | | Dennis A. Wicker |
| 72 | | | Mike Easley (b. 1950) | January 6, 2001 – January 10, 2009 (term-limited) | Democratic | 2000 | | Bev Perdue |
| 72 | | | Mike Easley (b. 1950) | January 6, 2001 – January 10, 2009 (term-limited) | Democratic | 2004 | | Bev Perdue |
| 73 | | | Bev Perdue (b. 1947) | January 10, 2009 – January 5, 2013 (did not run) | Democratic | 2008 | | Walter H. Dalton |
| 74 | | | Pat McCrory (b. 1956) | January 5, 2013 – January 1, 2017 (lost election) | Republican | 2012 | | Dan Forest |
| 75 | | | Roy Cooper (b. 1957) | January 1, 2017 – January 1, 2025 (term-limited) | Democratic | 2016 | | Dan Forest |
| 75 | | | Roy Cooper (b. 1957) | January 1, 2017 – January 1, 2025 (term-limited) | Democratic | 2020 | | Mark Robinson |
| 76 | | | Josh Stein (b. 1966) | January 1, 2025 – Incumbent | Democratic | 2024 | | Rachel Hunt |