List of governors of West Virginia explained

Post:	Governor
Body:	West Virginia
Insignia:	Seal of the Governor of West Virginia.svg
Insigniasize:	110px
Insigniacaption:	Seal of the governor
Incumbent:	Jim Justice
Incumbentsince:	January 16, 2017
Residence:	West Virginia Governor's Mansion
Termlength:	Four years, renewable once consecutively
Formation:	June 20, 1863
Inaugural:	Arthur I. Boreman
Salary:	$150,000 (2022)^[1]

The governor of West Virginia is the head of government of West Virginia^[2] and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.^[3] The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the West Virginia Legislature,^[4] to convene the legislature at any time,^[5] and, except when prosecution has been carried out by the House of Delegates, to grant pardons and reprieves.^[6]

Since West Virginia was admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, during the American Civil War, 34 men have served as governor. Two, Arch A. Moore Jr. (West Virginia's 28th and 30th governor) and Cecil H. Underwood (West Virginia's 25th and 32nd governor), served two nonconsecutive terms in office. The longest-serving governor was Moore, who served for three terms over twelve years. The state's first governor after admission into the Union, Arthur I. Boreman, served the most consecutive terms, resigning a week before the end of his third term. Before the state's admission, Francis Harrison Pierpont, the "Father of West Virginia,"^[7] was elected governor during the Wheeling Convention of 1861. Daniel D.T. Farnsworth was senate president at the time; he filled the last seven days of Boreman's term and remains the shortest-serving governor. Underwood has the unusual distinction of being both the youngest person to be elected as governor (age 34 upon his first term in 1957) and the oldest to both be elected and serve (age 74 upon his second term in 1997; age 78 at the end of his second term in 2001).

The current governor is Republican Jim Justice, who assumed office on January 16, 2017. West Virginia's 36th governor, Justice was elected as a Democrat, but switched to the Republican Party on August 4 of that year.^[8]

To serve as governor, a person must be at least 30 years old, and must have been a citizen of West Virginia for at least five years at the time of inauguration.^[9] Under the current Constitution of West Virginia, ratified in 1872, the governor serves a four-year term commencing on the third Wednesday in January, following an election. The original constitution of 1863 only called for a two-year term.^[10] He may be reelected any number of times, but not more than twice in a row.^[11] Any partial term served counts toward the limit of two consecutive terms.^[11]

The constitution makes no mention of a lieutenant governor; if the governorship becomes vacant, the senate president acts as governor. If more than one year remains in the governor's term at the time of vacancy, a new election is held; otherwise, the senate president acts as governor for the remainder of the term.^[12] A bill passed in 2000 grants the senate president the honorary title of lieutenant governor,^[13] but this title is rarely used in practice and the terms of the senate president do not correspond with governorships. The same bill states that the line of succession after the senate president will be the speaker of the House of Delegates, followed by the state attorney general, the state auditor and former governors, in inverse order of term, that are in residence in the state at the time of the vacancy.

Qualifications

Anyone who seeks to be elected Governor of West Virginia must meet the following qualifications:^[14]

• Be a citizen of the United States
• Be a resident of West Virginia for at least five years preceding the election
• Be a duly qualified elector of West Virginia
• Be at least 30 years old

Governors

!scope="colgroup" colspan="3"

Governor	Term in office	Party	Election
1			Arthur I. Boreman ^[15]	^[16]  - February 26, 1869	Republican	1863
						1864
						1866
2	data-sort-value="Farnsworth, Daniel"			Daniel D. T. Farnsworth ^[17]	^[18]  - March 4, 1869	Republican
3	data-sort-value="Stevenson, William"			William E. Stevenson ^[19]	^[20]  - March 4, 1871	Republican	1868
4			John J. Jacob ^[21]	^[22]  - March 4, 1877	Democratic	1870
					People's Independent	1872
5	data-sort-value="Mathews, Henry"			Henry M. Mathews ^[23]	- March 4, 1881	Democratic	1876
6	data-sort-value="Jackson, Jacob"			Jacob B. Jackson ^[24]	^[25]  - March 4, 1885	Democratic	1880
7	data-sort-value="Wilson, Emanuel"			Emanuel Willis Wilson ^[26]	^[27]  - February 6, 1890	Democratic	1884
8	data-sort-value="Fleming, Aretas"			Aretas B. Fleming ^[28]	^[29]  - March 4, 1893	Democratic	1888
9	data-sort-value="MacCorkle, William"			William A. MacCorkle ^[30]	^[31]  - March 4, 1897	Democratic	1892
10	data-sort-value="Atkinson, George"			George W. Atkinson ^[32]	^[33]  - March 4, 1901	Republican	1896
11	data-sort-value="White, Albert"			Albert B. White ^[34]	^[35]  - March 4, 1905	Republican	1900
12	data-sort-value="Dawson, William"			William M. O. Dawson ^[36]	^[37]  - March 4, 1909	Republican	1904
13	data-sort-value="Glasscock, William"			William E. Glasscock ^[38]	^[39]  - March 4, 1913	Republican	1908
14	data-sort-value="Hatfield, Henry"			Henry D. Hatfield ^[40]	^[41]  - March 4, 1917	Republican	1912
15	data-sort-value="Cornwell, John"			John J. Cornwell ^[42]	^[43]  - March 4, 1921	Democratic	1916
16	data-sort-value="Morgan, Ephraim"			Ephraim F. Morgan ^[44]	^[45]  - March 4, 1925	Republican	1920
17	data-sort-value="Gore, Howard"			Howard Mason Gore ^[46]	^[47]  - March 4, 1929	Republican	1924
18	data-sort-value="Conley, William"			William G. Conley ^[48]	^[49]  - March 4, 1933	Republican	1928
19	data-sort-value="Kump, Herman"			Herman G. Kump ^[50]	^[51]  - January 18, 1937	Democratic	1932
20	data-sort-value="Holt, Homer"			Homer A. Holt ^[52]	^[53]  - January 13, 1941	Democratic	1936
21	data-sort-value="Neely, Matthew"			Matthew M. Neely ^[54]	^[55]  - January 15, 1945	Democratic	1940
22	data-sort-value="Meadows, Clarence"			Clarence W. Meadows ^[56]	^[57]  - January 17, 1949	Democratic	1944
23	data-sort-value="Patteson, Okey"			Okey Patteson ^[58]	^[59]  - January 19, 1953	Democratic	1948
24	data-sort-value="Marland, William"			William C. Marland ^[60]	^[61]  - January 14, 1957	Democratic	1952
25	data-sort-value="Underwood, Cecil"			Cecil H. Underwood ^[62]	^[63]  - January 16, 1961	Republican	1956
26	data-sort-value="Barron, Wally"			Wally Barron ^[64]	^[65]  - January 18, 1965	Democratic	1960
27	data-sort-value="Smith, Hulett"			Hulett C. Smith ^[66]	^[67]  - January 13, 1969	Democratic	1964
28			Arch A. Moore Jr. ^[68]	^[69]  - January 17, 1977	Republican	1968
						1972
29			Jay Rockefeller ^[70]	^[71]  - January 14, 1985	Democratic	1976
						1980
30	data-sort-value="Moore, Arch"			Arch A. Moore Jr.	^[72]  - January 16, 1989	Republican	1984
31			Gaston Caperton ^[73]	^[74]  - January 13, 1997	Democratic	1988
						1992
32	data-sort-value="Underwood, Cecil"			Cecil H. Underwood	^[75]  - January 15, 2001	Republican	1996
33	data-sort-value="Wise, Bob"			Bob Wise ^[76]	^[77]  - January 17, 2005	Democratic	2000
34		Joe Manchin ^[78]		^[79]  - November 15, 2010	Democratic	2004
						2008
35		Earl Ray Tomblin ^[80]		^[81]  - January 16, 2017	Democratic
						2011
						2012
36		Jim Justice ^[82]		^[83]  - Incumbent	Democratic	2016
					Republican	2020

See also

• • List of West Virginia state legislatures

References

General

• Web site: Former West Virginia Governors . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
• Book: Sobel, Robert . Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. IV . Meckler Books . 1978 . 9780930466008 . June 13, 2023.
• Book: Kallenbach, Joseph Ernest . American State Governors, 1776-1976 . 1977 . Oceana Publications . 978-0-379-00665-0 . September 23, 2023.
• Book: Dubin, Michael J. . United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1861-1911: The Official Results by State and County . 2014 . McFarland . 978-0-7864-5646-8 . en.
• Book: Glashan, Roy R. . American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978 . 1979 . Meckler Books . 978-0-930466-17-6.
• Web site: Our Campaigns - Governor of West Virginia - History . 2023-07-25 . www.ourcampaigns.com.

Specific

External links

• Office of the Governor of West Virginia

Notes and References

1. Web site: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries . The Council of State Governments . August 8, 2024.
2. WV Constitution article VII, § 5.
3. WV Constitution article VII, § 12.
4. WV Constitution article VII, § 14.
5. WV Constitution article VI, § 18–19.
6. WV Constitution article VII, § 11.
7. News: Compston-Strough . Jennifer . 2013-06-20 . Francis Harrison Pierpont: 'Father of West Virginia' . The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register . dead . April 17, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130817060544/http://theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/586708/Francis-Harrison-Pierpont---Father-of-West-Virginia-.html?nav=6322 . August 17, 2013.
8. News: Shear . Michael D. . Martin . Jonathan . August 3, 2017 . West Virginia Governor to Switch from Democrat to Republican . New York Times . August 3, 2017.
9. WV Constitution article VII, § 1.
10. WV 1863 Constitution article V, § 1.
11. WV Constitution, Article VII, section 4.
12. WV Constitution article VII, § 16.
13. Web site: H.B. 4781 (Enrolled March 11, 2009) . August 16, 2009 . West Virginia Legislature, 2000 Sessions.
14. Web site: Governor of West Virginia .
15. Web site: November 15, 2015 . Arthur Ingraham Boreman . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
16. News: 1863-06-22 . none . 1 . Alexandria Gazette . 2023-07-21 . Hon. A. J. Boreman was on Saturday inaugurated as the first Governor of West Virginia..
17. Web site: November 15, 2015 . Daniel Duane Tompkins Farnsworth . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
18. News: 1869-02-27 . Sworn In . 4 . The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer . 2023-07-21.
19. Web site: November 15, 2015 . William Erskine Stevenson . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
20. News: 1869-03-05 . Inauguration of State Officers . 3 . The Wheeling Daily Register . 2023-07-21.
21. Web site: November 15, 2015 . John Jeremiah Jacob . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
22. News: 1871-03-06 . Inauguration of Governor Jacob . 1 . The Wheeling Daily Register . 2023-07-21.
23. Web site: November 15, 2015 . Henry Mason Mathews . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
24. Web site: November 15, 2015 . Jacob Beeson Jackson . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
25. News: 1881-03-05 . The New Regime . 4 . The Daily Register . 2023-07-21.
26. Web site: November 15, 2015 . Emanuel Willis Wilson . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
27. News: 1885-03-05 . The New Governor . 4 . The Daily Register . 2023-07-21.
28. Web site: November 15, 2015 . Aretas Brooks Fleming . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
29. News: 1890-02-07 . Inaugurated . 1 . The Daily Register . 2023-07-21.
30. Web site: November 15, 2015 . William Alexander MacCorkle . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
31. News: 1893-03-05 . Governor M'Corkle . 5 . Wheeling Sunday Register . 2023-07-21.
32. Web site: November 15, 2015 . George Wesley Atkinson . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
33. News: 1897-03-05 . There Are Others . 1 . The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer . 2023-07-22.
34. Web site: November 15, 2015 . Albert Blakeslee White . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
35. News: 1901-03-09 . Inauguration of Gov. A. B. White . 2 . Martinsburg Herald . 2023-07-22.
36. Web site: November 15, 2015 . William M.O. Dawson . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
37. News: 1905-03-04 . Governor Dawson . 1 . The Fairmont West Virginian . 2023-07-22.
38. Web site: November 15, 2015 . William E. Glasscock . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
39. News: 1909-03-04 . State's New Governor . 4 . The Daily Telegram . 2023-07-22.
40. Web site: November 15, 2015 . Henry Drury Hatfield . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
41. News: 1913-03-04 . Hon. Henry D. Hatfield Is Inaugurated Governor . 1 . The Fairmont West Virginian . Associated Press . 2023-07-22.
42. Web site: November 15, 2015 . John Jacob Cornwell . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
43. News: 1917-03-05 . Cornwell Takes Oath on Sunday . 7 . The Birmingham News . Associated Press . 2023-07-22.
44. Web site: November 15, 2015 . Ephraim Franklin Morgan . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
45. News: 1921-03-11 . Judge Morgan Inaugurated . 1 . Greenbrier Independent . 2023-07-22.
46. Web site: November 15, 2015 . Howard M. Gore . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
47. News: 1925-03-04 . Gore Inaugurated as Governor of West Va. . 1 . The Plain Speaker . United Press . 2023-07-22.
48. Web site: November 15, 2015 . William Gustavus Conley . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
49. News: 1929-03-04 . New Governor Seeks Co-operation; Favors Lessening Tax Burdens . 1 . Hinton Daily News . Associated Press . 2023-07-22.
50. Web site: November 15, 2015 . Herman Guy Kump . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
51. News: 1933-03-04 . Relief Plan Outlines As Kump Takes Office . 1 . The Charleston Daily Mail . 2023-07-22.
52. Web site: November 15, 2015 . Homer Adams Holt . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
53. News: 1937-01-18 . Crowds Jam the Capitol . 1 . The Charleston Daily Mail . 2023-07-22.
54. Web site: November 15, 2015 . Matthew Mansfield Neely . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
55. News: 1941-01-15 . Thousands Witness Inauguration Celebration . 1 . The Independent-Herald . 2023-07-22.
56. Web site: November 15, 2015 . Clarence W. Meadows . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
57. News: 1945-01-15 . New Governor Inaugurated at Ceremony . 1 . Hinton Daily News . United Press . 2023-07-22.
58. Web site: November 15, 2015 . Okey Leonidas Patteson . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
59. News: 1949-01-17 . Patteson Is Installed As New Governor . 1 . Hinton Daily News . United Press . 2023-07-22.
60. Web site: November 15, 2015 . William Casey Marland . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
61. News: 1953-01-19 . William C. Marland Sworn In As State's 24th Governor . 1 . Hinton Daily News . United Press . 2023-07-22.
62. Web site: November 15, 2015 . Cecil H. Underwood . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
63. News: 1957-01-14 . Inauguration Held Outdoors Despite Weather . 1 . The Weirton Daily Times . United Press . 2023-07-22.
64. Web site: November 15, 2015 . William W. Barron . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
65. News: 1961-01-16 . Barron Becomes Governor, Signs BIll Increasing Tax . 1 . Hinton Daily News . United Press International . 2023-07-22.
66. Web site: November 15, 2015 . Hulett Carlson Smith . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
67. News: McKinney . John . 1965-01-19 . Smith Promises 'High Standard' . 1 . Beckley Post-Herald . 2023-07-22.
68. Web site: November 15, 2015 . Arch A. Moore . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
69. News: Mellace . Bob . 1969-01-13 . Good, Able State Rule Moore's Inaugural Aim . en-us . 1 . The Charleston Daily Mail . 2023-10-03.
70. Web site: November 15, 2015 . John Davison Rockefeller . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
71. News: 1977-01-17 . Rockefeller Sworn In As 29th W. VA. Governor . en-us . 1 . The Raleigh Register . United Press International . 2023-10-03.
72. News: LeVine . Steve . 1985-01-14 . Moore Vows Strong W. Virginia Economy . 4 . The Indianapolis News . Associated Press . 2023-07-22.
73. Web site: November 15, 2015 . Gaston Caperton . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
74. News: 1989-01-17 . West Virginia Governor Sworn In . 2 . Tulsa World . Associated Press . 2023-07-22.
75. News: 1997-01-14 . Once Youngest Governor, He's Now Oldest . 5 . Tulsa World . Associated Press . 2023-07-22.
76. Web site: November 15, 2015 . Bob Wise . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
77. News: Yost . Pete . 2001-01-27 . Democrat Blasts Clinton Over Pardon . 8 . The Buffalo News . Associated Press . 2023-07-22.
78. Web site: November 15, 2015 . Joe Manchin III . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
79. News: 2005-01-19 . none . 2 . Portland Press Herald . Associated Press . 2023-07-22 . Chief Justice Joseph Albright, left, swears in West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin on Monday in Charleston..
80. Web site: November 15, 2015 . Earl Ray Tomblin . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
81. News: 2010-11-16 . Tomblin Takes Oath as W. Va. Governor . A7 . Richmond Times-Dispatch . 2023-07-22.
82. Web site: Jim Justice . July 20, 2023 . National Governors Association.
83. News: 2017-01-16 . Jim Justice sworn into office as WV's governor . en . WTAP . Associated Press . 2023-07-22.