The governor of Michigan is the head of government of the U.S. state of Michigan as well as the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.1963 Michigan Constitution, Article 5, Section 12 The governor has a duty to enforce state laws;1963 Michigan Constitution, Article 5, Section 8 the power to either approve or veto appropriation bills passed by the Michigan Legislature;1963 Michigan Constitution, Article 5, Section 19 the power to convene the legislature;1963 Michigan Constitution, Article 5, Section 15 and the power to grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment.1963 Michigan Constitution, Article 5, Section 14 The governor is also empowered to reorganize the executive branch of the state government.1963 Michigan Constitution, Article 5, Section 2

In the 17th and 18th century, Michigan was part of French and then British holdings, and administered by their colonial governors. After becoming part of the United States, areas of what is today Michigan were part of the Northwest Territory, Indiana Territory and Illinois Territory, and administered by territorial governors. In 1805, the Michigan Territory was created, and five men served as territorial governors, until Michigan was granted statehood in 1837. Forty-seven individuals have held the position of state governor. The first female governor, Jennifer Granholm, served from 2003 to 2011.

After Michigan gained statehood, governors held the office for a two-year term, until the 1963 Michigan Constitution changed the term to four years. The number of times an individual could hold the office was unlimited until a 1992 constitutional amendment imposed a lifetime term limit of two, four-year governorships. The longest-serving governor in Michigan's history was William Milliken, who was promoted from lieutenant governor after Governor George W. Romney resigned to become Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, then was elected to three further successive terms. The only governors to serve non-consecutive terms were John S. Barry and Frank Fitzgerald.

List of governors

Territory of Michigan

Michigan Territory was organized on June 30, 1805, from the north half of Indiana Territory. It had three governors appointed by the president of the United States, including the longest-serving governor of any territory, Lewis Cass, who served for 18 years. During the War of 1812, following the Siege of Detroit and British occupation of Michigan Territory, Colonel Henry Procter was appointed as civil governor.

+ Governors of the Territory of MichiganGovernorTerm in officeAppointed by1William HullMarch 1, 1805–October 29, 18132Lewis CassOctober 29, 1813–August 1, 18313George Bryan PorterAugust 6, 1831–July 6, 1834—Stevens T. MasonJuly 6, 1834–September 21, 1835—John S. HornerSeptember 21, 1835–July 3, 1836

State of Michigan Michigan was admitted to the Union on January 26, 1837. The original 1835 Constitution of Michigan provided for the election of a governor and a lieutenant governor every two years.1835 Const. art. V, § 1 The current constitution of 1963 increased this term to four years.MI Const. art. V, § 21 There was no term limit on governors until a 1993 constitutional amendment limited governors to two terms.MI Const. art. V, § 30

Should the office of governor become vacant, the lieutenant governor becomes governor, followed in order of succession by the secretary of state and the attorney general.MI Const. art. V, § 26 Prior to the current constitution, the duties of the office would devolve upon the lieutenant governor, without that person actually becoming governor.1835 Const. art. V, § 13 Beginning in 1850, the term begins at noon on January 1 of the year following the election; before, it had no set start date, and terms would last until when their successor was inaugurated, which would be at least the first Monday in January following their election.1835 Const. art. XII, § 10 Prior to the modern 1963 constitution, the governor and lieutenant governor were elected through separate votes, allowing them to be from different political parties. In 1963, this was changed, so that votes are cast jointly for a governor and lieutenant governor of the same political party.1835 Const. art. V, § 3

+ Governors of the State of MichiganGovernorTerm in officePartyElectionLt. Governor1 Stevens T. MasonNovember 3, 1835–January 7, 1840Democratic1835 18372William WoodbridgeJanuary 7, 1840Michigan Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1840 sess., 9, accessed September 27, 2023–February 24, 1841Whig18393James Wright GordonFebruary 24, 1841–January 3, 1842Whig4John S. BarryJanuary 3, 1842Michigan Legislature. Journal of the Senate. 1842 sess., 7, accessed September 27, 2023–January 5, 1846Democratic184118435Alpheus FelchJanuary 5, 1846Michigan Legislature. Journal of the Senate. 1846 sess., 4, accessed September 27, 2023–March 3, 1847Democratic18456William L. GreenlyMarch 3, 1847–January 3, 1848Democratic7Epaphroditus RansomJanuary 3, 1848Michigan Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1848 sess., 7, accessed September 27, 2023–January 7, 1850Democratic18478John S. BarryJanuary 7, 1850Michigan Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1850 sess., 4, accessed September 27, 2023–January 1, 1852Democratic18499Robert McClellandJanuary 1, 1852–March 7, 1853Democratic1851185210Andrew ParsonsMarch 7, 1853–January 3, 1855Democratic11Kinsley S. BinghamJanuary 3, 1855–January 5, 1859Republican1854185612Moses WisnerJanuary 5, 1859–January 2, 1861Republican185813Austin BlairJanuary 2, 1861–January 4, 1865Republican1860186214Henry H. CrapoJanuary 4, 1865–January 1, 1869Republican1864186615Henry P. BaldwinJanuary 1, 1869–January 1, 1873Republican1868187016John J. BagleyJanuary 1, 1873–January 3, 1877Republican1872187417Charles CroswellJanuary 3, 1877–January 1, 1881Republican1876187818David JeromeJanuary 1, 1881–January 1, 1883Republican188019Josiah BegoleJanuary 1, 1883–January 1, 1885Democratic188220Russell A. AlgerJanuary 1, 1885–January 1, 1887Republican188421Cyrus G. LuceJanuary 1, 1887–January 1, 1891Republican1886188822Edwin B. WinansJanuary 1, 1891–January 1, 1893Democratic189023John T. RichJanuary 1, 1893–January 1, 1897Republican1892189424Hazen S. PingreeJanuary 1, 1897–January 1, 1901Republican1896189825Aaron T. BlissJanuary 1, 1901–January 2, 1905Republican1900190226Fred M. WarnerJanuary 2, 1905–January 1, 1911Republican19041906190827Chase OsbornJanuary 1, 1911–January 1, 1913Republican191028Woodbridge N. FerrisJanuary 1, 1913–January 1, 1917Democratic1912191429Albert SleeperJanuary 1, 1917–January 1, 1921Republican1916191830Alex J. GroesbeckJanuary 1, 1921–January 1, 1927Republican19201922192431Fred W. GreenJanuary 1, 1927–January 1, 1931Republican1926192832Wilber M. BruckerJanuary 1, 1931–January 1, 1933Republican193033William ComstockJanuary 1, 1933–January 1, 1935Democratic193234Frank FitzgeraldJanuary 1, 1935–January 1, 1937Republican193435Frank MurphyJanuary 1, 1937–January 1, 1939Democratic193636Frank FitzgeraldJanuary 1, 1939–March 16, 1939Republican193837Luren DickinsonMarch 16, 1939–January 1, 1941Republican38Murray Van WagonerJanuary 1, 1941–January 1, 1943Democratic194039Harry KellyJanuary 1, 1943–January 1, 1947Republican1942194440Kim SiglerJanuary 1, 1947–January 1, 1949Republican194641G. Mennen WilliamsJanuary 1, 1949–January 1, 1961Democratic19481950195219541956195842John SwainsonJanuary 1, 1961–January 1, 1963Democratic196043George W. RomneyJanuary 1, 1963–January 22, 1969Republican19621964196644William MillikenJanuary 22, 1969–January 1, 1983Republican19701974197845James J. BlanchardJanuary 1, 1983–January 1, 1991Democratic1982198646John EnglerJanuary 1, 1991–January 1, 2003Republican19901994199847Jennifer GranholmJanuary 1, 2003–January 1, 2011Democratic2002200648Rick SnyderJanuary 1, 2011–January 1, 2019Republican2010201449Gretchen WhitmerJanuary 1, 2019–IncumbentDemocratic20182022

See also

List of Michigan state legislatures

Notes

References General

Constitutions

Specific

External links Office of the Governor of Michigan