Governor of Minnesota

Governor of Minnesota
source
Post	Governor
Body	Minnesota
Insigniasize	110
Insigniacaption	Seal of Minnesota
Flagsize	150
Flagcaption	Flag of the Governor of Minnesota
Incumbent	Tim Walz
Incumbentsince	January 7, 2019
Department	Minnesota Executive Branch
Style	The Honorable (formal), Governor (informal)
Residence	Minnesota Governor's Residence
Seat	Minnesota State Capitol, Saint Paul
Termlength	Four years, no term limits
Formation	Statehood; May 24, 1858
Inaugural	Henry Hastings Sibley
Salary	$127,629 (2021)

Governor of Minnesota. The governor is the head of the executive branch of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The officeholder is charged with executing state laws, appointing executive and judicial officers, and has the power to sign or veto legislation passed by the Minnesota Legislature. The current governor is Tim Walz, a member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), who took office on January 7, 2019.

History

The office was established upon Minnesota's admission to the Union on May 11, 1858, with Henry Hastings Sibley, a former American Fur Company trader and Democratic congressman, elected as the first state governor. Early governors like Alexander Ramsey and John S. Pillsbury navigated the state through the American Civil War, the Dakota War of 1862, and periods of significant economic and population growth tied to logging and agriculture. The political landscape evolved with the rise of the Populist movement, the Progressive Era, and the merger of the state's Democratic and Farmer–Labor Party factions into the dominant Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party in 1944. Notable 20th-century governors include Harold LeVander, the first Republican elected in two decades; Wendell R. Anderson, who championed the Minnesota Miracle in education funding; and Jesse Ventura, a former professional wrestler and Reform Party member who served from 1999 to 2003.

Powers and duties

The governor's powers are derived from the Minnesota Constitution and state statutes, serving as the state's chief executive. Key duties include submitting an annual budget proposal to the Minnesota Legislature, signing or vetoing bills, and granting pardons and commutations, except in cases of treason or impeachment. The governor appoints heads of major state agencies, such as the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, as well as judges to fill supreme court and district court vacancies, subject to confirmation. As commander-in-chief of the Minnesota National Guard, the governor can deploy troops for state emergencies, a power frequently used during natural disasters like the 1998 Comfrey–St. Peter tornado outbreak and civil disturbances. The governor also chairs the Minnesota Executive Council, which oversees state lands and investments.

Election and succession

Governors are elected by popular vote in statewide elections held in November of even-numbered years not divisible by four, coinciding with other state offices. Since 1963, terms have been four years with no term limits, following a referendum that extended the term from two years. Candidates must be at least 25 years old, a United States citizen for at least five years, and a resident of Minnesota for at least one year prior to the election. If the office becomes vacant due to death, resignation, removal, or incapacitation, the lieutenant governor assumes the governorship, as occurred when Rudy Perpich succeeded Wendell R. Anderson in 1976. Subsequent vacancies in the lieutenant governorship are filled by appointment by the governor, with the appointee requiring confirmation by both chambers of the Minnesota Legislature.

List of governors

Minnesota has had 41 governors since statehood, representing parties including the Democratic, Republican, Farmer–Labor Party, and Reform parties. The longest-serving governor is Rudy Perpich of the DFL, who served for over ten years across two non-consecutive periods from 1976 to 1979 and 1983 to 1991. Alexander Ramsey, the second governor, later served as a U.S. Secretary of War under President Rutherford B. Hayes. Only one governor, John S. Pillsbury, has died in office, succeeded by Lucius Frederick Hubbard in 1882. The most recent Republican governor was Tim Pawlenty, who served from 2003 to 2011 before launching a bid for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.

Residences and traditions

The official residence is the Minnesota Governor's Residence, a Georgian-style house on Summit Avenue in Saint Paul, acquired by the state in 1965 and first occupied by Governor Harold LeVander and his family. Prior governors lived in private homes or hotels, including the Saint Paul Hotel. A key tradition is the annual Governor's Fishing Opener, inaugurated by Governor C. Elmer Anderson in 1948 to promote tourism and the state's natural resources, hosted in a different Minnesota community each year. The governor also traditionally hosts receptions at the residence, lights the Minnesota State Capitol holiday tree, and presents the Governor's Award for Meritorious Service to state employees.