The governor of Georgia is the head of government of the U.S. state of Georgia and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. Republican Brian Kemp assumed office on January 14, 2019.
There have officially been 83 governors of the State of Georgia, including 11 who served more than one distinct term (John Houstoun, George Walton, Edward Telfair, George Mathews, Jared Irwin, David Brydie Mitchell, George Rockingham Gilmer, M. Hoke Smith, Joseph Mackey Brown, John M. Slaton and Eugene Talmadge, with Herman Talmadge serving two de facto distinct terms).
The longest-serving governors are George Busbee, Joe Frank Harris, Zell Miller, Sonny Perdue and Nathan Deal, each of whom served two full four-year terms; Joseph E. Brown, governor during the Civil War, was elected four times, serving seven and a half years. The shortest term of the post-revolutionary period is that of Matthew Talbot, who served 13 days after succeeding his predecessor, who died in office. Eugene Talmadge died in December 1946 before taking office in his second distinct term, leading to a dispute in which three people claimed the office.
Georgia was one of the original Thirteen Colonies and was admitted as a state on January 2, 1788.[1] Before it declared its independence, Georgia was a colony of the Kingdom of Great Britain. It seceded from the Union on January 19, 1861,[2] and was a founding member of the Confederate States of America on February 4, 1861.[3] Following the end of the American Civil War, Georgia during Reconstruction was part of the Third Military District, which exerted some control over governor appointments and elections. Georgia was readmitted to the Union on July 25, 1868;[4] again expelled from Congress on March 3, 1869;[5] and again readmitted on July 15, 1870.
The Rules and Regulations of the Colony, drafted in 1776, provided for a president to serve a term of 6 months.[6] A formal constitution was drafted in 1777, providing for a governor to serve a term of one year, but no more than one year out of every three.[7] The term was lengthened to two years in 1789, but with no term limit.[8] The 1865 constitution required governors to take four years off after serving two terms,[9] but that was quickly changed in the 1868 constitution, which allowed four-year terms with no limits. The term length was returned to the two-year term and limit of the 1865 constitution in 1877.[10]
The 1945 constitution changed the length of terms to four years, with governors required to take four years off before running again, and it created the office of Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, who would exercise the powers of the governor should the office become vacant.[11] This was changed in 1983 so that the lieutenant governor fully becomes governor in that circumstance.[12] Before the creation of the office of lieutenant governor, the president of the senate (or, before 1789, the president of the executive council[13]) would exercise the powers of governor.[14] The 1983 constitution also allows governors to succeed themselves once, before having to wait four years to run again. The governor and the lieutenant governor are not officially elected on the same ticket.
| Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | data-sort-value="Bulloch, Archibald" | Archibald Bulloch [15] [16] | [17] – February 22, 1777 | None | — | Office did not exist | |||
| 8 | data-sort-value="Gwinnett, Button" | Button Gwinnett [18] [19] | – May 8, 1777 | None | — | ||||
| 9 | data-sort-value="Treutlen, John" | John A. Treutlen [20] [21] | – January 10, 1778 | None | — | ||||
| 10 | data-sort-value="Houstoun, John" | John Houstoun [22] [23] | – December 29, 1778 | None | — | ||||
| — | Competing governments | – August 6, 1779 | |||||||
| 11 | data-sort-value="Wereat, John" | John Wereat [24] [25] | - November 1779 | None | — | ||||
| 12 | data-sort-value="Walton, George" | George Walton [26] [27] | - January 4, 1780 | None | — | ||||
| 13 | data-sort-value="Howly, Richard" | Richard Howly [28] | – February 5, 1780 | None | — | ||||
| — | data-sort-value="Wells, George" | George Wells | - February 16, 1780 | None | — | ||||
| 14 | data-sort-value="Heard, Stephen" | Stephen Heard [29] [30] | - August 18, 1781 | None | — | ||||
| 15 | data-sort-value="Brownson, Nathan" | Nathan Brownson [31] [32] | – January 3, 1782 | None | 1781 | ||||
| 16 | data-sort-value="Martin, John" | John Martin [33] [34] | – January 8, 1783 | None | 1782 | ||||
| 17 | data-sort-value="Hall, Lyman" | Lyman Hall [35] [36] | – January 9, 1784 | None | 1783 | ||||
| 10 | data-sort-value="Houstoun, John" | John Houstoun | – January 6, 1785 | None | 1784 | ||||
| 18 | data-sort-value="Elbert, Samuel" | Samuel Elbert [37] [38] | – January 9, 1786 | None | 1785 | ||||
| 19 | data-sort-value="Telfair, Edward" | Edward Telfair [39] [40] | – January 9, 1787 | None | 1786 | ||||
| 20 | data-sort-value="Mathews, George" | George Mathews [41] [42] | – January 26, 1788 | None | 1787 | ||||
| 21 | data-sort-value="Handley, George" | George Handley [43] [44] | – January 7, 1789 | None | 1788 | ||||
| 12 | data-sort-value="Walton, George" | George Walton | – November 9, 1789 | Democratic- Republican | data-sort-value="1789-01" | Jan. 1789 | |||
| 19 | Edward Telfair | – November 7, 1793 | Democratic- Republican | data-sort-value="1789-11" | Nov. 1789 | ||||
| 1791 | |||||||||
| 20 | data-sort-value="Mathews, George" | George Mathews | – January 15, 1796 | Democratic- Republican | 1793 | ||||
| 22 | data-sort-value="Irwin, Jared" | Jared Irwin [45] [46] | – January 12, 1798 | Democratic- Republican | 1795 | ||||
| 23 | James Jackson [47] [48] | – March 3, 1801 | Democratic- Republican | 1797 | |||||
| 1799 | |||||||||
| 24 | data-sort-value="Emanuel, David" | David Emanuel [49] [50] | – November 7, 1801 | Democratic- Republican | |||||
| 25 | data-sort-value="Tattnall, Josiah" | Josiah Tattnall [51] [52] | – November 4, 1802 | Democratic- Republican | 1801 | ||||
| 26 | John Milledge [53] [54] | – September 23, 1806 | Democratic- Republican | 1802 | |||||
| 1803 | |||||||||
| 1805 | |||||||||
| 22 | Jared Irwin | – November 10, 1809 | Democratic- Republican | ||||||
| 1807 | |||||||||
| 27 | David Brydie Mitchell [55] [56] | – November 5, 1813 | Democratic- Republican | 1809 | |||||
| 1811 | |||||||||
| 28 | data-sort-value="Early, Peter" | Peter Early [57] [58] | – November 10, 1815 | Democratic- Republican | 1813 | ||||
| 27 | data-sort-value="Mitchell, David" | David Brydie Mitchell | – March 4, 1817 | Democratic- Republican | 1815 | ||||
| 29 | William Rabun [59] [60] | – October 24, 1819 | Democratic- Republican | ||||||
| 1817 | |||||||||
| 30 | data-sort-value="Talbot, Matthew" | Matthew Talbot [61] | – November 5, 1819 | Democratic- Republican | |||||
| 31 | John Clark [62] [63] | – November 7, 1823 | Democratic- Republican | 1819 | |||||
| 1821 | |||||||||
| 32 | George Troup [64] [65] | – November 7, 1827 | Troup Democratic- Republican | 1823 | |||||
| 1825 | |||||||||
| 33 | data-sort-value="Forsyth, John" | John Forsyth [66] [67] | – November 4, 1829 | Troup Democratic- Republican | 1827 | ||||
| 34 | data-sort-value="Gilmer, George" | George Rockingham Gilmer [68] [69] | – November 9, 1831 | Troup Democratic- Republican | 1829 | ||||
| 35 | Wilson Lumpkin [70] [71] | – November 4, 1835 | Union (Democratic) | 1831 | |||||
| 1833 | |||||||||
| 36 | data-sort-value="Schley, William" | William Schley [72] [73] | – November 8, 1837 | Union (Democratic) | 1835 | ||||
| 34 | data-sort-value="Gilmer, George" | George Rockingham Gilmer | – November 6, 1839 | State Rights (Whig) | 1837 | ||||
| 37 | Charles James McDonald [74] [75] | – November 8, 1843 | Union (Democratic) | 1839 | |||||
| 1841 | |||||||||
| 38 | George W. Crawford [76] [77] | – November 3, 1847 | Whig | 1843 | |||||
| 1845 | |||||||||
| 39 | George W. Towns [78] [79] | – November 5, 1851 | Democratic | 1847 | |||||
| 1849 | |||||||||
| 40 | data-sort-value="Cobb, Howell" | Howell Cobb [80] [81] | – November 9, 1853 | Constitutional Union (Democratic) | 1851 | ||||
| 41 | Herschel V. Johnson [82] [83] | – November 6, 1857 | Democratic | 1853 | |||||
| 1855 | |||||||||
| 42 | Joseph E. Brown [84] [85] | – June 17, 1865 | Democratic | 1857 | |||||
| 1859 | |||||||||
| 1861 | |||||||||
| 1863 | |||||||||
| 43 | data-sort-value="Johnson, James" | James Johnson [86] [87] | – December 19, 1865 | ||||||
| 44 | data-sort-value="Jenkins, Charles" | Charles J. Jenkins [88] [89] | – January 13, 1868 | Democratic | 1865 | ||||
| 45 | data-sort-value="Ruger, Thomas" | Thomas H. Ruger [90] [91] | – July 4, 1868 | ||||||
| 46 | data-sort-value="Bullock, Rufus" | Rufus Bullock [92] [93] | – October 30, 1871 | Republican | 1868 | ||||
| 47 | data-sort-value="Conley, Benjamin" | Benjamin F. Conley [94] | – January 12, 1872 | Republican | |||||
| 48 | James Milton Smith [95] [96] | – January 12, 1877 | Democratic | 1871 | |||||
| 1872 | |||||||||
| 49 | Alfred H. Colquitt [97] [98] | [99] – November 4, 1882 | Democratic | 1876 | |||||
| 1880 | |||||||||
| 50 | data-sort-value="Stephens, Alexander" | Alexander H. Stephens [100] [101] | [102] – March 4, 1883 | Democratic | 1882 | ||||
| 51 | data-sort-value="Boynton, James" | James S. Boynton [103] | – May 10, 1883 | Democratic | |||||
| 52 | Henry Dickerson McDaniel [104] [105] | [106] – November 9, 1886 | Democratic | 1883 | |||||
| 1884 | |||||||||
| 53 | John B. Gordon [107] [108] | [109] – November 8, 1890 | Democratic | 1886 | |||||
| 1888 | |||||||||
| 54 | William J. Northen [110] [111] | [112] – October 27, 1894 | Democratic | 1890 | |||||
| 1892 | |||||||||
| 55 | William Yates Atkinson [113] [114] | [115] – October 29, 1898 | Democratic | 1894 | |||||
| 1896 | |||||||||
| 56 | Allen D. Candler [116] [117] | [118] – October 25, 1902 | Democratic | 1898 | |||||
| 1900 | |||||||||
| 57 | Joseph M. Terrell [119] [120] | [121] – June 29, 1907 | Democratic | 1902 | |||||
| 1904 | |||||||||
| 58 | data-sort-value="Smith, M. Hoke" | M. Hoke Smith [122] [123] | [124] – June 26, 1909 | Democratic | 1906 | ||||
| 59 | data-sort-value="Brown, Joseph M." | Joseph Mackey Brown [125] [126] | [127] – July 1, 1911 | Democratic | 1908 | ||||
| 58 | data-sort-value="Smith, M. Hoke" | M. Hoke Smith | [128] – November 15, 1911 | Democratic | 1910 | ||||
| 60 | data-sort-value="Slaton, John" | John M. Slaton [129] [130] | – January 25, 1912 | Democratic | |||||
| 59 | data-sort-value="Brown, Joseph M." | Joseph Mackey Brown | [131] – June 28, 1913 | Democratic | 1912 | ||||
| 60 | data-sort-value="Slaton, John" | John M. Slaton | [132] – June 26, 1915 | Democratic | 1912 | ||||
| 61 | data-sort-value="Harris, Nathaniel" | Nathaniel Edwin Harris [133] [134] | [135] – June 30, 1917 | Democratic | 1914 | ||||
| 62 | Hugh Dorsey [136] [137] | [138] – June 25, 1921 | Democratic | 1916 | |||||
| 1918 | |||||||||
| 63 | data-sort-value="Hardwick, Thomas" | Thomas W. Hardwick [139] [140] | [141] – June 30, 1923 | Democratic | 1920 | ||||
| 64 | Clifford Walker [142] [143] | [144] – June 25, 1927 | Democratic | 1922 | |||||
| 1924 | |||||||||
| 65 | Lamartine Griffin Hardman [145] [146] | [147] – June 27, 1931 | Democratic | 1926 | |||||
| 1928 | |||||||||
| 66 | data-sort-value="Russel, Richard" | Richard Russell Jr. [148] [149] | [150] – January 10, 1933 | Democratic | 1930 | ||||
| 67 | Eugene Talmadge [151] [152] | [153] – January 12, 1937 | Democratic | 1932 | |||||
| 1934 | |||||||||
| 68 | Eurith D. Rivers [154] [155] | [156] – January 14, 1941 | Democratic | 1936 | |||||
| 1938 | |||||||||
| 67 | data-sort-value="Talmadge, Eugene" | Eugene Talmadge | [157] – January 12, 1943 | Democratic | 1940 | ||||
| 69 | data-sort-value="Arnall, Ellis" | Ellis Arnall [158] [159] | [160] – January 14, 1947 | Democratic | 1942 | ||||
| — | data-sort-value="Talmadge, Eugene" | Eugene Talmadge | Died before taking office | Democratic | 1946 | ||||
| — | data-sort-value="Talmadge, Herman" | Herman Talmadge [161] [162] | [163] – March 19, 1947 | Democratic | |||||
| 70 | data-sort-value="Thompson, Melvin" | Melvin E. Thompson [164] [165] | [166] – November 17, 1948 | Democratic | Vacant | ||||
| 71 | Herman Talmadge | [167] – January 11, 1955 | Democratic | 1948 | |||||
| 1950 | |||||||||
| 72 | data-sort-value="Griffin, Marvin" | Marvin Griffin [168] [169] | [170] – January 13, 1959 | Democratic | 1954 | ||||
| 73 | data-sort-value="Vandiver, Ernest" | Ernest Vandiver [171] [172] | [173] – January 15, 1963 | Democratic | 1958 | ||||
| 74 | data-sort-value="Sanders, Carl" | Carl Sanders [174] [175] | [176] – January 11, 1967 | Democratic | 1962 | ||||
| 75 | data-sort-value="Maddox, Lester" | Lester Maddox [177] [178] | [179] – January 12, 1971 | Democratic | 1966 | ||||
| 76 | data-sort-value="Carter, Jimmy" | Jimmy Carter [180] [181] | [182] – January 14, 1975 | Democratic | 1970 | ||||
| 77 | George Busbee [183] [184] | [185] – January 11, 1983 | Democratic | 1974 | |||||
| 1978 | |||||||||
| 78 | Joe Frank Harris [186] [187] | [188] – January 14, 1991 | Democratic | 1982 | |||||
| 1986 | |||||||||
| 79 | Zell Miller [189] [190] | [191] – January 11, 1999 | Democratic | 1990 | |||||
| 1994 | |||||||||
| 80 | data-sort-value="Barnes, Roy" | Roy Barnes [192] [193] | [194] – January 13, 2003 | Democratic | 1998 | ||||
| 81 | Sonny Perdue [195] [196] | [197] – January 10, 2011 | Republican | 2002 | |||||
| 2006 | |||||||||
| 82 | Nathan Deal [198] [199] | [200] – January 14, 2019 | Republican | 2010 | |||||
| 2014 | |||||||||
| 83 | Brian Kemp [201] | [202] – Incumbent | Republican | 2018 | |||||
| 2022 | |||||||||