List of Governors of North Dakota

The Governor of North Dakota is the chief executive of the U.S. state of North Dakota. The current Governor is Jack Dalrymple. The Governor has the power to sign and veto laws, and to call the Legislative Assembly into emergency session. The Governor is also chairman of the North Dakota Industrial Commission. The official residence of the Governor is the North Dakota Governor's Residence. There are no limits on the number of terms a governor may serve.

The following is a list of Governors

Governor of North Dakota

The Governor of North Dakota is the chief executive of North Dakota. The current Governor is Jack Dalrymple. The Governor has the right to sign and laws, and to call the Legislative Assembly, into emergency session. The Governor is also chairman of the North Dakota Industrial Commission. The...

 of the state of North Dakota

North Dakota

North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

.

List of North Dakota Governors

Number of Governors of North Dakota by party affiliation

Party		Governors
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...		25
	Republican	16
	Republican/NPL Non-Partisan League The Nonpartisan League was a political organization founded in 1915 in the United States by former Socialist Party organizer A. C. Townley. The Nonpartisan League advocated state control of mills, grain elevators, banks and other farm-related industries in order to reduce the power of corporate...	7
	Republican/IVA Independent Voters Association The Independent Voters Association, or IVA, was a North Dakota political organization formed on May 1, 1918, at the height of the Non Partisan League's influence on the North Dakota Republican Party. The IVA was a conservative, capitalist faction created to counter the NPL's socialist leanings. ...	2
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...		7
	Democratic North Dakota Democratic Party The North Dakota Democratic Party was a political party in North Dakota that existed from the state's formation in 1889 until 1956, when the party merged with the Non Partisan League to form the modern North Dakota Democratic NPL Party....	3
	Democratic-NPL	3
	Democratic-Independent North Dakota Democratic-Independent Party The North Dakota Democratic-Independent Party, abbreviated D-I, was a progressive political party that formed around 1890 in response to the North Dakota Republican Party's domination of state politics.-History:...	1

#	Name	Term	Party	Life
1	John Miller John Miller (Governor) John Miller served as the first Governor of North Dakota from 1889 to 1891. He was a member of the Republican Party.-Biography:...	November 20, 1889–January 7, 1891	Republican	1843–1908
2	Andrew H. Burke Andrew H. Burke Andrew Horce Burke was an American politician who was the second Governor of North Dakota from 1891 to 1892.-Early life and career:...	January 7, 1891–January 3, 1893	Republican	1850–1918
3	Eli C. D. Shortridge Eli C. D. Shortridge Eli C. D. Shortridge was an American politician who was the third Governor of North Dakota from 1893 to 1895. Eli C. D...	January 3, 1893–January 10, 1895	Democratic-Independent	1830–1908
4	Roger Allin Roger Allin Roger Allin was an American politician who was the fourth Governor of North Dakota from 1895 to 1897, and previously the Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota from 1891 to 1892... Served as Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota The Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota is a political office in North Dakota. The Lieutenant Governor's duty is to preside as President of the Senate, and is responsible for legislative relations, the state budget and agri-business development. Should the Governor's office become vacant, the...  prior to term as Governor	January 10, 1895–January 6, 1897	Republican	1848–1936
5	Frank A. Briggs Frank A. Briggs Frank A. Briggs was an American Republican elected official who served as the fifth Governor of North Dakota from January 6, 1897 until his death nineteen months later....	January 6, 1897–August 15, 1898	Republican	1858–1898
6	Joseph M. Devine Joseph M. Devine Joseph McMurray Devine was an American politician who was the Republican Governor of North Dakota from 1898 to 1899. He served as governor for less than one year as he finished the term after Governor Frank A. Briggs died in office-External links:* from the ....	August 15, 1898–January 3, 1899	Republican	1861–1938
7	Frederick B. Fancher Frederick B. Fancher Frederick Bartlett Fancher was an American politician who was the seventh Governor of North Dakota from 1899 to 1901.-External links:* from the .* at Findagrave.com...	January 3, 1899–January 10, 1901	Republican	1852–1944
8	Frank White Frank White (Governor) Frank White was the eighth Governor of North Dakota. A Republican, White also served as Treasurer of the United States from 1921 to 1928.-Early life:... Served as Treasurer of the United States Treasurer of the United States The Treasurer of the United States is an official in the United States Department of the Treasury that was originally charged with the receipt and custody of government funds, though many of these functions have been taken over by different bureaus of the Department of the Treasury...  after term as Governor	January 10, 1901–January 4, 1905	Republican	1856–1940
9	Elmore Y. Sarles Elmore Y. Sarles Elmore Yocum Sarles was an American politician who was the ninth Governor of North Dakota from 1905 to 1907. Born in Wonewoc, Wisconsin, Sarles arrived in Hillsboro, North Dakota in 1881 where he founded a bank and a lumberyard and became the mayor of Hillsboro. Sarles served one term as mayor and...	January 4, 1905–January 9, 1907	Republican	1859–1929
10	John BurkeServed as Chief Justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court North Dakota Supreme Court The North Dakota Supreme Court is the highest court of law in the state of North Dakota. The Court rules on questions of law in appeals from the state's district courts....  after term as Governor	January 9, 1907–January 8, 1913	Democratic	1859–1937
11	L. B. Hanna L. B. Hanna Louis Benjamin Hanna was the eleventh Governor of the state of North Dakota.-Background:Louis Benjamin Hanna was born in New Brighton, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. His parents, Jason R. and Margaret Hanna died when he was a small boy, leaving him to be raised by his aunts. Louis Hanna grew up and... Served in the United States House of Representatives 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...  after term as Governor	January 8, 1913–January 3, 1917	Republican	1861–1948
12	Lynn Frazier Lynn Frazier Lynn Joseph Frazier was a politician from North Dakota, serving as a U.S. Senator from 1923 to 1941 and the 12th Governor of North Dakota of that state from 1917 until being recalled in 1921. He was the first American governor ever successfully recalled from office... Served in the United States 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...  after term as Governor	January 3, 1917–November 23, 1921	Republican/NPL	1874–1947
13	Ragnvald A. Nestos Ragnvald A. Nestos Ragnvald Anderson Nestos was the 13th Governor of the U.S. state of North Dakota from 1921 through 1925.-Biography:...	November 23, 1921–January 7, 1925	Republican/IVA	1877–1942
14	Arthur G. Sorlie Arthur G. Sorlie Arthur Gustave Sorlie served as the 14th Governor of North Dakota from 1925 until his unexpected death in 1928 at the age of 54.-Background:...	January 7, 1925–August 28, 1928	Republican/NPL	1874–1928
15	Walter Maddock Walter Maddock Walter Jeremiah Maddock was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He served in the North Dakota House of Representatives from 1914 to 1924, and became the Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota in 1924. Maddock became the 15th Governor of North Dakota in 1928 when Arthur G. Sorlie died in office, and...	August 28, 1928–January 9, 1929	Republican/NPL	1880–1951
16	George F. Shafer George F. Shafer George F. Shafer was born in Mandan, Dakota Territory. Shafer pursued a career in politics and became the State's Attorney for Mckenzie County from 1915 to 1919. He took on a more prominent role in 1922 when he became the North Dakota Attorney General prior to serving as the Assistant Attorney...	January 9, 1929–December 31, 1932	Republican/IVA	1888–1948
17	William Langer William Langer William "Wild Bill" Langer was a prominent US politician from North Dakota. Langer is one of the most colorful characters in North Dakota history, most famously bouncing back from a scandal that forced him out of the governor's office and into prison. He served as the 17th and 21st Governor of... Served two nonconsecutive terms as Governor	December 31, 1932–June 21, 1934	Republican/NPL	1886–1959
18	Ole H. Olson Ole H. Olson Ole H. Olson was born in Mondovi, Wisconsin. After graduating from Concordia College, in Moorhead, Minnesota, he moved to North Dakota and eventually was elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives and later was elected to the North Dakota State Senate. Olson was elected the Lieutenant...	June 21, 1934–January 7, 1935	Republican/NPL	1872–1954
19	Thomas H. Moodie Thomas H. Moodie Thomas H. Moodie was born in Winona, Minnesota. He served a brief term of less than a month as the 19th Governor of North Dakota in 1935...	January 7, 1935–February 2, 1935	Democratic	1878–1948
20	Walter Welford Walter Welford Walter Welford was born in Bellerby, Yorkshire, England. He was inaugurated as the 20th Governor of North Dakota on February 2, 1935 after Thomas H. Moodie was removed from office after it was determined he was ineligible to hold the office...	February 2, 1935–January 6, 1937	Republican/NPL	1868–1952
21	William Langer William Langer William "Wild Bill" Langer was a prominent US politician from North Dakota. Langer is one of the most colorful characters in North Dakota history, most famously bouncing back from a scandal that forced him out of the governor's office and into prison. He served as the 17th and 21st Governor of...	January 6, 1937–January 5, 1939	Republican/NPL	1886–1959
22	John Moses John Moses John Moses was the 22nd Governor of North Dakota from 1939 to 1945, and served in the United States Senate in 1945 until his death that year.-Biography:...	January 5, 1939–January 4, 1945	Democratic	1885–1945
23	Fred George Aandahl	January 4, 1945–January 3, 1951	Republican	1897–1966
24	Clarence Norman Brunsdale Clarence Norman Brunsdale Clarence Norman Brunsdale was the 24th Governor of North Dakota and United States Senator of the state of North Dakota.-Biography:...	January 3, 1951–January 9, 1957	Republican	1891–1978
25	John E. Davis John E. Davis (North Dakota politician) John Edward Davis was a North Dakota politician who served as the 25th Governor of North Dakota. He was elected in 1956, and served one term before losing the election to William L. Guy in 1960. Davis died in 1990 at the age of 77.-Early life:John E. Davis was born in Goodrich, North Dakota...	January 9, 1957–January 4, 1961	Republican	1913–1990
26	William L. Guy William L. Guy William Lewis Guy was the governor of the U.S. state of North Dakota from 1961 to 1973. At , he is the oldest of the six living current or past governors of North Dakota.-Biography:...	January 4, 1961–January 2, 1973	Democratic-NPL	1919–
27	Arthur A. Link Arthur A. Link Arthur Albert Link was an American politician for the North Dakota Democratic Party, and later the Democratic-NPL. He was elected as a one-term congressman in 1970 and as the 27th Governor of North Dakota in 1972, and served two terms until 1981.-Life and career:Link was born in Alexander, North...	January 2, 1973–January 6, 1981	Democratic-NPL	1914–2010
28	Allen I. Olson Allen I. Olson Allen Ingvar Olson is a Republican politician and attorney who served as the 28th Governor of North Dakota from 1981 to 1985. He defeated incumbent Arthur A. Link in the 1980 race for governor and served one term....	January 6, 1981–January 1, 1985	Republican	1938–
29	George A. Sinner	January 1, 1985–December 15, 1992	Democratic-NPL	1928–
30	Ed SchaferServed as the United States Secretary of Agriculture United States Secretary of Agriculture The United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture. The current secretary is Tom Vilsack, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on 20 January 2009. The position carries similar responsibilities to those of agriculture ministers in other...  after term as Governor	December 15, 1992–December 15, 2000	Republican	1946–
31	John Hoeven John Hoeven John Henry Hoeven III is the junior United States Senator from North Dakota. He is a member of the North Dakota Republican Party. He is expected to become the state's senior senator when Kent Conrad retires from the Senate in January 2013.Hoeven served as the 31st Governor of North Dakota,...	December 15, 2000–December 7, 2010	Republican	1957–
32	Jack Dalrymple Jack Dalrymple John "Jack" Dalrymple is a North Dakota politician and businessman who is the current Governor of North Dakota, and a one-time candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1992. Dalrymple became governor after the resignation of John Hoeven, who was elected to the U.S...	December 7, 2010–	Republican	1948–

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 North Dakota except where noted.

Name	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
		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...	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...
Frank White Frank White (Governor) Frank White was the eighth Governor of North Dakota. A Republican, White also served as Treasurer of the United States from 1921 to 1928.-Early life:...	1901–1905			Treasurer of the United States Treasurer of the United States The Treasurer of the United States is an official in the United States Department of the Treasury that was originally charged with the receipt and custody of government funds, though many of these functions have been taken over by different bureaus of the Department of the Treasury...
John Burke	1907–1913			Treasurer of the United States Treasurer of the United States The Treasurer of the United States is an official in the United States Department of the Treasury that was originally charged with the receipt and custody of government funds, though many of these functions have been taken over by different bureaus of the Department of the Treasury...
Lynn Frazier Lynn Frazier Lynn Joseph Frazier was a politician from North Dakota, serving as a U.S. Senator from 1923 to 1941 and the 12th Governor of North Dakota of that state from 1917 until being recalled in 1921. He was the first American governor ever successfully recalled from office...	1917–1921		S
William Langer William Langer William "Wild Bill" Langer was a prominent US politician from North Dakota. Langer is one of the most colorful characters in North Dakota history, most famously bouncing back from a scandal that forced him out of the governor's office and into prison. He served as the 17th and 21st Governor of...	1937–1939		S
John Moses John Moses John Moses was the 22nd Governor of North Dakota from 1939 to 1945, and served in the United States Senate in 1945 until his death that year.-Biography:...	1939–1945		S
Fred G. Aandahl Fred G. Aandahl Fred George Aandahl was an Republican politician from North Dakota. He served as the 23rd Governor of North Dakota from 1945 to 1951 and as a U.S. Representative from 1951 to 1953.-Biography:...	1945–1951	H		United States Assistant Secretary of the Interior
Clarence Norman Brunsdale Clarence Norman Brunsdale Clarence Norman Brunsdale was the 24th Governor of North Dakota and United States Senator of the state of North Dakota.-Biography:...	1951–1957		S
Arthur A. Link Arthur A. Link Arthur Albert Link was an American politician for the North Dakota Democratic Party, and later the Democratic-NPL. He was elected as a one-term congressman in 1970 and as the 27th Governor of North Dakota in 1972, and served two terms until 1981.-Life and career:Link was born in Alexander, North...	1973–1981	H
Ed Schafer	1992–2000			United States Secretary of Agriculture United States Secretary of Agriculture The United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture. The current secretary is Tom Vilsack, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on 20 January 2009. The position carries similar responsibilities to those of agriculture ministers in other...
John Hoeven John Hoeven John Henry Hoeven III is the junior United States Senator from North Dakota. He is a member of the North Dakota Republican Party. He is expected to become the state's senior senator when Kent Conrad retires from the Senate in January 2013.Hoeven served as the 31st Governor of North Dakota,...	2000–2010		S

Living former governors

, five former governors of North Dakota were alive. The most recent governor to die was Arthur A. Link

Arthur A. Link

Arthur Albert Link was an American politician for the North Dakota Democratic Party, and later the Democratic-NPL. He was elected as a one-term congressman in 1970 and as the 27th Governor of North Dakota in 1972, and served two terms until 1981.-Life and career:Link was born in Alexander, North...

 (1973–1981), on 1 June 2010.

Name	Gubernatorial term	Date of birth
William L. Guy William L. Guy William Lewis Guy was the governor of the U.S. state of North Dakota from 1961 to 1973. At , he is the oldest of the six living current or past governors of North Dakota.-Biography:...	1961–1973	September 30, 1919 (age 92)
Allen I. Olson Allen I. Olson Allen Ingvar Olson is a Republican politician and attorney who served as the 28th Governor of North Dakota from 1981 to 1985. He defeated incumbent Arthur A. Link in the 1980 race for governor and served one term....	1981–1985	November 05, 1938 (age 73)
George Sinner George Sinner George Albert Sinner is a Democratic-NPL politician who served as the 29th Governor of North Dakota from 1985 through 1992. He served two four-year terms as governor.- Early years, education, professional background :...	1985–1992	May 19, 1928 (age 83)
Ed Schafer	1992–2000	August 08, 1946 (age 65)
John Hoeven John Hoeven John Henry Hoeven III is the junior United States Senator from North Dakota. He is a member of the North Dakota Republican Party. He is expected to become the state's senior senator when Kent Conrad retires from the Senate in January 2013.Hoeven served as the 31st Governor of North Dakota,...	2000–2010	March 13, 1957 (age 54)

External links

• State Historical Society of North Dakota, North Dakota Governors