# List of governors of Delaware

The governor of Delaware (known as the president of Delaware from 1776 to 1792) is the head of government of Delaware and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Delaware Legislature, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment, and only with the recommendation of the Board of Pardons.
There have been 71 people who have served as governor, over 74 distinct terms. Three (Joseph Haslet, Charles Polk Jr. and Elbert N. Carvel) served non-consecutive terms. Additionally, Henry Molleston was elected, but died before he could take office. Only four governors have been elected to two consecutive terms, with the longest-serving being Ruth Ann Minner, who was elected twice after succeeding to the office, serving a total of just over eight years. The shortest term is that of Bethany Hall-Long, who served 15 days following her predecessor's resignation; Dale E. Wolf served 18 days and David P. Buckson served 19 days under similar circumstances. The current governor is Democrat Matt Meyer, who took office on January 21, 2025.

## Governors

Before 1776, Delaware was a colony of the Kingdom of Great Britain, administered by colonial governors in Pennsylvania as the "Lower Counties on Delaware".
In 1776, soon after Delaware and the other Thirteen Colonies declared independence from Britain, the state adopted its first state constitution. It created the office of President of Delaware, a chief executive to be chosen by the legislature to serve a term of three years, who would be ineligible to be president again until three years had passed after leaving office.
The office of President was renamed Governor by the constitution of 1792, which set the commencement date of the term to the third Tuesday in the January following an election, and limited governors to serving only three out of any six years. The term was lengthened to four years by the 1831 constitution, but governors were limited to a single term. The current constitution of 1897 allows governors to serve two terms.
The 1776 constitution stated that if the presidency were vacant, the speaker of the legislative council would be a vice-president. The 1792 constitution has the speaker of the senate exercising the office when it is vacant, and the 1897 constitution created the office of lieutenant governor, upon whom the office devolves in case of vacancy. The offices of governor and lieutenant governor are elected at the same time but not on the same ticket.
Governors of the State of Delaware :
| No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | Lt. Governor |
| 1 | John McKinly (1721–1796) | February 21, 1777 – September 12, 1777 (arrested and removed) | No parties | 1777 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 2 | Thomas McKean (1734–1817) | September 12, 1777 – October 20, 1777 (successor took office) | No parties | Speaker of the Assembly acting as vice-president | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 3 | George Read (1733–1798) | October 20, 1777 – March 31, 1778 (did not run) | No parties | Speaker of the Legislative Council serving as vice-president | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 4 | Caesar Rodney (1728–1784) | March 31, 1778 – November 13, 1781 (term-limited) | No parties | 1778 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 5 | John Dickinson (1732–1808) | November 13, 1781 – January 13, 1783 (resigned) | No parties | 1781 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 6 | John Cook (1730–1789) | January 13, 1783 – February 8, 1783 (did not run) | No parties | Speaker of the Legislative Council serving as vice-president | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 7 | Nicholas Van Dyke (1738–1789) | February 8, 1783 – October 28, 1786 (term-limited) | No parties | 1783 (special) | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 8 | Thomas Collins (1732–1789) | October 28, 1786 – March 29, 1789 (died in office) | No parties | 1786 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 9 | Jehu Davis (1738–1802) | March 29, 1789 – June 2, 1789 (did not run) | No parties | Speaker of the Legislative Council serving as vice-president | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 10 | Joshua Clayton (1744–1798) | June 2, 1789 – January 13, 1796 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1789 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 10 | Joshua Clayton (1744–1798) | June 2, 1789 – January 13, 1796 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1792 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 11 | Gunning Bedford Sr. (1742–1797) | January 13, 1796 – September 28, 1797 (died in office) | Federalist | 1795 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 12 | Daniel Rogers (1754–1806) | September 28, 1797 – January 9, 1799 (successor took office) | Federalist | Speaker of the Senate acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 13 | Richard Bassett (1745–1815) | January 9, 1799 – March 3, 1801 (resigned) | Federalist | 1798 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 14 | James Sykes (1761–1822) | March 3, 1801 – January 19, 1802 (successor took office) | Federalist | Speaker of the Senate acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 15 | David Hall (1752–1817) | January 19, 1802 – January 15, 1805 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1801 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 16 | Nathaniel Mitchell (1753–1814) | January 15, 1805 – January 19, 1808 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1804 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 17 | George Truitt (1756–1818) | January 19, 1808 – January 15, 1811 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1807 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 18 | Joseph Haslet (1769–1823) | January 15, 1811 – January 18, 1814 (term-limited) | Democratic- Republican | 1810 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 19 | Daniel Rodney (1764–1846) | January 18, 1814 – January 21, 1817 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1813 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 20 | John Clark (1761–1821) | January 21, 1817 – January 15, 1820 (resigned) | Federalist | 1816 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| — | Henry Molleston (1762–1819) | Died before taking office | Federalist | 1819 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 21 | Jacob Stout (1764–1855) | January 15, 1820 – January 16, 1821 (successor took office) | Federalist | Speaker of the Senate acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 22 | John Collins (1776–1822) | January 16, 1821 – April 16, 1822 (died in office) | Democratic- Republican | 1820 (special) | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 23 | Caleb Rodney (1767–1840) | April 23, 1822 – January 21, 1823 (did not run) | Federalist | Speaker of the Senate acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 24 | Joseph Haslet (1769–1823) | January 21, 1823 – June 20, 1823 (died in office) | Democratic- Republican | 1822 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 25 | Charles Thomas (1790–1848) | June 20, 1823 – January 20, 1824 (successor took office) | Democratic- Republican | Speaker of the Senate acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 26 | Samuel Paynter (1768–1845) | January 20, 1824 – January 16, 1827 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1823 (special) | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 27 | Charles Polk Jr. (1788–1857) | January 16, 1827 – January 19, 1830 (term-limited) | Federalist | 1826 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 28 | David Hazzard (1781–1864) | January 19, 1830 – January 15, 1833 (term-limited) | National Republican | 1829 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 29 | Caleb P. Bennett (1758–1836) | January 15, 1833 – May 9, 1836 (died in office) | Democratic | 1832 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 30 | Charles Polk Jr. (1788–1857) | May 9, 1836 – January 17, 1837 (successor took office) | Whig | Speaker of the Senate acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 31 | Cornelius P. Comegys (1780–1851) | January 17, 1837 – January 19, 1841 (term-limited) | Whig | 1836 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 32 | William B. Cooper (1771–1849) | January 19, 1841 – January 21, 1845 (term-limited) | Whig | 1840 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 33 | Thomas Stockton (1781–1846) | January 21, 1845 – March 2, 1846 (died in office) | Whig | 1844 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 34 | Joseph Maull (1781–1846) | March 2, 1846 – May 3, 1846 (died in office) | Whig | Speaker of the Senate acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 35 | William Temple (1814–1863) | May 6, 1846 – January 19, 1847 (successor took office) | Whig | Speaker of the Senate acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 36 | William Tharp (1803–1865) | January 19, 1847 – January 21, 1851 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1846 (special) | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 37 | William H. H. Ross (1814–1887) | January 21, 1851 – January 16, 1855 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1850 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 38 | Peter F. Causey (1801–1871) | January 16, 1855 – January 18, 1859 (term-limited) | American | 1854 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 39 | William Burton (1789–1866) | January 18, 1859 – January 20, 1863 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1858 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 40 | William Cannon (1809–1865) | January 20, 1863 – March 1, 1865 (died in office) | Republican | 1862 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 41 | Gove Saulsbury (1815–1881) | March 1, 1865 – January 17, 1871 (term-limited) | Democratic | Speaker of the Senate acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 41 | Gove Saulsbury (1815–1881) | March 1, 1865 – January 17, 1871 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1866 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 42 | James Ponder (1819–1897) | January 17, 1871 – January 19, 1875 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1870 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 43 | John P. Cochran (1809–1898) | January 19, 1875 – January 21, 1879 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1874 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 44 | John W. Hall (1817–1892) | January 21, 1879 – January 16, 1883 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1878 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 45 | Charles C. Stockley (1819–1901) | January 16, 1883 – January 18, 1887 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1882 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 46 | Benjamin T. Biggs (1821–1893) | January 18, 1887 – January 20, 1891 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1886 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 47 | Robert J. Reynolds (1838–1909) | January 20, 1891 – January 15, 1895 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1890 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 48 | Joshua H. Marvil (1825–1895) | January 15, 1895 – April 8, 1895 (died in office) | Republican | 1894 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 49 | William T. Watson (1849–1917) | April 8, 1895 – January 19, 1897 (successor took office) | Democratic | Speaker of the Senate acting | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 50 | Ebe W. Tunnell (1844–1917) | January 19, 1897 – January 15, 1901 (did not run) | Democratic | 1896 | Office did not exist | Office did not exist |
| 51 | John Hunn (1849–1926) | January 15, 1901 – January 17, 1905 (did not run) | Republican | 1900 | | Philip L. Cannon |
| 52 | Preston Lea (1841–1916) | January 17, 1905 – January 19, 1909 (did not run) | Republican | 1904 | | Isaac T. Parker |
| 53 | Simeon S. Pennewill (1867–1935) | January 19, 1909 – January 21, 1913 (did not run) | Republican | 1908 | | John M. Mendinhall |
| 54 | Charles R. Miller (1857–1927) | January 21, 1913 – January 16, 1917 (did not run) | Republican | 1912 | | Colen Ferguson |
| 55 | John G. Townsend Jr. (1871–1964) | January 16, 1917 – January 18, 1921 (did not run) | Republican | 1916 | | Lewis E. Eliason |
| 56 | William D. Denney (1873–1953) | January 18, 1921 – January 20, 1925 (did not run) | Republican | 1920 | | J. Danforth Bush |
| 57 | Robert P. Robinson (1869–1939) | January 20, 1925 – January 15, 1929 (did not run) | Republican | 1924 | | James H. Anderson |
| 58 | C. Douglass Buck (1890–1965) | January 15, 1929 – January 19, 1937 (term-limited) | Republican | 1928 | | James H. Hazel |
| 58 | C. Douglass Buck (1890–1965) | January 15, 1929 – January 19, 1937 (term-limited) | Republican | 1932 | | Roy F. Corley |
| 59 | Richard McMullen (1868–1944) | January 19, 1937 – January 21, 1941 (did not run) | Democratic | 1936 | | Edward W. Cooch |
| 60 | Walter W. Bacon (1880–1962) | January 21, 1941 – January 18, 1949 (term-limited) | Republican | 1940 | | Isaac J. MacCollum |
| 60 | Walter W. Bacon (1880–1962) | January 21, 1941 – January 18, 1949 (term-limited) | Republican | 1944 | | Elbert N. Carvel |
| 61 | Elbert N. Carvel (1910–2005) | January 18, 1949 – January 20, 1953 (lost election) | Democratic | 1948 | | Alexis I. du Pont Bayard |
| 62 | J. Caleb Boggs (1909–1993) | January 20, 1953 – December 30, 1960 (resigned) | Republican | 1952 | | John W. Rollins |
| 62 | J. Caleb Boggs (1909–1993) | January 20, 1953 – December 30, 1960 (resigned) | Republican | 1956 | | David P. Buckson |
| 63 | David P. Buckson (1920–2017) | December 30, 1960 – January 17, 1961 (successor took office) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 64 | Elbert N. Carvel (1910–2005) | January 17, 1961 – January 19, 1965 (term-limited) | Democratic | 1960 | | Eugene Lammot |
| 65 | Charles L. Terry Jr. (1900–1970) | January 19, 1965 – January 21, 1969 (lost election) | Democratic | 1964 | | Sherman W. Tribbitt |
| 66 | Russell W. Peterson (1916–2011) | January 21, 1969 – January 16, 1973 (lost election) | Republican | 1968 | | Eugene Bookhammer |
| 67 | Sherman W. Tribbitt (1922–2010) | January 16, 1973 – January 18, 1977 (lost election) | Democratic | 1972 | | Eugene Bookhammer |
| 68 | Pete du Pont (1935–2021) | January 18, 1977 – January 15, 1985 (term-limited) | Republican | 1976 | | James D. McGinnis |
| 68 | Pete du Pont (1935–2021) | January 18, 1977 – January 15, 1985 (term-limited) | Republican | 1980 | | Mike Castle |
| 69 | Mike Castle (b. 1939) | January 15, 1985 – January 2, 1993 (resigned) | Republican | 1984 | | Shien Biau Woo |
| 69 | Mike Castle (b. 1939) | January 15, 1985 – January 2, 1993 (resigned) | Republican | 1988 | | Dale E. Wolf |
| 70 | Dale E. Wolf (1924–2021) | January 3, 1993 – January 19, 1993 (successor took office) | Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 71 | Tom Carper (b. 1947) | January 19, 1993 – January 3, 2001 (resigned) | Democratic | 1992 | | Ruth Ann Minner |
| 71 | Tom Carper (b. 1947) | January 19, 1993 – January 3, 2001 (resigned) | Democratic | 1996 | | Ruth Ann Minner |
| 72 | Ruth Ann Minner (1935–2021) | January 3, 2001 – January 20, 2009 (term-limited) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 72 | Ruth Ann Minner (1935–2021) | January 3, 2001 – January 20, 2009 (term-limited) | Democratic | 2000 | | John Carney |
| 72 | Ruth Ann Minner (1935–2021) | January 3, 2001 – January 20, 2009 (term-limited) | Democratic | 2004 | | John Carney |
| 73 | Jack Markell (b. 1960) | January 20, 2009 – January 17, 2017 (term-limited) | Democratic | 2008 | | Matthew Denn (resigned January 6, 2015) |
| 73 | Jack Markell (b. 1960) | January 20, 2009 – January 17, 2017 (term-limited) | Democratic | 2012 | | Matthew Denn (resigned January 6, 2015) |
| Vacant ||
| 74 | John Carney (b. 1956) | January 17, 2017 – January 7, 2025 (resigned) | Democratic | 2016 | | Bethany Hall-Long |
| 74 | John Carney (b. 1956) | January 17, 2017 – January 7, 2025 (resigned) | Democratic | 2020 | | Bethany Hall-Long |
| 75 | Bethany Hall-Long (b. 1963) | January 7, 2025 – January 21, 2025 (successor took office) | Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor | Vacant | Vacant |
| 76 | Matt Meyer (b. 1971) | January 21, 2025 – Incumbent | Democratic | 2024 | | Kyle Evans Gay |