List of governors of Kentucky

The governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of government of Kentucky and serves as commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws; the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Kentucky General Assembly; the power to convene the legislature; and the power to grant pardons, except in cases of treason and impeachment. The governor is also empowered to reorganize the state government or reduce it in size. Historically, the office has been regarded as one of the most powerful executive positions in the United States.

Fifty-nine individuals have held the office of governor. Prior to a 1992 amendment to the state's constitution, the governor was prohibited from succeeding himself or herself in office, though four men (Isaac Shelby, John L. Helm, James B. McCreary and Happy Chandler) served multiple non-consecutive terms. Paul E. Patton, the first Kentucky governor eligible for a second consecutive term under the amendment, won his reelection bid in 1999. James Garrard succeeded himself in 1800, before the constitutional provision existed. Garrard is also the longest serving governor, serving for a total period of eight years and 90 days. In 2023 Democrat Andy Beshear became the 3rd incumbent governor in Kentucky history to be reelected to a second consecutive term.

William Goebel, who was elected to the office in the disputed election of 1899, remains the only governor of any U.S. state to die from assassination while in office. Goebel is also the shortest serving governor, serving for a period of only three days. Martha Layne Collins, who held the office from 1983 to 1987, was the first woman to serve as governor and was only the third woman to serve as governor of any U.S. state who was not the wife or widow of a previous governor. The second constitution in 1799 changed this to a popular vote, prevented governors from succeeding themselves within seven years of their terms, and moved the start date to the fourth Tuesday after the election. The third constitution in 1850 reduced the succession limitation to four years, and moved the start date of the term to the fifth Tuesday after the election. A 1992 amendment allowed governors to have a second term before being prevented from succeeding themselves for four years. Originally, should the office of governor be vacant, the speaker of the Senate would exercise the powers of the office; in 1799, the office of lieutenant governor was created to fill this role, and, as of 1992, is elected on the same ticket as the governor.

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible sticky-header-multi" style="text-align:center;"

|+ Governors of the Commonwealth of Kentucky

!scope="col" data-sort-type="number"|

!scope="colgroup" colspan="3"|Governor

!scope="col"|Term in office

!scope="col"|Party

!scope="col"|Election

!scope="colgroup" colspan="2"|Lt. Governor

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|1

|data-sort-value="Shelby, Isaac"|75px

|rowspan="12" style="background: ;"| 

|Isaac Shelby

| – June 1, 1796

|Democratic- Republican

|1792

|colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="background:#EEEEEE;"|Office did not exist

|- style="height:2em;"

!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|2

|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Garrard, James"|75px

|rowspan="2"|James Garrard

|rowspan="2"| – September 5, 1804

|rowspan="2"|Democratic- Republican

|1796

|- style="height:2em;"

|1800

|rowspan="2" style="background: ;"| 

|- style="height:2em;"

!rowspan="3" scope="rowgroup"|3

|rowspan="3" data-sort-value="Greenup, Christopher"|75px

|rowspan="3"|Christopher Greenup

|rowspan="3"| – August 23, 1808

|rowspan="3"|Democratic- Republican

|rowspan="3"|1804

|

|- style="height:2em;"

|colspan="2" style="background:#EEEEEE;"|Vacant

|- style="height:2em;"

|rowspan="4" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|4

|data-sort-value="Scott, Charles"|75px

|Charles Scott

| – August 24, 1812

|Democratic- Republican

|1808

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|5

|data-sort-value="Shelby, Isaac"|75px

|Isaac Shelby

| – October 14, 1816

|Democratic- Republican

|1816

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|7

|data-sort-value="Slaughter, Gabriel"|75px

|Gabriel Slaughter

| – September 7, 1820

|Democratic- Republican

|style="background:#EEEEEE;"|

|colspan="2" style="background:#EEEEEE;"|Vacant

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|8

|data-sort-value="Adair, John"|75px

|John Adair

| – August 24, 1824

|Democratic- Republican

|1820

|rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|9

|data-sort-value="Desha, Joseph"|75px

|Joseph Desha

| – August 26, 1828

|Democratic- Republican

|1824

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|10

|data-sort-value="Metcalfe, Thomas"|75px

|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|Thomas Metcalfe

| – August 28, 1832

|National Republican

|1828

|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|11

|data-sort-value="Breathitt, John"|75px

|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|John Breathitt

| – February 21, 1834

|Democratic

|1832

|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|12

|data-sort-value="Morehead, James"|75px

|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|James Turner Morehead

| – August 30, 1836

|National Republican

|style="background:#EEEEEE;"|

|colspan="2" style="background:#EEEEEE;"|Vacant

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|13

|data-sort-value="Clark, James"|75px

|rowspan="6" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|James Clark

| – August 27, 1839

|Whig

|1836

|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|14

|data-sort-value="Wickliffe, Charles"|75px

|Charles A. Wickliffe

| – September 2, 1840

|Whig

|style="background:#EEEEEE;"|

|colspan="2" style="background:#EEEEEE;"|Vacant

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|15

|data-sort-value="Letcher, Robert"|75px

|Robert P. Letcher

| – September 4, 1844

|Whig

|1840

|rowspan="3" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|16

|data-sort-value="Owsley, William"|75px

|William Owsley

| – September 6, 1848

|Whig

|1844

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|17

|data-sort-value="Crittenden, John"|75px

|John J. Crittenden

| – July 30, 1850

|Whig

|1848

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|18

|data-sort-value="Helm, John"|75px

|John L. Helm

| – September 2, 1851

|Whig

|style="background:#EEEEEE;"|

|colspan="2" style="background:#EEEEEE;"|Vacant

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|19

|data-sort-value="Powell, Lazarus"|75px

|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|Lazarus W. Powell

| – September 4, 1855

|Democratic

|1851

|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|20

|data-sort-value="Morehead, Charles"|75px

|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|Charles S. Morehead

| – August 30, 1859

|American

|1855

|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|- style="height:2em;"

!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|21

|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Magoffin, Beriah"|75px

|rowspan="3" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|rowspan="2"|Beriah Magoffin

|rowspan="2"| – August 18, 1862

|rowspan="2"|Democratic

|rowspan="2"|1859

|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|

|- style="height:2em;"

|colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="background:#EEEEEE;"|Vacant

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|22

|data-sort-value="Robinson, James"|75px

|James Fisher Robinson

| – September 1, 1863

|Democratic

|style="background:#EEEEEE;"|

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|23

|data-sort-value="Bramlette, Thomas"|75px

|rowspan="1" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|Thomas E. Bramlette

| – September 3, 1867

|Union Democratic

|1863

|rowspan="1" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|24

|data-sort-value="Helm, John"|75px

|rowspan="10" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|John L. Helm – September 8, 1867

|Democratic

|1867

|rowspan="1" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|- style="height:2em;"

!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|25

|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Stevenson, John"|75px

|rowspan="2"|John W. Stevenson

|rowspan="2"| – February 13, 1871

|rowspan="2"|Democratic

|style="background:#EEEEEE;"|

|rowspan="3" colspan="2" style="background:#EEEEEE;"|Vacant

|- style="height:2em;"

|1868

|- style="height:2em;"

!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|26

|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Leslie, Preston"|75px

|rowspan="2"|Preston Leslie

|rowspan="2"| – August 31, 1875

|rowspan="2"|Democratic

|style="background:#EEEEEE;"|

|- style="height:2em;"

|1871

|rowspan="6" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|27

|data-sort-value="McCreary, James"|75px

|James B. McCreary

| – September 2, 1879

|Democratic

|1875

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|28

|data-sort-value="Blackburn, Luke"|75px

|Luke P. Blackburn

| – September 4, 1883

|Democratic

|1879

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|29

|data-sort-value="Knott, J. Proctor"|75px

|J. Proctor Knott

| – August 30, 1887

|Democratic

|1883

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|30

|data-sort-value="Buckner, Simon"|75px

|Simon Bolivar Buckner

| – September 1, 1891

|Democratic

|1887

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|31

|data-sort-value="Brown, John 1"|75px

|John Y. Brown

| – December 10, 1895

|Democratic

|1891

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|32

|data-sort-value="Bradley, William"|75px

|rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|William O'Connell Bradley

| – December 12, 1899

|Republican

|1895

|rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|33

|data-sort-value="Taylor, William"|75px

|William S. Taylor

| – January 31, 1900

|Republican

|rowspan="2"|1899

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|34

|data-sort-value="Goebel, William"|75px

|rowspan="4" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|William Goebel

| – February 3, 1900

|Democratic

|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|- style="height:2em;"

!rowspan="3" scope="rowgroup"|35

|rowspan="3" data-sort-value="Beckham, J. C. W."|75px

|rowspan="3"|J. C. W. Beckham

|rowspan="3"| – December 10, 1907

|rowspan="3"|Democratic

|style="background:#EEEEEE;"|

|colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="background:#EEEEEE;"|Vacant

|- style="height:2em;"

|1900

|- style="height:2em;"

|1903

|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|36

|data-sort-value="Willson, Augustus"|75px

|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|Augustus E. Willson

| – December 12, 1911

|Republican

|1907

|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|37

|data-sort-value="McCreary, James"|75px

|rowspan="3" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|James B. McCreary – December 7, 1915

|Democratic

|1911

|rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|38

|data-sort-value="Stanley, Augustus"|75px

|Augustus Owsley Stanley

| – May 19, 1919

|Democratic

|1915

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|39

|data-sort-value="Black, James"|75px

|James D. Black

| – December 9, 1919

|Democratic

|style="background:#EEEEEE;"|

|colspan="2" style="background:#EEEEEE;"|Vacant

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|40

|data-sort-value="Morrow, Edwin"|75px

|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|Edwin P. Morrow

| – December 11, 1923

|Republican

|1919

|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|41

|data-sort-value="Fields, William"|75px

|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|William J. Fields

| – December 13, 1927

|Democratic

|1923

|rowspan="4" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|42

|data-sort-value="Sampson, Flem"|75px

|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|Flem D. Sampson

| – December 8, 1931

|Republican

|1927

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|43

|data-sort-value="Laffoon, Ruby"|75px

|rowspan="4" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|Ruby Laffoon

| – December 10, 1935

|Democratic

|1931

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|44

|data-sort-value="Chandler, Happy"|75px

|Happy Chandler

| – October 9, 1939

|Democratic

|1935

|- style="height:2em;"

!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|45

|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Johnson, Keen"|75px

|rowspan="2"|Keen Johnson

|rowspan="2"| – December 7, 1943

|rowspan="2"|Democratic

|style="background:#EEEEEE;"|

|colspan="2" style="background:#EEEEEE;"|Vacant

|- style="height:2em;"

|1939

|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|46

|data-sort-value="Willis, Simeon"|75px

|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|Simeon Willis

| – December 9, 1947

|Republican

|1943

|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|47

|data-sort-value="Clements, Earle"|75px

|rowspan="6" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|Earle Clements

| – November 27, 1950

|Democratic

|1947

|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|- style="height:2em;"

!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|48

|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Wetherby, Lawrence"|75px

|rowspan="2"|Lawrence Wetherby

|rowspan="2"| – December 13, 1955

|rowspan="2"|Democratic

|style="background:#EEEEEE;"|

|colspan="2" style="background:#EEEEEE;"|Vacant

|- style="height:2em;"

|1951

|rowspan="6" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|49

|data-sort-value="Chandler, Happy"|75px

|Happy Chandler – December 8, 1959

|Democratic

|1955

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|50

|data-sort-value="Combs, Bert"|75px

|Bert Combs

| – December 10, 1963

|Democratic

|1959

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|51

|data-sort-value="Breathitt, Ned"|75px

|Ned Breathitt

| – December 12, 1967

|Democratic

|1963

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|52

|data-sort-value="Nunn, Louie"|75px

|style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|Louie Nunn

| – December 7, 1971

|Republican

|1967

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|53

|data-sort-value="Ford, Wendell"|75px

|rowspan="9" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|Wendell Ford

| – December 28, 1974

|Democratic

|1971

|- style="height:2em;"

!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|54

|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Carroll, Julian"|75px

|rowspan="2"|Julian Carroll

|rowspan="2"| – December 11, 1979

|rowspan="2"|Democratic

|style="background:#EEEEEE;"|

|colspan="2" style="background:#EEEEEE;"|Vacant

|- style="height:2em;"

|1975

|rowspan="7" style="color:inherit;background: ;"|

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|55

|data-sort-value="Brown, John 2"|75px

|John Y. Brown Jr.

| – December 13, 1983

|Democratic

| – December 8, 1987

|Democratic

| – December 10, 1991

|Democratic

| – December 12, 1995

|Democratic

|rowspan="2"| – December 9, 2003

|rowspan="2"|Democratic

| – December 11, 2007

|Republican

|rowspan="3"| – December 8, 2015

|rowspan="3"|Democratic

| – December 10, 2019

|Republican

|rowspan="2"| – Incumbent

|rowspan="2"|Democratic

Notes

References

;General

;Constitution

;Specific

External links

Office of the Governor of Kentucky

See also

Notes

References

External links