List of African-American statewide elected officials

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States where African-Americans have served as statewide executive officials:
  Reconstruction Era African-American statewide officeholders (all Republican) 1868-1887
  States which have only elected/appointed African-American Democrats as statewide officeholders (1963-present)
  States which have only elected/appointed African-American Republicans as statewide officeholders (1963-present)
  States which have elected/appointed African-Americans from both parties (1963-present)

This is a list of African Americans who have served in statewide elected executive offices in the United States, whether they were elected, succeeded or appointed to such elected office. These state constitutional officers have their duties and qualifications mandated in state constitutions. This list does not include those elected to serve in non-executive branches of government, such as justices of the state supreme courts or at-large members of the state legislatures. This list also excludes federal legislators, such as the two members of the United States Senate elected from each state or at-large members of the United States House of Representatives.

Governors[]

  Denotes incumbent Governor
  • Italics denotes acting Governor
Portrait Name Party State Term start Term end Notes
P. B. S. Pinchback - Brady-Handy.jpg P. B. S. Pinchback
(1837–1921) 		Republican Louisiana December 9, 1872 January 13, 1873 Elevated from lieutenant governor.
Term ended.
Douglas Wilder 2003 NIH.jpg Douglas Wilder[1]
(born 1931) 		Democratic Virginia January 13, 1990 January 15, 1994 Term limited
Deval Patrick official photo.jpg Deval Patrick
(born 1956) 		Democratic Massachusetts January 4, 2007 January 8, 2015 Retired
David Paterson 2 by David Shankbone.jpg David Paterson
(born 1954) 		Democratic New York March 17, 2008 December 31, 2010 Elevated to office from lieutenant governor.
Retired

Territorial Governors[]

  Denotes incumbent Governor
  • Italics denotes acting Governor
Portrait Name Party Territory Term start Term end Notes
Walterwashington.jpg Walter Washington
(1915–2003) 		Democratic District of Columbia November 7, 1967 January 2, 1979 Appointed as Mayor-Commissioner before being elected in his own right
Lost renomination
Crop of Marion Barry Vincent Gray.jpg Marion Barry
(1936–2014) 		Democratic District of Columbia January 2, 1979 January 2, 1991 Retired
January 2, 1995 January 2, 1999 Retired
Sharon Pratt Kelly.jpg Sharon Pratt
(born 1944) 		Democratic District of Columbia January 2, 1991 January 2, 1995 Lost renomination
Mayor Williams Anthony.jpg Anthony Williams
(born 1951) 		Democratic District of Columbia January 2, 1999 January 2, 2007 Retired
Adrian Fenty, Mayor of DC, November 5, 2007.jpg Adrian Fenty
(born 1970) 		Democratic District of Columbia January 2, 2007 January 2, 2011 Lost renomination
Vincentgray.jpg Vincent Gray
(born 1942) 		Democratic District of Columbia January 2, 2011 January 2, 2015 Lost renomination
Muriel Bowser 2 cropped.jpg Muriel Bowser
(born 1972) 		Democratic District of Columbia January 2, 2015 present

Lieutenant-Governors[]

  Denotes incumbent lieutenant governor
  • Italics denotes acting lieutenant governor
Portrait Name Party State Term start Term end Notes
Lieut. Governor Dunn, La - NARA - 527896.jpg Oscar Dunn
(1826–1871) 		Republican Louisiana June 27, 1868 November 22, 1871 Died
Alonzo J. Ransier - Brady-Handy.jpg Alonzo Ransier[2]
(1834–1882) 		Republican South Carolina December 3, 1870 December 7, 1872 Retired to run successfully for South Carolina's 2nd congressional district
No image.svg Alexander K. Davis[3] Republican Mississippi November 30, 1871 March 29, 1876 Retired
P. B. S. Pinchback - Brady-Handy.jpg P. B. S. Pinchback
(1837–1921) 		Republican Louisiana December 6, 1871 December 9, 1872 Elevated to governor
Richard gleaves.jpg Richard Gleaves
(1819–1907) 		Republican South Carolina December 7, 1872 December 14, 1876 Lost reelection
Caesar Antoine (circa 1873).jpg Caesar Antoine
(1836–1921) 		Republican Louisiana May 22, 1873 April 24, 1877 Lost reelection
Mervyn M. Dymally Assembly.jpg Mervyn Dymally[4]
(1926–2012) 		Democratic California January 6, 1975 January 8, 1979 Lost reelection
George l. brown.jpg George Brown
(1926–2006) 		Democratic Colorado January 14, 1975 January 10, 1979 Retired
Douglas Wilder 2003 NIH.jpg Douglas Wilder
(born 1931) 		Democratic Virginia January 18, 1986 January 12, 1990 Retired to run successfully for governor
Joe rogers.jpg Joe Rogers
(1964–2013) 		Republican Colorado January 12, 1999 January 14, 2003 Retired
No image.svg Jennette Bradley
(born 1952) 		Republican Ohio January 13, 2003 January 5, 2005 Resigned to become Ohio Treasurer
Michael Steele.jpg Michael Steele[5]
(born 1958) 		Republican Maryland January 15, 2003 January 17, 2007 Retired to run unsuccessfully for U.S. Senator of Maryland
David Paterson 2 by David Shankbone.jpg David Paterson
(born 1954) 		Democratic New York January 1, 2007 March 17, 2008 Elevated to governor
Anthony G. Brown Official State Photo.jpg Anthony Brown
(born 1961) 		Democratic Maryland January 17, 2007 January 21, 2015 Retired to run unsuccessfully for governor
New York State Senator Malcolm Smith 2009 cropped.jpg Malcolm Smith
(born 1956) 		Democratic New York January 7, 2009 June 8, 2009 Resigned
Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll (cropped).jpg Jennifer Carroll
(born 1959) 		Republican Florida January 4, 2011 March 12, 2013 Resigned
Boyd Rutherford.jpg Boyd Rutherford
(born 1957) 		Republican Maryland January 21, 2015 present
Women for Lt. Governor Jenean Hampton.jpg Jenean Hampton
(born 1958) 		Republican Kentucky December 8, 2015 December 9, 2019 Retired
Justin Fairfax (8636601491).jpg Justin Fairfax
(born 1979) 		Democratic Virginia January 13, 2018 January 15, 2022 Retired to run unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for governor
Lt Gov Sheila Oliver.jpeg Sheila Oliver
(born 1952) 		Democratic New Jersey January 16, 2018 present
Garlin Gilchrist III.jpg Garlin Gilchrist
(born 1982) 		Democratic Michigan January 1, 2019 present
Mandela Barnes.png Mandela Barnes
(born 1986) 		Democratic Wisconsin January 7, 2019 present
Juliana Stratton 2018.jpg Juliana Stratton
(born 1965) 		Democratic Illinois January 14, 2019 present
Mark Robinson (cropped).png Mark Robinson
(born 1968) 		Republican North Carolina January 9, 2021 present
NYS Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (51586553665).jpg Andrea Stewart-Cousins
(born 1950) 		Democratic New York August 24, 2021 September 9, 2021 Retired
Brian Benjamin
(born 1976) 		Democratic New York September 9, 2021 present
Winsome Sears in November 2021.jpg Winsome Sears
(born 1964)

Republican

Virginia January 15, 2022 present

Attorneys General[]

  Denotes incumbent attorney general
  • Italics denotes acting attorney general
Picture Name Party State Term start Term end Notes Ref
Edward brooke senator.jpg Edward Brooke
(1919-2015) 		Republican Massachusetts January 3, 1963 January 3, 1967 Retired to run successfully for U.S. Senate from Massachusetts [6]
Sen Roland Burris.jpg Roland Burris
(1937-present) 		Democratic Illinois January 14, 1991 January 9, 1995 Retired to run unsuccessfully for Governor of Illinois [7]
No image.svg Pamela Carter
(1949-present) 		Democratic Indiana January 13, 1993 January 16, 1997 Retired [8][9]
Zell Miller and Thurbert Baker (cropped).jpg Thurbert Baker
(1952-present) 		Democratic Georgia June 1, 1997 January 10, 2011 Retired to run unsuccessfully for Governor of Georgia [10]
Karen Freeman-Wilson (12617981394).jpg Karen Freeman-Wilson
(1960-present) 		Democratic Indiana June 8, 2000 January 14, 2001 Lost reelection [11]
No image.svg Peter C. Harvey
(1952-present) 		Democratic New Jersey June 16, 2003 January 30, 2006 Retired. [12]
Kamala Harris Official Attorney General Photo.jpg Kamala Harris
(1964-present) 		Democratic California January 3, 2011 January 3, 2017 Retired to run successfully for U.S. Senate from California [13]
Curtis Hill DOJ panel (cropped).jpg Curtis Hill
(1960-present) 		Republican Indiana January 9, 2017 January 11, 2021 Lost renomination [14]
Letitia James Interview Feb 2020.png Letitia James
(1958-present) 		Democratic New York January 1, 2019 present [15]
Kwame Raoul RFCG.jpg Kwame Raoul
(1964-present) 		Democratic Illinois January 14, 2019 present [16]
Aaron D. Ford.jpg Aaron Ford
(1972-present) 		Democratic Nevada January 7, 2019 present [17]
Keith Ellison portrait.jpg Keith Ellison
(1963-present) 		Democratic Minnesota January 7, 2019 present [18]
Attorney General Daniel Cameron - Official Portrait.jpg Daniel Cameron
(1985-present) 		Republican Kentucky December 17, 2019 present Elected as Attorney General, but appointed early as acting Attorney by Governor Andy Beshear, the preceding state Attorney General who himself was elected Governor, and took office early.

Territorial Attorneys General[]

  Denotes incumbent attorney general
  • Italics denotes acting attorney general
Portrait Name Party Territory Term start Term end Notes Ref
Karl Racine.jpg Karl Racine
(1963-present) 		Democratic District of Columbia January 2, 2015 present

Secretaries of State[]

  Denotes incumbent Secretary of State
  • Italics denotes acting Secretary of State
Picture Name Party State Term start Term end Notes Ref
Portrait of Jonathan C. Gibbs (6938328955).jpg Jonathan Clarkson Gibbs
(1821-1874) 		Republican Florida 1868 1872 Appointed Superintendent of Public Instruction
No image.svg Pierre G. Deslonde Republican Louisiana 1872 1876 Retired
James D. Lynch.jpg James Lynch
(1839–1872) 		Republican Mississippi 1869 1872 Retired
Hiram Rhodes Revels - Brady-Handy-(restored).png Hiram Revels
(1827-1901) 		Republican Mississippi 1872 1873 Retired
No image.svg Hannibal C. Carter Republican Mississippi 1873 1873 Retired
No image.svg Republican Mississippi 1873 1873 Retired
No image.svg James Hill Republican Mississippi 1874 1878 Retired
Francis Lewis Cardozo.jpg Francis Cardozo
(1836-1903) 		Republican South Carolina 1868 1872 Elected State Treasurer
No image.svg Henry Hayne
(b.c. 1840-???) 		Republican South Carolina 1872 1877 Resigned
Richard H. Austin.png Richard Austin
(1913-2001) 		Democratic Michigan January 1, 1971 January 1, 1995 Lost re-election [19]
No image.svg Basil Paterson
(1926-2014) 		Democratic New York January 1, 1979 January 1, 1983 Retired [20]
Vel Phillips at March on Milwaukee - 2007.jpg Vel Phillips
(1923-2018) 		Democratic Wisconsin January 3, 1979 January 3, 1983 Lost re-nomination [21]
Secretary of State Jesse J. McCrary Jr.jpg Jesse McCrary
(1937-2007) 		Democratic Florida July 19, 1978 January 2, 1979 Retired
No image.svg Myra McDaniel
(1932-2010) 		Democratic Texas August 6, 1984 January 26, 1987 Retired [22]
No image.svg Hannah Atkins
(1923-2010) 		Democratic Oklahoma 1987 1991 Retired
No image.svg Vikki Buckley
(1948-1999) 		Republican Colorado 1994 1999 Died [23]
No image.svg Lonna Hooks
(?-) 		Republican New Jersey 1994 1998 Retired
DeForest B. Soaries 2017 (cropped).jpg DeForest Soaries
(1951-) 		Republican New Jersey January 1, 1999 January 1, 2002 Retired
Ken Blackwell 2011-02-11 (cropped).jpg Ken Blackwell
(1948-) 		Republican Ohio January 8, 1999 January 8, 2007 Retired to run unsuccessfully for governor
Jesse White 2011.jpg Jesse White
(1934-) 		Democratic Illinois January 11, 1999 present
Rdaniels2 (cropped).jpg Randy Daniels
(1950-) 		Republican New York 2001 2005 Retired
No image.svg Regena Thomas
(?-) 		Democratic New Jersey 2002 2006 Retired
No image.svg Nina Mitchell Wells
(1950-) 		Democratic New Jersey January 19, 2006 January 19, 2010 Retired
No image.svg Robyn Crittenden
(?-?) 		Republican Georgia November 8, 2018 January 14, 2019 Appointed by governor to fill predecessor's remaining term, retired
Tahesha Way.jpg Tahesha Way
(1969-) 		Democratic New Jersey January 16, 2018 present
Shirley Weber, California State Assembly (2012).jpg Shirley Weber
(1948-) 		Democratic California January 21, 2021 present

Labor Commissioners[]

  Denotes incumbent Labor Commissioner
  • Italics denotes acting Labor Commissioner
Picture Name Party State Term start Term end Notes Ref
No image.svg
(1947-Present) 		Democratic Georgia 1990 1992 Appointed by governor, resigned to serve on State Board of Education
Michael Thurmond.jpg Mike Thurmond
(1953-) 		Democratic Georgia January 11, 1999 January 10, 2011 Retired to run unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate

Auditors or Comptrollers[]

  Denotes incumbent Auditor or Comptroller
  • Italics denotes acting Auditor or Comptroller
Picture Name Party State Term start Term end Notes
E P McCabe.png Edward McCabe
(1850-1920) 		Republican Kansas January 8, 1883 January 10, 1887 Lost re-nomination
Sen Roland Burris.jpg Roland Burris
(1937-present) 		Democratic Illinois January 8, 1979 January 14, 1991 Retired to run successfully for Attorney General of Illinois
Carl McCall
(1935-) 		Democratic New York May 7, 1993 December 31, 2002 Retired to run unsuccessfully for Governor
Ralph Campbell Jr.jpg Ralph Campbell
(1946-2011) 		Democratic North Carolina January 3, 1993 January 4, 2005 Lost re-election
Randy Brock for Vermont Lt Governor 2016 - 20151020-IMG 7818.jpg Randy Brock
(1943-) 		Republican Vermont January 3, 2005 January 4, 2007 Lost reelection
No image.svg Dwayne Sawyer
(1966-) 		Republican Indiana August 19, 2013 December 15, 2013 Resigned
No image.svg Timothy DeFoor
(1961-) 		Republican Pennsylvania January 19, 2022 present

Superintendents of Education[]

  Denotes incumbent Superintendent
  • Italics denotes acting Superintendent
Picture Name Party State Term start Term end Notes Ref
No image.svg
(1832-1883) 		Republican Louisiana 1872 1874 Lost reelection
Thomas Cardozo.png Thomas Cardozo
(1838-1881) 		Republican Mississippi 1873 1875 Lost reelection
J C Corbin.jpg Joseph Corbin
(1833-1911) 		Republican Arkansas 1873 1875 Lost reelection
Portrait of Jonathan C. Gibbs (6938328955).jpg Jonathan Clarkson Gibbs
(1821-1874) 		Republican Florida 1872 1874 Died
No image.svg Wilson Riles
(1917-1999) 		Democratic California 1971 1983 Lost reelection
Doug Jamerson.jpg Doug Jamerson
(1947-2001) 		Democratic Florida 1994 1995 Lost election
No image.svg Patricia Willoughby
(?-Present) 		Democratic North Carolina September 1, 2004 August 23, 2005 Retired
Carolyn Stanford Taylor.jpg Carolyn Stanford Taylor
(1957-) 		Democratic Wisconsin January 7, 2019 July 5, 2021 Retired
Assemblymember Tony Thurmond (cropped).jpg Tony Thurmond
(1968-) 		Democratic California January 7, 2019 present

Treasurers[]

  Denotes incumbent Treasurer
  • Italics denotes acting Treasurer
Picture Name Party State Term start Term end Notes Ref
No image.svg Antoine Dubuclet
(1810-1887) 		Republican Louisiana 1868 1878 Retired
Francis Lewis Cardozo.jpg Francis Cardozo
(1836-1903) 		Republican South Carolina August 1, 1872 May 1, 1877 Retired
No image.svg Gerald Lamb
(1924-2014) 		Democratic Connecticut 1963 1970 Retired
No image.svg Henry E. Parker
(1928-2018) 		Democratic Connecticut 1974 1986 Resigned
No image.svg Loren E. Monroe
(1932-2019)[24] 		Republican Michigan 1978 1982 Retired
No image.svg James B. Lewis
(1947-) 		Democratic New Mexico 1985 1990 Retired
2007 2015 Retired
Jim Hill.jpg Jim Hill
(1947-) 		Democratic Oregon January 1, 1993 January 1, 2001 Retired
No image.svg Richard Dixon
(1938-2012) 		Democratic Maryland 1996 2002 Retired
No image.svg Denise Nappier
(1951-) 		Democratic Connecticut January 3, 1999 January 9, 2019 Retired
No image.svg Jennette Bradley
(1952-) 		Republican Ohio January 13, 2005 January 5, 2007 Lost renomination
No image.svg
(?-present) 		Democratic New Jersey September 2007 January 2008 acting
No image.svg Velda Jones-Potter
(?-present) 		Democratic Delaware January 1, 2009 January 1, 2011 Lost renomination
Kevin L Boyce 2016.jpg Kevin Boyce
(1971-present) 		Democratic Ohio January 7, 2009 January 9, 2011 Lost reelection
Chip Campaign Official Photo.jpeg Chip Flowers
(1974-) 		Democratic Delaware January 1, 2011 January 1, 2015 Retired
No image.svg Shawn Wooden
 Democratic Connecticut January 3, 2019 present Incumbent

Public Utilities/Railroad Commissioners[]

  Denotes incumbent Public Utilities Commissioner
  • Italics denotes acting Public Utilities Commissioner
Picture Name Party State Term start Term end Notes
Michael L Williams-headshot.jpg Michael L. Williams
(1953-) 		Republican Texas January 3, 1999 March 31, 2011 Resigned

References[]

  1. ^ Previously served as lieutenant governor.
  2. ^ Later served as U.S. Representative from South Carolina's 2nd congressional district.
  3. ^ "Not Even Past: Social Vulnerability and the Legacy of Redlining".
  4. ^ Later served as U.S. Representative from California's 31st congressional district.
  5. ^ Later served as Chair of the Republican National Committee.
  6. ^ "The Honorable Edward Brooke's Biography". The HistoryMakers. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  7. ^ "BURRIS , Roland | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives". history.house.gov. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  8. ^ Contemporary Black Biography, Volume 67, p. 12.
  9. ^ Jennifer M. York, Who's Who Among African Americans. Gale, 2003.
  10. ^ "Thurbert Baker's Biography". The HistoryMakers. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  11. ^ "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Karen M. Freeman-Wilson".
  12. ^ "The Honorable Peter C. Harvey, '79". www.alumni.morgan.edu. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  13. ^ "13 Trailblazing Facts About Kamala Harris". mentalfloss.com. 2019-01-23. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  14. ^ Walker, Kayla (13 November 2018). "Curtis Hill Named Vice Chair of GOP Attorneys General Assoc". Nuvo. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  15. ^ Mays, Jeffery C. (31 December 2018). "N.Y.'s New Attorney General Is Targeting Trump. Will Judges See a 'Political Vendetta?'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  16. ^ "Illinois Attorney General Democratic nominee: Kwame Raoul". Chicago Sun-Times. 14 October 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  17. ^ Lockhead, Colton (14 November 2018). "Aaron Ford setting priorities for his time as Nevada attorney general". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  18. ^ Montemayor, Stephen (7 January 2019). "Keith Ellison ushers in new era for Minnesota Attorney General's Office". Star Tribune. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  19. ^ "MSU Libraries: Richard H. Austin".
  20. ^ "Basil Paterson dead, trailblazing NY politician and former Gov. David Paterson's father was 87". Newsday. 2010-11-02. Retrieved 2014-04-17.
  21. ^ "Pioneering civil rights leader Vel Phillips dies". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. April 17, 2018. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  22. ^ "Myra McDaniel". The HistoryMakers. The HistoryMakers. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  23. ^ "Victoria Buckley; Colorado Secretary of State, GOP Star". The Los Angeles Times. 17 July 1999. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  24. ^ "Loren Monroe, first black State Treasurer of Michigan, dead at 87". 4 June 2019.
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