Flag of the Governor
Flag of the Governor

The governor of North Dakota is the head of government of the U.S. state of North Dakota.

There have been 32 governors since North Dakota became a state, serving 33 distinct terms, with William Langer having been elected to multiple terms. The current officeholder is Republican Doug Burgum.

Governors

For governors before statehood, see List of governors of Dakota Territory.

Dakota Territory was organized on March 2, 1861;[1] on November 2, 1889, it was split into the states of North Dakota and South Dakota.[2]

The Constitution of North Dakota originally provided for the election of a governor and lieutenant governor every two years, which was changed to four years in 1964.[3] A limit of two terms was added in 2023.[4] The governor and lieutenant governor are elected together on a ticket,[5] and should the office of governor become vacant, the lieutenant governor becomes governor.[6] The term of office begins on the December 15 following the election.[7]

Governors of the State of North Dakota
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor[a]
1
John Miller (North Dakota Governor).jpg
  John Miller
(1843–1908)
[8][9] 		November 20, 1889[10]
–
January 7, 1891
(did not run) 		Republican 1889   Alfred Dickey
2
Andrew H. Burke (North Dakota Governor).jpg
Andrew H. Burke
(1850–1918)
[11][12] 		January 7, 1891[13]
–
January 4, 1893
(lost election) 		Republican 1890 Roger Allin
3
Eli Shortridge.jpg
Eli C. D. Shortridge
(1830–1908)
[14][15] 		January 4, 1893[b]
–
January 9, 1895
(did not run) 		Populist 1892 Elmer D. Wallace[c]
4
Roger Allin (North Dakota Governor).jpg
Roger Allin
(1848–1936)
[19][20] 		January 9, 1895[21]
–
January 7, 1897
(lost nomination)[d] 		Republican 1894 John H. Worst
5
Frank A. Briggs (North Dakota Governor).jpg
Frank A. Briggs
(1858–1898)
[23][24] 		January 7, 1897[e]
–
August 9, 1898
(died in office) 		Republican 1896 Joseph M. Devine
6
Joseph M. Devine.gif
Joseph M. Devine
(1861–1938)
[27][28] 		August 9, 1898[29]
–
January 3, 1899
(did not run) 		Republican Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor 		Vacant
7
Frederick Fancher (North Dakota Governor).jpg
Frederick B. Fancher
(1852–1944)
[30][31] 		January 3, 1899[32]
–
January 7, 1901
(withdrew)[f] 		Republican 1898 Joseph M. Devine
8
Frank White, governor of North Dakota.gif
Frank White
(1856–1940)
[34][35] 		January 7, 1901[36]
–
January 4, 1905
(did not run) 		Republican 1900 David Bartlett
1902
9
Elmore Y. Sarles.gif
Elmore Y. Sarles
(1859–1929)
[37][38] 		January 4, 1905[39]
–
January 9, 1907
(lost election) 		Republican 1904
10
JohnBurke1908.png
John Burke
(1859–1937)
[40][41] 		January 9, 1907[42]
–
January 8, 1913
(did not run) 		Democratic 1906 Robert S. Lewis
1908
1910 Usher L. Burdick
11
LouisBHanna.jpg
L. B. Hanna
(1861–1948)
[43][44] 		January 8, 1913[45]
–
January 3, 1917
(did not run) 		Republican 1912 Anton Kraabel
1914 John H. Fraine
12
Lynn Frazier.jpg
Lynn Frazier
(1874–1947)
[46][47] 		January 3, 1917[48]
–
November 23, 1921
(recalled)[g] 		Republican/
Non-Partisan League 		1916 Anton Kraabel
1918 Howard R. Wood
1920
13
RagnvaldANestos.jpg
Ragnvald Nestos
(1877–1942)
[49][50] 		November 23, 1921[51]
–
January 7, 1925
(lost nomination)[h] 		Republican/
Independent Voters 		1921
(special)[g]
1922 Frank H. Hyland
14
ArthurGSorlie.jpg
Arthur G. Sorlie
(1874–1928)
[52][53] 		January 7, 1925[54]
–
August 28, 1928
(died in office) 		Republican/
Non-Partisan League 		1924 Walter Maddock
1926
15
No image.svg
Walter Maddock
(1880–1951)
[55][56] 		August 28, 1928[57]
–
January 9, 1929
(lost election) 		Republican/
Non-Partisan League 		Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor 		Vacant
16
No image.svg
George F. Shafer
(1888–1948)
[58][59] 		January 9, 1929[60]
–
January 4, 1933
(did not run)[i] 		Republican/
Independent Voters 		1928 John W. Carr
1930
17
William Langer.jpg
William Langer
(1886–1959)
[61][62] 		January 4, 1933[j]
–
July 19, 1934
(removed)[k] 		Republican/
Non-Partisan League 		1932 Ole H. Olson
18
No image.svg
Ole H. Olson
(1872–1954)
[67][68] 		July 19, 1934[k]
–
January 7, 1935
(did not run) 		Republican/
Non-Partisan League 		Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor 		Vacant
19
No image.svg
Thomas H. Moodie
(1878–1948)
[69][70] 		January 7, 1935[71]
–
February 2, 1935
(removed)[l] 		Democratic 1934 Walter Welford
20
No image.svg
Walter Welford
(1868–1952)
[72][73] 		February 2, 1935[74]
–
January 6, 1937
(lost election) 		Republican/
Non-Partisan League 		Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor 		Vacant
21
William Langer.jpg
William Langer
(1886–1959)
[61][62] 		January 6, 1937[75]
–
January 2, 1939
(did not run)[m] 		Republican/
Non-Partisan League 		1936 Thorstein H. H. Thoresen
22
John Moses.jpg
John Moses
(1885–1945)
[76][77] 		January 2, 1939[78]
–
January 2, 1945
(did not run)[n] 		Democratic 1938 Jack A. Patterson
1940 Oscar W. Hagen
1942 Henry Holt
23
No image.svg
Fred G. Aandahl
(1897–1966)
[79][80] 		January 2, 1945[81]
–
January 3, 1951
(did not run)[o] 		Republican 1944 Clarence P. Dahl
1946
1948
24
Clarence Brunsdale.jpg
Norman Brunsdale
(1891–1978)
[82][83] 		January 3, 1951[84]
–
January 7, 1957
(did not run) 		Republican 1950 Ray Schnell
1952 Clarence P. Dahl
1954
25
John E. Davis in 1969 Civil Defense film.png
John E. Davis
(1913–1990)
[85][86] 		January 7, 1957[87]
–
January 3, 1961
(did not run) 		Republican 1956 Francis Clyde Duffy
Clarence P. Dahl
26
William L. Guy North Dakota Governor 1968.jpg
William L. Guy
(1919–2013)
[88][89] 		January 3, 1961[90]
–
January 2, 1973
(did not run) 		Democratic–
Nonpartisan League 		1960 Orville W. Hagen
Frank A. Wenstrom
1964 Charles Tighe
1968 Richard F. Larsen
27
Arthur A. Link.jpg
Arthur A. Link
(1914–2010)
[91][92] 		January 2, 1973[93]
–
January 6, 1981
(lost election) 		Democratic–
Nonpartisan League 		1972 Wayne Sanstead
1976
28
Allen Olson.jpg
Allen I. Olson
(b. 1938)
[94] 		January 6, 1981[95]
–
December 31, 1984
(lost election) 		Republican 1980 Ernest Sands
29
George Sinner.png
George A. Sinner
(1928–2018)
[96] 		January 1, 1985[p]
–
December 15, 1992
(did not run) 		Democratic–
Nonpartisan League 		1984 Ruth Meiers
1988 Lloyd Omdahl
30
Ed Schafer -- February 2008.jpg
Ed Schafer
(b. 1946)
[99] 		December 15, 1992[100]
–
December 15, 2000
(did not run) 		Republican 1992 Rosemarie Myrdal
1996
31
John Hoeven, Official Senate Portrait, 112th Congress.jpg
John Hoeven
(b. 1957)
[101] 		December 15, 2000[102]
–
December 7, 2010
(resigned)[q] 		Republican 2000 Jack Dalrymple
2004
2008
32
Jack Dalrymple 2013 (cropped 2).jpg
Jack Dalrymple
(b. 1948)
[103] 		December 7, 2010[104]
–
December 15, 2016
(did not run) 		Republican Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor 		Drew Wrigley
2012
33
Governor Doug Burgum (cropped).jpg
Doug Burgum
(b. 1956)
[105] 		December 15, 2016[106]
–
Incumbent[r] 		Republican 2016 Brent Sanford
2020
Tammy Miller

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
  2. ^ Sources disagree on when Shortridge took office; Sobel says January 2,[14] the State Historical Society says January 3,[16] one contemporary news source says Shortridge qualified on January 3,[17] and Shortridge delivered his inaugural address (dated January 3) to the legislature on January 4.[18]
  3. ^ Represented the Democratic-Independent Party
  4. ^ Allin lost the Republican nomination to Frank A. Briggs.[22]
  5. ^ Sources disagree on when Briggs took office; Sobel says January 8,[23] the State Historical Society says January 6,[25] and a contemporary news source says he was sworn in on January 7,[26] which notes that inaugural proceedings were delayed by the death of Briggs' daughter.
  6. ^ Fancher was nominated by the Republican Party, but withdrew from the election due to health concerns.[33]
  7. ^ a b Frazier was recalled and Nestos elected to replace him in a special election.
  8. ^ Nestos lost the Republican nomination to Arthur G. Sorlie.[49]
  9. ^ Shafer instead ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination to the United States Senate.[58]
  10. ^ Sources disagree on when Langer took office; the State Historical Society says December 31, 1932,[63] but contemporary news indicates it was on January 4, 1933, the matter being complicated because Langer was ill and unable to attend..[64]
  11. ^ a b Langer was removed from office following his conviction of felony conspiracy to defraud the federal government; he was later cleared.[61] He was convicted on June 17 and Lieutenant Governor Ole H. Olson immediately moved to take over, receiving the oath of office.[65] The Supreme Court ruled Langer was ineligible on July 17, and Olson formally took office on July 19.[66]
  12. ^ The Supreme Court ruled that Moodie did not meet residency requirements to run for governor, and so removed him.[69]
  13. ^ Langer instead ran unsuccessfully for United States Senate.[61]
  14. ^ Moses instead ran successfully for United States Senate.[76]
  15. ^ Aandahl instead ran successfully for the United States House of Representatives.[79]
  16. ^ Sinner took the oath of office on December 31, so that he would become governor at midnight on January 1; Olson claimed that his term did not end until January 5, and refused to leave office. The Supreme Court ruled on January 4 that Skinner was governor, and had been since January 1.[97][98]
  17. ^ Hoeven resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.
  18. ^ Burgum's second term began December 15, 2020, and will expire on December 15, 2024.

References

General
  • "Former North Dakota Governors". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  • Sobel, Robert (1978). Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. III. Meckler Books. ISBN 9780930466008. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
Specific
  1. ^ 12 Stat. 239
  2. ^ 25 Stat. 676
  3. ^ "North Dakota State and County Official Term Lengths, Initiative 5 (1964)". Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  4. ^ "North Dakota Constitutional Measure 1, Term Limits for Governor and State Legislators Initiative (2022)". Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  5. ^ ND Const. art. V, § 3
  6. ^ ND Const. art. V, § 11
  7. ^ ND Const. art. V, § 5
  8. ^ Sobel p. 1171
  9. ^ "John Miller". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  10. ^ "Miller takes office November 20". Bismarck Weekly Tribune. 1889-11-22. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  11. ^ Sobel pp. 1171–1172
  12. ^ "Andrew Horace Burke". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  13. ^ Journal of the House of the Second Legislative Assembly of North Dakota. 1891. p. 34. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  14. ^ a b Sobel p. 1172
  15. ^ "Eli C. D. Shortridge". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  16. ^ "Eli C. D. Shortridge". North Dakota Governors Online. State Historical Society of North Dakota. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  17. ^ "Shortridge became governor January 3". Chicago Tribune. 1893-01-04. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  18. ^ Journal of the House of the Third Legislative Assembly of North Dakota. 1893. p. 33. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  19. ^ Sobel pp. 1172–1173
  20. ^ "Roger Allin". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  21. ^ Journal of the House of the Fourth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota. 1895. p. 35. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  22. ^ "Briggs the Man". The Washburn Leader. 1896-07-25. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  23. ^ a b Sobel p. 1173
  24. ^ "Frank Arlington Briggs". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  25. ^ "Frank A. Briggs". North Dakota Governors Online. State Historical Society of North Dakota. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  26. ^ "Briggs sworn in January 7". Courier Democrat. 1897-01-14. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  27. ^ Sobel p. 1174
  28. ^ "Joseph McMurray Devine". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  29. ^ "Devine succeeds Briggs August 9". The Hope Pioneer. 1898-08-11. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  30. ^ Sobel pp. 1174–1175
  31. ^ "Frederick Bartlett Fancher". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  32. ^ "North Dakota Officers Inaugurated". The Bottineau Courant. 1899-01-07. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  33. ^ "Fancher Resigns". Jamestown Weekly Alert. 1900-09-27. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  34. ^ Sobel p. 1175
  35. ^ "Frank White". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  36. ^ "The New Officers". The Bismarck Tribune. 1901-01-07. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  37. ^ Sobel pp. 1175–1176
  38. ^ "Elmore Yocum Sarles". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  39. ^ "New Administration Is Nicely Launched". The Bismarck Tribune. 1905-01-05. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  40. ^ Sobel pp. 1176–1177
  41. ^ "John Burke". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  42. ^ "Now Gov. Burke". The Bismarck Tribune. 1907-01-10. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  43. ^ Sobel p. 1177
  44. ^ "Louis Benjamin Hanna". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  45. ^ "A Republican Administration". The Bismarck Tribune. 1913-01-09. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  46. ^ Sobel pp. 1177–1178
  47. ^ "Lynn Joseph Frazier". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  48. ^ "Intense Enthusiasm Marks New Regime at State Capitol". The Bismarck Tribune. 1917-01-03. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  49. ^ a b Sobel pp. 1178–1179
  50. ^ "Ragnvold Anderson Nestos". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  51. ^ "New Governor Kindles Pride in State, Pledges Economy. Asks Strife Be Forgotten". The Bismarck Tribune. 1921-11-23. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  52. ^ Sobel p. 1179
  53. ^ "Arthur Gustav Sorlie". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  54. ^ "Sorlie, Nestos Both Speak; New Governor Inaugurated Before Joint Session Today". The Bismarck Tribune. 1925-01-07. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  55. ^ Sobel pp. 1179–1180
  56. ^ "Walter Maddock". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  57. ^ "Maddock succeeds Sorlie August 28". The Bismarck Tribune. 1928-08-28. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  58. ^ a b Sobel p. 1180
  59. ^ "George Frederick Shafer". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  60. ^ "Governor Shafer Takes Post". The Bismarck Tribune. 1929-01-09. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  61. ^ a b c d Sobel p. 1181
  62. ^ a b "William Langer". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  63. ^ "William Langer". North Dakota Governors Online. State Historical Society of North Dakota. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  64. ^ "New Officers Take Hold and Name Deputies". Morning Pioneer. 1933-01-04. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  65. ^ "New Rockford Man Moves to Assume Duties of Office". The Bismarck Tribune. 1934-06-18. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  66. ^ "Acting Governor Takes Control of Executive Office". The Bismarck Tribune. 1934-07-19. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  67. ^ Sobel pp. 1181–1182
  68. ^ "Ole H. Olson". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  69. ^ a b Sobel p. 1182
  70. ^ "Thomas Hilliard Moodie". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  71. ^ "Moodie Becomes N.D. Governor". The Bismarck Tribune. 1935-01-07. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  72. ^ Sobel p. 1183
  73. ^ "Walter Welford". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  74. ^ "Supreme Court Holds Moodie Disqualified by Constitution". The Bismarck Tribune. 1935-02-02. p. 9. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  75. ^ "Grand March Climaxes Inaugural". The Bismarck Tribune. 1937-01-07. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  76. ^ a b Sobel pp. 1183–1184
  77. ^ "John Moses". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  78. ^ "Langer Ends His Regime". Reno Gazette-Journal. 1939-01-02. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  79. ^ a b Sobel p. 1184
  80. ^ "Fred George Aandahl". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  81. ^ "Aandahl, Other New State Officers Begin Duties". The Bismarck Tribune. 1945-01-02. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  82. ^ Sobel p. 1185
  83. ^ "C. Norman Brunsdale". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  84. ^ "Family, Friends of New Governor Attend Inaugural". The Bismarck Tribune. 1951-01-03. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  85. ^ Sobel pp. 1185–1186
  86. ^ "John Edward Davis". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  87. ^ "John Davis Is Sworn In at Capitol". The Bismarck Tribune. 1957-01-09. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  88. ^ Sobel p. 1186
  89. ^ "William Lewis Guy". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  90. ^ "Guy Urges Austerity for N.D." The Bismarck Tribune. 1961-01-04. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  91. ^ "Link Takes Oath As State Head". The Bismarck Tribune. 1973-01-03. p. 24. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  92. ^ "Allen Ingvar Olson". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  93. ^ "Olson Begins Term". The Bismarck Tribune. 1981-01-07. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  94. ^ "George Albert Sinner". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  95. ^ "Supreme Court tells Olson to pack it in". The Bismarck Tribune. 1985-01-05. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  96. ^ "Justices unanimously support Sinner". The Bismarck Tribune. 1985-01-05. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  97. ^ "Edward Thomas Schafer". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  98. ^ "Governor fills key posts". The Bismarck Tribune. 1992-12-16. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  99. ^ "John Hoeven". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  100. ^ "Hoeven's first day full of decisions". The Bismarck Tribune. 2000-12-16. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  101. ^ "Jack Dalrymple". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  102. ^ "It's official, Governor". The Bismarck Tribune. 2010-12-08. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  103. ^ "Doug Burgum". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  104. ^ Holgate, Julie (2016-12-15). "Doug Burgum takes office as ND governor today". Retrieved 2023-05-31.

External links

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