Governor of Wyoming

Governor of Wyoming. The governor is the head of the executive branch of the Government of Wyoming and serves as the commander-in-chief of the state's militia forces. This office, established upon statehood in 1890, holds significant authority over the administration of state government and plays a central role in the legislative process. The governor works from an office in the Wyoming State Capitol in Cheyenne and resides at the Wyoming Governor's Mansion.

History

The office was created with the adoption of the Constitution of Wyoming prior to Wyoming's admission to the Union on July 10, 1890. The first person to hold the title was Francis E. Warren, a former territorial governor appointed by President Benjamin Harrison. Early governors like John Eugene Osborne and William A. Richards oversaw Wyoming's development during the Progressive Era, dealing with issues of water rights and ranching conflicts. The state's political history has seen periods of dominance by the Republican Party, though notable Democratic governors include Nellie Tayloe Ross, who in 1925 became the first woman inaugurated as governor in U.S. history following the death of her husband, Governor William B. Ross. Later governors such as Clifford P. Hansen and Stanley K. Hathaway grappled with the boom-and-bust cycles of the mining and energy industries.

Powers and duties

The governor possesses strong executive powers, including the authority to appoint heads of major state agencies, subject to confirmation by the Wyoming Senate. A central duty is signing or vetoing bills passed by the Wyoming Legislature, with the power to issue line-item vetoes on appropriation bills. The governor serves on several influential state boards, such as the Land and Water Conservation Board and the State Loan and Investment Board. As commander-in-chief, the governor can deploy the Wyoming National Guard during emergencies, a power exercised during events like the 1988 Yellowstone fires. Other responsibilities include granting pardons and commutations, extraditing fugitives, and delivering an annual State of the State address to the legislature.

Election and succession

Gubernatorial elections are held every four years, coinciding with the midterm congressional elections. Candidates must be at least thirty years old, a U.S. citizen for at least five years, and a resident of Wyoming for at least five years preceding the election. Since a 1992 amendment to the Constitution of Wyoming, governors are limited to serving two consecutive terms. If the office becomes vacant, the secretary of state is first in the line of succession, followed by the state auditor, state treasurer, and superintendent of public instruction. This succession mechanism was notably invoked in 1977 following the death of Governor Ed Herschler.

List of governors

To date, 33 individuals have served as governor of Wyoming. The longest-serving governor was Clifford P. Hansen, who served from 1963 to 1967. A significant number of governors, including Frank C. Emerson, Leslie A. Miller, and Mike Sullivan, have been members of the Republican Party. The most recent Democratic governor was Dave Freudenthal, who served from 2003 to 2011. The current governor, Mark Gordon, a Republican, was first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. The list includes several governors who later served in the United States Senate, such as Francis E. Warren, John B. Kendrick, and Gordon L. Allott.

Living former governors

As of 2023, there are six living former governors of Wyoming. The oldest is Mike Sullivan (served 1987–1995), born in 1939. The most recent former governor to leave office is Matt Mead (served 2011–2019). The other living former governors are Jim Geringer (served 1995–2003), Dave Freudenthal (served 2003–2011), and Mark Gordon (served 2019–present). The most recent death of a former governor was that of Stanley K. Hathaway (served 1967–1975), who died in 2005. Category:Governors of Wyoming Category:Wyoming state agencies