# Governor of California

| Governor of California |
| --- |
| Seal of the Governor of California |
| Flag of the Governor of California |
| **Incumbent Gavin Newsom** since January 7, 2019 |
| Style | * Governor (formal)
* The Honorable (formal)
* His Excellency (diplomatic)
 |
| Type | Head of state Head of government |
| Member of | California Executive Branch California Cabinet |
| Residence | California Governor's Mansion |
| Seat | Sacramento, California California State Capitol (official workplace) |
| Appointer | Popular election |
| Term length | Four years, renewable once |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of California |
| Inaugural holder | Peter Hardeman Burnett |
| Formation | December 20, 1849 (1849-12-20) |
| Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of California |
| Salary | $210,000 (annually) |
| Website | Official website  |

The **governor of California** is the head of the state and government of the U.S. state of California and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor is also the head of the executive branch of the state government and is the chairman of the gubernatorial cabinet.

Gavin Newsom is the 40th and current governor of California, in office since January 2019.

## Powers and duties

The governor has the power to enforce state laws and the duty to either approve or veto bills passed by the California Legislature or the California Senate to assemble the legislature and grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment.

## Eligibility & requirements

Section 5 of the state's constitution states for a person to serve as governor must:

* be at least eighteen years old.
* be a permanent resident in California and the United States for at least five years.

## Election process and gubernatorial terms

The governor is elected by the people through the popular election to a four-year term, along with the lieutenant gubernatorial candidate or the incumbent lieutenant governor of California as their running mate. The gubernatorial candidate or incumbent governor must have the majority of the popular vote in order to win the election.

Under Section 5 of the state's constitution forbids anyone from being elected governor more than twice.

## Governor-elect of California

The governor-elect is the candidate who has won the state's gubernatorial election and is awaiting inauguration to become the governor.

## Inauguration

The governor-elect, or incumbent governor immediately began their four-year team on inauguration day every four years in the month of January, along with the incumbent lieutenant governor and lieutenant governor-elect.

## Gubernatorial line of succession

If the governor dies, reigns, or is impeached, the lieutenant governor ranks first in the succession will assume the gubernatorial office and duties.

## Residence

California Governor's Mansion, Sacramento, California, the official residence of the governor of California.
The California Governor's Mansion is the official residence of the governor of California. It has been the official residence of every governor since 1903.

## List of governors of California

For the period before statehood, see list of governors of California before 1850.
1. Peter Burnett

2. John McDougal

3. John Bigler

4. J. Neely Johnson

5. John Weller

6. Milton Latham

7. John Downey

8. Leland Stanford

9. Frederick Low

10. Henry Haight

11. Newton Booth

12. Romualdo Pacheco

13. William Irwin

14. George Perkins

15. George Stoneman

16. Washington Bartlett

17. Robert Waterman

18. Henry Harrison Markham

19. James Budd

20. Henry Gage

21. George Pardee

22. James Gillett

23. Hiram Johnson

24. William Stephens

25. Friend Richardson

26. C. C. Young

27. James Rolph

28. Frank Merriam

29. Culbert Olson

30. Earl Warren

31. Goodwin Knight

32. Pat Brown

33. Ronald Reagan

34. Jerry Brown

35. George Deukmejian

36. Pete Wilson

37. Gray Davis

38. Arnold Schwarzenegger

39. Jerry Brown

40. Gavin Newsom

## List of living former governors of California

* Jerry Brown
* Pete Wilson
* Gray Davis
* Arnold Schwarzenegger