List of governors of Wisconsin explained

Post:	Governor
Body:	Wisconsin
Insignia:	Privy Seal of Wisconsin.svg
Insigniasize:	110px
Insigniacaption:	Gubernatorial seal
Incumbent:	Tony Evers
Incumbentsince:	January 7, 2019
Residence:	Wisconsin Governor's Mansion
Termlength:	Four years, no term limits
Inaugural:	Nelson Dewey
Deputy:	Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
Salary:	$152,756 (2022)^[1]

The governor of Wisconsin is the head of government of Wisconsin^[2] and the commander-in-chief of the state's army and air forces.^[3] The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Wisconsin Legislature,^[4] to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons, except in cases of treason and impeachment.^[5]

44 individuals have held the office of governor of Wisconsin since the state's admission to the Union in 1848, one of whom - Philip La Follette - served non-consecutive terms. Nelson Dewey, the first governor, took office on June 7, 1848. The longest-serving governor was Tommy Thompson, who took office on January 5, 1987, and resigned on February 1, 2001, a total of 14 years and 28 days. Arthur MacArthur Sr. had the shortest term: he was governor for a total of just 5 days—from March 21 to 25, 1856. The current governor is Tony Evers, a Democrat who took office on January 7, 2019.

List of governors

Initially after the American Revolution, parts of the area now known as Wisconsin were claimed by Virginia, Massachusetts and Connecticut; however, Virginia ceded its claim in 1784, Massachusetts in 1785 and Connecticut in 1786.^[6] On July 13, 1787, the Northwest Territory, including the area now called Wisconsin, was formed; Wisconsin remained part of the territory until 1800.^[7] The territorial governor during this period was Arthur St. Clair.^[8] As parts of the Northwest Territory were admitted to the Union as states, Wisconsin became part of first the Indiana Territory (1800 - 1809), then the Illinois Territory (1809 - 1818), and then the Michigan Territory (1818 - 1836); see the lists of governors of Indiana, of Illinois, and of Michigan for these periods.

Wisconsin Territory

Wisconsin Territory was formed on July 3, 1836. During the time of its existence, the Wisconsin Territory had three people appointed governor by the President of the United States, one of whom served non-consecutive terms.

When most of Wisconsin Territory was admitted as the state of Wisconsin, the remainder became unorganized territory. However, the citizens of the region maintained a territorial government, and even elected a delegate to the United States House of Representatives, essentially making it a de facto continuation of Wisconsin Territory.^[9] As the region no longer had an official governor, Territorial Secretary John Catlin acted as governor of the region.^[10]

!scope="colgroup" colspan="2"

Governor	Term in office	Appointing President
1		Henry Dodge	– September 13, 1841
2	data-sort-value="Doty, James"		James Duane Doty	– June 15, 1844
3	data-sort-value="Tallmadge, Nathaniel"		Nathaniel P. Tallmadge	– April 8, 1845
4	data-sort-value="Dodge, Henry"		Henry Dodge	– June 23, 1848

State of Wisconsin

Wisconsin was admitted to the Union on May 29, 1848. Since then, it has had 45 governors, one of whom served non-consecutive terms.

Originally, governors of Wisconsin served for two-year terms, but in 1967 the state constitution was amended to change this to four. Jeremiah McLain Rusk served 1 3-year term in the 1880s as the constitution was amended during his first term to move elections from odd to even years, and all officers were allowed to serve an extra year, rather than have their terms cut a year short. Patrick Lucey, elected in the 1970 election, was the first governor to serve a 4-year term.^[11] Governors of Wisconsin are not term limited.

The state constitution provides for the election of a lieutenant governor; originally, the governor and lieutenant governor were elected on different tickets, and thus were not necessarily of the same party. Since the 1967 amendment, however, the two have been nominated, and voted on, together. Originally, if the office of the governor was vacant for any reason, "the powers and duties of the office . . . devolve[d] upon the lieutenant governor." In 1979, the constitution was amended to make this more specific: if the governor dies, resigns, or is removed from office, the lieutenant governor becomes governor, but becomes acting governor if the governor is absent from the state, impeached, or unable to carry out of duties.^[12] If any of these events occur while the office of lieutenant governor is vacant, the secretary of state becomes either governor or acting governor.^[13] Two Wisconsin governors have died while in office, one has died after being elected but before taking office, and four have resigned.

!scope="colgroup" colspan="3"

Governor	Term in office	Party	Election	Lt. Governor
1			Nelson Dewey ^[14]	^[15] – January 5, 1852	Democratic	1848
						1849
2			Leonard J. Farwell ^[16]	^[17] – January 2, 1854	Whig	1851
							Vacant
3			William A. Barstow ^[18]	^[19] – March 21, 1856	Democratic	1853
						1855
4	data-sort-value="MacArthur, Arthur"			Arthur MacArthur Sr. ^[20]	^[21] – March 25, 1856			Democratic	Acting as governor
5	data-sort-value="Bashford, Coles"			Coles Bashford ^[22]	^[23] – January 4, 1858			Republican
6		Alexander Randall ^[24]		^[25] – January 6, 1862	Republican	1857
						1859
7	data-sort-value="Harvey, Louis"			Louis P. Harvey ^[26]	^[27] – April 19, 1862	Republican		1861
8	data-sort-value="Salomon, Edward"			Edward Salomon ^[28]	^[29] – January 4, 1864 ^[30]	Republican		Vacant
9	data-sort-value="Lewis, James"			James T. Lewis ^[31]	^[32] – January 1, 1866	Republican	1863
10		Lucius Fairchild ^[33]		^[34] – January 1, 1872	Republican	1865
						1867
						1869
11		Cadwallader C. Washburn ^[35]		^[36] – January 5, 1874	Republican	1871
							Vacant
12	data-sort-value="Taylor, William"			William Robert Taylor ^[37]	^[38] – January 3, 1876	Reform	1873
13	data-sort-value="Ludington, Harrison"			Harrison Ludington ^[39]	^[40] – January 7, 1878	Republican	1875
14		William E. Smith ^[41]		^[42] – January 2, 1882	Republican	1877
						1879
15		Jeremiah McLain Rusk ^[43]		^[44] – January 7, 1889	Republican	1881
						1884
						1886
16	data-sort-value="Hoard, William"			William D. Hoard ^[45]	^[46] – January 5, 1891	Republican			1888
17			George Wilbur Peck ^[47]	^[48] – January 7, 1895	Democratic	1890
						1892
							Vacant
18	data-sort-value="Upham, William"			William H. Upham ^[49]	^[50] – January 4, 1897	Republican	1894
19		Edward Scofield ^[51]		^[52] – January 7, 1901	Republican	1896
						1898
20		Robert M. La Follette ^[53]		^[54] – January 1, 1906	Republican	1900
							Vacant
						1902
						1904
21		James O. Davidson ^[55]		^[56] – January 2, 1911	Republican		Vacant
						1906
						1908
22		Francis E. McGovern ^[57]		^[58] – January 4, 1915	Republican	1910
						1912
23		Emanuel L. Philipp ^[59]		^[60] – January 3, 1921	Republican	1914
						1916
						1918
24		John J. Blaine ^[61]		^[62] – January 3, 1927	Republican	1920
						1922
						1924
25	data-sort-value="Zimmerman, Fred"			Fred R. Zimmerman ^[63]	^[64] – January 7, 1929	Republican			1926
26	data-sort-value="Kohler, Walter 1"			Walter J. Kohler Sr. ^[65]	^[66] – January 5, 1931	Republican			1928
27	data-sort-value="La Follette, Philip"			Philip La Follette ^[67]	^[68] – January 2, 1933	Republican			1930
28	data-sort-value="Schmedeman, Albert"			Albert G. Schmedeman ^[69]	^[70] – January 7, 1935	Democratic	1932
29			Philip La Follette	^[71] – January 2, 1939	Progressive	1934
							Vacant
						1936
							Vacant
30			Julius P. Heil ^[72]	^[73] – January 4, 1943	Republican	1938
						1940
—	data-sort-value="Loomis, Orland"			Orland Steen Loomis	Died before taking office	Progressive			1942
31			Walter Samuel Goodland ^[74]	^[75] – March 12, 1947	Republican		Vacant
						1944
						1946
32			Oscar Rennebohm ^[76]	^[77] – January 1, 1951	Republican		Vacant
						1948
33			Walter J. Kohler Jr. ^[78]	^[79] – January 7, 1957	Republican	1950
						1952
						1954
34	data-sort-value="Thomson, Vernon"			Vernon Wallace Thomson ^[80]	^[81] – January 5, 1959	Republican			1956
35			Gaylord Nelson ^[82]	^[83] – January 7, 1963	Democratic	1958
						1960
36	data-sort-value="Reynolds, John"			John W. Reynolds Jr. ^[84]	^[85] – January 4, 1965	Democratic		1962
37			Warren P. Knowles ^[86]	^[87] – January 4, 1971	Republican	1964
						1966
						1968
38			Patrick Lucey ^[88]	^[89] – July 6, 1977	Democratic	1970
						1974
39	data-sort-value="Schreiber, Martin"			Martin J. Schreiber ^[90]	^[91] – January 3, 1979	Democratic		Vacant
40	data-sort-value="Dreyfus, Lee"			Lee S. Dreyfus ^[92]	^[93] – January 3, 1983	Republican	1978
41	data-sort-value="Earl, Tony"			Tony Earl ^[94]	^[95] – January 5, 1987	Democratic	1982
42			Tommy Thompson ^[96]	^[97] – February 1, 2001	Republican	1986
						1990
						1994
						1998
43			Scott McCallum ^[98]	^[99] – January 6, 2003	Republican		Vacant
44			Jim Doyle ^[100]	^[101] – January 3, 2011	Democratic	2002
						2006
45			Scott Walker ^[102]	^[103] – January 7, 2019	Republican	2010
						2012
						2014
46			Tony Evers ^[104]	^[105] – Incumbent	Democratic	2018
						2022

See also

• Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Wisconsin
• List of Wisconsin state legislatures

References

General

• Web site: Former Wisconsin Governors . July 22, 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: Dubin, Michael J. . United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County . 2003 . McFarland . 978-0-7864-1439-0.
• 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: Kallenbach, Joseph Ernest . American State Governors, 1776-1976 . 1977 . Oceana Publications . 978-0-379-00665-0 . September 23, 2023.
• Book: Glashan, Roy R. . American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978 . 1979 . Meckler Books . 978-0-930466-17-6.
• Book: McMullin, Thomas A. . Biographical directory of American territorial governors . 1984 . Westport, CT : Meckler . 978-0-930466-11-4 . January 19, 2023.
• Web site: Our Campaigns - Governor of Wisconsin - History . 2023-07-25 . www.ourcampaigns.com.

Specific

External links

• Office of the Governor of Wisconsin

Notes and References

1. Web site: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries . The Council of State Governments . August 7, 2024.
2. Wisconsin Constitution article V, § 1
3. Wisconsin Constitution article V, § 4
4. Wisconsin Constitution article V, § 10
5. Wisconsin Constitution article V, § 6
6. Book: The blue book of the state of Wisconsin . Democrat Printing Company . 1911 . Beck . J. D. . Madison, Wisconsin . 512 . December 11, 2007.
7. Book: State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2005 - 2006 . 696 . Significant Events in Wisconsin History . December 11, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071025041703/http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lrb/bb/05bb/695-743.pdf . October 25, 2007 . dead.
8. Web site: 2005 . St. Clair, Arthur . December 11, 2007 . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress . Government Printing Office.
9. Book: Williams, J. Fletcher . Henry Hastings Sibley: A Memoir . Minnesota Historical Society . 1894 . 277–281 . December 28, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160307002027/https://archive.org/details/henryhastingssib00willrich . March 7, 2016 . live.
10. Book: The History of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin . Western Historical Company . 1879 . . 54–56 . January 24, 2008.
11. Book: State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2005 - 2006 . 724 . Wisconsin Governors since 1848 . October 5, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071025041703/http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lrb/bb/05bb/695-743.pdf . October 25, 2007 . dead.
12. Wisconsin Constitution article V, § 7
13. Wisconsin Constitution article V, § 8
14. Web site: Nelson Dewey . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
15. Wisconsin Legislature. Journal of the Assembly. 1st sess., 26, accessed July 22, 2023
16. Web site: Leonard James Farwell . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
17. News: 1852-01-10 . none . 2 . The Sheboygan Mercury . 2023-07-22 . Our first Whig governor, Leonard J. Farwell, took the oath of office, administered by Chief Justice Whiton, at Madison, on Monday last....
18. Web site: William Augustus Barstow . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
19. News: 1854-01-16 . Madison Correspondence . 2 . Daily Free Democrat . 2023-07-22.
20. Web site: Arthur MacArthur . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
21. News: 1856-03-21 . Barstow Resigned - The Fraud Confessed . 2 . Daily Free Democrat . 2023-07-22.
22. Web site: Coles Bashford . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
23. News: 1856-03-27 . Message of Governor Coles Bashford . 3 . The Telegraph-Courier . 2023-07-22.
24. Web site: Alexander Williams Randall . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
25. News: 1858-01-04 . The Inauguration of the New State Officers . 2 . Wisconsin State Journal . 2023-07-22.
26. Web site: Louis Powell Harvey . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
27. News: 1862-01-06 . The Inauguration Ceremonies . 1 . Wisconsin State Journal . 2023-07-22.
28. Web site: Edward Salomon . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
29. News: 1862-04-22 . Proclamation . 1 . Wisconsin State Journal . 2023-07-22.
30. News: 1863-08-27 . Republican Union State Convention . 2 . The Telegraph-Courier . 2023-07-22.
31. Web site: James Taylor Lewis . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
32. News: 1864-01-04 . The New State Administration . 1 . Wisconsin State Journal . 2023-07-22.
33. Web site: Lucius Fairchild . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
34. News: 1866-01-04 . Our New State Officers . 1 . Dodgeville Chronicle . 2023-07-22.
35. Web site: Cadwallader Colden Washburn . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
36. News: 1872-01-02 . Change of State Administration - Inaugural Ceremonies . 1 . Wisconsin State Journal . 2023-07-22.
37. Web site: William R. Taylor . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
38. News: 1874-01-05 . Out and In . 4 . Wisconsin State Journal . 2023-07-22.
39. Web site: Harrison Ludington . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
40. News: 1876-01-03 . Inauguration! . 4 . Wisconsin State Journal . 2023-07-22.
41. Web site: William E. Smith . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
42. News: 1878-01-07 . Inauguration. . 4 . Wisconsin State Journal . 2023-07-22.
43. Web site: Jeremiah M. Rusk . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
44. News: 1882-01-03 . Sworn In . 4 . Wisconsin State Journal . 2023-07-22.
45. Web site: William Dempster Hoard . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
46. News: 1889-01-07 . The Old and New Administrations . 1 . Wisconsin State Journal . 2023-07-22.
47. Web site: George W. Peck . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
48. News: 1891-01-05 . All Nature Smiles . 1 . Wisconsin State Journal . 2023-07-22.
49. Web site: William H. Upham . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
50. News: 1895-01-07 . Change of Governors in Wisconsin . 3 . The Journal Times . 2023-07-22.
51. Web site: Edward Scofield . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
52. News: 1897-01-04 . Scofield Sworn In . 1 . Portage Daily Democrat . 2023-07-22.
53. Web site: Robert M. La Follette . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
54. News: 1901-01-07 . Inaugurated as Governor . 1 . The Journal Times . 2023-07-22.
55. Web site: James O. Davidson . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
56. News: 1906-01-02 . Davidson Is Governor . 7 . The Journal Times . 2023-07-22.
57. Web site: Francis E. McGovern . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
58. News: 1911-01-03 . Inauguration Minus Fuss . 2 . Portage Daily Democrat . 2023-07-22.
59. Web site: Emanuel L. Philipp . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
60. News: 1915-01-04 . Thousands Witness Philipp Take Oath as Badger Governor . 1 . Janesville Daily Gazette . 2023-07-22.
61. Web site: John J. Blaine . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
62. News: 1921-01-03 . Huge Throng Witnesses Ceremonies . 1 . The Capital Times . 2023-07-22.
63. Web site: Fred R. Zimmerman . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
64. News: Griffiths . Bryn . 1927-01-03 . Five State Heads Take Oaths Today . 1 . The Capital Times . 2023-07-22.
65. Web site: Walter J. Kohler . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
66. News: 1929-01-07 . 5,000 See Kohler Inaugurated . 1 . The Capital Times . 2023-07-23.
67. Web site: Philip F. La Follette . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
68. News: Smith . Willard R. . 1931-01-05 . Philip La Follette Takes Governor's Chair . 1 . Wisconsin State Journal . 2023-07-23.
69. Web site: Albert G. Schmedeman . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
70. News: Browy . Calmer . 1933-01-03 . 4,000 See Schmedeman Take Oath; Asks Aid of All in Meeting Crisis . 1 . The Capital Times . 2023-07-23.
71. News: Parker . Cedric . 1935-01-07 . 10,000 See Phil LaFollette Take Oath . 1 . The Capital Times . 2023-07-23.
72. Web site: Julius Peter Heil . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
73. News: Revell . Aldric . 1939-01-03 . Julius Heil Take Oath of Office and Pledges Rigid Economy in His Address . 1 . The Capital Times . 2023-07-23.
74. Web site: Walter S. Goodland . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
75. News: 1943-01-04 . Goodland Hangs Up His Coat and Goes to Work . 1 . The Capital Times . 2023-07-23.
76. Web site: Oscar Rennebohm . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
77. News: 1947-03-13 . Madisonian Takes Oath at Informal Capitol Ceremonies . 1 . Wisconsin State Journal . 2023-07-23.
78. Web site: Walter J. Kohler Jr. . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
79. News: Goltz . Sanford . 1951-01-02 . 3,000 See Kohler Sworn . 1 . Wisconsin State Journal . 2023-07-23.
80. Web site: Vernon W. Thomson . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
81. News: 1957-01-07 . Fairchild Is Sworn In by His Father . 1 . The Capital Times . 2023-07-23.
82. Web site: Gaylord Anton Nelson . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
83. News: Revell . Aldric . 1959-01-05 . Revision of Taxes Asked . 1 . The Capital Times . 2023-07-23.
84. Web site: John W. Reynolds . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
85. News: Roberts . Llewellyn G. . 1963-01-08 . Gov. Reynolds Urges Unity . 1 . Wisconsin State Journal . 2023-07-23.
86. Web site: Warren P. Knowles . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
87. News: Brissee . William . 1965-01-05 . Knowles Seeks State's Aid in Move Forward . 1 . Wisconsin State Journal . 2023-07-23.
88. Web site: Patrick Joseph Lucey . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
89. News: Selk . James D. . 1971-01-05 . Lucey Hopes to Bridge Troubled State Waters . 1 . Wisconsin State Journal . 2023-07-23.
90. Web site: Martin James Schreiber . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
91. News: Beveridge . Reid . 1977-07-08 . Schreiber Takes State Reins . 1 . Wisconsin State Journal . 2023-07-23.
92. Web site: Lee Sherman Dreyfus . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
93. News: Simms . Patricia . 1979-01-04 . Dreyfus Becomes Governor . 1 . Wisconsin State Journal . 2023-07-23.
94. Web site: Anthony S. Earl . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
95. News: Still . Thomas W. . 1983-01-04 . Earl, Upbeat, Now the 40th . 1 . Wisconsin State Journal . 2023-07-23.
96. Web site: Tommy G. Thompson . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
97. News: Mell . Doug . 1987-01-06 . Tommy Promises a Better State . 1 . Wisconsin State Journal . 2023-07-23.
98. Web site: Scott McCallum . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
99. News: Milfred . Scott . 2001-02-02 . McCallum Pledges to Cut Taxes . 1 . Wisconsin State Journal . 2023-07-23.
100. Web site: Jim Doyle . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
101. News: Brinkman . Phil . 2003-01-07 . Doyle's Vow: People First . 1 . Wisconsin State Journal . 2023-07-23.
102. Web site: Scott Walker . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
103. News: 2011-01-04 . Walker Takes First Steps . 1 . The La Crosse Tribune . Associated Press . 2023-07-23.
104. Web site: Tony Evers . July 22, 2023 . National Governors Association.
105. News: Anderson . Madeleine . 2019-01-07 . 'Change is coming:' Governor Tony Evers celebrates inauguration at gala in Madison . en-US . Fox 6 Milwaukee . 2023-07-23.