The following is a list of the Governors of the State

U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

 of Nebraska

Nebraska

Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....

.

• Prior to becoming a territory, Nebraska Territory was part of Louisiana Territory
  Louisiana Territory
  The Territory of Louisiana or Louisiana Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1805 until June 4, 1812, when it was renamed to Missouri Territory...
  
   (renamed Missouri Territory
  Missouri Territory
  The Territory of Missouri was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from June 4, 1812 until August 10, 1821, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Missouri.-History:...
  
  ) from 1805 to 1821; see List of Governors of Missouri for this period. Between 1821 and 1854, the land was unorganized territory.

List of Governors

#	Name	Took office	Left office	Party	Notes
1	David Butler David Butler (Nebraska) David C. Butler was a U.S. political figure. He was the first Governor of Nebraska, serving from 1867 until 1871...	February 21, 1867	June 2, 1871	Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
	William H. James William H. James William Hartford James was a Republican Nebraska politician best known as the Acting Governor of Nebraska. He was also a member of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Board of Regents during his tenure as Governor.-Early life in Iowa:...  (acting)	June 2, 1871	January 13, 1873	Republican
2	Robert Wilkinson Furnas Robert Wilkinson Furnas Robert Wilkinson Furnas was the second Governor of Nebraska . He came to Nebraska in 1856 at age 32. Two months later he published the Nebraska Advertiser, a publication advertising the agricultural opportunities found in Nebraska. He also published the Nebraska Farmer, the first agricultural...	January 13, 1873	January 11, 1875	Republican
3	Silas Garber Silas Garber Silas Garber was the founder of Red Cloud, Nebraska and was also Nebraska's third Governor.-Early life:...	January 11, 1875	January 9, 1879	Republican
4	Albinus Nance Albinus Nance Albinus Roberts Nance served as a soldier during the American Civil War, and is well known for being the fourth Governor of Nebraska.-Early life and Civil War:...	January 9, 1879	January 4, 1883	Republican
5	James W. Dawes James W. Dawes James William Dawes was a Republican Nebraska politician best known as the fifth Governor of Nebraska. He was born in McConnelsville, Ohio. He was also a delegate to the state constitutional convention and a member of state senate in 1877. Dawes County, Nebraska is named in his honor. He also...	January 4, 1883	January 6, 1887	Republican
6	John Milton Thayer John Milton Thayer John Milton Thayer was a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War and a postbellum United States Senator from Nebraska, as well as governor of Wyoming Territory and governor of Nebraska.-Early life and career:...	January 6, 1887	February 8, 1892	Republican
7	James E. Boyd	February 8, 1892	January 13, 1893	Democratic
8	Lorenzo Crounse Lorenzo Crounse Lorenzo Crounse was a Nebraska Republican politician best known as the eighth Governor of Nebraska.-Early life :...	January 13, 1893	January 3, 1895	Republican
9	Silas A. Holcomb Silas A. Holcomb Silas Alexander Holcomb was a Nebraska lawyer and politician best known for being elected as the ninth Governor of Nebraska and serving from 1895 to 1899...	January 3, 1895	January 5, 1899	Fusion Fusion Party Fusion Party is a term that may have a variety of meanings in the political history of the United States.The Fusion Party was the original name of the Republican Party in the state of Ohio. In 1854, anti-slavery parties were forming in many northern states in opposition to the Kansas Nebraska Act...  (Democratic/Populist Populist Party (United States) The People's Party, also known as the "Populists", was a short-lived political party in the United States established in 1891. It was most important in 1892-96, then rapidly faded away... )
10	William A. Poynter William A. Poynter William Amos Poynter was a Nebraska politician best known as the tenth Governor of Nebraska from 1899 to 1901, running under a fusion ticket between the Populist and the Democratic Party...	January 5, 1899	January 3, 1901	Fusion Fusion Party Fusion Party is a term that may have a variety of meanings in the political history of the United States.The Fusion Party was the original name of the Republican Party in the state of Ohio. In 1854, anti-slavery parties were forming in many northern states in opposition to the Kansas Nebraska Act...  (Democratic/Populist Populist Party (United States) The People's Party, also known as the "Populists", was a short-lived political party in the United States established in 1891. It was most important in 1892-96, then rapidly faded away... )
11	Charles H. Dietrich	January 3, 1901	May 1, 1901	Republican
12	Ezra P. Savage Ezra P. Savage Ezra Perin Savage was a Nebraska republican politician best known for being the 12th Governor of Nebraska from 1901 to 1903. He was the tenth Lieutenant Governor in 1901.-Early life:...	May 1, 1901	January 8, 1903	Republican
13	John H. Mickey John H. Mickey John Hopwood Mickey was a Nebraska republican politician who served as the 13th Governor of Nebraska from 1903 to 1907.-Early life and ancestors:...	January 8, 1903	January 3, 1907	Republican
14	George L. Sheldon George L. Sheldon George Lawson Sheldon was the 14th Governor of Nebraska from 1907 until 1909. He was a Republican from the progressive wing of that party, identified nationally with Theodore Roosevelt.-Early years:...	January 3, 1907	January 7, 1909	Republican
15	Ashton C. Shallenberger Ashton C. Shallenberger Ashton Cokayne Shallenberger was a Nebraska Democratic politician best known for being the 15th Governor of Nebraska from 1909 to 1911. He was first elected to the 57th United States Congress but failed to be reelected in 1902. He was elected governor from 1909–1911 and then was unsuccessful in...	January 7, 1909	January 5, 1911	Democratic
16	Chester H. Aldrich	January 5, 1911	January 9, 1913	Republican
17	John H. Morehead John H. Morehead John Henry Morehead was a Nebraska Democratic politician best known for being the 17th Governor of Nebraska.-Biography:...	January 9, 1913	January 4, 1917	Democratic
18	Keith Neville Keith Neville M. Keith Neville was a Nebraska Democratic politician best known for being the 18th Governor of Nebraska.-Biography:...	January 4, 1917	January 9, 1919	Democratic
19	Samuel R. McKelvie Samuel R. McKelvie Samuel Roy McKelvie was a Nebraska Republican politician best known for being the 19th Governor of Nebraska. He was also the Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska from 1913 to 1915 and a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1936 and 1944. In On April 15, 1922 he helped break ground for...	January 9, 1919	January 3, 1923	Republican
20	Charles W. Bryan Charles W. Bryan Charles Wayland Bryan was the younger brother of perennial U.S. Democratic presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan, with whom he shares the distinction of being the only set of brothers to be nominated for national office by a major party.-Biography:Born in 1867 in Salem, Illinois, Bryan...	January 3, 1923	January 8, 1925	Democratic
21	Adam McMullen Adam McMullen Adam McMullen was a Nebraska republican politician best known for being the 21st Governor of Nebraska. He was also a delegate to 1944 Republican National Convention and the chairman of the National Governors Association in 1927 to 1928.He was also a founding member of the Beta Tau Chapter of...	January 8, 1925	January 3, 1929	Republican
22	Arthur J. Weaver Arthur J. Weaver Arthur J. Weaver was a Nebraska Republican politician best known for being the 22nd Governor of Nebraska. Early in his life he was a lawyer and fruit grower. He was married to Maude E...	January 3, 1929	January 8, 1931	Republican
23	Charles W. Bryan Charles W. Bryan Charles Wayland Bryan was the younger brother of perennial U.S. Democratic presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan, with whom he shares the distinction of being the only set of brothers to be nominated for national office by a major party.-Biography:Born in 1867 in Salem, Illinois, Bryan...	January 8, 1931	January 3, 1935	Democratic
24	Robert Leroy Cochran Robert Leroy Cochran Robert LeRoy Cochran was a Nebraska Democratic politician best known for being the 24th Governor of Nebraska.-Biography:...	January 3, 1935	January 9, 1941	Democratic
25	Dwight Griswold Dwight Griswold Dwight Palmer Griswold was an American politician who served as the 25th Governor of Nebraska from 1940 to 1946 and U.S. Senator from 1952 to 1954. He was a Republican.-Biography:...	January 9, 1941	January 9, 1947	Republican
26	Val Peterson Val Peterson Frederick Valdemar Erastus Peterson , also known as Val Peterson, was an American politician who served as the 26th Governor of Nebraska from 1947 to 1953; as director of the Federal Civil Defense Administration from 1953–1957; as U.S. ambassador to Denmark 1957–1961; and as U.S...	January 9, 1947	January 8, 1953	Republican
27	Robert B. Crosby Robert B. Crosby Robert Berkey Crosby was an American Republican politician who served as the 27th Governor of Nebraska from 1953 to 1955.-Biography:...	January 8, 1953	January 6, 1955	Republican
28	Victor E. Anderson	January 6, 1955	January 8, 1959	Republican
29	Ralph G. Brooks Ralph G. Brooks Ralph Gilmour Brooks was a Nebraska Democratic politician best known for being the 29th Governor of Nebraska. He was governor from 1959 until September 9, 1960 when he died in office. He also ran and lost as a candidate for Nebraska's first district in 1942.-References:#...	January 8, 1959	September 9, 1960	Democratic
30	Dwight W. Burney Dwight W. Burney Dwight Willard Burney was a Nebraska Republican politician best known for being the 30th Governor of Nebraska....	September 9, 1960	January 5, 1961	Republican
31	Frank B. Morrison Frank B. Morrison Frank Brenner Morrison served as the 31st Governor of the U.S. state of Nebraska from 1961 to 1967, representing the Democratic Party. He also ran for United States Senate in 1958, 1966 and 1970 but lost all three elections. He lost to Roman L. Hruska in 1958 and 1970 while in 1966 he lost to Carl...	January 5, 1961	January 5, 1967	Democratic
32	Norbert T. Tiemann Norbert T. Tiemann Norbert Theodore Tiemann was a Republican politician from Wausa, Nebraska best known for being the 32nd Governor of Nebraska from 1967 to 1971. He was born in Minden, Nebraska. He attended Campbell High School in Campbell, Nebraska where he graduated in 1942. He served in the U.S. Army during...	January 5, 1967	January 7, 1971	Republican
33	J. James Exon J. James Exon John James "Jim" Exon was an American Democratic politician. He served as the 33rd Governor of Nebraska from 1971 to 1979, and as a U.S. Senator from Nebraska from 1979 to 1997. Exon was a Nebraska Democrat who never lost an election, and the only Democrat to hold his Nebraska's Senate Class 2 seat...	January 7, 1971	January 4, 1979	Democratic
34	Charles Thone Charles Thone Charles Thone is an American Republican politician.-Biography:Charles Thone was born in Hartington, Nebraska. He has three brothers, including John Jr. He graduated from Holy Trinity High School . During World War II, he served in the Infantry of the United States Army...	January 4, 1979	January 6, 1983	Republican
35	J. Robert Kerrey	January 6, 1983	January 9, 1987	Democratic
36	Kay A. Orr Kay A. Orr Kay Orr , is a United States Republican Party politician from the state of Nebraska. She served as the 36th Governor of Nebraska from 1987 to 1991.-Background and political roots:...	January 9, 1987	January 9, 1991	Republican
37	E. Benjamin Nelson	January 9, 1991	January 7, 1999	Democratic
38	Mike Johanns Mike Johanns Michael Owen "Mike" Johanns is an American Republican politician who has been the junior United States Senator from Nebraska since 2009. Previously he was the 38th Governor of Nebraska from 1999 to 2005 and was U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 2005 to 2007, becoming the fourth Nebraskan to hold...	January 7, 1999	January 20, 2005	Republican
39	Dave Heineman Dave Heineman David Eugene "Dave" Heineman is the 39th and current Governor of Nebraska. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education and career:...	January 20, 2005	Incumbent	Republican

Other high offices held

This is a table of congressional, other governorships, and other federal offices held by governors. All representatives and senators mentioned represented Nebraska except where noted. * denotes those offices which the governor resigned to take.

Name	Gubernatorial term	U.S. Congress United States Congress The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....		Other offices held
		House United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...	Senate United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
William Alexander Richardson William Alexander Richardson William Alexander Richardson was a prominent Illinois Democrat politician before and during the American Civil War....	1858 (territorial)			U.S. Representative and Senator from Illinois Illinois Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
J. Sterling Morton Julius Sterling Morton Julius Sterling Morton was a Nebraska editor who served as President Grover Cleveland's Secretary of Agriculture. He was a prominent Bourbon Democrat, taking the conservative position on political, economic and social issues, and opposing agrarianism...	1858–1859, 1861 (territorial)			U.S. Secretary of Agriculture United States Secretary of Agriculture The United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture. The current secretary is Tom Vilsack, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on 20 January 2009. The position carries similar responsibilities to those of agriculture ministers in other...
Algernon Paddock Algernon Paddock Algernon Sidney Paddock was an American politician who served as a Republican secretary of Nebraska Territory and U.S. Senator from Nebraska after statehood.-Biography:...	1861 (territorial)		S
Alvin Saunders Alvin Saunders Alvin Saunders was a U.S. Senator from Nebraska, in the United States, as well as the governor of the Nebraska Territory for most of the American Civil War.-Education:Saunders was born in Fleming County, Kentucky...	1861–1867 (territorial)		S
John Milton Thayer	1887–1892		S	Governor of Wyoming Territory
Lorenzo Crounse Lorenzo Crounse Lorenzo Crounse was a Nebraska Republican politician best known as the eighth Governor of Nebraska.-Early life :...	1893–1895	H
Charles Henry Dietrich Charles Henry Dietrich Charles Henry Dietrich was the 11th Governor of Nebraska.-Biography:Dietrich was born in Aurora, Illinois November 26, 1853. He was employed as a clerk in a hardware store in St. Joseph, Missouri. He moved to Chicago, Illinois and engaged in the hardware business...	1901		S*
Ashton C. Shallenberger Ashton C. Shallenberger Ashton Cokayne Shallenberger was a Nebraska Democratic politician best known for being the 15th Governor of Nebraska from 1909 to 1911. He was first elected to the 57th United States Congress but failed to be reelected in 1902. He was elected governor from 1909–1911 and then was unsuccessful in...	1909–1911	H
John H. Morehead John H. Morehead John Henry Morehead was a Nebraska Democratic politician best known for being the 17th Governor of Nebraska.-Biography:...	1913–1917	H
Dwight Griswold Dwight Griswold Dwight Palmer Griswold was an American politician who served as the 25th Governor of Nebraska from 1940 to 1946 and U.S. Senator from 1952 to 1954. He was a Republican.-Biography:...	1941–1947		S
Val Peterson Val Peterson Frederick Valdemar Erastus Peterson , also known as Val Peterson, was an American politician who served as the 26th Governor of Nebraska from 1947 to 1953; as director of the Federal Civil Defense Administration from 1953–1957; as U.S. ambassador to Denmark 1957–1961; and as U.S...	1947–1953			Ambassador to Denmark United States Ambassador to Denmark The first representative from the United States to Denmark was appointed in 1827 as a Chargé d'Affaires. There followed a series of chargés and ministers until 1890 when the first full ambassador was appointed... , Ambassador to Poland Poland Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
J. James Exon J. James Exon John James "Jim" Exon was an American Democratic politician. He served as the 33rd Governor of Nebraska from 1971 to 1979, and as a U.S. Senator from Nebraska from 1979 to 1997. Exon was a Nebraska Democrat who never lost an election, and the only Democrat to hold his Nebraska's Senate Class 2 seat...	1971–1979		S
Charles Thone Charles Thone Charles Thone is an American Republican politician.-Biography:Charles Thone was born in Hartington, Nebraska. He has three brothers, including John Jr. He graduated from Holy Trinity High School . During World War II, he served in the Infantry of the United States Army...	1979–1983	H
Bob Kerrey Bob Kerrey Joseph Robert "Bob" Kerrey was the 35th Governor of Nebraska from 1983 to 1987 and a U.S. Senator from Nebraska . Having served in the Vietnam War, earning the Medal of Honor for his actions, he moved into politics. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1992...	1983–1987		S
Ben Nelson Ben Nelson Earl Benjamin "Ben" Nelson is the senior U.S. Senator from Nebraska. He is a member of the Democratic Party and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000....	1991–1999		S
Mike Johanns Mike Johanns Michael Owen "Mike" Johanns is an American Republican politician who has been the junior United States Senator from Nebraska since 2009. Previously he was the 38th Governor of Nebraska from 1999 to 2005 and was U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 2005 to 2007, becoming the fourth Nebraskan to hold...	1999–2005		S	U.S. Secretary of Agriculture*

Living former governors

, six former governors were alive, the oldest being Charles Thone

Charles Thone

Charles Thone is an American Republican politician.-Biography:Charles Thone was born in Hartington, Nebraska. He has three brothers, including John Jr. He graduated from Holy Trinity High School . During World War II, he served in the Infantry of the United States Army...

 (1979–1983, born 1924). The most recent governor to die was J. James Exon

J. James Exon

John James "Jim" Exon was an American Democratic politician. He served as the 33rd Governor of Nebraska from 1971 to 1979, and as a U.S. Senator from Nebraska from 1979 to 1997. Exon was a Nebraska Democrat who never lost an election, and the only Democrat to hold his Nebraska's Senate Class 2 seat...

 (1971–1979), on June 10, 2005.

Name	Gubernatorial term	Date of birth
Norbert T. Tiemann Norbert T. Tiemann Norbert Theodore Tiemann was a Republican politician from Wausa, Nebraska best known for being the 32nd Governor of Nebraska from 1967 to 1971. He was born in Minden, Nebraska. He attended Campbell High School in Campbell, Nebraska where he graduated in 1942. He served in the U.S. Army during...	1967–1971	July 18, 1924 (age 87)
Charles Thone Charles Thone Charles Thone is an American Republican politician.-Biography:Charles Thone was born in Hartington, Nebraska. He has three brothers, including John Jr. He graduated from Holy Trinity High School . During World War II, he served in the Infantry of the United States Army...	1979–1983	January 04, 1924 (age 88)
Bob Kerrey Bob Kerrey Joseph Robert "Bob" Kerrey was the 35th Governor of Nebraska from 1983 to 1987 and a U.S. Senator from Nebraska . Having served in the Vietnam War, earning the Medal of Honor for his actions, he moved into politics. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1992...	1983–1987	August 27, 1943 (age 68)
Kay A. Orr Kay A. Orr Kay Orr , is a United States Republican Party politician from the state of Nebraska. She served as the 36th Governor of Nebraska from 1987 to 1991.-Background and political roots:...	1987–1991	January 02, 1939 (age 73)
Ben Nelson Ben Nelson Earl Benjamin "Ben" Nelson is the senior U.S. Senator from Nebraska. He is a member of the Democratic Party and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000....	1991–1999	May 17, 1941 (age 70)
Mike Johanns Mike Johanns Michael Owen "Mike" Johanns is an American Republican politician who has been the junior United States Senator from Nebraska since 2009. Previously he was the 38th Governor of Nebraska from 1999 to 2005 and was U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 2005 to 2007, becoming the fourth Nebraskan to hold...	1999–2005	June 18, 1950 (age 61)

External links

• Nebraska Blue Book (PDF)