The current governor is RepublicanMike Parson, who took office on June 1, 2018. He is ineligible to run in the 2024 election-or any future election--since he served more than two years of the unexpired term of predecessor Eric Greitens.
The original constitution of 1820 created the offices of governor[26] and lieutenant governor,[27] to serve terms of four years[28] without being able to succeed themselves.[29] Terms were shortened to 2 years in 1865,[30] with a limit of serving no more than four out of every six years.[31] They were returned in 1875 to the four-year term and limit on succession of the 1820 constitution,[32] and the term limit changed to two terms in 1965.[33] Originally, the lieutenant governor would act as governor in the event of a vacancy;[34] a 1968 amendment made it so that the lieutenant governor becomes governor in that situation.[33]
A group including the governor, lieutenant governor, and members of the Missouri General Assembly, proclaimed Missouri's secession from the Union on October 31, 1861,[35] and it was admitted to the Confederate States of America on November 28, 1861.[36] The Confederate government elected two governors, but only had any control in the south of the state, and was forced into exile in Marshall, Texas, after the Battle of Pea Ridge in March 1862.
^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 left office.
^Wilkinson was appointed on March 11, 1805, during a Senate recess, for a term to begin July 4.[8] He was formally nominated on December 20, 1805;[9] confirmed by the Senate on January 27, 1806;[10] and confirmation was communicated to the president on January 30.[11]
^Wilkinson left the territory August 16, 1806, after which point Secretary of the Territory Joseph Brown acted as governor.[7]
^Lewis was nominated on February 28, 1807;[13] confirmed by the Senate on March 2;[14] and confirmation and communicated to the president on March 3.[15] He arrived in the territory on March 8, 1808.[12]
^Lewis died in Tennessee while en route to Washington to answer complaints about his actions as governor; it is unknown if he was murdered or died by suicide.[12] Secretary of the Territory Frederick Bates acted as governor until his successor arrived.[16]
^Howard was nominated on April 17, 1810,[17] confirmed by the Senate on April 18,[18] and arrived in the territory on September 17.[16]
^Clark was nominated on May 31, 1813;[20] though his nomination notes that he had been appointed during a Senate recess, no specifics on that appointment have been found. He was confirmed by the Senate on June 2,[21] and the confirmation was communicated to the president on June 16.[22] He was reconfirmed by the Senate on January 21, 1817,[23] and on January 24, 1820.[24]
^Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
^ abcdefgUnder the 1820 constitution, governors were ineligible for four years after the end of their term.[40]
^Modern sources tend to say Bates took office on November 15; however, while this was the date McNair delivered his farewell address, Bates was not sworn in until November 17.[44]
^Special election to fill the remainder of Frederick Bates' term.
^Special election to fill the remainder of Trusten Polk's term.
^Jackson was pro-Confederate, and fled Jefferson City on June 17, 1861, after the Battle of Boonville in which Union forces gained control of the capital. The pro-Union constitutional convention declared his office vacant, and elected a new provisional governor, on July 31.[86] Jackson would soon establish a Confederate-aligned government in Neosho, Missouri.
^Under the 1865 constitution, governors were ineligible to serve more than four years in six.[95]
^ abcdefghijklmnopUnder the 1875 constitution, governors were ineligible to be re-elected as their own successor.[111]
^The election was very close, and the House of Representatives refused to certify Donnell's election until February 26, 1941, after being ordered to do so by the Missouri Supreme Court.[161][163]
^ abcdeUnder the 1945 constitution, governors were ineligible to be re-elected as their own successor.[167]
^ abcUnder a 1965 amendment to the constitution, governors are ineligible to be elected more than twice.[181]
^The plane crash that killed Carnahan occurred on October 16; his body was not identified until October 18, and shortly thereafter Wilson was sworn in.[193]
^"Missouri Constitution of 1875". Article V, Section 12. A person who has served as governor for more than one and one-half terms in two consecutive terms shall not be elected governor for the succeeding term.
^"Memorandum from Thomas Jefferson, 11 March 1805," Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/02-09-02-0124. [Original source: The Papers of James Madison, Secretary of State Series, vol. 9, 1 February 1805–30 June 1805, ed. Mary A. Hackett, J. C. A. Stagg, Mary Parke Johnson, Anne Mandeville Colony, Angela Kreider, and Katherine E. Harbury. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2011, pp. 123–125.], accessed March 20, 2023
^Journal of the House, 1st General Assembly, Regular Session, 1820, page 8, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 21, 2023.
^"none". Missouri Intelligencer. January 23, 1826. p. 2. Retrieved March 22, 2023. On the next day, General John Miller was declared to be duly elected Governor - and after being qualified, communicated to the Legislature the following...
^Journal of the House, 7th General Assembly, Regular Session, 1832, pp. 28–29, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 21, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 11th General Assembly, Regular Session, 1840, p. 28, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 21, 2023.
^"none". Boon's Lick Times. November 30, 1844. p. 3. Retrieved March 23, 2023. On this morning a joint committee from the two Houses waited upon Gov. Edwards and Lt. Governor Young, and escorted them to the Hall of the House, where the oaths of office were administered...
^Journal of the House, 15th General Assembly, Regular Session, 1848, p. 35, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 22, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 19th General Assembly, Regular Session, 1857, p. 40, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 22, 2023.
^Journal of the Senate, 19th General Assembly, Regular Session, 1857, p. 357, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 22, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 19th General Assembly, Adjourned Session, 1857, p. 23, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 23, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 21st General Assembly, Regular Session, 1861, p. 45, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 23, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 23rd General Assembly, Regular Session, 1865, p. 46, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 23, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 25th General Assembly, Regular Session, 1869, p. 112, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 23, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 26th General Assembly, Regular Session, 1871, p. 26, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 23, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 27th General Assembly, Regular Session, 1873, p. 89, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 28th General Assembly, Regular Session, 1875, p. 97, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 29th General Assembly, Regular Session, 1877, p. 59, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 31st General Assembly, Regular Session, 1881, p. 53, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 33rd General Assembly, Regular Session, 1885, p. 93, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 35th General Assembly, Regular Session, 1889, p. 74, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 37th General Assembly, Regular Session, 1893, p. 25, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 39th General Assembly, Regular Session, 1897, p. 34, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 41st General Assembly, Regular Session, 1901, p. 63, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 43rd General Assembly, Regular Session, 1905, p. 24, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 45th General Assembly, Regular Session, 1909, p. 19, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 47th General Assembly, Regular Session, 1913, p. 23, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 49th General Assembly, Regular Session, 1917, p. 129, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 51st General Assembly, Regular Session, 1921, p. 24, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 53rd General Assembly, Regular Session, 1925, p. 35, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 55th General Assembly, Regular Session, 1929, p. 78, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the Senate, 57th General Assembly, Regular Session, 1933, p. 22, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 59th General Assembly, Regular Session, 1937, p. 29, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 61st General Assembly, Regular Session, 1941, p. 356, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 63rd General Assembly, Regular Session, 1945, p. 87, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 65th General Assembly, Regular Session, 1949, p. 36, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 67th General Assembly, Regular Session, 1953, p. 56, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 69th General Assembly, Regular Session, 1957, p. 47, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 71st General Assembly, Regular Session, 1961, p. 52, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 73rd General Assembly, Regular Session, 1965, p. 67, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the Senate, 77th General Assembly, Regular Session, 1973, p. 47, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 79th General Assembly, Regular Session, 1977, p. 217, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 81st General Assembly, Regular Session, 1981, p. 135, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 83rd General Assembly, Regular Session, 1985, p. 131, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the Senate, 87th General Assembly, Regular Session, 1993, p. 97, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the House, 91st General Assembly, Regular Session, 2001, p. 95, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.
^Journal of the Senate, 99th General Assembly, Regular Session, 2017, p. 85, General Assembly, Record Group 550, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City. Accessed March 24, 2023.