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List of governors of Idaho

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The Governor of Idaho is the head of the executive branch of Idaho's government.[2] He is also the commander-in-chief of the state's militia.[3] The job of the governor is to see that the state laws are obeyed. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Idaho Legislature.[3]

Governor of Idaho
Incumbent
Brad Little
since January 6, 2019
ResidenceThe Idaho House
Term lengthFour years
Inaugural holderGeorge L. Shoup
FormationJuly 3, 1890
DeputyJanice McGeachin
Salary$110,734 (2011)[1]
Websitegov.idaho.gov

Idaho Territory had 16 territorial governors chosed by the President of the United States from 1863 until it became a state in 1890. Four of these never took office. They resigned before they got to Idaho.

Thirty people have been Governor of Idaho since it became a state in 1890. Two of these—C. A. Bottolfsen and Cecil D. Andrus—served non-consecutive terms. The state's first governor was George Laird Shoup. He had the shortest term - three months. Cecil D. Andrus served as governor the longest at 14 years. Four governors resigned. None have died while in office. There have been 21 Republican and 12 Democratic governors. The current governor is Brad Little. He took office on January 6, 2019. His current term will expire in January 2023.

Governors

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Governors of the Territory of Idaho

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William H. Wallace, first Governor of Idaho Territory
 
George Laird Shoup, last Governor of Idaho Territory and first Governor of the State of Idaho

Idaho Territory was created from Dakota Territory, Nebraska Territory, and Washington Territory on March 4, 1863. At first, the territory included all of modern-day Idaho and Montana, and most of Wyoming. On May 26, 1864, Montana Territory was separated from Idaho Territory, and most of the Wyoming portion was became part of Dakota Territory. The area east of the 111th meridian became part of the new Wyoming Territory on July 25, 1868. This gave Idaho Territory its final borders.[4]

Because of the long distance between Washington, D.C. and Boise, there was often a long time between a governor being chosen and his arrival in the territory.

Governor Took office Left office Appointed by Notes
William H. Wallace July 1863[5][6] December 1863[5] Abraham Lincoln Resigned. [a]
Caleb Lyon August 1, 1864[5][6] April 1866[8] Abraham Lincoln
David W. Ballard June 14, 1866[9] July 1870[10] Andrew Johnson
Samuel Bard Appointed March 30, 1870[11] — Ulysses S. Grant Resigned without serving. [b]
Gilman Marston Appointed June 7, 1870[11] — Ulysses S. Grant Resigned without serving. [c]
Alexander H. Conner Appointed January 12, 1871[11] — Ulysses S. Grant Appointed, but declined the offer.[d]
Thomas M. Bowen July 1871[12] August 15, 1871[12] Ulysses S. Grant Resigned. [e]
Thomas W. Bennett December 1871[13] December 4, 1875[14] Ulysses S. Grant Resigned. [f]
David P. Thompson April 1876[16] May 1876[16] Ulysses S. Grant Resigned. [g]
Mason Brayman July 1876[17] July 24, 1880[18] Ulysses S. Grant Suspended in June 1878 pending appointment of Hoyt; allowed to serve remainder of term after Hoyt declined the appointment. [h]
John P. Hoyt Appointed June 8, 1878[20]
Appointed August 7, 1878[21] 		— Rutherford B. Hayes Initial appointment overturned after Hoyt took too long to respond to the offer.
Second appointment declined by Hoyt. [i]
John Baldwin Neil August 3, 1880[22] March 2, 1883[23] Rutherford B. Hayes
John N. Irwin April 1883[24] Dec 20, 1883[24] Chester A. Arthur Effectively resigned in July, 1883. [j]
William M. Bunn June 26, 1884[26] July 3, 1885[27] Chester A. Arthur Resigned. [k]
Edward A. Stevenson September 29, 1885[28] April 1, 1889[29] Grover Cleveland [l]
George Laird Shoup April 30, 1889[30] July 3, 1890 Benjamin Harrison

Governors of the State of Idaho

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Idaho became a state on July 3, 1890. Since then, the state has had 31 governors. Two of these served non-consecutive terms. The terms for governor and lieutenant governor are four years. It starts on the first Monday in the January after the election. Before 1946, the offices were elected to terms of two years.[31] If there is no governor or the governor is out of state or cannot do his duties, the lieutenant governor acts as governor.[32] If neither the governor and lieutenant governor can do their duties, the President pro tempore of the Idaho Senate is next in line. After that person, the Speaker of the Idaho House of Representatives would act as governor.[33] There is no limit to the number of terms a governor may serve.[34]

  Democratic (12)   Republican (21)

 
D. W. Davis, 12th Governor of Idaho
 
Cecil D. Andrus, 26th Governor of Idaho and 42nd United States Secretary of the Interior
 
Dirk Kempthorne, 30th Governor of Idaho and 49th United States Secretary of the Interior
 
Jim Risch, 31st Governor of Idaho and current United States Senator from Idaho
#[m] Governor Took office Left office Party Lt. Governor Terms[n]
1   George Laird Shoup October 1, 1890 December 18, 1890 Republican   N. B. Willey ​1⁄2[o]
2 N. B. Willey December 18, 1890 January 2, 1893 Republican John S. Gray ​1⁄2[p]
3 William J. McConnell January 2, 1893 January 4, 1897 Republican F. B. Willis 2
F. J. Mills
4 Frank Steunenberg January 4, 1897 January 7, 1901 Democratic George F. Moore[q] 2[r]
J. H. Hutchinson[s]
5 Frank W. Hunt January 7, 1901 January 5, 1903 Democratic Thomas F. Terrell 1
6 John T. Morrison January 5, 1903 January 2, 1905 Republican James M. Stevens 1
7 Frank R. Gooding January 2, 1905 January 4, 1909 Republican Burpee L. Steeves 2
Ezra A. Burrell
8 James H. Brady January 4, 1909 January 2, 1911 Republican Lewis H. Sweetser 1
9 James H. Hawley January 2, 1911 January 6, 1913 Democratic Lewis H. Sweetser 1
10 John M. Haines January 6, 1913 January 4, 1915 Republican Herman H. Taylor 1
11 Moses Alexander January 4, 1915 January 6, 1919 Democratic Herman H. Taylor[t] 2
Ernest L. Parker
12 D. W. Davis January 6, 1919 January 1, 1923 Republican Charles C. Moore 2
13 Charles C. Moore January 1, 1923 January 3, 1927 Republican H. C. Baldridge 2
14 H. C. Baldridge January 3, 1927 January 5, 1931 Republican O. E. Hailey 2
W. B. Kinne[u]
O. E. Hailey
15 C. Ben Ross January 5, 1931 January 4, 1937 Democratic G. P. Mix 3
George E. Hill
G. P. Mix
16 Barzilla W. Clark January 4, 1937 January 2, 1939 Democratic Charles C. Gossett 1
17 C. A. Bottolfsen January 2, 1939 January 6, 1941 Republican Donald S. Whitehead 1
18 Chase A. Clark January 6, 1941 January 4, 1943 Democratic Charles C. Gossett 1
19 C. A. Bottolfsen January 4, 1943 January 1, 1945 Republican Edwin Nelson 1
20 Charles C. Gossett January 1, 1945 November 17, 1945 Democratic Arnold Williams ​1⁄2[v]
21 Arnold Williams November 17, 1945 January 6, 1947 Democratic A. R. McCabe ​1⁄2[p]
22 C. A. Robins January 6, 1947 January 1, 1951 Republican Donald S. Whitehead 1[w]
23 Leonard B. Jordan January 1, 1951 January 3, 1955 Republican Edson H. Deal 1
24 Robert E. Smylie January 3, 1955 January 2, 1967 Republican J. Berkeley Larsen 3
W. E. Drevlow[x]
25 Don Samuelson January 2, 1967 January 4, 1971 Republican Jack M. Murphy 1
26 Cecil D. Andrus January 4, 1971 January 24, 1977 Democratic Jack M. Murphy[t] 1​1⁄2[y]
John V. Evans
27 John V. Evans January 24, 1977 January 5, 1987 Democratic William J. Murphy 2​1⁄2[z]
Phil Batt[t]
David H. Leroy[t]
28 Cecil D. Andrus January 5, 1987 January 2, 1995 Democratic C.L. "Butch" Otter[t] 2
29 Phil Batt January 2, 1995 January 4, 1999 Republican C.L. "Butch" Otter 1
30 Dirk Kempthorne January 4, 1999 May 26, 2006 Republican C.L. "Butch" Otter[aa] 1​1⁄2[ab]
Jack Riggs
Jim Risch
31 Jim Risch May 26, 2006 January 1, 2007 Republican Mark Ricks ​1⁄2[p]
32 C.L. "Butch" Otter January 1, 2007 January 6, 2019 Republican Jim Risch 2
Brad Little
33 Brad Little January 6, 2019 Incumbent Republican Janice McGeachin 2
Scott Bedke

Other high offices held

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Sixteen of Idaho's governors have served higher federal offices or as governors of other states. Nine have served in the U.S. Senate, and three have served in the U.S. House. Two governors have been U.S. Secretaries of the Interior. One served as ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. Six governors (marked with *) resigned to take a new office.

Also, two people who were appointed governor of Idaho Territory but never took office held other high offices. Gilman Marston was a representative and senator from New Hampshire.[41] John Philo Hoyt was Governor of Arizona Territory.[42]

All representatives and senators listed represented Idaho except where noted.

Name Gubernatorial term Other offices held Sources
William H. Wallace 1863–1864 Delegate from Idaho Territory*, Delegate from Washington Territory,
appointed Governor of Washington Territory but did not take office 		[7]
Caleb Lyon 1864–1866 Representative from New York [43]
Thomas M. Bowen 1871 Senator from Colorado [44]
Thomas W. Bennett 1871–1875 Delegate from Idaho Territory* [15]
David P. Thompson 1875–1876 Minister to the Ottoman Empire [45]
John N. Irwin 1883 Governor of Arizona Territory [46]
George Laird Shoup 1889–1890 Senator* [36]
William J. McConnell 1893–1897 Senator [47]
Frank R. Gooding 1905–1909 Senator [48]
James H. Brady 1909–1911 Senator [49]
Charles C. Gossett 1945 Senator* [50]
Leonard B. Jordan 1951–1955 Senator [51]
Cecil D. Andrus 1971–1977, 1987–1995 Secretary of the Interior* [38]
Dirk Kempthorne 1999–2006 Senator, Secretary of the Interior* [40]
Jim Risch 2006–2007 Senator [52]
C.L. "Butch" Otter 2007–2019 Representative [39]
Brad Little 2019–present Lieutenant Governor [53]

Living former governors

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As of January 2019, four former governors were alive. The most recent death of a former governor was that of Cecil D. Andrus (1971–1977; 1987–1995). He died at age 85 on August 24, 2017.

Name Term of office Date of birth
Phil Batt 1995–1999 (1927-03-04) March 4, 1927 (age 97)
Dirk Kempthorne 1999–2006 (1951-10-29) October 29, 1951 (age 73)
Jim Risch 2006–2007 (1943-05-03) May 3, 1943 (age 81)
Butch Otter 2007–2019 (1942-05-03) May 3, 1942 (age 82)

Notes

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  1. ↑ Resigned to take an elected seat as delegate from Idaho Territory.[7]
  2. ↑ Appointed governor but resigned in April 1870 to become postmaster of Atlanta, Georgia, before arriving in Idaho.[10]
  3. ↑ Appointed governor but resigned in December 1870 before arriving in Idaho.[10]
  4. ↑ Appointed governor but declined the offer.[10]
  5. ↑ Upon arriving in Idaho, Bowen did not like the looks of the landscape, so he decided to stay only a few weeks.[12]
  6. ↑ Resigned to take an elected seat as delegate from Idaho Territory.[15]
  7. ↑ Thompson left Idaho in May 1876 to attend the Republican National Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio. He resigned in Cincinnati after he learned federal officers could not hold government contracts.[16]
  8. ↑ Brayman was suspended by President Hayes on June 8, 1878 and John P. Hoyt was appointed Governor of Idaho. After Hoyt refused the appointment, Brayman was allowed to serve out the remainder of his term.[19]
  9. ↑ Appointed governor on June 8, 1878, but was rejected by the United States Senate for taking too long to respond to the offer. Appointed again on August 7, 1878, but declined the offer after researching the suspension of Governor Brayman. He ended up accepting a position on the Washington Territorial Supreme Court.[19]
  10. ↑ Irwin left Idaho Territory in May 1883, never to return. He returned his paychecks from July 1883 through December 1883 to the U.S. Treasury.[25]
  11. ↑ Bunn left Idaho on April 17, 1885 for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he subsequently resigned on July 3, 1885.[24]
  12. ↑ Stevenson was a resident of Idaho when President Cleveland called him to Washington, D.C. for an interview and to personally witness his appointment.[28]
  13. ↑ Based on C.L. "Butch" Otter saying he would be the 32nd governor of the state,[35] the official count includes repeat governors.
  14. ↑ The fractional terms of some governors are not to be understood absolutely literally; rather, they are meant to show single terms during which multiple governors served, due to resignations, deaths and the like.
  15. ↑ Resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.[36]
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 As lieutenant governor, acted as governor for unexpired term.
  17. ↑ Moore was part of a fusion ticket that was also endorsed by the Populist Party.[21]
  18. ↑ Steunenberg was part of a fusion ticket that was also endorsed by the Populist Party.[21]
  19. ↑ Hutchinson was part of a fusion ticket that was also endorsed by the Silver Republican Party.[21]
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 Represented the Republican Party.
  21. ↑ Died in office.[21]
  22. ↑ Gossett resigned to let Lieutenant Governor Williams succeed him and then appoint him to the United States Senate.[37]
  23. ↑ Robins served the first term after terms were lengthened to four years.
  24. ↑ Represented the Democratic Party.
  25. ↑ Resigned to be United States Secretary of the Interior.[38]
  26. ↑ As lieutenant governor, acted as governor for unexpired term, and was subsequently elected in his own right.
  27. ↑ Resigned to take an elected seat in the United States House of Representatives.[39]
  28. ↑ Resigned to be United States Secretary of the Interior.[40]

References

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General
  • "Governors of Idaho". National Governors Association. Archived from the original on September 2, 2010. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  • Brosnan, C. J. (1918). History of the State of Idaho. Charles Scribner's Sons. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  • "Executive Branch" (PDF). Idaho Bluebook. State of Idaho. pp. 70–72. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  • Hailey, John (1910). History of Idaho. Boise, Idaho: Syms-York Company. ISBN 9780598277060. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  • Limbaugh, Ronald H. (1982). Rocky Mountain Carpetbaggers: Idaho's Territorial Governors, 1863–1890. Moscow, Idaho: University Press of Idaho. ISBN 0-89301-082-0. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
Constitution
Specific
  1. ↑ "Idaho Senate approves initial pay cuts, then raises for governor and other top officers". San Francisco Examiner. March 29, 2010. Retrieved June 28, 2010. [dead link]
  2. ↑ ID Const. art. IV, § 5
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 ID Const. art. IV, § 4
  4. ↑ Brosnan, Cornelius James (1918). History of the State of Idaho. Charles Scribner's Sons. pp. 117–128. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Limbaugh p. 47
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Hailey p. 166
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Wallace, William Henson". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  8. ↑ Limbaugh p. 65
  9. ↑ "Territorial Government in Idaho, 1863–1869" (PDF). Idaho State Historical Society. 1963. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 11, 2010. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Limbaugh p. 90
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Hailey p. 165
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Limbaugh p. 92
  13. ↑ Limbaugh p. 103
  14. ↑ Poore, Perley (1875). Congressional Directory. Washington D.C.: Congressional Printing Office. p. 71. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Bennett, Thomas Warren". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Limbaugh p. 106
  17. ↑ Limbaugh p. 114
  18. ↑ Limbaugh p. 130
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Limbaugh pp. 127–129
  20. ↑ "Territorial Governors who did not server" (PDF). Idaho State Historical Society. 1988. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 16, 2009. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 "Executive Branch" (PDF). Idaho Bluebook. State of Idaho. pp. 70–71. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  22. ↑ Limbaugh p. 139
  23. ↑ Limbaugh p. 147
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Limbaugh p. 148
  25. ↑ "Notes from Washington". The New York Times. December 28, 1883. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  26. ↑ Donaldson, Thomas (1941). Idaho of Yesterday. Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Printers, Ltd. p. 271. OCLC 100976.
  27. ↑ "Resignation of Gov. Bunn". The New York Times. July 14, 1885. p. 4. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Limbaugh p. 172
  29. ↑ Limbaugh pp. 179–180
  30. ↑ Limbaugh p. 181
  31. ↑ "Idaho Constitutional Amendment History". Idaho Secretary of State. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
  32. ↑ ID Const. art. IV, § 12
  33. ↑ ID Const. art. IV, § 14
  34. ↑ "Idaho Makes Term Limits History". National Conference of State Legislatures. February 1, 2002. Archived from the original on November 17, 2009. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
  35. ↑ "Otter uses on-duty firefighters for 9/11 campaign event: Candidate holds press conference after state ceremony". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. September 12, 2006. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2013 – via www.accessmylibrary.com.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 "Shoup, George Laird". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  37. ↑ "Idaho Shake-Up Draws Criticism". Spokane Daily Chronicle. November 30, 1945. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 "Idaho Governor Cecil Dale Andrus". National Governors Association. Archived from the original on September 3, 2010. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 "Otter, C. L. (Butch)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 "Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne". National Governor's Association. Archived from the original on September 3, 2010. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  41. ↑ "Martson, Gilman". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  42. ↑ "Hoyt, John Philo". The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Vol. XI. New York City: James T. White & Company. 1901. p. 556. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  43. ↑ "Lyon, Caleb". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  44. ↑ "Bowen, Thomas Mead". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  45. ↑ "Chiefs of Mission between 1778 to 2008". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on June 21, 2010. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  46. ↑ Goff, John S. (1978). Arizona Territorial Officials Volume II: The Governors 1863–1912. Arizona: Black Mountain Press. pp. 118–119. OCLC 5100411.
  47. ↑ "McConnell, William John". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  48. ↑ "Gooding, Frank Robert". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  49. ↑ "Brady, James Henry". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  50. ↑ "Gossett, Charles Clinton". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  51. ↑ "Jordan, Leonard Beck". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  52. ↑ "Risch, James". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  53. ↑ "Gov. Brad Little". National Governors Association. Retrieved January 7, 2019.

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