Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States explained

The following is the planned order of succession for the governorships of the 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and the five organized territories of the United States, according to the constitutions (and supplemental laws, if any) of each.[1] Some states make a distinction whether the succeeding individual is acting as governor or becomes governor.

From 1980 to 1999, there were 13 successions of governorships. From 2000 to 2019 this number increased to 29.[2] The only instance since at least 1980 in which the second in line reached a state governorship was on January 8, 2002, when New Jersey Attorney General John Farmer Jr. acted as governor for 90 minutes between Donald DiFrancesco and John O. Bennett's terms in that capacity as president of the Senate following governor Christine Todd Whitman's resignation.[3] In 2019, Secretary of Justice of Puerto Rico Wanda Vázquez Garced became governor when both the governor and secretary of state resigned in Telegramgate.

From 1945 to 2016, 39 of those who succeeded to the governorship ran for and won election to a full term.[4]

States

align=center Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming

Alabama

Established by Article V, Section 127 of the Constitution of Alabama.[5]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of AlabamaKay Ivey (R)
1Lieutenant GovernorWill Ainsworth (R)
2President pro tempore of the SenateGreg Reed (R)
3Speaker of the House of RepresentativesNathaniel Ledbetter (R)
4Attorney GeneralSteve Marshall (R)
5AuditorAndrew Sorrell (R)
6Secretary of StateWes Allen (R)
7TreasurerYoung Boozer (R)

Alaska

Established by Article III, Section 10 of the Constitution of Alaska.[6]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of AlaskaMike Dunleavy (R)
1Lieutenant GovernorNancy Dahlstrom (R)

Arizona

Established by Article V, Section 6 of the Constitution of Arizona.[7]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of ArizonaKatie Hobbs (D)
1Secretary of StateAdrian Fontes (D)
2Lieutenant Governorvacant
2Attorney GeneralKris Mayes (D)
3TreasurerKimberly Yee (R)
4Superintendent of Public InstructionTom Horne (R)

Arkansas

Established by Article VI, Section 5 of the Constitution of Arkansas as amended.[8]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of ArkansasSarah Huckabee Sanders (R)
1Lieutenant GovernorLeslie Rutledge (R)
2President pro tempore of the SenateBart Hester (R)
3Speaker of the House of RepresentativesMatthew Shepherd (R)

California

Established by Article V, Section 10 of the Constitution of California[9] and (GOV) Title 2, Division 3, Part 2, Art. 5.5 of the California Codes.[10] [11]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of CaliforniaGavin Newsom (D)
1Lieutenant GovernorEleni Kounalakis (D)
2President pro tempore of the SenateMike McGuire (D)
3Speaker of the AssemblyRobert Rivas (D)
4Secretary of StateShirley Weber (D)
5Attorney GeneralRob Bonta (D)
6TreasurerFiona Ma (D)
7ControllerMalia Cohen (D)
8Superintendent of Public InstructionTony Thurmond (NP)
9Insurance CommissionerRicardo Lara (D)
10Chair of the Board of EqualizationMalia Cohen (D)
11List of 4–7 people named by the governor
(subject to confirmation by the Senate)
in the case of war or enemy-caused disaster.

Colorado

Established by Article IV, Section 13(7) of the Constitution of Colorado.[12]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of ColoradoJared Polis (D)
1Lieutenant GovernorDianne Primavera (D)
2President of the SenateSteve Fenberg (D)
3Speaker of the House of RepresentativesJulie McCluskie (D)
4Minority Leader of the HouseRose Pugliese (R)
5Minority Leader of the SenatePaul Lundeen (R)

Connecticut

Established by Article IV, Sections 18–21 of the Constitution of Connecticut.[13]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of ConnecticutNed Lamont (D)
1Lieutenant GovernorSusan Bysiewicz (D)
2President pro tempore of the SenateMartin Looney (D)

Delaware

Established by Article III, Section 20 of the Constitution of Delaware.[14]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of DelawareJohn Carney (D)
1Lieutenant GovernorBethany Hall-Long (D)
2Secretary of StateJeffrey W. Bullock (D)
3Attorney GeneralKathy Jennings (D)
4President pro tempore of the SenateDavid Sokola (D)
5Speaker of the House of RepresentativesValerie Longhurst (D)

Florida

Established by Article IV, Section 3 of the Constitution of Florida[15] and Florida Statute 14.055.[16]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of FloridaRon DeSantis (R)
1Lieutenant GovernorJeanette Núñez (R)
2Attorney GeneralAshley Moody (R)
3Chief Financial OfficerJimmy Patronis (R)
4Commissioner of AgricultureWilton Simpson (R)

Georgia

Established by Article V, Section 1, Paragraph V of the Constitution of Georgia.[17]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of GeorgiaBrian Kemp (R)
1Lieutenant GovernorBurt Jones (R)
2Speaker of the House of RepresentativesJon Burns (R)

Hawaii

Established by Article V, Section 4 of the Constitution of Hawaii[18] and Title 4 §26-2 of the Hawaii code.[19]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of HawaiiJosh Green (D)
1Lieutenant GovernorSylvia Luke (D)
2President of the SenateRon Kouchi (D)
3Speaker of the House of RepresentativesScott Saiki (D)
4Attorney GeneralAnne E. Lopez[20]
5Director of FinanceLuis Salaveria
6ComptrollerKeith Regan
7Director of TaxationGary Suganuma
8Director of Human Resources DevelopmentBrenna Hashimoto

Idaho

Established by Article IV, Sections 12–14 of the Constitution of Idaho.[21]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of IdahoBrad Little (R)
1Lieutenant GovernorScott Bedke (R)
2President pro tempore of the SenateChuck Winder (R)

Illinois

Established by Article V, Section 6 of the Constitution of Illinois[22] and the Governor Succession Act[23]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of IllinoisJ. B. Pritzker (D)
1Lieutenant GovernorJuliana Stratton (D)
2Attorney GeneralKwame Raoul (D)
3Secretary of StateAlexi Giannoulias (D)
4ComptrollerSusana Mendoza (D)
5TreasurerMike Frerichs (D)
6President of the SenateDon Harmon (D)
7Speaker of the House of RepresentativesEmanuel Chris Welch (D)

Indiana

Established by Article V, Section 10 of the Constitution of Indiana.[24]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of IndianaEric Holcomb (R)
1Lieutenant GovernorSuzanne Crouch (R)
2Speaker of the House of RepresentativesTodd Huston (R)
3President pro tempore of the SenateRodric Bray (R)
4TreasurerDaniel Elliott (R)
5Secretary of StateDiego Morales (R)
6AuditorElise Nieshalla (R)
Superintendent of Public Instructionoffice abolished

Iowa

Established by Article IV, Sections 17–19 of the Constitution of Iowa.[25]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of IowaKim Reynolds (R)
1Lieutenant GovernorAdam Gregg (R)
2President of the SenateAmy Sinclair (R)
3Speaker of the House of RepresentativesPat Grassley (R)

Kansas

Established by KSA Statute 75–125[26] and the Emergency Interim Executive and Judicial Succession Act of 1994.[27]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of KansasLaura Kelly (D)
1Lieutenant GovernorDavid Toland (D)
2President of the SenateTy Masterson (R)
3Speaker of the House of RepresentativesDan Hawkins (R)
Eligible to serve as emergency interim governor if 1–3 are vacant
4Secretary of StateScott Schwab (R)
5Attorney GeneralKris Kobach (R)

Kentucky

Established by Sections 84,[28] 85[29] and 87[30] of the Kentucky Constitution.

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of KentuckyAndy Beshear (D)
1Lieutenant GovernorJacqueline Coleman (D)
2President of the SenateRobert Stivers (R)
3Attorney GeneralRussell Coleman (R)
4AuditorAllison Ball (R)

Louisiana

Established by Article IV, Section 14 of the Constitution of Louisiana.[31]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of LouisianaJeff Landry (R)
1Lieutenant GovernorBilly Nungesser (R)
2Secretary of StateNancy Landry (R)
3Attorney GeneralLiz Murrill (R)
4TreasurerJohn Fleming (R)
5President of the SenateCameron Henry (R)
6Speaker of the House of RepresentativesPhillip DeVillier (R)

Maine

Established by Article V, Part 1, Section 14 of the Constitution of Maine.[32]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of MaineJanet Mills (D)
1President of the SenateTroy Jackson (D)
2Speaker of the House of RepresentativesRachel Talbot Ross (D)
3Secretary of StateShenna Bellows (D)

Maryland

Established by Article II, Section 6 of the Constitution of Maryland.[33]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of MarylandWes Moore (D)
1Lieutenant GovernorAruna Miller (D)
2President of the SenateBill Ferguson (D)

Massachusetts

Established by Article LV of the Constitution of Massachusetts.[34]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of MassachusettsMaura Healey (D)
1Lieutenant GovernorKim Driscoll (D)
2Secretary of the CommonwealthWilliam F. Galvin (D)
3Attorney GeneralAndrea Campbell (D)
4Treasurer and Receiver-GeneralDeb Goldberg (D)
5AuditorDiana DiZoglio (D)

Michigan

Established by Article V, Section 26 of the Constitution of Michigan,[35] Section 10.2 of the Revised Statutes of 1846[36] and the Emergency Interim Executive Succession Act (PA 202 of 1959, Section 31.4)[37] [38]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of MichiganGretchen Whitmer (D)
1Lieutenant GovernorGarlin Gilchrist (D)
2Secretary of StateJocelyn Benson (D)
3Attorney GeneralDana Nessel (D)
4President pro tempore of the SenateJeremy Moss (D)
5Speaker of the House of RepresentativesJoe Tate (D)
Eligible to serve as emergency interim governor if 1–5 are vacant
6List of 5 people named by the governor[39] State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks
7Fmr. Lieutenant Governor John Cherry (D)
8Wayne County Exec. Warren Evans (D)
9Businessman Gary Torgow
10U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D)

Minnesota

Established by Article V, Section 5 of the Minnesota Constitution[40] and Minnesota Statute 4.06.[41]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of MinnesotaTim Walz (DFL)
1Lieutenant GovernorPeggy Flanagan (DFL)
2President of the SenateBobby Joe Champion (DFL)
3Speaker of the House of RepresentativesMelissa Hortman (DFL)
4Secretary of StateSteve Simon (DFL)
5AuditorJulie Blaha (DFL)
6Attorney GeneralKeith Ellison (DFL)

Mississippi

Established by Article V, Section 131 of the Constitution of Mississippi.[42]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of MississippiTate Reeves (R)
1Lieutenant GovernorDelbert Hosemann (R)
2President pro tempore of the SenateDean Kirby (R)
3Speaker of the House of RepresentativesPhilip Gunn (R)

Missouri

Established by Article IV, Section 11(a) of the Constitution of Missouri.[43]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of MissouriMike Parson (R)
1Lieutenant GovernorMike Kehoe (R)
2President pro tempore of the SenateCaleb Rowden (R)
3Speaker of the House of RepresentativesDean Plocher (R)
4Secretary of StateJay Ashcroft (R)
5AuditorScott Fitzpatrick (R)
6TreasurerVivek Malek (R)
7Attorney GeneralAndrew Bailey (R)

Montana

Established by Article VI, Section 6 of the Constitution of Montana[44] and Montana Code 2-16-511 to 2-16-513.[45] [46] [47]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of MontanaGreg Gianforte (R)
1Lieutenant GovernorKristen Juras (R)
2President of the SenateJason Ellsworth (R)
3Speaker of the House of RepresentativesMatt Regier (R)
4Most senior member of the Montana LegislatureDuane Ankney (R)

Nebraska

Established by Article IV, Section 16 of the Constitution of Nebraska[48] and Nebraska Revised Statutes 84-120[49] and 84-121.[50]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of NebraskaJim Pillen (R)
1Lieutenant GovernorJoe Kelly (R)
2Speaker of the Nebraska LegislatureJohn Arch (NP/R)
3Chair of the Executive Board of the Legislative CouncilRay Aguilar (NP/R)
4Chair of the Committee on CommitteesJoni Albrecht (NP/R)
5Chair of the Judiciary CommitteeJustin Wayne (NP/D)
6Chair of the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs CommitteeTom Brewer (NP/R)
7Chair of the Appropriations CommitteeRobert Clements (NP/R)
8Chair of the Revenue CommitteeLou Ann Linehan (NP/R)
9Chair of the Education CommitteeDave Murman (NP/R)
10Chair of the Banking, Commerce and Insurance CommitteeJulie Slama (NP/R)
11Chair of the Natural Resources CommitteeBruce Bostelman (NP/R)
12Chair of the Agriculture CommitteeSteve Halloran (NP/R)
13Chair of the Health and Human Services CommitteeBen Hansen (NP/R)
14Chair of the General Affairs CommitteeJohn Lowe (NP/R)
15Chair of the Urban Affairs CommitteeTerrell McKinney (NP/D)
16Chair of the Business and Labor CommitteeMerv Riepe (NP/R)
17Chair of the Transportation and Telecommunications CommitteeMike Moser (NP/R)

Nevada

Established by Nevada Revised Statute 223.080.[51]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of NevadaJoe Lombardo (R)
1Lieutenant GovernorStavros Anthony (R)
2President pro tempore of the SenatePat Spearman (D)
3Speaker of the AssemblySteve Yeager (D)
4Secretary of StateCisco Aguilar (D)

New Hampshire

Established by Part 2, Article 49 of the Constitution of New Hampshire.[52]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of New HampshireChris Sununu (R)
1President of the SenateJeb Bradley (R)
2Speaker of the House of RepresentativesSherman Packard (R)
3Secretary of StateDavid Scanlan (R)
4TreasurerMonica Mezzapelle (D)

New Jersey

Established by Article V, Section I, Paragraph 7 of the Constitution of New Jersey[53] and New Jersey Revised Statute 52:14A-4.[54]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of New JerseyPhil Murphy (D)
1Lieutenant GovernorTahesha Way (D)
2President of the SenateNicholas Scutari (D)
3Speaker of the General AssemblyCraig Coughlin (D)
Eligible to serve as emergency interim governor if 1–3 are vacant
4Attorney GeneralMatt Platkin (D)
5Commissioner of TransportationFrancis O’Connor

New Mexico

Established by Article V, Section 7 of the Constitution of New Mexico[55]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of New MexicoMichelle Lujan Grisham (D)
1Lieutenant GovernorHowie Morales (D)
2Secretary of StateMaggie Toulouse Oliver (D)
3President pro tempore of the SenateMimi Stewart (D)
4Speaker of the House of RepresentativesJavier Martínez (D)

New York

Established by Article IV, Sections 5–6 of the New York Constitution[56] and Article 1-A, Section 5 of the Defense Emergency Act of 1951.[57]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of New YorkKathy Hochul (D)
1Lieutenant GovernorAntonio Delgado (D)
2Temporary President of the SenateAndrea Stewart-Cousins (D)
3Speaker of the AssemblyCarl Heastie (D)
Eligible to serve as emergency interim governor if 1–3 are vacant
4Attorney GeneralLetitia James (D)
5ComptrollerThomas DiNapoli (D)
6Commissioner of TransportationMarie Therese Dominguez
7Commissioner of HealthMary T. Bassett
Commissioner of Commercen/a
Industrial Commissionern/a
8Chair of the Public Service CommissionJohn B. Rhodes
9Secretary of StateRobert J. Rodriguez (D) (acting)

North Carolina

Established by Article III, Section 3, of the Constitution of North Carolina[58] and G.S. Section 147.11.1.[59]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of North CarolinaRoy Cooper (D)
1Lieutenant GovernorMark Robinson (R)
2President pro tempore of the SenatePhil Berger (R)
3Speaker of the House of RepresentativesTim Moore (R)
4Secretary of StateElaine Marshall (D)
5AuditorBeth Wood (D)
6Superintendent of Public InstructionCatherine Truitt (R)
7Attorney GeneralJosh Stein (D)
8Commissioner of AgricultureSteve Troxler (R)
9Commissioner of LaborJosh Dobson (R)
10Commissioner of InsuranceMike Causey (R)

North Dakota

Established by Article V, Section 11 of the Constitution of North Dakota.[60]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of North DakotaDoug Burgum (R)
1Lieutenant GovernorTammy Miller (R)
2Secretary of StateMichael Howe (R)

Ohio

Established by Article III, Section 15 of the Constitution of Ohio[61] and Title I, Chapter 161 of the Ohio Revised Code.[62]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of OhioMike DeWine (R)
1Lieutenant GovernorJon Husted (R)
2President of the SenateMatt Huffman (R)
3Speaker of the House of RepresentativesJason Stephens (R)
4Secretary of StateFrank LaRose (R)
5TreasurerRobert Sprague (R)
6AuditorKeith Faber (R)
7Attorney GeneralDave Yost (R)

Oklahoma

As provided by Article VI, Section 15 of the Constitution of Oklahoma[63] and the Oklahoma Emergency Interim Executive and Judicial Succession Act.

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of OklahomaKevin Stitt (R)
1Lieutenant Governor of OklahomaMatt Pinnell (R)
2President pro tempore of the SenateGreg Treat (R)
3Speaker of the House of RepresentativesCharles McCall (R)
Eligible to serve as emergency interim governor if 1–3 are vacant
4State Auditor and InspectorCindy Byrd (R)
5Attorney GeneralGentner Drummond (R)
6State TreasurerTodd Russ (R)
7Superintendent of Public InstructionRyan Walters (R)
8Labor CommissionerLeslie Osborn (R)
9Corporation Commissioner (by length of tenure)Bob Anthony (R)
10Todd Hiett (R)
11Kim David (R)

Oregon

Established by Article V, Section 8a of the Constitution of Oregon[64]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of OregonTina Kotek (D)
Secretary of StateLaVonne Griffin-Valade (D)
1TreasurerTobias Read (D)
2President of the SenateRob Wagner (D)
3Speaker of the House of RepresentativesDan Rayfield (D)

Pennsylvania

Established by Article IV, Sections 13–14 of the Pennsylvania Constitution[65] [66]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of PennsylvaniaJosh Shapiro (D)
1Lieutenant GovernorAustin Davis (D)
2President pro tempore of the SenateKim Ward (R)

Rhode Island

Established by Article IX, Sections 9–10 of the Constitution of Rhode Island[67]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of Rhode IslandDan McKee (D)
1Lieutenant GovernorSabina Matos (D)
2Speaker of the House of RepresentativesJoe Shekarchi (D)

South Carolina

Established by Article IV, Sections 6 and 7 of the South Carolina Constitution[68] and South Carolina Code of Laws sections 1-3-120,[69] 1-3-130[70] and 1-9-30.[71]

PositionCurrent officeholder
Governor of South CarolinaHenry McMaster (R)
1Lieutenant GovernorPamela Evette (R)
2President of the South Carolina SenateThomas C. Alexander (R)
3Speaker of the House of RepresentativesMurrell Smith (R)
Eligible to serve as emergency interim governor if 1–3 are vacant
4Secretary of StateMark Hammond (R)
5TreasurerCurtis Loftis (R)
6Attorney GeneralAlan Wilson (R)

South Dakota

Established by Article IV, Section 6 of the Constitution of South Dakota.[72]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of South DakotaKristi Noem (R)
1Lieutenant GovernorLarry Rhoden (R)

Tennessee

Established by Article III, Section 12 of the Constitution of Tennessee[73] and Acts 1941, Chapter 99 §1.[74]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of TennesseeBill Lee (R)
1Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the SenateRandy McNally (R)
2Speaker of the House of RepresentativesCameron Sexton (R)
3Secretary of StateTre Hargett (R)
4Comptroller of the TreasuryJason Mumpower (R)

Texas

Established by Article IV, Sections 3a and 16–18 of the Constitution of Texas[75] and Chapter 401.023 of Title 4 the Texas Gov't Code.[76]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of TexasGreg Abbott (R)
1Lieutenant GovernorDan Patrick (R)
2President pro tempore of the SenateCharles Schwertner (R)
3Speaker of the House of RepresentativesDade Phelan (R)
4Attorney GeneralKen Paxton (R)
Chief Justices of the Texas Courts of Appeals, in numerical order
51st Court of Appeals (Houston)Terry Adams (R)
62nd Court of Appeals (Fort Worth)Bonnie Sudderth (R)
73rd Court of Appeals (Austin)Darlene Byrne (D)
84th Court of Appeals (San Antonio)Rebeca Martinez (D)
95th Court of Appeals (Dallas)Robert Burns III (D)
106th Court of Appeals (Texarkana)Josh Morriss (R)
117th Court of Appeals (Amarillo)Brian Quinn (R)
128th Court of Appeals (El Paso)Jeff Alley (R)
139th Court of Appeals (Beaumont)Scott Golemon (R)
1410th Court of Appeals (Waco)Tom Gray (R)
1511th Court of Appeals (Eastland)John M. Bailey (R)
1612th Court of Appeals (Tyler)Jim Worthen (R)
1713th Court of Appeals (Corpus Christi)Dori Contreras (D)
1814th Court of Appeals (Houston)Tracy Christopher (R)

Utah

Established by Article VII, Section 11 of the Constitution of Utah[77] and the Emergency Interim Succession Act (C53-2a-803).[78]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of UtahSpencer Cox (R)
1Lieutenant GovernorDeirdre Henderson (R)
2President of the SenateJ. Stuart Adams (R)
3Speaker of the House of RepresentativesBrad Wilson (R)
Eligible to serve as emergency interim governor if 1–3 are vacant
4Attorney GeneralSean Reyes (R)
5TreasurerMarlo Oaks (R)
6AuditorJohn Dougall (R)

Vermont

Established by Chapter II, Section 20 of the Constitution of Vermont,[79] 3 VSA §1[80] and 20 VSA §183.[81]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of VermontPhil Scott (R)
1Lieutenant GovernorDavid Zuckerman (VPP/D)
2Speaker of the House of RepresentativesJill Krowinski (D)
3President pro tempore of the SenatePhilip Baruth (D/VPP)
4Secretary of StateSarah Copeland-Hanzas (D)
5TreasurerMike Pieciak (D)

Virginia

Established by Article V, Section 16 of the Constitution of Virginia.[82]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of VirginiaGlenn Youngkin (R)
1Lieutenant GovernorWinsome Sears (R)
2Attorney GeneralJason Miyares (R)
3Speaker of the House of DelegatesDon Scott (D)
4House of Delegates convenes to fill the vacancy

Washington

Established by Article III, Section 10 of the Constitution of Washington.[83]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of WashingtonJay Inslee (D)
1Lieutenant GovernorDenny Heck (D)
2Secretary of StateSteve Hobbs (D)
3TreasurerMike Pellicciotti (D)
4AuditorPat McCarthy (D)
5Attorney GeneralBob Ferguson (D)
6Superintendent of Public InstructionChris Reykdal (NP)
7Commissioner of Public LandsHilary Franz (D)

West Virginia

Established by Article VII, Section 16 of the Constitution of West Virginia.[84]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of West VirginiaJim Justice (R)
1President of the SenateCraig Blair (R)
2Speaker of the House of DelegatesRoger Hanshaw (R)
3New governor elected by a joint vote of the Legislature

Wisconsin

Established by Article V, Sections 7 and 8 of the Constitution of Wisconsin.[85]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of WisconsinTony Evers (D)
1Lieutenant GovernorSara Rodriguez (D)
2Secretary of StateSarah Godlewski (D)

Wyoming

Established by Article IV, Section 6 of the Wyoming Constitution.[86]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of WyomingMark Gordon (R)
1Secretary of StateChuck Gray (R)

Federal district

Washington, D.C.

Established by Title IV, Section 421(c)(2) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act.[87]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Mayor of Washington, D.C.Muriel Bowser (D)
1Chair of the D.C. CouncilPhil Mendelson (D)

Organized territories

American Samoa

Established by Article IV, Section 4 Constitution of American Samoa[88] and Section 4.0106 of the American Samoa Codes Annotated.[89]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of American SamoaLemanu Peleti Mauga
1Lieutenant GovernorEleasalo Ale
2Speaker of the House of RepresentativesSavali Talavou Ale

Guam

Established by Subchapter 1, Section 1422(b) of the Guam Organic Act of 1950.[90]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of GuamLou Leon Guerrero (D)
1Lieutenant GovernorJosh Tenorio (D)
2Speaker of the LegislatureTherese M. Terlaje (D)

Northern Mariana Islands

Established by Article III, Section 7 of the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Constitution.[91]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of the Northern Mariana IslandsArnold Palacios (I)
1Lieutenant GovernorDavid M. Apatang (I)
2President of the SenateEdith DeLeon Guerrero (D)

Puerto Rico

See main article: Puerto Rico governmental line of succession. Established by Article IV, Section 8 of the Constitution of Puerto Rico[92] and Law No. 7 of 2005[93]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of Puerto RicoPedro Pierluisi (PNP/D)
1Secretary of StateOmar J. Marrero (PNP)
2Secretary of JusticeDomingo Emanuelli (PNP)
3Secretary of TreasuryFrancisco Parés Alicea
4Secretary of EducationEliezer Ramos Parés (PNP)
5Secretary of Labor and Human ResourcesCarlos Rivera Santiago
6Secretary of Transportation and Public WorksCarlos Contreras Aponte
7Secretary of Economic Development and CommerceManuel Cidre (I)
8Secretary of HealthCarlos Mellado López

U.S. Virgin Islands

Established by Subsection IV §1595(b, e) of the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands[94] and the Executive Succession Act of 1972[95]

OfficeCurrent officeholder
Governor of the United States Virgin IslandsAlbert Bryan (D)
1Lieutenant GovernorTregenza Roach (D)
2President of the LegislatureNovelle Francis (D)
3Vice President of the LegislatureMarvin Blyden (D)
4Commissioner of FinanceKevin McCurdy
5Attorney GeneralGordon Rhea (Nominee)
6Director of the Office of Management and BudgetKimika Woods (Acting)
7Commissioner of EducationDionne Wells-Hedrington
8Commission of Public WorksDerek Gabriel
9Commission of Sports, Parks and RecreationCalvert White
Police CommissionerMario Brooks (Acting)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: States' Lines of Succession of Gubernatorial Powers. May 2011. National Lieutenant Governors Association.
  2. Web site: Chart of Gubernatorial Successions. June 2018. National Lieutenant Governors Association.
  3. Staff. "N.J.'S LINE OF SUCCESSION / A SIMPLE FIX", The Press of Atlantic City, November 11, 2002. Retrieved June 22, 2012. "Thanks to an unusual set of circumstances and a flaw in the state constitution, New Jersey had five different governors over eight days at the beginning of the year. Even for New Jersey, this was pretty bizarre."
  4. Web site: Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball » Stepping Up: How Governors Who Have Succeeded to the Top Job Have Performed Over the Years. centerforpolitics.org. 18 May 2017 . 2019-11-23.
  5. Web site: Constitution of Alabama 1901. Alabama Legislature. August 22, 2019.
  6. Web site: The Constitution of the State of Alaska. Lieutenant Governor of Alaska. August 22, 2019.
  7. Web site: Constitution of Arizona: Article V, Section 6. Arizona Legislature. August 22, 2019.
  8. Web site: Constitution of the State of Arkansas of 1874. Arkansas Legislature. August 22, 2019.
  9. Web site: Constitution of California: Article V, Section 10. California Legislature. August 22, 2019.
  10. Web site: Government Code, Article 5.5, Section 12058 — Succession to the Office of Governor. California Legislature. August 22, 2019.
  11. Web site: Government Code, Article 5.5, Section 12061 — Succession to the Office of Governor in the Event of War or Enemy-Caused Disaster. California Legislature. August 22, 2019.
  12. Web site: Constitution of Colorado: Article IV, Section 13. LexisNexis. August 22, 2019.
  13. Web site: Constitution of Connecticut. Connecticut General Assembly. August 22, 2019. September 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220901043951/https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/Content/constitutions/CTConstitution.htm. dead.
  14. Web site: Constitution of Delaware: Article III, Section 20. State of Delaware. August 22, 2019.
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