List of Governors of Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
The Governor of Wisconsin is the head of the executive branch of Wisconsin
's government and the commander-in-chief
of the state's army and air forces
. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto
bills
passed by the Wisconsin Legislature
, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardon
s, except in cases of treason and impeachment.
Forty-four individuals have held the office of governor of Wisconsin since the state's admission to the Union
in 1848, one of whom—Philip La Follette
—served non-consecutive terms. Nelson Dewey
, the first governor, took office on June 7, 1848. The longest-serving governor was Tommy Thompson
, who took office on January 5, 1987 and resigned on February 1, 2001, a total of 14 years and 28 days. Arthur MacArthur, Sr. had the shortest term: he was governor for a total of just 5 days—from March 21, 1856 to March 25, 1856. The current governor is Scott Walker
, who took office on January 3, 2011.
, parts of the area now known as Wisconsin were claimed by Virginia
, Massachusetts
and Connecticut
; however, Virginia ceded its claim in 1784, Massachusetts in 1785 and Connecticut in 1786. On July 13, 1787, the Northwest Territory
, including the area now called Wisconsin, was formed; Wisconsin remained part of the territory until 1800. The territorial governor during this period was Arthur St. Clair
. As parts of the Northwest Territory were admitted to the Union
as states, Wisconsin became part of first the Indiana Territory
(1800–1809), then the Illinois Territory
(1809–1818), and then the Michigan Territory
(1818–1836); see the lists of governors of Indiana, of Illinois, and of Michigan for these periods.
was formed on July 3, 1836. During the time of its existence, the Wisconsin Territory had three territorial governors, one of whom served non-consecutive terms, and one who continued on as acting governor after the territory had officially ceased to exist.
Originally, governors of Wisconsin served for two-year terms, but in 1967 the state constitution
was amended to change this to four. Jeremiah McLain Rusk
served one three-year term in the 1880s as the constitution was amended during his first term to move elections from odd to even years, and all officers were allowed to serve an extra year, rather than have their terms cut a year short. Patrick Lucey, elected in the 1970 election
, was the first governor to serve a four-year term. Governors of Wisconsin are not term limit
ed.
The state constitution provides for the election of a lieutenant governor
; originally, the governor and lieutenant governor were elected on different ticket
s, and thus were not necessarily of the same party
. Since the 1967 amendment, however, the two have been nominated, and voted on, together. Originally, if the office of the governor was vacant for any reason, "the powers and duties of the office . . . devolve[d] upon the lieutenant governor." In 1979, the constitution was amended to make this more specific: if the governor dies, resigns, or is removed from office, the lieutenant governor becomes governor, but becomes acting governor if the governor is absent from the state, impeached, or unable to carry out of duties. If any of these events occur while the office of lieutenant governor is vacant, the secretary of state
becomes either governor or acting governor. Two Wisconsin governors have died while in office, one has died after being elected but before taking office, and four have resigned.
(1971–1977, born 1918). The most recent death of a former governor was that of Lee S. Dreyfus
(1979–1983), on January 2, 2008.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
's government and the commander-in-chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
of the state's army and air forces
Wisconsin Air National Guard
The Wisconsin Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is, along with the Wisconsin Army National Guard, an element of the Wisconsin National Guard...
. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto
Veto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
bills
Bill (proposed law)
A bill is a proposed law under consideration by a legislature. A bill does not become law until it is passed by the legislature and, in most cases, approved by the executive. Once a bill has been enacted into law, it is called an act or a statute....
passed by the Wisconsin Legislature
Wisconsin Legislature
The Wisconsin Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The Legislature is a bicameral body composed of the upper house Wisconsin Senate and the lower Wisconsin Assembly...
, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardon
Pardon
Clemency means the forgiveness of a crime or the cancellation of the penalty associated with it. It is a general concept that encompasses several related procedures: pardoning, commutation, remission and reprieves...
s, except in cases of treason and impeachment.
Forty-four individuals have held the office of governor of Wisconsin since the state's admission to the Union
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1848, one of whom—Philip La Follette
Philip La Follette
Philip Fox La Follette was an American politician from the US state of Wisconsin. He served three terms as the Governor of Wisconsin and helped create the Wisconsin Progressive Party.-Early life and family:...
—served non-consecutive terms. Nelson Dewey
Nelson Dewey
Nelson Dewey was a politician from the U.S. state of Wisconsin; he was the first Governor of Wisconsin, serving from 1848 until 1852.- Early life :...
, the first governor, took office on June 7, 1848. The longest-serving governor was Tommy Thompson
Tommy Thompson
Thomas George "Tommy" Thompson , a United States Republican politician, was the 42nd Governor of Wisconsin, after which he served as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. Thompson was a candidate for the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election, but dropped out early after a poor performance in polls...
, who took office on January 5, 1987 and resigned on February 1, 2001, a total of 14 years and 28 days. Arthur MacArthur, Sr. had the shortest term: he was governor for a total of just 5 days—from March 21, 1856 to March 25, 1856. The current governor is Scott Walker
Scott Walker (politician)
Scott Kevin Walker is an American Republican politician who began serving as the 45th Governor of Wisconsin on January 3, 2011, after defeating Democratic candidate Tom Barrett, 52 percent to 47 percent in the November 2010 general election...
, who took office on January 3, 2011.
Governors
Initially after the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, parts of the area now known as Wisconsin were claimed by Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
; however, Virginia ceded its claim in 1784, Massachusetts in 1785 and Connecticut in 1786. On July 13, 1787, the Northwest Territory
Northwest Territory
The Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, more commonly known as the Northwest Territory, was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 13, 1787, until March 1, 1803, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Ohio...
, including the area now called Wisconsin, was formed; Wisconsin remained part of the territory until 1800. The territorial governor during this period was Arthur St. Clair
Arthur St. Clair
Arthur St. Clair was an American soldier and politician. Born in Scotland, he served in the British Army during the French and Indian War before settling in Pennsylvania, where he held local office...
. As parts of the Northwest Territory were admitted to the Union
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as states, Wisconsin became part of first the Indiana Territory
Indiana Territory
The Territory of Indiana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1800, until November 7, 1816, when the southern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Indiana....
(1800–1809), then the Illinois Territory
Illinois Territory
The Territory of Illinois was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 1, 1809, until December 3, 1818, when the southern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Illinois. The area was earlier known as "Illinois Country" while under...
(1809–1818), and then the Michigan Territory
Michigan Territory
The Territory of Michigan was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from June 30, 1805, until January 26, 1837, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Michigan...
(1818–1836); see the lists of governors of Indiana, of Illinois, and of Michigan for these periods.
Governors of Wisconsin Territory
Wisconsin TerritoryWisconsin Territory
The Territory of Wisconsin was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 3, 1836, until May 29, 1848, when an eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Wisconsin...
was formed on July 3, 1836. During the time of its existence, the Wisconsin Territory had three territorial governors, one of whom served non-consecutive terms, and one who continued on as acting governor after the territory had officially ceased to exist.
| Picture | Name | Appointed | Left office Absent any other sources, it is assumed the governor left office when his successor was appointed. |
Appointed by | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Henry Dodge Henry Dodge Henry Dodge was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, Territorial Governor of Wisconsin and a veteran of the Black Hawk War. His son was Augustus C. Dodge with whom he served in the U.S. Senate, the first, and so far only, father-son pair to serve concurrently.... |
April 30, 1836 | September 13, 1841 | Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans... |
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 |
James Duane Doty James Duane Doty James Duane Doty was a land speculator and politician in the United States who played a large role in the development of Wisconsin and Utah Territory.-Legal career:... |
September 30, 1841 | June 21, 1844 | John Tyler John Tyler John Tyler was the tenth President of the United States . A native of Virginia, Tyler served as a state legislator, governor, U.S. representative, and U.S. senator before being elected Vice President . He was the first to succeed to the office of President following the death of a predecessor... |
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 |
Nathaniel P. Tallmadge Nathaniel P. Tallmadge Nathaniel Pitcher Tallmadge was an American lawyer and politician. He was a U.S. Senator from New York and Governor of the Wisconsin Territory.-Early life:Tallmadge graduated from Union College in 1815... |
June 21, 1844 | April 8, 1845 | John Tyler John Tyler John Tyler was the tenth President of the United States . A native of Virginia, Tyler served as a state legislator, governor, U.S. representative, and U.S. senator before being elected Vice President . He was the first to succeed to the office of President following the death of a predecessor... |
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| |
Henry Dodge | April 8, 1845 | June 23, 1848 | James Polk | |
 |
John Catlin John Catlin John Catlin was an American lawyer, politician, public official, and officer within the railroad industry.Catlin served as acting governor of the Wisconsin Territory from June 23, 1848 until March 3, 1849, when Henry Dodge ceased to be the governor of the Wisconsin Territory, upon becoming a... |
June 23, 1848 | March 3, 1849 | none (acting governor) |
Governors of the State of Wisconsin
Wisconsin was admitted to the Union on May 29, 1848. Since then, it has had 45 governors, one of whom served non-consecutive terms.Originally, governors of Wisconsin served for two-year terms, but in 1967 the state constitution
Wisconsin Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Wisconsin is the governing document of the U.S. State of Wisconsin. It establishes the structure and function of state government, describes the state boundaries, and declares the rights of state citizens...
was amended to change this to four. Jeremiah McLain Rusk
Jeremiah McLain Rusk
Jeremiah McLain Rusk was the 15th Governor of the U.S. state of Wisconsin from 1882 to 1889 and the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 1889 to 1893.-Biography:...
served one three-year term in the 1880s as the constitution was amended during his first term to move elections from odd to even years, and all officers were allowed to serve an extra year, rather than have their terms cut a year short. Patrick Lucey, elected in the 1970 election
Wisconsin gubernatorial election, 1998 and previous years
-Sources:* http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/WI/ofc/gov1950s.html* 2005-2006 Wisconsin Bluebook...
, was the first governor to serve a four-year term. Governors of Wisconsin are not term limit
Term limit
A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for...
ed.
The state constitution provides for the election of a lieutenant governor
Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
The Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin is the first person in the order of succession of Wisconsin's executive branch, thus serving as governor in the event of the death, resignation, removal, impeachment, absence from the state, or incapacity due to illness of the Governor of Wisconsin...
; originally, the governor and lieutenant governor were elected on different ticket
Ticket (election)
A ticket refers to a single election choice which fills more than one political office or seat. For example, in the U.S., the candidates for President and Vice President run on the same "ticket", because they are elected together on a single ballot question rather than separately.A ticket can also...
s, and thus were not necessarily of the same party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
. Since the 1967 amendment, however, the two have been nominated, and voted on, together. Originally, if the office of the governor was vacant for any reason, "the powers and duties of the office . . . devolve[d] upon the lieutenant governor." In 1979, the constitution was amended to make this more specific: if the governor dies, resigns, or is removed from office, the lieutenant governor becomes governor, but becomes acting governor if the governor is absent from the state, impeached, or unable to carry out of duties. If any of these events occur while the office of lieutenant governor is vacant, the secretary of state
Secretary of State of Wisconsin
The Secretary of State of Wisconsin is an officer of the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of Wisconsin, and the second in the order of succession of the Governor of Wisconsin, behind the Lieutenant Governor....
becomes either governor or acting governor. Two Wisconsin governors have died while in office, one has died after being elected but before taking office, and four have resigned.
| # | Governor | Took office | Left office | Party | Lt. Governor Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin The Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin is the first person in the order of succession of Wisconsin's executive branch, thus serving as governor in the event of the death, resignation, removal, impeachment, absence from the state, or incapacity due to illness of the Governor of Wisconsin... Vacancies in the office of the lieutenant governor are only listed if they lasted for the entire term. For a full list of vacancies, see List of Lieutenant Governors of Wisconsin. |
Terms The fractional terms of some governors are not to be understood absolutely literally; rather, they are meant to show single terms during which multiple governors served, due to resignations, deaths and the like. |
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| 1 | Nelson Dewey Nelson Dewey Nelson Dewey was a politician from the U.S. state of Wisconsin; he was the first Governor of Wisconsin, serving from 1848 until 1852.- Early life :... |
June 7, 1848 | January 5, 1852 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
John E. Holmes | 2 | ||
| Samuel W. Beall | ||||||||
| 2 | Leonard J. Farwell Leonard J. Farwell Leonard James Farwell was an American politician and the second Governor of Wisconsin.Farwell was born in Watertown, New York, and moved to Wisconsin in the 1840s, prior to its statehood... |
January 5, 1852 | January 2, 1854 | Whig Whig Party (United States) The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic... |
Timothy Burns Timothy Burns Timothy Burns was Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin from 1851 until his death while in office in 1853, serving as a Democrat. Timothy Burns was born in Dublin, Ireland. As a young man, he settled in Iowa County, Wisconsin.... Died in office. |
1 | ||
| 3 | William A. Barstow William A. Barstow William Augustus Barstow was the third Governor of Wisconsin and a Union Army General during the American Civil War.-Early life:Barstow was born in Plainfield, Connecticut... |
January 2, 1854 | March 21, 1856 | Democratic | James T. Lewis James T. Lewis James Taylor Lewis was an American lawyer and politician who served as the ninth Governor of Wisconsin.Lewis was born in Clarendon, New York, and in 1845 he settled in Columbus, Wisconsin. He held the positions of district attorney and county judge, and he was elected to terms in both the... |
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| Arthur MacArthur, Sr. | ||||||||
| 4 | Arthur MacArthur, Sr. | March 21, 1856 | March 25, 1856 | Democratic | vacant | |
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| 5 | Coles Bashford Coles Bashford Coles Bashford was an American lawyer and politician who became the fifth Governor of Wisconsin. His one term as governor ended in a bribery scandal that forced him to leave the state, but he was later instrumental in the government of the newly formed Arizona Territory.-Early life and... |
March 25, 1856 | January 4, 1858 | 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... |
Arthur MacArthur, Sr. | |
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| 6 | Alexander W. Randall Alexander Randall Alexander Williams Randall was a lawyer, judge and politician from Wisconsin. He served as the sixth Governor of Wisconsin from 1858 until 1861. He was instrumental in raising and organizing the first Wisconsin volunteer troops for the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Biography:Randall... |
January 4, 1858 | January 6, 1862 | Republican | Erasmus D. Campbell Erasmus D. Campbell Erasmus Daniel Campbell , was a Wisconsin politician. In 1857, he became mayor of La Crosse, Wisconsin. The Town of Campbell in La Crosse County, Wisconsin was named after E.D. Campbell... |
2 | ||
| Butler G. Noble | ||||||||
| 7 | Louis P. Harvey Louis P. Harvey Louis Powell Harvey was an American politician and the seventh Governor of Wisconsin.Harvey was born in East Haddam, Connecticut, later moving with his family to Ohio. He attended Western Reserve College and Preparatory School and worked as a teacher for a time, and eventually moved to Kenosha,... |
January 6, 1862 | April 19, 1862 | Republican | Edward Salomon Edward Salomon Edward Salomon was the eighth Governor of Wisconsin during the Civil War after the accidental drowning of his predecessor, Louis P. Harvey.Salomon was born in Ströbeck, Prussian Saxony... |
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| 8 | Edward Salomon Edward Salomon Edward Salomon was the eighth Governor of Wisconsin during the Civil War after the accidental drowning of his predecessor, Louis P. Harvey.Salomon was born in Ströbeck, Prussian Saxony... |
April 19, 1862 | January 4, 1864 | Republican | vacant | As lieutenant governor, acted as governor for remainder of unexpired term. |
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| 9 | James T. Lewis James T. Lewis James Taylor Lewis was an American lawyer and politician who served as the ninth Governor of Wisconsin.Lewis was born in Clarendon, New York, and in 1845 he settled in Columbus, Wisconsin. He held the positions of district attorney and county judge, and he was elected to terms in both the... |
January 4, 1864 | January 1, 1866 | Republican | Wyman Spooner Wyman Spooner Wyman Spooner was a Wisconsin politician. He was born in 1795 in Hardwick, Massachusetts, where he worked as a printer. He studied law in Vermont until, in 1835, he moved to Ohio. In 1842, he moved to Wisconsin; from 1847 until 1859 he served as Walworth County's probate judge. He became a... |
1 | ||
| 10 | Lucius Fairchild Lucius Fairchild Lucius Fairchild was an American politician, army general, and diplomat. He served as the tenth Governor of Wisconsin and as U.S. Minister to Spain.-Military career:... |
January 1, 1866 | January 1, 1872 | Republican | Wyman Spooner | 3 | ||
| Thaddeus C. Pound Thaddeus C. Pound Thaddeus Coleman Pound was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and the Wisconsin State Senate. Pound was Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin 1870 - 1872... |
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| 11 | Cadwallader C. Washburn Cadwallader C. Washburn Cadwallader Colden Washburn was an American businessman, politician, and soldier noted for founding what would later become General Mills and working in government for Wisconsin. He was born in Livermore, Maine, one of seven brothers that included Israel Washburn, Jr., Elihu B. Washburne, William D... |
January 1, 1872 | January 5, 1874 | Republican | Milton H. Pettit |
1 | ||
| 12 | William Robert Taylor William Robert Taylor William Robert Taylor was an American politician and the 12th Governor of Wisconsin from 1874 to 1876.Taylor was born in Connecticut. He was orphaned at age 6 when his father's ship was lost at sea; his mother had died when he was an infant. He then lived with his guardians in Jefferson County,... |
January 5, 1874 | January 3, 1876 | Democratic | Charles D. Parker Charles D. Parker Charles Durwin Parker was a Wisconsin politician. He was born in New Hampshire in 1827; his family moved to Waukesha County, Wisconsin in 1836. He served as a Democrat in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1869 to 1870 and served two terms as Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin, from 1874 until 1878... |
1 | ||
| 13 | Harrison Ludington Harrison Ludington Harrison Ludington was an American Republican politician who served as the 13th Governor of Wisconsin and a mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.- Ancestry :... |
January 3, 1876 | January 7, 1878 | Republican | Charles D. Parker | 1 | ||
| 14 | William E. Smith William E. Smith William E. Smith was the 14th Governor of Wisconsin.Born in Kincardineshire, Scotland, and moved to the United States with his family as a child. He had lived in New York City and Michigan before settling in Fox Lake, Wisconsin in 1849... |
January 7, 1878 | January 2, 1882 | Republican | James M. Bingham James M. Bingham James M. Bingham was a Wisconsin politician. He was born in Perry, New York in 1828, and moved to Palmyra, Wisconsin in 1854, where he practiced law. He served multiple terms as a Republican in the Wisconsin State Assembly, and was elected its speaker in 1870... |
2 | ||
| 15 | Jeremiah McLain Rusk Jeremiah McLain Rusk Jeremiah McLain Rusk was the 15th Governor of the U.S. state of Wisconsin from 1882 to 1889 and the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 1889 to 1893.-Biography:... |
January 2, 1882 | January 7, 1889 | Republican | Sam S. Fifield | 3 During Rusk's first term, the Wisconsin Constitution Wisconsin Constitution The Constitution of the State of Wisconsin is the governing document of the U.S. State of Wisconsin. It establishes the structure and function of state government, describes the state boundaries, and declares the rights of state citizens... was amended to say that all elections of state and county officers would henceforth take place in even-numbered years. By the provisions of the amendment, the terms of all officials who would have left office in 1884, including Rusk, were extended by one year. |
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| George W. Ryland | ||||||||
| 16 | William D. Hoard William D. Hoard William Dempster Hoard was the 16th Governor of the U.S. state of Wisconsin from 1889 to 1891.-Early life:... |
January 7, 1889 | January 5, 1891 | Republican | George W. Ryland | 1 | ||
| 17 | George W. Peck George Wilbur Peck George Wilbur Peck was an American writer and politician who served as the 17th Governor of Wisconsin.Peck was born in 1840 in Henderson, New York, the oldest of three children of David B. and Alzina P. Peck. In 1843, the family moved to Cold Spring, Wisconsin... |
January 5, 1891 | January 7, 1895 | Democratic | Charles Jonas Charles Jonas (Wisconsin politician) Charles Jonas was a Czech journalist, linguist and political activist, who became a Wisconsin journalist and politician.- Background :Karel Jonáš was born in Malešov, Bohemia... |
2 | ||
| 18 | William H. Upham William H. Upham William Henry Upham was a soldier, businessman, and politician who served as the 18th Governor of Wisconsin.-Biography:Upham was born in Westminster, Massachusetts and moved to Racine, Wisconsin, in 1853... |
January 7, 1895 | January 4, 1897 | Republican | Emil Baensch Emil Baensch Emil Baensch was a Wisconsin politician. He was born in Manitowoc, Wisconsin in 1857. He served as the county judge of Manitowoc County from 1888 until 1897; he founded the Lake Shore Times in 1881 and became a co-owner of the Manitowoc Post in 1896... |
1 | ||
| 19 | Edward Scofield Edward Scofield Edward Scofield was an American politician who served as the 19th Governor of Wisconsin.-Biography:Scofield was born in Clearfield, Pennsylvania. He fought in the American Civil War as a member of the 11th Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment and eventually rose to the rank of major. He moved to Oconto,... |
January 4, 1897 | January 7, 1901 | Republican | Emil Baensch | 2 | ||
| Jesse Stone Jesse Stone (Wisconsin politician) Jesse Stone was a Wisconsin politician. He was born in England in 1836, but his family emigrated to Waterford, New York in 1841. Stone moved to Louisville, Kentucky in 1855, and then to Watertown, Wisconsin in 1869... |
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| 20 | Robert M. La Follette, Sr. Robert M. La Follette, Sr. Robert Marion "Fighting Bob" La Follette, Sr. , was an American Republican politician. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, was the Governor of Wisconsin, and was also a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin... |
January 7, 1901 | January 1, 1906 | Republican | Jesse Stone |
Resigned to take an elected seat in the United States 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... . |
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| James O. Davidson James O. Davidson James Ole Davidson was the 21st Governor of the U.S. state of Wisconsin.-Background:Jens Ole Davidson was born in Årdal, Sogn og Fjordane County, Norway. He immigrated in 1872 to the United States when he was 18 years old... |
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| 21 | James O. Davidson James O. Davidson James Ole Davidson was the 21st Governor of the U.S. state of Wisconsin.-Background:Jens Ole Davidson was born in Årdal, Sogn og Fjordane County, Norway. He immigrated in 1872 to the United States when he was 18 years old... |
January 1, 1906 | January 2, 1911 | Republican | vacant | |
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| William D. Connor William D. Connor William Duncan Connor was Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin from 1907 - 1909. He was a Republican.... |
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| John Strange John Strange (Wisconsin politician) John Strange was a Wisconsin politician and businessman. He was born in Oakfield, Wisconsin in 1852, where he worked in various woodenware factories; as a young man he attempted various professions, including schoolteacher while travelling across the Midwestern United States... |
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| 22 | Francis E. McGovern Francis E. McGovern Francis McGovern , was an American politician who served as the 22nd Governor of Wisconsin from 1911 to 1915.McGovern supported the La Follette progressive wing of the Republican Party... |
January 2, 1911 | January 4, 1915 | Republican | Thomas Morris Thomas Morris (Wisconsin politician) Thomas Morris was Lieutenant Governor of the U.S. state of Wisconsin from 1911 until 1915. He was born in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, St. Arnold Parish, Quebec. Morris settled in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where, he was a barber. Thomas Morris went to law school in Madison, Wisconsin, and returned to La... |
2 | ||
| 23 | Emanuel L. Philipp Emanuel L. Philipp Emanuel Lorenz Philipp was the 23rd Governor of Wisconsin, United States, from 1915 to 1921. He was born in Honey Creek in Sauk County... |
January 4, 1915 | January 3, 1921 | Republican | Edward F. Dithmar | 3 | ||
| 24 | John J. Blaine John J. Blaine John James Blaine was the 24th Governor of Wisconsin and a United States Senator. He served as Mayor of Boscobel, on the Grant County Board of Supervisors, Wisconsin Attorney General, and in the Wisconsin State Senate... |
January 3, 1921 | January 3, 1927 | Republican | George F. Comings | 3 | ||
| Henry A. Huber | ||||||||
| 25 | Fred R. Zimmerman Fred R. Zimmerman Fred R. Zimmerman was a newsboy, milkman, traveling salesman, bookkeeper and Republican politician from Milwaukee, who served as a state representative, 25th Governor of Wisconsin, and Wisconsin Secretary of State. His son Robert C... |
January 3, 1927 | January 7, 1929 | Republican | Henry A. Huber | 1 | ||
| 26 | Walter J. Kohler, Sr. Walter J. Kohler, Sr. Walter Jodok Kohler, Sr. was an American businessman and politician. He was an innovative and highly successful Wisconsin industrialist. The Kohler Company was founded by his father, John Michael Kohler. Walter Kohler served as the company's president 1905 to 1937... |
January 7, 1929 | January 5, 1931 | Republican | Henry A. Huber | 1 | ||
| 27 | Philip La Follette Philip La Follette Philip Fox La Follette was an American politician from the US state of Wisconsin. He served three terms as the Governor of Wisconsin and helped create the Wisconsin Progressive Party.-Early life and family:... |
January 5, 1931 | January 2, 1933 | Republican | Henry A. Huber | 1 | ||
| 28 | Albert G. Schmedeman Albert G. Schmedeman Albert George Schmedeman was an American politician who served as the 28th Governor of Wisconsin. To date he is the only mayor of Madison to be elected Governor of Wisconsin.-Biography:... |
January 2, 1933 | January 7, 1935 | Democratic | Thomas J. O'Malley Thomas J. O'Malley Thomas J. O'Malley was a Wisconsin politician. He was born in Menasha, Wisconsin in 1868. He initially worked in the railway industry, eventually becoming a passenger conductor for the North Western Railroad. He was active in the railway union, and in 1932 he became the first Democrat elected... |
1 | ||
| 29 | Philip La Follette | January 7, 1935 | January 2, 1939 | Wisconsin Progressive Wisconsin Progressive Party The Wisconsin Progressive Party , was a third party which briefly held a dominant role in Wisconsin politics. The Party was the brainchild of Philip La Follette and Robert M. La Follette, Jr., the sons of the famous Wisconsin Governor and Senator Robert M. La Follette, Sr.... |
Thomas J. O'Malley |
2 | ||
| Henry A. Gunderson Resigned to take an appointment to the state tax commission. |
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| Herman L. Ekern | ||||||||
| 30 | Julius P. Heil Julius P. Heil Julius Peter Heil was the 30th Governor of Wisconsin from 1939 to 1943. A Republican, he was born in Düssmund an der Mosel, Germany, and immigrated to the United States in 1881. In 1901, he founded the Heil Company in Milwaukee, which fabricated steel tank cars. He served two two-year terms as... |
January 2, 1939 | January 4, 1943 | Republican | Walter S. Goodland | 2 | ||
| — | Orland S. Loomis | did not take office | Wisconsin Progressive |
Walter S. Goodland | — Loomis was elected in the 1942 election, but died before taking office. Per a ruling of the Wisconsin Supreme Court Goodland, who had been re-elected lieutenant governor in the same election, acted as governor for the term. |
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| 31 | Walter S. Goodland | January 4, 1943 | March 12, 1947 | Republican | vacant | |
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| Oscar Rennebohm Oscar Rennebohm Oscar Rennebohm was the 32nd Governor of Wisconsin. He was born in Leeds, Wisconsin, in Columbia County. Rennebohm served in the United States Navy during World War I. Rennebohm, a Republican, was a pharmacist. In 1945, he was elected lieutenant governor of Wisconsin... |
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| 32 | Oscar Rennebohm Oscar Rennebohm Oscar Rennebohm was the 32nd Governor of Wisconsin. He was born in Leeds, Wisconsin, in Columbia County. Rennebohm served in the United States Navy during World War I. Rennebohm, a Republican, was a pharmacist. In 1945, he was elected lieutenant governor of Wisconsin... |
March 12, 1947 | January 1, 1951 | Republican | vacant | |
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| George M. Smith George M. Smith George M. Smith was a Wisconsin politician. He was born in Montreal, Canada, in 1912 and attended college in Winnipeg. He emigrated to the Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the United States in 1941, and became an United States citizen in 1944... |
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| 33 | Walter J. Kohler, Jr. Walter J. Kohler, Jr. Walter Jodok Kohler, Jr. was the 33rd Governor of Wisconsin for three terms from 1951 to 1957 and a leading figure in state and national Republican Party activities. His role in the clash between Senator Joseph R. McCarthy and presidential candidate Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 has interested... |
January 1, 1951 | January 7, 1957 | Republican | George M. Smith | 3 | ||
| Warren P. Knowles Warren P. Knowles Warren Perley Knowles , born in River Falls, Wisconsin, was an American lawyer and politician from New Richmond, Wisconsin.-Biography:... |
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| 34 | Vernon W. Thomson | January 7, 1957 | January 5, 1959 | Republican | Warren P. Knowles | 1 | ||
| 35 | Gaylord A. Nelson | January 5, 1959 | January 7, 1963 | Democratic | Philleo Nash Philleo Nash Philleo Nash was a government official, educator, anthropolologist, and Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin from 1959-1961 as a Democrat.-Early life and family:... |
2 | ||
| Warren P. Knowles | ||||||||
| 36 | John W. Reynolds, Jr. | January 7, 1963 | January 4, 1965 | Democratic | Jack B. Olson Jack B. Olson Jack B. Olson was an American businessman, politician, and Republican from the U.S. state of Wisconsin.Olson was born in Kilbourn in Columbia County, Wisconsin on August 29, 1920, to Jane Zimmerman Olson and Grover Olson. He graduated from Wisconsin Dells High School and attended Western Michigan... |
1 | ||
| 37 | Warren P. Knowles Warren P. Knowles Warren Perley Knowles , born in River Falls, Wisconsin, was an American lawyer and politician from New Richmond, Wisconsin.-Biography:... |
January 4, 1965 | January 4, 1971 | Republican | Patrick J. Lucey | 3 | ||
| Jack B. Olson | ||||||||
| 38 | Patrick J. Lucey | January 4, 1971 | July 6, 1977 | Democratic | Martin J. Schreiber Martin J. Schreiber Martin James "Marty" Schreiber is an American politician, publisher, and lobbyist. A Democrat, Schreiber served in the Wisconsin State Senate from 1963 to 1971 before becoming lieutenant governor of Wisconsin and Governor of Wisconsin... |
As per a 1967 amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution, Lucey's first term was the first gubernatorial term to last 4 years Resigned to be Ambassador to Mexico United States Ambassador to Mexico The United States has maintained diplomatic relations with Mexico since 1823, when Andrew Jackson was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to that country. Jackson declined the appointment, however, and Joel R. Poinsett became the first U.S. envoy to Mexico in 1825. The rank... |
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| 39 | Martin J. Schreiber Martin J. Schreiber Martin James "Marty" Schreiber is an American politician, publisher, and lobbyist. A Democrat, Schreiber served in the Wisconsin State Senate from 1963 to 1971 before becoming lieutenant governor of Wisconsin and Governor of Wisconsin... |
July 6, 1977 | January 3, 1979 | Democratic | vacant | |
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| 40 | Lee S. Dreyfus Lee S. Dreyfus Lee Sherman Dreyfus was an American politician and member of the Republican Party who served as the 40th Governor of Wisconsin from January 4, 1979 to January 3, 1983.... |
January 3, 1979 |
January 3, 1983 | Republican | Russell A. Olson | 1 | ||
| 41 | Anthony S. Earl Tony Earl Anthony Scully Earl is a United States politician and a member of the Democratic party and served as the 41st Governor of Wisconsin from 1983 until 1987. He graduated from Michigan State University and earned a J.D. from the University of Chicago... |
January 3, 1983 | January 5, 1987 | Democratic | James T. Flynn | 1 | ||
| 42 | Tommy Thompson Tommy Thompson Thomas George "Tommy" Thompson , a United States Republican politician, was the 42nd Governor of Wisconsin, after which he served as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. Thompson was a candidate for the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election, but dropped out early after a poor performance in polls... |
January 5, 1987 | February 1, 2001 | Republican | Scott McCallum Scott McCallum Scott McCallum is a member of the Republican Party who served as the 43rd Governor of Wisconsin, from 2001 to 2003. Prior to assuming the role of governor upon the appointment of Tommy Thompson as Secretary of Health and Human Services, McCallum served as a member of the Wisconsin State Senate and... |
Resigned to be United States Secretary of Health and Human Services United States Secretary of Health and Human Services The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services is the head of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, concerned with health matters. The Secretary is a member of the President's Cabinet... |
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| 43 | Scott McCallum Scott McCallum Scott McCallum is a member of the Republican Party who served as the 43rd Governor of Wisconsin, from 2001 to 2003. Prior to assuming the role of governor upon the appointment of Tommy Thompson as Secretary of Health and Human Services, McCallum served as a member of the Wisconsin State Senate and... |
February 1, 2001 | January 6, 2003 | Republican | Margaret A. Farrow | As lieutenant governor, served as governor for remainder of unexpired term. |
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| 44 | Jim Doyle Jim Doyle James Edward "Jim" Doyle is a Wisconsin politician and member of the Democratic Party. He was the 44th Governor of Wisconsin, serving from January 6, 2003 to January 3, 2011. He defeated incumbent Governor Scott McCallum by a margin of 45 percent to 41 percent; the Libertarian Party candidate Ed... |
January 6, 2003 | January 3, 2011 | Democratic | Barbara Lawton Barbara Lawton Barbara Lawton is an American politician from Green Bay, Wisconsin and member of the Democratic Party. She was the Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin. She became the first woman elected to the position in 2002, as the running mate of former Democratic Governor Jim Doyle... |
2 Governor Doyle's second term expired on January 3, 2011; he did not run for reelection. |
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| 45 | Scott Walker Scott Walker (politician) Scott Kevin Walker is an American Republican politician who began serving as the 45th Governor of Wisconsin on January 3, 2011, after defeating Democratic candidate Tom Barrett, 52 percent to 47 percent in the November 2010 general election... |
January 3, 2011 | Incumbent | Republican | Rebecca Kleefisch Rebecca Kleefisch Rebecca Kleefisch is a former television news anchor, turned American politician, and is currently serving as the 44th Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin... |
1 Governor Walker's first term expires January 5, 2015. |
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Other high offices held
This is a table of other governorships, congressional and other federal offices, and ranking diplomatic positions in foreign countries held by Wisconsin governors.| Name | Gubernatorial term | Other offices held | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Dodge Henry Dodge Henry Dodge was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, Territorial Governor of Wisconsin and a veteran of the Black Hawk War. His son was Augustus C. Dodge with whom he served in the U.S. Senate, the first, and so far only, father-son pair to serve concurrently.... |
1836–1841 1845–1848 |
U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, Delegate from Wisconsin Territory | |
| James Doty James Duane Doty James Duane Doty was a land speculator and politician in the United States who played a large role in the development of Wisconsin and Utah Territory.-Legal career:... |
1841–1844 | Delegate from Wisconsin Territory, U.S. Representative from Wisconsin, Governor of Utah Territory | |
| Nathaniel Tallmadge | 1844–1845 | Senator from New York† | |
| Arthur MacArthur, Sr. | 1856 | Justice of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia United States District Court for the District of Columbia The United States District Court for the District of Columbia is a federal district court. Appeals from the District are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit The United States District Court for the District of Columbia (in case citations, D.D.C.) is a... |
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| Coles Bashford Coles Bashford Coles Bashford was an American lawyer and politician who became the fifth Governor of Wisconsin. His one term as governor ended in a bribery scandal that forced him to leave the state, but he was later instrumental in the government of the newly formed Arizona Territory.-Early life and... |
1856–1858 | Delegate from Arizona Territory | |
| Alexander Randall Alexander Randall Alexander Williams Randall was a lawyer, judge and politician from Wisconsin. He served as the sixth Governor of Wisconsin from 1858 until 1861. He was instrumental in raising and organizing the first Wisconsin volunteer troops for the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Biography:Randall... |
1858–1862 | Minister to the Papal States Papal States The Papal State, State of the Church, or Pontifical States were among the major historical states of Italy from roughly the 6th century until the Italian peninsula was unified in 1861 by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia .The Papal States comprised territories under... ; Postmaster General United States Postmaster General The United States Postmaster General is the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Postal Service. The office, in one form or another, is older than both the United States Constitution and the United States Declaration of Independence... |
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| Lucius Fairchild Lucius Fairchild Lucius Fairchild was an American politician, army general, and diplomat. He served as the tenth Governor of Wisconsin and as U.S. Minister to Spain.-Military career:... |
1866–1872 | Minister to Spain United States Ambassador to Spain -Ambassadors:*John Jay**Appointed: September 29, 1779**Title: Minister Plenipotentiary**Presented credentials:**Terminated mission: ~May 20, 1782*William Carmichael**Appointed: April 20, 1790**Title: Chargé d'Affaires... |
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| Cadwallader Washburn | 1872–1874 | U.S. Representative from Wisconsin | |
| Jeremiah Rusk | 1882–1889 | U.S. Representative from Wisconsin, 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... |
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| Robert La Follette, Sr. | 1901–1906 | U.S. Senator from Wisconsin*, U.S. Representative from Wisconsin | |
| John Blaine | 1921–1927 | U.S. Senator from Wisconsin | |
| Albert Schmedeman | 1933–1935 | Minister to Norway United States Ambassador to Norway Prior to 1905, Sweden and Norway were politically united. The United States Ambassador to Sweden thus was the US representative for Norway as well as Sweden. In 1905 Sweden and Norway peacefully separated and Norway became an independent constitutional monarchy. On November 14, 1905, the US State... |
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| Vernon Thomson | 1957–1959 | U.S. Representative from Wisconsin | |
| Gaylord Nelson Gaylord Nelson Gaylord Anton Nelson was an American politician from Wisconsin who served as a United States Senator and governor. A Democrat, he was the principal founder of Earth Day.-Public service and leadership:... |
1963–1981 | U.S. Senator from Wisconsin | |
| John W. Reynolds, Jr. | 1963–1965 | District Judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin serves the residents of twenty-eight counties from its two courthouses... |
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| Patrick Lucey | 1971–1977 | Ambassador to Mexico United States Ambassador to Mexico The United States has maintained diplomatic relations with Mexico since 1823, when Andrew Jackson was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to that country. Jackson declined the appointment, however, and Joel R. Poinsett became the first U.S. envoy to Mexico in 1825. The rank... * |
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| Tommy Thompson Tommy Thompson Thomas George "Tommy" Thompson , a United States Republican politician, was the 42nd Governor of Wisconsin, after which he served as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. Thompson was a candidate for the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election, but dropped out early after a poor performance in polls... |
1987–2001 | Secretary of Health and Human Services United States Secretary of Health and Human Services The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services is the head of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, concerned with health matters. The Secretary is a member of the President's Cabinet... * |
Living former governors
, six former governors are alive, the oldest being Patrick Joseph LuceyPatrick Joseph Lucey
Patrick Joseph Lucey is a member of the United States Democratic Party who served as the 38th Governor of the US state of Wisconsin from 1971 to 1977. In 1977, he was appointed ambassador to Mexico by President Jimmy Carter, a post he held until 1979...
(1971–1977, born 1918). The most recent death of a former governor was that of Lee S. Dreyfus
Lee S. Dreyfus
Lee Sherman Dreyfus was an American politician and member of the Republican Party who served as the 40th Governor of Wisconsin from January 4, 1979 to January 3, 1983....
(1979–1983), on January 2, 2008.
| Name | Gubernatorial term | Date of birth |
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Joseph Lucey Patrick Joseph Lucey Patrick Joseph Lucey is a member of the United States Democratic Party who served as the 38th Governor of the US state of Wisconsin from 1971 to 1977. In 1977, he was appointed ambassador to Mexico by President Jimmy Carter, a post he held until 1979... |
1971–1977 | March 21, 1918 (age 93) |
| Martin J. Schreiber Martin J. Schreiber Martin James "Marty" Schreiber is an American politician, publisher, and lobbyist. A Democrat, Schreiber served in the Wisconsin State Senate from 1963 to 1971 before becoming lieutenant governor of Wisconsin and Governor of Wisconsin... |
1977–1979 | April 08, 1939 (age 72) |
| Anthony S. Earl Tony Earl Anthony Scully Earl is a United States politician and a member of the Democratic party and served as the 41st Governor of Wisconsin from 1983 until 1987. He graduated from Michigan State University and earned a J.D. from the University of Chicago... |
1983–1987 | April 12, 1936 (age 75) |
| Tommy Thompson Tommy Thompson Thomas George "Tommy" Thompson , a United States Republican politician, was the 42nd Governor of Wisconsin, after which he served as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. Thompson was a candidate for the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election, but dropped out early after a poor performance in polls... |
1987–2001 | November 19, 1941 (age 70) |
| Scott McCallum Scott McCallum Scott McCallum is a member of the Republican Party who served as the 43rd Governor of Wisconsin, from 2001 to 2003. Prior to assuming the role of governor upon the appointment of Tommy Thompson as Secretary of Health and Human Services, McCallum served as a member of the Wisconsin State Senate and... |
2001–2003 | May 02, 1950 (age 61) |
| Jim Doyle Jim Doyle James Edward "Jim" Doyle is a Wisconsin politician and member of the Democratic Party. He was the 44th Governor of Wisconsin, serving from January 6, 2003 to January 3, 2011. He defeated incumbent Governor Scott McCallum by a margin of 45 percent to 41 percent; the Libertarian Party candidate Ed... |
2003–2011 | November 23, 1945 (age 66) |