Governor of California

Governor of California
State of California / reproduction : Dorian crd · Public domain · source
Post	Governor
Body	California
Insigniasize	110
Insigniacaption	Seal of the Governor
Flagsize	110
Flagcaption	Flag of the Governor
Incumbent	Gavin Newsom
Incumbentsince	January 7, 2019
Department	Government of California
Style	The Honorable (formal), Governor (informal)
Residence	Governor's Mansion
Seat	Sacramento
Appointer	Popular election
Termlength	Four years, renewable once
Formation	December 20, 1849
Inaugural	Peter Hardeman Burnett
Salary	$210,000 (2020)

Governor of California. The chief executive of the U.S. state of California and commander-in-chief of the California National Guard. The officeholder is vested with substantial powers, including the ability to propose a state budget, sign or veto legislation passed by the California State Legislature, and grant pardons. The current governor is Gavin Newsom, a member of the Democratic Party who was first elected in the 2018 election and re-elected in the 2022 election.

History

The office has its origins in the Mexican era, with the first American military governor appointed following the Conquest of California during the Mexican–American War. John C. Frémont served briefly as a controversial military governor in 1847. After the California Gold Rush and the 1849 Constitutional Convention in Monterey, Peter Hardeman Burnett was elected as the first civilian governor under statehood, which was granted as part of the Compromise of 1850. Early governors like Leland Stanford and Hiram Johnson shaped the state's development, with Johnson's Progressive era reforms including the introduction of the recall election mechanism famously used to remove Gray Davis in the 2003 recall and elect Arnold Schwarzenegger. The governorship has been held by members of both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party, with notable figures including Earl Warren, Ronald Reagan, and Jerry Brown.

Powers and duties

The governor's powers are derived from the Constitution of California. As the head of the executive branch, the governor is responsible for submitting an annual budget proposal to the California State Legislature and ensuring the faithful execution of state laws through agencies like the California Department of Justice and the California Highway Patrol. The governor possesses a strong veto power over bills passed by the California State Senate and California State Assembly, which can only be overridden by a two-thirds vote in each house. Additional authority includes serving as commander-in-chief of the California National Guard, the power to grant reprieves and pardons (except in cases of impeachment), and the ability to fill vacancies in statewide offices and the judiciary, subject to confirmation by the California Commission on Judicial Appointments for judges. The governor also chairs the University of California Board of Regents and the California State University Board of Trustees.

Election and succession

Governors are elected by plurality vote in a statewide general election held every four years, coinciding with midterm election years. Term limits, established by Proposition 140, restrict an individual to serving no more than two terms. The California Secretary of State oversees the election process. In the event of a vacancy due to death, resignation, or removal, the Lieutenant Governor assumes the office, as occurred when Gray Davis was succeeded by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Further succession is detailed in the California Government Code, placing the President pro tempore of the California State Senate and the Speaker of the California State Assembly next in line. A governor can also be removed from office by the legislature through impeachment or by the electorate via the recall election process.

List of governors

Since statehood, over 40 individuals have served as governor. The first, Peter Hardeman Burnett, was a Democrat, though early party affiliations were fluid. Leland Stanford, a Republican and co-founder of the Central Pacific Railroad, served during the Gilded Age. The 20th century saw influential governors like Hiram Johnson (Progressive), Earl Warren (Republican), and Pat Brown (Democrat). Ronald Reagan, a Republican, served two terms before being elected President of the United States. His son, Jerry Brown, served two non-consecutive terms decades apart. The 21st century began with Gray Davis, a Democrat who was recalled in 2003 and replaced by Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger. The current governor, Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, previously served as Mayor of San Francisco and Lieutenant Governor of California.

Residences and offices

The official workplace of the governor is the California State Capitol in Sacramento, primarily within the Governor's Office located in the building's west wing. The state provides an official residence, the Governor's Mansion, a Victorian house in Sacramento that has been used by many governors since the tenure of George Pardee. However, some governors, including Ronald Reagan and Jerry Brown, have chosen not to reside there full-time. For security and logistical support, the governor is served by the California Highway Patrol's Executive Protection Division. The governor also maintains a secondary office in the Ronald Reagan State Building in Los Angeles and frequently utilizes the historic Sutter's Fort area for ceremonial events.