List of governors of Nebraska

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Governor of Nebraska
Nebraska-StateSeal.svg
Seal of Nebraska
Pete Ricketts by Gage Skidmore (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Pete Ricketts
since January 8, 2015
StyleThe Honorable
ResidenceNebraska Governor's Mansion
Term length4 years, not eligible for more than two consecutive terms
Inaugural holderDavid Butler
FormationConstitution of Nebraska
Salary$105,000 (2013)[1]

The governor of Nebraska is the head of government of the U.S. state of Nebraska as provided by the fourth article of the Constitution of Nebraska. The officeholder is elected to a four-year term, with elections held two years after presidential elections. He or she may be elected any number of times, but not more than twice in a row. The current officeholder is Pete Ricketts, a Republican, who was sworn in on January 8, 2015. The current Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska is Mike Foley, who also assumed office on January 8, 2015.

Governors of Nebraska must be at least 30 years old and have been citizens and residents of the state for five years before being elected. Before 1966, the governor was elected to a two-year term. In 1962, a constitutional amendment extended the gubernatorial term to four years, effective with the 1966 election. In 1966, another amendment imposed a term limit of two consecutive terms. The lieutenant governor is subject to the same limitations and runs on a combined ticket with the governor. Charles W. Bryan is the only Governor of Nebraska to serve non-consecutive terms. Dave Heineman holds the record as Nebraska's longest-serving Governor with 10 years.

If the governor becomes incapacitated or is out of the state, the lieutenant governor acts as governor; if there is a vacancy or permanent incapacitation, the lieutenant governor becomes governor and serves the balance of the term. However, if both offices become vacant, the next person in the line of succession is the Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature.

Territorial governors[]

See List of governors of Missouri for the period from 1805 to 1821. Between 1821 and 1854, the land was unorganized territory.

Before statehood, governors were appointed to a four-year term by the President of the United States.[A]

Parties

  Democratic (8)   Republican (2)

# Governor
(Birth–Death)		 Party Took office Left office Notes
William Walker (Wyandot leader).jpg   William Walker
(1800–1874) 		July 23, 1853 October 16, 1854 Not recognized by the federal government
1 Francis Burt.jpg   Francis Burt
(1807–1854) 		Democratic October 16, 1854 October 18, 1854 Died
Thomas B Cuming.jpg   Thomas B. Cuming
(1827–1858) 		Democratic October 18, 1854 February 23, 1855 Acting
2 Mark Whitaker Izard.jpg   Mark W. Izard
(1799–1866) 		Democratic February 23, 1855 October 25, 1857 Resigned
Thomas B Cuming.jpg   Thomas B. Cuming
(1827–1858) 		Democratic October 25, 1857 January 12, 1858 Acting
3 William Alexander Richardson - Brady-Handy.jpg   William A. Richardson
(1811–1875) 		Democratic January 12, 1858 December 5, 1858 Resigned
JSMorton.jpg   J. Sterling Morton
(1832–1902) 		Democratic December 5, 1858 May 2, 1859 Acting
4 SamuelWBlack.jpg   Samuel W. Black
(1816–1862) 		Democratic May 2, 1859 February 24, 1861 Resigned
JSMorton.jpg   J. Sterling Morton
(1832–1902) 		Democratic February 24, 1861 March 6, 1861 Acting
Algernon Paddock - Brady-Handy.jpg   Algernon S. Paddock
(1830–1897) 		Republican March 6, 1861 May 15, 1861 Acting
5 Alvin Saunders - Brady-Handy.jpg   Alvin Saunders
(1817–1899) 		Republican May 15, 1861 March 1, 1867

State governors[]

Popularly elected, beginning in 1866, to a two-year term. In 1962, the voters approved a constitutional amendment expanding terms beginning in 1966 to four years. In 1966, the voters limited the number of consecutive full terms that any one governor could serve to two (i.e. only one possible re-election while still in office after election to a full term.)[B]

Parties

  Republican (26)   Democratic (12)   Fusion (Democratic/Populist) (2)

# Governor
(Birth–Death)		 Party Took office Left office Lt. Governor Notes
1 Hon. David Butler. Governor Nebraska - NARA - 528665.jpg   David Butler
(1829–1891) 		Republican February 21, 1867 June 2, 1871 None [2]
William H. James.gif   William H. James
(1831–1920) 		Republican June 2, 1871 January 13, 1873 None Secretary of State[3]
2 Robert Wilkinson Furnace.jpg   Robert Wilkinson Furnas
(1824–1905) 		Republican January 13, 1873 January 11, 1875 None
3 Silas Garber published 1913.jpg   Silas Garber
(1833–1905) 		Republican January 11, 1875 January 9, 1879 None
Othman A. Abbott
4 Albinus Nance.jpg   Albinus Nance
(1848–1911) 		Republican January 9, 1879 January 4, 1883 Edmund C. Carns
5 James William Dawes.jpg   James W. Dawes
(1844–1918) 		Republican January 4, 1883 January 6, 1887 Alfred W. Agee
Hibbard H. Shedd
6 John Milton Thayer - Brady-Handy.jpg   John Milton Thayer
(1820–1906) 		Republican January 6, 1887 February 8, 1892 Hibbard H. Shedd
George D. Meiklejohn
Thomas J. Majors 		[4]
7 James E Boyd Nebraska Governor.jpg   James E. Boyd
(1834–1906) 		Democratic February 8, 1892 January 13, 1893 Thomas J. Majors [4]
8 Lorenzo Crounse - Brady-Handy.jpg   Lorenzo Crounse
(1834–1909) 		Republican January 13, 1893 January 3, 1895 Thomas J. Majors
9 Silas A. Holcomb.jpg   Silas A. Holcomb
(1858–1920) 		Fusion
(Democratic/Populist) 		January 3, 1895 January 5, 1899 Robert E. Moore
James E. Harris
10 William.A.Poynter.gif   William A. Poynter
(1848–1909) 		Fusion
(Democratic/Populist) 		January 5, 1899 January 3, 1901 Edward A. Gilbert
11 Charles Henry Dietrich.jpg   Charles H. Dietrich
(1853–1924) 		Republican January 3, 1901 May 1, 1901 Ezra P. Savage Resigned[5]
12 Ezra Savage ca 1901 (sketch).jpg   Ezra P. Savage
(1842–1920) 		Republican May 1, 1901 January 8, 1903 None Lieutenant Governor[6]
13 John H. Mickey2.jpg   John H. Mickey
(1845–1910) 		Republican January 8, 1903 January 3, 1907 Edmund G. McGilton
14 GeorgeLSheldon.jpg   George L. Sheldon
(1870–1960) 		Republican January 3, 1907 January 7, 1909 Melville R. Hopewell
15 AshtonShallenberger.jpg   Ashton C. Shallenberger
(1862–1938) 		Democratic January 7, 1909 January 5, 1911 Melville R. Hopewell
16 Chester Aldrich cph.3b35048.jpg   Chester H. Aldrich
(1863–1924) 		Republican January 5, 1911 January 9, 1913 Melville R. Hopewell
17 JohnHMorehead.jpg   John H. Morehead
(1861–1942) 		Democratic January 9, 1913 January 4, 1917 Samuel R. McKelvie (Republican)
James Pearson (Democratic)
18 KeithNeville.jpg   Keith Neville
(1884–1959) 		Democratic January 4, 1917 January 9, 1919 Edgar Howard
19 SamuelMcKelvie.jpg   Samuel R. McKelvie
(1881–1956) 		Republican January 9, 1919 January 3, 1923 Pelham A. Barrows
20 CharlesBryan.png   Charles W. Bryan
(1867–1945) 		Democratic January 3, 1923 January 8, 1925 Fred Gustus Johnson (Republican)
21 Adam McMullen 1928.jpg   Adam McMullen
(1872–1959) 		Republican January 8, 1925 January 3, 1929 George A. Williams
22 Arthur J. Weaver.jpg   Arthur J. Weaver
(1873–1945) 		Republican January 3, 1929 January 8, 1931 George A. Williams
23 CharlesBryan.png   Charles W. Bryan
(1867–1945) 		Democratic January 8, 1931 January 3, 1935 Theodore Metcalfe (Republican)
Walter H. Jurgensen (Democratic)
24 Gov. Roy L. Cochran.jpg   Robert Leroy Cochran
(1886–1963) 		Democratic January 3, 1935 January 9, 1941 Walter H. Jurgensen (Democratic)
Nate M. Parsons (Democratic)
William E. Johnson (Republican)
25 Dwight P. Griswold (1893–1954).jpg   Dwight Griswold
(1893–1954) 		Republican January 9, 1941 January 9, 1947 William E. Johnson
Roy W. Johnson
26 Val Peterson.jpg   Val Peterson
(1903–1983) 		Republican January 9, 1947 January 8, 1953 Robert B. Crosby
Charles J. Warner
27 Robert Crosby (Governor of Nebraska).jpg   Robert B. Crosby
(1911–2000) 		Republican January 8, 1953 January 6, 1955 Charles J. Warner
28 Gov. Victor Andeson (cropped).jpg   Victor E. Anderson
(1902–1962) 		Republican January 6, 1955 January 8, 1959 Charles J. Warner
Dwight W. Burney
29 Ralph G. Brooks.jpg   Ralph G. Brooks
(1898–1960) 		Democratic January 8, 1959 September 9, 1960 Dwight W. Burney Died[7]
30 Dwight W. Burney.jpg   Dwight W. Burney
(1892–1987) 		Republican September 9, 1960 January 5, 1961 Dwight W. Burney Lieutenant Governor[6]
31 Gov. Frank Morrison (cropped).jpg   Frank B. Morrison
(1905–2004) 		Democratic January 5, 1961 January 5, 1967 Dwight W. Burney (Republican)
Philip C. Sorensen (Democratic)
32 Gov. Norbert Tiemann (cropped).jpg   Norbert Tiemann
(1924–2012) 		Republican January 5, 1967 January 7, 1971 John E. Everroad
33 1979 p80 J James Exon.jpg   J. James Exon
(1921–2005) 		Democratic January 7, 1971 January 4, 1979 Frank Marsh (Republican)
Gerald T. Whelan (Democratic)
34 Charles Thone (NE).png   Charles Thone
(1924–2018) 		Republican January 4, 1979 January 6, 1983 Roland A. Luedtke
35 Senator Bob Kerrey.jpg   J. Robert Kerrey
(b. 1943) 		Democratic January 6, 1983 January 9, 1987 Donald F. McGinley
36 Kay A. Orr.jpg   Kay A. Orr
(b. 1939) 		Republican January 9, 1987 January 9, 1991 William E. Nichol [8]
37 Ben Nelson official photo.jpg   Ben Nelson
(b. 1941) 		Democratic January 9, 1991 January 7, 1999 Maxine B. Moul
Kim M. Robak
38 Mike Johanns.jpg   Mike Johanns
(b. 1950) 		Republican January 7, 1999 January 20, 2005 David I. Maurstad
Dave Heineman 		Resigned[9]
39 Dave Heineman official photo (cropped).jpg   Dave Heineman
(b. 1948) 		Republican January 20, 2005 January 8, 2015 Rick Sheehy
Lavon Heidemann
John E. Nelson 		Lieutenant Governor[10]
40 Pete Ricketts by Gage Skidmore (cropped).jpg   Pete Ricketts
(b. 1964) 		Republican January 8, 2015 Incumbent[11] Mike Foley

Notes[]

  1. ^ "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries". The Council of State Governments. June 25, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  2. ^ Elected, but not inaugurated, before Nebraska's statehood. Impeached and removed from office for misappropriation of state funds; the impeachment was expunged six years later.
  3. ^ As state secretary of state, acted as governor for unexpired term.
  4. ^ a b James Boyd won the 1890 election, and was sworn in on January 8, 1891. However, due to a question of his U.S. citizenship and eligibility for the office, he did not take office until February 8, 1892.
  5. ^ Resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.
  6. ^ a b As lieutenant governor, became governor for unexpired term.
  7. ^ Died in office.
  8. ^ First and (as of June 2016) only female governor of Nebraska
  9. ^ Resigned to become United States Secretary of Agriculture.
  10. ^ As lieutenant governor, succeeded to the office of governor for Johann's unexpired term, and was later elected in his own right.
  11. ^ Ricketts's second term began on January 10, 2019 and will expire on January 12, 2023; he will be term-limited.

Succession[]

Main article: Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States § Nebraska

Other high offices held[]

This is a table of other governorships, congressional seats and other national public offices held by governors of Nebraska. All representatives and senators mentioned represented Nebraska except where noted.

* denotes those offices which the governor resigned to take.
p. = Political Party; D = Democrat; R = Republican;
the footnotes [P 1], etc., indicate the presidential administration(s) under which an unelected Federal office was held (see Appointing presidents below the table).
Name p. Service as
Governor 		U.S. Congress Other offices held
(beyond Nebraska)
House Senate
William A. Richardson D 1858 (territorial) U.S. Representative & Senator from Illinois (D, 1847–1856; 1861-1865)
J. Sterling Morton D 1858–1859
1861 (territorial) 		U.S. Secretary of Agriculture[P 1]
Algernon Paddock R 1861 (territorial) S
Alvin Saunders R 1861–1867 (territorial) S
John Milton Thayer R 1887–1892 S Governor of Wyoming Territory (1875-1878) [P 2]
Lorenzo Crounse R 1893–1895 H
Charles Henry Dietrich R 1901 S *
Ashton C. Shallenberger D 1909–1911 H
John H. Morehead D 1913–1917 H
Charles W. Bryan D 1923–1925
1931–1935 		1924 Democratic nominee for Vice President (lost)
Robert Leroy Cochran D 1935–1941 Ambassador (UNRRA; Am. Mission for Aid to Greece)[P 3][C]
Dwight Griswold R 1941–1947 S
Val Peterson R 1947–1953 Ambassador to Denmark;[P 4] Ambassador to Finland[P 5]
J. James Exon D 1971–1979 S
Charles Thone R 1979–1983 H
Bob Kerrey D 1983–1987 S
Ben Nelson D 1991–1999 S
Mike Johanns R 1999–2005 S U.S. Secretary of Agriculture * [P 6]

Appointing presidents[]

  1. ^ Grover Cleveland (D, 1893-1897)
  2. ^ Ulysses Grant (R, 1869-1877) and Rutherford B. Hayes (R, 1877-1881)
  3. ^ Franklin Roosevelt (D, 1933-45) and Harry Truman (D, 1945-53)
  4. ^ Dwight Eisenhower (R, 1953-1961)
  5. ^ Richard Nixon (R, 1969-1974)
  6. ^ George W. Bush (R, 2001-2009)

Living former governors of Nebraska[]

As of January 2019, 5 former U.S. governors of Nebraska are still living. The oldest of these is Kay A. Orr (born 1939; served 1987–1991). The most recent Governor to die was Charles Thone (born 1924; served 1979–1983), on March 7, 2018.

Name Gubernatorial term Date of birth (and age)
Bob Kerrey 1983–1987 (1943-08-27) August 27, 1943 (age 78)
Kay A. Orr 1987–1991 (1939-01-02) January 2, 1939 (age 83)
Ben Nelson 1991–1999 (1941-05-17) May 17, 1941 (age 80)
Mike Johanns 1999–2005 (1950-06-18) June 18, 1950 (age 71)
Dave Heineman 2005–2015 (1948-05-12) May 12, 1948 (age 73)

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ 2012-13 Nebraska Blue Book (Nebraska State Government) Archived 2013-05-15 at the Wayback Machine, page 418
  2. ^ 2012-13 Nebraska Blue Book Archived 2013-05-15 at the Wayback Machine, pages 418–419
  3. ^ Nebraska Governor Robert Leroy (Roy) Cochran at the National Governors Association web site, retrieved May 27, 2013.

External links[]

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