List of governors of Florida
Encyclopedia
The Governor of Florida is the head of the executive branch of government
in the U.S. state of Florida
, and the commander-in-chief
of the state's military forces
. The governor
has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto
bills passed by the Florida Legislature
, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment.
When Florida was first acquired by the United States, future president Andrew Jackson
served as its military governor. Florida Territory
was established in 1822, and five people served as governor over six distinct terms. The first territorial governor, William Pope Duval
, served 12 years, the longest of any governor to date. Since statehood in 1845 there have been 43 people who have served as governor, one of whom served two distinct terms. Three state governors have served two full four-year terms: William D. Bloxham
, in two stints; and Reubin Askew and Jeb Bush
, who each served their terms consecutively. Bob Graham
almost served two terms, as he resigned with only three days left. The shortest term in office belongs to Wayne Mixson
, who served three days following the resignation of his predecessor.
The current governor is Rick Scott, who took office on January 4, 2011.
Spanish Florida
was acquired from Spain in the Adams–Onís Treaty, which took effect July 10, 1821. Parts of West Florida
had already been assigned to Alabama
, Louisiana
, and Mississippi
; the remainder and East Florida
were governed by the commander of the military force that had helped secure American influence in the region.
was organized on March 30, 1822, combining East and West Florida.
on January 10, 1861, and joined the Confederate States of America
on February 8, 1861, as a founding member; there was no Union government in exile, so there was a single line of governors. Following the end of the American Civil War
, it was part of the Third Military District
. Florida was readmitted to the Union on June 25, 1868.
The first Florida Constitution
, ratified in 1838, provided that a governor be elected every four years, who was not allowed to serve consecutive terms. The secessionist constitution of 1861 would have reduced this to two years and removed the term limit, but the state fell to the Union before the first election under that constitution. The rejected constitution of 1865 and the ratified constitution of 1868 maintained the four-year term, though without the earlier term limit, which was reintroduced in the 1885 constitution. The current constitution of 1968 states that should the governor serve, or would have served had they not resigned, more than six years in two consecutive terms, he cannot be elected to the succeeding term. The start of a term was set in 1885 at the first Tuesday after the first Monday in the January following the election, where it has remained.
Originally, the president of the state senate acted as governor should that office be vacant. The 1865 and 1868 constitutions created the office of lieutenant governor
, who would similarly act as governor. This office was abolished in 1885, with the president of the senate again taking on that duty. The 1968 constitution recreated the office of lieutenant governor, who now becomes governor in the absence of the governor. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected on the same ticket
.
Florida was a strongly Democratic
state before the Civil War, electing only candidates from the Democratic and Whig
parties. It elected three Republican
governors following Reconstruction, but after the Democratic Party re-established control, 89 years passed before voters chose another Republican.
, two Cabinet secretaries
, and one ambassador. One served as Governor of North Carolina
, and all fourteen were elected to the U.S. Congress
, though only nine represented Florida, and only seven actually took their seats. One died before taking office, and the other was refused his seat by the U.S. Senate
shortly after the American Civil War
, because Florida had not yet been reconstructed. One governor (marked with *) resigned to take his seat in the Senate.
(1967–1971), on September 28, 2011.
Government of Florida
The government of Florida is a constitutional republic with three branches of government, including the executive branch consisting of the Governor of Florida and the other elected and appointed constitutional officers; the legislative branch, the Florida Legislature, consisting of the Senate and...
in the U.S. state of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, and the commander-in-chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
of the state's military forces
Florida National Guard
The Florida National Guard is the National Guard force of the U.S. state of Florida. It comprises the Florida Army National Guard and the Florida Air National Guard.The United States Constitution charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions...
. The governor
Governor (United States)
In the United States, the title governor refers to the chief executive of each state or insular territory, not directly subordinate to the federal authorities, but the political and ceremonial head of the state.-Role and powers:...
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 Florida Legislature
Florida Legislature
The Florida State Legislature is the term often used to refer to the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Florida Constitution states that "The legislative power of the state shall be vested in a legislature of the State of Florida," composed of a Senate...
, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment.
When Florida was first acquired by the United States, future president Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
served as its military governor. Florida Territory
Florida Territory
The Territory of Florida was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 30, 1822, until March 3, 1845, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Florida...
was established in 1822, and five people served as governor over six distinct terms. The first territorial governor, William Pope Duval
William Pope Duval
William Pope Duval was the first civilian governor of Florida Territory, serving from April 17, 1822 until April 24, 1834.-Early life:...
, served 12 years, the longest of any governor to date. Since statehood in 1845 there have been 43 people who have served as governor, one of whom served two distinct terms. Three state governors have served two full four-year terms: William D. Bloxham
William D. Bloxham
William Dunnington Bloxham was an American politician. He served as the 13th and 17th Governor of Florida in two non-consecutive terms. Prior to his first term as governor, he served in the Florida House of Representatives....
, in two stints; and Reubin Askew and Jeb Bush
Jeb Bush
John Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; the younger brother of former President George W...
, who each served their terms consecutively. Bob Graham
Bob Graham
Daniel Robert "Bob" Graham is an American politician. He was the 38th Governor of Florida from 1979 to 1987 and a United States Senator from that state from 1987 to 2005...
almost served two terms, as he resigned with only three days left. The shortest term in office belongs to Wayne Mixson
Wayne Mixson
John Wayne Mixson, better known as Wayne Mixson was the 39th Governor of the U.S. state of Florida. He assumed the office in January 1987 after Bob Graham stepped down to take his seat in the United States Senate, and served only three days until the governor-elect, Bob Martinez, was sworn in...
, who served three days following the resignation of his predecessor.
The current governor is Rick Scott, who took office on January 4, 2011.
Military governor
- For the a list of governors before Florida became a United States territory, see the list of colonial governors of Florida.
Spanish Florida
Spanish Florida
Spanish Florida refers to the Spanish territory of Florida, which formed part of the Captaincy General of Cuba, the Viceroyalty of New Spain, and the Spanish Empire. Originally extending over what is now the southeastern United States, but with no defined boundaries, la Florida was a component of...
was acquired from Spain in the Adams–Onís Treaty, which took effect July 10, 1821. Parts of West Florida
West Florida
West Florida was a region on the north shore of the Gulf of Mexico, which underwent several boundary and sovereignty changes during its history. West Florida was first established in 1763 by the British government; as its name suggests it largely consisted of the western portion of the region...
had already been assigned to Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, and Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
; the remainder and East Florida
East Florida
East Florida was a colony of Great Britain from 1763–1783 and of Spain from 1783–1822. East Florida was established by the British colonial government in 1763; as its name implies it consisted of the eastern part of the region of Florida, with West Florida comprising the western parts. Its capital...
were governed by the commander of the military force that had helped secure American influence in the region.
| Picture | Governor | Took office | Left office | Appointed by | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans... |
March 10, 1821 | December 31, 1821 | James Monroe James Monroe James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation... |
Governors of the Territory of Florida
Florida TerritoryFlorida Territory
The Territory of Florida was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 30, 1822, until March 3, 1845, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Florida...
was organized on March 30, 1822, combining East and West Florida.
| Picture | Governor | Took office | Left office | Appointed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Pope Duval William Pope Duval William Pope Duval was the first civilian governor of Florida Territory, serving from April 17, 1822 until April 24, 1834.-Early life:... |
April 17, 1822 | April 24, 1834 | James Monroe James Monroe James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation... |
|
| John Quincy Adams John Quincy Adams John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States . He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former... |
||||
| Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans... |
||||
 |
John Eaton | April 24, 1834 | March 16, 1836 | Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans... |
 |
Richard K. Call Richard K. Call Richard Keith Call was the third and fifth territorial governor of Florida.Named after his uncle, a Revolutionary War hero, he was born in Pittsfield, Prince George County, Virginia. In 1813 he left school to take part in the Creek War. He came favorably to the attention of General Andrew Jackson,... |
March 16, 1836 | December 2, 1839 | Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans... |
 |
Robert R. Reid Robert R. Reid Robert Raymond Reid was the fourth territorial governor of Florida. He was also a Representative from Georgia. He also held several judicial positions.... |
December 2, 1839 | March 19, 1841 | Martin Van Buren Martin Van Buren Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson .... |
|
Richard K. Call Richard K. Call Richard Keith Call was the third and fifth territorial governor of Florida.Named after his uncle, a Revolutionary War hero, he was born in Pittsfield, Prince George County, Virginia. In 1813 he left school to take part in the Creek War. He came favorably to the attention of General Andrew Jackson,... |
March 19, 1841 | August 11, 1844 | William Henry Harrison William Henry Harrison William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the... |
| John Tyler John Tyler John Tyler was the tenth President of the United States . A native of Virginia, Tyler served as a state legislator, governor, U.S. representative, and U.S. senator before being elected Vice President . He was the first to succeed to the office of President following the death of a predecessor... |
||||
 |
John Branch John Branch John Branch, Jr. served as U.S. Senator, Secretary of the Navy, the 19th Governor of the state of North Carolina, and was the sixth and last territorial governor of Florida.... |
August 11, 1844 | June 25, 1845 | John Tyler John Tyler John Tyler was the tenth President of the United States . A native of Virginia, Tyler served as a state legislator, governor, U.S. representative, and U.S. senator before being elected Vice President . He was the first to succeed to the office of President following the death of a predecessor... |
Governors of the State of Florida
The State of Florida was admitted to the Union on March 3, 1845. It seceded from the UnionUnion (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
on January 10, 1861, and joined the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
on February 8, 1861, as a founding member; there was no Union government in exile, so there was a single line of governors. Following the end of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, it was part of the Third Military District
Third Military District
The Third Military District existed in the American South during the Reconstruction era that followed the American Civil War. It comprises Georgia, Florida and Alabama and was headquartered in Atlanta....
. Florida was readmitted to the Union on June 25, 1868.
The first Florida Constitution
Florida Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Florida is the document that establishes and describes the duties, powers, structure and function of the government of the U.S. state of Florida, and establishes the basic law of the state....
, ratified in 1838, provided that a governor be elected every four years, who was not allowed to serve consecutive terms. The secessionist constitution of 1861 would have reduced this to two years and removed the term limit, but the state fell to the Union before the first election under that constitution. The rejected constitution of 1865 and the ratified constitution of 1868 maintained the four-year term, though without the earlier term limit, which was reintroduced in the 1885 constitution. The current constitution of 1968 states that should the governor serve, or would have served had they not resigned, more than six years in two consecutive terms, he cannot be elected to the succeeding term. The start of a term was set in 1885 at the first Tuesday after the first Monday in the January following the election, where it has remained.
Originally, the president of the state senate acted as governor should that office be vacant. The 1865 and 1868 constitutions created the office of lieutenant governor
Lieutenant governor (United States)
In the United States, 43 of the 50 states have a separate, full-time office of lieutenant governor. In most cases, the lieutenant governor is the highest officer of state after the governor, standing in for that officer when he or she is absent from the state or temporarily incapacitated...
, who would similarly act as governor. This office was abolished in 1885, with the president of the senate again taking on that duty. The 1968 constitution recreated the office of lieutenant governor, who now becomes governor in the absence of the governor. The governor and lieutenant governor are 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...
.
Florida was a strongly 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...
state before the Civil War, electing only candidates from the Democratic and 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...
parties. It elected three 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...
governors following Reconstruction, but after the Democratic Party re-established control, 89 years passed before voters chose another Republican.
| #The official numbering includes repeat terms, as well as the provisional governor. | |Lt. Governor Lieutenant Governor of Florida The Lieutenant Governor of Florida is a statewide elected office in the government of the U.S. state of Florida. According to the Florida Constitution, the lieutenant governor is elected to a four-year term congruent with that of the Governor of Florida, and succeeds to the office of Governor if it... The office of lieutenant governor was created in 1868, abolished in 1885, and recreated in 1968.Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted. | TermsThe fractional terms of some governors are not to be understood absolutely literally; rather, they are meant to show single terms during which multiple governors served, due to resignations, deaths and the like. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | William Dunn Moseley William Dunn Moseley William Dunn Moseley was an American politician. A Democrat and North Carolina native, Moseley became the first Governor of the state of Florida, serving from 1845 until 1849 and leading the establishment of the state government.-Early life and education:He was born at Moseley Hall in Lenoir... |
June 25, 1845 | October 1, 1849 | 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... |
None | 1 | ||
| 2 | Thomas Brown | October 1, 1849 | October 3, 1853 | 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... |
1 | |||
| 3 | James E. Broome James E. Broome James Emilius Broome was an American politician who was the third Governor of Florida.- Early life and career :... |
October 3, 1853 | October 5, 1857 | Democratic | 1 | |||
| 4 | Madison S. Perry Madison S. Perry Madison Starke Perry was the fourth Governor of Florida.-Early life:Madison Starke Perry was born in Lancaster County, South Carolina, the youngest child of Benjamin Perry and his wife Mary Starke. He came to Florida in 1845 and helped found the village of Rochelle, Florida in Alachua County... |
October 5, 1857 | October 7, 1861 | Democratic | 1 | |||
| 5 | John Milton John Milton (Florida politician) John Milton was an American politician who was the fifth Governor of Florida.John Milton was the son of Homer Virgil Milton and the grandson of Revolutionary War hero and former Georgia Secretary of State, John Milton .John was born near Louisville, Georgia... |
October 7, 1861 | April 1, 1865 | Democratic | ||||
| 6 | Abraham K. Allison Abraham K. Allison Abraham Kurkindolle Allison was a Florida businessman and politician. He served in the Florida Territorial Legislature and the Florida State House of Representatives... |
April 1, 1865 | May 19, 1865 | Democratic | ||||
| 7 | William Marvin William Marvin William Marvin was an American lawyer, politician, and judge. He was the seventh Governor of FloridaMarvin was born in Fairfield, New York. He read law in 1834 and entered private practice in Phelps, New York in 1834... |
July 13, 1865 | December 20, 1865 | Provisional | —Appointed by President 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.... Andrew Johnson Andrew Johnson Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American... following the American Civil War American Civil War The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25... .The first governor elected under the 1861 constitution would have been elected in October 1865; however, due to the occupation of the state and drafting of a new constitution, no governor was elected under that constitution. |
|||
| 8 | David S. Walker David S. Walker David Shelby Walker was the eighth Governor of Florida.Walker was born near Russelville in Logan County, Kentucky. He attended private schools in Kentucky and Tennessee and studied law. He moved to Florida in 1837, settling in Leon County... |
December 20, 1865 | July 4, 1868 | Democratic | William W. J. Kelly William W. J. Kelly William Washington Jones Kelly was the first Lieutenant Governor of Florida.Kelly was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, to Hanson Kelly and Susan Clark Kelly, an entrepreneurial merchant. The Kelly family moved to Pensacola about 1830... Represented the Republican Party 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... . |
— | ||
| 9 | Harrison Reed | July 4, 1868 | January 7, 1873 | 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... |
William Henry Gleason William Henry Gleason William Henry Gleason was an American politician from Florida. He was Florida's second Lieutenant Governor and was very briefly, acting Governor.-Early life:... |
1 | ||
| Edmund C. Weeks Edmund C. Weeks Edmund Cottle Weeks was an American politician who served as the third Lieutenant Governor of Florida.-Early life:... |
||||||||
| Samuel T. Day Samuel T. Day Samuel T. Day was an American physician, plantation owner, and politician who served as the fourth Lieutenant Governor of Florida, from January 3, 1871, to June 3, 1872.... |
||||||||
| 10 | Ossian B. Hart Ossian B. Hart Ossian Bingley Hart was the tenth Governor of the U.S. state of Florida, and the first governor of Florida who was born in the state. Born in Jacksonville to Isaiah Hart, one of the city's founders, he was raised on his father's plantation along the St. Johns River. He was lawyer in Jacksonville.... |
January 7, 1873 | March 18, 1874 | Republican | Marcellus Stearns Marcellus Stearns Marcellus Lovejoy Stearns was an American politician. He served as the 11th Governor of Florida, from 1874 to 1877.Born in Lovell, Maine on April 29, 1839, he attended Colby College and in 1861 left to join the Union Army. He lost an arm during the war, after which he was sent by the army to... |
|||
| 11 | Marcellus Stearns Marcellus Stearns Marcellus Lovejoy Stearns was an American politician. He served as the 11th Governor of Florida, from 1874 to 1877.Born in Lovell, Maine on April 29, 1839, he attended Colby College and in 1861 left to join the Union Army. He lost an arm during the war, after which he was sent by the army to... |
March 18, 1874 | January 2, 1877 | Republican | Vacant | |||
| 12 | George Franklin Drew George Franklin Drew George Franklin Drew was the 12th Governor of the U.S. state of Florida.Born in Alton, New Hampshire, he moved to the south, opening a machine shop in Columbus, Georgia in 1847. In 1865, he opened the largest sawmill in Florida in Ellaville... |
January 2, 1877 | January 4, 1881 | Democratic | Noble A. Hull Noble A. Hull Noble Andrew Hull was a U.S. Representative from Florida and the sixth Lieutenant Governor of Florida.-Early life:... |
1 | ||
| 13 | William D. Bloxham William D. Bloxham William Dunnington Bloxham was an American politician. He served as the 13th and 17th Governor of Florida in two non-consecutive terms. Prior to his first term as governor, he served in the Florida House of Representatives.... |
January 4, 1881 | January 7, 1885 | Democratic | Livingston W. Bethel Livingston W. Bethel Livingstone Wellesley Bethel was an American lawyer, judge, politician, and Lieutenant Governor of Florida 1881-4.... |
1 | ||
| 14 | Edward A. Perry Edward A. Perry Edward Aylesworth Perry was a general under Robert E. Lee during the American Civil War and the 14th Governor of Florida.-Early life:He was a descendant of Arthur Perry, one of the earliest settlers of New England... |
January 7, 1885 | January 8, 1889 | Democratic | Milton H. Mabry Milton H. Mabry Milton Harvey Mabry was an American lawyer, politician, and judge. He served as both Lieutenant Governor of Florida and Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court.... |
1 | ||
| 15 | Francis P. Fleming Francis P. Fleming Francis Philip Fleming was an American politician and the 15th Governor of Florida from 1889 to 1893. Fleming was a Democrat, strong supporter of segregation and an opponent of civil rights for blacks... |
January 8, 1889 | January 3, 1893 | Democratic | None | 1 | ||
| 16 | Henry L. Mitchell Henry L. Mitchell Henry Laurens Mitchell was an American lawyer, judge, and politician. He served as the 16th Governor of Florida .... |
January 3, 1893 | January 5, 1897 | Democratic | 1 | |||
| 17 | William D. Bloxham William D. Bloxham William Dunnington Bloxham was an American politician. He served as the 13th and 17th Governor of Florida in two non-consecutive terms. Prior to his first term as governor, he served in the Florida House of Representatives.... |
January 5, 1897 | January 8, 1901 | Democratic | 1 | |||
| 18 | William Sherman Jennings | January 8, 1901 | January 3, 1905 | Democratic | 1 | |||
| 19 | Napoleon B. Broward Napoleon B. Broward Napoleon Bonaparte Broward was the 19th Governor of the U.S. state of Florida from January 3, 1905 to January 5, 1909. He also served as the sheriff of Duval County, Florida, and in the Florida House of Representatives.... |
January 3, 1905 | January 5, 1909 | Democratic | 1 | |||
| 20 | Albert W. Gilchrist Albert W. Gilchrist Albert Waller Gilchrist was the 20th Governor of Florida.Born in Greenwood, South Carolina, he attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and would have graduated in 1882 but he did not because he was deficient in experimental philosophy after three years... |
January 5, 1909 | January 7, 1913 | Democratic | 1 | |||
| 21 | Park Trammell Park Trammell Park Monroe Trammell , an American politician of the Democratic Party, was the 21st Governor of Florida and represented Florida in the United States Senate from 1917 until 1936.... |
January 7, 1913 | January 2, 1917 | Democratic | 1 | |||
| 22 | Sidney Johnston Catts | January 2, 1917 | January 4, 1921 | Prohibition Prohibition Party The Prohibition Party is a political party in the United States best known for its historic opposition to the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages. It is the oldest existing third party in the US. The party was an integral part of the temperance movement... |
1 | |||
| 23 | Cary A. Hardee Cary A. Hardee Cary Augustus Hardee was the 23rd Governor of Florida.Born in Taylor County, Florida, he spent most of his life in Live Oak, Florida. He was a lawyer, state attorney, member of the Florida House of Representatives, and speaker of the Florida House before being elected governor... |
January 4, 1921 | January 6, 1925 | Democratic | 1 | |||
| 24 | John W. Martin John W. Martin John Wellborn Martin was an American politician. He was the 24th Governor of Florida, serving from 1925 to 1929. He also served as Mayor of Jacksonville, Florida from 1917 to 1923.-Life:... |
January 6, 1925 | January 8, 1929 | Democratic | 1 | |||
| 25 | Doyle E. Carlton Doyle E. Carlton Doyle Elam Carlton was the 25th Governor of Florida.-Early life:Doyle Carlton the son of Albert and Martha Carlton was born in Wauchula, Florida. He had one younger brother, Leland Francis Carlton. He received his primary education in Wauchula and, as there was then no local high school, he then... |
January 8, 1929 | January 3, 1933 | Democratic | 1 | |||
| 26 | David Sholtz David Sholtz David Sholtz was the 26th Governor of Florida.-Early life and education:Sholtz was born to Jewish parents in Brooklyn, New York, and after graduating from Yale, where he was a member of the Acacia Fraternity, in 1914 he went on and earned a law degree from Stetson University Law School... |
January 3, 1933 | January 5, 1937 | Democratic | 1 | |||
| 27 | Fred P. Cone Fred P. Cone Frederick Preston Cone was the 27th Governor of Florida.He was born in Benton, Florida in Columbia County. In 1892, he was admitted to the Florida bar and began practicing in Lake City, Florida. He served in the Florida Senate from 1907 to 1913, serving as the senate president in 1911. He became... |
January 5, 1937 | January 7, 1941 | Democratic | 1 | |||
| 28 | Spessard Holland Spessard Holland Spessard Lindsey Holland was an American lawyer, politician and elected officeholder. He was the 28th Governor of Florida from 1941 until 1945, during World War II. After finishing his term as governor, he was a United States Senator from Florida from 1946 until 1971... |
January 7, 1941 | January 2, 1945 | Democratic | 1 | |||
| 29 | Millard F. Caldwell Millard F. Caldwell Millard Fillmore Caldwell was an American politician. He was the 29th Governor of Florida and served in all three branches of government at various times in his life, including as a U.S. Representative and Florida Supreme Court justice.Caldwell was born in the rural area of Beverly, Tennessee,... |
January 2, 1945 | January 4, 1949 | Democratic | 1 | |||
| 30 | Fuller Warren Fuller Warren Fuller Warren was the 30th Governor of Florida.Born in Blountstown, Florida, he attended the University of Florida in Gainesville. While at the University of Florida, he was one of the early members of Florida Blue Key and was a member of the Tau Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity... |
January 4, 1949 | January 6, 1953 | Democratic | 1 | |||
| 31 | Daniel T. McCarty Daniel T. McCarty Daniel Thomas McCarty was an American politician and elected officeholder. McCarty was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, and served as its speaker, and was later elected the 31st Governor of Florida.... |
January 6, 1953 | September 28, 1953 | Democratic | ||||
| 32 | Charley Eugene Johns Charley Eugene Johns Charley Eugene Johns was an American politician. Johns, a Baptist, served as the 32nd Governor of Florida from 1953 to 1955.Johns was born in Starke, Florida. He worked as a railroad conductor... |
September 28, 1953 | January 4, 1955 | Democratic | As president of the state senate, acted as governor until a special election. | |||
| 33 | LeRoy Collins LeRoy Collins Thomas LeRoy Collins was the 33rd Governor of Florida.-Early life:Collins was born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida, where he attended Leon High School. He went on to attend the Eastman Business College in New York and then went on to the Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama to... |
January 4, 1955 | January 3, 1961 | Democratic | +1 | |||
| 34 | C. Farris Bryant C. Farris Bryant Cecil Farris Bryant was the 34th Governor of Florida. He also served on the United States National Security Council and in the Office of Emergency Planning during the administration of President Lyndon B... |
January 3, 1961 | January 5, 1965 | Democratic | 1 | |||
| 35 | W. Haydon Burns W. Haydon Burns William Haydon Burns was the 35th Governor of Florida from 1965 to 1967. He was also Mayor of the city of Jacksonville, Florida from 1949 to 1965.-Early life:... |
January 5, 1965 | January 3, 1967 | Democratic | 1 | |||
| 36 | Claude R. Kirk, Jr. Claude R. Kirk, Jr. Claude Roy Kirk, Jr. was the 36th Governor of the U.S. state of Florida . He was the first Republican Governor of Florida since Reconstruction.-Early life:... |
January 3, 1967 | January 5, 1971 | Republican | None | 1 | ||
| Ray C. Osborne Ray C. Osborne Ray C. Osborne was a Florida Republican Party politician who served as the first Lieutenant Governor of Florida under the state constitution of 1968 and the state's first lieutenant governor since 1889. Appointed by Republican Governor Claude R... |
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| 37 | Reubin Askew | January 5, 1971 | January 2, 1979 | Democratic | Thomas Burton Adams, Jr. Thomas Burton Adams, Jr. Thomas Burton "Tom" Adams, Jr. was an American politician from the U.S. state of Florida. A Democrat, he served in the Florida Senate , as Secretary of State of Florida , and as the tenth Lieutenant Governor of Florida .-Early life:Adams was born in Jacksonville, Florida to Thomas Burton Adams,... |
2 | ||
| Jim Williams Jim Williams (Florida) James Hunter Williams, aka Jim Williams or J.H. Williams is a retired American politician, member of the Democratic Party. Williams is best known for serving as the 11th Lieutenant Governor of Florida from 1975 to 1979. He was the second Lt. Governor under Governor Reubin O'Donovan Askew... |
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| 38 | Bob Graham Bob Graham Daniel Robert "Bob" Graham is an American politician. He was the 38th Governor of Florida from 1979 to 1987 and a United States Senator from that state from 1987 to 2005... |
January 2, 1979 | January 3, 1987 | Democratic | Wayne Mixson Wayne Mixson John Wayne Mixson, better known as Wayne Mixson was the 39th Governor of the U.S. state of Florida. He assumed the office in January 1987 after Bob Graham stepped down to take his seat in the United States Senate, and served only three days until the governor-elect, Bob Martinez, was sworn in... |
1Resigned to take an elected seat 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... . |
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| 39 | Wayne Mixson Wayne Mixson John Wayne Mixson, better known as Wayne Mixson was the 39th Governor of the U.S. state of Florida. He assumed the office in January 1987 after Bob Graham stepped down to take his seat in the United States Senate, and served only three days until the governor-elect, Bob Martinez, was sworn in... |
January 3, 1987 | January 6, 1987 | Democratic | Vacant | |||
| 40 | Bob Martinez Bob Martinez Robert Martinez was the 40th Governor of Florida from 1987 to 1991. Prior to that, he was the mayor of Tampa from 1979 to 1986.- Education and early career :... |
January 6, 1987 | January 8, 1991 | Republican | Bobby Brantley Bobby Brantley Bobby Lynn Brantley is an American Republican politician from the State of Florida. He served one term as 13th Lieutenant Governor of Florida, from 1987 to 1991.... |
1 | ||
| 41 | Lawton Chiles Lawton Chiles Lawton Mainor Chiles, Jr. was an American politician from the US state of Florida. In a career spanning four decades, Chiles, a Democrat who never lost an election, served in the Florida House of Representatives , the Florida State Senate , the United States Senate , and as the 41st Governor of... |
January 8, 1991 | December 12, 1998 | Democratic | Buddy MacKay Buddy MacKay Kenneth Hood "Buddy" MacKay, Jr. is an American politician and diplomat from Florida. A Democrat, he was briefly the 42nd Governor of Florida following the death of Lawton Chiles on December 12, 1998. During his long public service career he was also state legislator, U.S. Representative, Lt... |
1 | ||
| 42 | Buddy MacKay Buddy MacKay Kenneth Hood "Buddy" MacKay, Jr. is an American politician and diplomat from Florida. A Democrat, he was briefly the 42nd Governor of Florida following the death of Lawton Chiles on December 12, 1998. During his long public service career he was also state legislator, U.S. Representative, Lt... |
December 12, 1998 | January 5, 1999 | Democratic | Vacant | |||
| 43 | Jeb Bush Jeb Bush John Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; the younger brother of former President George W... |
January 5, 1999 | January 2, 2007 | Republican | Frank Brogan Frank Brogan Frank T. Brogan is the current Chancellor of the State University System of Florida and the former President of Florida Atlantic University. He was also the 15th Lieutenant Governor of Florida... |
2 | ||
| Toni Jennings Toni Jennings Antoinette "Toni" Jennings was the 16th Lieutenant Governor of Florida. She was nominated to the office by Governor Jeb Bush in February 2003 to replace Frank Brogan, who resigned to become president of Florida Atlantic University. She was sworn in on March 3, 2003, becoming the first woman to... |
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| 44 | Charlie Crist Charlie Crist Charles Joseph "Charlie" Crist, Jr. is an American politician who was the 44th Governor of Florida. Prior to his election as governor, Crist previously served as Florida State Senator, Education Commissioner, and Attorney General... |
January 2, 2007 | January 4, 2011 | Republican | Jeff Kottkamp Jeff Kottkamp Jeffrey "Jeff" Kottkamp is an American politician from Florida, and served as the state's 17th Lieutenant Governor, from 2007 to 2011.... |
1 | ||
| Independent | ||||||||
| 45 | Rick Scott | January 4, 2011 | Incumbent | Republican | Jennifer Carroll Jennifer Carroll Jennifer Carroll is a Trinidadian-born American politician who is the 18th and current Lieutenant Governor of the U.S. state of Florida. The first African American and the first woman elected to the position, she assumed the office on January 4, 2011... |
1Governor Scott's first term expires Florida gubernatorial election, 2014 The 2014 Florida gubernatorial election will take place on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Governor Rick Scott will be eligible to run for reelection.-External links:*... on January 6, 2015; 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. |
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Other high offices held
Fourteen of Florida's governors have served higher federal offices, including one President of the United StatesPresident 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....
, two Cabinet secretaries
United States Cabinet
The Cabinet of the United States is composed of the most senior appointed officers of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States, which are generally the heads of the federal executive departments...
, and one ambassador. One served as Governor of North Carolina
Governor of North Carolina
The Governor of North Carolina is the chief executive of the State of North Carolina, one of the U.S. states. The current governor is Bev Perdue, North Carolina's first female governor.-Powers:...
, and all fourteen were elected to the 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....
, though only nine represented Florida, and only seven actually took their seats. One died before taking office, and the other was refused his seat by 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...
shortly after the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, because Florida had not yet been reconstructed. One governor (marked with *) resigned to take his seat in the Senate.
| Governor | Gubernatorial term | Other offices held | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans... |
1821 | Representative 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... and Senator 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... from Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area... , 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.... |
|
| William Pope Duval William Pope Duval William Pope Duval was the first civilian governor of Florida Territory, serving from April 17, 1822 until April 24, 1834.-Early life:... |
1822–1834 | Representative from Kentucky Kentucky The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth... |
|
| John Eaton | 1834–1836 | Senator from Tennessee, Minister to Spain United States Ambassador to Spain -Ambassadors:*John Jay**Appointed: September 29, 1779**Title: Minister Plenipotentiary**Presented credentials:**Terminated mission: ~May 20, 1782*William Carmichael**Appointed: April 20, 1790**Title: Chargé d'Affaires... , Secretary of War United States Secretary of War The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War," was appointed to serve the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation... |
|
| Richard K. Call Richard K. Call Richard Keith Call was the third and fifth territorial governor of Florida.Named after his uncle, a Revolutionary War hero, he was born in Pittsfield, Prince George County, Virginia. In 1813 he left school to take part in the Creek War. He came favorably to the attention of General Andrew Jackson,... |
1836–1839, 1841–1844 | Territorial Delegate 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... from Florida Territory |
|
| Robert R. Reid Robert R. Reid Robert Raymond Reid was the fourth territorial governor of Florida. He was also a Representative from Georgia. He also held several judicial positions.... |
1839–1841 | Representative from Florida, Representative from Georgia Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788... |
|
| John Branch John Branch John Branch, Jr. served as U.S. Senator, Secretary of the Navy, the 19th Governor of the state of North Carolina, and was the sixth and last territorial governor of Florida.... |
1844–1845 | Representative and Senator from North Carolina North Carolina North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte... , Governor of North Carolina Governor of North Carolina The Governor of North Carolina is the chief executive of the State of North Carolina, one of the U.S. states. The current governor is Bev Perdue, North Carolina's first female governor.-Powers:... , 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... |
|
| William Marvin William Marvin William Marvin was an American lawyer, politician, and judge. He was the seventh Governor of FloridaMarvin was born in Fairfield, New York. He read law in 1834 and entered private practice in Phelps, New York in 1834... |
1865 | Elected to the Senate from Florida but was refused seat | |
| Napoleon B. Broward Napoleon B. Broward Napoleon Bonaparte Broward was the 19th Governor of the U.S. state of Florida from January 3, 1905 to January 5, 1909. He also served as the sheriff of Duval County, Florida, and in the Florida House of Representatives.... |
1905–1909 | Elected to the Senate from Florida but died before taking office | |
| Park Trammell Park Trammell Park Monroe Trammell , an American politician of the Democratic Party, was the 21st Governor of Florida and represented Florida in the United States Senate from 1917 until 1936.... |
1913–1917 | Senator from Florida | |
| Spessard Holland Spessard Holland Spessard Lindsey Holland was an American lawyer, politician and elected officeholder. He was the 28th Governor of Florida from 1941 until 1945, during World War II. After finishing his term as governor, he was a United States Senator from Florida from 1946 until 1971... |
1941–1945 | Senator from Florida | |
| Millard F. Caldwell Millard F. Caldwell Millard Fillmore Caldwell was an American politician. He was the 29th Governor of Florida and served in all three branches of government at various times in his life, including as a U.S. Representative and Florida Supreme Court justice.Caldwell was born in the rural area of Beverly, Tennessee,... |
1945–1949 | Representative from Florida | |
| Bob Graham Bob Graham Daniel Robert "Bob" Graham is an American politician. He was the 38th Governor of Florida from 1979 to 1987 and a United States Senator from that state from 1987 to 2005... |
1979–1987 | Senator from Florida* | |
| Lawton Chiles Lawton Chiles Lawton Mainor Chiles, Jr. was an American politician from the US state of Florida. In a career spanning four decades, Chiles, a Democrat who never lost an election, served in the Florida House of Representatives , the Florida State Senate , the United States Senate , and as the 41st Governor of... |
1991–1998 | Senator from Florida | |
| Buddy MacKay Buddy MacKay Kenneth Hood "Buddy" MacKay, Jr. is an American politician and diplomat from Florida. A Democrat, he was briefly the 42nd Governor of Florida following the death of Lawton Chiles on December 12, 1998. During his long public service career he was also state legislator, U.S. Representative, Lt... |
1998–1999 | Representative from Florida |
Living former governors
, seven former governors are alive. The most recent death of a former governor was that of Claude R. Kirk, Jr.Claude R. Kirk, Jr.
Claude Roy Kirk, Jr. was the 36th Governor of the U.S. state of Florida . He was the first Republican Governor of Florida since Reconstruction.-Early life:...
(1967–1971), on September 28, 2011.
| Governor | Gubernatorial term | Date of birth |
|---|---|---|
| Reubin Askew | 1971–1979 | September 11, 1928 (age 83) |
| Bob Graham Bob Graham Daniel Robert "Bob" Graham is an American politician. He was the 38th Governor of Florida from 1979 to 1987 and a United States Senator from that state from 1987 to 2005... |
1979–1987 | November 09, 1936 (age 75) |
| Wayne Mixson Wayne Mixson John Wayne Mixson, better known as Wayne Mixson was the 39th Governor of the U.S. state of Florida. He assumed the office in January 1987 after Bob Graham stepped down to take his seat in the United States Senate, and served only three days until the governor-elect, Bob Martinez, was sworn in... |
1987 | June 16, 1922 (age 89) |
| Bob Martinez Bob Martinez Robert Martinez was the 40th Governor of Florida from 1987 to 1991. Prior to that, he was the mayor of Tampa from 1979 to 1986.- Education and early career :... |
1987–1991 | December 25, 1934 (age 77) |
| Buddy MacKay Buddy MacKay Kenneth Hood "Buddy" MacKay, Jr. is an American politician and diplomat from Florida. A Democrat, he was briefly the 42nd Governor of Florida following the death of Lawton Chiles on December 12, 1998. During his long public service career he was also state legislator, U.S. Representative, Lt... |
1998–1999 | March 22, 1933 (age 78) |
| Jeb Bush Jeb Bush John Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; the younger brother of former President George W... |
1999–2007 | February 11, 1953 (age 58) |
| Charlie Crist Charlie Crist Charles Joseph "Charlie" Crist, Jr. is an American politician who was the 44th Governor of Florida. Prior to his election as governor, Crist previously served as Florida State Senator, Education Commissioner, and Attorney General... |
2007–2011 | July 24, 1956 (age 55) |