# List of governors of Louisiana

The governor of Louisiana is the head of government of the U.S. state of Louisiana. The governor is the head of the executive branch of Louisiana's state government and is charged with enforcing state laws. Republican Jeff Landry has served as the current governor since January 8, 2024.

## List of governors
### Territory of Orleans

Louisiana was purchased by the United States from France in 1803. On October 1, 1804, Orleans Territory was organized from the southern part of the Purchase, with the remainder being made the District of Louisiana and placed under the jurisdiction of Indiana Territory. The District of Louisiana would later become Louisiana Territory, but after Orleans Territory became the state of Louisiana, Louisiana Territory was renamed Missouri Territory.
Governor of the Territory of Orleans :
| Governor | Governor | Term in office | Appointed by |
| | William C. C. Claiborne (d. 1817) | December 20, 1803 – July 30, 1812 (elected state governor) | Thomas Jefferson |
| | William C. C. Claiborne (d. 1817) | December 20, 1803 – July 30, 1812 (elected state governor) | James Madison |

### State of Louisiana

Louisiana was admitted to the Union on April 30, 1812. It seceded from the Union on January 26, 1861, and it was a founding member of the Confederate States of America on February 8, 1861. However, since substantial parts of the state remained in Union hands throughout the war, there were two lines of governors elected. Following the end of the American Civil War, Louisiana during Reconstruction was part of the Fifth Military District, which exerted some control over governor appointments and elections. Louisiana was readmitted to the Union on July 9, 1868.
The 1812 constitution established the office of governor, to serve for four years starting from the fourth Monday after the election. In 1845, the start date was moved to the fourth Monday of the January after the election; in 1864, it was moved to the second Monday of the January after the election; in 1879 it was moved to the first Monday after the General Assembly announced the election result; the 1921 Constitution fixed the new inauguration date as the second Tuesday in May. The 1974 Constitution changed the date, effective in 1980, to the second Monday of the March following the election; this was amended in 1987, to become effective in 1992, to the second Monday of January. Governors were not allowed to succeed themselves until 1864, when the constitution held no term limits. The restriction on governors succeeding themselves was reintroduced in 1868, removed in 1870, and again added in 1898. An amendment to the constitution passed in 1966 allowed governors to succeed themselves once before requiring a gap before they can be elected again. Five governors have served nonconsecutive terms. Andre B. Roman, Francis T. Nicholls, and Jimmie Davis each served two non-consecutive terms, while Earl Long and Edwin Edwards both served in three distinct stints.
In the event of a vacancy, the President of the Senate originally acted as governor. The 1845 constitution created the office of lieutenant governor, to be elected at the same time and manner as the governor and who would act as governor in the event of a vacancy. The 1913 constitution established that the lieutenant governor would become governor in case of a vacancy. The governor and the lieutenant governor are not officially elected on the same ticket.
Governors of the State of Louisiana :
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | Lt. Governor |
| 1 | William C. C. Claiborne (d. 1817) | July 30, 1812 – December 17, 1816 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1812 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 2 | Jacques Villeré (1761–1830) | December 17, 1816 – December 18, 1820 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1816 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 3 | Thomas B. Robertson (1779–1828) | December 18, 1820 – November 15, 1824 (resigned) | Democratic- Republican | 1820 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 4 | Henry S. Thibodaux (1769–1827) | November 15, 1824 – December 13, 1824 (successor took office) | Democratic- Republican | President of the Senate acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 5 | Henry Johnson (1783–1864) | December 13, 1824 – December 15, 1828 (term-limited) | Adams Republican | 1824 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 6 | Pierre Derbigny (1769–1829) | December 15, 1828 – October 6, 1829 (died in office) | Adams Republican | 1828 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 7 | Arnaud Beauvais (1783–1843) | October 6, 1829 – January 14, 1830 (senate term ended) | National Republican | President of the Senate acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 8 | Jacques Dupré (1773–1846) | January 14, 1830 – January 31, 1831 (successor took office) | National Republican | President of the Senate acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 9 | Andre B. Roman (1795–1866) | January 31, 1831 – February 2, 1835 (term-limited) | National Republican | 1830 (special) | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 10 | Edward Douglass White Sr. (1795–1847) | February 2, 1835 – February 4, 1839 (term-limited) | Whig | 1834 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 9 | Andre B. Roman (1795–1866) | February 4, 1839 – January 30, 1843 (term-limited) | Whig | 1838 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 11 | Alexandre Mouton (1804–1885) | January 30, 1843 – February 12, 1846 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1842 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 12 | Isaac Johnson (1803–1853) | February 12, 1846 – January 28, 1850 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1846 | | Trasimond Landry |
| 13 | Joseph Marshall Walker (1784–1856) | January 28, 1850 – January 20, 1853 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1849 | | Jean Baptiste Plauché |
| 14 | Paul Octave Hébert (1818–1880) | January 20, 1853 – January 28, 1856 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1852 | | William Wood Farmer (died October 29, 1854) |
| 14 | Paul Octave Hébert (1818–1880) | January 20, 1853 – January 28, 1856 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1852 | | Robert C. Wickliffe |
| 15 | Robert C. Wickliffe (1819–1895) | January 28, 1856 – January 23, 1860 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1855 | | Charles Homer Mouton (resigned 1856) |
| 15 | Robert C. Wickliffe (1819–1895) | January 28, 1856 – January 23, 1860 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1855 | | William F. Griffin |
| 16 | Thomas Overton Moore (1804–1876) | January 23, 1860 – January 25, 1864 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1859 | | Henry M. Hyams |
| 17 | George Foster Shepley (1819–1878) | July 2, 1862 – March 4, 1864 (successor took office) | Military governor | Military governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 18 | Henry Watkins Allen (1820–1866) | January 25, 1864 – June 2, 1865 (resigned) | Democratic | 1863 (Confederate) | | Benjamin W. Pearce |
| 19 | Michael Hahn (1830–1886) | March 4, 1864 – March 4, 1865 (resigned) | Union Free Trade (Republican) | 1864 (Union) | | James Madison Wells |
| 20 | James Madison Wells (1808–1899) | March 4, 1865 – June 3, 1867 (removed) | Citizens Ticket | Lieutenant governor acting | Vacant | Vacant |
| 20 | James Madison Wells (1808–1899) | March 4, 1865 – June 3, 1867 (removed) | Citizens Ticket | 1865 | | Albert Voorhies |
| 21 | Benjamin Flanders (1816–1896) | June 6, 1867 – January 2, 1868 (resigned) | Appointed by military occupation | Appointed by military occupation | Vacant | Vacant |
| 22 | Joshua Baker (1799–1885) | January 2, 1868 – June 27, 1868 (removed) | Appointed by military occupation | Appointed by military occupation | | Vacant | Vacant |
| 23 | Henry C. Warmoth (1842–1931) | June 27, 1868 – December 9, 1872 (removed) | Appointed by military occupation | Appointed by military occupation | | Vacant | Vacant |
| 23 | Henry C. Warmoth (1842–1931) | June 27, 1868 – December 9, 1872 (removed) | Republican | 1868 | | Oscar Dunn (died November 22, 1871) |
| Vacant ||
| 23 | Henry C. Warmoth (1842–1931) | June 27, 1868 – December 9, 1872 (removed) | Republican | 1868 | | P. B. S. Pinchback (appointed December 6, 1871) |
| 24 | P. B. S. Pinchback (1837–1921) | December 9, 1872 – January 13, 1873 (successor took office) | Republican | Lieutenant governor acting | Vacant | Vacant |
| 25 | John McEnery (1833–1891) | January 13, 1873 – May 22, 1873 (removed) | Democratic | 1872 | | Davidson B. Penn |
| 26 | William Pitt Kellogg (1830–1918) | January 13, 1873 – January 8, 1877 (did not run) | Republican | 1872 | | Caesar Antoine |
| 27 | Stephen B. Packard (1839–1922) | January 8, 1877 – April 25, 1877 (removed) | Republican | 1876 | | Caesar Antoine |
| 28 | Francis T. Nicholls (1834–1912) | January 8, 1877 – January 14, 1880 (did not run) | Democratic | 1876 | | Louis A. Wiltz |
| 29 | Louis A. Wiltz (1843–1881) | January 14, 1880 – October 16, 1881 (died in office) | Democratic | 1879 | | Samuel D. McEnery |
| 30 | Samuel D. McEnery (1837–1910) | October 16, 1881 – May 21, 1888 (lost nomination) | Democratic | Lieutenant governor acting | | William A. Robertson (removed December 24, 1881) |
| 30 | Samuel D. McEnery (1837–1910) | October 16, 1881 – May 21, 1888 (lost nomination) | Democratic | Lieutenant governor acting | | George L. Walton |
| 30 | Samuel D. McEnery (1837–1910) | October 16, 1881 – May 21, 1888 (lost nomination) | Democratic | 1884 | | Clay Knobloch |
| 28 | Francis T. Nicholls (1834–1912) | May 21, 1888 – May 16, 1892 (did not run) | Democratic | 1888 | | James Jeffries |
| 31 | Murphy J. Foster (1849–1921) | May 16, 1892 – May 21, 1900 (term-limited) | Anti-Lottery Democratic | 1892 | | Charles Parlange (resigned December 11, 1893) |
| 31 | Murphy J. Foster (1849–1921) | May 16, 1892 – May 21, 1900 (term-limited) | Anti-Lottery Democratic | 1892 | | Hiram R. Lott (died June 2, 1895) |
| 31 | Murphy J. Foster (1849–1921) | May 16, 1892 – May 21, 1900 (term-limited) | Anti-Lottery Democratic | 1892 | | Robert H. Snyder |
| 31 | Murphy J. Foster (1849–1921) | May 16, 1892 – May 21, 1900 (term-limited) | Anti-Lottery Democratic | 1896 | | Robert H. Snyder |
| 32 | William Wright Heard (1853–1926) | May 21, 1900 – May 16, 1904 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1900 | | Albert Estopinal |
| 33 | Newton C. Blanchard (1849–1922) | May 16, 1904 – May 18, 1908 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1904 | | Jared Y. Sanders Sr. |
| 34 | Jared Y. Sanders Sr. (1869–1944) | May 18, 1908 – May 20, 1912 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1908 | | Paul M. Lambremont |
| 35 | Luther E. Hall (1869–1921) | May 20, 1912 – May 15, 1916 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1912 | | Thomas C. Barret |
| 36 | Ruffin G. Pleasant (1871–1937) | May 15, 1916 – May 17, 1920 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1916 | | Fernand Mouton |
| 37 | John M. Parker (1863–1939) | May 17, 1920 – May 19, 1924 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1920 | | Hewitt Bouanchaud (resigned April 12, 1924) |
| 37 | John M. Parker (1863–1939) | May 17, 1920 – May 19, 1924 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1920 | | Delos R. Johnson |
| 38 | Henry L. Fuqua (1865–1926) | May 19, 1924 – October 11, 1926 (died in office) | Democratic | 1924 | | Oramel H. Simpson |
| 39 | Oramel H. Simpson (1870–1932) | October 11, 1926 – May 21, 1928 (lost nomination) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | | Philip H. Gilbert |
| 40 | Huey Long (1893–1935) | May 21, 1928 – January 25, 1932 (resigned) | Democratic | 1928 | | Paul N. Cyr (removed March 4, 1931) |
| 40 | Huey Long (1893–1935) | May 21, 1928 – January 25, 1932 (resigned) | Democratic | 1928 | | Alvin Olin King |
| 41 | Alvin Olin King (1890–1958) | January 25, 1932 – May 16, 1932 (successor took office) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 42 | Oscar K. Allen (1882–1936) | May 16, 1932 – January 28, 1936 (died in office) | Democratic | 1932 | | John B. Fournet (resigned January 2, 1935) |
| 42 | Oscar K. Allen (1882–1936) | May 16, 1932 – January 28, 1936 (died in office) | Democratic | 1932 | | James A. Noe |
| 43 | James A. Noe (1890–1976) | January 28, 1936 – May 12, 1936 (successor took office) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 44 | Richard W. Leche (1898–1965) | May 12, 1936 – June 26, 1939 (resigned) | Democratic | 1936 | | Earl Long |
| 45 | Earl Long (1895–1960) | June 26, 1939 – May 14, 1940 (lost nomination) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | | Coleman Lindsey |
| 46 | Sam H. Jones (1897–1978) | May 14, 1940 – May 9, 1944 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1940 | | Marc M. Mouton |
| 47 | Jimmie Davis (1899–2000) | May 9, 1944 – May 11, 1948 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1944 | | J. Emile Verret |
| 45 | Earl Long (1895–1960) | May 11, 1948 – May 13, 1952 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1948 | | Bill Dodd |
| 48 | Robert F. Kennon (1902–1988) | May 13, 1952 – May 15, 1956 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1952 | | C. E. Barham |
| 45 | Earl Long (1895–1960) | May 15, 1956 – May 10, 1960 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1956 | | Lether Frazar |
| 47 | Jimmie Davis (1899–2000) | May 10, 1960 – May 12, 1964 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1960 | | Taddy Aycock |
| 49 | John McKeithen (1918–1999) | May 12, 1964 – May 9, 1972 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1964 | | Taddy Aycock |
| 49 | John McKeithen (1918–1999) | May 12, 1964 – May 9, 1972 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1968 | | Taddy Aycock |
| 50 | Edwin Edwards (1927–2021) | May 9, 1972 – March 10, 1980 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1972 | | Jimmy Fitzmorris |
| 50 | Edwin Edwards (1927–2021) | May 9, 1972 – March 10, 1980 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1975 | | Jimmy Fitzmorris |
| 51 | Dave Treen (1928–2009) | March 10, 1980 – March 12, 1984 (lost election) | Republican | 1979 | | Robert Louis Freeman Sr. |
| 50 | Edwin Edwards (1927–2021) | March 12, 1984 – March 14, 1988 (withdrew) | Democratic | 1983 | | Robert Louis Freeman Sr. |
| 52 | Buddy Roemer (1943–2021) | March 14, 1988 – January 13, 1992 (lost election) | Democratic | 1987 | | Paul Hardy |
| 50 | Edwin Edwards (1927–2021) | January 13, 1992 – January 8, 1996 (did not run) | Democratic | 1991 | | Melinda Schwegmann |
| 53 | Mike Foster (1930–2020) | January 8, 1996 – January 12, 2004 (term-limited) | Republican | 1995 | | Kathleen Blanco |
| 53 | Mike Foster (1930–2020) | January 8, 1996 – January 12, 2004 (term-limited) | Republican | 1999 | | Kathleen Blanco |
| 54 | Kathleen Blanco (1942–2019) | January 12, 2004 – January 14, 2008 (did not run) | Democratic | 2003 | | Mitch Landrieu (resigned May 3, 2010) |
| 55 | Bobby Jindal (b. 1971) | January 14, 2008 – January 11, 2016 (term-limited) | Republican | 2007 | | Mitch Landrieu (resigned May 3, 2010) |
| 55 | Bobby Jindal (b. 1971) | January 14, 2008 – January 11, 2016 (term-limited) | Republican | 2007 | | Scott Angelle |
| 55 | Bobby Jindal (b. 1971) | January 14, 2008 – January 11, 2016 (term-limited) | Republican | 2007 | | Jay Dardenne (elected November 22, 2010) |
| 55 | Bobby Jindal (b. 1971) | January 14, 2008 – January 11, 2016 (term-limited) | Republican | 2011 | | Jay Dardenne (elected November 22, 2010) |
| 56 | John Bel Edwards (b. 1966) | January 11, 2016 – January 8, 2024 (term-limited) | Democratic | 2015 | | Billy Nungesser |
| 56 | John Bel Edwards (b. 1966) | January 11, 2016 – January 8, 2024 (term-limited) | Democratic | 2019 | | Billy Nungesser |
| 57 | Jeff Landry (b. 1970) | January 8, 2024 – Incumbent | Republican | 2023 | | Billy Nungesser |