List of governors of Missouri

The governor of Missouri is the head of government of the U.S. state of Missouri and the commander-in-chief of the Missouri National Guard. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Missouri Legislature, to convene the legislature and grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment.

The current governor is Republican Mike Kehoe, who took office on January 13, 2025.

List of governors

Louisiana was purchased from France in 1803, with it being proclaimed in St. Louis in Upper Louisiana on March 10, 1804, by Amos Stoddard, who remained as military commander of the region until October 1, 1804, when Orleans Territory was split from it. The remainder was designated the District of Louisiana and placed under the jurisdiction of Indiana Territory and its governor, William Henry Harrison.

Louisiana Territory and Missouri Territory

The District of Louisiana was organized as Louisiana Territory on July 4, 1805; it was renamed Missouri Territory on June 4, 1812, after the admission of the state of Louisiana. It had four governors appointed by the president of the United States, including both Meriwether Lewis and William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"

|+ Governors of Louisiana and Missouri Territory

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

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

!scope="col"|Term in office

!scope="col"|Appointed by

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|1

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

|James Wilkinson

| – March 3, 1807

| rowspan="2" |

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|2

|data-sort-value="Lewis, Meriwether"|75px

|Meriwether Lewis

| – October 11, 1809

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|3

|data-sort-value="Howard, Benjamin"|75px

|Benjamin Howard

| – October 31, 1812

| rowspan="2" |

|- style="height:2em;"

!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|4

|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Clark, William"|75px

|rowspan="2"|William Clark

|rowspan="2"| – September 18, 1820

|- style="height:2em;"

State of Missouri

Missouri was admitted to the union on August 10, 1821.

The original constitution of 1820 created the offices of governor and lieutenant governor, to serve terms of four years without being able to succeed themselves. Terms were shortened to 2 years in 1865, with a limit of serving no more than four out of every six years. They were returned in 1875 to the four-year term and limit on succession of the 1820 constitution, and the term limit changed to two terms in 1965. Originally, the lieutenant governor would act as governor in the event of a vacancy; a 1968 amendment made it so that the lieutenant governor becomes governor in that situation. and it was admitted to the Confederate States of America on November 28, 1861. The Confederate government elected two governors, but only had any control in the south of the state, and was forced into exile in Marshall, Texas, after the Battle of Pea Ridge in March 1862.

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

|+ Governors of the State of Missouri

!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="McNair, Alexander"|75px

|rowspan="4" style="background:"| 

|Alexander McNair

| – November 17, 1824

|Democratic- Republican

|1820

|rowspan="2" style="background:"| 

|- style="height:2em;"

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

|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Bates, Frederick"|75px

|rowspan="2"|Frederick Bates

|rowspan="2"| – August 4, 1825

|rowspan="2"|Democratic- Republican

|rowspan="2"|1824

|

|- style="height:2em;"

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

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|3

|data-sort-value="Williams, Abraham"|75px

|Abraham J. Williams

| – January 20, 1826

|Democratic- Republican

|style="background:#EEEEEE;"|

|- style="height:2em;"

!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|4

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

|rowspan="15" style="color:inherit;background:"|

|rowspan="2"|John Miller

|rowspan="2"| – November 21, 1832

|rowspan="2"|Democratic

|1825

|- style="height:2em;"

|1828

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

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|5

|data-sort-value="Dunklin, Daniel"|75px

|Daniel Dunklin

| – September 30, 1836

|Democratic

|1832

|- style="height:2em;"

!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|6

|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Boggs, Lilburn"|75px

|rowspan="2"|Lilburn Boggs

|rowspan="2"| – November 18, 1840

|rowspan="2"|Democratic

|style="background:#EEEEEE;"|

|style="background:#EEEEEE;"|Acting as governor

|- style="height:2em;"

|1836

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|7

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

|Thomas Reynolds

| – February 9, 1844

|Democratic

|1840

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|8

|data-sort-value="Marmaduke, Meredith"|75px

|Meredith Miles Marmaduke

| – November 20, 1844

|Democratic

|style="background:#EEEEEE;"|

|style="background:#EEEEEE;"|Acting as governor

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|9

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

|John Cummins Edwards

| – December 27, 1848

|Democratic

|1844

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|10

|data-sort-value="King, Austin"|75px

|Austin Augustus King

| – January 3, 1853

|Democratic

|1848

|- style="height:2em;"

!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|11

|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Price, Sterling"|75px

|rowspan="2"|Sterling Price

|rowspan="2"| – January 5, 1857

|rowspan="2"|Democratic

|rowspan="2"|1852

|

|- style="height:2em;"

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

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|12

|data-sort-value="Polk, Trusten"|75px

|Trusten Polk

| – February 27, 1857

|Democratic

|1856

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

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|13

|data-sort-value="Jackson, Hancock"|75px

|Hancock Lee Jackson

| – October 22, 1857

|Democratic

|style="background:#EEEEEE;"|

|style="background:#EEEEEE;"|Acting as governor

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|14

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

|Robert Marcellus Stewart

| – January 3, 1861

|Democratic

|1857

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|15

|data-sort-value="Jackson, Claiborne"|75px

|Claiborne Fox Jackson

| – July 31, 1861

|Democratic

|1860

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|16

|data-sort-value="Gamble, Hamilton"|75px

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

|Hamilton Rowan Gamble

| – January 2, 1865

|Union

|style="background:#EEEEEE;"|

|style="background:#EEEEEE;"|Acting as governor

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|18

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

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

|Thomas Clement Fletcher

| – January 12, 1869

|Republican

|1864

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

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|19

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

|Joseph W. McClurg

| – January 9, 1871

|Republican

|1868

|- style="height:2em;"

!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|20

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

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

|rowspan="2"|Benjamin Gratz Brown

|rowspan="2"| – January 8, 1873

|rowspan="2"|Liberal Republican

|rowspan="2"|1870

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

|

|- style="height:2em;"

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

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|21

|data-sort-value="Woodson, Silas"|75px

|rowspan="12" style="color:inherit;background:"|

|Silas Woodson

| – January 12, 1875

|Democratic

|1872

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

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|22

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

|Charles Henry Hardin

| – January 8, 1877

|Democratic

|1874

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

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|23

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

|John S. Phelps

| – January 10, 1881

|Democratic

|1876

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|24

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

|Thomas Theodore Crittenden

| – January 12, 1885

|Democratic

|1880

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|25

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

|John S. Marmaduke

| – December 28, 1887

|Democratic

|1884

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|26

|data-sort-value="Morehouse, Albert"|75px

|Albert P. Morehouse

| – January 14, 1889

|Democratic

|style="background:#EEEEEE;"|

|style="background:#EEEEEE;"|Acting as governor

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|27

|data-sort-value="Francis, David"|75px

|David R. Francis

| – January 9, 1893

|Democratic

|1888

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|28

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

|William J. Stone

| – January 11, 1897

|Democratic

|1892

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|29

|data-sort-value="Stephens, Lawrence"|75px

|Lawrence Vest Stephens

| – January 14, 1901

|Democratic

|1896

|- style="height:2em;"

!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|30

|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Dockery, Alexander"|75px

|rowspan="2"|Alexander Monroe Dockery

|rowspan="2"| – January 9, 1905

|rowspan="2"|Democratic

|rowspan="2"|1900

|

|- style="height:2em;"

|

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|31

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

|Joseph W. Folk

| – January 11, 1909

|Democratic

|1904

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

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|32

|data-sort-value="Hadley, Herbert"|75px

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

|Herbert S. Hadley

| – January 13, 1913

|Republican

|1908

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|33

|data-sort-value="Major, Elliott"|75px

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

|Elliott Woolfolk Major

| – January 8, 1917

|Democratic

|1912

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

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|34

|data-sort-value="Gardner, Frederick"|75px

|Frederick D. Gardner

| – January 10, 1921

|Democratic

|1916

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|35

|data-sort-value="Hyde, Arthur"|75px

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

|Arthur M. Hyde

| – January 12, 1925

|Republican

|1920

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

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|36

|data-sort-value="Baker, Samuel"|75px

|Sam Aaron Baker

| – January 14, 1929

|Republican

|1924

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|37

|data-sort-value="Caulfield, Henry"|75px

|Henry S. Caulfield

| – January 9, 1933

|Republican

|1928

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|38

|data-sort-value="Park, Guy"|75px

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

|Guy Brasfield Park

| – January 11, 1937

|Democratic

|1932

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

|rowspan="3"|

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|39

|data-sort-value="Stark, Lloyd"|75px

|Lloyd C. Stark

| – February 26, 1941

|Democratic

|1936

|- style="height:2em;"

!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|40

|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Donnell, Forrest"|75px

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

|rowspan="2"|Forrest C. Donnell

|rowspan="2"| – January 8, 1945

|rowspan="2"|Republican

|rowspan="2"|1940

|- style="height:2em;"

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

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|41

|data-sort-value="Donnelly, Phil"|75px

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

|Phil M. Donnelly

| – January 10, 1949

|Democratic

|1944

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

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|42

|data-sort-value="Smith, Forrest"|75px

|Forrest Smith

| – January 12, 1953

|Democratic

|1948

|rowspan="2"|

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|43

|data-sort-value="Donnelly, Phil"|75px

|Phil M. Donnelly – January 14, 1957

|Democratic

|1952

|- style="height:2em;"

!rowspan="2" scope="rowgroup"|44

|rowspan="2" data-sort-value="Blair, Jame"|75px

|rowspan="2"|James T. Blair Jr.

|rowspan="2"| – January 9, 1961

|rowspan="2"|Democratic

|rowspan="2"|1956

|

|- style="height:2em;"

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

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|45

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

|John M. Dalton

| – January 11, 1965

|Democratic

|1960

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

|- style="height:2em;"

!rowspan="3" scope="rowgroup"|46

|rowspan="3" data-sort-value="Hearnes, Warren"|75px

|rowspan="3"|Warren E. Hearnes

|rowspan="3"| – January 8, 1973

|rowspan="3"|Democratic

|rowspan="2"|1964

|

|- style="height:2em;"

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

|- style="height:2em;"

|1968

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

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|47

|data-sort-value="Bond, Kit"|75px

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

|Kit Bond

| – January 10, 1977

|Republican

|1972

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

|rowspan="2"|

|- style="height:2em;"

!scope="row"|48

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

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

|Joseph P. Teasdale

| – January 12, 1981

|Democratic – January 14, 1985

|Republican

|rowspan="2"| – January 11, 1993

|rowspan="2"|Republican

|rowspan="2"| – October 16, 2000