List of governors of Minnesota explained

The governor of Minnesota is the head of government of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The governor is the head of the executive branch of Minnesota's state government and is charged with enforcing state laws.

There have been 41 governors of the state; one, Rudy Perpich, served non-consecutive terms. Minnesota Territory had three governors appointed by the president of the United States; the first, Alexander Ramsey, would later be state governor.

The current governor is Tim Walz, a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, who took office on January 7, 2019.

List of governors

Minnesota Territory

Minnesota Territory was organized on March 3, 1849.

!scope="colgroup" colspan="2"

Governor	Term in office	Appointed by
1	data-sort-value="Ramsey, Alexander"		Alexander Ramsey ^[1]	– April 1, 1853
2	data-sort-value="Gorman, Willis"		Willis A. Gorman ^[2]	– March 13, 1857
3	data-sort-value="Medary, Samuel"		Samuel Medary ^[3]	– May 24, 1858

State of Minnesota

Minnesota was admitted to the Union on May 11, 1858.

The Minnesota Constitution of 1858 created the offices of governor and lieutenant governor, elected separately to two-year terms; these were lengthened to four years starting in 1963. As of 1974, the governor and lieutenant governor are elected on the same ticket.^[4]

!scope="colgroup" colspan="3"

Governor	Term in office	Party	Election	Lt. Governor
1	data-sort-value="Sibley, Henry"			Henry Hastings Sibley ^[5] ^[6]	^[7] – January 2, 1860	Democratic	1857
2			Alexander Ramsey ^[8]	^[9] – July 10, 1863	Republican	1859
						1861
3	data-sort-value="Swift, Henry"			Henry Adoniram Swift ^[10] ^[11]	^[12] – January 13, 1864	Republican		Vacant
4	data-sort-value="Miller, Stephen"			Stephen Miller ^[13] ^[14]	– January 8, 1866	Republican	1863
5			William Rainey Marshall ^[15] ^[16]	^[17] – January 7, 1870	Republican	1865
						1867
6			Horace Austin ^[18] ^[19]	^[20] – January 9, 1874	Republican	1869
						1871
7	data-sort-value="Davis, Cushman"			Cushman Kellogg Davis ^[21] ^[22]	^[23] – January 7, 1876	Republican	1873
8			John S. Pillsbury ^[24] ^[25]	^[26] – January 9, 1882	Republican	1875
						1877
						1879
9			Lucius Frederick Hubbard ^[27] ^[28]	^[29] – January 5, 1887	Republican	1881
						1883
10	data-sort-value="McGill, Andrew"			Andrew Ryan McGill ^[30] ^[31]	^[32] – January 9, 1889	Republican	1886
11			William Rush Merriam ^[33] ^[34]	^[35] – January 4, 1893	Republican	1888
						1890
12			Knute Nelson ^[36] ^[37]	^[38] – January 31, 1895	Republican	1892
						1894
13			David Marston Clough ^[39] ^[40]	^[41] – January 2, 1899	Republican		Vacant
						1896
14	data-sort-value="Lind, John"			John Lind ^[42] ^[43]	^[44] – January 7, 1901	Democratic		1898
15			Samuel Rinnah Van Sant ^[45] ^[46]	^[47] – January 4, 1905	Republican	1900
						1902
16			John Albert Johnson ^[48] ^[49]	^[50] – September 21, 1909	Democratic	1904
						1906
						1908
17			Adolph Olson Eberhart ^[51] ^[52]	^[53] – January 6, 1915	Republican		Vacant
						1910
						1912
18	data-sort-value="Hammond, Winfield"			Winfield Scott Hammond ^[54] ^[55]	^[56] – December 30, 1915	Democratic			1914
19			Joseph A. A. Burnquist ^[57] ^[58]	^[59] – January 5, 1921	Republican		Vacant
						1916
						1918
20			J. A. O. Preus ^[60] ^[61]	^[62] – January 7, 1925	Republican	1920
						1922
21			Theodore Christianson ^[63] ^[64]	^[65] – January 7, 1931	Republican	1924
						1926
						1928
22			Floyd B. Olson ^[66] ^[67]	^[68] – August 22, 1936	Farmer-Labor	1930
						1932
						1934
23	data-sort-value="Petersen, Hjalmar"			Hjalmar Petersen ^[69] ^[70]	^[71] – January 4, 1937	Farmer-Labor		Vacant
24	data-sort-value="Benson, Elmer"			Elmer Austin Benson ^[72] ^[73]	^[74] – January 3, 1939	Farmer-Labor	1936
25			Harold Stassen ^[75] ^[76]	^[77] – April 27, 1943	Republican	1938
						1940
						1942
26			Edward John Thye ^[78] ^[79]	^[80] – January 8, 1947	Republican		Vacant
						1944
27			Luther Youngdahl ^[81] ^[82]	^[83] – September 27, 1951	Republican	1946
						1948
						1950
28			C. Elmer Anderson ^[84] ^[85]	^[86] – January 5, 1955	Republican		Vacant
						1952
29			Orville Freeman ^[87] ^[88]	^[89] – January 4, 1961	Democratic- Farmer-Labor	1954
						1956
						1958
30	data-sort-value="Andersen, Elmer"			Elmer L. Andersen ^[90] ^[91]	^[92] – March 25, 1963	Republican			1960
31	data-sort-value="Rolvaag, Karl"			Karl Rolvaag ^[93] ^[94]	^[95] – January 2, 1967	Democratic- Farmer-Labor		1962
32	data-sort-value="LeVander, Harold"			Harold LeVander ^[96] ^[97]	^[98] – January 4, 1971	Republican	1966
33			Wendell R. Anderson ^[99] ^[100]	^[101] – December 29, 1976	Democratic- Farmer-Labor	1970
						1974
34	data-sort-value="Perpich, Rudy"			Rudy Perpich ^[102] ^[103]	^[104] – January 1, 1979	Democratic- Farmer-Labor
35	data-sort-value="Quie, Al"			Al Quie ^[105] ^[106]	^[107] – January 3, 1983	Independent- Republican	1978
36			Rudy Perpich	^[108] – January 7, 1991	Democratic- Farmer-Labor	1982
						1986
37			Arne Carlson ^[109] ^[110]	^[111] – January 4, 1999	Independent- Republican	1990
						1994
38	data-sort-value="Ventura, Jesse"			Jesse Ventura ^[112] ^[113]	^[114] – January 6, 2003	Reform/ Independence	1998
39			Tim Pawlenty ^[115] ^[116]	^[117] – January 3, 2011	Republican	2002
						2006
40			Mark Dayton ^[118] ^[119]	^[120] – January 7, 2019	Democratic- Farmer-Labor	2010
						2014
41			Tim Walz ^[121]	^[122] – Incumbent	Democratic- Farmer-Labor	2018
						2022

See also

• List of Minnesota gubernatorial elections
• List of lieutenant governors of Minnesota
• First ladies of Minnesota
• List of Minnesota state legislatures

References

General

• Web site: Former Minnesota Governors . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
• Web site: Governors, 1849-Present . 2023-03-14 . Minnesota Legislative Reference Library.
• Book: McMullin, Thomas A. . Biographical directory of American territorial governors . 1984 . Westport, CT : Meckler . 978-0-930466-11-4 . January 19, 2023.
• Book: Sobel, Robert . Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. II . Meckler Books . 1978 . 9780930466008 . March 6, 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.
• Web site: Our Campaigns - Governor of Minnesota - History . 2023-07-25 . www.ourcampaigns.com.

Specific

External links

• Office of the Governor of Minnesota

Notes and References

1. Web site: Alexander Ramsey . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
2. Web site: Willis Arnold Gorman . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
3. Web site: Samuel Medary . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
4. Web site: Constitutional Amendments . 2023-03-15 . Minnesota Legislative Reference Library.
5. Web site: Henry Hastings Sibley . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
6. Web site: Henry Hastings Sibley . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
7. Book: Folwell, William Watts . A History of Minnesota . 1924 . Minnesota Historical Society . 978-0-87351-001-1 . 22 - 23 . en.
8. Web site: Alexander Ramsey . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
9. Minnesota Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1860 sess., 163, accessed September 27, 2023
10. Web site: Henry Adoniram Swift . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
11. Web site: Henry Adoniram Swift . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
12. Web site: Governors, 1849-Present . 2023-03-14 . Minnesota Legislative Reference Library.
13. Web site: Stephen Miller . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
14. Web site: Stephen Miller . March 14, 2023 . . Minnesota Historical Society.
15. Web site: William Rainey Marshall . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
16. Web site: William Rainey Marshall . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
17. Minnesota Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1866 sess., 16, accessed September 27, 2023
18. Web site: Horace Austin . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
19. Web site: Horace Austin . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
20. Minnesota Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1870 sess., 19, accessed September 27, 2023
21. Web site: Cushman Kellogg Davis . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
22. Web site: Cushman Kellogg Davis . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
23. News: 1874-01-10 . Legislature . 4 . Star Tribune . 2023-03-14.
24. Web site: John Sargent Pillsbury . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
25. Web site: John Sargent Pillsbury . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
26. Minnesota Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1870 sess., 24, accessed September 27, 2023
27. Web site: Lucius Frederick Hubbard . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
28. Web site: Lucius Frederick Hubbard . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
29. News: 1882-01-10 . Pillsbury-Hubbard . 2 . The Saint Paul Globe . 2023-03-15.
30. Web site: Andrew Ryan McGill . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
31. Web site: Andrew Ryan McGill . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
32. News: 1887-01-06 . The Ins and Outs – Gov. Hubbard Retires From the Governorship and McGill Takes Possession . 1 . The Saint Paul Globe . 2023-03-15.
33. Web site: William Rush Merriam . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
34. Web site: William Rush Merriam . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
35. News: 1889-01-10 . Two Governors . 6 . The Saint Paul Globe . 2023-03-15.
36. Web site: Knute Nelson . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
37. Web site: Knute Nelson . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
38. News: 1893-01-05 . King Knute . 1 . Minneapolis Daily Times . 2023-03-15.
39. Web site: David Marston Clough . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
40. Web site: David Marston Clough . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
41. News: 1895-01-31 . Clough is now Governor . 10 . The Minneapolis Journal . 2023-03-15.
42. Web site: John Lind . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
43. Web site: John Lind . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
44. News: 1899-01-03 . Lind Is Sworn In . 6 . Minneapolis Daily Times . 2023-03-15.
45. Web site: Samuel Rinnah Van Sant . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
46. Web site: Samuel Rinnah Van Sant . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
47. News: 1901-01-08 . Van Sant Sworn In . 4 . Star Tribune . 2023-03-15.
48. Web site: John Albert Johnson . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
49. Web site: John Albert Johnson . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
50. News: 1905-01-05 . John A. Johnson Made Governor of Minnesota . 8 . Star Tribune . 2023-03-15.
51. Web site: Adolph Olson Eberhart . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
52. Web site: Adolph Olson Eberhart . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
53. News: 1909-09-22 . Governor Eberhart Proclaims Thursday As Day of Mourning Throughout the State . 2 . Star Tribune . 2023-03-15.
54. Web site: Winfield Scott Hammond . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
55. Web site: Winfield Scott Hammond . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
56. News: 1915-01-07 . Hammond Plans Development of Idle State Land . 1 . The Pioneer . 2023-03-15.
57. Web site: Joseph Alfred Arner Burnquist . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
58. Web site: Joseph Alfred Arner Burnquist . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
59. News: 1915-12-31 . Burnquist Is Sworn In as New Governor . 1 . Star Tribune . 2023-03-15.
60. Web site: Jacob Aall Ottesen Preus . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
61. Web site: Jacob Aall Ottesen Preus . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
62. News: Akerson . George E. . 1921-01-06 . Preus Outlines State Fight on Townleyism . 1 . Star Tribune . 2023-03-15.
63. Web site: Theodore Christianson . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
64. Web site: Theodore Christianson . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
65. News: 1925-01-07 . New Governor Taking Oath of Office . 1 . The Minneapolis Star . 2023-03-15.
66. Web site: Floyd Bjornstjerne Olson . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
67. Web site: Floyd B. Olson . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
68. News: 1931-01-08 . Olson Takes Oath, Delivers Address . 6 . Star Tribune . 2023-03-15.
69. Web site: Hjalmar Petersen . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
70. Web site: Hjalmar Petersen . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
71. News: Burket . Jack . 1936-08-23 . Governor Olson Dies - Loses His Long Fight Against Stomach Cancer . 1 . Star Tribune . 2023-03-15.
72. Web site: Elmer Austin Benson . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
73. Web site: Elmer Austin Benson . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
74. News: 1937-01-04 . Benson Takes Over Reins as Governor of Minnesota . 1 . The Minneapolis Star . 2023-03-15.
75. Web site: Harold Edward Stassen . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
76. Web site: Harold Edward Stassen . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
77. News: 1939-01-03 . New 'First Family' at Ceremony . 1 . The Minneapolis Star . 2023-03-15.
78. Web site: Edward John Thye . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
79. Web site: Edward John Thye . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
80. News: Halloran . M. W. . 1943-04-27 . Ed Thye Becomes State's First Farmer-Governor As Stassen Starts Navy Duty . 1 . The Minneapolis Star . 2023-03-15.
81. Web site: Luther Wallace Youngdahl . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
82. Web site: Luther Wallace Youngdahl . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
83. News: Halloran . M. W. . 1947-01-08 . Youngdahl Asks State Luxury Levy . 1 . The Minneapolis Star . 2023-03-15.
84. Web site: Clyde Elmer Anderson . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
85. Web site: C. Elmer Anderson . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
86. News: 1951-09-27 . C. Elmer Anderson Takes Oath As 28th Governor . 1 . The Winona Daily News . Associated Press . 2023-03-15.
87. Web site: Orville Lothrop Freeman . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
88. Web site: Orville L. Freeman . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
89. News: Mitchell . Wallace . 1955-01-05 . Freeman Sworn In, Urges Teamwork, Public Support . 1 . The Minneapolis Star . 2023-03-15.
90. Web site: Elmer Lee Andersen . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
91. Web site: Elmer Lee Andersen . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
92. News: 1961-01-04 . Andersen Vows to Set 'Partisanship' Aside . 1 . St. Cloud Times . Associated Press . 2023-03-15.
93. Web site: Karl Fritjof Rolvaag . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
94. Web site: Karl F. Rolvaag . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
95. News: 1963-03-25 . Rolvaag Takes Oath As 31st Governor . 1A . The Minneapolis Star . 2023-03-15.
96. Web site: Harold LeVander . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
97. Web site: Harold P. LeVander . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
98. News: Mona . Dave . 1967-01-03 . LeVander Takes Governor's Oath . 1 . Star Tribune . 2023-03-15.
99. Web site: Wendell Richard Anderson . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
100. Web site: Wendell R. Anderson . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
101. News: Talle . Jim . 1971-01-04 . Anderson Becomes Governor of State . 4 . The Minneapolis Star . 2023-03-15.
102. Web site: Rudolph George Perpich . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
103. Web site: Rudy G. Perpich . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
104. News: 1976-12-30 . Takes Office . 3 . The Winona Daily News . Associated Press . 2023-03-15.
105. Web site: Albert Harold Quie . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
106. Web site: Albert H. Quie . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
107. News: 1979-01-02 . New Administration Receives Oath at Capitol . 2B . Star Tribune . 2023-03-15.
108. News: Sturdevant . Lori . 1983-01-04 . Perpich Takes Oath in Hibbing . 1A . Star Tribune . 2023-03-15.
109. Web site: Arne Helge Carlson . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
110. Web site: Arne H. Carlson . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
111. News: Wilson . Betty . 1991-01-08 . 37th Governor Sworn In at Capitol . 1A . Star Tribune . 2023-03-15.
112. Web site: Jesse Ventura . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
113. Web site: Jesse Ventura . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
114. News: Whereatt . Robert . deFiebre . Conrad . 1999-01-05 . With Expected Flair, the Unexpected Governor Promises Honesty and a Pledge To Do His Best . A1 . Star Tribune . 2023-03-15.
115. Web site: Tim Pawlenty . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
116. Web site: Tim J. Pawlenty . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
117. News: Smith . Dane . 2003-01-07 . Saluting State's Spirit, Pawlenty Takes Helm . A1 . Star Tribune . 2023-03-15.
118. Web site: Mark Dayton . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
119. Web site: Mark B. Dayton . March 14, 2023 . Minnesota Historical Society.
120. News: Sommerhauser . Mark . 2011-01-04 . Challenges Await New Governor . 1A . St. Cloud Times . 2023-03-15.
121. Web site: Tim Walz . March 13, 2023 . National Governors Association.
122. News: Salisbury . Bill . 2019-01-08 . Tim Walz Sworn In As MN Governor; Inaugural Speech Calls for Unity . en-US . 2023-03-15.