Governor of Wisconsin
Gubernatorial seal
Incumbent Tony Evers since January 7, 2019
Residence	Wisconsin Governor's Mansion
Term length	Four years, no term limits
Inaugural holder	Nelson Dewey
Formation	June 7, 1848 (1848-06-07)
Deputy	Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
Salary	$146,597.88[1]
Website	evers.wi.gov

The governor of Wisconsin is the head of government of Wisconsin^[2] and the commander-in-chief of the state's army and air forces.^[3] The governor has a duty to enforce state laws,^[3] and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Wisconsin Legislature,^[4] to convene the legislature,^[3] and to grant pardons, except in cases of treason and impeachment.^[5]

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.^[6] The current governor is Tony Evers, a Democrat who took office on January 7, 2019.^[6]

Governors

Initially after the American Revolution, 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.^[7] On July 13, 1787, the Northwest Territory, including the area now called Wisconsin, was formed; Wisconsin remained part of the territory until 1800.^[8] The territorial governor during this period was Arthur St. Clair.^[9] 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);^[8] see the lists of governors of Indiana, of Illinois, and of Michigan for these periods.

Governors of Wisconsin Territory

Wisconsin Territory was formed on July 3, 1836. During the time of its existence, the Wisconsin Territory had 3 territorial governors, 1 of whom served non-consecutive terms,^[8][10] and 1 who continued on as acting governor after the territory had officially ceased to exist.

#	Governor			Appointed	Left office [a]	Appointed by	Notes
1			Henry Dodge     October 12, 1782 – June 19, 1867    (aged 84)	April 30, 1836	September 13, 1841[11]	Andrew Jackson
2			James Duane Doty     November 5, 1799 – June 13, 1865    (aged 65)	September 30, 1841	June 21, 1844	John Tyler
3			Nathaniel P. Tallmadge     February 8, 1795 – November 2, 1864    (aged 69)	June 21, 1844	April 8, 1845	John Tyler
4			Henry Dodge     October 12, 1782 – June 19, 1867    (aged 84)	April 8, 1845	June 23, 1848	James Polk	[b][12]
			John Catlin     October 13, 1803 – August 4, 1874    (aged 70)	June 23, 1848	March 3, 1849	none (acting governor)	[c][13]

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.^[6]

Originally, governors of Wisconsin served for two-year terms, but in 1967 the state constitution was amended to change this to four.^[2] Jeremiah McLain Rusk served 1 3-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 4-year term.^[6] Governors of Wisconsin are not term limited.

The state constitution provides for the election of a lieutenant governor; originally, the governor and lieutenant governor were elected on different tickets, and thus were not necessarily of the same party. Since the 1967 amendment, however, the two have been nominated, and voted on, together.^[2] 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.^[14] If any of these events occur while the office of lieutenant governor is vacant, the secretary of state becomes either governor or acting governor.^[15] Two Wisconsin governors have died while in office, one has died after being elected but before taking office, and four have resigned.^[6]

Parties

  Democratic (12)   Republican (31)   Whig (1)   Wisconsin Progressive (2)

#	Governor			Term in office	Party	Election	Lt. Governor[16][d]
1			Nelson Dewey     December 19, 1813 – July 21, 1889    (aged 75)	June 7, 1848 – January 5, 1852	Democratic	1848		John E. Holmes
						1849		Samuel W. Beall
2			Leonard J. Farwell     January 5, 1819 – April 11, 1889    (aged 70)	January 5, 1852 – January 2, 1854	Whig	1851		Timothy Burns [e]
3			William A. Barstow     September 13, 1813 – December 13, 1865    (aged 52)	January 2, 1854 – March 21, 1856	Democratic	1853		James T. Lewis
						1855 [f][17]		Arthur MacArthur Sr.
4			Arthur MacArthur Sr.     January 26, 1815 – August 26, 1896    (aged 81)	March 21, 1856 – March 25, 1856	Democratic		vacant
5			Coles Bashford     January 24, 1816 – April 25, 1878    (aged 62)	March 25, 1856 – January 4, 1858	Republican			Arthur MacArthur Sr.
6			Alexander Randall     October 31, 1819 – July 26, 1872    (aged 52)	January 4, 1858 – January 6, 1862	Republican	1857		Erasmus D. Campbell
						1859		Butler G. Noble
7			Louis P. Harvey     July 22, 1820 – April 19, 1862    (aged 41)	January 6, 1862 – April 19, 1862 (died)	Republican	1861		Edward Salomon
8			Edward Salomon     August 11, 1828 – April 21, 1909    (aged 80)	April 19, 1862 – January 4, 1864	Republican	Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor	vacant
9			James T. Lewis     October 30, 1819 – August 5, 1904    (aged 84)	January 4, 1864 – January 1, 1866	Republican	1863		Wyman Spooner
10			Lucius Fairchild     December 27, 1831 – May 23, 1896    (aged 64)	January 1, 1866 – January 1, 1872	Republican	1865
						1867
						1869		Thaddeus C. Pound
11			Cadwallader C. Washburn     April 22, 1818 – May 14, 1882    (aged 64)	January 1, 1872 – January 5, 1874	Republican	1871		Milton H. Pettit [g]
12			William Robert Taylor     July 10, 1820 – March 17, 1909    (aged 88)	January 5, 1874 – January 3, 1876	Democratic	1873		Charles D. Parker
13			Harrison Ludington     July 30, 1812 – June 17, 1891    (aged 78)	January 3, 1876 – January 7, 1878	Republican	1875
14			William E. Smith     June 18, 1824 – February 13, 1883    (aged 58)	January 7, 1878 – January 2, 1882	Republican	1877		James M. Bingham
						1879
15			Jeremiah McLain Rusk     June 17, 1830 – November 21, 1893    (aged 63)	January 2, 1882 – January 7, 1889	Republican	1881 [h]		Sam S. Fifield
						1884
						1886		George W. Ryland
16			William D. Hoard     October 10, 1836 – November 22, 1918    (aged 82)	January 7, 1889 – January 5, 1891	Republican	1888
17			George Wilbur Peck     September 28, 1840 – April 16, 1916    (aged 75)	January 5, 1891 – January 7, 1895	Democratic	1890		Charles Jonas
						1892
18			William H. Upham     May 3, 1841 – July 2, 1924    (aged 83)	January 7, 1895 – January 4, 1897	Republican	1894		Emil Baensch
19			Edward Scofield     March 28, 1842 – February 3, 1925    (aged 82)	January 4, 1897 – January 7, 1901	Republican	1896
						1898		Jesse Stone [i]
20			Robert M. La Follette, Sr.     June 14, 1855 – June 21, 1925    (aged 70)	January 7, 1901 – January 1, 1906 (resigned)[j]	Republican	1900
						1902		James O. Davidson
						1904
21			James O. Davidson     February 10, 1854 – December 16, 1922    (aged 68)	January 1, 1906 – January 2, 1911	Republican	Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor	vacant
						1906		William D. Connor
						1908		John Strange
22			Francis E. McGovern     January 21, 1866 – May 16, 1946    (aged 80)	January 2, 1911 – January 4, 1915	Republican	1910		Thomas Morris
						1912
23			Emanuel L. Philipp     March 25, 1861 – June 15, 1925    (aged 64)	January 4, 1915 – January 3, 1921	Republican	1914		Edward F. Dithmar
						1916
						1918
24			John J. Blaine     May 4, 1875 – April 16, 1934    (aged 75)	January 3, 1921 – January 3, 1927	Republican	1920		George F. Comings
						1922
						1924		Henry A. Huber
25			Fred R. Zimmerman     November 20, 1880 – December 14, 1954    (aged 74)	January 3, 1927 – January 7, 1929	Republican	1926
26			Walter J. Kohler Sr.     March 5, 1875 – April 21, 1940    (aged 65)	January 7, 1929 – January 5, 1931	Republican	1928
27			Philip La Follette     May 8, 1897 – August 18, 1965    (aged 68)	January 5, 1931 – January 2, 1933 (lost renomination)	Republican	1930
28			Albert G. Schmedeman     November 25, 1864 – November 26, 1946    (aged 82)	January 2, 1933 – January 7, 1935 (lost election)	Democratic	1932		Thomas J. O'Malley [k]
27 (2)			Philip La Follette     May 8, 1897 – August 18, 1965    (aged 68)	January 7, 1935 – January 2, 1939 (lost election)	Wisconsin Progressive	1934
						1936		Henry A. Gunderson [l]
								Herman L. Ekern
29			Julius P. Heil     July 8, 1876 – November 30, 1949    (aged 73)	January 2, 1939 – January 4, 1943 (lost election)	Republican	1938		Walter S. Goodland
						1940
—			Orland Steen Loomis     November 2, 1893 – December 7, 1942    (aged 49)	did not take office [m]	Wisconsin Progressive	1942
30			Walter Samuel Goodland     December 22, 1862 – March 12, 1947    (aged 84)	January 4, 1943 – March 12, 1947 (died)	Republican	Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor	vacant
						1944		Oscar Rennebohm
						1946
31			Oscar Rennebohm     May 25, 1889 – October 15, 1968    (aged 79)	March 12, 1947 – January 1, 1951 (not candidate election)	Republican	Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor	vacant
						1948		George M. Smith
32			Walter J. Kohler Jr.     April 4, 1904 – March 21, 1976    (aged 71)	January 1, 1951 – January 7, 1957 (not candidate for election)	Republican	1950
						1952
						1954		Warren P. Knowles
33			Vernon Wallace Thomson     November 5, 1905 – April 2, 1988    (aged 82)	January 7, 1957 – January 5, 1959 (lost election)	Republican	1956
34			Gaylord Nelson     June 4, 1916 – July 3, 2005    (aged 89)	January 5, 1959 – January 7, 1963 (not candidate for election)	Democratic	1958		Philleo Nash
						1960		Warren P. Knowles
35			John W. Reynolds Jr.     April 4, 1921 – January 6, 2002    (aged 80)	January 7, 1963 – January 4, 1965 (lost election)	Democratic	1962		Jack B. Olson
36			Warren P. Knowles     August 19, 1908 – May 1, 1993    (aged 84)	January 4, 1965 – January 4, 1971 (not candidate for election)	Republican	1964		Patrick J. Lucey
						1966		Jack B. Olson
						1968
37			Patrick Lucey     March 21, 1918 – May 10, 2014    (aged 96)	January 4, 1971 – July 6, 1977 (resigned) [n]	Democratic	1970 [o]		Martin J. Schreiber
						1974
38			Martin J. Schreiber     (1939-04-08) April 8, 1939 (age 83)	July 6, 1977 – January 3, 1979 (lost election)	Democratic	Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor	vacant
39			Lee S. Dreyfus     June 20, 1926 – January 2, 2008    (aged 81)	January 3, 1979[p][18] – January 3, 1983 (not candidate for election)	Republican	1978		Russell A. Olson
40			Tony Earl     (1936-04-12) April 12, 1936 (age 86)	January 3, 1983 – January 5, 1987 (lost election)	Democratic	1982		James T. Flynn
41			Tommy Thompson     (1941-11-19) November 19, 1941 (age 80)	January 5, 1987 – February 1, 2001 (resigned) [q]	Republican	1986		Scott McCallum
						1990
						1994
						1998
42			Scott McCallum     (1950-05-02) May 2, 1950 (age 72)	February 1, 2001 – January 6, 2003 (lost election)	Republican	Succeeded from Lieutenant Governor		Margaret A. Farrow
43			Jim Doyle     (1945-11-23) November 23, 1945 (age 76)	January 6, 2003 – January 3, 2011 (not candidate for election)	Democratic	2002		Barbara Lawton
						2006
44			Scott Walker     (1967-11-02) November 2, 1967 (age 54)	January 3, 2011 – January 7, 2019 (lost election)	Republican	2010		Rebecca Kleefisch
						2012 (special) [r]
						2014
45			Tony Evers     (1951-11-05) November 5, 1951 (age 70)	January 7, 2019 – Incumbent [s]	Democratic	2018		Mandela Barnes

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.

* Denotes those offices for which the governor resigned the governorship.

† Denotes those offices from which the governor resigned to take the governorship.

Living former governors of Wisconsin

As of July 2022^[update], there are six former governors of Wisconsin who are currently living at this time, the oldest governor of Wisconsin being Anthony S. Earl (served 1983–1987, born 1936). The most recent death of a former governor of Wisconsin was that of Patrick Lucey (served 1971–1977, born 1918) on May 10, 2014.^[6] The most recently serving governor to die was Lee S. Dreyfus (served 1979–1983, born 1926) on January 2, 2008.