The governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of government of KentuckyKY Const. § 69. and serves as commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.KY Const. § 75. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws;KY Const. § 81 the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Kentucky General Assembly;KY Const. § 88. the power to convene the legislature;KY Const. § 80. and the power to grant pardons, except in cases of treason and impeachment.KY Const. § 77. The governor is also empowered to reorganize the state government or reduce it in size. Historically, the office has been regarded as one of the most powerful executive positions in the United States.

Fifty-nine individuals have held the office of governor. Prior to a 1992 amendment to the state's constitution, the governor was prohibited from succeeding himself or herself in office, though four men (Isaac Shelby, John L. Helm, James B. McCreary and Happy Chandler) served multiple non-consecutive terms. Paul E. Patton, the first Kentucky governor eligible for a second consecutive term under the amendment, won his reelection bid in 1999. James Garrard succeeded himself in 1800, before the constitutional provision existed. Garrard is also the longest serving governor, serving for a total period of eight years and 90 days. In 2023 Democrat Andy Beshear became the 3rd incumbent governor in Kentucky history to be reelected to a second consecutive term.

William Goebel, who was elected to the office in the disputed election of 1899, remains the only governor of any U.S. state to die from assassination while in office. Goebel is also the shortest serving governor, serving for a period of only three days. Martha Layne Collins, who held the office from 1983 to 1987, was the first woman to serve as governor and was only the third woman to serve as governor of any U.S. state who was not the wife or widow of a previous governor. The 63rd and current Kentucky governor is Democrat Andy Beshear, who took office on December 10, 2019.

Governors Kentucky County, Virginia was admitted to the Union as Kentucky on June 1, 1792. There have been 59 governors, serving 63 distinct terms.

An unelected group proclaimed Kentucky's secession from the Union on November 20, 1861, and it was annexed by the Confederate States of America on December 10, 1861. The Confederate government elected two governors, but it never held much control over the state.

The original 1792 Kentucky Constitution had the governor chosen by an electoral college for a term of four years, commencing on the first day of June.1799 Const. art. II, § 2–3 The second constitution in 1799 changed this to a popular vote, prevented governors from succeeding themselves within seven years of their terms, and moved the start date to the fourth Tuesday after the election.1799 Const. art. III, § 3–5 The third constitution in 1850 reduced the succession limitation to four years, and moved the start date of the term to the fifth Tuesday after the election.1850 Const. art. III, § 3–5 A 1992 amendment allowed governors to have a second term before being prevented from succeeding themselves for four years.KY Const. § 71 Originally, should the office of governor be vacant, the speaker of the Senate would exercise the powers of the office;1792 Const. art. III, § 16–18 in 1799, the office of lieutenant governor was created to fill this role,1799 Const. art. III, § 16–18 and, as of 1992, is elected on the same ticket as the governor.KY Const. § 70

+ Governors of the Commonwealth of KentuckyGovernorTerm in officePartyElectionLt. Governor1 Isaac ShelbyJune 4, 1792–June 1, 1796Democratic-Republican1792Office did not exist2James GarrardJune 1, 1796–September 5, 1804Democratic-Republican17961800 3Christopher GreenupSeptember 5, 1804–August 23, 1808Democratic-Republican1804Vacant4Charles ScottAugust 23, 1808–August 24, 1812Democratic-Republican18085Isaac ShelbyAugust 24, 1812–September 5, 1816Democratic-Republican18126George MadisonSeptember 5, 1816–October 14, 1816Democratic-Republican18167Gabriel SlaughterOctober 14, 1816–September 7, 1820Democratic-RepublicanVacant8John AdairSeptember 7, 1820–August 24, 1824Democratic-Republican18209Joseph DeshaAugust 24, 1824–August 26, 1828Democratic-Republican182410Thomas MetcalfeAugust 26, 1828–August 28, 1832NationalRepublican182811John BreathittAugust 28, 1832–February 21, 1834Democratic183212James Turner MoreheadFebruary 21, 1834–August 30, 1836NationalRepublicanVacant13James ClarkAugust 30, 1836–August 27, 1839Whig183614Charles A. WickliffeAugust 27, 1839–September 2, 1840WhigVacant15Robert P. LetcherSeptember 2, 1840–September 4, 1844Whig184016William OwsleySeptember 4, 1844–September 6, 1848Whig184417John J. CrittendenSeptember 6, 1848–July 30, 1850Whig184818John L. HelmJuly 30, 1850–September 2, 1851WhigVacant19Lazarus W. PowellSeptember 2, 1851–September 4, 1855Democratic185120Charles S. MoreheadSeptember 4, 1855–August 30, 1859American185521Beriah MagoffinAugust 30, 1859–August 18, 1862Democratic1859Vacant22James Fisher RobinsonAugust 18, 1862–September 1, 1863Democratic23Thomas E. BramletteSeptember 1, 1863–September 3, 1867UnionDemocratic186324John L. HelmSeptember 3, 1867–September 8, 1867Democratic186725John W. StevensonSeptember 8, 1867–February 13, 1871DemocraticVacant186826Preston LeslieFebruary 13, 1871–August 31, 1875Democratic187127James B. McCrearyAugust 31, 1875–September 2, 1879Democratic187528Luke P. BlackburnSeptember 2, 1879–September 4, 1883Democratic187929J. Proctor KnottSeptember 4, 1883–August 30, 1887Democratic188330Simon Bolivar BucknerAugust 30, 1887–September 1, 1891Democratic188731John Y. BrownSeptember 1, 1891–December 10, 1895Democratic189132William O'Connell BradleyDecember 10, 1895–December 12, 1899Republican189533William S. TaylorDecember 12, 1899–January 31, 1900Republican189934William GoebelJanuary 31, 1900–February 3, 1900Democratic35J. C. W. BeckhamFebruary 3, 1900–December 10, 1907DemocraticVacant1900190336Augustus E. WillsonDecember 10, 1907–December 12, 1911Republican190737James B. McCrearyDecember 12, 1911–December 7, 1915Democratic191138Augustus Owsley StanleyDecember 7, 1915–May 19, 1919Democratic191539James D. BlackMay 19, 1919–December 9, 1919DemocraticVacant40Edwin P. MorrowDecember 9, 1919–December 11, 1923Republican191941William J. FieldsDecember 11, 1923–December 13, 1927Democratic192342Flem D. SampsonDecember 13, 1927–December 8, 1931Republican192743Ruby LaffoonDecember 8, 1931–December 10, 1935Democratic193144Happy ChandlerDecember 10, 1935–October 9, 1939Democratic193545Keen JohnsonOctober 9, 1939–December 7, 1943DemocraticVacant193946Simeon WillisDecember 7, 1943–December 9, 1947Republican194347Earle ClementsDecember 9, 1947–November 27, 1950Democratic194748Lawrence WetherbyNovember 27, 1950–December 13, 1955DemocraticVacant195149Happy ChandlerDecember 13, 1955–December 8, 1959Democratic195550Bert CombsDecember 8, 1959–December 10, 1963Democratic195951Ned BreathittDecember 10, 1963–December 12, 1967Democratic196352Louie NunnDecember 12, 1967–December 7, 1971Republican196753Wendell FordDecember 7, 1971–December 28, 1974Democratic197154Julian CarrollDecember 28, 1974–December 11, 1979DemocraticVacant197555John Y. Brown Jr.December 11, 1979–December 13, 1983Democratic197956Martha Layne CollinsDecember 13, 1983–December 8, 1987Democratic198357Wallace WilkinsonDecember 8, 1987–December 10, 1991Democratic198758Brereton C. JonesDecember 10, 1991–December 12, 1995Democratic199159Paul E. PattonDecember 12, 1995–December 9, 2003Democratic1995199960Ernie FletcherDecember 9, 2003–December 11, 2007Republican200361Steve BeshearDecember 11, 2007–December 8, 2015Democratic2007201162Matt BevinDecember 8, 2015–December 10, 2019Republican201563Andy BeshearDecember 10, 2019–IncumbentDemocratic20192023

Confederate governors

During the Civil War, a group of secessionists met at Russellville to form a Confederate government for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This government never successfully displaced the government in Frankfort, and Kentucky remained in the Union through the entire war. Two men were elected governor of the Confederate government: George W. Johnson, who served from November 20, 1861, to his death on April 8, 1862, at the Battle of Shiloh, and, on Johnson's death, Richard Hawes, who served until the Confederate surrender on April 9, 1865. The Confederate government disbanded shortly after the end of the war in 1865.

See also Timeline of Kentucky history List of Kentucky General Assemblies

Notes

References

General

Constitution

Specific

External links

Office of the Governor of Kentucky