List of Governors of Minnesota

Number of Governors of Minnesota by party affiliation^[1]
Party	Governors
Republican/Independent-Republican	26
Democratic-Farmer-Labor	6
Democratic	4
Farmer-Labor	3
Reform/Independence	1

The following is a list of governors of the state of Minnesota and Minnesota Territory. The governor serves as head of the executive branch of Minnesota's state government and is charged with ensuring the faithful execution of the state's laws.^[a] He or she is empowered to name state commissioners and department heads and to approve or veto bills passed by the legislature.^[b] The governor also serves as commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.

Henry H. Sibley was elected the first governor in a statewide election held on October 13, 1857 and took office following Minnesota's entry into the Union as the 32nd state on May 11, 1858. At the time, the governor and lieutenant governor were elected on separate ballots to terms lasting two years. Prior to 1886, statewide elections were held on odd years. Because of this change (the result of an 1883 state constitutional amendment), Lucius F. Hubbard's second term as governor lasted three years. With the passage of a 1958 state constitutional amendment, the terms of governor and lieutenant governor increased to four-years in 1963.^[b] A 1972 state constitutional amendment provided for the joint election of the governor and lieutenant governor starting in 1974.

The numerals indicate the consecutive time in office served by a single person. For example, William R. Marshall served two consecutive terms and is counted as the fifth state governor (not the fifth and sixth). Henry A. Swift assumed the governorship after the resignation of Alexander Ramsey, serving out the remainder of what would have been Ramsey's second term. The fact that Swift was not voted into office does not affect the numbering, which makes him the 3rd governor. Rudy Perpich served two non-consecutive terms and is counted chronologically as both the 34th and the 36th governor. Because of this, the list below contains 40 governorships, but only 39 people.

Prior to its organization as a territory, portions of Minnesota were part of the Northwest Territory, Indiana Territory, Louisiana Territory (later renamed Missouri Territory), Illinois Territory, Michigan Territory, Wisconsin Territory, and Iowa Territory; see the lists of governors of Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa for this period.

Four governors were born outside the United States: Knute Nelson was born in Norway, John Lind and Adolph O. Eberhart were born in Sweden, and Hjalmar Petersen was born in Denmark. Fifteen of the thirty-nine governors to date were actually born in Minnesota. Five governors have resigned from office, and three have died in office.

Territorial governors 1
State governors 2
See also 3
Notes 4
- Notes on Minnesota political party names 4.1
Other high offices held 5
Living former U.S. governors of Minnesota 6
References 7

Territorial governors

Parties

Democratic Whig

#	Governor	Took office	Left office	Party	Appointed by
1	Alexander Ramsey	June 1, 1849	May 15, 1853	Whig	Zachary Taylor
2	Willis A. Gorman	May 15, 1853	April 23, 1857	Democratic	Franklin Pierce
3	Samuel Medary	April 23, 1857	May 24, 1858	Democratic	James Buchanan

State governors

Parties

Democratic Farmer Labor Republican Reform/Independence

#	Governor	Took office	Left office	Party	Date of birth	Place of birth	Date of death	Lieutenant governor(s)	Term
1	Henry H. Sibley	May 24, 1858	January 2, 1860	Democratic	February 20, 1811	Michigan	February 18, 1891	William Holcombe	1
2	Alexander Ramsey	January 2, 1860	July 10, 1863^[2]	Republican	September 8, 1815	Pennsylvania	April 22, 1903	Ignatius L. Donnelly	2
2	Alexander Ramsey	January 2, 1860	July 10, 1863^[2]	Republican	September 8, 1815	Pennsylvania	April 22, 1903	Ignatius L. Donnelly^[2] Henry A. Swift^[3]	3
3	Henry A. Swift	July 10, 1863^[3]	January 11, 1864	Republican	March 23, 1823	Ohio	February 25, 1869	vacant	3
4	Stephen Miller	January 11, 1864	January 8, 1866	Republican	January 7, 1816	Pennsylvania	August 18, 1881	Charles D. Sherwood	4
5	William R. Marshall	January 8, 1866	January 9, 1870	Republican	October 17, 1825	Missouri	January 8, 1896	Thomas H. Armstrong	5
5	William R. Marshall	January 8, 1866	January 9, 1870	Republican	October 17, 1825	Missouri	January 8, 1896	Thomas H. Armstrong	6
6	Horace Austin	January 9, 1870	January 7, 1874	Republican	October 15, 1831	Connecticut	November 2, 1905	William H. Yale	7
6	Horace Austin	January 9, 1870	January 7, 1874	Republican	October 15, 1831	Connecticut	November 2, 1905	William H. Yale	8
7	Cushman K. Davis	January 7, 1874	January 7, 1876	Republican	June 16, 1838	New York	November 27, 1900	Alphonso Barto	9
8	John S. Pillsbury	January 7, 1876	January 10, 1882	Republican	July 29, 1827	New Hampshire	October 18, 1901	James B. Wakefield	10
								James B. Wakefield	11
								Charles A. Gilman	12
9	Lucius F. Hubbard	January 10, 1882	January 5, 1887	Republican	January 26, 1836	New York	February 5, 1913	Charles A. Gilman	13
9	Lucius F. Hubbard	January 10, 1882	January 5, 1887	Republican	January 26, 1836	New York	February 5, 1913	Charles A. Gilman	14
10	Andrew R. McGill	January 5, 1887	January 9, 1889	Republican	February 19, 1840	Pennsylvania	October 31, 1905	Albert E. Rice	15
11	William R. Merriam	January 9, 1889	January 9, 1893	Republican	July 26, 1849	New York	February 18, 1931	Albert E. Rice	16
11	William R. Merriam	January 9, 1889	January 9, 1893	Republican	July 26, 1849	New York	February 18, 1931	Gideon S. Ives	17
12	Knute Nelson	January 9, 1893	January 31, 1895^[2]	Republican	February 2, 1843	Norway	April 28, 1923	David M. Clough	18
13	David M. Clough	January 31, 1895^[3]	January 2, 1899	Republican	December 27, 1846	New Hampshire	August 28, 1924	Frank A. Day	19
13	David M. Clough	January 31, 1895^[3]	January 2, 1899	Republican	December 27, 1846	New Hampshire	August 28, 1924	John L. Gibbs	20
14	John Lind	January 2, 1899	January 7, 1901	Democratic^[4]	March 25, 1854	Sweden	September 18, 1930	Lyndon A. Smith	21
15	Samuel R. Van Sant	January 7, 1901	January 4, 1905	Republican	May 11, 1844	Illinois	October 3, 1936	Lyndon A. Smith	22
15	Samuel R. Van Sant	January 7, 1901	January 4, 1905	Republican	May 11, 1844	Illinois	October 3, 1936	Ray W. Jones	23
16	John A. Johnson	January 4, 1905	September 21, 1909^[5]	Democratic	July 28, 1861	Minnesota	September 21, 1909	Ray W. Jones	24
16	John A. Johnson	January 4, 1905	September 21, 1909^[5]	Democratic	July 28, 1861	Minnesota	September 21, 1909	Adolph O. Eberhart	25
17	Adolph O. Eberhart	September 21, 1909^[3]	January 5, 1915	Republican	June 23, 1870	Sweden	December 6, 1944	Edward E. Smith^[3]	26
								Samuel Y. Gordon	27
								J. A. A. Burnquist	28
18	Winfield S. Hammond	January 5, 1915	December 30, 1915^[5]	Democratic	November 17, 1863	Massachusetts	December 30, 1915	J. A. A. Burnquist	29
19	J. A. A. Burnquist	December 30, 1915^[3]	January 5, 1921	Republican	July 21, 1879	Iowa	January 12, 1961	[3]	29
								Thomas Frankson	30
								Thomas Frankson	31
20	J. A. O. Preus	January 5, 1921	January 6, 1925	Republican	August 28, 1883	Wisconsin	May 24, 1961	Louis L. Collins	32
20	J. A. O. Preus	January 5, 1921	January 6, 1925	Republican	August 28, 1883	Wisconsin	May 24, 1961	Louis L. Collins	33
21	Theodore Christianson	January 6, 1925	January 6, 1931	Republican	September 12, 1883	Minnesota	December 9, 1948	William I. Nolan	34
								William I. Nolan	35
								William I. Nolan^[2] Charles Edward Adams^[3]	36
22	Floyd B. Olson	January 6, 1931	August 22, 1936^[5]	Farmer-Labor	November 13, 1891	Minnesota	August 22, 1936	Henry M. Arens	37
								Konrad K. Solberg	38
								Hjalmar Petersen	39
23	Hjalmar Petersen	August 22, 1936^[3]	January 4, 1937	Farmer-Labor	January 2, 1890	Denmark	March 29, 1968	William B. Richardson (acting)^[6]	39
24	Elmer A. Benson	January 4, 1937	January 2, 1939	Farmer-Labor	September 22, 1895	Minnesota	March 13, 1985	Gottfrid T. Lindsten	40
25	Harold E. Stassen	January 2, 1939	April 27, 1943^[2]	Republican	April 13, 1907	Minnesota	March 4, 2001	C. Elmer Anderson	41
								C. Elmer Anderson	42
								Edward J. Thye	43
26	Edward J. Thye	April 27, 1943	January 8, 1947	Republican	April 26, 1896	South Dakota	August 28, 1969	Archie H. Miller	43
26	Edward J. Thye	April 27, 1943	January 8, 1947	Republican	April 26, 1896	South Dakota	August 28, 1969	C. Elmer Anderson	44
27	Luther W. Youngdahl	January 8, 1947	September 27, 1951^[2]	Republican	May 29, 1896	Minnesota	June 21, 1978	C. Elmer Anderson	45
								C. Elmer Anderson	46
								C. Elmer Anderson	47
28	C. Elmer Anderson	September 27, 1951^[3]	January 5, 1955	Republican	March 16, 1912	Minnesota	January 22, 1998	vacant	47
								Ancher Nelsen vacant	48
								Donald O. Wright	48
29	Orville L. Freeman	January 5, 1955	January 2, 1961	Democratic-Farmer-Labor	May 9, 1918	Minnesota	February 20, 2003	Karl F. Rolvaag	49
									50
									51
30	Elmer L. Andersen	January 2, 1961	March 25, 1963^[7]	Republican	June 17, 1909	Illinois	November 15, 2004	Karl F. Rolvaag	52
31	Karl F. Rolvaag	March 25, 1963^[7]	January 2, 1967	Democratic-Farmer-Labor	July 18, 1913	Minnesota	December 20, 1990	Alexander M. Keith	53
32	Harold LeVander	January 2, 1967	January 4, 1971	Republican	October 10, 1910	Nebraska	March 30, 1992	James B. Goetz	54
33	Wendell R. Anderson	January 4, 1971	December 29, 1976^[2]	Democratic-Farmer-Labor	February 1, 1933	Minnesota		Rudy Perpich	55
33	Wendell R. Anderson	January 4, 1971	December 29, 1976^[2]	Democratic-Farmer-Labor	February 1, 1933	Minnesota		Rudy Perpich	56
34	Rudy Perpich	December 29, 1976^[3]	January 4, 1979	Democratic-Farmer-Labor	June 27, 1928	Minnesota	September 21, 1995	Alec G. Olson^[3]	56
35	Al Quie	January 4, 1979	January 3, 1983	Independent-Republican	September 18, 1923	Minnesota		Lou Wangberg	57
36	Rudy Perpich	January 3, 1983	January 7, 1991	Democratic-Farmer-Labor	June 27, 1928	Minnesota	September 21, 1995	Marlene Johnson	58
36	Rudy Perpich	January 3, 1983	January 7, 1991	Democratic-Farmer-Labor	June 27, 1928	Minnesota	September 21, 1995	Marlene Johnson	59
37	Arne H. Carlson	January 7, 1991	January 4, 1999	Independent-Republican/ Republican	September 24, 1934	New York		Joanell M. Dyrstad	60
37	Arne H. Carlson	January 7, 1991	January 4, 1999	Independent-Republican/ Republican	September 24, 1934	New York		Joanne E. Benson	61
38	Jesse Ventura (James Janos)^[8]	January 4, 1999	January 6, 2003	Reform/Independence	July 15, 1951	Minnesota		Mae A. Schunk	62
39	Tim Pawlenty	January 6, 2003	January 3, 2011	Republican	November 27, 1960	Minnesota		Carol Molnau	63
39	Tim Pawlenty	January 6, 2003	January 3, 2011	Republican	November 27, 1960	Minnesota		Carol Molnau	64
40	Mark Dayton	January 3, 2011	Incumbent	Democratic-Farmer-Labor	January 26, 1947	Minnesota		Yvonne Prettner Solon	65
40	Mark Dayton	January 3, 2011	Incumbent	Democratic-Farmer-Labor	January 26, 1947	Minnesota		Tina Smith	66

Notes

^ Table lists John Lind as a member of the Democratic Party. He was also endorsed by the Populist Party and the Silver Republican Party. Jesse Ventura left the Reform Party in the middle of his term and later joined the Independence Party of Minnesota.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Resigned.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l Succeeded to office following death or resignation of previous officeholder.
^ Lind was also endorsed by the Populist Party and the Silver Republican Party.
^ ^a ^b ^c Died in office of natural causes.
^ Served as acting lieutenant governor and never took the oath of office.
^ ^a ^b A recount and subsequent litigation lasting 139 days delayed Karl Rolvaag's inauguration as governor.
^ Ventura's birth and legal name is James George Janos.

Notes on Minnesota political party names

Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party: On April 15, 1944 the state Democratic Party and the Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party merged and created the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL). It is affiliated with the national Democratic Party.
Republican Party of Minnesota: From November 15, 1975 to September 23, 1995 the name of the state Republican party was the Independent-Republican party (I-R). The party has always been affiliated with the national Republican Party.
Independence Party of Minnesota: The party was founded under this name in 1992. In 1995 the IPM affiliated with the national Reform Party and renamed itself the Reform Party of Minnesota. In 2000 the Reform Party of Minnesota disaffiliated with the national Reform Party and returned to the name Independence Party.

Other high offices held

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

Governor	Gubernatorial term	U.S. Congress		Other offices held
Governor	Gubernatorial term	House	Senate	Other offices held
Alexander Ramsey	1849–1853 (territorial) 1860–1863	H	S*	U.S. Secretary of War
Willis A. Gorman	1853–1857 (territorial)			U.S. Representative (Indiana)
Henry H. Sibley	1858–1860			U.S. Congressional Delegate (Wisconsin Territory, Minnesota Territory)
Cushman K. Davis	1874–1876		S
Knute Nelson	1893–1895	H	S*
John Lind	1899–1901	H
Winfield S. Hammond	1915	H
Theodore Christianson	1925–1931	H
Elmer A. Benson	1937–1939		S
Edward J. Thye	1943–1947		S
Luther W. Youngdahl	1947–1951			U.S. District Court Judge*
Orville L. Freeman	1955–1961			U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
Karl F. Rolvaag	1963–1967			U.S. Ambassador to Iceland
Wendell R. Anderson	1971–1976		S*
Al Quie	1979–1983	H
Mark Dayton	2011–		S

Living former U.S. governors of Minnesota

As of May 2015, there are five former U.S. governors of Minnesota who are currently living at this time, the oldest U.S. governor of Minnesota being Al Quie (1979–1983, born 1923). The most recent U.S. governor of Minnesota to die was Elmer L. Andersen (1961–1963), on November 15, 2004. The most recently serving U.S. governor of Minnesota to die was Rudy Perpich (1976–1979, 1983–1991), on September 21, 1995.

Governor	Gubernatorial term	Date of birth (and age)
Wendell R. Anderson	1971–1976	(1933-02-01) February 1, 1933
Al Quie	1979–1983	(1923-09-18) September 18, 1923
Arne H. Carlson	1991–1999	(1934-09-24) September 24, 1934
Jesse Ventura	1999–2003	(1951-07-15) July 15, 1951
Tim Pawlenty	2003–2011	(1960-11-27) November 27, 1960

References

General

"Governors of Minnesota". Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved May 17, 2007.
"Lieutenant Governors of Minnesota". Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved May 17, 2007.
"Minnesota Governors, 1849 – present". Office of the Governor, State of Minnesota. Retrieved May 17, 2007.

Specific

^ "Constitution of the State of Minnesota". Retrieved May 18, 2007.
¹ ² "Amendments to the Minnesota Constitution Proposed to the Voters since 1858" (PDF). Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved May 18, 2007.
^ "2007–2008 MN Legislative Manual" (PDF). Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 25, 2007. Retrieved May 18, 2007.

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List of Governors of Minnesota