# List of governors of Kentucky

The governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of government of Kentucky, and serves as 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 Kentucky General Assembly; the power to convene the legislature; and the power to grant pardons, except in cases of treason and impeachment. The governor is also empowered to reorganize the state government or reduce it in size. Historically, the office has been regarded as one of the most powerful executive positions in the United States.
Fifty-nine individuals have held the office of governor. Prior to a 1992 amendment to the state's constitution, the governor was prohibited from succeeding himself or herself in office, though four men (Isaac Shelby, John L. Helm, James B. McCreary and Happy Chandler) served multiple non-consecutive terms. Paul E. Patton, the first Kentucky governor eligible for a second consecutive term under the amendment, won his reelection bid in 1999. James Garrard succeeded himself in 1800, before the constitutional provision existed. Garrard is also the longest serving governor, serving for a total period of eight years and 90 days. In 2023 Democrat Andy Beshear became the 3rd incumbent governor in Kentucky history to be reelected to a second consecutive term.
William Goebel, who was elected to the office in the disputed election of 1899, remains the only governor of any U.S. state to die from assassination while in office. Goebel is also the shortest serving governor, serving for a period of only three days. Martha Layne Collins, who held the office from 1983 to 1987, was the first woman to serve as governor and was only the third woman to serve as governor of any U.S. state who was not the wife or widow of a previous governor. The 63rd and current Kentucky governor is Democrat Andy Beshear, who took office on December 10, 2019.

## Governors

Kentucky County, Virginia was admitted to the Union as Kentucky on June 1, 1792. There have been 59 governors, serving 63 distinct terms.
An unelected group proclaimed Kentucky's secession from the Union on November 20, 1861, and it was annexed by the Confederate States of America on December 10, 1861. The Confederate government elected two governors, but it never held much control over the state.
The original 1792 Kentucky Constitution had the governor chosen by an electoral college for a term of four years, commencing on the first day of June. The second constitution in 1799 changed this to a popular vote, prevented governors from succeeding themselves within seven years of their terms, and moved the start date to the fourth Tuesday after the election. The third constitution in 1850 reduced the succession limitation to four years, and moved the start date of the term to the fifth Tuesday after the election. A 1992 amendment allowed governors to have a second term before being prevented from succeeding themselves for four years. Originally, should the office of governor be vacant, the speaker of the Senate would exercise the powers of the office; in 1799, the office of lieutenant governor was created to fill this role, and, as of 1992, is elected on the same ticket as the governor.
Governors of the Commonwealth of Kentucky :
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | Lt. Governor |
| 1 | Isaac Shelby (1750–1826) | June 4, 1792 – June 1, 1796 (did not run) | Democratic- Republican | 1792 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 2 | James Garrard (1749–1822) | June 1, 1796 – September 5, 1804 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1796 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 2 | James Garrard (1749–1822) | June 1, 1796 – September 5, 1804 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1800 | | Alexander Scott Bullitt |
| 3 | Christopher Greenup (1750–1818) | September 5, 1804 – August 23, 1808 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1804 | | John Caldwell (died November 19, 1804) |
| Vacant ||
| 3 | Christopher Greenup (1750–1818) | September 5, 1804 – August 23, 1808 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1804 | | Thomas Posey (acting, elected Speaker in 1805) |
| 4 | Charles Scott (1739–1813) | August 23, 1808 – August 24, 1812 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1808 | | Gabriel Slaughter |
| 5 | Isaac Shelby (1750–1826) | August 24, 1812 – September 5, 1816 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1812 | | Richard Hickman |
| 6 | George Madison (1763–1816) | September 5, 1816 – October 14, 1816 (died in office) | Democratic- Republican | 1816 | | Gabriel Slaughter |
| 7 | Gabriel Slaughter (1767–1830) | October 14, 1816 – September 7, 1820 (did not run) | Democratic- Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 8 | John Adair (1757–1840) | September 7, 1820 – August 24, 1824 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1820 | | William T. Barry |
| 9 | Joseph Desha (1768–1842) | August 24, 1824 – August 26, 1828 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1824 | | Robert B. McAfee |
| 10 | Thomas Metcalfe (1780–1855) | August 26, 1828 – August 28, 1832 (term-limited) | National Republican | 1828 | | John Breathitt |
| 11 | John Breathitt (1786–1834) | August 28, 1832 – February 21, 1834 (died in office) | Democratic | 1832 | | James Turner Morehead |
| 12 | James Turner Morehead (1797–1854) | February 21, 1834 – August 30, 1836 (did not run) | National Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 13 | James Clark (1779–1839) | August 30, 1836 – August 27, 1839 (died in office) | Whig | 1836 | | Charles A. Wickliffe |
| 14 | Charles A. Wickliffe (1788–1869) | August 27, 1839 – September 2, 1840 (did not run) | Whig | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 15 | Robert P. Letcher (1788–1861) | September 2, 1840 – September 4, 1844 (term-limited) | Whig | 1840 | | Manlius Valerius Thomson |
| 16 | William Owsley (1782–1862) | September 4, 1844 – September 6, 1848 (term-limited) | Whig | 1844 | | Archibald Dixon |
| 17 | John J. Crittenden (1787–1863) | September 6, 1848 – July 30, 1850 (resigned) | Whig | 1848 | | John L. Helm |
| 18 | John L. Helm (1802–1867) | July 30, 1850 – September 2, 1851 (did not run) | Whig | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 19 | Lazarus W. Powell (1812–1867) | September 2, 1851 – September 4, 1855 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1851 | | John Burton Thompson |
| 20 | Charles S. Morehead (1802–1868) | September 4, 1855 – August 30, 1859 (term-limited) | American | 1855 | | James Greene Hardy |
| 21 | Beriah Magoffin (1815–1885) | August 30, 1859 – August 18, 1862 (resigned) | Democratic | 1859 | | Linn Boyd (died December 17, 1859) |
| Vacant ||
| 22 | James Fisher Robinson (1800–1882) | August 18, 1862 – September 1, 1863 (did not run) | Democratic | Succeeded from president of the Senate | Vacant | Vacant |
| 23 | Thomas E. Bramlette (1817–1875) | September 1, 1863 – September 3, 1867 (term-limited) | Union Democratic | 1863 | | Richard Taylor Jacob |
| 24 | John L. Helm (1802–1867) | September 3, 1867 – September 8, 1867 (died in office) | Democratic | 1867 | | John W. Stevenson |
| 25 | John W. Stevenson (1812–1886) | September 8, 1867 – February 13, 1871 (resigned) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 25 | John W. Stevenson (1812–1886) | September 8, 1867 – February 13, 1871 (resigned) | Democratic | 1868 (special) | Vacant | Vacant |
| 26 | Preston Leslie (1819–1907) | February 13, 1871 – August 31, 1875 (term-limited) | Democratic | Succeeded from president of the Senate | Vacant | Vacant |
| 26 | Preston Leslie (1819–1907) | February 13, 1871 – August 31, 1875 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1871 | | John G. Carlisle |
| 27 | James B. McCreary (1838–1918) | August 31, 1875 – September 2, 1879 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1875 | | John C. Underwood |
| 28 | Luke P. Blackburn (1816–1887) | September 2, 1879 – September 4, 1883 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1879 | | James E. Cantrill |
| 29 | J. Proctor Knott (1830–1911) | September 4, 1883 – August 30, 1887 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1883 | | James R. Hindman |
| 30 | Simon Bolivar Buckner (1823–1914) | August 30, 1887 – September 1, 1891 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1887 | | James William Bryan |
| 31 | John Y. Brown (1835–1904) | September 1, 1891 – December 10, 1895 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1891 | | Mitchell Cary Alford |
| 32 | William O'Connell Bradley (1847–1914) | December 10, 1895 – December 12, 1899 (term-limited) | Republican | 1895 | | William Jackson Worthington |
| 33 | William S. Taylor (1853–1928) | December 12, 1899 – January 31, 1900 (removed from office) | Republican | 1899 | | John Marshall |
| 34 | William Goebel (1856–1900) | January 31, 1900 – February 3, 1900 (died in office) | Democratic | 1899 | | J. C. W. Beckham |
| 35 | J. C. W. Beckham (1869–1940) | February 3, 1900 – December 10, 1907 (term-limited) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 35 | J. C. W. Beckham (1869–1940) | February 3, 1900 – December 10, 1907 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1900 (special) | Vacant | Vacant |
| 35 | J. C. W. Beckham (1869–1940) | February 3, 1900 – December 10, 1907 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1903 | | William P. Thorne |
| 36 | Augustus E. Willson (1846–1931) | December 10, 1907 – December 12, 1911 (term-limited) | Republican | 1907 | | William Hopkinson Cox |
| 37 | James B. McCreary (1838–1918) | December 12, 1911 – December 7, 1915 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1911 | | Edward J. McDermott |
| 38 | Augustus Owsley Stanley (1867–1958) | December 7, 1915 – May 19, 1919 (resigned) | Democratic | 1915 | | James D. Black |
| 39 | James D. Black (1849–1938) | May 19, 1919 – December 9, 1919 (lost election) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 40 | Edwin P. Morrow (1877–1935) | December 9, 1919 – December 11, 1923 (term-limited) | Republican | 1919 | | S. Thruston Ballard |
| 41 | William J. Fields (1874–1954) | December 11, 1923 – December 13, 1927 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1923 | | Henry Denhardt |
| 42 | Flem D. Sampson (1875–1967) | December 13, 1927 – December 8, 1931 (term-limited) | Republican | 1927 | | James Breathitt Jr. |
| 43 | Ruby Laffoon (1869–1941) | December 8, 1931 – December 10, 1935 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1931 | | Happy Chandler |
| 44 | Happy Chandler (1898–1991) | December 10, 1935 – October 9, 1939 (resigned) | Democratic | 1935 | | Keen Johnson |
| 45 | Keen Johnson (1896–1970) | October 9, 1939 – December 7, 1943 (term-limited) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 45 | Keen Johnson (1896–1970) | October 9, 1939 – December 7, 1943 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1939 | | Rodes K. Myers |
| 46 | Simeon Willis (1879–1965) | December 7, 1943 – December 9, 1947 (term-limited) | Republican | 1943 | | Kenneth H. Tuggle |
| 47 | Earle Clements (1896–1985) | December 9, 1947 – November 27, 1950 (resigned) | Democratic | 1947 | | Lawrence Wetherby |
| 48 | Lawrence Wetherby (1908–1994) | November 27, 1950 – December 13, 1955 (term-limited) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 48 | Lawrence Wetherby (1908–1994) | November 27, 1950 – December 13, 1955 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1951 | | Emerson Beauchamp |
| 49 | Happy Chandler (1898–1991) | December 13, 1955 – December 8, 1959 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1955 | | Harry Lee Waterfield |
| 50 | Bert Combs (1911–1991) | December 8, 1959 – December 10, 1963 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1959 | | Wilson W. Wyatt |
| 51 | Ned Breathitt (1924–2003) | December 10, 1963 – December 12, 1967 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1963 | | Harry Lee Waterfield |
| 52 | Louie Nunn (1924–2004) | December 12, 1967 – December 7, 1971 (term-limited) | Republican | 1967 | | Wendell Ford |
| 53 | Wendell Ford (1924–2015) | December 7, 1971 – December 28, 1974 (resigned) | Democratic | 1971 | | Julian Carroll |
| 54 | Julian Carroll (1931–2023) | December 28, 1974 – December 11, 1979 (term-limited) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 54 | Julian Carroll (1931–2023) | December 28, 1974 – December 11, 1979 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1975 | | Thelma Stovall |
| 55 | John Y. Brown Jr. (1933–2022) | December 11, 1979 – December 13, 1983 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1979 | | Martha Layne Collins |
| 56 | Martha Layne Collins (b. 1936) | December 13, 1983 – December 8, 1987 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1983 | | Steve Beshear |
| 57 | Wallace Wilkinson (1941–2002) | December 8, 1987 – December 10, 1991 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1987 | | Brereton C. Jones |
| 58 | Brereton C. Jones (1939–2023) | December 10, 1991 – December 12, 1995 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1991 | | Paul E. Patton |
| 59 | Paul E. Patton (b. 1937) | December 12, 1995 – December 9, 2003 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1995 | | Steve Henry |
| 59 | Paul E. Patton (b. 1937) | December 12, 1995 – December 9, 2003 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1999 | | Steve Henry |
| 60 | Ernie Fletcher (b. 1952) | December 9, 2003 – December 11, 2007 (lost election) | Republican | 2003 | | Steve Pence |
| 61 | Steve Beshear (b. 1944) | December 11, 2007 – December 8, 2015 (term-limited) | Democratic | 2007 | | Daniel Mongiardo |
| 61 | Steve Beshear (b. 1944) | December 11, 2007 – December 8, 2015 (term-limited) | Democratic | 2011 | | Jerry Abramson (resigned November 13, 2014) |
| 61 | Steve Beshear (b. 1944) | December 11, 2007 – December 8, 2015 (term-limited) | Democratic | 2011 | | Crit Luallen |
| 62 | Matt Bevin (b. 1967) | December 8, 2015 – December 10, 2019 (lost election) | Republican | 2015 | | Jenean Hampton |
| 63 | Andy Beshear (b. 1977) | December 10, 2019 – Incumbent | Democratic | 2019 | | Jacqueline Coleman |
| 63 | Andy Beshear (b. 1977) | December 10, 2019 – Incumbent | Democratic | 2023 | | Jacqueline Coleman |

## Confederate governors

During the Civil War, a group of secessionists met at Russellville to form a Confederate government for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This government never successfully displaced the government in Frankfort, and Kentucky remained in the Union through the entire war. Two men were elected governor of the Confederate government: George W. Johnson, who served from November 20, 1861, to his death on April 8, 1862, at the Battle of Shiloh, and, on Johnson's death, Richard Hawes, who served until the Confederate surrender on April 9, 1865. The Confederate government disbanded shortly after the end of the war in 1865.