The Governor of Delaware (known as the President of Delaware from 1776 to 1792) is the head of government of Delaware and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Delaware Legislature, to convene the legislature,DE Const. art. III and to grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment, and only with the recommendation of the Board of Pardons.DE Const. art. VII, § 1

There have been 71 people who have served as governor, over 74 distinct terms. Three (Joseph Haslet, Charles Polk Jr. and Elbert N. Carvel) served non-consecutive terms. Additionally, Henry Molleston was elected, but died before he could take office. Only four governors have been elected to two consecutive terms, with the longest-serving being Ruth Ann Minner, who was elected twice after succeeding to the office, serving a total of just over eight years. The shortest term is that of Bethany Hall-Long, who served 15 days following her predecessor's resignation; Dale E. Wolf served 18 days and David P. Buckson served 19 days under similar circumstances. The current governor is Democrat Matt Meyer, who took office on January 21, 2025.

Governors Before 1776, Delaware was a colony of the Kingdom of Great Britain, administered by colonial governors in Pennsylvania as the "Lower Counties on Delaware".

In 1776, soon after Delaware and the other Thirteen Colonies declared independence from Britain, the state adopted its first state constitution. It created the office of President of Delaware, a chief executive to be chosen by the legislature to serve a term of three years, who would be ineligible to be president again until three years had passed after leaving office.1776 Const. art 7

The office of President was renamed Governor by the constitution of 1792,1792 Const. art. III, § 1 which set the commencement date of the term to the third Tuesday in the January following an election, and limited governors to serving only three out of any six years.1792 Const. art. III, § 3 The term was lengthened to four years by the 1831 constitution, but governors were limited to a single term.1831 Const. art III, § 3 The current constitution of 1897 allows governors to serve two terms.DE Const. art. III, § 5

The 1776 constitution stated that if the presidency were vacant, the speaker of the legislative council would be a vice-president.1776 Const. art. 7 The 1792 constitution has the speaker of the senate exercising the office when it is vacant, and the 1897 constitution created the office of lieutenant governor,DE Const. art. III, § 19 upon whom the office devolves in case of vacancy.DE Const. art. III, § 20 The offices of governor and lieutenant governor are elected at the same time but not on the same ticket.

+ Governors of the State of DelawareGovernorTerm in officePartyElectionLt. Governor1 John McKinlyFebruary 21, 1777–September 12, 1777No parties1777Office did not exist2Thomas McKeanSeptember 12, 1777–October 20, 17773George ReadOctober 20, 1777–March 31, 17784Caesar RodneyMarch 31, 1778–November 13, 178117785John DickinsonNovember 13, 1781–January 13, 178317816John CookJanuary 13, 1783–February 8, 17837Nicholas Van DykeFebruary 8, 1783–October 28, 178617838Thomas CollinsOctober 28, 1786–March 29, 178917869Jehu DavisMarch 29, 1789–June 2, 178910Joshua ClaytonJune 2, 1789–January 13, 1796Federalist1789179211Gunning Bedford Sr.January 13, 1796–September 28, 1797Federalist179512Daniel RogersSeptember 28, 1797–January 9, 1799Federalist13Richard BassettJanuary 9, 1799–March 3, 1801Federalist179814James SykesMarch 3, 1801–January 19, 1802Federalist15David HallJanuary 19, 1802–January 15, 1805Democratic-Republican180116Nathaniel MitchellJanuary 15, 1805–January 19, 1808Federalist180417George TruittJanuary 19, 1808–January 15, 1811Federalist180718Joseph HasletJanuary 15, 1811–January 18, 1814Democratic-Republican181019Daniel RodneyJanuary 18, 1814–January 21, 1817Federalist181320John ClarkJanuary 21, 1817–January 15, 1820Federalist1816—Henry MollestonDied beforetaking officeFederalist181921Jacob StoutJanuary 15, 1820–January 16, 1821Federalist22John CollinsJanuary 16, 1821–April 16, 1822Democratic-Republican182023Caleb RodneyApril 16, 1822–January 21, 1823Federalist24Joseph HasletJanuary 21, 1823–June 20, 1823Democratic-Republican182225Charles ThomasJune 20, 1823–January 20, 1824Democratic-Republican26Samuel PaynterJanuary 20, 1824–January 16, 1827Federalist182327Charles Polk Jr.January 16, 1827–January 19, 1830Federalist182628David HazzardJanuary 19, 1830–January 15, 1833NationalRepublican182929Caleb P. BennettJanuary 15, 1833–May 9, 1836Democratic183230Charles Polk Jr.May 9, 1836–January 17, 1837Whig31Cornelius P. ComegysJanuary 17, 1837–January 19, 1841Whig183632William B. CooperJanuary 19, 1841–January 21, 1845Whig184033Thomas StocktonJanuary 21, 1845–March 2, 1846Whig184434Joseph MaullMarch 2, 1846–May 3, 1846Whig35William TempleMay 3, 1846–January 19, 1847Whig36William TharpJanuary 19, 1847–January 21, 1851Democratic184637William H. H. RossJanuary 21, 1851–January 16, 1855Democratic185038Peter F. CauseyJanuary 16, 1855–January 18, 1859American185439William BurtonJanuary 18, 1859–January 20, 1863Democratic185840William CannonJanuary 20, 1863–March 1, 1865Union186241Gove SaulsburyMarch 1, 1865–January 17, 1871Democratic186642James PonderJanuary 17, 1871–January 19, 1875Democratic187043John P. CochranJanuary 19, 1875–January 21, 1879Democratic187444John W. HallJanuary 21, 1879–January 16, 1883Democratic187845Charles C. StockleyJanuary 16, 1883–January 18, 1887Democratic188246Benjamin T. BiggsJanuary 18, 1887–January 20, 1891Democratic188647Robert J. ReynoldsJanuary 20, 1891–January 15, 1895Democratic189048Joshua H. MarvilJanuary 15, 1895–April 8, 1895Republican189449William T. WatsonApril 8, 1895–January 19, 1897Democratic50Ebe W. TunnellJanuary 19, 1897–January 15, 1901Democratic189651John HunnJanuary 15, 1901–January 17, 1905Republican1900 52Preston LeaJanuary 17, 1905–January 19, 1909Republican190453Simeon S. PennewillJanuary 19, 1909–January 21, 1913Republican190854Charles R. MillerJanuary 21, 1913–January 16, 1917Republican191255John G. Townsend Jr.January 16, 1917–January 18, 1921Republican191656William D. DenneyJanuary 18, 1921–January 20, 1925Republican192057Robert P. RobinsonJanuary 20, 1925–January 15, 1929Republican192458C. Douglass BuckJanuary 15, 1929–January 19, 1937Republican1928193259Richard McMullenJanuary 19, 1937–January 21, 1941Democratic193660Walter W. BaconJanuary 21, 1941–January 18, 1949Republican1940194461Elbert N. CarvelJanuary 18, 1949–January 20, 1953Democratic194862J. Caleb BoggsJanuary 20, 1953–December 30, 1960Republican1952195663David P. BucksonDecember 30, 1960–January 17, 1961RepublicanVacant64Elbert N. CarvelJanuary 17, 1961–January 19, 1965Democratic196065Charles L. Terry Jr.January 19, 1965–January 21, 1969Democratic196466 Russell W. PetersonJanuary 21, 1969–January 16, 1973Republican196867Sherman W. TribbittJanuary 16, 1973–January 18, 1977Democratic197268Pete du PontJanuary 18, 1977–January 15, 1985Republican1976198069Mike CastleJanuary 15, 1985–January 2, 1993Republican1984198870Dale E. WolfJanuary 3, 1993–January 19, 1993RepublicanVacant71Tom CarperJanuary 19, 1993–January 3, 2001Democratic1992199672Ruth Ann MinnerJanuary 3, 2001–January 20, 2009DemocraticVacant2000200473Jack MarkellJanuary 20, 2009–January 17, 2017Democratic20082012Vacant74John CarneyJanuary 17, 2017–January 7, 2025Democratic2016202075Bethany Hall-LongJanuary 7, 2025–January 21, 2025DemocraticVacant76Matt MeyerJanuary 21, 2025–IncumbentDemocratic2024

Timeline Timeline of Delaware governors

See also Delaware gubernatorial elections Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Delaware

Notes

References General

Constitutions

Constitution of the State of Delaware (1831) Constitution of the State of Delaware (1792)

Specific

External links

Office of the Governor of Delaware Delaware Hall of Governors