# List of governors of Missouri

Elections in Missouri :
Federal government
Presidential elections
1820
1824
1828
1832
1836
1840
1844
1848
1852
1856
1860
1864
1868
1872
1876
1880
1884
1888
1892
1896
1900
1904
1908
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Missouri bellwether
Presidential primaries
Democratic
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Republican
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
U.S. Senate
1821
1825
1827
1830
1833
1836
1839
1842
1843 sp
1845
1849
1851
1857
1857 sp
1861
1863
1863 sp
1868
1871 sp
1874
1879
1879 sp
1881
1885
1887
1891
1893
1897
1899
1903
1905
1909
1911
1911
1914
1916
1918 sp
1920
1922
1926
1926 sp
1928
1932
1934
1938
1940
1944
1946
1950
1952
1956
1958
1960 sp
1962
1964
1968
1970
1974
1976
1980
1982
1986
1988
1992
1994
1998
2000
2002 sp
2004
2006
2010
2012
2016
2018
2022
2024
2028
U.S. House of Representatives
1820
1822
1824
1826
1828
1831
1832–33
1835
1836
1838
1839
AL sp
1840
1842
1844
1846
AL sp
1848
1850
1852
1854
1856
1858
1860
1st sp
1862
1864
1866
1867
3rd sp
1868
5th sp
1870
1872
1874
1876
1878
1880
7th sp
1882
2nd sp
1884
1886
1888
1889
4th sp
1890
14th sp
1892
1894
1896
1897
1st sp
1898
1899
8th sp
1900
1902
12th sp
1904
1906
1908
1910
6th sp
1912
1914
1916
1918
10th sp
1920
1921
4th sp
1922
1924
1926
11th sp
1928
1929
4th sp
1930
1931
7th sp
1932
1934
1936
1938
1940
1942
1943
6th sp
1944
1946
1948
10th sp
1950
1951
11th sp
1952
1954
1956
1958
1959
4th sp
1960
1962
1964
9th sp
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
6th sp
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
8th sp
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2013
8th sp
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024 :
State government
State elections
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
Gubernatorial elections
1820
1824
1825 sp
1828
1832
1836
1840
1844
1848
1852
1856
1857 sp
1860
1864
1868
1870
1872
1874
1876
1880
1884
1888
1892
1896
1900
1904
1908
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Lieutenant gubernatorial elections
1820
1824
1828
1832
1836
1840
1844
1848
1852
1856
1860
1864
1868
1870
1872
1874
1876
1880
1884
1888
1892
1896
1900
1904
1908
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Secretary of State elections
2012
2016
2020
2024
Attorney General elections
2012
2016
2020
2024
State Treasurer elections
2012
2016
2020
2024
State Auditor elections
2010
2014
2018
2022
Senate elections
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
House of Representatives elections
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
2026 :
Ballot measures
1999
Proposition B
2004
Amendment 2
2006
Amendment 2
2018
Proposition A
2020
Amendment 2
2022
Amendment 3
2024
Amendment 3 :
Columbia
Mayoral elections
2016
2019
2022 :
Jefferson City
Mayoral elections
2016
2019
2022 :
Joplin
Mayoral elections
2003
2007
2011
2015
2019
2023 :
Kansas City
Mayoral elections
2003
2007
2011
2015
2019
2023 :
Springfield
Mayoral elections
2021 :
St. Louis
Mayoral elections
1973
1977
1981
1985
1989
1993
1997
2001
2005
2009
2013
2017
2021
2025
Board of Aldermen elections
2023 :
vte :
The governor of Missouri is the head of government of the U.S. state of Missouri and the commander-in-chief of the Missouri National Guard. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Missouri Legislature, to convene the legislature and grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment.
The current governor is Republican Mike Kehoe, who took office on January 13, 2025.

## List of governors

Louisiana was purchased from France in 1803, with it being proclaimed in St. Louis in Upper Louisiana on March 10, 1804, by Amos Stoddard, who remained as military commander of the region until October 1, 1804, when Orleans Territory was split from it. The remainder was designated the District of Louisiana and placed under the jurisdiction of Indiana Territory and its governor, William Henry Harrison.

### Louisiana Territory and Missouri Territory

The District of Louisiana was organized as Louisiana Territory on July 4, 1805; it was renamed Missouri Territory on June 4, 1812, after the admission of the state of Louisiana. It had four governors appointed by the president of the United States, including both Meriwether Lewis and William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Governors of Louisiana and Missouri Territory :
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Appointed by |
| 1 | James Wilkinson (1757–1825) | July 4, 1805 – March 3, 1807 (successor appointed) | Thomas Jefferson |
| 2 | Meriwether Lewis (1774–1809) | March 3, 1807 – October 11, 1809 (died in office) | Thomas Jefferson |
| 3 | Benjamin Howard (1760–1814) | April 18, 1810 – October 31, 1812 (resigned) | James Madison |
| 4 | William Clark (1770–1838) | July 1, 1813 – September 18, 1820 (lost election) | James Madison |
| 4 | William Clark (1770–1838) | July 1, 1813 – September 18, 1820 (lost election) | James Monroe |

### State of Missouri

Missouri was admitted to the union on August 10, 1821.
The original constitution of 1820 created the offices of governor and lieutenant governor, to serve terms of four years without being able to succeed themselves. Terms were shortened to 2 years in 1865, with a limit of serving no more than four out of every six years. They were returned in 1875 to the four-year term and limit on succession of the 1820 constitution, and the term limit changed to two terms in 1965. Originally, the lieutenant governor would act as governor in the event of a vacancy; a 1968 amendment made it so that the lieutenant governor becomes governor in that situation.
A group including the governor, lieutenant governor, and members of the Missouri General Assembly, proclaimed Missouri's secession from the Union on October 31, 1861, and it was admitted to the Confederate States of America on November 28, 1861. The Confederate government elected two governors, but only had any control in the south of the state, and was forced into exile in Marshall, Texas, after the Battle of Pea Ridge in March 1862.
Governors of the State of Missouri :
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | Lt. Governor |
| 1 | Alexander McNair (1775–1826) | September 18, 1820 – November 17, 1824 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1820 | | William Henry Ashley |
| 2 | Frederick Bates (1777–1825) | November 17, 1824 – August 4, 1825 (died in office) | Democratic- Republican | 1824 | | Benjamin Harrison Reeves (resigned July 1825) |
| Vacant ||
| 3 | Abraham J. Williams (1781–1839) | August 4, 1825 – January 20, 1826 (successor took office) | Democratic- Republican | President of the Senate acting | Vacant | Vacant |
| 4 | John Miller (1781–1846) | January 20, 1826 – November 21, 1832 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1825 (special) | Vacant | Vacant |
| 4 | John Miller (1781–1846) | January 20, 1826 – November 21, 1832 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1828 | | Daniel Dunklin |
| 5 | Daniel Dunklin (1790–1844) | November 21, 1832 – September 30, 1836 (resigned) | Democratic | 1832 | | Lilburn Boggs |
| 6 | Lilburn Boggs (1796–1860) | September 30, 1836 – November 18, 1840 (term-limited) | Democratic | Lieutenant governor acting | | Acting as governor |
| 6 | Lilburn Boggs (1796–1860) | September 30, 1836 – November 18, 1840 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1836 | | Franklin Cannon |
| 7 | Thomas Reynolds (1796–1844) | November 18, 1840 – February 9, 1844 (died in office) | Democratic | 1840 | | Meredith Miles Marmaduke |
| 8 | Meredith Miles Marmaduke (1791–1864) | February 9, 1844 – November 20, 1844 (successor took office) | Democratic | Lieutenant governor acting | | Acting as governor |
| 9 | John Cummins Edwards (1804–1888) | November 20, 1844 – December 27, 1848 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1844 | | James Young |
| 10 | Austin Augustus King (1802–1870) | December 27, 1848 – January 3, 1853 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1848 | | Thomas Lawson Price |
| 11 | Sterling Price (1809–1867) | January 3, 1853 – January 5, 1857 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1852 | | Wilson Brown (died August 27, 1855) |
| Vacant ||
| 12 | Trusten Polk (1811–1876) | January 5, 1857 – February 27, 1857 (resigned) | Democratic | 1856 | | Hancock Lee Jackson |
| 13 | Hancock Lee Jackson (1796–1876) | February 27, 1857 – October 22, 1857 (successor took office) | Democratic | Lieutenant governor acting | | Acting as governor |
| 14 | Robert Marcellus Stewart (1815–1871) | October 22, 1857 – January 3, 1861 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1857 (special) | | Hancock Lee Jackson |
| 15 | Claiborne Fox Jackson (1806–1862) | January 3, 1861 – July 31, 1861 (office declared vacant) | Democratic | 1860 | | Thomas Caute Reynolds |
| 16 | Hamilton Rowan Gamble (1798–1864) | July 31, 1861 – January 31, 1864 (died in office) | Union | Provisional governor elected by convention | | Willard Preble Hall |
| 17 | Willard Preble Hall (1820–1882) | January 31, 1864 – January 2, 1865 (successor took office) | Union | Lieutenant governor acting | | Acting as governor |
| 18 | Thomas Clement Fletcher (1827–1899) | January 2, 1865 – January 12, 1869 (term-limited) | Republican | 1864 | | George Smith |
| 19 | Joseph W. McClurg (1818–1900) | January 12, 1869 – January 9, 1871 (lost election) | Republican | 1868 | | Edwin O. Stanard |
| 20 | Benjamin Gratz Brown (1826–1885) | January 9, 1871 – January 8, 1873 (did not run) | Liberal Republican | 1870 | | Joseph J. Gravely (died April 28, 1872) |
| Vacant ||
| 21 | Silas Woodson (1819–1896) | January 8, 1873 – January 12, 1875 (did not run) | Democratic | 1872 | | Charles Phillip Johnson |
| 22 | Charles Henry Hardin (1820–1892) | January 12, 1875 – January 8, 1877 (did not run) | Democratic | 1874 | | Norman Jay Colman |
| 23 | John S. Phelps (1814–1886) | January 8, 1877 – January 10, 1881 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1876 | | Henry Clay Brockmeyer |
| 24 | Thomas Theodore Crittenden (1832–1909) | January 10, 1881 – January 12, 1885 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1880 | | Robert Alexander Campbell |
| 25 | John S. Marmaduke (1833–1887) | January 12, 1885 – December 28, 1887 (died in office) | Democratic | 1884 | | Albert P. Morehouse |
| 26 | Albert P. Morehouse (1835–1891) | December 28, 1887 – January 14, 1889 (lost nomination) | Democratic | Lieutenant governor acting | | Acting as governor |
| 27 | David R. Francis (1850–1927) | January 14, 1889 – January 9, 1893 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1888 | | Stephen Hugh Claycomb |
| 28 | William J. Stone (1848–1918) | January 9, 1893 – January 11, 1897 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1892 | | John Baptiste O'Meara |
| 29 | Lawrence Vest Stephens (1858–1923) | January 11, 1897 – January 14, 1901 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1896 | | August Henry Bolte |
| 30 | Alexander Monroe Dockery (1845–1926) | January 14, 1901 – January 9, 1905 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1900 | | John Adams Lee (resigned April 25, 1903) |
| 30 | Alexander Monroe Dockery (1845–1926) | January 14, 1901 – January 9, 1905 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1900 | | Thomas L. Rubey (appointed April 25, 1903) |
| 31 | Joseph W. Folk (1869–1923) | January 9, 1905 – January 11, 1909 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1904 | | John C. McKinley |
| 32 | Herbert S. Hadley (1872–1927) | January 11, 1909 – January 13, 1913 (term-limited) | Republican | 1908 | | Jacob F. Gmelich |
| 33 | Elliott Woolfolk Major (1864–1949) | January 13, 1913 – January 8, 1917 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1912 | | William Rock Painter |
| 34 | Frederick D. Gardner (1869–1933) | January 8, 1917 – January 10, 1921 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1916 | | Wallace Crossley |
| 35 | Arthur M. Hyde (1877–1947) | January 10, 1921 – January 12, 1925 (term-limited) | Republican | 1920 | | Hiram Lloyd |
| 36 | Sam Aaron Baker (1874–1933) | January 12, 1925 – January 14, 1929 (term-limited) | Republican | 1924 | | Philip Allen Bennett |
| 37 | Henry S. Caulfield (1873–1966) | January 14, 1929 – January 9, 1933 (term-limited) | Republican | 1928 | | Edward Henry Winter |
| 38 | Guy Brasfield Park (1872–1946) | January 9, 1933 – January 11, 1937 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1932 | | Frank Gaines Harris (died December 30, 1944) |
| 39 | Lloyd C. Stark (1886–1972) | January 11, 1937 – February 26, 1941 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1936 | | Frank Gaines Harris (died December 30, 1944) |
| 40 | Forrest C. Donnell (1884–1980) | February 26, 1941 – January 8, 1945 (term-limited) | Republican | 1940 | | Frank Gaines Harris (died December 30, 1944) |
| Vacant ||
| 41 | Phil M. Donnelly (1891–1961) | January 8, 1945 – January 10, 1949 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1944 | | Walter Naylor Davis |
| 42 | Forrest Smith (1886–1962) | January 10, 1949 – January 12, 1953 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1948 | | James T. Blair Jr. |
| 43 | Phil M. Donnelly (1891–1961) | January 12, 1953 – January 14, 1957 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1952 | | James T. Blair Jr. |
| 44 | James T. Blair Jr. (1902–1962) | January 14, 1957 – January 9, 1961 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1956 | | Edward V. Long (resigned September 23, 1960) |
| Vacant ||
| 45 | John M. Dalton (1900–1972) | January 9, 1961 – January 11, 1965 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1960 | | Hilary A. Bush |
| 46 | Warren E. Hearnes (1923–2009) | January 11, 1965 – January 8, 1973 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1964 | | Thomas Eagleton (resigned December 27, 1968) |
| Vacant ||
| 46 | Warren E. Hearnes (1923–2009) | January 11, 1965 – January 8, 1973 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1968 | | William S. Morris |
| 47 | Kit Bond (b. 1939) | January 8, 1973 – January 10, 1977 (lost election) | Republican | 1972 | | Bill Phelps |
| 48 | Joseph P. Teasdale (1936–2014) | January 10, 1977 – January 12, 1981 (lost election) | Democratic | 1976 | | Bill Phelps |
| 49 | Kit Bond (b. 1939) | January 12, 1981 – January 14, 1985 (did not run) | Republican | 1980 | | Ken Rothman |
| 50 | John Ashcroft (b. 1942) | January 14, 1985 – January 11, 1993 (term-limited) | Republican | 1984 | | Harriett Woods |
| 50 | John Ashcroft (b. 1942) | January 14, 1985 – January 11, 1993 (term-limited) | Republican | 1988 | | Mel Carnahan |
| 51 | Mel Carnahan (1934–2000) | January 11, 1993 – October 16, 2000 (died in office) | Democratic | 1992 | | Roger B. Wilson |
| 51 | Mel Carnahan (1934–2000) | January 11, 1993 – October 16, 2000 (died in office) | Democratic | 1996 | | Roger B. Wilson |
| 52 | Roger B. Wilson (b. 1948) | October 16, 2000 – January 8, 2001 (did not run) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 52 | Roger B. Wilson (b. 1948) | October 16, 2000 – January 8, 2001 (did not run) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | | Joe Maxwell (appointed November 15, 2000) |
| 53 | Bob Holden (b. 1949) | January 8, 2001 – January 10, 2005 (lost nomination) | Democratic | 2000 | | Joe Maxwell (appointed November 15, 2000) |
| 54 | Matt Blunt (b. 1970) | January 10, 2005 – January 12, 2009 (did not run) | Republican | 2004 | | Peter Kinder |
| 55 | Jay Nixon (b. 1956) | January 12, 2009 – January 9, 2017 (term-limited) | Democratic | 2008 | | Peter Kinder |
| 55 | Jay Nixon (b. 1956) | January 12, 2009 – January 9, 2017 (term-limited) | Democratic | 2012 | | Peter Kinder |
| 56 | Eric Greitens (b. 1974) | January 9, 2017 – June 1, 2018 (resigned) | Republican | 2016 | | Mike Parson |
| 57 | Mike Parson (b. 1955) | June 1, 2018 – January 13, 2025 (term-limited) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 57 | Mike Parson (b. 1955) | June 1, 2018 – January 13, 2025 (term-limited) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | | Mike Kehoe (appointed June 18, 2018) |
| 57 | Mike Parson (b. 1955) | June 1, 2018 – January 13, 2025 (term-limited) | Republican | 2020 | | Mike Kehoe (appointed June 18, 2018) |
| 58 | Mike Kehoe (b. 1962) | January 13, 2025 – Incumbent | Republican | 2024 | | David Wasinger |

## Confederate governors

During the Civil War, after the capture of Jefferson City by the Union, a constitutional convention declared the office then held by Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson to be vacant. In October, Jackson, Lieutenant Governor Thomas Caute Reynolds, and some members of the General Assembly, organized at Neosho and passed an Ordinance of Secession. This Confederate government never displaced the government in Jefferson City, and Missouri remained in the Union through the entire war. Jackson continued on as governor until his death on December 6, 1862, at which time Reynolds took over, serving until he fled to Mexico in June 1865 after the end of the war.