List of governors of Maine
The governor of Maine is the head of government of Maine[1] and the commander-in-chief of its military forces.[2] The governor has a duty to enforce state laws,[3] and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Maine Legislature,[4] to convene the legislature at any time,[5] and, except in cases of impeachment, to grant pardons.[6]
There have been 71 governors of Maine since statehood, serving 75 distinct terms. Four governors served multiple non-consecutive terms (Edward Kent, John Fairfield, John W. Dana, and Burton M. Cross).[7] The longest-serving governor was Joseph E. Brennan, who served two terms from 1979 to 1987. The shortest-serving governors were Nathaniel M. Haskell and Richard H. Vose, who each served only one day. John W. Dana also served for one day in 1844, after the incumbent governor resigned, but was later elected to the governorship. The current governor is Democrat Janet Mills, who took office on January 2, 2019.
Contents
Governors
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Maine was admitted to the Union on March 15, 1820, as the 23rd state. Before then, it was the District of Maine, part of the state of Massachusetts.[8] The Maine Constitution of 1820 originally established a gubernatorial term of one year,[9] to begin on the first Wednesday of January; constitutional amendments expanded this to two years in 1879[10] and to four years in 1957.[11] The 1957 amendment also prohibited governors from succeeding themselves after serving two terms.[11] The constitution does not establish an office of lieutenant governor; a vacancy in the office of governor is filled by the president of the Maine Senate.[12] Prior to an amendment in 1964, the president of the senate only acted as governor.[13][14]
Democratic (23) Democratic-Republican (6) Greenback (1) Independent (2) National Republican (1) Republican (37) Whig (4) |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
# | Portrait | Party | Took office | Left office | Terms [Note 1] |
||
1 | 75px | William King February 9, 1768 – June 17, 1852 (aged 84) |
Democratic-Republican | March 15, 1820 | May 28, 1821
(resigned) |
1⁄4 | |
2 | 75px | William D. Williamson July 31, 1779 – May 27, 1846 (aged 66) |
Democratic-Republican | May 28, 1821 | December 5, 1821 (resigned) | 1⁄4 | |
3 | 75px | Benjamin Ames October 30, 1778 – September 28, 1835 (aged 56) |
Democratic-Republican | December 5, 1821 | January 2, 1822
(resigned) |
1⁄4 | |
4 | 75px | Daniel Rose July 31, 1772 – October 25, 1833 (aged 61) |
Democratic-Republican | January 2, 1822 | January 5, 1822 | 1⁄4 | |
5 | ![]() |
Albion K. Parris January 19, 1788 – February 11, 1857 (aged 69) |
Democratic-Republican | January 5, 1822 | January 3, 1827 | 5 | |
6 | ![]() |
Enoch Lincoln December 28, 1788 – October 8, 1829 (aged 40) |
Democratic-Republican | January 3, 1827 | October 8, 1829
(died in office) |
2 1⁄3 | |
7 | ![]() |
Nathan Cutler May 29, 1775 – June 8, 1861 (aged 86) |
Democratic | October 8, 1829 | January 6, 1830 | 1⁄3 | |
8 | 75px | Joshua Hall October 22, 1768 – December 25, 1862 (aged 94) |
Democratic | January 6, 1830 | February 9, 1830 | 1⁄3 | |
9 | 75px | Jonathan G. Hunton March 14, 1781 – October 12, 1851 (aged 70) |
National Republican | February 9, 1830 | January 5, 1831
(lost election) |
1 | |
10 | 75px | Samuel E. Smith March 12, 1788 – March 4, 1860 (aged 71) |
Democratic | January 5, 1831 | January 1, 1834 | 3 | |
11 | ![]() |
Robert P. Dunlap August 17, 1794 – October 20, 1859 (aged 65) |
Democratic | January 1, 1834 | January 3, 1838 | 4 | |
12 | ![]() |
Edward Kent January 8, 1802 – May 19, 1877 (aged 75) |
Whig | January 19, 1838 | January 2, 1839 | 1 | |
13 | ![]() |
John Fairfield January 30, 1797 – December 24, 1847 (aged 50) |
Democratic | January 2, 1839 | January 12, 1841 (resigned) | 1 1⁄2 | |
14 | 75px | Richard H. Vose November 8, 1803 – January 19, 1864 (aged 60) |
Whig | January 12, 1841 | January 13, 1841 | 1⁄2 | |
15 | ![]() |
Edward Kent January 8, 1802 – May 19, 1877 (aged 75) |
Whig | January 13, 1841 | January 5, 1842 | 1 | |
16 | ![]() |
John Fairfield January 30, 1797 – December 24, 1847 (aged 50) |
Democratic | January 5, 1842 | March 7, 1843
(resigned) |
1 1⁄4 | |
17 | ![]() |
Edward Kavanagh April 27, 1795 – January 22, 1844 (aged 48) |
Democratic | March 7, 1843 | January 1, 1844
(resigned) |
1⁄4 | |
18 | ![]() |
David Dunn January 11, 1811 – February 17, 1894 (aged 83) |
Democratic | January 1, 1844 | January 3, 1844
(resigned) |
1⁄4 | |
19 | 75px | John W. Dana June 21, 1808 – December 22, 1867 (aged 59) |
Democratic | January 3, 1844 | January 3, 1844 | 1⁄4 | |
20 | 75px | Hugh J. Anderson May 10, 1801 – May 31, 1881 (aged 80) |
Democratic | January 3, 1844 | May 12, 1847 | 3 | |
21 | 75px | John W. Dana June 21, 1808 – December 22, 1867 (aged 59) |
Democratic | May 12, 1847 | May 8, 1850 | 3 | |
22 | 75px | John Hubbard March 22, 1794 – February 6, 1869 (aged 74) |
Democratic | May 8, 1850 | January 5, 1853
(lost election) |
3 | |
23 | 75px | William G. Crosby September 10, 1805 – March 21, 1881 (aged 75) |
Whig | January 5, 1853 | January 3, 1855
(did not seek re-election) |
2 | |
24 | ![]() |
Anson Morrill June 10, 1803 – July 4, 1887 (aged 84) |
Republican | January 3, 1855 | January 2, 1856
(Lost election) |
1 | |
25 | 75px | Samuel Wells August 15, 1801 – July 15, 1868 (aged 66) |
Democratic | January 2, 1856 | January 8, 1857
(Lost election) |
1 | |
26 | ![]() |
Hannibal Hamlin August 27, 1809 – July 4, 1891 (aged 81) |
Republican | January 8, 1857 | February 25, 1857
(resigned) |
1⁄2 | |
27 | ![]() |
Joseph H. Williams February 15, 1814 – July 19, 1896 (aged 82) |
Republican | February 25, 1857 | January 6, 1858 | 1⁄2 | |
28 | ![]() |
Lot M. Morrill May 3, 1813 – January 10, 1883 (aged 69) |
Republican | January 6, 1858 | January 2, 1861 | 3 | |
29 | ![]() |
Israel Washburn Jr. June 6, 1813 – May 12, 1883 (aged 69) |
Republican | January 2, 1861 | January 7, 1863 | 2 | |
30 | ![]() |
Abner Coburn March 22, 1803 – January 4, 1885 (aged 81) |
Republican | January 7, 1863 | January 6, 1864 | 1 | |
31 | 75px | Samuel Cony February 27, 1811 – October 5, 1870 (aged 59) |
Republican | January 6, 1864 | January 2, 1867 | 2 | |
32 | ![]() |
Joshua Chamberlain September 8, 1828 – February 24, 1914 (aged 85) |
Republican | January 2, 1867 | January 4, 1871 | 4 | |
33 | ![]() |
Sidney Perham March 27, 1819 – April 9, 1907 (aged 88) |
Republican | January 4, 1871 | January 7, 1874 | 3 | |
34 | ![]() |
Nelson Dingley Jr. February 15, 1832 – January 13, 1899 (aged 66) |
Republican | January 7, 1874 | January 5, 1876 | 2 | |
35 | ![]() |
Seldon Connor January 25, 1839 – July 9, 1917 (aged 78) |
Republican | January 5, 1876 | January 8, 1879
(lost elections) |
3 | |
36 | 75px | Alonzo Garcelon May 6, 1813 – December 8, 1906 (aged 93) |
Democratic | January 8, 1879 | January 17, 1880 | 1 | |
37 | 75px | Daniel F. Davis September 12, 1843 – January 9, 1897 (aged 53) |
Republican | January 17, 1880 | January 13, 1881
(lost election) |
1 | |
38 | ![]() |
Harris M. Plaisted November 2, 1828 – January 31, 1898 (aged 69) |
Greenback / Democratic | January 13, 1881 | January 3, 1883
(lost election) |
1 | |
39 | ![]() |
Frederick Robie August 12, 1822 – February 3, 1912 (aged 89) |
Republican | January 3, 1883 | January 5, 1887 | 2 | |
40 | 75px | Joseph R. Bodwell June 18, 1818 – December 15, 1887 (aged 69) |
Republican | January 5, 1887 | December 15, 1887
(died in office) |
1⁄2 | |
41 | ![]() |
Sebastian Streeter Marble March 1, 1817 – May 10, 1902 (aged 85) |
Republican | December 15, 1887 | January 2, 1889 | 1⁄2 | |
42 | ![]() |
Edwin C. Burleigh November 27, 1843 – June 16, 1916 (aged 72) |
Republican | January 2, 1889 | January 4, 1893
(did not seek re-election) |
2 | |
43 | ![]() |
Henry B. Cleaves February 6, 1840 – June 22, 1912 (aged 72) |
Republican | January 4, 1893 | January 2, 1897
(did not seek re-election) |
2 | |
44 | 75px | Llewellyn Powers October 14, 1836 – July 28, 1908 (aged 71) |
Republican | January 2, 1897 | January 2, 1901 | 2 | |
45 | ![]() |
John Fremont Hill October 29, 1855 – March 16, 1912 (aged 56) |
Republican | January 2, 1901 | January 4, 1905 | 2 | |
46 | 75px | William T. Cobb July 23, 1857 – July 24, 1937 (aged 80) |
Republican | January 4, 1905 | January 6, 1909 | 2 | |
47 | ![]() |
Bert M. Fernald April 3, 1858 – August 23, 1926 (aged 68) |
Republican | January 6, 1909 | January 4, 1911
(lost election) |
1 | |
48 | 75px | Frederick W. Plaisted July 26, 1865 – March 4, 1943 (aged 77) |
Democratic | January 4, 1911 | January 1, 1913
(lost election) |
1 | |
49 | ![]() |
William T. Haines August 7, 1854 – June 4, 1919 (aged 64) |
Republican | January 1, 1913 | January 6, 1915
(lost election) |
1 | |
50 | 75px | Oakley C. Curtis March 29, 1865 – February 22, 1924 (aged 58) |
Democratic | January 6, 1915 | January 3, 1917
(lost election) |
1 | |
51 | 75px | Carl Milliken July 13, 1877 – May 1, 1961 (aged 83) |
Republican | January 3, 1917 | January 5, 1921
(lost election) |
2 | |
52 | ![]() |
Frederic Hale Parkhurst November 5, 1864 – January 21, 1921 (aged 56) |
Republican | January 5, 1921 | January 31, 1921
(died in office) |
1⁄2 | |
53 | ![]() |
Percival P. Baxter November 22, 1876 – June 12, 1969 (aged 92) |
Republican | January 31, 1921 | January 7, 1925
(did not seek re-election) |
1 1⁄2 | |
54 | ![]() |
Ralph Owen Brewster February 22, 1888 – December 25, 1961 (aged 73) |
Republican | January 7, 1925 | January 2, 1929
(did not seek re-election) |
2 | |
55 | 75px | William Tudor Gardiner June 12, 1892 – August 3, 1953 (aged 61) |
Republican | January 2, 1929 | January 4, 1933 | 2 | |
56 | 75px | Louis J. Brann July 6, 1876 – February 3, 1948 (aged 71) |
Democratic | January 4, 1933 | January 6, 1937
(did not seek re-election) |
2 | |
57 | 75px | Lewis O. Barrows June 7, 1893 – January 30, 1967 (aged 73) |
Republican | January 6, 1937 | January 1, 1941
(term limited) |
2 | |
58 | 75px | Sumner Sewall June 17, 1897 – January 25, 1965 (aged 67) |
Republican | January 1, 1941 | January 3, 1945
(term limited) |
2 | |
59 | 75px | Horace Hildreth December 2, 1902 – June 2, 1988 (aged 85) |
Republican | January 3, 1945 | January 5, 1949
(term limited) |
2 | |
60 | 75px | Frederick G. Payne July 24, 1904 – June 15, 1978 (aged 73) |
Republican | January 5, 1949 | December 24, 1952
(resigned) |
1 1⁄3 | |
61 | 75px | Burton M. Cross November 15, 1902 – October 22, 1998 (aged 95) |
Republican | December 24, 1952 | January 6, 1953
(resigned) |
1⁄3 | |
62 | 75px | Nathaniel M. Haskell September 27, 1912 – February 8, 1983 (aged 70) |
Republican | January 6, 1953 | January 7, 1953 | 1⁄3 | |
63 | 75px | Burton M. Cross November 15, 1902 – October 22, 1998 (aged 95) |
Republican | January 7, 1953 | January 5, 1955
(Lost election) |
1 | |
64 | 75px | Edmund Muskie March 28, 1914 – March 26, 1996 (aged 81) |
Democratic | January 5, 1955 | January 2, 1959
(term limited) |
1 1⁄2 | |
65 | 75px | Robert Haskell August 24, 1903 – December 3, 1987 (aged 84) |
Republican | January 2, 1959 | January 7, 1959 | 1⁄2 | |
66 | 75px | Clinton Clauson March 28, 1895 – December 30, 1959 (aged 64) |
Democratic | January 7, 1959 | December 30, 1959
(died in office) |
1⁄2 | |
67 | 75px | John H. Reed January 5, 1921 – October 31, 2012 (aged 91) |
Republican | December 30, 1959 | January 5, 1967
(lost election) |
1 1⁄2 | |
68 | 75px | Kenneth M. Curtis February 8, 1931 |
Democratic | January 5, 1967 | January 2, 1975
(term limited) |
2 | |
69 | 75px | James B. Longley April 22, 1924 – August 16, 1980 (aged 56) |
Independent | January 2, 1975 | January 3, 1979
(did not seek re-election) |
1 | |
70 | 75px | Joseph E. Brennan November 2, 1934 |
Democratic | January 3, 1979 | January 7, 1987
(term limited) |
2 | |
71 | 75px | John R. McKernan Jr. May 20, 1948 |
Republican | January 7, 1987 | January 5, 1995
(term limited) |
2 | |
72 | 75px | Angus King March 31, 1944 |
Independent | January 5, 1995 | January 8, 2003
(term limited) |
2 | |
73 | ![]() |
John Baldacci January 30, 1955 |
Democratic | January 8, 2003 | January 5, 2011
(term limited) |
2 | |
74 | 75px | Paul LePage October 9, 1948 |
Republican | January 5, 2011 | January 2, 2019
(term limited) |
2 | |
75 | 75px | Janet Mills December 30, 1947 |
Democratic | January 2, 2019 | Incumbent | — |
Other high offices held
24 of Maine's governors have served higher federal offices. Seventeen have represented Maine in the U.S. House of Representatives, while 2 early in the state's history represented Massachusetts. There were also nine governors who served in the U.S. Senate, 5 (marked with *) resigning their office as governor to enter the Senate. 1 governor, Hannibal Hamlin, resigned his seat in the Senate to be governor (marked with †), then resigned as governor the next month to rejoin the Senate. Hamlin was also one of three governors to be ambassadors, and the only one to be Vice President of the United States. Two other governors served in the Cabinet.
Succession
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Living former governors of Maine
As of 26 August 2024, six former governors are alive, the oldest being Kenneth M. Curtis (served 1967−1975, born 1931). The most recent governor to die was John H. Reed (served 1959–1967, born 1921), on October 31, 2012. The most recently serving governor to die was James B. Longley (served 1975–1979, born 1924), on August 16, 1980.
Governor | Gubernatorial term | Date of birth (and age) |
---|---|---|
Kenneth M. Curtis | 1967–1975 | February 8, 1931 |
Joseph E. Brennan | 1979–1987 | November 2, 1934 |
Angus King | 1995–2003 | March 31, 1944 |
John R. McKernan Jr. | 1987–1995 | May 20, 1948 |
Paul LePage | 2011–2019 | October 9, 1948 |
John Baldacci | 2003–2011 | January 30, 1955 |
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 As president of the senate, acted as governor until his resignation.
- ↑ Resigned to take an elected seat in the United States House of Representatives.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 As speaker of the state house, acted as governor for unexpired term.
- ↑ Once the new Maine Senate was sworn in, Ames saw no purpose in completing the remaining three days of the gubernatorial term and resigned.[16]
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 As president of the senate, acted as governor for unexpired term.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Died in office.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 As president of the state senate, acted as governor until his senate term expired.
- ↑ Edward Kent won a close election, but Democrats challenged the election. He was finally declared winner by the state supreme court and sworn in on January 19, 1838.[17]
- ↑ Resigned; no reason is known.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.
- ↑ Resigned due to ill health.[18]
- ↑ Resigned once the new Maine Legislature was sworn in.[19]
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 As president of the senate, acted as governor for unexpired term, and was subsequently elected in his own right.
- ↑ Acting governor Burton Cross had been elected to the governorship, but his Senate term ended 25 hours before his term as governor began; therefore, he could not act as governor for that day. As president of the Senate, Haskell served as acting governor until Cross's inauguration.
References
Citations
- ↑ ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 1.
- ↑ ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 7.
- ↑ ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 12.
- ↑ ME Const. art. IV (Pt. III), § 3.
- ↑ ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 13.
- ↑ ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 11.
- ↑ Governors of Maine. Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 2, orig.
- ↑ ME Const. Amend. 23.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 ME Const. Amend. 84.
- ↑ ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 14.
- ↑ ME Const. Amend. 97.
- ↑ ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 14, orig.
- ↑ (Above numbering includes repeat governors: one Whig, one Republican, and two Democrats who served two nonconsecutive terms. It also includes one governor who was a Greenback but co-nominated by the Democrats.)
- ↑ Hallowell Gazette (Maine): p. 2. January 9, 1822. Benjamin Ames to the Maine Legislature, January 2, 1822: "The Senators of the State of Maine, for the present political year, having been qualified to enter upon the duties of their place by having taken and subscribed the oaths required by the constitution, and chosen their President, I have no longer any authority, as I apprehend, to exercise the office of Governor, and therefore resign the same, that it may be filled according to the provisions of the constitution."
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lucey, William Leo (1946). Edward Kavanagh: Catholic, Statesman, Diplomat, from Maine 1795–1844: p. 22. College of the Holy Cross. Reprinted 2006, Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 1-4286-5468-2.
- ↑ The Pittsfield Sun (Pittsfield, MA): p. 2. January 11, 1844. "Hon. David Dunn, as Speaker of the House for 1843, entered upon the discharge of the duties of that office on Tuesday, and continued to discharge them until he had completed the administration of the necessary oaths to the members of the Senate and House, yesterday. He then resigned that place, and took his seat in the House."
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ "Lincoln, Enoth." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
- ↑ "Dunlap, Robert Pinckney." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
- ↑ "Fairfield, John." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ "Anderson, Hugh Johnston." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
- ↑ "Morrill, Anson Peasley." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
- ↑ "Hamlin, Hannibal." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
- ↑ "Morrill, Lot Myrick." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
- ↑ "Perham, Sydney." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
- ↑ "Dingley, Nelson, Jr." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
- ↑ "Plaisted, Harris Merrill." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
- ↑ "Burleigh, Edwin Chick." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
- ↑ "Powers, Llewellyn." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
- ↑ "Fernald, Bert Manfred." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
- ↑ "Brewster, Ralph Owen." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
- ↑ "Maine Governor Horace Augustus Hildreth Archived 2010-02-23 at the Wayback Machine." National Governors Association. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ "Maine Governor Kenneth M. Curtis Archived 2010-02-23 at the Wayback Machine." National Governors Association. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
- ↑ "Brennan, Joseph Edward." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
- ↑ "McKernan, John Rettie, Jr." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
- ↑ "Baldacci, John Elias." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
Sources
- General
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- Constitutions
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External links
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