Governor of Colorado

Governor of the State of Colorado

=
Incumbent
John Hickenlooper
since January 11, 2011
Style The Honorable
Residence Colorado Governor's Mansion
Term length Four years, can succeed self once
Inaugural holder John Long Routt
Formation August 1, 1876
Deputy Donna Lynne
Salary $90,000 (2013)[1]
Website www.colorado.gov/governor

The Governor of the State of Colorado is the head of the executive branch of Colorado's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Colorado General Assembly, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons, except in cases of treason or impeachment.[2]

Seven people served as governor of Colorado Territory over eight terms, appointed by the President of the United States. Since statehood, there have been 36 governors, serving 41 distinct terms. The longest-serving governors were Richard "Dick" Lamm and Roy Romer, who each served twelve years over three terms. The shortest term occurred on March 17, 1905, a day when the state had three governors: Alva Adams won the election, but soon after he took office, the legislature declared his opponent, James Peabody, governor, but on the condition that he immediately resign, so that his lieutenant governor, Jesse McDonald, could be governor. Thus, Peabody served only a few minutes as governor.

The current governor is John Hickenlooper, who took office on January 11, 2011.

Governors

Governor of the Territory of Jefferson

The self-proclaimed Provisional Government of the Territory of Jefferson was organized on November 7, 1859.[3] Jefferson Territory included all of present-day Colorado, but extended about 3 miles (5 km) farther east, 138 miles (222 km) farther north, and about 50 miles (80 km) farther west.[4] The territory was never recognized by the federal government in the tumultuous days before the American Civil War. The Jefferson Territory had only one governor, Robert Williamson Steele, a pro-union Democrat elected by popular vote. He proclaimed the territory dissolved on June 6, 1861, several months after the official formation of the Colorado Territory, but only days after the arrival of its first governor.[5]

Governors of the Territory of Colorado

For the period before Colorado Territory was formed, see the lists of Governors of New Mexico Territory, Utah Territory, Kansas Territory, and Nebraska Territory.

The Territory of Colorado was organized on February 28, 1861, from parts of the territories of New Mexico, Utah, and Nebraska, and the unorganized territory that was previously the western portion of Kansas Territory.[6]

# Portrait Governor Term in office Appointed by
1 William Gilpin March 25, 1861[7][lower-alpha 1] – March 26, 1862[lower-alpha 2] Abraham Lincoln
2 John Evans March 26, 1862[7] – October 17, 1865[lower-alpha 3]
3 Alexander Cummings October 17, 1865[11] – April 24, 1867 Andrew Johnson
4 Alexander Cameron Hunt April 24, 1867[11] – June 14, 1869
5 Edward M. McCook June 14, 1869[12] – Sometime in 1873[lower-alpha 4] Ulysses S. Grant
6 Samuel Hitt Elbert April 4, 1873[13] – Sometime in 1874[lower-alpha 5]
7 Edward M. McCook June 19, 1874[12] – March 29, 1875
8 John Long Routt March 29, 1875[14] – August 1, 1876

Governors of the State of Colorado

The State of Colorado was admitted to the Union on August 1, 1876.

To serve as governor, one must be at least 30 years old, be a citizen of the United States, and have been a resident of the state for at least two years prior to election. The state constitution of 1876 originally called for election of the governor every two years, with their term beginning on the second Tuesday of the January following the election.[15] An amendment passed in 1956, taking effect in 1959, increased terms to four years.[16] Originally, there was no term limit applied to the governor; a 1990 amendment allowed governors to succeed themselves only once.[17] There is however no limit on the total number of terms one may serve as long as one who has served the two term limit is out of office for four years.

Should the office of governor become vacant, the lieutenant governor becomes governor.[18] If both the offices governor and lieutenant governor are vacant, the line of succession moves down through the senior members of the state senate and state house of representatives of the same party as the governor.[19] The lieutenant governor was elected separately from the governor until a 1968 amendment to the constitution[20] made it so that they are elected on the same ticket.[21]

  Republican   Democratic   People's

#[lower-alpha 6] Governor Term in office Party Term[lower-alpha 7] Lt. Governor[lower-alpha 8]
1   John Long Routt August 1, 1876 – January 14, 1879 Republican 1
(1876)		   Lafayette Head
2 Frederick Walker Pitkin January 14, 1879 – January 9, 1883 Republican 2
(1878)		 Horace Austin Warner Tabor
3
(1880)
3 James Benton Grant January 9, 1883 – January 13, 1885 Democratic 4
(1882)		 William H. Meyer[lower-alpha 9]
4 Benjamin Harrison Eaton January 13, 1885 – January 11, 1887 Republican 5
(1884)		 Peter W. Breene
5 Alva Adams January 11, 1887 – January 8, 1889 Democratic 6
(1886)		 Norman H. Meldrum
6 Job Adams Cooper January 8, 1889 – January 13, 1891 Republican 7
(1888)		 William Grover Smith
7 John Long Routt January 13, 1891 – January 10, 1893 Republican 8
(1890)		 William Story
8 Davis Hanson Waite January 10, 1893 – January 8, 1895 People's 9
(1892)		 David Hopkinson Nichols
9 Albert Washington McIntire January 8, 1895 – January 12, 1897 Republican 10
(1894)		 Jared L. Brush[lower-alpha 9]
10 Alva Adams January 12, 1897 – January 10, 1899 Democratic 11
(1896)
11 Charles Spalding Thomas January 10, 1899 – January 8, 1901 Democratic 12
(1898)		 Francis Patrick Carney[lower-alpha 10]
12 James Bradley Orman January 8, 1901 – January 13, 1903 Democratic 13
(1900)		 David C. Coates[lower-alpha 11]
13 James Hamilton Peabody January 13, 1903 – January 10, 1905 Republican 14
(1902)		 Warren A. Haggott[lower-alpha 12]
14 Alva Adams January 10, 1905 – March 17, 1905 Democratic 15
(1904)
[lower-alpha 13]		 Arthur Cornforth
15 James Hamilton Peabody March 17, 1905 – March 17, 1905 Republican Jesse Fuller McDonald
16 Jesse Fuller McDonald March 17, 1905 – January 8, 1907 Republican Vacant
Fred W. Parks
(took office July 5, 1905)
17 Henry Augustus Buchtel January 8, 1907 – January 12, 1909 Republican 16
(1906)		 Erastus Harper
18 John F. Shafroth January 12, 1909 – January 14, 1913 Democratic 17
(1908)		 Stephen R. Fitzgarrald
18
(1910)
19 Elias M. Ammons January 14, 1913 – January 12, 1915 Democratic 19
(1912)
20 George Alfred Carlson January 12, 1915 – January 9, 1917 Republican 20
(1914)		 Moses E. Lewis
21 Julius Caldeen Gunter January 9, 1917 – January 14, 1919 Democratic 21
(1916)		 James A. Pulliam
22 Oliver Henry Shoup January 14, 1919 – January 9, 1923 Republican 22
(1918)		 George Stepham
23
(1920)		 Earl Cooley
23 William Ellery Sweet January 9, 1923 – January 13, 1925 Democratic 24
(1922)		 Robert F. Rockwell[lower-alpha 9]
24 Clarence Morley January 13, 1925 – January 11, 1927 Republican 25
(1924)		 Sterling Byrd Lacy[lower-alpha 14]
25 Billy Adams January 11, 1927 – January 10, 1933 Democratic 26
(1926)		 George Milton Corlett[lower-alpha 9]
27
(1928)
28
(1930)		 Edwin C. Johnson
26 Edwin C. Johnson January 10, 1933 – January 1, 1937 Democratic 29
(1932)		 Ray Herbert Talbot
30
(1934)
[lower-alpha 15]
27 Ray Herbert Talbot January 1, 1937 – January 12, 1937 Democratic Vacant
28 Teller Ammons January 12, 1937 – January 10, 1939 Democratic 31
(1936)		 Frank J. Hayes
29 Ralph Lawrence Carr January 10, 1939 – January 12, 1943 Republican 32
(1938)		 John Charles Vivian
33
(1940)
30 John Charles Vivian January 12, 1943 – January 14, 1947 Republican 34
(1942)		 William Eugene Higby
35
(1944)
31 William Lee Knous January 14, 1947 – April 15, 1950 Democratic 36
(1946)		 Homer L. Pearson
37
(1948)
[lower-alpha 16]		 Walter Walford Johnson
32 Walter Walford Johnson April 15, 1950 – January 9, 1951 Democratic Charles P. Murphy[lower-alpha 9]
33 Daniel I.J. Thornton January 9, 1951 – January 11, 1955 Republican 38
(1950)		 Gordon L. Allott
39
(1952)
34 Edwin C. Johnson January 11, 1955 – January 8, 1957 Democratic 40
(1954)		 Stephen L.R. McNichols
35 Stephen L.R. McNichols January 8, 1957 – January 8, 1963 Democratic 41
(1956)		 Frank L. Hays[lower-alpha 9]
42
(1958)
[lower-alpha 17]		 Robert Lee Knous
36 John Arthur Love January 8, 1963 – July 16, 1973 Republican 43
(1962)
44
(1966)		 Mark Anthony Hogan[lower-alpha 14]
45
(1970)
[lower-alpha 18]		 John David Vanderhoof
37 John David Vanderhoof July 16, 1973 – January 14, 1975 Republican Ted L. Strickland
38 Richard "Dick" Lamm January 14, 1975 – January 13, 1987 Democratic 46
(1974)		 George L. Brown
47
(1978)		 Nancy E. Dick
48
(1982)
39 Roy Romer January 13, 1987 – January 12, 1999 Democratic 49
(1986)		 Mike Callihan
(resigned May 10, 1994)
50
(1990)
Vacant
Samuel H. Cassidy
(took office May 11, 1994)
51
(1994)		 Gail Schoettler
40 Bill Owens January 12, 1999 – January 9, 2007 Republican 52
(1998)		 Joe Rogers
53
(2002)		 Jane E. Norton
41 Bill Ritter January 9, 2007 – January 11, 2011 Democratic 54
(2006)		 Barbara O'Brien
42 John Hickenlooper January 11, 2011 – Incumbent Democratic 55
(2010)		 Joseph A. Garcia
(resigned May 12, 2016)
56
(2014)
[lower-alpha 19]
Donna Lynne

Living former governors

There are four living former governors of Colorado, the oldest being Roy Romer (served 1987–1999, born 1928). The most recent death of a former governor was that of John David Vanderhoof (served 1973–1975, born 1922), who died on September 19, 2013.

Governor Gubernatorial term Date of birth (and age)
Richard "Dick" Lamm 1975–1987 September 12, 1935
Roy Romer 1987–1999 October 31, 1928
Bill Owens 1999–2007 October 22, 1950
Bill Ritter 2007–2011 September 6, 1956

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The territory was formed on February 28, 1861, but no governor was appointed until March 25, 1861. Gilpin himself did not arrive in the territory until May 27, 1861.[8]
  2. ↑ Removed from office for improper financial drafts from the federal treasury.[9]
  3. ↑ Resigned at the request of President Johnson following the Sand Creek Massacre. The resignation was requested on July 18, 1865.[10]
  4. ↑ Removed from office by petition.[12]
  5. ↑ Records show Elbert served "less than a year", but his successor was appointed on June 19, 1874, which was 14 months after Elbert took office.[13]
  6. ↑ The official numbering includes repeat governors.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Represented the Republican Party.
  10. ↑ Represented the Populist Party.
  11. ↑ The Colorado State Archives labels Coates a Democrat;[22] however, a contemporary New York Times article describes him as a Populist elected on a fusion ticket, and that he had renounced all other parties and become a Socialist.[23]
  12. ↑ The Colorado State Archives says Haggott served from 1902 to 1903; however, multiple sources say he served with Peabody[24] well into 1904,[25] so it is assumed the Archives are in error.
  13. ↑ The 1904 election was rife with fraud and controversy. Alva Adams won election, but soon after he took office the Republican legislature declared James Peabody to be the actual winner, on the condition that Peabody immediately resign. Since Peabody had been governor for a few moments before resigning, it was his lieutenant governor, Jesse McDonald, that succeeded to the governorship. In all, Colorado had three governors on March 17, 1905.
  14. 1 2 Represented the Democratic Party.
  15. ↑ Johnson resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate. As lieutenant governor, Talbot became governor.
  16. ↑ Knous resigned to take a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Colorado. As lieutenant governor, Johnson became governor.
  17. ↑ Gubernatorial terms changed from two to four years starting with this term.
  18. ↑ Love resigned to be Director of the Office of Energy Policy. As lieutenant governor, Vanderhoof became governor.
  19. ↑ Governor Hickenlooper's second term expires on January 8, 2019; he will be term limited.

References

General
Constitutions
Specific
  1. ↑ "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries". The Council of State Governments. June 25, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  2. ↑ CO Const. art IV
  3. ↑ University of Colorado Studies, p. 71
  4. ↑ University of Colorado Studies, p. 68
  5. ↑ University of Colorado Studies, pp. 75–76
  6. ↑ Thirty-sixth United States Congress (February 28, 1861). "An Act to provide a temporary Government for the Territory of Colorado" (PDF). State of Colorado, Department of Personnel and Administration, Colorado State Archives. Retrieved November 29, 2007.
  7. 1 2 Houston Jr., Robert B. (2005). Two Colorado Odysseys: Chief Ouray Porter Nelson. p. 3. ISBN 0-595-35860-8.
  8. ↑ McGinnis, Ralph Y.; Calvin N. Smith (1994). Abraham Lincoln and the Western Territories. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 58. ISBN 0-8304-1247-6.
  9. ↑ "William Gilpin". Colorado Governor's Index. Colorado State Archives. Retrieved October 23, 2008.
  10. ↑ "Correspondence from W. H. Seward to Gov. John Evans, re: Request by President for Resignation – 7/18/1865". Colorado State Archives. Retrieved September 1, 2007.
  11. 1 2 "Alexander Cummings". Colorado Governor's Index. Colorado State Archives. Retrieved September 1, 2007.
  12. 1 2 3 "Edward Moody McCook". Colorado Governor's Index. Colorado State Archives. Retrieved September 1, 2007.
  13. 1 2 "Samuel Hitt Elbert". Colorado Governor's Index. Colorado State Archives. Retrieved September 1, 2007.
  14. ↑ "John L. Routt". Colorado Governor's Index. Colorado State Archives. Retrieved September 1, 2007.
  15. ↑ CO Const. art IV, original section 1
  16. ↑ "Ballot History". Colorado Legislature. Retrieved December 4, 2008.
  17. ↑ "Ballot History". Colorado Legislature. Retrieved December 4, 2008.
  18. ↑ CO Const. art IV, sec 13
  19. ↑ CO Const. art IV, sec 13, paragraph 7
  20. ↑ "Ballot History". Colorado Legislature. Retrieved December 4, 2008.
  21. ↑ CO Const. art IV, sec 1
  22. ↑ "Lieutenant Governors of Colorado". Colorado State Archives. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
  23. ↑ "General Notes". The New York Times. July 13, 1902. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
  24. ↑ Goodspeed, Weston Arthur (1904). The Province and the States: Missouri, Kansas, Colorado. p. 481. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
  25. ↑ "Shots Fired from Windows". The New York Times. June 6, 1904. Retrieved October 25, 2009.

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