# List of governors of Minnesota

The governor of Minnesota is the head of government of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The governor is the head of the executive branch of Minnesota's state government and is charged with enforcing state laws.
There have been 41 governors of the state; one, Rudy Perpich, served non-consecutive terms. Minnesota Territory had three governors appointed by the president of the United States; the first, Alexander Ramsey, would later be state governor.
The current governor is Tim Walz, a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, who took office on January 7, 2019.

## List of governors
### Minnesota Territory

Minnesota Territory was organized on March 3, 1849.
Governors of Minnesota Territory :
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Appointed by |
| 1 | Alexander Ramsey (1815–1903) | June 1, 1849 – April 1, 1853 (successor appointed) | Zachary Taylor |
| 2 | Willis A. Gorman (1816–1876) | April 1, 1853 – March 13, 1857 (successor appointed) | Franklin Pierce |
| 3 | Samuel Medary (1801–1864) | March 13, 1857 – May 24, 1858 (statehood) | James Buchanan |

### State of Minnesota

Minnesota was admitted to the Union on May 11, 1858.
The Minnesota Constitution of 1858 created the offices of governor and lieutenant governor, elected separately to two-year terms; these were lengthened to four years starting in 1963. As of 1974, the governor and lieutenant governor are elected on the same ticket.
Governors of the State of Minnesota :
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | Lt. Governor |
| 1 | Henry Hastings Sibley (1811–1891) | May 24, 1858 – January 2, 1860 (did not run) | Democratic | 1857 | | William Holcombe |
| 2 | Alexander Ramsey (1815–1903) | January 2, 1860 – July 10, 1863 (resigned) | Republican | 1859 | | Ignatius L. Donnelly |
| 2 | Alexander Ramsey (1815–1903) | January 2, 1860 – July 10, 1863 (resigned) | Republican | 1861 | | Henry Adoniram Swift |
| 3 | Henry Adoniram Swift (1823–1869) | July 10, 1863 – January 13, 1864 (did not run) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 4 | Stephen Miller (1816–1881) | January 13, 1864 – January 8, 1866 (did not run) | Republican | 1863 | | Charles D. Sherwood |
| 5 | William Rainey Marshall (1825–1896) | January 8, 1866 – January 7, 1870 (did not run) | Republican | 1865 | | Thomas H. Armstrong |
| 5 | William Rainey Marshall (1825–1896) | January 8, 1866 – January 7, 1870 (did not run) | Republican | 1867 | | Thomas H. Armstrong |
| 6 | Horace Austin (1831–1905) | January 7, 1870 – January 9, 1874 (did not run) | Republican | 1869 | | William H. Yale |
| 6 | Horace Austin (1831–1905) | January 7, 1870 – January 9, 1874 (did not run) | Republican | 1871 | | William H. Yale |
| 7 | Cushman Kellogg Davis (1838–1900) | January 9, 1874 – January 7, 1876 (did not run) | Republican | 1873 | | Alphonso Barto |
| 8 | John S. Pillsbury (1827–1901) | January 7, 1876 – January 9, 1882 (did not run) | Republican | 1875 | | James Wakefield |
| 8 | John S. Pillsbury (1827–1901) | January 7, 1876 – January 9, 1882 (did not run) | Republican | 1877 | | James Wakefield |
| 8 | John S. Pillsbury (1827–1901) | January 7, 1876 – January 9, 1882 (did not run) | Republican | 1879 | | Charles A. Gilman |
| 9 | Lucius Frederick Hubbard (1836–1913) | January 9, 1882 – January 5, 1887 (did not run) | Republican | 1881 | | Charles A. Gilman |
| 9 | Lucius Frederick Hubbard (1836–1913) | January 9, 1882 – January 5, 1887 (did not run) | Republican | 1883 | | Charles A. Gilman |
| 10 | Andrew Ryan McGill (1840–1905) | January 5, 1887 – January 9, 1889 (lost nomination) | Republican | 1886 | | Albert E. Rice |
| 11 | William Rush Merriam (1849–1931) | January 9, 1889 – January 4, 1893 (did not run) | Republican | 1888 | | Albert E. Rice |
| 11 | William Rush Merriam (1849–1931) | January 9, 1889 – January 4, 1893 (did not run) | Republican | 1890 | | Gideon S. Ives |
| 12 | Knute Nelson (1843–1923) | January 4, 1893 – January 31, 1895 (resigned) | Republican | 1892 | | David Marston Clough |
| 12 | Knute Nelson (1843–1923) | January 4, 1893 – January 31, 1895 (resigned) | Republican | 1894 | | David Marston Clough |
| 13 | David Marston Clough (1846–1924) | January 31, 1895 – January 2, 1899 (did not run) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 13 | David Marston Clough (1846–1924) | January 31, 1895 – January 2, 1899 (did not run) | Republican | 1896 | | John L. Gibbs |
| 14 | John Lind (1854–1930) | January 2, 1899 – January 7, 1901 (lost election) | Democratic | 1898 | | Lyndon A. Smith |
| 15 | Samuel Rinnah Van Sant (1844–1936) | January 7, 1901 – January 4, 1905 (did not run) | Republican | 1900 | | Lyndon A. Smith |
| 15 | Samuel Rinnah Van Sant (1844–1936) | January 7, 1901 – January 4, 1905 (did not run) | Republican | 1902 | | Ray W. Jones |
| 16 | John Albert Johnson (1861–1909) | January 4, 1905 – September 21, 1909 (died in office) | Democratic | 1904 | | Ray W. Jones |
| 16 | John Albert Johnson (1861–1909) | January 4, 1905 – September 21, 1909 (died in office) | Democratic | 1906 | | Adolph Olson Eberhart |
| 16 | John Albert Johnson (1861–1909) | January 4, 1905 – September 21, 1909 (died in office) | Democratic | 1908 | | Adolph Olson Eberhart |
| 17 | Adolph Olson Eberhart (1870–1944) | September 21, 1909 – January 6, 1915 (lost nomination) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 17 | Adolph Olson Eberhart (1870–1944) | September 21, 1909 – January 6, 1915 (lost nomination) | Republican | 1910 | | Samuel Y. Gordon |
| 17 | Adolph Olson Eberhart (1870–1944) | September 21, 1909 – January 6, 1915 (lost nomination) | Republican | 1912 | | Joseph A. A. Burnquist |
| 18 | Winfield Scott Hammond (1863–1915) | January 6, 1915 – December 30, 1915 (died in office) | Democratic | 1914 | | Joseph A. A. Burnquist |
| 19 | Joseph A. A. Burnquist (1879–1961) | December 30, 1915 – January 5, 1921 (did not run) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 19 | Joseph A. A. Burnquist (1879–1961) | December 30, 1915 – January 5, 1921 (did not run) | Republican | 1916 | | Thomas Frankson |
| 19 | Joseph A. A. Burnquist (1879–1961) | December 30, 1915 – January 5, 1921 (did not run) | Republican | 1918 | | Thomas Frankson |
| 20 | J. A. O. Preus (1883–1961) | January 5, 1921 – January 7, 1925 (did not run) | Republican | 1920 | | Louis L. Collins |
| 20 | J. A. O. Preus (1883–1961) | January 5, 1921 – January 7, 1925 (did not run) | Republican | 1922 | | Louis L. Collins |
| 21 | Theodore Christianson (1883–1948) | January 7, 1925 – January 7, 1931 (did not run) | Republican | 1924 | | William I. Nolan |
| 21 | Theodore Christianson (1883–1948) | January 7, 1925 – January 7, 1931 (did not run) | Republican | 1926 | | William I. Nolan |
| 21 | Theodore Christianson (1883–1948) | January 7, 1925 – January 7, 1931 (did not run) | Republican | 1928 | | Charles Edward Adams |
| 22 | Floyd B. Olson (1891–1936) | January 7, 1931 – August 22, 1936 (died in office) | Farmer-Labor | 1930 | | Henry M. Arens |
| 22 | Floyd B. Olson (1891–1936) | January 7, 1931 – August 22, 1936 (died in office) | Farmer-Labor | 1932 | | Konrad K. Solberg |
| 22 | Floyd B. Olson (1891–1936) | January 7, 1931 – August 22, 1936 (died in office) | Farmer-Labor | 1934 | | Hjalmar Petersen |
| 23 | Hjalmar Petersen (1890–1968) | August 22, 1936 – January 4, 1937 (did not run) | Farmer-Labor | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 24 | Elmer Austin Benson (1895–1985) | January 4, 1937 – January 3, 1939 (lost election) | Farmer-Labor | 1936 | | Gottfrid Lindsten |
| 25 | Harold Stassen (1907–2001) | January 3, 1939 – April 27, 1943 (resigned) | Republican | 1938 | | C. Elmer Anderson |
| 25 | Harold Stassen (1907–2001) | January 3, 1939 – April 27, 1943 (resigned) | Republican | 1940 | | C. Elmer Anderson |
| 25 | Harold Stassen (1907–2001) | January 3, 1939 – April 27, 1943 (resigned) | Republican | 1942 | | Edward John Thye |
| 26 | Edward John Thye (1896–1969) | April 27, 1943 – January 8, 1947 (did not run) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 26 | Edward John Thye (1896–1969) | April 27, 1943 – January 8, 1947 (did not run) | Republican | 1944 | | C. Elmer Anderson |
| 27 | Luther Youngdahl (1896–1978) | January 8, 1947 – September 27, 1951 (resigned) | Republican | 1946 | | C. Elmer Anderson |
| 27 | Luther Youngdahl (1896–1978) | January 8, 1947 – September 27, 1951 (resigned) | Republican | 1948 | | C. Elmer Anderson |
| 27 | Luther Youngdahl (1896–1978) | January 8, 1947 – September 27, 1951 (resigned) | Republican | 1950 | | C. Elmer Anderson |
| 28 | C. Elmer Anderson (1912–1998) | September 27, 1951 – January 5, 1955 (lost election) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 28 | C. Elmer Anderson (1912–1998) | September 27, 1951 – January 5, 1955 (lost election) | Republican | 1952 | | Ancher Nelsen |
| 28 | C. Elmer Anderson (1912–1998) | September 27, 1951 – January 5, 1955 (lost election) | Republican | 1952 | | Donald O. Wright |
| 29 | Orville Freeman (1918–2003) | January 5, 1955 – January 4, 1961 (lost election) | Democratic- Farmer-Labor | 1954 | | Karl Rolvaag |
| 29 | Orville Freeman (1918–2003) | January 5, 1955 – January 4, 1961 (lost election) | Democratic- Farmer-Labor | 1956 | | Karl Rolvaag |
| 29 | Orville Freeman (1918–2003) | January 5, 1955 – January 4, 1961 (lost election) | Democratic- Farmer-Labor | 1958 | | Karl Rolvaag |
| 30 | Elmer L. Andersen (1909–2004) | January 4, 1961 – March 25, 1963 (lost election) | Republican | 1960 | | Karl Rolvaag |
| 31 | Karl Rolvaag (1913–1990) | March 25, 1963 – January 2, 1967 (lost election) | Democratic- Farmer-Labor | 1962 | | Sandy Keith |
| 32 | Harold LeVander (1910–1992) | January 2, 1967 – January 4, 1971 (did not run) | Republican | 1966 | | James B. Goetz |
| 33 | Wendell R. Anderson (1933–2016) | January 4, 1971 – December 29, 1976 (resigned) | Democratic- Farmer-Labor | 1970 | | Rudy Perpich |
| 33 | Wendell R. Anderson (1933–2016) | January 4, 1971 – December 29, 1976 (resigned) | Democratic- Farmer-Labor | 1974 | | Rudy Perpich |
| 34 | Rudy Perpich (1928–1995) | December 29, 1976 – January 1, 1979 (lost election) | Democratic- Farmer-Labor | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | | Alec G. Olson |
| 35 | Al Quie (1923–2023) | January 1, 1979 – January 3, 1983 (did not run) | Independent- Republican | 1978 | | Lou Wangberg |
| 36 | Rudy Perpich (1928–1995) | January 3, 1983 – January 7, 1991 (lost election) | Democratic- Farmer-Labor | 1982 | | Marlene Johnson |
| 36 | Rudy Perpich (1928–1995) | January 3, 1983 – January 7, 1991 (lost election) | Democratic- Farmer-Labor | 1986 | | Marlene Johnson |
| 37 | Arne Carlson (b. 1934) | January 7, 1991 – January 4, 1999 (did not run) | Independent- Republican | 1990 | | Joanell Dyrstad |
| 37 | Arne Carlson (b. 1934) | January 7, 1991 – January 4, 1999 (did not run) | Independent- Republican | 1994 | | Joanne Benson |
| 38 | Jesse Ventura (b. 1951) | January 4, 1999 – January 6, 2003 (did not run) | Reform/ Independence | 1998 | | Mae Schunk |
| 39 | Tim Pawlenty (b. 1960) | January 6, 2003 – January 3, 2011 (did not run) | Republican | 2002 | | Carol Molnau |
| 39 | Tim Pawlenty (b. 1960) | January 6, 2003 – January 3, 2011 (did not run) | Republican | 2006 | | Carol Molnau |
| 40 | Mark Dayton (b. 1947) | January 3, 2011 – January 7, 2019 (did not run) | Democratic- Farmer-Labor | 2010 | | Yvonne Prettner Solon |
| 40 | Mark Dayton (b. 1947) | January 3, 2011 – January 7, 2019 (did not run) | Democratic- Farmer-Labor | 2014 | | Tina Smith (resigned January 2, 2018) |
| Vacant ||
| 40 | Mark Dayton (b. 1947) | January 3, 2011 – January 7, 2019 (did not run) | Democratic- Farmer-Labor | 2014 | | Michelle Fischbach (took office May 25, 2018) |
| 41 | Tim Walz (b. 1964) | January 7, 2019 – Incumbent | Democratic- Farmer-Labor | 2018 | | Peggy Flanagan |
| 41 | Tim Walz (b. 1964) | January 7, 2019 – Incumbent | Democratic- Farmer-Labor | 2022 | | Peggy Flanagan |