Governor of Louisiana | |
---|---|
Gouverneur de la Louisiane | |
Style | The Honorable |
Residence | Louisiana Governor's Mansion |
Term length | Four years, renewable once consecutively[1] |
Precursor | Governor of Orleans Territory |
Inaugural holder | William C. C. Claiborne |
Formation | April 30, 1812 |
Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana |
Salary | US$130,000 per year (2013)[2] |
Website | Official Website |
The governor of Louisiana (French: Gouverneur de la Louisiane) is the head of state and head of government of the U.S. state of Louisiana. The governor is the head of the executive branch of Louisiana's state government and is charged with enforcing state laws.
Democrat John Bel Edwards has held the office since January 2016.
Louisiana was purchased by the United States from France in 1803.[3] On October 1, 1804, Orleans Territory was organized from the southern part of the Purchase, with the remainder being made the District of Louisiana and placed under the jurisdiction of Indiana Territory.[4] The District of Louisiana would later become Louisiana Territory, but after Orleans Territory became the state of Louisiana, Louisiana Territory was renamed Missouri Territory.[5]
Governor | Term in office | Appointed by | |
---|---|---|---|
William C. C. Claiborne 1773 or 1775 – December 18, 1817 (aged 42 or 44) |
December 20, 1803[a] – July 30, 1812 |
Thomas Jefferson | |
James Madison |
Louisiana was admitted to the Union on April 30, 1812.[7] It seceded from the Union on January 26, 1861,[8] and was a founding member of the Confederate States of America on February 8, 1861.[9] However, since substantial parts of the state remained in Union hands throughout the war, there were 2 lines of governors elected. Following the end of the American Civil War, Louisiana during Reconstruction was part of the Fifth Military District, which exerted some control over governor appointments and elections.[10] Louisiana was readmitted to the Union on July 9, 1868.[11]
The 1812 constitution established the office of governor, to serve for four years[12] starting from the fourth Monday after the election.[13] In 1845, the start date was moved to the fourth Monday of the January after the election;[14] in 1864, it was moved to the second Monday of the January after the election;[15] in 1879 it was moved to the first Monday after the General Assembly announced the election result; the 1921 Constitution fixed the new inauguration date as the second Tuesday in May.[16] The 1974 Constitution changed the date, effective in 1980, to the second Monday of the March following the election; this was amended in 1987, to become effective in 1992, to the second Monday of January.[17] Governors were not allowed to succeed themselves[18] until 1864, when the constitution held no term limits. The restriction on governors succeeding themselves was reintroduced in 1868,[19] removed again in 1879, and again added in 1898.[20] An amendment to the constitution passed in 1966 allowed governors to succeed themselves once before requiring a gap before they can be elected again. Governors of Louisiana can only serve two consecutive terms, but can serve again after being out of office for one term;[21] more than half of one full four year term is considered a term as well.[21] Five governors have served nonconsecutive terms. Andre B. Roman, Francis T. Nicholls, and Jimmie Davis each served two non-consecutive terms, while Earl Long and Edwin Edwards both served in three distinct stints.
In the event of a vacancy, the President of the Senate originally acted as governor.[22] The 1845 constitution created the office of lieutenant governor, to be elected at the same time and manner as the governor[23] and who would act as governor in the event of a vacancy.[24] The 1913 constitution established that the lieutenant governor would become governor in case of a vacancy.[25] The governor and lieutenant governor are not elected on a ticket.[26]
No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor[c] | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | William C. C. Claiborne 1773 or 1775 – December 18, 1817 (aged 42 or 44) |
July 30, 1812[d] – December 17, 1816 (term limited) |
Democratic- Republican |
1812 | Office did not exist | |||
2 | Jacques Villeré April 28, 1761 – March 7, 1830 (aged 68) |
December 17, 1816[e] – December 18, 1820 (term limited) |
Democratic- Republican |
1816 | ||||
3 | Thomas B. Robertson February 27, 1779 – October 5, 1828 (aged 49) |
December 18, 1820 – November 15, 1824 (resigned)[f] |
Democratic- Republican |
1820 | ||||
4 | Henry S. Thibodaux September 24, 1769 – October 24, 1827 (aged 58) |
November 15, 1824 – December 13, 1824 (successor took office) |
National Republican |
President of the Senate acting as Governor | ||||
5 | Henry Johnson September 14, 1783 – September 4, 1864 (aged 80) |
December 13, 1824 – December 15, 1828 (term limited) |
Democratic- Republican |
1824 | ||||
6 | Pierre Derbigny June 30, 1769 – October 6, 1829 (aged 60) |
December 15, 1828 – October 6, 1829 (died in office) |
National Republican |
1828 | ||||
7 | Armand Beauvais September 6, 1783 – November 18, 1843 (aged 60) |
October 6, 1829 – January 14, 1830 (senate term ended)[g] |
National Republican |
President of the Senate acting as Governor | ||||
8 | Jacques Dupré February 12, 1773 – September 14, 1846 (aged 73) |
January 14, 1830 – January 31, 1831 (not candidate for election) |
National Republican |
President of the Senate acting as Governor | ||||
9 | Andre B. Roman March 5, 1795 – January 26, 1866 (aged 70) |
January 31, 1831 – February 2, 1835 |
National Republican |
1830 (special)[h] | ||||
10 | Edward Douglass White Sr. March 3, 1795 – April 18, 1847 (aged 52) |
February 2, 1835[33] – February 4, 1839 (term limited) |
Whig | 1834 | ||||
9 | Andre B. Roman March 5, 1795 – January 26, 1866 (aged 70) |
February 4, 1839 – January 30, 1843 (term limited) |
Whig | 1838 | ||||
11 | Alexandre Mouton November 19, 1804 – February 12, 1885 (aged 80) |
January 30, 1843 – February 12, 1846 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1842[i] | ||||
12 | Isaac Johnson November 1, 1803 – March 15, 1853 (aged 49) |
February 12, 1846[j] – January 28, 1850 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1846 | Trasimond Landry | |||
13 | Joseph Marshall Walker July 1, 1784 – January 20, 1856 (aged 71) |
January 28, 1850 – January 18, 1853 (resigned)[k] |
Democratic | 1849[l] | Jean Baptiste Plauché | |||
14 | Paul Octave Hébert December 12, 1818 – August 29, 1880 (aged 61) |
January 18, 1853[m] – January 28, 1856 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1852 | William W. Farmer (died October 29, 1854) | |||
Robert C. Wickliffe | ||||||||
15 | Robert C. Wickliffe January 6, 1819 – April 18, 1895 (aged 76) |
January 28, 1856[n] – January 23, 1860 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1855 | Charles Homer Mouton (resigned 1856) | |||
William F. Griffin | ||||||||
16 | Thomas Overton Moore April 10, 1804 – June 25, 1876 (aged 72) |
January 23, 1860 – January 25, 1864 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1859[o] | Henry M. Hyams | |||
17 | George Foster Shepley January 1, 1819 – July 20, 1878 (aged 59) |
June 2, 1862 – March 4, 1864 (successor took office) |
Military | — (Union)[o][p] |
Vacant | |||
18 | Henry Watkins Allen April 29, 1820 – April 22, 1866 (aged 45) |
January 25, 1864 – June 2, 1865 (resigned)[q] |
Democratic | 1863 (Confederate)[o] |
Benjamin W. Pearce | |||
19 | Michael Hahn November 24, 1830 – March 15, 1886 (aged 55) |
March 4, 1864 – March 4, 1865 (resigned)[r] |
Republican | 1864 (Union)[o] |
James Madison Wells | |||
20 | James Madison Wells January 7, 1808 – February 28, 1899 (aged 91) |
March 4, 1865 – June 3, 1867 (removed)[s] |
Republican | Lieutenant Governor acting as Governor |
Vacant | |||
1865[o] | Albert Voorhies[t] | |||||||
21 | Benjamin Flanders January 26, 1816 – March 13, 1896 (aged 80) |
June 6, 1867[u] – January 2, 1868 (resigned)[v] |
Republican | Provisional governor appointed by military occupation |
Vacant | |||
22 | Joshua Baker March 23, 1799 – April 16, 1885 (aged 86) |
January 8, 1868[w] – June 27, 1868 (removed)[x] |
Democratic | Provisional governor appointed by military occupation | ||||
23 | Henry C. Warmoth May 9, 1842 – September 30, 1931 (aged 89) |
June 27, 1868 – December 9, 1872 (removed from office)[y] |
Republican | Provisional governor appointed by military occupation[51] |
Oscar Dunn (died November 22, 1871) | |||
1868 | ||||||||
Vacant | ||||||||
P. B. S. Pinchback (appointed December 6, 1871) | ||||||||
24 | P. B. S. Pinchback May 10, 1837 – December 21, 1921 (aged 84) |
December 9, 1872 – January 13, 1873 (successor took office) |
Republican | Lieutenant Governor acting as Governor |
Vacant | |||
25 | John McEnery March 31, 1833 – March 28, 1891 (aged 57) |
January 13, 1873 – May 22, 1873 (removed)[z] |
Democratic | 1872[z] | Davidson B. Penn | |||
26 | William Pitt Kellogg December 8, 1830 – August 10, 1918 (aged 87) |
January 13, 1873 – January 8, 1877 (term limited) |
Republican | Caesar Antoine | ||||
27 | Stephen B. Packard April 25, 1839 – January 31, 1922 (aged 82) |
January 8, 1877 – April 25, 1877 (removed)[aa] |
Republican | 1876[aa][ab] | ||||
28 | Francis T. Nicholls August 20, 1834 – January 4, 1912 (aged 77) |
January 8, 1877 – January 14, 1880 (term limited) |
Democratic | Louis A. Wiltz | ||||
29 | Louis A. Wiltz January 21, 1843 – October 16, 1881 (aged 38) |
January 14, 1880[ac] – October 16, 1881 (died in office) |
Democratic | 1879 | Samuel D. McEnery | |||
30 | Samuel D. McEnery May 28, 1837 – June 28, 1910 (aged 73) |
October 16, 1881 – May 21, 1888 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | Lieutenant Governor acting as Governor |
William A. Robertson (removed December 24, 1881) | |||
George L. Walton | ||||||||
1884 | Clay Knobloch | |||||||
28 | Francis T. Nicholls August 20, 1834 – January 4, 1912 (aged 77) |
May 21, 1888[ad] – May 16, 1892 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1888 | James Jeffries | |||
31 | Murphy J. Foster January 12, 1849 – June 12, 1921 (aged 72) |
May 16, 1892[ae] – May 21, 1900 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1892 | Charles Parlange (resigned December 11, 1893) | |||
Hiram R. Lott (died June 2, 1895) | ||||||||
Robert H. Snyder | ||||||||
1896 | ||||||||
32 | William Wright Heard April 28, 1853 – May 31, 1926 (aged 73) |
May 21, 1900[af] – May 16, 1904 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1900 | Albert Estopinal | |||
33 | Newton C. Blanchard January 29, 1849 – June 22, 1922 (aged 73) |
May 16, 1904[ag] – May 18, 1908 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1904 | Jared Y. Sanders Sr. | |||
34 | Jared Y. Sanders Sr. January 29, 1869 – March 23, 1944 (aged 75) |
May 18, 1908[ah] – May 20, 1912 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1908 | Paul M. Lambremont | |||
35 | Luther E. Hall August 30, 1869 – November 6, 1921 (aged 52) |
May 20, 1912[ai] – May 15, 1916 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1912 | Thomas C. Barret | |||
36 | Ruffin G. Pleasant June 2, 1871 – September 12, 1937 (aged 66) |
May 15, 1916[aj] – May 17, 1920 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1916 | Fernand Mouton | |||
37 | John M. Parker March 16, 1863 – May 20, 1939 (aged 76) |
May 17, 1920[ak] – May 19, 1924 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1920 | Hewitt Bouanchaud (resigned April 12, 1924) | |||
Delos R. Johnson | ||||||||
38 | Henry L. Fuqua November 8, 1865 – October 11, 1926 (aged 60) |
May 19, 1924[al] – October 11, 1926 (died in office) |
Democratic | 1924 | Oramel H. Simpson | |||
39 | Oramel H. Simpson March 20, 1870 – November 17, 1932 (aged 62) |
October 11, 1926 – May 21, 1928 (lost election) |
Democratic | Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor |
Philip H. Gilbert | |||
40 | Huey Long August 30, 1893 – September 10, 1935 (aged 42) |
May 21, 1928 – January 25, 1932 (resigned)[am] |
Democratic | 1928 | Paul N. Cyr (removed March 4, 1931)[am] | |||
Alvin Olin King | ||||||||
41 | Alvin Olin King June 21, 1890 – February 21, 1958 (aged 67) |
January 25, 1932 – May 16, 1932 (successor took office) |
Democratic | Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor |
Vacant | |||
42 | Oscar K. Allen August 8, 1882 – January 28, 1936 (aged 53) |
May 16, 1932 – January 28, 1936 (died in office) |
Democratic | 1932 | John B. Fournet (resigned January 2, 1935) | |||
James A. Noe | ||||||||
43 | James A. Noe December 21, 1890 – October 18, 1976 (aged 85) |
January 28, 1936 – May 12, 1936 (successor took office) |
Democratic | Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor |
Vacant | |||
44 | Richard W. Leche May 17, 1898 – February 22, 1965 (aged 66) |
May 12, 1936 – June 26, 1939 (resigned)[an] |
Democratic | 1936 | Earl Long | |||
45 | Earl Long August 26, 1895 – September 5, 1960 (aged 65) |
June 26, 1939 – May 14, 1940 (lost election) |
Democratic | Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor |
Coleman Lindsey | |||
46 | Sam H. Jones July 15, 1897 – February 8, 1978 (aged 80) |
May 14, 1940 – May 9, 1944 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1940 | Marc M. Mouton | |||
47 | Jimmie Davis September 11, 1899 – November 5, 2000 (aged 101) |
May 9, 1944 – May 11, 1948 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1944 | J. Emile Verret | |||
45 | Earl Long August 26, 1895 – September 5, 1960 (aged 65) |
May 11, 1948 – May 13, 1952 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1948 | Bill Dodd | |||
48 | Robert F. Kennon August 21, 1902 – January 11, 1988 (aged 85) |
May 13, 1952 – May 8, 1956 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1952 | C. E. "Cap" Barham | |||
45 | Earl Long August 26, 1895 – September 5, 1960 (aged 65) |
May 8, 1956 – May 10, 1960 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1956 | Lether Frazar | |||
47 | Jimmie Davis September 11, 1899 – November 5, 2000 (aged 101) |
May 10, 1960 – May 12, 1964 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1960 | Taddy Aycock | |||
49 | John McKeithen May 28, 1918 – June 4, 1999 (aged 81) |
May 12, 1964 – May 9, 1972 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1964 | ||||
1967 | ||||||||
50 | Edwin Edwards August 7, 1927 – July 12, 2021 (aged 93) |
May 9, 1972 – March 10, 1980 (term limited) |
Democratic | 1972 | Jimmy Fitzmorris | |||
1975 | ||||||||
51 | Dave Treen July 16, 1928 – October 29, 2009 (aged 81) |
March 10, 1980 – March 12, 1984 (lost election) |
Republican | 1979 | Bobby Freeman | |||
50 | Edwin Edwards August 7, 1927 – July 12, 2021 (aged 93) |
March 12, 1984 – March 14, 1988 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1983 | ||||
52 | Buddy Roemer October 4, 1943 – May 17, 2021 (aged 77) |
March 14, 1988 – January 13, 1992 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1987 | Paul Hardy | |||
Republican | ||||||||
50 | Edwin Edwards August 7, 1927 – July 12, 2021 (aged 93) |
January 13, 1992 – January 8, 1996 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 1991 | Melinda Schwegmann | |||
53 | Mike Foster July 11, 1930 – October 4, 2020 (aged 90) |
January 8, 1996 – January 12, 2004 (term limited) |
Republican | 1995 | Kathleen Blanco | |||
1999 | ||||||||
54 | Kathleen Blanco December 15, 1942 – August 18, 2019 (aged 76) |
January 12, 2004 – January 14, 2008 (not candidate for election) |
Democratic | 2003 | Mitch Landrieu (resigned May 3, 2010) | |||
55 | Bobby Jindal June 10, 1971 |
January 14, 2008 – January 11, 2016 (term limited) |
Republican | 2007 | ||||
Scott Angelle | ||||||||
Jay Dardenne (elected November 22, 2010) | ||||||||
2011 | ||||||||
56 | John Bel Edwards September 16, 1966 |
January 11, 2016 – Incumbent[ao] |
Democratic | 2015 | Billy Nungesser | |||
2019 |
Main article: Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States § Louisiana |
As of January 2022, there is one living former U.S. governor of Louisiana, Bobby Jindal (served 2008–2016, born 1971). The most recent U.S. governor of Louisiana to die was Edwin Edwards (served 1972–1980, 1984-1988, 1992-1996, born 1927), on July 12, 2021.[59] The most recently serving governor to die was Kathleen Blanco (served 2004–2008, born 1942) on August 18, 2019.[60]
Governor | Gubernatorial term | Date of birth (and age) |
---|---|---|
Bobby Jindal | 2008–2016 | June 10, 1971 |