List of governors of North Dakota
The
There have been 32 governors since North Dakota became a state, serving 33 distinct terms, with William Langer having been elected to multiple terms. The current officeholder is Republican Doug Burgum.
Governors
Dakota Territory was organized on March 2, 1861;[1] on November 2, 1889, it was split into the states of North Dakota and South Dakota.[2]
The Constitution of North Dakota originally provided for the election of a governor and lieutenant governor every two years, which was changed to four years in 1964.[3] A limit of two terms was added in 2023.[4] The governor and lieutenant governor are elected together on a ticket,[5] and should the office of governor become vacant, the lieutenant governor becomes governor.[6] The term of office begins on the December 15 following the election.[7]
No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor[a] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | John Miller (1843–1908) [8][9] |
November 20, 1889[10] – January 7, 1891 (did not run)[8] |
Republican[11] | 1889 | Alfred Dickey | |||||
2 | Andrew H. Burke (1850–1918) [12][13] |
January 7, 1891[14] – January 4, 1893 (lost election) |
Republican[11] | 1890 | Roger Allin | |||||
3 | Eli C. D. Shortridge (1830–1908) [15][16] |
January 4, 1893[b] – January 9, 1895 (did not run) |
Populist[15] | 1892 | Elmer D. Wallace[c] | |||||
4 | Roger Allin (1848–1936) [20][21] |
January 9, 1895[22] – January 7, 1897 (lost nomination)[23] |
Republican[11] | 1894 | John H. Worst | |||||
5 | Frank A. Briggs (1858–1898) [24][25] |
January 7, 1897[d] – August 9, 1898 (died in office) |
Republican[11] | 1896 | Joseph M. Devine | |||||
6 | Joseph M. Devine (1861–1938) [28][29] |
August 9, 1898[30] – January 3, 1899 (did not run) |
Republican[11] | Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | |||||
7 | Frederick B. Fancher (1852–1944) [31][32] |
January 3, 1899[33] – January 7, 1901 (withdrew)[e] |
Republican[11] | 1898 | Joseph M. Devine | |||||
8 | Frank White (1856–1940) [35][36] |
January 7, 1901[37] – January 4, 1905 (did not run) |
Republican[11] | 1900 | David Bartlett | |||||
1902 | ||||||||||
9 | Elmore Y. Sarles (1859–1929) [38][39] |
January 4, 1905[40] – January 9, 1907 (lost election) |
Republican[11] | 1904 | ||||||
10 | John Burke (1859–1937) [41][42] |
January 9, 1907[43] – January 8, 1913 (did not run) |
Democratic[11] | 1906 | Robert S. Lewis | |||||
1908 | ||||||||||
1910 | Usher L. Burdick | |||||||||
11 | L. B. Hanna (1861–1948) [44][45] |
January 8, 1913[46] – January 3, 1917 (did not run) |
Republican[11] | 1912 | Anton Kraabel | |||||
1914 | John H. Fraine | |||||||||
12 | Lynn Frazier (1874–1947) [47][48] |
January 3, 1917[49] – November 23, 1921 (recalled)[f] |
Republican/ Nonpartisan League[47] |
1916 | Anton Kraabel | |||||
1918 | Howard R. Wood | |||||||||
1920 | ||||||||||
13 | Ragnvald Nestos (1877–1942) [50][51] |
November 23, 1921[52] – January 7, 1925 (lost nomination)[50] |
Republican/ Independent Voters[50] |
1921 (recall)[f] | ||||||
1922 | Frank H. Hyland | |||||||||
14 | Arthur G. Sorlie (1874–1928) [53][54] |
January 7, 1925[55] – August 28, 1928 (died in office) |
Republican/ Nonpartisan League[53] |
1924 | Walter Maddock | |||||
1926 | ||||||||||
15 | Walter Maddock (1880–1951) [56][57] |
August 28, 1928[58] – January 9, 1929 (lost election) |
Republican/ Nonpartisan League[56] |
Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | |||||
16 | George F. Shafer (1888–1948) [59][60] |
January 9, 1929[61] – January 4, 1933 (did not run)[g] |
Republican/ Independent Voters[59] |
1928 | John W. Carr | |||||
1930 | ||||||||||
17 | William Langer (1886–1959) [62][63] |
January 4, 1933[h] – July 19, 1934 (removed)[i] |
Republican/ Nonpartisan League[62] |
1932 | Ole H. Olson | |||||
18 | Ole H. Olson (1872–1954) [68][69] |
July 19, 1934[i] – January 7, 1935 (did not run) |
Republican/ Nonpartisan League |
Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | |||||
19 | Thomas H. Moodie (1878–1948) [70][71] |
January 7, 1935[72] – February 2, 1935 (removed)[j] |
Democratic[70] | 1934 | Walter Welford | |||||
20 | Walter Welford (1868–1952) [73][74] |
February 2, 1935[75] – January 6, 1937 (lost election) |
Republican/ Nonpartisan League[73] |
Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | |||||
21 | William Langer (1886–1959) [62][63] |
January 6, 1937[76] – January 2, 1939 (did not run)[k] |
Independent[62] | 1936 | Thorstein H. H. Thoresen | |||||
22 | John Moses (1885–1945) [77][78] |
January 2, 1939[79] – January 2, 1945 (did not run)[l] |
Democratic[77] | 1938 | Jack A. Patterson | |||||
1940 | Oscar W. Hagen | |||||||||
1942 | Henry Holt | |||||||||
23 | Fred G. Aandahl (1897–1966) [80][81] |
January 2, 1945[82] – January 3, 1951 (did not run)[m] |
Republican[80] | 1944 | Clarence P. Dahl | |||||
1946 | ||||||||||
1948 | ||||||||||
24 | Norman Brunsdale (1891–1978) [83][84] |
January 3, 1951[85] – January 7, 1957 (did not run) |
Republican[83] | 1950 | Ray Schnell | |||||
1952 | Clarence P. Dahl | |||||||||
1954 | ||||||||||
25 | John E. Davis (1913–1990) [86][87] |
January 7, 1957[88] – January 3, 1961 (did not run)[n] |
Republican[86] | 1956 | Francis Clyde Duffy | |||||
1958 | Clarence P. Dahl | |||||||||
26 | William L. Guy (1919–2013) [89][90] |
January 3, 1961[91] – January 2, 1973 (did not run)[89] |
Democratic– Nonpartisan League[89] |
1960 | Orville W. Hagen | |||||
1962 | Frank A. Wenstrom | |||||||||
1964 | Charles Tighe | |||||||||
1968 | Richard F. Larsen | |||||||||
27 | Arthur A. Link (1914–2010) [92][93] |
January 2, 1973[94] – January 6, 1981 (lost election) |
Democratic– Nonpartisan League[92] |
1972 | Wayne Sanstead | |||||
1976 | ||||||||||
28 | Allen I. Olson (b. 1938) [95] |
January 6, 1981[96] – December 31, 1984 (lost election) |
Republican[95] | 1980 | Ernest Sands | |||||
29 | George A. Sinner (1928–2018) [97] |
January 1, 1985[o] – December 15, 1992 (did not run) |
Democratic– Nonpartisan League[97] |
1984 | Ruth Meiers | |||||
1988 | Lloyd Omdahl | |||||||||
30 | Ed Schafer (b. 1946) [100] |
December 15, 1992[101] – December 15, 2000 (did not run) |
Republican[100] | 1992 | Rosemarie Myrdal | |||||
1996 | ||||||||||
31 | John Hoeven (b. 1957) [102] |
December 15, 2000[103] – December 7, 2010 (resigned)[p] |
Republican[102] | 2000 | Jack Dalrymple | |||||
2004 | ||||||||||
2008 | ||||||||||
32 | Jack Dalrymple (b. 1948) [104] |
December 7, 2010[105] – December 15, 2016 (did not run) |
Republican[104] | Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Drew Wrigley | |||||
2012 | ||||||||||
33 | Doug Burgum (b. 1956) [106] |
December 15, 2016[107] – Incumbent[q] |
Republican[106] | 2016 | Brent Sanford | |||||
2020 | ||||||||||
Tammy Miller |
See also
Notes
- ^ Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
- ^ Sources disagree on when Shortridge took office; Sobel says January 2,[15] the State Historical Society says January 3,[17] one contemporary news source says Shortridge qualified on January 3,[18] and Shortridge delivered his inaugural address (dated January 3) to the legislature on January 4.[19]
- ^ Represented the Democratic-Independent Party
- ^ Sources disagree on when Briggs took office; Sobel says January 8,[24] the State Historical Society says January 6,[26] and a contemporary news source says he was sworn in on January 7,[27] which notes that inaugural proceedings were delayed by the death of Briggs' daughter.
- ^ Fancher was nominated by the Republican Party, but withdrew from the election due to health concerns.[34]
- ^ a b Frazier was recalled and Nestos elected to replace him in a special election.
- ^ Shafer instead ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination to the United States Senate.[59]
- ^ Sources disagree on when Langer took office; the State Historical Society says December 31, 1932,[64] but contemporary news indicates it was on January 4, 1933, the matter being complicated because Langer was ill and unable to attend..[65]
- ^ a b Langer was removed from office following his conviction of felony conspiracy to defraud the federal government; he was later cleared.[62] He was convicted on June 17 and Lieutenant Governor Ole H. Olson immediately moved to take over, receiving the oath of office.[66] The Supreme Court ruled Langer was ineligible on July 17, and Olson formally took office on July 19.[67]
- ^ The Supreme Court ruled that Moodie did not meet residency requirements to run for governor, and so removed him.[70]
- ^ Langer instead ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate.[62]
- ^ Moses was instead elected to the United States Senate.[77]
- ^ Aandahl was instead elected to the United States House of Representatives.[80]
- ^ Davis instead ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate.[86]
- ^ Sinner took the oath of office on December 31, so that he would become governor at midnight on January 1; Olson claimed that his term did not end until January 5, and refused to leave office. The Supreme Court ruled on January 4 that Sinner was governor, and had been since January 1.[98][99]
- ^ Hoeven resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.
- ^ Burgum's second term began December 15, 2020, and will expire on December 15, 2024. Burgum is retiring by the end of his term
References
- General
- "Former North Dakota Governors". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- Sobel, Robert (1978). Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. III. Meckler Books. ISBN 9780930466008. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- Kallenbach, Joseph Ernest (1977). American State Governors, 1776-1976. Oceana Publications. ISBN 978-0-379-00665-0. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
- Dubin, Michael J. (2014). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1861-1911: The Official Results by State and County. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-5646-8.
- Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Meckler Books. ISBN 978-0-930466-17-6.
- "Our Campaigns - Governor of North Dakota - History". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
- Specific
- ^ 12 Stat. 239
- ^ 25 Stat. 676
- ^ "North Dakota State and County Official Term Lengths, Initiative 5 (1964)". Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "North Dakota Constitutional Measure 1, Term Limits for Governor and State Legislators Initiative (2022)". Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ ND Const. art. V, § 3
- ^ ND Const. art. V, § 11
- ^ ND Const. art. V, § 5
- ^ a b Sobel 1978, p. 1171.
- ^ "John Miller". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "The Legislature". Bismarck Weekly Tribune. November 22, 1889. p. 8. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Kallenbach 1977, pp. 450–451.
- ^ Sobel 1978, pp. 1171–1172.
- ^ "Andrew Horace Burke". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ North Dakota Legislative Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1891 sess., 34, accessed May 30, 2023
- ^ a b c Sobel 1978, p. 1172.
- ^ "Eli C. D. Shortridge". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "Eli C. D. Shortridge". North Dakota Governors Online. State Historical Society of North Dakota. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "North Dakota Legislature Gets in Motion". Chicago Tribune. January 4, 1893. p. 2. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ North Dakota Legislative Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1893 sess., 33, accessed May 30, 2023
- ^ Sobel 1978, pp. 1172–1173.
- ^ "Roger Allin". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ North Dakota Legislative Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1895 sess., 35, accessed May 30, 2023
- ^ "Briggs the Man". The Washburn Leader. July 25, 1896. p. 4. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ a b Sobel 1978, p. 1173.
- ^ "Frank Arlington Briggs". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "Frank A. Briggs". North Dakota Governors Online. State Historical Society of North Dakota. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "The Legislature". Courier Democrat. January 14, 1897. p. 2. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ Sobel 1978, p. 1174.
- ^ "Joseph McMurray Devine". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "Briggs Is Dead!". The Hope Pioneer. August 11, 1898. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ Sobel 1978, pp. 1174–1175.
- ^ "Frederick Bartlett Fancher". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "North Dakota Officers Inaugurated". The Bottineau Courant. January 7, 1899. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "Fancher Resigns". Jamestown Weekly Alert. September 27, 1900. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ Sobel 1978, p. 1175.
- ^ "Frank White". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "The New Officers". The Bismarck Tribune. January 7, 1901. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ Sobel 1978, pp. 1175–1176.
- ^ "Elmore Yocum Sarles". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "New Administration Is Nicely Launched". The Bismarck Tribune. January 5, 1905. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ Sobel 1978, pp. 1176–1177.
- ^ "John Burke". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "Now Gov. Burke". The Bismarck Tribune. January 10, 1907. p. 5. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ Sobel 1978, p. 1177.
- ^ "Louis Benjamin Hanna". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "A Republican Administration". The Bismarck Tribune. January 9, 1913. p. 4. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ a b Sobel 1978, pp. 1177–1178.
- ^ "Lynn Joseph Frazier". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "Intense Enthusiasm Marks New Regime at State Capitol". The Bismarck Tribune. January 3, 1917. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ a b c Sobel 1978, pp. 1178–1179.
- ^ "Ragnvold Anderson Nestos". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "New Governor Kindles Pride in State, Pledges Economy. Asks Strife Be Forgotten". The Bismarck Tribune. November 23, 1921. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ a b Sobel 1978, p. 1179.
- ^ "Arthur Gustav Sorlie". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "Sorlie, Nestos Both Speak; New Governor Inaugurated Before Joint Session Today". The Bismarck Tribune. January 7, 1925. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ a b Sobel 1978, pp. 1179–1180.
- ^ "Walter Maddock". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "Governor Sorlie Dead from Fight with Heart Disease". The Bismarck Tribune. August 28, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ a b c Sobel 1978, p. 1180.
- ^ "George Frederick Shafer". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "Governor Shafer Takes Post". The Bismarck Tribune. January 9, 1929. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Sobel 1978, p. 1181.
- ^ a b "William Langer". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "William Langer". North Dakota Governors Online. State Historical Society of North Dakota. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "New Officers Take Hold and Name Deputies". Morning Pioneer. Associated Press. January 4, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "New Rockford Man Moves to Assume Duties of Office". The Bismarck Tribune. June 18, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "Acting Governor Takes Control of Executive Office". The Bismarck Tribune. July 19, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ Sobel 1978, pp. 1181–1182.
- ^ "Ole H. Olson". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ a b c Sobel 1978, p. 1182.
- ^ "Thomas Hilliard Moodie". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "Moodie Becomes N.D. Governor". The Bismarck Tribune. January 7, 1935. p. 1. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ a b Sobel 1978, p. 1183.
- ^ "Walter Welford". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "Supreme Court Holds Moodie Disqualified by Constitution". The Bismarck Tribune. February 2, 1935. p. 9. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ "Grand March Climaxes Inaugural". The Bismarck Tribune. January 7, 1937. p. 1. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ a b c Sobel 1978, pp. 1183–1184.
- ^ "John Moses". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "Langer Ends His Regime". Reno Gazette-Journal. Associated Press. January 2, 1939. p. 2. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ a b c Sobel 1978, p. 1184.
- ^ "Fred George Aandahl". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "Aandahl, Other New State Officers Begin Duties". The Bismarck Tribune. January 2, 1945. p. 1. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ a b Sobel 1978, p. 1185.
- ^ "C. Norman Brunsdale". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "Family, Friends of New Governor Attend Inaugural". The Bismarck Tribune. January 3, 1951. p. 1. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ a b c Sobel 1978, pp. 1185–1186.
- ^ "John Edward Davis". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "John Davis Is Sworn In at Capitol". The Bismarck Tribune. January 9, 1957. p. 1. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ a b c Sobel 1978, p. 1186.
- ^ "William Lewis Guy". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "Guy Urges Austerity for N.D." The Bismarck Tribune. Associated Press. January 4, 1961. p. 1. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ a b Sobel 1978, p. 1187.
- ^ "Arthur Albert Link". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "Link Takes Oath As State Head". The Bismarck Tribune. Associated Press. January 3, 1973. p. 24. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ a b "Allen Ingvar Olson". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ Baenen, Jeff (January 7, 1981). "Olson Begins Term". The Bismarck Tribune. Associated Press. p. 3. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ a b "George Albert Sinner". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ Sellnow, Greg (January 5, 1985). "Supreme Court Tells Olson to Pack It In". The Bismarck Tribune. p. 1A. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ Sellnow, Greg (January 5, 1985). "Justices Unanimously Support Sinner". The Bismarck Tribune. p. 1A. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ a b "Edward Thomas Schafer". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ Donatelle, Kristine (December 16, 1992). "Governor Fills Key Posts". The Bismarck Tribune. p. 1A. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ a b "John Hoeven". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ Wetzel, Dale (December 16, 2000). "Hoeven's First Day Full of Decisions". The Bismarck Tribune. Associated Press. p. 1A. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ a b "Jack Dalrymple". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ Beitsch, Rebecca (December 8, 2010). "It's Official, Governor". The Bismarck Tribune. p. 1A. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ a b "Doug Burgum". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ Holgate, Julie (December 15, 2016). "Doug Burgum Takes Office As Nd Governor Today". Valley News Live. Retrieved May 31, 2023.