List of Governors of Idaho

Governor of Idaho

Seal of the State of Idaho
Incumbent
C. L. "Butch" Otter
since January 1, 2007
Residence The Idaho House
Term length Four years, no term limit
Inaugural holder George L. Shoup
Formation July 3, 1890
Deputy Brad Little
Salary $117,000 (2013)[1]
Website gov.idaho.gov

The Governor of Idaho is the head of the executive branch of Idaho's state government[2] and commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.[3] The governor has the duty to see state laws are executed, power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Idaho Legislature.[3]

Idaho Territory had 16 territorial governors appointed by the President of the United States from the territory's organization in 1863 until the formation of the state of Idaho in 1890. Four of these never took office, resigning before reaching the territory.

Thirty individuals have held the office of governor of Idaho since the state's admission to the Union in 1890, two of whom—C. A. Bottolfsen and Cecil D. Andrus—served non-consecutive terms. The state's first governor, George Laird Shoup, had the shortest term of three months, and Cecil D. Andrus served as governor the longest at 14 years. Four governors resigned, but none has died while in office. There have been 20 Republican and 12 Democratic governors. The current governor is C. L. "Butch" Otter, who took office on January 1, 2007.[4]

Governors

Governors of the Territory of Idaho

Idaho Territory was created from Dakota Territory, Nebraska Territory, and Washington Territory on March 4, 1863. Initially, the territory included all of modern-day Idaho and Montana, and most of Wyoming. On May 26, 1864, Montana Territory was split from Idaho Territory, and most of the Wyoming portion was reassigned to Dakota Territory. The portion east of the 111th meridian was split off as part of the new Wyoming Territory on July 25, 1868, giving Idaho Territory its final borders.[5]

Due to the long distance between Washington, D.C. and Boise, there was often a lengthy gap between a governor being appointed and his arrival in the territory; four resigned before even arriving.

Image Governor Term in office Appointed by Notes
William H. Wallace July 1863[6][7]
–
December 1863[6]		 Abraham Lincoln [lower-alpha 1]
Caleb Lyon August 1, 1864[6][7]
–
April 1866[9]
David W. Ballard June 14, 1866[10]
–
July 1870[11]		 Andrew Johnson
Samuel Bard Appointed March 30, 1870[12] Ulysses S. Grant [lower-alpha 2]
Gilman Marston Appointed June 7, 1870[12] [lower-alpha 3]
Alexander H. Conner Appointed January 12, 1871[12] [lower-alpha 4]
Thomas M. Bowen July 1871[13]
–
August 15, 1871[13]		 [lower-alpha 5]
Thomas W. Bennett December 1871[14]
–
December 4, 1875[15]		 [lower-alpha 6]
David P. Thompson April 1876[17]
–
May 1876[17]		 [lower-alpha 7]
Mason Brayman July 1876[18]
–
July 24, 1880[19]		 [lower-alpha 8]
John P. Hoyt Appointed June 8, 1878[21]
Appointed August 7, 1878[22]		 Rutherford B. Hayes [lower-alpha 9]
John Baldwin Neil August 3, 1880[23]
–
March 2, 1883[24]
John N. Irwin April 1883[25]
–
December 20, 1883[25]		 Chester A. Arthur [lower-alpha 10]
William M. Bunn June 26, 1884[27]
–
July 3, 1885[28]		 [lower-alpha 11]
Edward A. Stevenson September 29, 1885[29]
–
April 1, 1889[30]		 Grover Cleveland
George Laird Shoup April 30, 1889[31]
–
July 3, 1890		 Benjamin Harrison

Governors of the State of Idaho

Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890. Since then, the state has had 30 governors, two of whom served non-consecutive terms. The terms for governor and lieutenant governor are four years, commencing on the first Monday in the January following the election. Prior to 1946, the offices were elected to terms of two years.[32] If the office of governor is vacant or the governor is out of state or unable to discharge his duties, the lieutenant governor acts as governor until such time as the disability is removed.[33] If both the offices of governor and lieutenant governor are vacant or both those officers are unable to fulfill their duties, the President pro tempore of the Idaho Senate is next in line, and then the Speaker of the Idaho House of Representatives.[34] After the change to four-year terms, self-succession (re-election) was not initially allowed; newly elected Governor Robert E. Smylie, formerly the state's attorney general, successfully lobbied the 1955 legislature to propose an amendment to the state constitution to allow gubernatorial re-election, which was approved by voters in the 1956 general election.[35][36] There is no limit to the number of terms a governor may serve.[37]

  Democratic (12)   Republican (20)

#[lower-alpha 12] Governor Term in office Party Term[lower-alpha 13] Lt. Governor
1   George Laird Shoup October 1, 1890
–
December 18, 1890		 Republican 1890
[lower-alpha 14]		   N. B. Willey
2 N. B. Willey December 18, 1890
–
January 2, 1893		 Republican John S. Gray
3 William J. McConnell January 2, 1893
–
January 4, 1897		 Republican 1892 F. B. Willis
1894 F. J. Mills
4 Frank Steunenberg January 4, 1897
–
January 7, 1901		 Democratic[lower-alpha 15] 1896 George F. Moore[lower-alpha 16]
1898 J. H. Hutchinson[lower-alpha 17]
5 Frank W. Hunt January 7, 1901
–
January 5, 1903		 Democratic 1900 Thomas F. Terrell
6 John T. Morrison January 5, 1903
–
January 2, 1905		 Republican 1902 James M. Stevens
7 Frank R. Gooding January 2, 1905
–
January 4, 1909		 Republican 1904 Burpee L. Steeves
1906 Ezra A. Burrell
8 James H. Brady January 4, 1909
–
January 2, 1911		 Republican 1908 Lewis H. Sweetser
9 James H. Hawley January 2, 1911
–
January 6, 1913		 Democratic 1910
10 John M. Haines January 6, 1913
–
January 4, 1915		 Republican 1912 Herman H. Taylor[lower-alpha 18]
11 Moses Alexander January 4, 1915
–
January 6, 1919		 Democratic 1914
1916 Ernest L. Parker
12 D. W. Davis January 6, 1919
–
January 1, 1923		 Republican 1918 Charles C. Moore
1920
13 Charles C. Moore January 1, 1923
–
January 3, 1927		 Republican 1922 H. C. Baldridge
1924
14 H. C. Baldridge January 3, 1927
–
January 5, 1931		 Republican 1926 O. E. Hailey
1928 W. B. Kinne
(died October 1, 1929)
Vacant
O. E. Hailey
(appointed October 25, 1929)
15 C. Ben Ross January 5, 1931
–
January 4, 1937		 Democratic 1930 G. P. Mix
1932 George E. Hill
1934 G. P. Mix
16 Barzilla W. Clark January 4, 1937
–
January 2, 1939		 Democratic 1936 Charles C. Gossett
17 C. A. Bottolfsen January 2, 1939
–
January 6, 1941		 Republican 1938 Donald S. Whitehead
18 Chase A. Clark January 6, 1941
–
January 4, 1943		 Democratic 1940 Charles C. Gossett
19 C. A. Bottolfsen January 4, 1943
–
January 1, 1945		 Republican 1942 Edwin Nelson
20 Charles C. Gossett January 1, 1945
–
November 17, 1945		 Democratic 1944
[lower-alpha 19]		 Arnold Williams
21 Arnold Williams November 17, 1945
–
January 6, 1947		 Democratic Vacant
A. R. McCabe
(appointed March 20, 1946)
22 C. A. Robins January 6, 1947
–
January 1, 1951		 Republican 1946
[lower-alpha 20]		 Donald S. Whitehead
23 Leonard B. Jordan January 1, 1951
–
January 3, 1955		 Republican 1950 Edson H. Deal
24 Robert E. Smylie January 3, 1955
–
January 2, 1967		 Republican 1954 J. Berkeley Larsen
1958 W. E. Drevlow[lower-alpha 21]
1962
25 Don Samuelson January 2, 1967
–
January 4, 1971		 Republican 1968 Jack M. Murphy[lower-alpha 18]
26 Cecil D. Andrus January 4, 1971
–
January 24, 1977		 Democratic 1970
1974
[lower-alpha 22]		 John V. Evans
27 John V. Evans January 24, 1977
–
January 5, 1987		 Democratic Vacant
William J. Murphy
(appointed January 28, 1977)
1978 Phil Batt[lower-alpha 18]
1982 David H. Leroy[lower-alpha 18]
28 Cecil D. Andrus January 5, 1987
–
January 2, 1995		 Democratic 1986 C.L. "Butch" Otter[lower-alpha 18]
(resigned January 3, 2001)
1990
29 Phil Batt January 2, 1995
–
January 4, 1999		 Republican 1994
30 Dirk Kempthorne January 4, 1999
–
May 26, 2006		 Republican 1998
Vacant
Jack Riggs
(appointed January 30, 2001)
2002
[lower-alpha 23]		 Jim Risch
31 Jim Risch May 26, 2006
–
January 1, 2007		 Republican Vacant
Mark Ricks
(appointed June 15, 2006)
32 C.L. "Butch" Otter January 1, 2007
–
Incumbent		 Republican 2006 Jim Risch
(resigned January 3, 2009)
Vacant
Brad Little
2010
2014
[lower-alpha 24]

Other high offices held

Sixteen of Idaho's governors have served higher federal offices or as governors of other states. Nine have served in the U.S. Senate, eight of those representing Idaho, and three have served in the U.S. House, one representing Idaho, one New York, and one the territories of Idaho and Washington. Idaho shares a governor with Arizona Territory, and one was appointed to Washington Territory but never took office. Two governors have been U.S. Secretaries of the Interior, and one served as ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. Six governors (marked with *) resigned to take a new office, including both territorial delegates, both Secretaries of the Interior, and two senators.

In addition, two people who were appointed governor of Idaho Territory but never took office held other high offices. Gilman Marston, appointed governor in 1870, was a representative and senator from New Hampshire,[40] and John Philo Hoyt, appointed in 1878, was Governor of Arizona Territory.[41]

All representatives and senators mentioned represented Idaho except where noted.

Governor Gubernatorial
term		 Other offices held Sources
William H. Wallace 1863–1864 Appointed Governor of Washington Territory,
but did not take office (1861),
Delegate from Washington Territory (1861–1863),
Delegate from Idaho Territory* (1864–1865)		 [8]
Caleb Lyon 1864–1866 Representative from New York (1853–1855) [42]
Thomas M. Bowen 1871 Senator from Colorado (1883–1889) [43]
Thomas W. Bennett 1871–1875 Delegate from Idaho Territory* (1875–1876) [16]
David P. Thompson 1875–1876 Minister to the Ottoman Empire (1892–1893) [44]
John N. Irwin 1883 Governor of Arizona Territory (1890–1892) [45]
George Laird Shoup 1889–1890 Senator* (1890–1901) [46]
William J. McConnell 1893–1897 Senator (1890–1891) [47]
Frank R. Gooding 1905–1909 Senator (1921–1928) [48]
James H. Brady 1909–1911 Senator (1913–1918) [49]
Charles C. Gossett 1945 Senator* (1945–1946) [50]
Leonard B. Jordan 1951–1955 Senator (1962–1973) [51]
Cecil D. Andrus 1971–1977
1987–1995		 Secretary of the Interior* (1977–1981) [52]
Dirk Kempthorne 1999–2006 Senator (1993–1999),
Secretary of the Interior* (2006–2009)		 [53]
Jim Risch 2006–2007 Senator (2009–present) [54]
C.L. "Butch" Otter 2007–present Representative (2001–2007) [55]

Living former governors

There are four living former governors of Idaho, the oldest being Phil Batt (served 1995–1999, born 1927). The most recent death of a former governor was that of John V. Evans (served 1977–1987, born 1925), at age 89 on July 8, 2014.

Governor Gubernatorial term Date of birth (and age)
Cecil D. Andrus 1971–1977
1987–1995		 August 25, 1931
Phil Batt 1995–1999 March 4, 1927
Dirk Kempthorne 1999–2006 October 29, 1951
Jim Risch 2006–2007 May 3, 1943

Notes

  1. ↑ Resigned to take an elected seat as delegate from Idaho Territory.[8]
  2. ↑ Appointed governor but resigned in April 1870 to become postmaster of Atlanta, Georgia, before arriving in Idaho.[11]
  3. ↑ Appointed governor but resigned in December 1870 before arriving in Idaho.[11]
  4. ↑ Appointed governor but declined the offer.[11]
  5. ↑ Upon arriving in Idaho, Bowen did not like the looks of the landscape, so he decided to stay only a few weeks.[13]
  6. ↑ Resigned to take an elected seat as delegate from Idaho Territory.[16]
  7. ↑ Thompson left Idaho in May 1876 to attend the Republican National Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio. He resigned in Cincinnati after he learned federal officers couldn't hold government contracts.[17]
  8. ↑ Brayman was suspended by President Hayes on June 8, 1878 and John P. Hoyt was appointed Governor of Idaho. After Hoyt refused the appointment, Brayman was allowed to serve out the remainder of his term.[20]
  9. ↑ Appointed governor on June 8, 1878, but was rejected by the United States Senate for taking too long to respond to the offer. Appointed again on August 7, 1878, but declined the offer after researching the suspension of Governor Brayman.[20]
  10. ↑ Irwin left Idaho Territory in May 1883, never to return. He returned his paychecks from July 1883 through December 1883 to the U.S. Treasury.[26]
  11. ↑ Bunn left Idaho on April 17, 1885 for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he subsequently resigned on July 3, 1885.[25]
  12. ↑ Based on C.L. "Butch" Otter saying he would be the 32nd governor of the state,[38] the official count includes repeat governors.
  13. ↑ Each term for which a governor is elected is listed here; if multiple governors served in a single term, due to resignations, deaths, and the like, then that term will be shared among those governors. If a governor was elected multiple times, then there will be multiple terms listed for that governor.
  14. ↑ Shoup resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate; as lieutenant governor, Willey acted as governor for the remainder of the term.
  15. ↑ Steunenberg was part of a fusion ticket that was also endorsed by the Populist Party.[22]
  16. ↑ Moore was part of a fusion ticket that was also endorsed by the Populist Party.[22]
  17. ↑ Hutchinson was part of a fusion ticket that was also endorsed by the Silver Republican Party.[22]
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 Represented the Republican Party.
  19. ↑ Gossett resigned to let Lieutenant Governor Williams succeed him and then appoint him to the United States Senate.[39]
  20. ↑ Terms were lengthened to four years starting with this term.
  21. ↑ Represented the Democratic Party.
  22. ↑ Andrus resigned to be United States Secretary of the Interior; as lieutenant governor, Evans acted as governor for the remainder of the term.
  23. ↑ Kempthorne resigned to be United States Secretary of the Interior; as lieutenant governor, Risch acted as governor for the remainder of the term.
  24. ↑ Governor Otter's third term expires on January 5, 2019.

References

General
Constitution
Specific
  1. ↑ "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries". The Council of State Governments. June 25, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  2. ↑ ID Const. art. IV, § 5
  3. 1 2 ID Const. art. IV, § 4
  4. ↑ "Election 2010: Idaho's governors race pits well-known governor against a relative unknown". Idaho Statesman. Boise. August 31, 2010. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
  5. ↑ Brosnan, Cornelius James (1918). History of the State of Idaho. Charles Scribner's Sons. pp. 117–128. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  6. 1 2 3 Limbaugh p. 47
  7. 1 2 Hailey p. 166
  8. 1 2 "Wallace, William Henson". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  9. ↑ Limbaugh p. 65
  10. ↑ "Territorial Government in Idaho, 1863–1869" (PDF). Idaho State Historical Society. 1963. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Limbaugh p. 90
  12. 1 2 3 Hailey p. 165
  13. 1 2 3 Limbaugh p. 92
  14. ↑ Limbaugh p. 103
  15. ↑ Poore, Perley (1875). Congressional Directory. Washington D.C.: Congressional Printing Office. p. 71. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  16. 1 2 "Bennett, Thomas Warren". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  17. 1 2 3 Limbaugh p. 106
  18. ↑ Limbaugh p. 114
  19. ↑ Limbaugh p. 130
  20. 1 2 Limbaugh pp. 127–129
  21. ↑ "Territorial Governors who did not server" (PDF). Idaho State Historical Society. 1988. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
  22. 1 2 3 4 "Executive Branch" (PDF). Idaho Bluebook. State of Idaho. pp. 70–71. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  23. ↑ Limbaugh p. 139
  24. ↑ Limbaugh p. 147
  25. 1 2 3 Limbaugh p. 148
  26. ↑ "Notes from Washington". The New York Times. December 28, 1883. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  27. ↑ Donaldson, Thomas (1941). Idaho of Yesterday. Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Printers, Ltd. p. 271. OCLC 100976.
  28. ↑ "Resignation of Gov. Bunn". The New York Times. July 14, 1885. p. 4. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  29. ↑ Limbaugh p. 172
  30. ↑ Limbaugh pp. 179–180
  31. ↑ Limbaugh p. 181
  32. ↑ "Idaho Constitutional Amendment History". Idaho Secretary of State. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
  33. ↑ ID Const. art. IV, § 12
  34. ↑ ID Const. art. IV, § 14
  35. ↑ "Idaho voters adopt three amendments". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. November 7, 1956. p. 1.
  36. ↑ Corlett, John (March 31, 1963). "It's mystery why law barring self-succession not repealed". Lewiston Morning Tribune. p. 5.
  37. ↑ "Idaho Makes Term Limits History". National Conference of State Legislatures. February 1, 2002. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
  38. ↑ "Otter uses on-duty firefighters for 9/11 campaign event: Candidate holds press conference after state ceremony". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. September 12, 2006.
  39. ↑ "Idaho Shake-Up Draws Criticism". Spokane Daily Chronicle. November 30, 1945. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
  40. ↑ "Martson, Gilman". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  41. ↑ "Hoyt, John Philo". The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Volume XI. New York City: James T. White & Company. 1901. p. 556. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  42. ↑ "Lyon, Caleb". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  43. ↑ "Bowen, Thomas Mead". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  44. ↑ "Chiefs of Mission between 1778 to 2008". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  45. ↑ Goff, John S. (1978). Arizona Territorial Officials Volume II: The Governors 1863–1912. Arizona: Black Mountain Press. pp. 118–119. OCLC 5100411.
  46. ↑ "Shoup, George Laird". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  47. ↑ "McConnell, William John". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  48. ↑ "Gooding, Frank Robert". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  49. ↑ "Brady, James Henry". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  50. ↑ "Gossett, Charles Clinton". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  51. ↑ "Jordan, Leonard Beck". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  52. ↑ "Cecil Dale Andrus". National Governors Association. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  53. ↑ "Dirk Kempthorne". National Governor's Association. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  54. ↑ "Risch, James". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  55. ↑ "Otter, C. L. (Butch)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and Historian of the United States Senate. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
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