# List of governors of Nebraska

The governor of Nebraska is the head of government of the U.S. state of Nebraska as provided by the fourth article of the Constitution of Nebraska. The officeholder is elected to a four-year term, with elections held two years after presidential elections. The governor may be elected any number of times, but not more than twice in a row. The current officeholder is Jim Pillen, a Republican, who was sworn in on January 5, 2023.
Governors of Nebraska must be at least 30 years old and have been citizens and residents of the state for five years before being elected. Before 1966, the governor was elected to a two-year term. In 1962, a constitutional amendment extended the gubernatorial term to four years, effective with the 1966 election. In 1966, another amendment imposed a term limit of two consecutive terms. The lieutenant governor is subject to the same limitations and runs on a combined ticket with the governor. Charles W. Bryan is the only Governor of Nebraska to serve non-consecutive terms. Dave Heineman holds the record as Nebraska's longest-serving governor with 10 years.
The governor's term, along with all other elected statewide officers, begins on the first Thursday after the first Tuesday in the month of January after an election. If the governor becomes incapacitated or is out of the state, the lieutenant governor acts as governor; if there is a vacancy or permanent incapacitation, the lieutenant governor becomes governor and serves the balance of the term. However, if both offices become vacant, the next person in the line of succession is the Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, who is then followed by the chairs of various committees in the legislature.

## List of governors
### Nebraska Territory

Nebraska Territory was organized on May 30, 1854. It had five governors appointed by the president of the United States.
On July 26, 1853, William Walker was elected provisional governor of Nebraska Territory; this spurred the federal government into action to organize the territory.
Governors of the Territory of Nebraska :
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Appointed by |
| 1 | Francis Burt (1807–1854) | August 2, 1854 – October 18, 1854 (died in office) | Franklin Pierce |
| 2 | Mark W. Izard (1799–1866) | December 20, 1854 – October 25, 1857 (resigned) | Franklin Pierce |
| 3 | William Alexander Richardson (1811–1875) | December 10, 1857 – December 5, 1858 (resigned) | James Buchanan |
| 4 | Samuel W. Black (1816–1862) | February 8, 1859 – February 24, 1861 (resigned) | James Buchanan |
| 5 | Alvin Saunders (1817–1899) | March 27, 1861 – March 27, 1867 (statehood) | Abraham Lincoln |
| 5 | Alvin Saunders (1817–1899) | March 27, 1861 – March 27, 1867 (statehood) | Andrew Johnson |

### State of Nebraska

Nebraska was admitted to the Union on March 1, 1867.
Governors of the State of Nebraska :
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | Lt. Governor |
| 1 | David Butler (1829–1891) | March 27, 1867 – June 2, 1871 (impeached and removed) | Republican | 1866 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 1 | David Butler (1829–1891) | March 27, 1867 – June 2, 1871 (impeached and removed) | Republican | 1868 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 1 | David Butler (1829–1891) | March 27, 1867 – June 2, 1871 (impeached and removed) | Republican | 1870 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| – | William H. James (1831–1920) | June 2, 1871 – January 13, 1873 (successor took office) | Republican | Secretary of state acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 2 | Robert Wilkinson Furnas (1824–1905) | January 13, 1873 – January 12, 1875 (did not run) | Republican | 1872 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 3 | Silas Garber (1833–1905) | January 12, 1875 – January 9, 1879 (did not run) | Republican | 1874 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 3 | Silas Garber (1833–1905) | January 12, 1875 – January 9, 1879 (did not run) | Republican | 1876 | | Othman A. Abbott |
| 4 | Albinus Nance (1848–1911) | January 9, 1879 – January 4, 1883 (did not run) | Republican | 1878 | | Edmund C. Carns |
| 4 | Albinus Nance (1848–1911) | January 9, 1879 – January 4, 1883 (did not run) | Republican | 1880 | | Edmund C. Carns |
| 5 | James W. Dawes (1845–1918) | January 4, 1883 – January 6, 1887 (did not run) | Republican | 1882 | | Alfred W. Agee |
| 5 | James W. Dawes (1845–1918) | January 4, 1883 – January 6, 1887 (did not run) | Republican | 1884 | | Hibbard H. Shedd |
| 6 | John Milton Thayer (1820–1906) | January 6, 1887 – January 15, 1891 (did not run) | Republican | 1886 | | Hibbard H. Shedd |
| 6 | John Milton Thayer (1820–1906) | January 6, 1887 – January 15, 1891 (did not run) | Republican | 1888 | | George de Rue Meiklejohn |
| 6 | John Milton Thayer (1820–1906) | January 6, 1887 – January 15, 1891 (did not run) | Republican | 1888 | | Thomas Jefferson Majors |
| 7 | James E. Boyd (1834–1906) | January 15, 1891 – May 5, 1891 (removed) | Democratic | 1890 | | Thomas Jefferson Majors |
| 6 | John Milton Thayer (1820–1906) | May 5, 1891 – February 8, 1892 (removed) | Republican | 1890 | | Thomas Jefferson Majors |
| 7 | James E. Boyd (1834–1906) | February 8, 1892 – January 13, 1893 (did not run) | Democratic | 1890 | | Thomas Jefferson Majors |
| 8 | Lorenzo Crounse (1834–1909) | January 13, 1893 – January 3, 1895 (did not run) | Republican | 1892 | | Thomas Jefferson Majors |
| 9 | Silas A. Holcomb (1858–1920) | January 3, 1895 – January 5, 1899 (did not run) | Fusion | 1894 | | Robert E. Moore |
| 9 | Silas A. Holcomb (1858–1920) | January 3, 1895 – January 5, 1899 (did not run) | Fusion | 1896 | | James E. Harris |
| 10 | William A. Poynter (1848–1909) | January 5, 1899 – January 3, 1901 (lost election) | Fusion | 1898 | | Edward A. Gilbert |
| 11 | Charles Henry Dietrich (1853–1924) | January 3, 1901 – May 1, 1901 (resigned) | Republican | 1900 | | Ezra P. Savage |
| 12 | Ezra P. Savage (1842–1920) | May 1, 1901 – January 8, 1903 (did not run) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | | Calvin F. Steele (acting) |
| 13 | John H. Mickey (1845–1910) | January 8, 1903 – January 3, 1907 (did not run) | Republican | 1902 | | Edmund G. McGilton |
| 13 | John H. Mickey (1845–1910) | January 8, 1903 – January 3, 1907 (did not run) | Republican | 1904 | | Edmund G. McGilton |
| 14 | George L. Sheldon (1870–1960) | January 3, 1907 – January 7, 1909 (lost election) | Republican | 1906 | | Melville R. Hopewell (died May 2, 1911) |
| 15 | Ashton C. Shallenberger (1862–1938) | January 7, 1909 – January 5, 1911 (lost nomination) | Democratic | 1908 | | Melville R. Hopewell (died May 2, 1911) |
| 16 | Chester Hardy Aldrich (1863–1924) | January 5, 1911 – January 9, 1913 (lost election) | Republican | 1910 | | Melville R. Hopewell (died May 2, 1911) |
| 16 | Chester Hardy Aldrich (1863–1924) | January 5, 1911 – January 9, 1913 (lost election) | Republican | 1910 | | John H. Morehead (acting) |
| 17 | John H. Morehead (1861–1942) | January 9, 1913 – January 4, 1917 (did not run) | Democratic | 1912 | | Samuel Roy McKelvie |
| 17 | John H. Morehead (1861–1942) | January 9, 1913 – January 4, 1917 (did not run) | Democratic | 1914 | | James Pearson |
| 18 | Keith Neville (1884–1959) | January 4, 1917 – January 9, 1919 (lost election) | Democratic | 1916 | | Edgar Howard |
| 19 | Samuel Roy McKelvie (1881–1956) | January 9, 1919 – January 4, 1923 (did not run) | Republican | 1918 | | Pelham A. Barrows |
| 19 | Samuel Roy McKelvie (1881–1956) | January 9, 1919 – January 4, 1923 (did not run) | Republican | 1920 | | Pelham A. Barrows |
| 20 | Charles W. Bryan (1867–1945) | January 4, 1923 – January 8, 1925 (did not run) | Democratic | 1922 | | Fred Gustus Johnson |
| 21 | Adam McMullen (1872–1959) | January 8, 1925 – January 3, 1929 (did not run) | Republican | 1924 | | George A. Williams |
| 21 | Adam McMullen (1872–1959) | January 8, 1925 – January 3, 1929 (did not run) | Republican | 1926 | | George A. Williams |
| 22 | Arthur J. Weaver (1873–1945) | January 3, 1929 – January 8, 1931 (lost election) | Republican | 1928 | | George A. Williams |
| 23 | Charles W. Bryan (1867–1945) | January 8, 1931 – January 3, 1935 (did not run) | Democratic | 1930 | | Theodore W. Metcalfe |
| 23 | Charles W. Bryan (1867–1945) | January 8, 1931 – January 3, 1935 (did not run) | Democratic | 1932 | | Walter H. Jurgensen (removed June 26, 1938) |
| 24 | Robert Leroy Cochran (1886–1963) | January 3, 1935 – January 9, 1941 (did not run) | Democratic | 1934 | | Walter H. Jurgensen (removed June 26, 1938) |
| 24 | Robert Leroy Cochran (1886–1963) | January 3, 1935 – January 9, 1941 (did not run) | Democratic | 1936 | | Walter H. Jurgensen (removed June 26, 1938) |
| Vacant ||
| 24 | Robert Leroy Cochran (1886–1963) | January 3, 1935 – January 9, 1941 (did not run) | Democratic | 1936 | | Nate M. Parsons (elected November 8, 1938) |
| 24 | Robert Leroy Cochran (1886–1963) | January 3, 1935 – January 9, 1941 (did not run) | Democratic | 1938 | | William E. Johnson |
| 25 | Dwight Griswold (1893–1954) | January 9, 1941 – January 9, 1947 (did not run) | Republican | 1940 | | William E. Johnson |
| 25 | Dwight Griswold (1893–1954) | January 9, 1941 – January 9, 1947 (did not run) | Republican | 1942 | | Roy W. Johnson |
| 25 | Dwight Griswold (1893–1954) | January 9, 1941 – January 9, 1947 (did not run) | Republican | 1944 | | Roy W. Johnson |
| 26 | Val Peterson (1903–1983) | January 9, 1947 – January 8, 1953 (did not run) | Republican | 1946 | | Robert B. Crosby |
| 26 | Val Peterson (1903–1983) | January 9, 1947 – January 8, 1953 (did not run) | Republican | 1948 | | Charles J. Warner (died September 24, 1955) |
| 26 | Val Peterson (1903–1983) | January 9, 1947 – January 8, 1953 (did not run) | Republican | 1950 | | Charles J. Warner (died September 24, 1955) |
| 27 | Robert B. Crosby (1911–2000) | January 8, 1953 – January 6, 1955 (did not run) | Republican | 1952 | | Charles J. Warner (died September 24, 1955) |
| 28 | Victor Emanuel Anderson (1902–1962) | January 6, 1955 – January 8, 1959 (lost election) | Republican | 1954 | | Charles J. Warner (died September 24, 1955) |
| Vacant ||
| 28 | Victor Emanuel Anderson (1902–1962) | January 6, 1955 – January 8, 1959 (lost election) | Republican | 1956 | | Dwight W. Burney |
| 29 | Ralph G. Brooks (1898–1960) | January 8, 1959 – September 9, 1960 (died in office) | Democratic | 1958 | | Dwight W. Burney |
| 30 | Dwight W. Burney (1892–1987) | September 9, 1960 – January 5, 1961 (did not run) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 31 | Frank B. Morrison (1905–2004) | January 5, 1961 – January 5, 1967 (did not run) | Democratic | 1960 | | Dwight W. Burney |
| 31 | Frank B. Morrison (1905–2004) | January 5, 1961 – January 5, 1967 (did not run) | Democratic | 1962 | | Dwight W. Burney |
| 31 | Frank B. Morrison (1905–2004) | January 5, 1961 – January 5, 1967 (did not run) | Democratic | 1964 | | Philip C. Sorensen |
| 32 | Norbert Tiemann (1924–2012) | January 5, 1967 – January 7, 1971 (lost election) | Republican | 1966 | | John E. Everroad |
| 33 | J. James Exon (1921–2005) | January 7, 1971 – January 4, 1979 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1970 | | Frank Marsh |
| 33 | J. James Exon (1921–2005) | January 7, 1971 – January 4, 1979 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1974 | | Gerald T. Whelan |
| 34 | Charles Thone (1924–2018) | January 4, 1979 – January 6, 1983 (lost election) | Republican | 1978 | | Roland A. Luedtke |
| 35 | Bob Kerrey (b. 1943) | January 6, 1983 – January 8, 1987 (did not run) | Democratic | 1982 | | Donald McGinley |
| 36 | Kay A. Orr (b. 1939) | January 8, 1987 – January 10, 1991 (lost election) | Republican | 1986 | | William E. Nichol |
| 37 | Ben Nelson (b. 1941) | January 10, 1991 – January 7, 1999 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1990 | | Maxine Moul (resigned October 6, 1993) |
| 37 | Ben Nelson (b. 1941) | January 10, 1991 – January 7, 1999 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1990 | | Kim M. Robak (appointed October 6, 1993) |
| 37 | Ben Nelson (b. 1941) | January 10, 1991 – January 7, 1999 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1994 | | Kim M. Robak (appointed October 6, 1993) |
| 38 | Mike Johanns (b. 1950) | January 7, 1999 – January 20, 2005 (resigned) | Republican | 1998 | | David Maurstad (resigned October 1, 2001) |
| 38 | Mike Johanns (b. 1950) | January 7, 1999 – January 20, 2005 (resigned) | Republican | 1998 | | Dave Heineman (appointed October 1, 2001) |
| 38 | Mike Johanns (b. 1950) | January 7, 1999 – January 20, 2005 (resigned) | Republican | 2002 | | Dave Heineman (appointed October 1, 2001) |
| 39 | Dave Heineman (b. 1948) | January 20, 2005 – January 8, 2015 (term-limited) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 39 | Dave Heineman (b. 1948) | January 20, 2005 – January 8, 2015 (term-limited) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | | Rick Sheehy (appointed January 24, 2005) (resigned February 2, 2013) |
| 39 | Dave Heineman (b. 1948) | January 20, 2005 – January 8, 2015 (term-limited) | Republican | 2006 | | Rick Sheehy (appointed January 24, 2005) (resigned February 2, 2013) |
| 39 | Dave Heineman (b. 1948) | January 20, 2005 – January 8, 2015 (term-limited) | Republican | 2010 | | Rick Sheehy (appointed January 24, 2005) (resigned February 2, 2013) |
| Vacant ||
| 39 | Dave Heineman (b. 1948) | January 20, 2005 – January 8, 2015 (term-limited) | Republican | 2010 | | Lavon Heidemann (appointed February 13, 2013) (resigned September 9, 2014) |
| Vacant ||
| 39 | Dave Heineman (b. 1948) | January 20, 2005 – January 8, 2015 (term-limited) | Republican | 2010 | | John E. Nelson (appointed September 29, 2014) |
| 40 | Pete Ricketts (b. 1964) | January 8, 2015 – January 5, 2023 (term-limited) | Republican | 2014 | | Mike Foley |
| 40 | Pete Ricketts (b. 1964) | January 8, 2015 – January 5, 2023 (term-limited) | Republican | 2018 | | Mike Foley |
| 41 | Jim Pillen (b. 1955) | January 5, 2023 – Incumbent | Republican | 2022 | | Joe Kelly |