# List of minority governors and lieutenant governors in the United States

This is a list of minority governors and lieutenant state governors in the United States. In the United States, an ethnic minority is anyone who has at least one parent who is not of non-Hispanic white descent (such as African Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islands Americans, Hispanic and Latino Americans, or Native Americans). Ethnic minorities currently constitute around 38.9% of the total population. United States governors are included but lieutenant governor-equivalent roles (positions next in the line of succession absent an office of the lieutenant governor, such as secretary of state or senate president) are not currently included.

## List of ethnic-minority governors

* Italics denotes acting governor
| Name | Minority ethnicity | Party | State | Term start | Term end | Notes |
| Oscar Dunn (1822–1871) | African American | Republican | Louisiana | May 5, 1871 | July 18, 1871 | Term ended |
| P. B. S. Pinchback (1837–1921) | African American | Republican | Louisiana | December 9, 1872 | January 13, 1873 | Term ended |
| Romualdo Pacheco (1831–1899) | Californio | Republican | California | February 27, 1875 | December 9, 1875 | Term ended |
| Ezequiel Cabeza De Baca (1864–1917) | Hispano | Democratic | New Mexico | January 3, 1917 | February 18, 1917 | Died in office |
| Octaviano Larrazolo (1859–1930) | Mexican American | Republican | New Mexico | January 1, 1919 | January 1, 1921 | Lost renomination |
| Johnston Murray (1902–1974) | Native American (Chickasaw) | Democratic | Oklahoma | January 8, 1951 | January 10, 1955 | Term limited |
| George Ariyoshi (born 1926) | Japanese American | Democratic | Hawaii | October 17, 1973 | December 2, 1986 | Term limited |
| Jerry Apodaca (1934–2023) | Mexican American | Democratic | New Mexico | January 1, 1975 | January 1, 1979 | Term limited |
| Raúl Castro (1916–2015) | Mexican American | Democratic | Arizona | January 6, 1975 | October 20, 1977 | Resigned |
| Toney Anaya (born 1941) | Mexican American | Democratic | New Mexico | January 1, 1983 | January 1, 1987 | Term limited |
| John Sununu (born 1939) | Salvadoran American | Republican | New Hampshire | January 6, 1983 | January 4, 1989 | Retired |
| John Waihee (born 1946) | Native Hawaiian | Democratic | Hawaii | December 2, 1986 | December 2, 1994 | Term limited |
| Bob Martinez (born 1934) | Spanish American | Republican | Florida | January 6, 1987 | January 8, 1991 | Lost reelection |
| Douglas Wilder (born 1931) | African American | Democratic | Virginia | January 13, 1990 | January 15, 1994 | Term limited |
| Ben Cayetano (born 1939) | Filipino American | Democratic | Hawaii | December 2, 1994 | December 2, 2002 | Term limited |
| Gary Locke (born 1950) | Chinese American | Democratic | Washington | January 15, 1997 | January 12, 2005 | Retired |
| Bill Richardson (1947–2023) | Mexican American | Democratic | New Mexico | January 1, 2003 | January 1, 2011 | Term limited |
| Deval Patrick (born 1956) | African American | Democratic | Massachusetts | January 4, 2007 | January 8, 2015 | Retired |
| Bobby Jindal (born 1971) | Indian American | Republican | Louisiana | January 14, 2008 | January 11, 2016 | Term limited |
| David Paterson (born 1954) | African American | Democratic | New York | March 17, 2008 | December 31, 2010 | Retired |
| Susana Martinez (born 1959) | Mexican American | Republican | New Mexico | January 1, 2011 | January 1, 2019 | Term limited |
| Brian Sandoval (born 1963) | Mexican American | Republican | Nevada | January 3, 2011 | January 7, 2019 | Term limited |
| Nikki Haley (born 1972) | Indian American | Republican | South Carolina | January 12, 2011 | January 24, 2017 | Resigned to become Ambassador of the United States to the United Nations |
| David Ige (born 1957) | Okinawan American | Democratic | Hawaii | December 1, 2014 | December 5, 2022 | Term limited |
| Chris Sununu (born 1974) | Salvadoran American | Republican | New Hampshire | January 5, 2017 | January 8, 2025 | Retired |
| Michelle Lujan Grisham (born 1959) | Mexican American | Democratic | New Mexico | January 1, 2019 | present | |
| Kevin Stitt (born 1972) | Native American (Cherokee) | Republican | Oklahoma | January 14, 2019 | present | |
| Wes Moore (born 1978) | African American | Democratic | Maryland | January 18, 2023 | present | |

### Territorial governors

Several governors of U.S. territories have been ethnic minorities. Many of these officials were appointed before elections were instituted in these jurisdictions. In each of the five current U.S. territories, Hispanic or non-white ethnic groups make up large majorities: Puerto Rican Hispanic Americans in Puerto Rico, African Americans in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Chamorros in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, and Samoans in American Samoa. Elected governors and some appointed governors in these territories that have come from these majority ethnic groups are not listed here; for more details see List of governors of Puerto Rico, List of governors of the United States Virgin Islands, List of governors of Guam, List of governors of the Northern Mariana Islands, and List of governors of American Samoa.
* Italics denotes acting governor
| Name | Minority ethnicity | Party | Territory/ District | Term start | Term end | Notes |
| Miguel Otero (1859–1944) | Mexican American | Republican | New Mexico | July 14, 1897 | January 22, 1906 | Appointment ended |
| Frank Portusach (1864–1919) | Spanish American | Independent | Guam | June 22, 1898 | December 12, 1898 | Deposed |
| William Coe (1857–1909) | Samoan | Independent | Guam | April 20, 1899 | May 9, 1899 | Appointment ended |
| Morris de Castro (1902–1966) | Panamanian American | Democratic | U.S. Virgin Islands | October 21, 1949 | April 9, 1954 | Resigned appointment |
| Samuel King (1886-1959) | Native Hawaiian | Republican | Hawaii | January 28, 1953 | July 26, 1957 | Resigned appointment |
| Juan Luis (1940–2011) | Puerto Rican | Independent Citizens Movement (1978–1979) | U.S. Virgin Islands | January 2, 1978 | January 5, 1987 | Term limited |
| Juan Luis (1940–2011) | Puerto Rican | Independent (1979–1987) | U.S. Virgin Islands | January 2, 1978 | January 5, 1987 | Term limited |
| Benigno Fitial (born 1945) | Carolinian | Covenant (2006–2011) | Northern Mariana Islands | January 9, 2006 | February 20, 2013 | Impeached and removed from office |
| Benigno Fitial (born 1945) | Carolinian | Republican (2011–2013) | Northern Mariana Islands | January 9, 2006 | February 20, 2013 | Impeached and removed from office |

## List of ethnic-minority lieutenant governors

* Italics denotes acting lieutenant governor
| Name | Minority ethnicity | Party | State | Term start | Term end | Notes |
| Pablo de la Guerra (1819–1874) | Mexican American | Democratic | California | January 7, 1861 | January 10, 1862 | Retired |
| Oscar Dunn (1826–1871) | African American | Republican | Louisiana | June 27, 1868 | November 22, 1871 | Died |
| Alonzo Ransier (1834–1882) | African American | Republican | South Carolina | December 3, 1870 | December 7, 1872 | Retired to run successfully for South Carolina's 2nd congressional district |
| Alexander Kelso Davis (-1884) | African American | Republican | Mississippi | November 30, 1871 | March 29, 1876 | Resigned |
| P. B. S. Pinchback (1837–1921) | African American | Republican | Louisiana | December 6, 1871 | December 9, 1872 | Elevated to governor |
| Romualdo Pacheco (1831–1899) | Mexican American | Republican | California | December 8, 1871 | February 27, 1875 | Elevated to governor |
| Richard Howell Gleaves (1819–1907) | African American | Republican | South Carolina | December 7, 1872 | December 14, 1876 | Lost reelection |
| Caesar Antoine (1836–1921) | African American | Republican | Louisiana | May 22, 1873 | April 24, 1877 | Lost reelection |
| Albert Estopinal (1845–1919) | Spanish American | Democratic | Louisiana | May 8, 1900 | May 10, 1904 | Retired |
| Ezequiel Cabeza De Baca (1864–1917) | Mexican American | Democratic | New Mexico | January 6, 1912 | January 1, 1917 | Retired to run successfully for governor |
| José Baca (1876–1924) | Mexican American | Democratic | New Mexico | January 1, 1923 | May 17, 1924 | Died |
| Louis Cabeza de Baca (1894–1969) | Mexican American | Democratic | New Mexico | January 1, 1935 | January 1, 1937 | Retired |
| Ceferino Quintana (1894–1977) | Mexican American | Democratic | New Mexico | January 1, 1941 | January 1, 1943 | Retired |
| Joseph Montoya (1915–1978) | Mexican American | Democratic | New Mexico | January 1, 1947 | January 1, 1951 | Lost reelection |
| Joseph Montoya (1915–1978) | Mexican American | Democratic | New Mexico | January 1, 1955 | April 9, 1957 | Retired to run successfully for New Mexico's at-large congressional district |
| Tibo J. Chávez (1912–1991) | Mexican American | Democratic | New Mexico | January 1, 1951 | January 1, 1955 | Lost reelection |
| James Kealoha (1908–1983) | Native Hawaiian, Chinese American | Republican | Hawaii | August 21, 1959 | December 2, 1962 | Retired to run unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for governor |
| William S. Richardson (1919–2010) | Native Hawaiian, Chinese American | Democratic | Hawaii | December 2, 1962 | April 13, 1966 | Resigned to become Chief Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court |
| Andrew T. F. Ing (1919–1999) | Chinese American | Democratic | Hawaii | April 13, 1966 | December 2, 1966 | Returned to previous post as Director of Finance |
| Thomas Gill (1922–2009) | Cuban American | Democratic | Hawaii | December 2, 1966 | December 2, 1970 | Retired to run unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for governor |
| George Ariyoshi (born 1926) | Japanese American | Democratic | Hawaii | December 2, 1970 | December 2, 1974 | Retired to run successfully for governor |
| Roberto Mondragón (born 1940) | Mexican American | Democratic | New Mexico | January 1, 1971 | January 1, 1975 | Retired |
| Roberto Mondragón (born 1940) | Mexican American | Democratic | New Mexico | January 1, 1979 | January 1, 1983 | Retired |
| Nelson Doi (1922–2015) | Japanese American | Democratic | Hawaii | December 2, 1974 | December 2, 1978 | Retired to run unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for Mayor of Honolulu |
| Mervyn Dymally (1926–2012) | African American, Indian American | Democratic | California | January 6, 1975 | January 8, 1979 | Lost reelection |
| George L. Brown (1926–2006) | African American | Democratic | Colorado | January 14, 1975 | January 10, 1979 | Retired |
| Jean King (1925–2013) | Japanese American | Democratic | Hawaii | December 2, 1978 | December 2, 1982 | Retired to run unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for governor |
| Mike Curb (born 1944) | Mexican American | Republican | California | January 8, 1979 | January 3, 1983 | Retired to run unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for governor |
| John D. Waiheʻe III (born 1946) | Native Hawaiian | Democratic | Hawaii | December 2, 1982 | December 2, 1986 | Retired to run successfully for governor |
| S. B. Woo (born 1937) | Chinese American | Democratic | Delaware | January 15, 1985 | January 20, 1989 | Retired to run unsuccessfully for U.S. Senator from Delaware |
| Douglas Wilder (born 1931) | African American | Democratic | Virginia | January 18, 1986 | January 12, 1990 | Retired to run successfully for governor |
| Ben Cayetano (born 1939) | Filipino American | Democratic | Hawaii | December 2, 1986 | December 2, 1994 | Retired to run successfully for governor |
| Casey Luna (born 1931) | Mexican American | Democratic | New Mexico | January 1, 1991 | January 1, 1995 | Retired to run unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for governor |
| Mazie Hirono (born 1947) | Japanese American | Democratic | Hawaii | December 2, 1994 | December 2, 2002 | Retired to run unsuccessfully for governor |
| Cruz Bustamante (born 1953) | Mexican American | Democratic | California | January 4, 1999 | January 8, 2007 | Retired to run unsuccessfully for California Insurance Commissioner |
| Joe Rogers (1964–2013) | African American | Republican | Colorado | January 12, 1999 | January 14, 2003 | Retired |
| Loren Leman (born 1950) | Native Alaskan (Alutiiq) | Republican | Alaska | December 2, 2002 | December 4, 2006 | Retired |
| Duke Aiona (born 1955) | Native Hawaiian, Chinese American | Republican | Hawaii | December 4, 2002 | December 6, 2010 | Retired to run unsuccessfully for governor |
| Jennette Bradley (born 1952) | African American | Republican | Ohio | January 13, 2003 | January 5, 2005 | Resigned to become Ohio Treasurer |
| Michael Steele (born 1958) | African American | Republican | Maryland | January 15, 2003 | January 17, 2007 | Retired to run unsuccessfully for U.S. Senator from Maryland |
| David Paterson (born 1954) | African American | Democratic | New York | January 1, 2007 | March 17, 2008 | Elevated to governor |
| Anthony Brown (born 1961) | African American | Democratic | Maryland | January 17, 2007 | January 21, 2015 | Retired to run unsuccessfully for governor |
| Malcolm Smith (born 1956) | African American | Democratic | New York | January 7, 2009 | June 8, 2009 | Resigned |
| Pedro Espada Jr. (born 1953) | Puerto Rican | Democratic | New York | June 8, 2009 | July 8, 2009 | Resigned |
| John Garamendi (born 1945) | Basque American | Democratic | California | January 8, 2007 | November 3, 2009 | Resigned to take seat in the U.S. House of Representatives to which he had been elected |
| Mona Pasquil (born 1962) | Filipino American | Democratic | California | November 4, 2009 | April 27, 2010 | Retired |
| Abel Maldonado (born 1967) | Mexican American | Republican | California | April 27, 2010 | January 10, 2011 | Lost reelection |
| John Sanchez (born 1963) | Mexican American | Republican | New Mexico | January 1, 2011 | January 1, 2019 | Term limited |
| Jennifer Carroll (born 1959) | African American | Republican | Florida | January 4, 2011 | March 12, 2013 | Resigned |
| Joseph Garcia (born 1957) | Mexican American | Democratic | Colorado | January 11, 2011 | May 12, 2016 | Resigned |
| Shan Tsutsui (born 1971) | Japanese American | Democratic | Hawaii | December 27, 2012 | January 31, 2018 | Resigned |
| Carlos Lopez-Cantera (born 1973) | Cuban American | Republican | Florida | February 3, 2014 | January 8, 2019 | Resigned |
| Byron Mallott (1943-2020) | Native Alaskan (Tlingit) | Independent | Alaska | December 1, 2014 | October 16, 2018 | Resigned |
| Evelyn Sanguinetti (born 1970) | Cuban American, Ecuadorian American | Republican | Illinois | January 12, 2015 | January 14, 2019 | Lost reelection |
| Jenean Hampton (born 1958) | African American | Republican | Kentucky | December 8, 2015 | December 10, 2019 | Retired |
| Boyd Rutherford (born 1957) | African American | Republican | Maryland | January 21, 2015 | January 18, 2023 | Term limited |
| Cyrus Habib (born 1981) | Iranian American | Democratic | Washington | January 11, 2017 | January 13, 2021 | Retired to become a Jesuit Priest |
| Justin Fairfax (born 1979) | African American | Democratic | Virginia | January 13, 2018 | January 15, 2022 | Retired to run unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for governor |
| Sheila Oliver (1952–2023) | African American | Democratic | New Jersey | January 16, 2018 | August 1, 2023 | Died |
| Doug Chin (born 1971) | Chinese American | Democratic | Hawaii | February 2, 2018 | December 3, 2018 | Retired to run unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for Hawaii's 1st congressional district |
| Valerie Davidson (born 1967) | Native Alaskan (Yup'ik) | Independent | Alaska | October 16, 2018 | December 3, 2018 | Retired |
| Garlin Gilchrist (born 1982) | African American | Democratic | Michigan | January 1, 2019 | present | |
| Howie Morales (born 1973) | Mexican American | Democratic | New Mexico | January 1, 2019 | present | |
| Mandela Barnes (born 1986) | African American | Democratic | Wisconsin | January 7, 2019 | January 3, 2023 | Retired to run unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate. |
| Peggy Flanagan (born 1979) | Native American (Chippewa) | Democratic (DFL) | Minnesota | January 7, 2019 | present | |
| Jeanette Nuñez (born 1972) | Cuban American | Republican | Florida | January 8, 2019 | February 16, 2025 | Resigned to serve as Interim President of Florida International University |
| Juliana Stratton (born 1965) | African American | Democratic | Illinois | January 14, 2019 | present | |
| Mark Robinson (born 1968) | African American | Republican | North Carolina | January 3, 2021 | January 1, 2025 | Retired to run unsuccessfully for governor. |
| Sabina Matos (born 1974) | African American, Dominican American | Democratic | Rhode Island | April 14, 2021 | present | |
| Andrea Stewart-Cousins (born 1950) | African American | Democratic | New York | August 24, 2021 | September 9, 2021 | New Lieutenant Governor appointed |
| Andrea Stewart-Cousins (born 1950) | African American | Democratic | New York | April 12, 2022 | May 25, 2022 | New Lieutenant Governor appointed |
| Brian Benjamin (born 1976) | African American | Democratic | New York | September 9, 2021 | April 12, 2022 | Resigned |
| Lisa Cano Burkhead (born 1970) | Argentine American, Paraguayan American | Democratic | Nevada | December 16, 2021 | January 3, 2023 | Lost election to a full term |
| Winsome Sears (born 1964) | African American, Jamaican American | Republican | Virginia | January 15, 2022 | present | |
| Antonio Delgado (born 1977) | African American, Colombian American, Mexican American, Venezuelan American | Democratic | New York | May 25, 2022 | present | |
| Sylvia Luke (born 1967) | Korean American | Democratic | Hawaii | December 5, 2022 | present | |
| Austin Davis (born 1989) | African American | Democratic | Pennsylvania | January 17, 2023 | present | |
| Aruna Miller (born 1964) | Indian American | Democratic | Maryland | January 18, 2023 | present | |
| Tahesha Way (born 1971/1972) | African American | Democratic | New Jersey | September 8, 2023 | present | |

### Territorial lieutenant governors

In each of the four current U.S. territories that have the office of lieutenant governor, non-white ethnic groups make up large majorities: African Americans in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Chamorros in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, and Samoans in American Samoa. Elected governors and some appointed governors in these territories that have come from these majority ethnic groups are not listed here; for more details see Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands, Lieutenant Governor of Guam, Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa.
| Name | Minority ethnicity | Party | Territory | Term start | Term end | Notes |
| Morris de Castro (1902–1966) | Panamanian American | Democratic | U.S. Virgin Islands | 1945 | March 4, 1950 | Elevated to Acting Governor from October 21, 1949 Later appointed in his own right |
| Kurt Moylan (born 1939) | Native Hawaiian, Chinese American | Republican | Guam | July 20, 1969 | January 6, 1975 | Appointed Secretary before being elected lieutenant governor in his own right from January 4, 1971 Lost reelection |
| Kaleo Moylan (born 1966) | Native Hawaiian, Chinese American | Republican | Guam | January 6, 2003 | January 1, 2007 | Retired to run unsuccessfully for nomination to governor |