# List of governors of Michigan

The governor of Michigan, is the head of government of the U.S. state of Michigan as well as the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws; the power to either approve or veto appropriation bills passed by the Michigan Legislature; the power to convene the legislature; and the power to grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment. The governor is also empowered to reorganize the executive branch of the state government.
In the 17th and 18th century, Michigan was part of French and then British holdings, and administered by their colonial governors. After becoming part of the United States, areas of what is today Michigan were part of the Northwest Territory, Indiana Territory and Illinois Territory, and administered by territorial governors. In 1805, the Michigan Territory was created, and five men served as territorial governors, until Michigan was granted statehood in 1837. Forty-seven individuals have held the position of state governor. The first female governor, Jennifer Granholm, served from 2003 to 2011.
After Michigan gained statehood, governors held the office for a 2-year term, until the 1963 Michigan Constitution changed the term to 4 years. The number of times an individual could hold the office was unlimited until a 1992 constitutional amendment imposed a lifetime term limit of two 4-year governorships. The longest-serving governor in Michigan's history was William Milliken, who was promoted from lieutenant governor after Governor George W. Romney resigned to become Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, then was elected to three further successive terms. The only governors to serve non-consecutive terms were John S. Barry and Frank Fitzgerald.

## List of governors
### Territory of Michigan

Michigan Territory was organized on June 30, 1805, from the north half of Indiana Territory. It had three governors appointed by the president of the United States, including the longest-serving governor of any territory, Lewis Cass, who served for 18 years.
Governors of Michigan Territory :
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Appointed by |
| 1 | William Hull (1753–1825) | March 1, 1805 – October 29, 1813 (successor appointed) | Thomas Jefferson |
| 1 | William Hull (1753–1825) | March 1, 1805 – October 29, 1813 (successor appointed) | James Madison |
| 2 | Lewis Cass (1782–1866) | October 29, 1813 – August 1, 1831 (resigned) | James Madison |
| 2 | Lewis Cass (1782–1866) | October 29, 1813 – August 1, 1831 (resigned) | James Monroe |
| 2 | Lewis Cass (1782–1866) | October 29, 1813 – August 1, 1831 (resigned) | John Quincy Adams |
| 3 | George Bryan Porter (1791–1834) | August 6, 1831 – July 6, 1834 (died in office) | Andrew Jackson |
| — | Stevens T. Mason (1811–1843) | July 6, 1834 – September 21, 1835 (successor appointed) | Territorial secretary acting |
| — | John S. Horner (1802–1883) | September 21, 1835 – July 3, 1836 (resigned) | Territorial secretary acting |

### State of Michigan

Michigan was admitted to the Union on January 26, 1837. The original 1835 Constitution of Michigan provided for the election of a governor and a lieutenant governor every 2 years. The current constitution of 1963 increased this term to four years. There was no term limit on governors until a 1993 constitutional amendment limited governors to two terms.
Should the office of governor become vacant, the lieutenant governor becomes governor, followed in order of succession by the secretary of state and the attorney general. Prior to the current constitution, the duties of the office would devolve upon the lieutenant governor, without that person actually becoming governor. Beginning in 1850, the term begins at noon on January 1 of the year following the election; before, it had no set start date, and terms would last until when their successor was inaugurated, which would be at least the first Monday in January following their election. Prior to the modern 1963 constitution, the governor and lieutenant governor were elected through separate votes, allowing them to be from different political parties. In 1963, this was changed, so that votes are cast jointly for a governor and lieutenant governor of the same political party.
Governors of the State of Michigan :
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor |
| 1 | Stevens T. Mason (1811–1843) | November 3, 1835 – January 7, 1840 (did not run) | Democratic | 1835 | Edward Mundy |
| 1 | Stevens T. Mason (1811–1843) | November 3, 1835 – January 7, 1840 (did not run) | Democratic | 1837 | Edward Mundy |
| 2 | William Woodbridge (1780–1861) | January 7, 1840 – February 24, 1841 (resigned) | Whig | 1839 | James Wright Gordon |
| 3 | James Wright Gordon (1809–1853) | February 24, 1841 – January 3, 1842 (did not run) | Whig | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Thomas J. Drake |
| 4 | John S. Barry (1802–1870) | January 3, 1842 – January 5, 1846 (did not run) | Democratic | 1841 | Origen D. Richardson |
| 4 | John S. Barry (1802–1870) | January 3, 1842 – January 5, 1846 (did not run) | Democratic | 1843 | Origen D. Richardson |
| 5 | Alpheus Felch (1804–1896) | January 5, 1846 – March 3, 1847 (resigned) | Democratic | 1845 | William L. Greenly |
| 6 | William L. Greenly (1813–1883) | March 3, 1847 – January 3, 1848 (did not run) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Charles P. Bush |
| 7 | Epaphroditus Ransom (1798–1859) | January 3, 1848 – January 7, 1850 (lost nomination) | Democratic | 1847 | William M. Fenton |
| 8 | John S. Barry (1802–1870) | January 7, 1850 – January 1, 1852 (did not run) | Democratic | 1849 | William M. Fenton |
| 9 | Robert McClelland (1807–1880) | January 1, 1852 – March 7, 1853 (resigned) | Democratic | 1851 | Calvin Britain |
| 9 | Robert McClelland (1807–1880) | January 1, 1852 – March 7, 1853 (resigned) | Democratic | 1852 | Andrew Parsons |
| 10 | Andrew Parsons (1817–1855) | March 7, 1853 – January 3, 1855 (did not run) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | George Griswold |
| 11 | Kinsley S. Bingham (1808–1861) | January 3, 1855 – January 5, 1859 (did not run) | Republican | 1854 | George Coe |
| 11 | Kinsley S. Bingham (1808–1861) | January 3, 1855 – January 5, 1859 (did not run) | Republican | 1856 | George Coe |
| 12 | Moses Wisner (1815–1863) | January 5, 1859 – January 2, 1861 (did not run) | Republican | 1858 | Edmund Burke Fairfield |
| 13 | Austin Blair (1818–1894) | January 2, 1861 – January 4, 1865 (did not run) | Republican | 1860 | James M. Birney (resigned April 3, 1861) |
| 13 | Austin Blair (1818–1894) | January 2, 1861 – January 4, 1865 (did not run) | Republican | 1860 | Joseph R. Williams (died June 15, 1861) |
| 13 | Austin Blair (1818–1894) | January 2, 1861 – January 4, 1865 (did not run) | Republican | 1860 | Henry T. Backus |
| 13 | Austin Blair (1818–1894) | January 2, 1861 – January 4, 1865 (did not run) | Republican | 1862 | Charles S. May |
| 14 | Henry H. Crapo (1804–1869) | January 4, 1865 – January 1, 1869 (did not run) | Republican | 1864 | Ebenezer O. Grosvenor |
| 14 | Henry H. Crapo (1804–1869) | January 4, 1865 – January 1, 1869 (did not run) | Republican | 1866 | Dwight May |
| 15 | Henry P. Baldwin (1814–1892) | January 1, 1869 – January 1, 1873 (did not run) | Republican | 1868 | Morgan Bates |
| 15 | Henry P. Baldwin (1814–1892) | January 1, 1869 – January 1, 1873 (did not run) | Republican | 1870 | Morgan Bates |
| 16 | John J. Bagley (1832–1881) | January 1, 1873 – January 3, 1877 (did not run) | Republican | 1872 | Henry H. Holt |
| 16 | John J. Bagley (1832–1881) | January 1, 1873 – January 3, 1877 (did not run) | Republican | 1874 | Henry H. Holt |
| 17 | Charles Croswell (1825–1886) | January 3, 1877 – January 1, 1881 (did not run) | Republican | 1876 | Alonzo Sessions |
| 17 | Charles Croswell (1825–1886) | January 3, 1877 – January 1, 1881 (did not run) | Republican | 1878 | Alonzo Sessions |
| 18 | David Jerome (1829–1896) | January 1, 1881 – January 1, 1883 (lost election) | Republican | 1880 | Moreau S. Crosby |
| 19 | Josiah Begole (1815–1896) | January 1, 1883 – January 1, 1885 (lost election) | Democratic | 1882 | Moreau S. Crosby |
| 20 | Russell A. Alger (1836–1907) | January 1, 1885 – January 1, 1887 (did not run) | Republican | 1884 | Archibald Buttars |
| 21 | Cyrus G. Luce (1824–1905) | January 1, 1887 – January 1, 1891 (did not run) | Republican | 1886 | James H. MacDonald |
| 21 | Cyrus G. Luce (1824–1905) | January 1, 1887 – January 1, 1891 (did not run) | Republican | 1888 | William Ball |
| 22 | Edwin B. Winans (1826–1894) | January 1, 1891 – January 1, 1893 (did not run) | Democratic | 1890 | John Strong |
| 23 | John Treadway Rich (1841–1926) | January 1, 1893 – January 1, 1897 (did not run) | Republican | 1892 | J. Wight Giddings |
| 23 | John Treadway Rich (1841–1926) | January 1, 1893 – January 1, 1897 (did not run) | Republican | 1894 | Alfred Milnes (resigned June 1, 1895) |
| 23 | John Treadway Rich (1841–1926) | January 1, 1893 – January 1, 1897 (did not run) | Republican | 1894 | Joseph R. McLaughlin |
| 24 | Hazen S. Pingree (1840–1901) | January 1, 1897 – January 1, 1901 (did not run) | Republican | 1896 | Thomas B. Dunstan |
| 24 | Hazen S. Pingree (1840–1901) | January 1, 1897 – January 1, 1901 (did not run) | Republican | 1898 | Orrin W. Robinson |
| 25 | Aaron T. Bliss (1837–1906) | January 1, 1901 – January 2, 1905 (did not run) | Republican | 1900 | Orrin W. Robinson |
| 25 | Aaron T. Bliss (1837–1906) | January 1, 1901 – January 2, 1905 (did not run) | Republican | 1902 | Alexander Maitland |
| 26 | Fred M. Warner (1865–1923) | January 2, 1905 – January 1, 1911 (did not run) | Republican | 1904 | Alexander Maitland |
| 26 | Fred M. Warner (1865–1923) | January 2, 1905 – January 1, 1911 (did not run) | Republican | 1906 | Patrick H. Kelley |
| 26 | Fred M. Warner (1865–1923) | January 2, 1905 – January 1, 1911 (did not run) | Republican | 1908 | Patrick H. Kelley |
| 27 | Chase Osborn (1860–1949) | January 1, 1911 – January 1, 1913 (did not run) | Republican | 1910 | John Q. Ross |
| 28 | Woodbridge N. Ferris (1853–1928) | January 1, 1913 – January 1, 1917 (did not run) | Democratic | 1912 | John Q. Ross |
| 28 | Woodbridge N. Ferris (1853–1928) | January 1, 1913 – January 1, 1917 (did not run) | Democratic | 1914 | Luren Dickinson |
| 29 | Albert Sleeper (1862–1934) | January 1, 1917 – January 1, 1921 (did not run) | Republican | 1916 | Luren Dickinson |
| 29 | Albert Sleeper (1862–1934) | January 1, 1917 – January 1, 1921 (did not run) | Republican | 1918 | Luren Dickinson |
| 30 | Alex J. Groesbeck (1873–1953) | January 1, 1921 – January 1, 1927 (did not run) | Republican | 1920 | Thomas Read |
| 30 | Alex J. Groesbeck (1873–1953) | January 1, 1921 – January 1, 1927 (did not run) | Republican | 1922 | Thomas Read |
| 30 | Alex J. Groesbeck (1873–1953) | January 1, 1921 – January 1, 1927 (did not run) | Republican | 1924 | George W. Welsh |
| 31 | Fred W. Green (1871–1936) | January 1, 1927 – January 1, 1931 (did not run) | Republican | 1926 | Luren Dickinson |
| 31 | Fred W. Green (1871–1936) | January 1, 1927 – January 1, 1931 (did not run) | Republican | 1928 | Luren Dickinson |
| 32 | Wilber M. Brucker (1894–1968) | January 1, 1931 – January 1, 1933 (lost election) | Republican | 1930 | Luren Dickinson |
| 33 | William Comstock (1877–1949) | January 1, 1933 – January 1, 1935 (lost nomination) | Democratic | 1932 | Allen E. Stebbins |
| 34 | Frank Fitzgerald (1885–1939) | January 1, 1935 – January 1, 1937 (lost election) | Republican | 1934 | Thomas Read |
| 35 | Frank Murphy (1890–1949) | January 1, 1937 – January 1, 1939 (lost election) | Democratic | 1936 | Leo J. Nowicki |
| 36 | Frank Fitzgerald (1885–1939) | January 1, 1939 – March 16, 1939 (died in office) | Republican | 1938 | Luren Dickinson |
| 37 | Luren Dickinson (1859–1943) | March 16, 1939 – January 1, 1941 (lost election) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Matilda Dodge Wilson |
| 38 | Murray Van Wagoner (1898–1986) | January 1, 1941 – January 1, 1943 (lost election) | Democratic | 1940 | Frank Murphy |
| 39 | Harry Kelly (1895–1971) | January 1, 1943 – January 1, 1947 (did not run) | Republican | 1942 | Eugene C. Keyes |
| 39 | Harry Kelly (1895–1971) | January 1, 1943 – January 1, 1947 (did not run) | Republican | 1944 | Vernon J. Brown |
| 40 | Kim Sigler (1894–1953) | January 1, 1947 – January 1, 1949 (lost election) | Republican | 1946 | Eugene C. Keyes |
| 41 | G. Mennen Williams (1911–1988) | January 1, 1949 – January 1, 1961 (did not run) | Democratic | 1948 | John W. Connolly |
| 41 | G. Mennen Williams (1911–1988) | January 1, 1949 – January 1, 1961 (did not run) | Democratic | 1950 | William C. Vandenberg |
| 41 | G. Mennen Williams (1911–1988) | January 1, 1949 – January 1, 1961 (did not run) | Democratic | 1952 | Clarence A. Reid |
| 41 | G. Mennen Williams (1911–1988) | January 1, 1949 – January 1, 1961 (did not run) | Democratic | 1954 | Philip Hart |
| 41 | G. Mennen Williams (1911–1988) | January 1, 1949 – January 1, 1961 (did not run) | Democratic | 1956 | Philip Hart |
| 41 | G. Mennen Williams (1911–1988) | January 1, 1949 – January 1, 1961 (did not run) | Democratic | 1958 | John Swainson |
| 42 | John Swainson (1925–1994) | January 1, 1961 – January 1, 1963 (lost election) | Democratic | 1960 | T. John Lesinski |
| 43 | George W. Romney (1907–1995) | January 1, 1963 – January 22, 1969 (resigned) | Republican | 1962 | T. John Lesinski |
| 43 | George W. Romney (1907–1995) | January 1, 1963 – January 22, 1969 (resigned) | Republican | 1964 | William Milliken |
| 43 | George W. Romney (1907–1995) | January 1, 1963 – January 22, 1969 (resigned) | Republican | 1966 | William Milliken |
| 44 | William Milliken (1922–2019) | January 22, 1969 – January 1, 1983 (did not run) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Thomas F. Schweigert |
| 44 | William Milliken (1922–2019) | January 22, 1969 – January 1, 1983 (did not run) | Republican | 1970 | James H. Brickley |
| 44 | William Milliken (1922–2019) | January 22, 1969 – January 1, 1983 (did not run) | Republican | 1974 | James Damman |
| 44 | William Milliken (1922–2019) | January 22, 1969 – January 1, 1983 (did not run) | Republican | 1978 | James H. Brickley |
| 45 | James Blanchard (b. 1942) | January 1, 1983 – January 1, 1991 (lost election) | Democratic | 1982 | Martha Griffiths |
| 45 | James Blanchard (b. 1942) | January 1, 1983 – January 1, 1991 (lost election) | Democratic | 1986 | Martha Griffiths |
| 46 | John Engler (b. 1948) | January 1, 1991 – January 1, 2003 (term-limited) | Republican | 1990 | Connie Binsfeld |
| 46 | John Engler (b. 1948) | January 1, 1991 – January 1, 2003 (term-limited) | Republican | 1994 | Connie Binsfeld |
| 46 | John Engler (b. 1948) | January 1, 1991 – January 1, 2003 (term-limited) | Republican | 1998 | Dick Posthumus |
| 47 | Jennifer Granholm (b. 1959) | January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2011 (term-limited) | Democratic | 2002 | John D. Cherry |
| 47 | Jennifer Granholm (b. 1959) | January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2011 (term-limited) | Democratic | 2006 | John D. Cherry |
| 48 | Rick Snyder (b. 1958) | January 1, 2011 – January 1, 2019 (term-limited) | Republican | 2010 | Brian Calley |
| 48 | Rick Snyder (b. 1958) | January 1, 2011 – January 1, 2019 (term-limited) | Republican | 2014 | Brian Calley |
| 49 | Gretchen Whitmer (b. 1971) | January 1, 2019 – Incumbent | Democratic | 2018 | Garlin Gilchrist |
| 49 | Gretchen Whitmer (b. 1971) | January 1, 2019 – Incumbent | Democratic | 2022 | Garlin Gilchrist |