#1
“HENRY H SIBLEY”
(democrat)
(1858 – 1860)
.
.
#2
“ALEXANDER RAMSEY”
(whig?)
(republican?)
(1860 – 1863)
.
.
#37
“ARNE H CARLSON”
(‘republican’ / ‘independent’)
(1991 – 1999)
.
.
#38
”JESSE VENTURA”
(‘reform party’ / ‘independent’)
(1999 – 2003)
.
.
#39
“TIM PAWLENTY”
(republican)
(2003 – 2011)
.
.
#40
“MARK DAYTON”
(democrat)
(“farmer-labor?”)
(2011 – 2019)
.
.
#41
“TIM WALZ”
(democrat)
(“farmer-labor?”)
.
.
The following is a list of Governors of the State of Minnesota and Minnesota Territory, United States.
The officeholder, who serves as head of the executive branch of the Government of Minnesota and is charged with ensuring the faithful execution of the state’s laws,[a] is empowered to name state commissioners and department heads and to approve or veto bills passed by the Minnesota Legislature.[b]
The Governor of Minnesota also serves as commander-in-chief of the Minnesota National Guard.
Henry H. Sibley was elected the first governor in a statewide election held on October 13, 1857 and took office following Minnesota’s entry into the Union as the 32nd state on May 11, 1858.[c] At the time, the governor and lieutenant governor were elected on separate ballots to terms lasting two years. Prior to 1886, statewide elections were held on odd years. Because of this change (the result of an 1883 state constitutional amendment), Lucius F. Hubbard’s second term as governor lasted three years. With the passage of a 1958 state constitutional amendment, the terms of governor and lieutenant governor increased to four-years in 1963.[b] A 1972 state constitutional amendment provided for the joint election of the governor and lieutenant governor starting in 1974.
The numerals indicate the consecutive time in office served by a single person. For example, William R. Marshall served two consecutive terms and is counted as the fifth state governor (not the fifth and sixth). Henry A. Swift assumed the governorship after the resignation of Alexander Ramsey, serving out the remainder of what would have been Ramsey’s second term. The fact that Swift was not voted into office does not affect the numbering, which makes him the 3rd governor. Rudy Perpich served two non-consecutive terms and is counted chronologically as both the 34th and the 36th governor. Because of this, the list below contains 40 governorships, but only 39 people.
Prior to its organization as a territory, portions of Minnesota were part of the Northwest Territory, Indiana Territory, Louisiana Territory (later renamed Missouri Territory), Illinois Territory, Michigan Territory, Wisconsin Territory, and Iowa Territory; see the lists of governors of Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa for this period.
Four governors were born outside the United States: Knute Nelson was born in Norway, John Lind and Adolph Olson Eberhart were both born in Sweden, and Hjalmar Petersen was born in Denmark. 16 of the 41 governors to date were actually born in Minnesota. Five governors have resigned from office, and three have died in office.
Territorial governors[edit]
Territorial Governors of Minnesota
No. Governor Term of office Party Place of birth Appointed by
1 Alexander Ramsey – Brady-Handy.jpg Alexander Ramsey June 1, 1849
–
May 15, 1853
Whig Pennsylvania Zachary Taylor
2 WillisGorman.jpg Willis A. Gorman May 15, 1853
–
April 23, 1857
Democratic Kentucky Franklin Pierce
3 SamuelMedary.jpg Samuel Medary April 23, 1857
–
May 24, 1858
Democratic Pennsylvania James Buchanan
State governors[edit]
Parties
Democratic Farmer-Labor Republican Reform/Independence
Governor Took office Left office Party Date of birth Place of birth Date of death Lieutenant governor(s) Term
1 Henry H. Sibley HHSibley-official.jpg May 24, 1858 January 2, 1860 Democratic February 20, 1811 Michigan February 18, 1891 William Holcombe 1
2 Alexander Ramsey RamseyOilCrop.jpg January 2, 1860 July 10, 1863[2] Republican September 8, 1815 Pennsylvania April 22, 1903 Ignatius L. Donnelly 2
Henry A. Swift[3] 3
3 Henry A. Swift HASwift-official.jpg July 10, 1863[3] January 11, 1864 March 23, 1823 Ohio February 25, 1869 vacant
4 Stephen Miller StephenMiller.jpg January 11, 1864 January 8, 1866 January 7, 1816 Pennsylvania August 18, 1881 Charles D. Sherwood 4
5 William R. Marshall WRMarshall.jpg January 8, 1866 January 9, 1870 October 17, 1825 Missouri January 8, 1896 Thomas H. Armstrong 5
6
6 Horace Austin Horace Austin (1873).jpg January 9, 1870 January 7, 1874 October 15, 1831 Connecticut November 2, 1905 William H. Yale 7
8
7 Cushman K. Davis CushmanDavisOil.jpg January 7, 1874 January 7, 1876 June 16, 1838 New York November 27, 1900 Alphonso Barto 9
8 John S. Pillsbury JohnSPills.jpg January 7, 1876 January 10, 1882 July 29, 1827 New Hampshire October 18, 1901 James B. Wakefield 10
11
Charles A. Gilman 12
9 Lucius F. Hubbard LFHubbard-official.jpg January 10, 1882 January 5, 1887 January 26, 1836 New York February 5, 1913 13
14
10 Andrew R. McGill AndrewMcgill.jpg January 5, 1887 January 9, 1889 February 19, 1840 Pennsylvania October 31, 1905 Albert E. Rice 15
11 William R. Merriam WilliamMerriam.jpg January 9, 1889 January 9, 1893 July 26, 1849 New York February 18, 1931 16
Gideon S. Ives 17
12 Knute Nelson Knute Nelson portrait 1895.jpg January 9, 1893 January 31, 1895[2] February 2, 1843 Norway April 28, 1923 David M. Clough 18
13 David M. Clough DavidClough.jpg January 31, 1895[3] January 2, 1899 December 27, 1846 New Hampshire August 28, 1924 Frank A. Day 19
John L. Gibbs 20
14 John Lind John Lind, governor of Minnesota.jpg January 2, 1899 January 7, 1901 Democratic[4] March 25, 1854 Sweden September 18, 1930 Lyndon A. Smith 21
15 Samuel R. Van Sant SRVanSant-official.jpg January 7, 1901 January 4, 1905 Republican May 11, 1844 Illinois October 3, 1936 22
Ray W. Jones 23
16 John A. Johnson JohnJohnson.jpg January 4, 1905 September 21, 1909[5] Democratic July 28, 1861 Minnesota September 21, 1909 24
Adolph O. Eberhart 25
17 Adolph O. Eberhart AOEberhart-official.jpg September 21, 1909[3] January 5, 1915 Republican June 23, 1870 Sweden December 6, 1944 Edward E. Smith[3] 26
Samuel Y. Gordon 27
J. A. A. Burnquist 28
18 Winfield S. Hammond WinfieldSHammond.jpg January 5, 1915 December 30, 1915[5] Democratic November 17, 1863 Massachusetts December 30, 1915 29
19 J. A. A. Burnquist JAABurnquist-official.jpg December 30, 1915[3] January 5, 1921 Republican July 21, 1879 Iowa January 12, 1961 George H. Sullivan[3] 29
Thomas Frankson 30
31
20 J. A. O. Preus JacobPreus.jpg January 5, 1921 January 6, 1925 August 28, 1883 Wisconsin May 24, 1961 Louis L. Collins 32
33
21 Theodore Christianson TheodoreChristianson.jpg January 6, 1925 January 6, 1931 September 12, 1883 Minnesota December 9, 1948 William I. Nolan 34
35
Charles Edward Adams[3] 36
22 Floyd B. Olson Painting of Governor Floyd B. Olson.jpg January 6, 1931 August 22, 1936[5] Farmer-Labor November 13, 1891 Minnesota August 22, 1936 Henry M. Arens 37
Konrad K. Solberg 38
Hjalmar Petersen 39
23 Hjalmar Petersen Hjalmar Petersen.jpg August 22, 1936[3] January 4, 1937 January 2, 1890 Denmark March 29, 1968 William B. Richardson (acting)[6]
24 Elmer A. Benson Elmer Austin Benson.jpg January 4, 1937 January 2, 1939 September 22, 1895 Minnesota March 13, 1985 Gottfrid T. Lindsten 40
25 Harold E. Stassen HaroldStassenOfficialOil.jpg January 2, 1939 April 27, 1943[2] Republican April 13, 1907 Minnesota March 4, 2001 C. Elmer Anderson 41
42
Edward J. Thye 43
26 Edward J. Thye EdwardThye.jpg April 27, 1943 January 8, 1947 April 26, 1896 South Dakota August 28, 1969 Archie H. Miller
C. Elmer Anderson 44
27 Luther W. Youngdahl Luther Youngdahl 1949 (cropped).jpg January 8, 1947 September 27, 1951[2] May 29, 1896 Minnesota June 21, 1978 45
46
47
28 C. Elmer Anderson C. Elmer Anderson.jpg September 27, 1951[3] January 5, 1955 March 16, 1912 Minnesota January 22, 1998 vacant
Ancher Nelsen 48
Donald O. Wright
29 Orville L. Freeman Orville L. Freeman, Secretary of Agriculture (1961-1969).jpg January 5, 1955 January 2, 1961 Democratic-Farmer-Labor May 9, 1918 Minnesota February 20, 2003 Karl F. Rolvaag 49
50
51
30 Elmer L. Andersen Elmer L. Andersen.jpg January 2, 1961 March 25, 1963[7] Republican June 17, 1909 Illinois November 15, 2004 52
31 Karl F. Rolvaag Karl Rolvaag.jpg March 25, 1963[7] January 2, 1967 Democratic-Farmer-Labor July 18, 1913 Minnesota December 20, 1990 Sandy Keith 53
32 Harold LeVander Harold LeVander (cropped).jpg January 2, 1967 January 4, 1971 Republican October 10, 1910 Nebraska March 30, 1992 James B. Goetz 54
33 Wendell R. Anderson Wendell Anderson.jpg January 4, 1971 December 29, 1976[2] Democratic-Farmer-Labor February 1, 1933 Minnesota July 17, 2016 Rudy Perpich 55
56
34 Rudy Perpich Rudy Perpich.jpg December 29, 1976[3] January 4, 1979 June 27, 1928 Minnesota September 21, 1995 Alec G. Olson[3]
35 Al Quie Al Quie 1977 congressional photo.jpg January 4, 1979 January 3, 1983 Independent-Republican September 18, 1923 Minnesota Lou Wangberg 57
36 Rudy Perpich Rudy Perpich.jpg January 3, 1983 January 7, 1991 Democratic-Farmer-Labor June 27, 1928 Minnesota September 21, 1995 Marlene Johnson 58
59
37 Arne H. Carlson ArneCarlson.jpg January 7, 1991 January 4, 1999 Independent-Republican/
Republican September 24, 1934 New York Joanell M. Dyrstad 60
Joanne Benson 61
38 Jesse Ventura[8] Jesse Ventura 1996.jpg January 4, 1999 January 6, 2003 Reform/Independence July 15, 1951 Minnesota Mae A. Schunk 62
39 Tim Pawlenty Tim Pawlenty official photo.jpg January 6, 2003 January 3, 2011 Republican November 27, 1960 Minnesota Carol Molnau 63
64
40 Mark Dayton Mark Dayton official photo.jpg January 3, 2011 January 7, 2019 Democratic-Farmer-Labor January 26, 1947 Minnesota Yvonne Prettner Solon 65
Tina Smith 66
Michelle Fischbach
41 Tim Walz Tim Walz official photo (cropped 2).jpg January 7, 2019 Incumbent April 6, 1964 Nebraska Peggy Flanagan 67
Notes[edit]
^ Table lists John Lind as a member of the Democratic Party. He was also endorsed by the Populist Party and the Silver Republican Party. Jesse Ventura left the Reform Party in the middle of his term and later joined the Independence Party of Minnesota.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e Resigned.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l Succeeded to office following death or resignation of previous officeholder.
^ Lind was also endorsed by the Populist Party and the Silver Republican Party.
^ Jump up to: a b c Died in office of natural causes.
^ Served as acting lieutenant governor and never took the oath of office.
^ Jump up to: a b A recount and subsequent litigation lasting 139 days delayed Karl Rolvaag’s inauguration as governor.
^ Ventura’s birth and legal name is James George Janos.
Notes on Minnesota political party names[edit]
Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party: On April 15, 1944 the state Democratic Party and the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party merged and created the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL). It is affiliated with the national Democratic Party.
Republican Party of Minnesota: From November 15, 1975 to September 23, 1995 the name of the state Republican party was the Independent-Republican party (I-R). The party has always been affiliated with the national Republican Party.
Independence Party of Minnesota: The party was founded under this name in 1992. In 1995 the IPM affiliated with the national Reform Party and renamed itself the Reform Party of Minnesota. In 2000 the Reform Party of Minnesota disaffiliated with the national Reform Party and returned to the name Independence Party.
Other high offices held[edit]
This is a table of congressional and other federal offices held by governors. All representatives and senators mentioned represented Minnesota except where noted. * denotes offices that the governor resigned to take.
Governor Gubernatorial term(s) U.S. Congress Other offices held
House Senate
Alexander Ramsey 1849–1853 (territorial)
1860–1863 H S* U.S. Secretary of War
Willis A. Gorman 1853–1857 (territorial) U.S. Representative (Indiana)
Henry H. Sibley 1858–1860 U.S. Congressional Delegate (Wisconsin Territory, Minnesota Territory)
Cushman K. Davis 1874–1876 S
Knute Nelson 1893–1895 H S*
John Lind 1899–1901 H
Winfield S. Hammond 1915 H
Theodore Christianson 1925–1931 H
Elmer A. Benson 1937–1939 S
Edward J. Thye 1943–1947 S
Luther W. Youngdahl 1947–1951 U.S. District Court Judge*
Orville L. Freeman 1955–1961 U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
Karl F. Rolvaag 1963–1967 U.S. Ambassador to Iceland
Wendell R. Anderson 1971–1976 S*
Al Quie 1979–1983 H
Mark Dayton 2011–2019 S
Tim Walz 2019– H
Living former governors of Minnesota[edit]
Five former governors of Minnesota were living in 2019. The oldest was Al Quie (served 1979–1983, born 1923). The most recent U.S. governor of Minnesota to die was Wendell Anderson (served 1971–1976, born 1933), on July 17, 2016. The most recently serving governor of Minnesota to die was Rudy Perpich (served 1976–1979 and 1983–1991, born 1928), on September 21, 1995.
Governor Gubernatorial term Date of birth (and age)
Al Quie 1979–1983 September 18, 1923 (age 97)
Arne H. Carlson 1991–1999 September 24, 1934 (age 86)
Jesse Ventura 1999–2003 July 15, 1951 (age 69)
Tim Pawlenty 2003–2011 November 27, 1960 (age 60)
Mark Dayton 2011–2019 January 26, 1947 (age 74)
See also[edit]
List of Minnesota gubernatorial elections
List of Lieutenant Governors of Minnesota
Minnesota Governor’s Residence
First Ladies and Gentlemen of Minnesota
U.S. Congressional Delegations from Minnesota
References[edit]
General
“Governors of Minnesota”. Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on June 9, 2007. Retrieved May 17, 2007.
“Lieutenant Governors of Minnesota”. Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on March 4, 2007. Retrieved May 17, 2007.
“Minnesota Governors, 1849 – present”. Office of the Governor, State of Minnesota. Archived from the original on May 9, 2007. Retrieved May 17, 2007.
Specific
^ “Constitution of the State of Minnesota”. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2007.
1 2 “Amendments to the Minnesota Constitution Proposed to the Voters since 1858” (PDF). Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 16, 2007. Retrieved May 18, 2007.
^ “2007–2008 MN Legislative Manual” (PDF). Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 25, 2007. Retrieved May 18, 2007.
en.wikipedia.org /wiki/List_of_governors_of_Minnesota
List of governors of Minnesota
Contributors to Wikimedia projects
13-17 minutes
Number of Governors of Minnesota by party affiliation[1]
Party Governors
Republican/Independent-Republican 26
Democratic-Farmer-Labor 7
Democratic 4
Farmer-Labor 3
Reform/Independence 1
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