The governor of Washington is the head of government of Washington and commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.[2][3] The officeholder has a duty to enforce state laws,[4] the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Washington Legislature and line-item veto power to cancel specific provisions in spending bills.[5] The Washington governor may also convene the legislature on "extraordinary occasions".[4]
Washington Territory had 14 territorial governors from its organization in 1853 until the formation of the state of Washington in 1889. Territorial governors were appointed by the president of the United States. Elisha P. Ferry had the longest term of eight years and went on to become the state's first governor. William H. Wallace was appointed governor but never took office due to being elected as the territory's congressional delegate. George Edward Cole was appointed governor and took office, but his appointment was never ratified by the U.S. Senate and he was replaced as governor after four months.
Twenty-two individuals have held the office of Governor of Washington since the state's admission to the Union, with Arthur B. Langlie serving non-consecutive terms. Populist Party candidate John Rankin Rogers is the only non-Democratic or Republican nominee to win office. The most recent governor to be from Eastern Washington was Clarence D. Martin, elected in 1932.[6] The current governor is Democrat Jay Inslee, who took office on January 16, 2013, and was reelected in 2016 and 2020; his term will expire on January 15, 2025, as Inslee announced on May 1, 2023, that he will not be seeking re-election to an unprecedented fourth term in 2024.[7] Washington has had the longest current streak of Democratic governors in the nation, with the last Republican to hold the office being John Spellman in 1985.[8]
With the re-election of Inslee in 2020, Langlie, Daniel J. Evans and Inslee are the only three Washington governors to be elected to three terms with 12 years respectively.
Washington was admitted to the Union on November 11, 1889. The term for governor is four years,[2] commencing on the second Monday in the January following the election.[64] If the office of governor is vacant or the governor is unable to discharge their duties, the lieutenant governor assumes the duties of governor, though still officially retains the office of lieutenant governor.[65] If both the offices of governor and lieutenant governor are unable to fulfill their duties, the secretary of state is next in line, and then the treasurer.[66] There is no limit to the number of terms a governor may serve.[67] The office of lieutenant governor is not elected on the same ticket as the governor.
^The range given is from the date the governor was confirmed by the Senate, or appointed by the President during a Senate recess, to the date the governor's successor was confirmed, unless noted.
^Stevens was nominated[10] and confirmed by the Senate[11] on March 17, 1853, and arrived in Olympia on November 25.[12]
^James Patton Anderson was nominated on March 12, 1857,[15] and confirmed by the Senate on March 13,[16] but declined.[17] McMullen was appointed on May 13, 1857, during a Senate recess;[14] nominated on December 22, 1857;[18] and confirmed by the Senate on January 18, 1858.[19] He took office on September 10, 1857.[20]
^McMullen left the territory in July 1858, without a formal resignation; the nomination of his successor only notes that the office is vacant.[21] Territorial Secretary Charles H. Mason acted as governor until his successor arrived.[14]
^Gholson was nominated[21] and confirmed by the Senate[23] on March 5, 1859, and he arrived in the territory on July 10.[24]
^Gholson left the territory in May 1860 on a leave of absence to move his wife from Texas to Kentucky, and never returned; he formally resigned on February 14, 1861, saying "I am unwilling for even a day to hold office under a (so-called) 'Republican' President."[22] Territorial Secretary Henry McGill acted as governor until his successor arrived.[22]
^Wallace was appointed on April 9, 1861, during a Senate recess;[25] nominated on July 10;[26] and confirmed by the Senate on July 16.[27] However, even though he was a resident of the territory, he never took office; he instead took a seat in the United States House of Representatives that he was elected to on July 8.[25] Territorial Secretary L. Jay S. Turney acted as governor until his successor arrived.[25]
^Pickering was nominated on December 5, 1861;[29] confirmed by the Senate on December 19;[30] and arrived in the territory in June 1862.[28] He was reconfirmed by the Senate on January 6, 1866.[31]
^President Johnson removed Pickering because he had publicly criticized Reconstruction era policies. Territorial Secretary Elwood Evans acted as governor until his successor arrived.
^Cole was appointed on November 21, 1866, during a Senate recess;[32] nominated on December 14;[33] but was rejected by the Senate on March 1, 1867.[34]
^Cole's nomination was rejected by the Senate on March 1, 1867,[34] and he left office on March 4.[32] Territorial Secretary Elwood Evans acted as governor until his successor arrived.[32]
^Charles E. De Long was nominated on April 15, 1867,[36] but was rejected by the Senate on April 17.[37] Moore was then nominated on April 19,[38] and confirmed by the Senate on April 20.[39]
^McMullin says Moore resigned due to ill health,[35] but the nomination of his successor specifies he was being removed.[40]
^Flanders was nominated on April 3, 1869,[40] and confirmed by the Senate on April 5.[42]
^Salomon was nominated on January 10, 1870,[44] and confirmed by the Senate on March 14.[45]
^Salomon's resignation was requested due to "financial maneuvering and excessive absences".[43]
^James F. Legate was nominated on January 11, 1872,[47] but was withdrawn on April 9.[48] Ferry was then nominated on April 24,[49] and confirmed by the Senate on April 26.[50] He was reconfirmed by the Senate on May 2, 1876.[51]
^Newell was nominated on April 9, 1880, for a term to begin April 26;[53] and was confirmed by the Senate on April 21.[54]
^Squire was nominated on July 1, 1884,[56] and confirmed by the Senate on July 2.[57]
^Semple was appointed on April 9, 1887, during a Senate recess;[58] nominated on January 4, 1888;[59] and confirmed by the Senate on January 16.[60]
^Moore was nominated on March 21, 1889,[62] and confirmed by the Senate on March 23.[63]
^Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
Ficken, Robert E. (Winter 2005–2006). "Figureheads of State". Columbia Magazine. 19 (4). Archived from the original on October 8, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
^"none". Pioneer and Democrat. August 14, 1857. p. 2. Retrieved July 20, 2023. Olympia, Aug. 11, 1857: I have transmitted a communication to the Secretary of State... resigning the office of Governor of the Territory of Washington to take effect this date...
^U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 36th Cong., special sess., 75, accessed July 19, 2023.
^"none". Pioneer and Democrat. July 15, 1859. p. 2. Retrieved July 20, 2023. Gov. Gholson, who some time since received the appointment as Executive for this Territory, arrived here on the steamer Northerner, on Sunday last.
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