List of governors of North Dakota

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Flag of the governor

The

North Dakota's state government
and is charged with enforcing state laws.

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]

Governors of the State of North Dakota
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

  1. ^ Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
  2. ^ 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]
  3. ^ Represented the Democratic-Independent Party
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Fancher was nominated by the Republican Party, but withdrew from the election due to health concerns.[34]
  6. ^ a b Frazier was recalled and Nestos elected to replace him in a special election.
  7. ^ Shafer instead ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination to the United States Senate.[59]
  8. ^ 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]
  9. ^ 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]
  10. ^ The Supreme Court ruled that Moodie did not meet residency requirements to run for governor, and so removed him.[70]
  11. ^ Langer instead ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate.[62]
  12. ^ Moses was instead elected to the United States Senate.[77]
  13. ^ Aandahl was instead elected to the United States House of Representatives.[80]
  14. ^ Davis instead ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate.[86]
  15. ^ 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]
  16. ^ Hoeven resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.
  17. ^ 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. . Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  • Kallenbach, Joseph Ernest (1977). American State Governors, 1776-1976. Oceana Publications. . Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  • Dubin, Michael J. (2014). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1861-1911: The Official Results by State and County. McFarland. .
  • Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Meckler Books. .
  • "Our Campaigns - Governor of North Dakota - History". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
Specific
  1. ^ 12 Stat. 239
  2. ^ 25 Stat. 676
  3. ^ "North Dakota State and County Official Term Lengths, Initiative 5 (1964)". Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  4. ^ "North Dakota Constitutional Measure 1, Term Limits for Governor and State Legislators Initiative (2022)". Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  5. ^ ND Const. art. V, § 3
  6. ^ ND Const. art. V, § 11
  7. ^ ND Const. art. V, § 5
  8. ^ a b Sobel 1978, p. 1171.
  9. ^ "John Miller". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  10. ^ "The Legislature". Bismarck Weekly Tribune. November 22, 1889. p. 8. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Kallenbach 1977, pp. 450–451.
  12. ^ Sobel 1978, pp. 1171–1172.
  13. ^ "Andrew Horace Burke". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  14. ^ North Dakota Legislative Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1891 sess., 34, accessed May 30, 2023
  15. ^ a b c Sobel 1978, p. 1172.
  16. ^ "Eli C. D. Shortridge". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  17. ^ "Eli C. D. Shortridge". North Dakota Governors Online. State Historical Society of North Dakota. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  18. ^ "North Dakota Legislature Gets in Motion". Chicago Tribune. January 4, 1893. p. 2. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  19. ^ North Dakota Legislative Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1893 sess., 33, accessed May 30, 2023
  20. ^ Sobel 1978, pp. 1172–1173.
  21. ^ "Roger Allin". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  22. ^ North Dakota Legislative Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1895 sess., 35, accessed May 30, 2023
  23. ^ "Briggs the Man". The Washburn Leader. July 25, 1896. p. 4. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  24. ^ a b Sobel 1978, p. 1173.
  25. ^ "Frank Arlington Briggs". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  26. ^ "Frank A. Briggs". North Dakota Governors Online. State Historical Society of North Dakota. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  27. ^ "The Legislature". Courier Democrat. January 14, 1897. p. 2. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  28. ^ Sobel 1978, p. 1174.
  29. ^ "Joseph McMurray Devine". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  30. ^ "Briggs Is Dead!". The Hope Pioneer. August 11, 1898. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  31. ^ Sobel 1978, pp. 1174–1175.
  32. ^ "Frederick Bartlett Fancher". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  33. ^ "North Dakota Officers Inaugurated". The Bottineau Courant. January 7, 1899. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  34. ^ "Fancher Resigns". Jamestown Weekly Alert. September 27, 1900. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  35. ^ Sobel 1978, p. 1175.
  36. ^ "Frank White". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  37. ^ "The New Officers". The Bismarck Tribune. January 7, 1901. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  38. ^ Sobel 1978, pp. 1175–1176.
  39. ^ "Elmore Yocum Sarles". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  40. ^ "New Administration Is Nicely Launched". The Bismarck Tribune. January 5, 1905. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  41. ^ Sobel 1978, pp. 1176–1177.
  42. ^ "John Burke". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  43. ^ "Now Gov. Burke". The Bismarck Tribune. January 10, 1907. p. 5. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  44. ^ Sobel 1978, p. 1177.
  45. ^ "Louis Benjamin Hanna". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  46. ^ "A Republican Administration". The Bismarck Tribune. January 9, 1913. p. 4. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  47. ^ a b Sobel 1978, pp. 1177–1178.
  48. ^ "Lynn Joseph Frazier". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  49. ^ "Intense Enthusiasm Marks New Regime at State Capitol". The Bismarck Tribune. January 3, 1917. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  50. ^ a b c Sobel 1978, pp. 1178–1179.
  51. ^ "Ragnvold Anderson Nestos". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  52. ^ "New Governor Kindles Pride in State, Pledges Economy. Asks Strife Be Forgotten". The Bismarck Tribune. November 23, 1921. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  53. ^ a b Sobel 1978, p. 1179.
  54. ^ "Arthur Gustav Sorlie". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  55. ^ "Sorlie, Nestos Both Speak; New Governor Inaugurated Before Joint Session Today". The Bismarck Tribune. January 7, 1925. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  56. ^ a b Sobel 1978, pp. 1179–1180.
  57. ^ "Walter Maddock". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  58. ^ "Governor Sorlie Dead from Fight with Heart Disease". The Bismarck Tribune. August 28, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  59. ^ a b c Sobel 1978, p. 1180.
  60. ^ "George Frederick Shafer". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  61. ^ "Governor Shafer Takes Post". The Bismarck Tribune. January 9, 1929. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  62. ^ a b c d e f Sobel 1978, p. 1181.
  63. ^ a b "William Langer". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  64. ^ "William Langer". North Dakota Governors Online. State Historical Society of North Dakota. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  65. ^ "New Officers Take Hold and Name Deputies". Morning Pioneer. Associated Press. January 4, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  66. ^ "New Rockford Man Moves to Assume Duties of Office". The Bismarck Tribune. June 18, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  67. ^ "Acting Governor Takes Control of Executive Office". The Bismarck Tribune. July 19, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  68. ^ Sobel 1978, pp. 1181–1182.
  69. ^ "Ole H. Olson". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  70. ^ a b c Sobel 1978, p. 1182.
  71. ^ "Thomas Hilliard Moodie". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  72. ^ "Moodie Becomes N.D. Governor". The Bismarck Tribune. January 7, 1935. p. 1. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  73. ^ a b Sobel 1978, p. 1183.
  74. ^ "Walter Welford". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  75. ^ "Supreme Court Holds Moodie Disqualified by Constitution". The Bismarck Tribune. February 2, 1935. p. 9. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  76. ^ "Grand March Climaxes Inaugural". The Bismarck Tribune. January 7, 1937. p. 1. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  77. ^ a b c Sobel 1978, pp. 1183–1184.
  78. ^ "John Moses". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  79. ^ "Langer Ends His Regime". Reno Gazette-Journal. Associated Press. January 2, 1939. p. 2. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  80. ^ a b c Sobel 1978, p. 1184.
  81. ^ "Fred George Aandahl". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  82. ^ "Aandahl, Other New State Officers Begin Duties". The Bismarck Tribune. January 2, 1945. p. 1. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  83. ^ a b Sobel 1978, p. 1185.
  84. ^ "C. Norman Brunsdale". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  85. ^ "Family, Friends of New Governor Attend Inaugural". The Bismarck Tribune. January 3, 1951. p. 1. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  86. ^ a b c Sobel 1978, pp. 1185–1186.
  87. ^ "John Edward Davis". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  88. ^ "John Davis Is Sworn In at Capitol". The Bismarck Tribune. January 9, 1957. p. 1. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  89. ^ a b c Sobel 1978, p. 1186.
  90. ^ "William Lewis Guy". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  91. ^ "Guy Urges Austerity for N.D." The Bismarck Tribune. Associated Press. January 4, 1961. p. 1. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  92. ^ a b Sobel 1978, p. 1187.
  93. ^ "Link Takes Oath As State Head". The Bismarck Tribune. Associated Press. January 3, 1973. p. 24. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  94. ^ a b "Allen Ingvar Olson". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  95. ^ Baenen, Jeff (January 7, 1981). "Olson Begins Term". The Bismarck Tribune. Associated Press. p. 3. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  96. ^ a b "George Albert Sinner". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  97. ^ Sellnow, Greg (January 5, 1985). "Supreme Court Tells Olson to Pack It In". The Bismarck Tribune. p. 1A. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  98. ^ Sellnow, Greg (January 5, 1985). "Justices Unanimously Support Sinner". The Bismarck Tribune. p. 1A. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  99. ^ a b "Edward Thomas Schafer". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  100. ^ Donatelle, Kristine (December 16, 1992). "Governor Fills Key Posts". The Bismarck Tribune. p. 1A. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  101. ^ a b "John Hoeven". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  102. ^ Wetzel, Dale (December 16, 2000). "Hoeven's First Day Full of Decisions". The Bismarck Tribune. Associated Press. p. 1A. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  103. ^ a b "Jack Dalrymple". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  104. ^ Beitsch, Rebecca (December 8, 2010). "It's Official, Governor". The Bismarck Tribune. p. 1A. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  105. ^ a b "Doug Burgum". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  106. ^ Holgate, Julie (December 15, 2016). "Doug Burgum Takes Office As Nd Governor Today". Valley News Live. Retrieved May 31, 2023.

External links