# List of governors of Iowa

The governor of Iowa is the head of government of the U.S. state of Iowa. The governor is the head of the executive branch of the state government and is charged with enforcing state laws. The officeholder has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Iowa General Assembly, to convene the legislature, as well as to grant pardons, except in cases of treason and impeachment. The governor of Iowa is also the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.
There have been 41 individuals who held the position of Iowa governor, with two of those serving multiple distinct terms, Samuel J. Kirkwood and Terry Branstad. The current governor, Kim Reynolds, is the first woman to hold the position and was sworn in on May 24, 2017. The longest-serving is Terry Branstad, who served from 1983 to 1999 and then again from 2011 to 2017. He is the longest-serving governor in U.S. history, surpassing the previous record of 21 years set by George Clinton of New York. The shortest-serving was Robert D. Fulton, who served 16 days.

## List of governors
### Territory of Iowa

Iowa Territory was formed on July 4, 1838, from Wisconsin Territory. It had four governors appointed by the president of the United States, though the first resigned days after he was confirmed by the Senate and before ever reaching the territory.
Governors of Iowa Territory :
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Appointed by |
| 1 | Henry Atkinson (1782–1842) | June 13, 1838 – July 7, 1838 (resigned before taking office) | Martin Van Buren |
| 2 | Robert Lucas (1781–1853) | July 7, 1838 – June 17, 1841 (successor appointed) | Martin Van Buren |
| 3 | John Chambers (1780–1852) | March 25, 1841 – November 18, 1845 (successor appointed) | William Henry Harrison |
| 4 | James Clarke (1812–1850) | November 8, 1845 – December 3, 1846 (statehood) | James K. Polk |

### State of Iowa

The southeast portion of Iowa Territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Iowa on December 28, 1846. The first Constitution of Iowa, adopted in 1846, created the office of governor with a four-year term, with no specific start date. The 1857 constitution reduced this term to two years, but an amendment in 1972 increased this back to four years. The 1857 constitution also set the start of the term to the second Monday in the January following the election, which was moved one day later by a 1988 amendment.
The office of lieutenant governor was created in the 1857 constitution, elected for the same term as the governor. An amendment in 1988 specified that the lieutenant governor would be elected on the same ticket as the governor. If the office becomes vacant, it devolves upon the lieutenant governor for the remainder of the term or vacancy. Prior to 1857, if the office became vacant, the Secretary of State of Iowa would act as governor. There is no term limit on the number of terms a governor may serve.
Governors of the State of Iowa :
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | Lt. Governor |
| 1 | Ansel Briggs (1806–1881) | December 3, 1846 – December 4, 1850 (did not run) | Democratic | 1846 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 2 | Stephen P. Hempstead (1812–1883) | December 4, 1850 – December 9, 1854 (did not run) | Democratic | 1850 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 3 | James W. Grimes (1816–1872) | December 9, 1854 – January 14, 1858 (did not run) | Whig | 1854 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 4 | Ralph P. Lowe (1805–1883) | January 14, 1858 – January 11, 1860 (did not run) | Republican | 1857 | | Oran Faville |
| 5 | Samuel J. Kirkwood (1813–1894) | January 11, 1860 – January 14, 1864 (did not run) | Republican | 1859 | | Nicholas J. Rusch |
| 5 | Samuel J. Kirkwood (1813–1894) | January 11, 1860 – January 14, 1864 (did not run) | Republican | 1861 | | John R. Needham |
| 6 | William M. Stone (1827–1893) | January 14, 1864 – January 16, 1868 (did not run) | Republican | 1863 | | Enoch W. Eastman |
| 6 | William M. Stone (1827–1893) | January 14, 1864 – January 16, 1868 (did not run) | Republican | 1865 | | Benjamin F. Gue |
| 7 | Samuel Merrill (1822–1899) | January 16, 1868 – January 11, 1872 (did not run) | Republican | 1867 | | John Scott |
| 7 | Samuel Merrill (1822–1899) | January 16, 1868 – January 11, 1872 (did not run) | Republican | 1869 | | Madison Miner Walden (resigned 1871) |
| Vacant ||
| 7 | Samuel Merrill (1822–1899) | January 16, 1868 – January 11, 1872 (did not run) | Republican | 1869 | | Henry C. Bulis (appointed September 13, 1871) |
| 8 | Cyrus C. Carpenter (1829–1898) | January 11, 1872 – January 13, 1876 (did not run) | Republican | 1871 | | Henry C. Bulis (appointed September 13, 1871) |
| 8 | Cyrus C. Carpenter (1829–1898) | January 11, 1872 – January 13, 1876 (did not run) | Republican | 1873 | | Joseph Dysart |
| 9 | Samuel J. Kirkwood (1813–1894) | January 13, 1876 – February 1, 1877 (resigned) | Republican | 1875 | | Joshua G. Newbold |
| 10 | Joshua G. Newbold (1830–1903) | February 1, 1877 – January 17, 1878 (did not run) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 11 | John H. Gear (1825–1900) | January 17, 1878 – January 12, 1882 (did not run) | Republican | 1877 | | Frank T. Campbell |
| 11 | John H. Gear (1825–1900) | January 17, 1878 – January 12, 1882 (did not run) | Republican | 1879 | | Frank T. Campbell |
| 12 | Buren R. Sherman (1836–1904) | January 12, 1882 – January 14, 1886 (did not run) | Republican | 1881 | | Orlando H. Manning |
| 12 | Buren R. Sherman (1836–1904) | January 12, 1882 – January 14, 1886 (did not run) | Republican | 1883 | | Orlando H. Manning |
| 13 | William Larrabee (1832–1912) | January 14, 1886 – February 27, 1890 (did not run) | Republican | 1885 | | John A. T. Hull |
| 13 | William Larrabee (1832–1912) | January 14, 1886 – February 27, 1890 (did not run) | Republican | 1887 | | John A. T. Hull |
| 14 | Horace Boies (1827–1923) | February 27, 1890 – January 11, 1894 (lost election) | Democratic | 1889 | | Alfred N. Poyneer |
| 14 | Horace Boies (1827–1923) | February 27, 1890 – January 11, 1894 (lost election) | Democratic | 1891 | | Samuel L. Bestow |
| 15 | Frank D. Jackson (1854–1938) | January 11, 1894 – January 16, 1896 (did not run) | Republican | 1893 | | Warren S. Dungan |
| 16 | Francis M. Drake (1830–1903) | January 16, 1896 – January 13, 1898 (did not run) | Republican | 1895 | | Matt Parrott |
| 17 | L. M. Shaw (1848–1932) | January 13, 1898 – January 16, 1902 (did not run) | Republican | 1897 | | James C. Milliman |
| 17 | L. M. Shaw (1848–1932) | January 13, 1898 – January 16, 1902 (did not run) | Republican | 1899 | | James C. Milliman |
| 18 | Albert B. Cummins (1850–1926) | January 16, 1902 – November 24, 1908 (resigned) | Republican | 1901 | | John Herriott |
| 18 | Albert B. Cummins (1850–1926) | January 16, 1902 – November 24, 1908 (resigned) | Republican | 1903 | | John Herriott |
| 18 | Albert B. Cummins (1850–1926) | January 16, 1902 – November 24, 1908 (resigned) | Republican | 1906 | | Warren Garst |
| 19 | Warren Garst (1850–1924) | November 24, 1908 – January 14, 1909 (successor took office) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 20 | Beryl F. Carroll (1860–1939) | January 14, 1909 – January 16, 1913 (did not run) | Republican | 1908 | | George W. Clarke |
| 20 | Beryl F. Carroll (1860–1939) | January 14, 1909 – January 16, 1913 (did not run) | Republican | 1910 | | George W. Clarke |
| 21 | George W. Clarke (1852–1936) | January 16, 1913 – January 11, 1917 (did not run) | Republican | 1912 | | William L. Harding |
| 21 | George W. Clarke (1852–1936) | January 16, 1913 – January 11, 1917 (did not run) | Republican | 1914 | | William L. Harding |
| 22 | William L. Harding (1877–1934) | January 11, 1917 – January 13, 1921 (did not run) | Republican | 1916 | | Ernest Robert Moore |
| 22 | William L. Harding (1877–1934) | January 11, 1917 – January 13, 1921 (did not run) | Republican | 1918 | | Ernest Robert Moore |
| 23 | Nathan E. Kendall (1868–1936) | January 13, 1921 – January 15, 1925 (did not run) | Republican | 1920 | | John Hammill |
| 23 | Nathan E. Kendall (1868–1936) | January 13, 1921 – January 15, 1925 (did not run) | Republican | 1922 | | John Hammill |
| 24 | John Hammill (1875–1936) | January 15, 1925 – January 15, 1931 (did not run) | Republican | 1924 | | Clem F. Kimball (died September 10, 1928) |
| 24 | John Hammill (1875–1936) | January 15, 1925 – January 15, 1931 (did not run) | Republican | 1926 | | Clem F. Kimball (died September 10, 1928) |
| Vacant ||
| 24 | John Hammill (1875–1936) | January 15, 1925 – January 15, 1931 (did not run) | Republican | 1926 | | Arch W. McFarlane (appointed November 15, 1928) |
| 24 | John Hammill (1875–1936) | January 15, 1925 – January 15, 1931 (did not run) | Republican | 1928 | | Arch W. McFarlane (appointed November 15, 1928) |
| 25 | Dan W. Turner (1877–1969) | January 15, 1931 – January 12, 1933 (lost election) | Republican | 1930 | | Arch W. McFarlane (appointed November 15, 1928) |
| 26 | Clyde L. Herring (1879–1945) | January 12, 1933 – January 14, 1937 (did not run) | Democratic | 1932 | | Nelson G. Kraschel |
| 26 | Clyde L. Herring (1879–1945) | January 12, 1933 – January 14, 1937 (did not run) | Democratic | 1934 | | Nelson G. Kraschel |
| 27 | Nelson G. Kraschel (1889–1957) | January 14, 1937 – January 12, 1939 (lost election) | Democratic | 1936 | | John K. Valentine |
| 28 | George A. Wilson (1884–1953) | January 12, 1939 – January 14, 1943 (did not run) | Republican | 1938 | | Bourke B. Hickenlooper |
| 28 | George A. Wilson (1884–1953) | January 12, 1939 – January 14, 1943 (did not run) | Republican | 1940 | | Bourke B. Hickenlooper |
| 29 | Bourke B. Hickenlooper (1896–1971) | January 14, 1943 – January 11, 1945 (did not run) | Republican | 1942 | | Robert D. Blue |
| 30 | Robert D. Blue (1898–1989) | January 11, 1945 – January 13, 1949 (did not run) | Republican | 1944 | | Kenneth A. Evans |
| 30 | Robert D. Blue (1898–1989) | January 11, 1945 – January 13, 1949 (did not run) | Republican | 1946 | | Kenneth A. Evans |
| 31 | William S. Beardsley (1901–1954) | January 13, 1949 – November 21, 1954 (died in office) | Republican | 1948 | | Kenneth A. Evans |
| 31 | William S. Beardsley (1901–1954) | January 13, 1949 – November 21, 1954 (died in office) | Republican | 1950 | | William H. Nicholas |
| 31 | William S. Beardsley (1901–1954) | January 13, 1949 – November 21, 1954 (died in office) | Republican | 1952 | | Leo Elthon |
| 32 | Leo Elthon (1898–1967) | November 21, 1954 – January 13, 1955 (successor took office) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 33 | Leo Hoegh (1908–2000) | January 13, 1955 – January 17, 1957 (lost election) | Republican | 1954 | | Leo Elthon |
| 34 | Herschel C. Loveless (1911–1989) | January 17, 1957 – January 12, 1961 (did not run) | Democratic | 1956 | | William H. Nicholas |
| 34 | Herschel C. Loveless (1911–1989) | January 17, 1957 – January 12, 1961 (did not run) | Democratic | 1958 | | Edward Joseph McManus |
| 35 | Norman A. Erbe (1919–2000) | January 12, 1961 – January 17, 1963 (lost election) | Republican | 1960 | | W. L. Mooty |
| 36 | Harold Hughes (1922–1996) | January 17, 1963 – January 1, 1969 (resigned) | Democratic | 1962 | | W. L. Mooty |
| 36 | Harold Hughes (1922–1996) | January 17, 1963 – January 1, 1969 (resigned) | Democratic | 1964 | | Robert D. Fulton |
| 36 | Harold Hughes (1922–1996) | January 17, 1963 – January 1, 1969 (resigned) | Democratic | 1966 | | Robert D. Fulton |
| 37 | Robert D. Fulton (1929–2024) | January 1, 1969 – January 16, 1969 (successor took office) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 38 | Robert D. Ray (1928–2018) | January 16, 1969 – January 14, 1983 (did not run) | Republican | 1968 | | Roger Jepsen |
| 38 | Robert D. Ray (1928–2018) | January 16, 1969 – January 14, 1983 (did not run) | Republican | 1970 | | Roger Jepsen |
| 38 | Robert D. Ray (1928–2018) | January 16, 1969 – January 14, 1983 (did not run) | Republican | 1972 | | Arthur Neu |
| 38 | Robert D. Ray (1928–2018) | January 16, 1969 – January 14, 1983 (did not run) | Republican | 1974 | | Arthur Neu |
| 38 | Robert D. Ray (1928–2018) | January 16, 1969 – January 14, 1983 (did not run) | Republican | 1978 | | Terry Branstad |
| 39 | Terry Branstad (b. 1946) | January 14, 1983 – January 15, 1999 (did not run) | Republican | 1982 | | Robert T. Anderson |
| 39 | Terry Branstad (b. 1946) | January 14, 1983 – January 15, 1999 (did not run) | Republican | 1986 | | Jo Ann Zimmerman |
| 39 | Terry Branstad (b. 1946) | January 14, 1983 – January 15, 1999 (did not run) | Republican | 1990 | | Joy Corning |
| 39 | Terry Branstad (b. 1946) | January 14, 1983 – January 15, 1999 (did not run) | Republican | 1994 | | Joy Corning |
| 40 | Tom Vilsack (b. 1950) | January 15, 1999 – January 12, 2007 (did not run) | Democratic | 1998 | | Sally Pederson |
| 40 | Tom Vilsack (b. 1950) | January 15, 1999 – January 12, 2007 (did not run) | Democratic | 2002 | | Sally Pederson |
| 41 | Chet Culver (b. 1966) | January 12, 2007 – January 14, 2011 (lost election) | Democratic | 2006 | | Patty Judge |
| 42 | Terry Branstad (b. 1946) | January 14, 2011 – May 24, 2017 (resigned) | Republican | 2010 | | Kim Reynolds |
| 42 | Terry Branstad (b. 1946) | January 14, 2011 – May 24, 2017 (resigned) | Republican | 2014 | | Kim Reynolds |
| 43 | Kim Reynolds (b. 1959) | May 24, 2017 – Incumbent | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 43 | Kim Reynolds (b. 1959) | May 24, 2017 – Incumbent | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | | Adam Gregg (appointed May 25, 2017) (resigned September 3, 2024) |
| 43 | Kim Reynolds (b. 1959) | May 24, 2017 – Incumbent | Republican | 2018 | | Adam Gregg (appointed May 25, 2017) (resigned September 3, 2024) |
| 43 | Kim Reynolds (b. 1959) | May 24, 2017 – Incumbent | Republican | 2022 | | Adam Gregg (appointed May 25, 2017) (resigned September 3, 2024) |
| Vacant ||
| 43 | Kim Reynolds (b. 1959) | May 24, 2017 – Incumbent | Republican | 2022 | | Chris Cournoyer (appointed December 16, 2024) |