# Governor of Colorado

The governor of Colorado is the head of government of the U.S. state of Colorado. The governor is the head of the executive branch of Colorado's state government and is charged with enforcing state laws. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Colorado General Assembly, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons, except in cases of treason or impeachment. The governor is also the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.
Seven people served as governor of Colorado Territory over eight terms, appointed by the president of the United States. Since statehood, there have been 38 governors, serving 43 distinct terms. One governor Alva Adams served three non-consecutive terms, while John Long Routt, James Hamilton Peabody, and Edwin C. Johnson each served during two non-consecutive periods. The longest-serving governors were Richard "Dick" Lamm (1975–1987) and Roy Romer (1987–1999), who each served 12 years over three terms. The shortest term occurred on March 16 and 17, 1905, when the state had three governors in the span of 24 hours: Alva Adams won the election, but soon after he took office, the legislature declared his opponent, James Hamilton Peabody, governor, but on the condition that he immediately resign, so that his lieutenant governor, Jesse McDonald, could be governor. Thus, Peabody served less than a day as governor.
The current governor is Democrat Jared Polis, who took office on January 8, 2019.

## List of governors
### Territory of Jefferson

The self-proclaimed Provisional Government of the Territory of Jefferson was organized on November 7, 1859. Jefferson Territory included all of present-day Colorado, but extended about 3 miles (5 km) farther east, 138 miles (222 km) farther north, and about 50 miles (80 km) farther west. The territory was never recognized by the federal government in the tumultuous days before the American Civil War. The Jefferson Territory had only one governor, Robert Williamson Steele, a pro-union Democrat elected by popular vote. He proclaimed the territory dissolved on June 6, 1861, several months after the official formation of the Colorado Territory, but only days after the arrival of its first governor.

### Territory of Colorado

The Territory of Colorado was organized on February 28, 1861, from parts of the territories of New Mexico, Utah, and Nebraska, and the unorganized territory that was previously the western portion of Kansas Territory.
Governors of the Territory of Colorado :
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Appointed by |
| 1 | William Gilpin (1813–1894) | March 25, 1861 – March 26, 1862 (successor appointed) | Abraham Lincoln |
| 2 | John Evans (1814–1897) | March 26, 1862 – October 17, 1865 (resigned) | Abraham Lincoln |
| 3 | Alexander Cummings (1810–1879) | October 17, 1865 – May 8, 1867 (resigned) | Andrew Johnson |
| 4 | Alexander Cameron Hunt (1825–1894) | May 8, 1867 – April 19, 1869 (successor appointed) | Andrew Johnson |
| 5 | Edward M. McCook (1833–1909) | April 19, 1869 – April 17, 1873 (successor appointed) | Ulysses S. Grant |
| 6 | Samuel Hitt Elbert (1833–1899) | April 17, 1873 – July 26, 1874 (successor appointed) | Ulysses S. Grant |
| 7 | Edward M. McCook (1833–1909) | June 19, 1874 – February 8, 1875 (successor appointed) | Ulysses S. Grant |
| 8 | John Long Routt (1826–1907) | February 8, 1875 – November 3, 1876 (elected state governor) | Ulysses S. Grant |

### State of Colorado

The State of Colorado was admitted to the Union on August 1, 1876.
To serve as governor, one must be at least 30 years old, be a citizen of the United States, and have been a resident of the state for at least two years prior to election. The state constitution of 1876 originally called for election of the governor every two years, with their term beginning on the second Tuesday of the January following the election. An amendment passed in 1956, taking effect in 1959, increased terms to four years. Originally, there was no term limit applied to the governor; a 1990 amendment allowed governors to succeed themselves only once. There is however no limit on the total number of terms one may serve as long as one who has served the two term limit is out of office for four years.
Should the office of governor become vacant, the lieutenant governor becomes governor. If both the offices governor and lieutenant governor are vacant, the line of succession moves down through the senior members of the state senate and state house of representatives of the same party as the governor. The lieutenant governor was elected separately from the governor until a 1968 amendment to the constitution made it so that they are elected on the same ticket.
Governors of the State of Colorado :
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | Lt. Governor |
| 1 | John Long Routt (1826–1907) | November 3, 1876 – January 14, 1879 (did not run) | Republican | 1876 | | Lafayette Head |
| 2 | Frederick Walker Pitkin (1837–1886) | January 14, 1879 – January 9, 1883 (did not run) | Republican | 1878 | | Horace Tabor |
| 2 | Frederick Walker Pitkin (1837–1886) | January 14, 1879 – January 9, 1883 (did not run) | Republican | 1880 | | Horace Tabor |
| 3 | James Benton Grant (1848–1911) | January 9, 1883 – January 13, 1885 (did not run) | Democratic | 1882 | | William H. Meyer |
| 4 | Benjamin Harrison Eaton (1833–1904) | January 13, 1885 – January 11, 1887 (did not run) | Republican | 1884 | | Peter W. Breene |
| 5 | Alva Adams (1850–1922) | January 11, 1887 – January 8, 1889 (did not run) | Democratic | 1886 | | Norman H. Meldrum |
| 6 | Job Adams Cooper (1843–1899) | January 8, 1889 – January 13, 1891 (did not run) | Republican | 1888 | | William Grover Smith |
| 7 | John Long Routt (1826–1907) | January 13, 1891 – January 10, 1893 (did not run) | Republican | 1890 | | William Story |
| 8 | Davis Hanson Waite (1825–1901) | January 10, 1893 – January 8, 1895 (lost election) | People's | 1892 | | David H. Nichols |
| 9 | Albert McIntire (1853–1935) | January 8, 1895 – January 12, 1897 (did not run) | Republican | 1894 | | Jared L. Brush |
| 10 | Alva Adams (1850–1922) | January 12, 1897 – January 10, 1899 (did not run) | Democratic | 1896 | | Jared L. Brush |
| 11 | Charles S. Thomas (1849–1934) | January 10, 1899 – January 8, 1901 (did not run) | Democratic | 1898 | | Francis Patrick Carney |
| 12 | James Bradley Orman (1849–1919) | January 8, 1901 – January 13, 1903 (did not run) | Democratic | 1900 | | David C. Coates |
| 13 | James Hamilton Peabody (1852–1917) | January 13, 1903 – January 10, 1905 (lost election) | Republican | 1902 | | Warren A. Haggott |
| 14 | Alva Adams (1850–1922) | January 10, 1905 – March 16, 1905 (declared loser in election) | Democratic | 1904 | | Arthur Cornforth |
| 15 | James Hamilton Peabody (1852–1917) | March 16, 1905 – March 17, 1905 (resigned) | Republican | 1904 | | Jesse Fuller McDonald |
| 16 | Jesse Fuller McDonald (1858–1942) | March 17, 1905 – January 8, 1907 (did not run) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | | Arthur Cornforth (removed July 5, 1905) |
| 16 | Jesse Fuller McDonald (1858–1942) | March 17, 1905 – January 8, 1907 (did not run) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | | Fred W. Parks |
| 17 | Henry Augustus Buchtel (1847–1924) | January 8, 1907 – January 12, 1909 (did not run) | Republican | 1906 | | Erastus Harper |
| 18 | John F. Shafroth (1854–1922) | January 12, 1909 – January 14, 1913 (did not run) | Democratic | 1908 | | Stephen R. Fitzgarrald |
| 18 | John F. Shafroth (1854–1922) | January 12, 1909 – January 14, 1913 (did not run) | Democratic | 1910 | | Stephen R. Fitzgarrald |
| 19 | Elias M. Ammons (1860–1925) | January 14, 1913 – January 12, 1915 (did not run) | Democratic | 1912 | | Benjamin F. Montgomery |
| 20 | George Alfred Carlson (1876–1926) | January 12, 1915 – January 9, 1917 (lost election) | Republican | 1914 | | Moses E. Lewis |
| 21 | Julius Caldeen Gunter (1858–1940) | January 9, 1917 – January 14, 1919 (did not run) | Democratic | 1916 | | James Pulliam |
| 22 | Oliver Henry Shoup (1869–1940) | January 14, 1919 – January 9, 1923 (did not run) | Republican | 1918 | | George Stephan |
| 22 | Oliver Henry Shoup (1869–1940) | January 14, 1919 – January 9, 1923 (did not run) | Republican | 1920 | | Earl Cooley |
| 23 | William Ellery Sweet (1869–1942) | January 9, 1923 – January 13, 1925 (lost election) | Democratic | 1922 | | Robert F. Rockwell |
| 24 | Clarence Morley (1869–1948) | January 13, 1925 – January 11, 1927 (did not run) | Republican | 1924 | | Sterling Byrd Lacy |
| 25 | Billy Adams (1861–1954) | January 11, 1927 – January 10, 1933 (did not run) | Democratic | 1926 | | George Milton Corlett |
| 25 | Billy Adams (1861–1954) | January 11, 1927 – January 10, 1933 (did not run) | Democratic | 1928 | | George Milton Corlett |
| 25 | Billy Adams (1861–1954) | January 11, 1927 – January 10, 1933 (did not run) | Democratic | 1930 | | Edwin C. Johnson |
| 26 | Edwin C. Johnson (1884–1970) | January 10, 1933 – January 2, 1937 (resigned) | Democratic | 1932 | | Ray Herbert Talbot |
| 26 | Edwin C. Johnson (1884–1970) | January 10, 1933 – January 2, 1937 (resigned) | Democratic | 1934 | | Ray Herbert Talbot |
| 27 | Ray Herbert Talbot (1896–1955) | January 2, 1937 – January 12, 1937 (successor took office) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 28 | Teller Ammons (1895–1972) | January 12, 1937 – January 10, 1939 (lost election) | Democratic | 1936 | | Frank Hayes |
| 29 | Ralph Lawrence Carr (1887–1950) | January 10, 1939 – January 12, 1943 (did not run) | Republican | 1938 | | John Charles Vivian |
| 29 | Ralph Lawrence Carr (1887–1950) | January 10, 1939 – January 12, 1943 (did not run) | Republican | 1940 | | John Charles Vivian |
| 30 | John Charles Vivian (1887–1964) | January 12, 1943 – January 14, 1947 (did not run) | Republican | 1942 | | William Eugene Higby |
| 30 | John Charles Vivian (1887–1964) | January 12, 1943 – January 14, 1947 (did not run) | Republican | 1944 | | William Eugene Higby |
| 31 | William Lee Knous (1889–1959) | January 14, 1947 – April 15, 1950 (resigned) | Democratic | 1946 | | Homer L. Pearson |
| 31 | William Lee Knous (1889–1959) | January 14, 1947 – April 15, 1950 (resigned) | Democratic | 1948 | | Walter Walford Johnson |
| 32 | Walter Walford Johnson (1904–1987) | April 15, 1950 – January 9, 1951 (lost election) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | | Charles P. Murphy |
| 33 | Daniel I. J. Thornton (1911–1976) | January 9, 1951 – January 11, 1955 (did not run) | Republican | 1950 | | Gordon Allott |
| 33 | Daniel I. J. Thornton (1911–1976) | January 9, 1951 – January 11, 1955 (did not run) | Republican | 1952 | | Gordon Allott |
| 34 | Edwin C. Johnson (1884–1970) | January 11, 1955 – January 8, 1957 (did not run) | Democratic | 1954 | | Stephen McNichols |
| 35 | Stephen McNichols (1914–1997) | January 8, 1957 – January 8, 1963 (lost election) | Democratic | 1956 | | Frank L. Hays |
| 35 | Stephen McNichols (1914–1997) | January 8, 1957 – January 8, 1963 (lost election) | Democratic | 1958 | | Robert Lee Knous |
| 36 | John Arthur Love (1916–2002) | January 8, 1963 – July 16, 1973 (resigned) | Republican | 1962 | | Robert Lee Knous |
| 36 | John Arthur Love (1916–2002) | January 8, 1963 – July 16, 1973 (resigned) | Republican | 1966 | | Mark Anthony Hogan |
| 36 | John Arthur Love (1916–2002) | January 8, 1963 – July 16, 1973 (resigned) | Republican | 1970 | | John D. Vanderhoof |
| 37 | John D. Vanderhoof (1922–2013) | July 16, 1973 – January 14, 1975 (lost election) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | | Ted L. Strickland |
| 38 | Richard Lamm (1935–2021) | January 14, 1975 – January 13, 1987 (did not run) | Democratic | 1974 | | George L. Brown |
| 38 | Richard Lamm (1935–2021) | January 14, 1975 – January 13, 1987 (did not run) | Democratic | 1978 | | Nancy E. Dick |
| 38 | Richard Lamm (1935–2021) | January 14, 1975 – January 13, 1987 (did not run) | Democratic | 1982 | | Nancy E. Dick |
| 39 | Roy Romer (b. 1928) | January 13, 1987 – January 12, 1999 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1986 | | Mike Callihan (resigned May 10, 1994) |
| 39 | Roy Romer (b. 1928) | January 13, 1987 – January 12, 1999 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1990 | | Mike Callihan (resigned May 10, 1994) |
| Vacant ||
| 39 | Roy Romer (b. 1928) | January 13, 1987 – January 12, 1999 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1990 | | Samuel H. Cassidy (took office May 11, 1994) |
| 39 | Roy Romer (b. 1928) | January 13, 1987 – January 12, 1999 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1994 | | Gail Schoettler |
| 40 | Bill Owens (b. 1950) | January 12, 1999 – January 9, 2007 (term-limited) | Republican | 1998 | | Joe Rogers |
| 40 | Bill Owens (b. 1950) | January 12, 1999 – January 9, 2007 (term-limited) | Republican | 2002 | | Jane E. Norton |
| 41 | Bill Ritter (b. 1956) | January 9, 2007 – January 11, 2011 (did not run) | Democratic | 2006 | | Barbara O'Brien |
| 42 | John Hickenlooper (b. 1952) | January 11, 2011 – January 8, 2019 (term-limited) | Democratic | 2010 | | Joseph García (resigned May 12, 2016) |
| 42 | John Hickenlooper (b. 1952) | January 11, 2011 – January 8, 2019 (term-limited) | Democratic | 2014 | | Joseph García (resigned May 12, 2016) |
| 42 | John Hickenlooper (b. 1952) | January 11, 2011 – January 8, 2019 (term-limited) | Democratic | 2014 | | Donna Lynne |
| 43 | Jared Polis (b. 1975) | January 8, 2019 – Incumbent | Democratic | 2018 | | Dianne Primavera |
| 43 | Jared Polis (b. 1975) | January 8, 2019 – Incumbent | Democratic | 2022 | | Dianne Primavera |