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List of Governors of New Jersey

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The Governor of New Jersey is the head of the executive branch of New Jersey

New Jersey

New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...

's government and the commander-in-chief of the state

U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

's military forces. 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 passed by the New Jersey Legislature

New Jersey Legislature

The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...

, 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 or impeachment.

There have been 55 official governors of New Jersey, with several others acting as governor for a time.Only acting governors who filled a vacant office are included in the list. People who acted as governor for a period when the governor was out of state or unable to serve for a period are noted with their governor. It is possible other people acted as governor for short periods but were not recorded. In the official numbering, governors are counted only once each, and traditionally, only elected governors were included. However, legislation signed on January 10, 2006, allowed acting governors who had served at least 180 days to be considered full governors. The law was retroactive to January 1, 2001; it therefore changed the titles of Donald DiFrancesco

Donald DiFrancesco

Donald Thomas DiFrancesco was the 51st Governor of New Jersey from 2001 to 2002 by virtue of his status as President of the New Jersey Senate, the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature....

and Richard Codey

Richard Codey

Richard James Codey is an American Democratic Party politician who served as the 53rd Governor of New Jersey from November 2004 to January 2006. He has served in the New Jersey Senate since 1981 and served as the President of the Senate from 2002 to January 2010. He represents the 27th Legislative...

, affecting Jim McGreevey

Jim McGreevey

James Edward "Jim" McGreevey is an American Democratic politician. He served as the 52nd Governor of New Jersey from January 15, 2002, until he resigned from office at 11:59 pm on November 15, 2004. His term was set to expire on January 17, 2006...

's numbering. The current governor is Chris Christie, who took office on January 19, 2010.

Governors

For the period before independence, see the list of colonial governors of New Jersey.

New Jersey was one of the original thirteen colonies

Thirteen Colonies

The Thirteen Colonies were English and later British colonies established on the Atlantic coast of North America between 1607 and 1733. They declared their independence in the American Revolution and formed the United States of America...

and was admitted as a state on December 18, 1787. Prior to declaring its independence, New Jersey was a colony

Province of New Jersey

The Province of New Jersey was one of the Middle Colonies of Colonial America and became the U.S. state of New Jersey in 1776. The province had originally been settled by Europeans as part of New Netherland, but came under English rule after the surrender of Fort Amsterdam in 1664, becoming a...

of the Kingdom of Great Britain

Kingdom of Great Britain

The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...

.

The first New Jersey State Constitution

New Jersey State Constitution

The Constitution of the State of New Jersey is the basic governing document of the State of New Jersey. In addition to three British Royal Charters issued for East Jersey, West Jersey and united New Jersey while they were still colonies, the state has been governed by three constitutions...

, ratified in 1776, provided that a governor be elected annually by the state legislature, the members of which were selected by the several counties. Under this constitution, the governor was president of the upper house of the legislature, then called the Legislative Council

New Jersey Legislative Council

The New Jersey Legislative Council was the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature under the New Jersey Constitution of 1776 until it was replaced by the New Jersey Senate under the Constitution of 1844.-History:...

. The 1844 constitution provided for a popular vote to elect the governor, who no longer presided over the upper house of the legislature, now called the Senate

New Jersey Senate

The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...

. The 1844 constitution also lengthened the governor's term to three years, set to start on the third Tuesday in January following an election, and barred governors from succeeding themselves. The 1947 constitution extended terms to four years, and limits governors from being elected to more than two consecutive terms, though they can run again after a third term has passed.

The 1776 constitution provided that the vice-president of the Legislative Council

Vice-President of Council

The Vice-President of Council of the New Jersey Legislature would succeed the Governor if a vacancy occurred in that office.-List of past Vice-Presidents of Council:...

would act as governor (who was president of the Council) should that office be vacant. The 1844 constitution placed the president of the Senate first in the line of succession, as did the subsequent 1947 constitution. A constitutional amendment in 2006 created the office of lieutenant governor

Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey

The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is a position that has existed since January 2010, following conjoint election with the Governor of New Jersey. The position was created as the result of a Constitutional amendment to the New Jersey State Constitution passed by the voters on November 8, 2005...

, to be elected on the same 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...

for the same term as the governor, and if the office of governor is vacant, the lieutenant governor becomes governor. This office was first filled in 2010.

# Repeat governors are officially numbered only once; subsequent terms are marked with their original number italicized.		Term start	Term end	Party	Lt. Governor Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is a position that has existed since January 2010, following conjoint election with the Governor of New Jersey. The position was created as the result of a Constitutional amendment to the New Jersey State Constitution passed by the voters on November 8, 2005... The fractional terms of some governors are not to be understood absolutely literally; rather, they are meant to show how many times a governor was elected, and to show single terms during which multiple governors served, due to resignations, deaths and the like.
1	William Livingston William Livingston William Livingston served as the Governor of New Jersey during the American Revolutionary War and was a signer of the United States Constitution.-Early life:...	August 31, 1776	July 25, 1790	Federalist	None	Died in office
—	Elisha Lawrence Elisha Lawrence Elisha Lawrence was an American Federalist Party politician, who represented Monmouth County in the New Jersey Legislative Council, the precursor to the New Jersey State Senate, from 1780 through 1783, from 1789 through 1792 and in 1795...	July 25, 1790	October 29, 1790	Federalist		As vice-president of the Legislative Council, acted as governor for unexpired term
2	William Paterson	October 29, 1790	March 30, 1793	Federalist		Resigned to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States are the members of the Supreme Court of the United States other than the Chief Justice of the United States...
—	Thomas Henderson Thomas Henderson (New Jersey) Thomas Henderson was a United States Representative from New Jersey.Born in Freehold, he attended the public schools and was graduated from Princeton College in 1761. He studied medicine and practiced first in Freneau, and afterwards in Freehold, about 1765...	March 30, 1793	June 3, 1793	Federalist
3	Richard Howell Richard Howell Richard Howell was Governor of New Jersey from 1794 to 1801.-Biography:Howell was born in Newark, Delaware. He was a lawyer and soldier of the early United States Army. He served as captain and later major of the 2nd New Jersey Regiment from 1775 to 1779. Richard was a twin, his twin brother was...	June 3, 1793	October 31, 1801	Federalist		8
4	Joseph Bloomfield Joseph Bloomfield Joseph Bloomfield was a Governor of New Jersey. The township of Bloomfield, New Jersey is named for him.-Birth:Joseph Bloomfield was born in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey to Moses Bloomfield, a physician, and Sarah Ogden...	October 31, 1801	October 28, 1802	Democratic- Republican		1
—	John Lambert John Lambert (politician) John Lambert , was a New Jersey politician who served as a Representative, a U.S. Senator and as Acting Governor of New Jersey....	October 28, 1802	October 29, 1803	Democratic- Republican		1
4	Joseph Bloomfield Joseph Bloomfield Joseph Bloomfield was a Governor of New Jersey. The township of Bloomfield, New Jersey is named for him.-Birth:Joseph Bloomfield was born in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey to Moses Bloomfield, a physician, and Sarah Ogden...	October 29, 1803	October 29, 1812	Democratic- Republican		9
5	Aaron Ogden Aaron Ogden Aaron Ogden was a United States Senator and the 5th Governor of New Jersey.-Early life:Ogden was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey...	October 29, 1812	October 29, 1813	Federalist		1
6	William Sanford Pennington William Sanford Pennington William Sanford Pennington was the sixth Governor of New Jersey, serving from 1813 to 1815. From 1815 to 1826 he served as a United States federal judge.-Biography:...	October 29, 1813	June 19, 1815	Democratic- Republican
—	William Kennedy William Kennedy (New Jersey) William Kennedy was an American Democratic-Republican Party politician, who served on the New Jersey Legislative Council, the precursor to the New Jersey Senate. He served as Vice-President of Council from 1814 to 1815...	June 19, 1815	October 26, 1815	Democratic- Republican
7	Mahlon Dickerson Mahlon Dickerson Mahlon Dickerson was an American judge and politician. He was elected Governor of New Jersey as well as United States Senator from that state. He was twice appointed Secretary of the Navy - under Presidents Andrew Jackson and Martin van Buren...	October 26, 1815	February 1, 1817	Democratic- Republican		Resigned to take an elected seat in the U.S. 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... .
8	Isaac Halstead Williamson Isaac Halstead Williamson Isaac Halstead Williamson was an American Democratic Party politician who served as the 8th Governor of New Jersey, from 1817 to 1829.-Biography:...	February 6, 1817	October 30, 1829	Federalist
—	Garret D. Wall Garret D. Wall Garret Dorset Wall was a military officer and politician from New Jersey.-Biography:Born in Middletown Township, he completed preparatory studies, studied law, was licensed as an attorney in 1804 and as a counselor in 1807, and commenced practice in Burlington, New Jersey. He served in the War of...	—	—	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...		—
9	Peter Dumont Vroom Peter Dumont Vroom Peter Dumont Vroom , an American Democratic Party politician, served as the 9th Governor of New Jersey and as a member of the United States House of Representatives for a single term, from 1839–1841.He was born in Hillsborough Township, New Jersey the son of Col...	November 6, 1829	October 26, 1832	Democratic		3
10	Samuel L. Southard Samuel L. Southard Samuel Lewis Southard was a prominent U.S. statesman of the early 19th century, serving as a U.S. Senator, Secretary of the Navy, and the 10th Governor of New Jersey.-History:...	October 26, 1832	February 27, 1833	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...
11	Elias P. Seeley Elias P. Seeley Elias Petty Seeley was an American Whig Party politician who served as the 11th Governor of New Jersey in 1833. Seeley was named to serve as governor after Samuel L. Southard stepped down from office to take a seat in the United States Senate...	February 27, 1833	October 25, 1833	Whig
9	Peter Dumont Vroom Peter Dumont Vroom Peter Dumont Vroom , an American Democratic Party politician, served as the 9th Governor of New Jersey and as a member of the United States House of Representatives for a single term, from 1839–1841.He was born in Hillsborough Township, New Jersey the son of Col...	October 25, 1833	November 3, 1836	Democratic		3
12	Philemon Dickerson Philemon Dickerson Philemon Dickerson was a United States congressman representing New Jersey, and was later a United States federal judge. He was the brother of Governor, then United States Senator, Mahlon Dickerson of New Jersey...	November 3, 1836	October 27, 1837	Democratic		1
13	William Pennington William Pennington William Pennington was an American politician and lawyer, the Governor of New Jersey, and Speaker of the House during his one term in Congress....	October 27, 1837	October 27, 1843	Whig		6
14	Daniel Haines Daniel Haines Daniel Haines was an American jurist who served as the 14th Governor of New Jersey.Daniel Haines was born in New York City, the nephew of Governor Aaron Ogden. He graduated from The College of New Jersey in 1820, and went on to practice law in Newton and Hamburg...	October 27, 1843	January 21, 1845	Democratic		1
15	Charles C. Stratton Charles C. Stratton Charles Creighton Stratton was a politician from New Jersey, who served in the United States House of Representatives and was later the 15th Governor of New Jersey.-Biography:...	January 21, 1845	January 18, 1848	Whig		1
14	Daniel Haines Daniel Haines Daniel Haines was an American jurist who served as the 14th Governor of New Jersey.Daniel Haines was born in New York City, the nephew of Governor Aaron Ogden. He graduated from The College of New Jersey in 1820, and went on to practice law in Newton and Hamburg...	January 18, 1848	January 21, 1851	Democratic		1
16	George F. Fort George F. Fort George Franklin Fort was a physician, politician, judge, and a Democrat who served as the 16th Governor of New Jersey from 1851 to 1854.-Biography:He was born near Pemberton, New Jersey...	January 21, 1851	January 17, 1854	Democratic		1
17	Rodman M. Price Rodman M. Price Rodman McCamley Price was an American Democratic Party politician, who represented in the United States House of Representatives from 1851–1853, and served as the 17th Governor of New Jersey, from 1854 to 1857.-Biography:...	January 17, 1854	January 20, 1857	Democratic		1
18	William A. Newell William A. Newell William Augustus Newell , was an American physician and politician, who was a three-term member of the United States House of Representatives, served as a Republican as the 18th Governor of New Jersey, and as Governor of the Washington Territory from 1880-1884...	January 20, 1857	January 17, 1860	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...		1
19	Charles Smith Olden Charles Smith Olden Charles Smith Olden was an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 19th Governor of New Jersey from 1860 to 1863 during the first part of the American Civil War.-Biography:...	January 17, 1860	January 20, 1863	Republican		1
20	Joel Parker Joel Parker Joel Parker was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 20th Governor of New Jersey from 1863–1866 and from 1871-1874.-Early life, family:...	January 20, 1863	January 16, 1866	Democratic		1
21	Marcus Lawrence Ward Marcus Lawrence Ward Marcus Lawrence Ward was an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 21st Governor of New Jersey from 1866–1869, and represented the state in Congress for one term, from 1873-1875....	January 16, 1866	January 19, 1869	Republican		1
22	Theodore Fitz Randolph Theodore Fitz Randolph Theodore Fitz Randolph was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 22nd Governor of New Jersey from 1869 to 1872, and represented the state in the United States Senate for a single term, from 1875 to 1881. He was the son of US Representative James F...	January 19, 1869	January 16, 1872	Democratic		1
20	Joel Parker Joel Parker Joel Parker was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 20th Governor of New Jersey from 1863–1866 and from 1871-1874.-Early life, family:...	January 16, 1872	January 19, 1875	Democratic		1
23	Joseph D. Bedle Joseph D. Bedle Joseph Dorsett Bedle, Sr. was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 23rd Governor of New Jersey from 1875-1878.-Biography:...	January 19, 1875	January 15, 1878	Democratic		1
24	George B. McClellan George B. McClellan George Brinton McClellan was a major general during the American Civil War. He organized the famous Army of the Potomac and served briefly as the general-in-chief of the Union Army. Early in the war, McClellan played an important role in raising a well-trained and organized army for the Union...	January 15, 1878	January 18, 1881	Democratic		1
25	George C. Ludlow George C. Ludlow George Craig Ludlow was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 25th Governor of New Jersey from 1881 to 1884.-Biography:...	January 18, 1881	January 15, 1884	Democratic		1
26	Leon Abbett Leon Abbett Leon Abbett was an American Democratic Party politician, and lawyer, who served two separate terms as the 26th Governor of New Jersey, from 1884 to 1887 and from 1890 to 1893. He was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly, New Jersey Senate, a democratic candidate for the U.S...	January 15, 1884	January 18, 1887	Democratic		1
27	Robert Stockton Green Robert Stockton Green Robert Stockton Green was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 27th Governor of New Jersey from 1887–1890.-Biography:...	January 18, 1887	January 21, 1890	Democratic		1
26	Leon Abbett Leon Abbett Leon Abbett was an American Democratic Party politician, and lawyer, who served two separate terms as the 26th Governor of New Jersey, from 1884 to 1887 and from 1890 to 1893. He was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly, New Jersey Senate, a democratic candidate for the U.S...	January 21, 1890	January 17, 1893	Democratic		1
28	George Theodore Werts George Theodore Werts George Theodore Werts was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 28th Governor of New Jersey from 1893 to 1896...	January 17, 1893	January 21, 1896	Democratic		1
29	John W. Griggs John W. Griggs John William Griggs was an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 29th Governor of New Jersey, from 1896 to 1898, stepping down to assume the position as the United States Attorney General from 1898 to 1901....	January 21, 1896	January 31, 1898	Republican		Resigned to be U.S. Attorney General United States Attorney General The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government... .
—	Foster MacGowan Voorhees Foster MacGowan Voorhees Foster MacGowan Voorhees was an American, Republican Party politician, who served as the 30th Governor of New Jersey from 1899 to 1902.-Biography:...	January 31, 1898	October 18, 1898	Republican
—	David Ogden Watkins David Ogden Watkins David Ogden Watkins was the acting Governor of New Jersey from 1898 to 1899.-Biography:He studied law and was admitted to practice in New Jersey in 1893...	October 18, 1898	January 17, 1899	Republican		As speaker of the house of representatives, acted as governor for unexpired term.
30	Foster MacGowan Voorhees Foster MacGowan Voorhees Foster MacGowan Voorhees was an American, Republican Party politician, who served as the 30th Governor of New Jersey from 1899 to 1902.-Biography:...	January 17, 1899	January 21, 1902	Republican		1
31	Franklin Murphy Franklin Murphy (governor) Franklin Murphy was an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 31st Governor of New Jersey, from 1902-1905. He was the founder of the Murphy Varnish Company in Newark, New Jersey.-Civil War Service:...	January 21, 1902	January 17, 1905	Republican		1
32	Edward C. Stokes Edward C. Stokes Edward Casper Stokes was an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 32nd Governor of New Jersey, from 1905 to 1908.-Biography:...	January 17, 1905	January 21, 1908	Republican		1
33	John Franklin Fort John Franklin Fort John Franklin Fort was an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 33rd Governor of New Jersey, from 1908–1911. His uncle, George Franklin Fort, was a Democratic Governor of New Jersey from 1851–1854....	January 21, 1908	January 17, 1911	Republican		1
34	Woodrow Wilson Woodrow Wilson Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...	January 17, 1911	March 1, 1913	Democratic		Resigned to be President of the United States President of the United States The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces.... .
—	James Fairman Fielder James Fairman Fielder James Fairman Fielder was an American politician of the Democratic party, who served as the 35th Governor of New Jersey, from 1913 to 1917, with a break of several months when he stepped down from office to avoid constitutional limits on serving successive terms.-Biography:He was born in Jersey...	March 1, 1913	October 28, 1913	Democratic
—	Leon R. Taylor Leon R. Taylor Leon Rutherford Taylor was a New Jersey politician, who was the Acting Governor of New Jersey from October 28, 1913 to January 20, 1914...	October 28, 1913	January 20, 1914	Democratic
35	James Fairman Fielder James Fairman Fielder James Fairman Fielder was an American politician of the Democratic party, who served as the 35th Governor of New Jersey, from 1913 to 1917, with a break of several months when he stepped down from office to avoid constitutional limits on serving successive terms.-Biography:He was born in Jersey...	January 20, 1914	January 16, 1917	Democratic		1
36	Walter Evans Edge Walter Evans Edge Walter Evans Edge was an American politician. A Republican, he was twice the Governor of New Jersey, from 1917 to 1919 and again from 1944 to 1947, serving as governor during both World War I and World War II...	January 16, 1917	May 16, 1919	Republican
—	William Nelson Runyon William Nelson Runyon William Nelson Runyon was a Republican who served as Acting Governor of New Jersey from 1919 to 1920.Runyon was born in Plainfield, New Jersey. He was a lawyer, then a member of New Jersey General Assembly from Union County, New Jersey from 1915 to 1917. Runyon served in the New Jersey Senate...	May 16, 1919	January 13, 1920	Republican		As president of the Senate, acted as governor until his Senate term ended.
—	Clarence E. Case Clarence E. Case Clarence Edward Case was the acting Republican Governor of New Jersey in 1920, succeeding William Nelson Runyon....	January 13, 1920	January 20, 1920	Republican
37	Edward I. Edwards	January 20, 1920	January 15, 1923	Democratic		1
38	George Sebastian Silzer George Sebastian Silzer George Sebastian Silzer served as the 38th Governor of New Jersey.-Biography:He was born on April 14, 1870 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Silzer was a member of the New Brunswick board of aldermen from 1892 to 1896. He was a member of the New Jersey Senate from Middlesex County from 1907 to 1912....	January 15, 1923	January 19, 1926	Democratic		1
39	A. Harry Moore A. Harry Moore Arthur Harry Moore was a Democrat who was the 39th Governors of New Jersey, serving three terms between 1926 and 1941. He was the longest-serving New Jersey Governor in the 20th century and the only New Jersey Governor elected to serve three separate non-consecutive terms...	January 19, 1926	January 15, 1929	Democratic		1
40	Morgan Foster Larson Morgan Foster Larson Morgan Foster Larson was a Republican politician who served as the 40th governor of New Jersey.He was born on June 15, 1882, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Larson attended Cooper Union in New York City, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in 1907 and an Engineer's degree degree in 1910. He...	January 15, 1929	January 19, 1932	Republican		1
39	A. Harry Moore A. Harry Moore Arthur Harry Moore was a Democrat who was the 39th Governors of New Jersey, serving three terms between 1926 and 1941. He was the longest-serving New Jersey Governor in the 20th century and the only New Jersey Governor elected to serve three separate non-consecutive terms...	January 19, 1932	January 3, 1935	Democratic
—	Clifford Ross Powell Clifford Ross Powell Clifford Ross Powell was an American Republican Party acting governor of New Jersey from January 3, 1935 to January 8, 1935.-Biography:He was born in Lumberton, New Jersey on July 26, 1893....	January 3, 1935	January 8, 1935	Republican
—	Horace Griggs Prall Horace Griggs Prall Horace Griggs Prall was a New Jersey attorney and Republican politician. He served a number of a years as a state legislator and a short term as Acting Governor of the state in 1935....	January 8, 1935	January 15, 1935	Republican		As president of the Senate, acted as governor for unexpired term.
41	Harold G. Hoffman Harold G. Hoffman Harold Giles Hoffman was an American politician, a Republican who served as the 41st Governor of New Jersey, from 1935 to 1938. He also served two terms representing in the United States House of Representatives, from 1927 to 1931.-Early life:Hoffman was born in South Amboy, New Jersey to Frank...	January 15, 1935	January 18, 1938	Republican		1
39	A. Harry Moore A. Harry Moore Arthur Harry Moore was a Democrat who was the 39th Governors of New Jersey, serving three terms between 1926 and 1941. He was the longest-serving New Jersey Governor in the 20th century and the only New Jersey Governor elected to serve three separate non-consecutive terms...	January 18, 1938	January 21, 1941	Democratic		1
42	Charles Edison Charles Edison Charles Edison was son of Thomas Edison to Mina, businessman, Assistant and then United States Secretary of the Navy, and served as the 42nd Governor of New Jersey.-Biography:...	January 21, 1941	January 18, 1944	Democratic		1
36	Walter Evans Edge Walter Evans Edge Walter Evans Edge was an American politician. A Republican, he was twice the Governor of New Jersey, from 1917 to 1919 and again from 1944 to 1947, serving as governor during both World War I and World War II...	January 18, 1944	January 21, 1947	Republican		1
43	Alfred E. Driscoll Alfred E. Driscoll Alfred Eastlack Driscoll was an American Republican Party politician, who served in the New Jersey Senate representing Camden County, who served as the 43rd Governor of New Jersey, and as president of Warner-Lambert .-Biography:He was born on October 25, 1902 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...	January 21, 1947	January 19, 1954	Republican		2
44	Robert B. Meyner Robert B. Meyner Robert Baumle Meyner of Phillipsburg, New Jersey was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 44th Governor of New Jersey, from 1954 to 1962...	January 19, 1954	January 16, 1962	Democratic	2
45	Richard J. Hughes Richard J. Hughes Richard Joseph Hughes was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 45th Governor of New Jersey from 1962 to 1970, and as Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1973–1979...	January 16, 1962	January 20, 1970	Democratic	2
46	William T. Cahill William T. Cahill William Thomas Cahill was an American Republican Party politician who served as the 46th Governor of New Jersey, from 1970 to 1974, and who represented New Jersey's 1st congressional district in the U.S...	January 20, 1970	January 15, 1974	Republican	1
47	Brendan Byrne Brendan Byrne Brendan Thomas Byrne is an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey, who served as the 47th Governor of New Jersey, from 1974 to 1982.-Early life and education:...	January 15, 1974	January 19, 1982	Democratic	2
48	Thomas Kean Thomas Kean Thomas Howard Kean is an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 48th Governor of New Jersey from 1982 to 1990. Kean is best known globally, however, for his 2002 appointment as Chairman of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, widely known as the...	January 19, 1982	January 16, 1990	Republican	2
49	James Florio James Florio James Joseph "Jim" Florio is a Democratic politician who served as the 49th Governor of New Jersey from 1990 to 1994, the first Italian American to hold the position...	January 16, 1990	January 18, 1994	Democratic	1
50	Christine Todd Whitman Christine Todd Whitman Christine Todd "Christie" Whitman is an American Republican politician and author who served as the 50th Governor of New Jersey from 1994 to 2001, and was the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in the administration of President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003. She was New...	January 18, 1994	January 31, 2001	Republican	Resigned to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency is the head of the United States federal government's Environmental Protection Agency, and is thus responsible for enforcing the nation's Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, as well as numerous other environmental statutes. The Administrator is... .
51	Donald DiFrancesco Donald DiFrancesco Donald Thomas DiFrancesco was the 51st Governor of New Jersey from 2001 to 2002 by virtue of his status as President of the New Jersey Senate, the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature....	January 31, 2001	January 8, 2002	Republican
—	John Farmer, Jr.	January 8, 2002	January 8, 2002	Republican
—	John O. Bennett John O. Bennett John O. Bennett III is a former New Jersey Republican politician who served as State Senator, President of the State Senate, and Acting Governor of New Jersey during the course of his career.-Education:...	January 8, 2002	January 12, 2002	Republican
—	Richard Codey Richard Codey Richard James Codey is an American Democratic Party politician who served as the 53rd Governor of New Jersey from November 2004 to January 2006. He has served in the New Jersey Senate since 1981 and served as the President of the Senate from 2002 to January 2010. He represents the 27th Legislative...	January 12, 2002	January 15, 2002	Democratic
52	Jim McGreevey Jim McGreevey James Edward "Jim" McGreevey is an American Democratic politician. He served as the 52nd Governor of New Jersey from January 15, 2002, until he resigned from office at 11:59 pm on November 15, 2004. His term was set to expire on January 17, 2006...	January 15, 2002	November 15, 2004	Democratic	Resigned due to a sex scandal involving a male aide.
53	Richard Codey Richard Codey Richard James Codey is an American Democratic Party politician who served as the 53rd Governor of New Jersey from November 2004 to January 2006. He has served in the New Jersey Senate since 1981 and served as the President of the Senate from 2002 to January 2010. He represents the 27th Legislative...	November 15, 2004	January 17, 2006	Democratic
54	Jon Corzine Jon Corzine Jon Stevens Corzine is the former CEO of Goldman Sachs and of MF Global, and a one time American politician, who served as the 54th Governor of New Jersey from 2006 to 2010. A Democrat, Corzine served five years of a six-year U.S. Senate term representing New Jersey before being elected Governor...	January 17, 2006	January 19, 2010	Democratic	1
55	Chris Christie	January 19, 2010	incumbent	Republican	Kim Guadagno Kim Guadagno Kim Guadagno is the first Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey, having won the 2009 election as the running mate of Governor Chris Christie. She is also concurrently the Secretary of State of New Jersey.-Early life:...	1Governor Christie's first term expires on January 21, 2014; he is not yet 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.

Acting governor

Prior to 2010, New Jersey had no office of lieutenant governor. Until 2010, when the office of governor was vacant or the governor was unable to fulfill his/her duties through injury, the President of the State Senate served as the acting governor. The Senate President continued in the legislative role during his/her tenure as the state's acting chief executive, thus giving the person control over executive and legislative authority. The acting governor served either until the next general election, until the governor recovered from his/her injuries, or, if the governor died or resigned less than 16 months before end of the term, until the end of the term. Richard Codey

Richard Codey

served as acting governor of New Jersey until January 2006, following the resignation of Jim McGreevey

Jim McGreevey

in late 2004. Following the resignation of Christine Todd Whitman

Christine Todd Whitman

Christine Todd "Christie" Whitman is an American Republican politician and author who served as the 50th Governor of New Jersey from 1994 to 2001, and was the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in the administration of President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003. She was New...

in 2001 to become EPA Administrator, Donald DiFrancesco

Donald DiFrancesco

Donald Thomas DiFrancesco was the 51st Governor of New Jersey from 2001 to 2002 by virtue of his status as President of the New Jersey Senate, the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature....

assumed the acting governor's post. The position of Lieutenant Governor was created in the 2005 state election effective with the 2009 election.

Following Whitman's resignation and DiFrancesco's departure, John O. Bennett

John O. Bennett

John O. Bennett III is a former New Jersey Republican politician who served as State Senator, President of the State Senate, and Acting Governor of New Jersey during the course of his career.-Education:...

served as acting governor for three and a half days. During that time, he signed a few bills into law, gave a State of the State Address, and held parties at Drumthwacket

Drumthwacket

Drumthwacket is the official residence of the governor of New Jersey. The mansion is located at 354 Stockton Street in Princeton, New Jersey, close to the state capital of Trenton...

, the New Jersey Governor's Mansion. Similarly, Richard J. Codey served as acting governor as well, Because control of the New Jersey State Senate was split, resulting in two Senate co-Presidents, Codey and Bennett, each held the office of acting governor for three days. Perhaps this spectacle as much as any other factor led to the voters' decision to amend

Constitutional amendment

A constitutional amendment is a formal change to the text of the written constitution of a nation or state.Most constitutions require that amendments cannot be enacted unless they have passed a special procedure that is more stringent than that required of ordinary legislation...

the state constitution to create the office of Lieutenant Governor.

Other high offices held

This is a table of congressional seats, other federal offices, and other governorships held by governors. All representatives and senators mentioned represented New Jersey. Acting governors are included only when they filled a vacancy in the office of governor, not when they acted for a time when the governor was out of state or unable to serve.

Governor	Gubernatorial term	U.S. Congress United States Congress The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....		Other offices held	Source
Governor	Gubernatorial term	U.S. House United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...	U.S. 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...	Other offices held	Source
	1776–1790	—	—	Continental Delegate Continental Congress The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution.... (1774–1776)
	1790–1793	—	S†	Continental Delegate, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court*
	1793	H	—	Elected as a Continental Delegate but declined
	1801–1802 1803–1812	H	—
	1802–1803	—	S
	1812–1813	—	S
	1815–1817	—	S*	U.S. Secretary of the Navy United States Secretary of the Navy The Secretary of the Navy of the United States of America is the head of the Department of the Navy, a component organization of the Department of Defense... (1834–1838)
	1829–1832 1833–1836	H	—	Minister to Prussia United States Ambassador to Germany The United States has had diplomatic relations with the nation of Germany and its predecessor nation, the Kingdom of Prussia, since 1835. These relations were broken twice while Germany and the United States were at war...
	1832–1833	—	S*	President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate President pro tempore of the United States Senate The President pro tempore is the second-highest-ranking official of the United States Senate. The United States Constitution states that the Vice President of the United States is the President of the Senate and the highest-ranking official of the Senate despite not being a member of the body... , U.S. Secretary of the Navy
	1836–1837	H†	—
	1837–1843	H	—	Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Speaker of the United States House of Representatives The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives... (Feb. 1, 1860 – Mar. 3, 1861)
	1845–1848	H	—
	1854–1857	H	—
	1857–1860	H	—	Governor of the Territory of Washington (1880–1884)
	1866–1869	H	—
	1869–1872	—	S
	1887–1890	H†	—
	1896–1898	—	—	U.S. Attorney General United States Attorney General The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government... *
	1911–1913	—	—	President of the United States President of the United States The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces.... *
	1917–1919 1944–1947	—	S*	Ambassador to France United States Ambassador to France This article is about the United States Ambassador to France. There has been a United States Ambassador to France since the American Revolution. The United States sent its first envoys to France in 1776, towards the end of the four-centuries-old Bourbon dynasty... (1929–1933)
	1920–1923	—	S
	1926–1929 1932–1935 1938–1941	—	S†*
	1935–1938	H	—
	1941–1944	—	—	U.S. Secretary of the Navy
	1970–1973	H†	—
	1990–1994	H†	—
	1994–2001	—	—	Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency is the head of the United States federal government's Environmental Protection Agency, and is thus responsible for enforcing the nation's Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, as well as numerous other environmental statutes. The Administrator is... *
	2006–2010	—	S†

Note: Garret D. Wall
Garret D. Wall
Garret Dorset Wall was a military officer and politician from New Jersey.-Biography:Born in Middletown Township, he completed preparatory studies, studied law, was licensed as an attorney in 1804 and as a counselor in 1807, and commenced practice in Burlington, New Jersey. He served in the War of...

, who was elected to be governor in 1829 but declined, served as a U.S. Senator (1835–1841).
Note: Gov. William Pennington (1837–1843) was appointed Governor of the Territory of Minnesota by President Millard Fillmore (1850–1853), but declined.

Living former governors

, eight former governors and two former acting governors were alive, the oldest being Brendan Byrne

Brendan Byrne

Brendan Thomas Byrne is an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey, who served as the 47th Governor of New Jersey, from 1974 to 1982.-Early life and education:...

(1974–1982, born 1924). The most recent governor to die was William T. Cahill

William T. Cahill

William Thomas Cahill was an American Republican Party politician who served as the 46th Governor of New Jersey, from 1970 to 1974, and who represented New Jersey's 1st congressional district in the U.S...

(1970–1974), on July 1, 1996.

Governor	Gubernatorial term	Date of birth
Brendan Byrne Brendan Byrne Brendan Thomas Byrne is an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey, who served as the 47th Governor of New Jersey, from 1974 to 1982.-Early life and education:...	1974–1982	1 April 1924 (age 87)
Thomas Kean Thomas Kean Thomas Howard Kean is an American Republican Party politician, who served as the 48th Governor of New Jersey from 1982 to 1990. Kean is best known globally, however, for his 2002 appointment as Chairman of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, widely known as the...	1982–1990	21 April 1935 (age 76)
James Florio James Florio James Joseph "Jim" Florio is a Democratic politician who served as the 49th Governor of New Jersey from 1990 to 1994, the first Italian American to hold the position...	1990–1994	29 August 1937 (age 74)
Christine Todd Whitman Christine Todd Whitman Christine Todd "Christie" Whitman is an American Republican politician and author who served as the 50th Governor of New Jersey from 1994 to 2001, and was the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in the administration of President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003. She was New...	1994–2001	26 September 1946 (age 65)
Donald DiFrancesco Donald DiFrancesco Donald Thomas DiFrancesco was the 51st Governor of New Jersey from 2001 to 2002 by virtue of his status as President of the New Jersey Senate, the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature....	2001–2002	20 November 1944 (age 67)
John Farmer, Jr.	2002 (acting)	24 June 1957 (age 54)
John O. Bennett John O. Bennett John O. Bennett III is a former New Jersey Republican politician who served as State Senator, President of the State Senate, and Acting Governor of New Jersey during the course of his career.-Education:...	2002 (acting)	6 August 1948 (age 63)
Richard Codey Richard Codey Richard James Codey is an American Democratic Party politician who served as the 53rd Governor of New Jersey from November 2004 to January 2006. He has served in the New Jersey Senate since 1981 and served as the President of the Senate from 2002 to January 2010. He represents the 27th Legislative...	2002 (acting) 2004–2006	27 November 1946 (age 65)
Jim McGreevey Jim McGreevey James Edward "Jim" McGreevey is an American Democratic politician. He served as the 52nd Governor of New Jersey from January 15, 2002, until he resigned from office at 11:59 pm on November 15, 2004. His term was set to expire on January 17, 2006...	2002–2004	6 August 1957 (age 54)
Jon Corzine Jon Corzine Jon Stevens Corzine is the former CEO of Goldman Sachs and of MF Global, and a one time American politician, who served as the 54th Governor of New Jersey from 2006 to 2010. A Democrat, Corzine served five years of a six-year U.S. Senate term representing New Jersey before being elected Governor...	2006–2010	1 January 1947 (age 65)

External links

Office of the Governor of New Jersey