# List of governors of Ohio

The governor of Ohio is the head of government of Ohio and the commander-in-chief of the U.S. state's military forces. The officeholder has a duty to enforce state laws, the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Ohio General Assembly, the power to convene the legislature and the power to grant pardons, except in cases of treason and impeachment.
There have been 64 governors of Ohio, serving 70 distinct terms. The longest term was held by Jim Rhodes, who was elected four times and served just under sixteen years in two non-consecutive periods of two terms each (1963–1971 and 1975–1983). The shortest terms were held by John William Brown and Nancy Hollister, who each served for only 11 days after the governors preceding them resigned in order to begin the terms to which they had been elected in the United States Senate; the shortest-serving elected governor was John M. Pattison, who died in office five months into his term.
The current governor is Republican Mike DeWine (R), who took office on January 14, 2019, and was re-elected in 2022. After eight years the incumbent is term-limited and ineligible to seek a third consecutive term in the 2026 Ohio gubernatorial election.

## Qualifications

To become governor of Ohio, a candidate must be a qualified elector in the state. This means that any candidate for governor must be at least 18 years old at the time of election, a resident of Ohio for at least 30 days before the election, and a U.S. citizen. Convicted felons and those deemed by the courts as incompetent to vote are not eligible. There is a term limit of two consecutive terms as governor.

## Powers

The governor is 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 bills passed by the Ohio State Legislature; the power to convene the legislature; and the power to grant pardons, except in cases of treason and impeachment.
Other duties and privileges of the office include:
* Executing all laws and requiring written information on any office from the head of that office
* Making an annual address to the General Assembly, with recommendation for legislation
* Convening extraordinary sessions of the legislature with limited purposes
* Adjourning the legislature when the two chambers cannot agree to do so themselves, not to include the privilege of adjourning the legislature past the sine die set for the regular session
* Keeping and using "The Great Seal of the State of Ohio"
* Signing and sealing all commissions granted in the name of the state of Ohio
* Nominating, in the event of a vacancy in the Lieutenant Governor's office, a new officer, subject to a confirmatory vote of both chambers of the legislature
* Making vacancy appointments for all "key state officers" (the Auditor, the Treasurer, the Secretary of State, and the Attorney General. Such appointments are for the remainder of the term when the next general election is less than 40 days away and until the next general election otherwise
* Accepting a report from the head of each executive department at least once a year, not later than five days before the regular session of the legislature convenes, and including the substance of those reports in the annual address to the legislature
* Making all appointments not otherwise provided for, with the advice and consent of the Senate, unless the Senate refuses to act, in which case the Governor's appointee takes offices by default

## Succession

Should the office of governor become vacant due to death, resignation, or conviction of impeachment, the lieutenant governor assumes the title of governor. Should the office of lieutenant governor also become vacant, the president of the senate becomes the acting governor. If the vacancy of both offices took place during the first twenty months of the term, a special election is to be held on the next even-numbered year to elect new officers to serve out the current term. Prior to 1851, the speaker of the senate acted as governor for the term. Since 1978, the governor and lieutenant governor have been elected on the same ticket; prior to then, they could be (and often were) members of different parties.

## List of governors
### Northwest Territory

The Territory Northwest of the Ohio River, commonly known as the Northwest Territory, was organized on July 13, 1787. Many territories and states were split from Northwest Territory over the years, with the last portion being split between Indiana Territory and the newly admitted state of Ohio on March 1, 1803.
Throughout its 15-year history, Northwest Territory had only one governor appointed by the federal government, Arthur St. Clair. He was removed from office by President Thomas Jefferson on November 22, 1802, and no successor was named; Secretary of the Territory Charles Willing Byrd acted as governor until statehood.
Governor of the Territory Northwest of the River Ohio :
| Governor | Term in office | Appointed by |
| Arthur St. Clair (1737–1818) | October 5, 1787 – November 22, 1802 (removed) | Continental Congress |
| Arthur St. Clair (1737–1818) | October 5, 1787 – November 22, 1802 (removed) | George Washington |
| Arthur St. Clair (1737–1818) | October 5, 1787 – November 22, 1802 (removed) | John Adams |

### State of Ohio

Ohio was admitted to the Union on March 1, 1803. Since then, it has had 64 governors, six of whom (Allen Trimble, Wilson Shannon, Rutherford B. Hayes, James M. Cox, Frank Lausche, and Jim Rhodes) served non-consecutive terms.
The first constitution of 1803 allowed governors to serve for two-year terms, limited to six of any eight years, commencing on the first Monday in the December following an election. The current constitution of 1851 removed the term limit, and shifted the start of the term to the second Monday in January following an election. In 1908, Ohio switched from holding elections in odd-numbered years to even-numbered years, with the preceding governor (from the 1905 election) serving an extra year. A 1957 amendment lengthened the term to four years and allowed governors to only succeed themselves once, having to wait four years after their second term in a row before being allowed to run again. An Ohio Supreme Court ruling in 1973 clarified this to mean governors could theoretically serve unlimited terms, as long as they waited four years after every second term.
Governors of the State of Ohio :
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | Lt. Governor |
| 1 | Edward Tiffin (1766–1829) | March 3, 1803 – March 4, 1807 (resigned) | Democratic- Republican | 1803 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 1 | Edward Tiffin (1766–1829) | March 3, 1803 – March 4, 1807 (resigned) | Democratic- Republican | 1805 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 2 | Thomas Kirker (1760–1837) | March 4, 1807 – December 12, 1808 (lost election) | Democratic- Republican | Speaker of the Senate acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 2 | Thomas Kirker (1760–1837) | March 4, 1807 – December 12, 1808 (lost election) | Democratic- Republican | 1807 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 3 | Samuel Huntington (1765–1817) | December 12, 1808 – December 8, 1810 (did not run) | Democratic- Republican | 1808 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 4 | Return J. Meigs Jr. (1764–1825) | December 8, 1810 – March 25, 1814 (resigned) | Democratic- Republican | 1810 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 4 | Return J. Meigs Jr. (1764–1825) | December 8, 1810 – March 25, 1814 (resigned) | Democratic- Republican | 1812 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 5 | Othniel Looker (1757–1845) | March 25, 1814 – December 8, 1814 (lost election) | Democratic- Republican | Speaker of the Senate acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 6 | Thomas Worthington (1773–1827) | December 8, 1814 – December 14, 1818 (did not run) | Democratic- Republican | 1814 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 6 | Thomas Worthington (1773–1827) | December 8, 1814 – December 14, 1818 (did not run) | Democratic- Republican | 1816 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 7 | Ethan Allen Brown (1776–1852) | December 14, 1818 – January 4, 1822 (resigned) | Democratic- Republican | 1818 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 7 | Ethan Allen Brown (1776–1852) | December 14, 1818 – January 4, 1822 (resigned) | Democratic- Republican | 1820 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 8 | Allen Trimble (1783–1870) | January 4, 1822 – December 28, 1822 (lost election) | Democratic- Republican | Speaker of the Senate acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 9 | Jeremiah Morrow (1771–1852) | December 28, 1822 – December 19, 1826 (did not run) | Democratic- Republican | 1822 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 9 | Jeremiah Morrow (1771–1852) | December 28, 1822 – December 19, 1826 (did not run) | Democratic- Republican | 1824 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 10 | Allen Trimble (1783–1870) | December 19, 1826 – December 18, 1830 (did not run) | National Republican | 1826 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 10 | Allen Trimble (1783–1870) | December 19, 1826 – December 18, 1830 (did not run) | National Republican | 1828 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 11 | Duncan McArthur (1772–1839) | December 18, 1830 – December 7, 1832 (did not run) | National Republican | 1830 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 12 | Robert Lucas (1781–1853) | December 7, 1832 – December 13, 1836 (did not run) | Democratic | 1832 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 12 | Robert Lucas (1781–1853) | December 7, 1832 – December 13, 1836 (did not run) | Democratic | 1834 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 13 | Joseph Vance (1786–1852) | December 13, 1836 – December 13, 1838 (lost election) | Whig | 1836 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 14 | Wilson Shannon (1802–1877) | December 13, 1838 – December 16, 1840 (lost election) | Democratic | 1838 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 15 | Thomas Corwin (1794–1865) | December 16, 1840 – December 14, 1842 (lost election) | Whig | 1840 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 16 | Wilson Shannon (1802–1877) | December 14, 1842 – April 15, 1844 (resigned) | Democratic | 1842 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 17 | Thomas W. Bartley (1812–1885) | April 15, 1844 – December 3, 1844 (lost nomination) | Democratic | Speaker of the Senate acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 18 | Mordecai Bartley (1783–1870) | December 3, 1844 – December 12, 1846 (did not run) | Whig | 1844 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 19 | William Bebb (1802–1873) | December 12, 1846 – January 22, 1849 (did not run) | Whig | 1846 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 20 | Seabury Ford (1801–1855) | January 22, 1849 – December 12, 1850 (did not run) | Whig | 1848 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 21 | Reuben Wood (d. 1864) | December 12, 1850 – July 13, 1853 (resigned) | Democratic | 1850 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 21 | Reuben Wood (d. 1864) | December 12, 1850 – July 13, 1853 (resigned) | Democratic | 1851 | | William Medill |
| 22 | William Medill (1802–1865) | July 13, 1853 – January 14, 1856 (lost election) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 22 | William Medill (1802–1865) | July 13, 1853 – January 14, 1856 (lost election) | Democratic | 1853 | | James Myers |
| 23 | Salmon P. Chase (1808–1873) | January 14, 1856 – January 9, 1860 (did not run) | Republican | 1855 | | Thomas H. Ford |
| 23 | Salmon P. Chase (1808–1873) | January 14, 1856 – January 9, 1860 (did not run) | Republican | 1857 | | Martin Welker |
| 24 | William Dennison Jr. (1815–1882) | January 9, 1860 – January 13, 1862 (did not run) | Republican | 1859 | | Robert C. Kirk |
| 25 | David Tod (1805–1868) | January 13, 1862 – January 11, 1864 (lost nomination) | Union | 1861 | | Benjamin Stanton |
| 26 | John Brough (1811–1865) | January 11, 1864 – August 29, 1865 (died in office) | Union | 1863 | | Charles Anderson |
| 27 | Charles Anderson (1814–1895) | August 29, 1865 – January 8, 1866 (did not run) | Union | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 28 | Jacob Dolson Cox (1828–1900) | January 8, 1866 – January 13, 1868 (did not run) | Republican | 1865 | | Andrew McBurney |
| 29 | Rutherford B. Hayes (1822–1893) | January 13, 1868 – January 8, 1872 (did not run) | Republican | 1867 | | John C. Lee |
| 29 | Rutherford B. Hayes (1822–1893) | January 13, 1868 – January 8, 1872 (did not run) | Republican | 1869 | | John C. Lee |
| 30 | Edward Follansbee Noyes (1832–1890) | January 8, 1872 – January 12, 1874 (lost election) | Republican | 1871 | | Jacob Mueller |
| 31 | William Allen (1803–1879) | January 12, 1874 – January 10, 1876 (lost election) | Democratic | 1873 | | Alphonso Hart |
| 32 | Rutherford B. Hayes (1822–1893) | January 10, 1876 – March 2, 1877 (resigned) | Republican | 1875 | | Thomas L. Young |
| 33 | Thomas L. Young (1832–1888) | March 2, 1877 – January 14, 1878 (did not run) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | | H. W. Curtiss (acting) |
| 34 | Richard M. Bishop (1812–1893) | January 14, 1878 – January 12, 1880 (lost nomination) | Democratic | 1877 | | Jabez W. Fitch |
| 35 | Charles Foster (1828–1904) | January 12, 1880 – January 14, 1884 (did not run) | Republican | 1879 | | Andrew Hickenlooper |
| 35 | Charles Foster (1828–1904) | January 12, 1880 – January 14, 1884 (did not run) | Republican | 1881 | | Rees G. Richards |
| 36 | George Hoadly (1826–1902) | January 14, 1884 – January 11, 1886 (lost election) | Democratic | 1883 | | John G. Warwick |
| 37 | Joseph B. Foraker (1846–1917) | January 11, 1886 – January 13, 1890 (lost election) | Republican | 1885 | | Robert P. Kennedy (resigned March 3, 1887) |
| 37 | Joseph B. Foraker (1846–1917) | January 11, 1886 – January 13, 1890 (lost election) | Republican | 1885 | | Silas A. Conrad |
| 37 | Joseph B. Foraker (1846–1917) | January 11, 1886 – January 13, 1890 (lost election) | Republican | 1887 | | William C. Lyon |
| 38 | James E. Campbell (1843–1924) | January 13, 1890 – January 11, 1892 (lost election) | Democratic | 1889 | | Elbert L. Lampson (replaced January 31, 1890) |
| 38 | James E. Campbell (1843–1924) | January 13, 1890 – January 11, 1892 (lost election) | Democratic | 1889 | | William V. Marquis |
| 39 | William McKinley (1843–1901) | January 11, 1892 – January 13, 1896 (did not run) | Republican | 1891 | | Andrew L. Harris |
| 39 | William McKinley (1843–1901) | January 11, 1892 – January 13, 1896 (did not run) | Republican | 1893 | | Andrew L. Harris |
| 40 | Asa S. Bushnell (1834–1904) | January 13, 1896 – January 8, 1900 (did not run) | Republican | 1895 | | Asa W. Jones |
| 40 | Asa S. Bushnell (1834–1904) | January 13, 1896 – January 8, 1900 (did not run) | Republican | 1897 | | Asa W. Jones |
| 41 | George K. Nash (1842–1904) | January 8, 1900 – January 11, 1904 (did not run) | Republican | 1899 | | John A. Caldwell |
| 41 | George K. Nash (1842–1904) | January 8, 1900 – January 11, 1904 (did not run) | Republican | 1901 | | Carl L. Nippert (resigned May 1, 1902) |
| 41 | George K. Nash (1842–1904) | January 8, 1900 – January 11, 1904 (did not run) | Republican | 1901 | | Harry L. Gordon |
| 42 | Myron T. Herrick (1854–1929) | January 11, 1904 – January 8, 1906 (lost election) | Republican | 1903 | | Warren G. Harding |
| 43 | John M. Pattison (1847–1906) | January 8, 1906 – June 18, 1906 (died in office) | Democratic | 1905 | | Andrew L. Harris |
| 44 | Andrew L. Harris (1835–1915) | June 18, 1906 – January 11, 1909 (lost election) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 45 | Judson Harmon (1846–1927) | January 11, 1909 – January 13, 1913 (did not run) | Democratic | 1908 | | Francis W. Treadway |
| 45 | Judson Harmon (1846–1927) | January 11, 1909 – January 13, 1913 (did not run) | Democratic | 1910 | | Atlee Pomerene (resigned March 4, 1911) |
| 45 | Judson Harmon (1846–1927) | January 11, 1909 – January 13, 1913 (did not run) | Democratic | 1910 | | Hugh L. Nichols |
| 46 | James M. Cox (1870–1957) | January 13, 1913 – January 11, 1915 (lost election) | Democratic | 1912 | | W. A. Greenlund |
| 47 | Frank B. Willis (1871–1928) | January 11, 1915 – January 8, 1917 (lost election) | Republican | 1914 | | John H. Arnold |
| 48 | James M. Cox (1870–1957) | January 8, 1917 – January 10, 1921 (did not run) | Democratic | 1916 | | Earl D. Bloom |
| 48 | James M. Cox (1870–1957) | January 8, 1917 – January 10, 1921 (did not run) | Democratic | 1918 | | Clarence J. Brown |
| 49 | Harry L. Davis (1878–1950) | January 10, 1921 – January 8, 1923 (did not run) | Republican | 1920 | | Clarence J. Brown |
| 50 | A. Victor Donahey (1873–1946) | January 8, 1923 – January 14, 1929 (did not run) | Democratic | 1922 | | Earl D. Bloom |
| 50 | A. Victor Donahey (1873–1946) | January 8, 1923 – January 14, 1929 (did not run) | Democratic | 1924 | | Charles H. Lewis |
| 50 | A. Victor Donahey (1873–1946) | January 8, 1923 – January 14, 1929 (did not run) | Democratic | 1926 | | Earl D. Bloom (resigned April 1928) |
| 50 | A. Victor Donahey (1873–1946) | January 8, 1923 – January 14, 1929 (did not run) | Democratic | 1926 | | William G. Pickrel (term ended November 1928) |
| 50 | A. Victor Donahey (1873–1946) | January 8, 1923 – January 14, 1929 (did not run) | Democratic | 1926 | | George C. Braden |
| 51 | Myers Y. Cooper (1873–1958) | January 14, 1929 – January 12, 1931 (lost election) | Republican | 1928 | | John T. Brown |
| 52 | George White (1872–1953) | January 12, 1931 – January 14, 1935 (did not run) | Democratic | 1930 | | William G. Pickrel |
| 52 | George White (1872–1953) | January 12, 1931 – January 14, 1935 (did not run) | Democratic | 1932 | | Charles W. Sawyer |
| 53 | Martin L. Davey (1884–1946) | January 14, 1935 – January 9, 1939 (lost nomination) | Democratic | 1934 | | Harold G. Mosier |
| 53 | Martin L. Davey (1884–1946) | January 14, 1935 – January 9, 1939 (lost nomination) | Democratic | 1936 | | Paul P. Yoder |
| 54 | John W. Bricker (1893–1986) | January 9, 1939 – January 8, 1945 (did not run) | Republican | 1938 | | Paul M. Herbert |
| 54 | John W. Bricker (1893–1986) | January 9, 1939 – January 8, 1945 (did not run) | Republican | 1940 | | Paul M. Herbert |
| 54 | John W. Bricker (1893–1986) | January 9, 1939 – January 8, 1945 (did not run) | Republican | 1942 | | Paul M. Herbert |
| 55 | Frank Lausche (1895–1990) | January 8, 1945 – January 13, 1947 (lost election) | Democratic | 1944 | | George D. Nye |
| 56 | Thomas J. Herbert (1894–1974) | January 13, 1947 – January 10, 1949 (lost election) | Republican | 1946 | | Paul M. Herbert |
| 57 | Frank Lausche (1895–1990) | January 10, 1949 – January 3, 1957 (resigned) | Democratic | 1948 | | George D. Nye |
| 57 | Frank Lausche (1895–1990) | January 10, 1949 – January 3, 1957 (resigned) | Democratic | 1950 | | George D. Nye |
| 57 | Frank Lausche (1895–1990) | January 10, 1949 – January 3, 1957 (resigned) | Democratic | 1952 | | John William Brown |
| 57 | Frank Lausche (1895–1990) | January 10, 1949 – January 3, 1957 (resigned) | Democratic | 1954 | | John William Brown |
| 58 | John William Brown (1913–1993) | January 3, 1957 – January 14, 1957 (successor took office) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 59 | C. William O'Neill (1916–1978) | January 14, 1957 – January 12, 1959 (lost election) | Republican | 1956 | | Paul M. Herbert |
| 60 | Michael DiSalle (1908–1981) | January 12, 1959 – January 14, 1963 (lost election) | Democratic | 1958 | | John W. Donahey |
| 61 | Jim Rhodes (1909–2001) | January 14, 1963 – January 11, 1971 (term-limited) | Republican | 1962 | | John William Brown |
| 61 | Jim Rhodes (1909–2001) | January 14, 1963 – January 11, 1971 (term-limited) | Republican | 1966 | | John William Brown |
| 62 | John J. Gilligan (1921–2013) | January 11, 1971 – January 13, 1975 (lost election) | Democratic | 1970 | | John William Brown |
| 63 | Jim Rhodes (1909–2001) | January 13, 1975 – January 10, 1983 (term-limited) | Republican | 1974 | | Dick Celeste |
| 63 | Jim Rhodes (1909–2001) | January 13, 1975 – January 10, 1983 (term-limited) | Republican | 1978 | | George Voinovich (resigned November 1979) |
| Vacant ||
| 64 | Dick Celeste (b. 1937) | January 10, 1983 – January 14, 1991 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1982 | | Myrl Shoemaker (died July 30, 1985) |
| Vacant ||
| 64 | Dick Celeste (b. 1937) | January 10, 1983 – January 14, 1991 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1986 | | Paul Leonard |
| 65 | George Voinovich (1936–2016) | January 14, 1991 – December 31, 1998 (resigned) | Republican | 1990 | | Mike DeWine (resigned November 12, 1994) |
| Vacant ||
| 65 | George Voinovich (1936–2016) | January 14, 1991 – December 31, 1998 (resigned) | Republican | 1994 | | Nancy Hollister |
| 66 | Nancy Hollister (b. 1949) | December 31, 1998 – January 11, 1999 (successor took office) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 67 | Bob Taft (b. 1942) | January 11, 1999 – January 8, 2007 (term-limited) | Republican | 1998 | | Maureen O'Connor (resigned December 31, 2002) |
| Vacant ||
| 67 | Bob Taft (b. 1942) | January 11, 1999 – January 8, 2007 (term-limited) | Republican | 2002 | | Jennette Bradley (resigned January 5, 2005) |
| 67 | Bob Taft (b. 1942) | January 11, 1999 – January 8, 2007 (term-limited) | Republican | 2002 | | Bruce Johnson (resigned December 8, 2006) |
| Vacant ||
| 68 | Ted Strickland (b. 1941) | January 8, 2007 – January 10, 2011 (lost election) | Democratic | 2006 | | Lee Fisher |
| 69 | John Kasich (b. 1952) | January 10, 2011 – January 14, 2019 (term-limited) | Republican | 2010 | | Mary Taylor |
| 69 | John Kasich (b. 1952) | January 10, 2011 – January 14, 2019 (term-limited) | Republican | 2014 | | Mary Taylor |
| 70 | Mike DeWine (b. 1947) | January 14, 2019 – Incumbent | Republican | 2018 | | Jon Husted (resigned January 21, 2025) |
| 70 | Mike DeWine (b. 1947) | January 14, 2019 – Incumbent | Republican | 2022 | | Jon Husted (resigned January 21, 2025) |
| Vacant ||
| 70 | Mike DeWine (b. 1947) | January 14, 2019 – Incumbent | Republican | 2022 | | Jim Tressel (appointed February 14, 2025) |