# List of first ministers of Wales

* Top left: Alun Michael was the first-ever first minister of Wales.
* Top right: Rhodri Morgan was the longest-serving first minister of Wales.
* Bottom left: Vaughan Gething was the first black first minister of Wales and the shortest-serving first minister.
* Bottom right: Eluned Morgan, the current first minister and first female first minister.
This is a list of the first ministers of Wales. The role of "First Secretary of Wales" was introduced in 1999 with the establishment of the National Assembly for Wales (now Senedd) following the 1997 referendum. The title of the role was changed to "First Minister of Wales" in October 2000, a change which was recognised in law following the enactment of the Government of Wales Act 2006. All first ministers to date have also served concurrently as leader of Welsh Labour.

## List of First Ministers of Wales

| No. | Name (Birth–Death) Constituency/Title | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Elected | Government | Deputy | Deputy |
| 1 | Alun Michael (born 1943) AM for Mid and West Wales As First Secretary | 12 May 1999 | 9 February 2000 | 273 days | Labour | 1999 | Michael Lab (minority) | none | none |
| 2 | Rhodri Morgan (1939–2017) AM for Cardiff West Office renamed First Minister on 16 October 2000 | 9 February 2000 | 10 December 2009 | 9 years, 304 days | Labour | 1999 | Interim Rh. Morgan Lab (minority) | none | none |
| 2 | Rhodri Morgan (1939–2017) AM for Cardiff West Office renamed First Minister on 16 October 2000 | 9 February 2000 | 10 December 2009 | 9 years, 304 days | Labour | 1999 | Rh. Morgan I Lab – LD | | Mike German (LD) 2000–01 and 2002-03 Jenny Randerson 2001–02 (acting) |
| 2 | Rhodri Morgan (1939–2017) AM for Cardiff West Office renamed First Minister on 16 October 2000 | 9 February 2000 | 10 December 2009 | 9 years, 304 days | Labour | 2003 | Rh. Morgan II Lab (minority) | none | none |
| 2 | Rhodri Morgan (1939–2017) AM for Cardiff West Office renamed First Minister on 16 October 2000 | 9 February 2000 | 10 December 2009 | 9 years, 304 days | Labour | 2007 | Rh. Morgan III Lab (minority) | none | none |
| 2 | Rhodri Morgan (1939–2017) AM for Cardiff West Office renamed First Minister on 16 October 2000 | 9 February 2000 | 10 December 2009 | 9 years, 304 days | Labour | 2007 | Rh. Morgan IV Lab – Plaid | | Ieuan Wyn Jones (Plaid Cymru) |
| 3 | Carwyn Jones later created Baron Jones of Penybont (born 1967) AM for Bridgend | 10 December 2009 | 12 December 2018 | 9 years, 2 days | Labour | 2007 | Jones I Lab – Plaid | | Ieuan Wyn Jones (Plaid Cymru) |
| 3 | Carwyn Jones later created Baron Jones of Penybont (born 1967) AM for Bridgend | 10 December 2009 | 12 December 2018 | 9 years, 2 days | Labour | 2011 | Jones II Lab (minority) | none | none |
| 3 | Carwyn Jones later created Baron Jones of Penybont (born 1967) AM for Bridgend | 10 December 2009 | 12 December 2018 | 9 years, 2 days | Labour | 2016 | Jones III Lab – LD - Ind | none | none |
| 4 | Mark Drakeford (born 1954) MS for Cardiff West | 13 December 2018 | 20 March 2024 | 5 years, 98 days | Labour | 2016 | Drakeford I Lab – LD - Ind | none | none |
| 4 | Mark Drakeford (born 1954) MS for Cardiff West | 13 December 2018 | 20 March 2024 | 5 years, 98 days | Labour | 2021 | Drakeford II Lab (minority) | none | none |
| 5 | Vaughan Gething (born 1974) MS for Cardiff South and Penarth | 20 March 2024 | 5 August 2024 | 138 days | Labour | 2021 | Gething Lab (minority) | none | none |
| 6 | Eluned Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Ely (born 1967) MS for Mid and West Wales | 6 August 2024 | Incumbent | 219 days | Labour | 2021 | E. Morgan Lab (minority) | | Huw Irranca-Davies Labour |

## Previous nominations
### August 2024

August 2024 Nomination of First Minister :
| Date: | Date: | 6 August 2024 |
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes |
| | Eluned Morgan (Labour) | 28 / 56 |
| | Andrew R. T. Davies (Conservative) | 15 / 56 |
| | Rhun ap Iorwerth (Plaid Cymru) | 12 / 56 |
| | Abstentions | 1 / 56 |
| Source: Senedd |||

### March 2024

March 2024 Nomination of First Minister :
| Date: | Date: | 20 March 2024 |
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes |
| | Vaughan Gething (Labour) | 27 / 51 |
| | Andrew R.T. Davies (Conservative) | 13 / 51 |
| | Rhun ap Iorwerth (Plaid Cymru) | 11 / 51 |
| Source: Senedd |||

### 2021

On 12 May 2021, Mark Drakeford was the only person nominated for the position (by Rebecca Evans), and was a subsequently recommended by the presiding officer to be appointed as First Minister.

### 2018

2018 Nomination of First Minister :
| Date: | Date: | 12 December 2018 |
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes |
| | Mark Drakeford (Labour) | 30 / 56 |
| | Paul Davies (Conservative) | 12 / 56 |
| | Adam Price (Plaid Cymru) | 9 / 56 |
| | Abstentions | 5 / 56 |
| Source: Senedd |||

### 2016

2016 Nomination of First Minister :
| Date: | Date: | 11 May 2016 |
| Candidate | Candidate | Votes |
| | Carwyn Jones (Labour) | 29 / 58 |
| | Leanne Wood (Plaid Cymru) | 29 / 58 |
| | Abstentions | 0 / 56 |
| Source: Senedd |||

### 2011

On 11 May 2011, Carwyn Jones was the only person nominated for the position (by Janice Gregory), and was a subsequently recommended by the presiding officer to be appointed as First Minister.

### 2009

On 9 December 2009, Carwyn Jones was the only person nominated for the position (by Rhodri Morgan), and was a subsequently recommended by the presiding officer to be appointed as First Minister.

### 2007

On 25 May 2007, Rhodri Morgan was the only person nominated for the position (by Jane Hutt), and was a subsequently recommended by the presiding officer to be appointed as First Minister.

### 2003

On 7 May 2003, Rhodri Morgan was the only person nominated for the position (by Lynne Neagle), and was a subsequently elected as First Minister.

### 2000

On Wednesday 9 February 2000, following the resignation of Alun Michael, the Assembly cabinet unanimously elected Rhodri Morgan as acting First Secretary. He was elected unopposed as First Secretary by the whole Assembly (after being proposed by Andrew Davies) the following week on Tuesday 15 February.

### 1999

On 12 May 1999, Alun Michael was the only person nominated for the position (by Rhodri Morgan and seconded by Ann Jones), and was a subsequently elected as First Secretary.