Governor of Florida

Governor of Florida
source
Post	Governor
Body	Florida
Insigniasize	110
Insigniacaption	Seal of Florida
Flagsize	110
Flagcaption	Flag of the Governor of Florida
Incumbent	Ron DeSantis
Incumbentsince	January 8, 2019
Department	Government of Florida
Style	The Honorable (formal), Governor (informal)
Residence	Florida Governor's Mansion
Seat	The Capitol, Tallahassee
Termlength	Four years, renewable once consecutively
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Florida
Formation	June 25, 1845
First	William D. Moseley
Salary	$130,273 (2013)

Contents

History
Powers and duties
Election and succession
List of governors
Residences and offices
See also

Governor of Florida. The Governor of Florida is the chief executive of the Government of Florida and commander-in-chief of the Florida National Guard. The officeholder is responsible for implementing state laws, overseeing the executive branch, and preparing the annual Florida state budget. The governor also possesses powers of appointment, veto, and clemency, playing a central role in the state's governance from the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee.

History

The office has evolved through distinct periods of Spanish Florida, British Florida, and American governance. Early colonial executives included Spanish governors like Pedro Menéndez de Avilés and British administrators such as James Grant. Following the Adams–Onís Treaty, Andrew Jackson served as the first Territorial Governor. Since statehood in 1845, the governorship has been held by individuals from the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, and historically, the Dixiecrat faction. Notable 20th-century governors include Claude Kirk, the first Republican since Reconstruction, and Reubin Askew, a leader of the New South. The 2000 presidential election recount centered on Florida, intensifying the office's national political significance.

Powers and duties

Constitutional authority derives from the Constitution of Florida. The governor ensures faithful execution of laws passed by the Florida Legislature, comprising the Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives. A principal power is the approval or veto of legislation, including the line-item veto for appropriations bills. The governor serves on the Florida Cabinet, alongside the Attorney General and Chief Financial Officer, overseeing departments like the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. As commander-in-chief, the governor can mobilize the Florida National Guard during emergencies, such as Hurricane Andrew or the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida. Other duties include extraditing fugitives, granting pardons (except for cases of impeachment), and filling vacancies in state offices and the Florida Supreme Court.

Election and succession

Gubernatorial elections are held every four years, coinciding with the midterm elections. Candidates must be at least thirty years old, a United States citizen for ten years, and a Florida resident for the preceding seven. Since a 1968 amendment, governors are limited to two consecutive terms, though they can run again after a break. If the office becomes vacant, succession proceeds in this order: Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, and then the Commissioner of Agriculture. The Florida Constitution was amended in 1998 to create a joint ticket for governor and lieutenant governor.

List of governors

Since statehood, Florida has had 46 governors. The first was William D. Moseley, a Democrat. The longest-serving governor was Bob Graham, who served from 1979 to 1987. Other notable governors include Napoleon B. Broward, known for Everglades projects; LeRoy Collins, a moderate on civil rights; and Jeb Bush, who served two terms from 1999 to 2007. The current governor, Ron DeSantis, was first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. The list includes military governors during the Civil War and Reconstruction, such as John Milton and Harrison Reed.

Residences and offices

The primary workplace is the executive office suite within the New Capitol building in Tallahassee. The official residence is the Florida Governor's Mansion, a Greek Revival home located in the Tallahassee neighborhood of Los Robles. The mansion has housed first families since 1957 and is maintained by the Florida Department of Management Services. For security and travel, the governor uses state aircraft operated by the Florida Highway Patrol and is protected by the Executive Protection Unit.