List of Governors of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey | |
---|---|
Style | The Honorable |
Residence | Drumthwacket |
Term length | Four years |
Inaugural holder | William Livingston |
Formation | August 31, 1776 |
Deputy | Kim Guadagno |
Salary | $175,000 (2013)[1] |
Website | www.state.nj.us/governor |
The Governor of New Jersey is the head of the executive branch of New Jersey'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 New Jersey Legislature, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons, except in cases of treason or impeachment.[2]
There have been 55 official governors of New Jersey, with several others acting as governor for a time.[note 1] In the official numbering, governors are counted only once each, and traditionally, only elected governors were included. However, legislation signed on January 10, 2006, allowed acting governors who had served at least 180 days to be considered full governors. The law was retroactive to January 1, 2001; it therefore changed the titles of Donald DiFrancesco and Richard Codey, affecting Jim McGreevey's numbering.[3] The current governor is Chris Christie, who took office on January 19, 2010.
Contents
Governors
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- For the period before independence, see the list of colonial governors of New Jersey.
New Jersey was one of the original thirteen colonies and was admitted as a state on December 18, 1787. Prior to declaring its independence, New Jersey was a colony of the Kingdom of Great Britain.
The first New Jersey State Constitution, ratified in 1776, provided that a governor be elected annually by the state legislature, the members of which were selected by the several counties.[4] Under this constitution, the governor was president of the upper house of the legislature, then called the Legislative Council.[4] The 1844 constitution provided for a popular vote to elect the governor,[5] who no longer presided over the upper house of the legislature, now called the Senate. The 1844 constitution also lengthened the governor's term to three years, set to start on the third Tuesday in January following an election, and barred governors from succeeding themselves.[6] The 1947 constitution extended terms to four years, and limits governors from being elected to more than two consecutive terms, though they can run again after a third term has passed.[7]
The 1776 constitution provided that the vice-president of the Legislative Council would act as governor (who was president of the Council) should that office be vacant.[4] The 1844 constitution placed the president of the Senate first in the line of succession,[8] as did the subsequent 1947 constitution.[9] A constitutional amendment in 2006 created the office of lieutenant governor,[10] to be elected on the same ticket for the same term as the governor,[11] and if the office of governor is vacant, the lieutenant governor becomes governor.[12] This office was first filled in 2010.
- Parties
Federalist (4) Democratic-Republican (3) Democratic (27) Whig (4) Republican (17)
(official numbering, does not include repeat or acting governors)
# [note 2] |
Governor | Term start | Term end | Party | Lt. Governor [13] |
Terms [note 3] |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | William Livingston | August 31, 1776 | July 25, 1790 | Federalist | None | 13 1⁄2 [note 4] |
|
— | Elisha Lawrence | July 25, 1790 | October 29, 1790 | Federalist | 1⁄2 [note 5] |
||
2 | William Paterson | October 29, 1790 | March 30, 1793 | Federalist | 2 1⁄2 [note 6] [note 7] |
||
— | Thomas Henderson | March 30, 1793 | June 3, 1793 | Federalist | 1⁄2 [note 5] |
||
3 | Richard Howell | June 3, 1793 | October 31, 1801 | Federalist | 8 [note 8] |
||
4 | Joseph Bloomfield | October 31, 1801 | October 28, 1802 | Democratic- Republican |
1 | ||
— | John Lambert | October 28, 1802 | October 29, 1803 | Democratic- Republican |
1 [note 9] |
||
4 | Joseph Bloomfield | October 29, 1803 | October 29, 1812 | Democratic- Republican |
9 [note 10] |
||
5 | Aaron Ogden | October 29, 1812 | October 29, 1813 | Federalist | 1 | ||
6 | William Sanford Pennington | October 29, 1813 | June 19, 1815 | Democratic- Republican |
1 1⁄2 [note 11] |
||
— | William Kennedy | June 19, 1815 | October 26, 1815 | Democratic- Republican |
1⁄2 [note 5] [note 12] |
||
7 | Mahlon Dickerson | October 26, 1815 | February 1, 1817 | Democratic- Republican |
1 1⁄2 [note 13] |
||
8 | Isaac Halstead Williamson | February 6, 1817 | October 30, 1829 | Federalist | 12 1⁄2 [note 14] [note 15] [note 16] |
||
— | Garret D. Wall | — | — | Democratic | — [note 17] |
||
9 | Peter Dumont Vroom | November 6, 1829 | October 26, 1832 | Democratic | 3 | ||
10 | Samuel L. Southard | October 26, 1832 | February 27, 1833 | Whig | 1⁄2 [note 13] |
||
11 | Elias P. Seeley | February 27, 1833 | October 25, 1833 | Whig | 1⁄2 [note 18] |
||
9 | Peter Dumont Vroom | October 25, 1833 | November 3, 1836 | Democratic | 3 | ||
12 | Philemon Dickerson | November 3, 1836 | October 27, 1837 | Democratic | 1 | ||
13 | William Pennington | October 27, 1837 | October 27, 1843 | Whig | 6 | ||
14 | Daniel Haines | October 27, 1843 | January 21, 1845 | Democratic | 1 [note 19] |
||
15 | Charles C. Stratton | January 21, 1845 | January 18, 1848 | Whig | 1 [note 20] |
||
14 | Daniel Haines | January 18, 1848 | January 21, 1851 | Democratic | 1 | ||
16 | George F. Fort | January 21, 1851 | January 17, 1854 | Democratic | 1 | ||
17 | Rodman M. Price | January 17, 1854 | January 20, 1857 | Democratic | 1 | ||
18 | William A. Newell | January 20, 1857 | January 17, 1860 | Republican | 1 | ||
19 | Charles Smith Olden | January 17, 1860 | January 20, 1863 | Republican | 1 | ||
20 | Joel Parker | January 20, 1863 | January 16, 1866 | Democratic | 1 | ||
21 | Marcus Lawrence Ward | January 16, 1866 | January 19, 1869 | Republican | 1 | ||
22 | Theodore Fitz Randolph | January 19, 1869 | January 16, 1872 | Democratic | 1 | ||
20 | Joel Parker | January 16, 1872 | January 19, 1875 | Democratic | 1 | ||
23 | Joseph D. Bedle | January 19, 1875 | January 15, 1878 | Democratic | 1 | ||
24 | George B. McClellan | January 15, 1878 | January 18, 1881 | Democratic | 1 | ||
25 | George C. Ludlow | January 18, 1881 | January 15, 1884 | Democratic | 1 | ||
26 | Leon Abbett | January 15, 1884 | January 18, 1887 | Democratic | 1 | ||
27 | Robert Stockton Green | January 18, 1887 | January 21, 1890 | Democratic | 1 | ||
26 | Leon Abbett | January 21, 1890 | January 17, 1893 | Democratic | 1 | ||
28 | George Theodore Werts | January 17, 1893 | January 21, 1896 | Democratic | 1 | ||
29 | John W. Griggs | January 21, 1896 | January 31, 1898 | Republican | 1⁄3 [note 21] |
||
— | Foster MacGowan Voorhees | January 31, 1898 | October 18, 1898 | Republican | 1⁄3 [note 22] |
||
— | David Ogden Watkins | October 18, 1898 | January 17, 1899 | Republican | 1⁄3 [note 23] |
||
30 | Foster MacGowan Voorhees | January 17, 1899 | January 21, 1902 | Republican | 1 [note 24] |
||
31 | Franklin Murphy | January 21, 1902 | January 17, 1905 | Republican | 1 [note 25] |
||
32 | Edward C. Stokes | January 17, 1905 | January 21, 1908 | Republican | 1 | ||
33 | John Franklin Fort | January 21, 1908 | January 17, 1911 | Republican | 1 [note 26] |
||
34 | Woodrow Wilson | January 17, 1911 | March 1, 1913 | Democratic | 1⁄3 [note 27] [note 28] |
||
— | James Fairman Fielder | March 1, 1913 | October 28, 1913 | Democratic | 1⁄3 [note 29] |
||
— | Leon R. Taylor | October 28, 1913 | January 20, 1914 | Democratic | 1⁄3 [note 23] |
||
35 | James Fairman Fielder | January 20, 1914 | January 16, 1917 | Democratic | 1 [note 30] [note 31] |
||
36 | Walter Evans Edge | January 16, 1917 | May 16, 1919 | Republican | 1⁄3 [note 13] [note 31] [note 32] |
||
— | William Nelson Runyon | May 16, 1919 | January 13, 1920 | Republican | 1⁄3 [note 33] |
||
— | Clarence E. Case | January 13, 1920 | January 20, 1920 | Republican | 1⁄3 [note 34] |
||
37 | Edward I. Edwards | January 20, 1920 | January 15, 1923 | Democratic | 1 | ||
38 | George Sebastian Silzer | January 15, 1923 | January 19, 1926 | Democratic | 1 | ||
39 | A. Harry Moore | January 19, 1926 | January 15, 1929 | Democratic | 1 | ||
40 | Morgan Foster Larson | January 15, 1929 | January 19, 1932 | Republican | 1 | ||
39 | A. Harry Moore | January 19, 1932 | January 3, 1935 | Democratic | 1⁄3 [note 13] |
||
— | Clifford Ross Powell | January 3, 1935 | January 8, 1935 | Republican | 1⁄3 [note 33] |
||
— | Horace Griggs Prall | January 8, 1935 | January 15, 1935 | Republican | 1⁄3 [note 34] |
||
41 | Harold G. Hoffman | January 15, 1935 | January 18, 1938 | Republican | 1 | ||
39 | A. Harry Moore | January 18, 1938 | January 21, 1941 | Democratic | 1 | ||
42 | Charles Edison | January 21, 1941 | January 18, 1944 | Democratic | 1 | ||
36 | Walter Evans Edge | January 18, 1944 | January 21, 1947 | Republican | 1 | ||
43 | Alfred E. Driscoll | January 21, 1947 | January 19, 1954 | Republican | 2 [note 35] |
||
44 | Robert B. Meyner | January 19, 1954 | January 16, 1962 | Democratic | 2 | ||
45 | Richard J. Hughes | January 16, 1962 | January 20, 1970 | Democratic | 2 | ||
46 | William T. Cahill | January 20, 1970 | January 15, 1974 | Republican | 1 | ||
47 | Brendan Byrne | January 15, 1974 | January 19, 1982 | Democratic | 2 | ||
48 | Thomas Kean | January 19, 1982 | January 16, 1990 | Republican | 2 | ||
49 | James Florio | January 16, 1990 | January 18, 1994 | Democratic | 1 | ||
50 | Christine Todd Whitman | January 18, 1994 | January 31, 2001 | Republican | 1 1⁄5 [note 36] |
||
51 | Donald DiFrancesco | January 31, 2001 | January 8, 2002 | Republican | 1⁄5 [note 33] [note 37] |
||
— | John Farmer, Jr. | January 8, 2002 | January 8, 2002 | Republican | 1⁄5 [note 38] |
||
— | John O. Bennett | January 8, 2002 | January 12, 2002 | Republican | 1⁄5 [note 39] |
||
— | Richard Codey | January 12, 2002 | January 15, 2002 | Democratic | 1⁄5 [note 39] |
||
52 | Jim McGreevey | January 15, 2002 | November 15, 2004 | Democratic | 1⁄2 [note 40] |
||
53 | Richard Codey | November 15, 2004 | January 17, 2006 | Democratic | 1⁄2 [note 34] [note 37] |
||
54 | Jon Corzine | January 17, 2006 | January 19, 2010 | Democratic | 1 [note 41] |
||
55 | Chris Christie | January 19, 2010 | incumbent | Republican | Kim Guadagno | 2 [46] [note 42] |
Acting governor
Prior to 2010, unlike most other states, New Jersey did not have the office of lieutenant governor. Until 2010, when the office of governor was vacant or the governor was unable to fulfill his/her duties through injury, the President of the State Senate served as the acting governor. The Senate President continued in the legislative role during his/her tenure as the state's acting chief executive, thus giving the person control over executive and legislative authority. The acting governor served either until the next general election, until the governor recovered from his/her injuries, or, if the governor died or resigned less than 16 months before end of the term, until the end of the term. Richard Codey served as acting governor of New Jersey until January 2006, following the resignation of Jim McGreevey in late 2004. Following the resignation of Christine Todd Whitman in 2001 to become EPA Administrator, Donald DiFrancesco assumed the acting governor's post. The position of Lieutenant Governor was created in the 2005 state election effective with the 2009 election.
Following Whitman's resignation and DiFrancesco's departure, John O. Bennett served as acting governor for three and a half days. During that time, he signed a few bills into law, gave a State of the State Address, and held parties at Drumthwacket, the New Jersey Governor's Mansion. Similarly, Richard J. Codey served as acting governor as well. Because control of the New Jersey State Senate was split, resulting in two Senate co-Presidents, Codey and Bennett, each held the office of acting governor for three days. Perhaps this spectacle as much as any other factor led to the voters' decision to amend the state constitution to create the office of Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey.
Other high offices held
This is a table of congressional seats, other federal offices, and other governorships held by governors. All representatives and senators mentioned represented New Jersey. Acting governors are included only when they filled a vacancy in the office of governor, not when they acted for a time when the governor was out of state or unable to serve.
- * Denotes an office for which the governor resigned the governorship, in order to assume the noted office.
- † Denotes an office that the person resigned, to become governor.
- Note: Garret D. Wall, who was elected to be governor in 1829 but declined, served as a U.S. Senator (1835–1841).[77]
- Note: Gov. William Pennington (1837–1843) was appointed Governor of the Territory of Minnesota by President Millard Fillmore (1850–1853), but declined.
Living former U.S. governors of New Jersey
As of May 2015[update], there are eight former U.S. governors of New Jersey and two former acting U.S. governors of New Jersey who are currently living at this time, the oldest U.S. governor of New Jersey being Brendan Byrne (1974–1982, born 1924). The most recent U.S. governor of New Jersey to die and the most recently serving U.S. governor of New Jersey to have died was William T. Cahill (1970–1974), on July 1, 1996.
Governor | Gubernatorial term | Date of birth (and age) |
---|---|---|
Brendan Byrne | 1974–1982 | April 1, 1924 |
Thomas Kean | 1982–1990 | April 21, 1935 |
James Florio | 1990–1994 | August 29, 1937 |
Christine Todd Whitman | 1994–2001 | September 26, 1946 |
Donald DiFrancesco | 2001–2002 | November 20, 1944 |
John Farmer, Jr. | 2002 (acting) | June 24, 1957 |
John O. Bennett | 2002 (acting) | August 6, 1948 |
Richard Codey | 2002 (acting) 2004–2006 |
November 27, 1946 |
Jim McGreevey | 2002–2004 | August 6, 1957 |
Jon Corzine | 2006–2010 | January 1, 1947 |
Notes
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References
- General
- Biographies of New Jersey Governors, New Jersey State Library
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- Constitutions
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- Specific
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External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Governors of New Jersey. |
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ NJ Constitution article V
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 New Jersey Legislature. P.L.2005, c. 282.: Provides title of person who serves as Acting Governor for continuous period of at least 180 days will be "Governor of the State of New Jersey" for official and historical purposes. Approved January 9, 2006, retroactive to January 1, 2001. Accessed January 6, 2008.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 1776 Constitution article 7
- ↑ 1844 Constitution article V, § 2
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 1844 Constitution article V, § 3
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 NJ Constitution article V, § 1, cl. 5
- ↑ 1844 Constitution article V , § 12
- ↑ NJ Constitution article V, § 1, cl. 6, original
- ↑ NJ Constitution article XI, § 7
- ↑ NJ Constitution article V, § 1, cl. 4
- ↑ NJ Constitution article V, § 1, cl. 6, as amended
- ↑ The office of lieutenant governor was created in 2006 and was first filled in 2010.
- ↑ Report p. 122
- ↑ Report p. 123
- ↑ Lee pp. 155–156
- ↑ Report p. 124
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- ↑ Report pp. 125–126
- ↑ Lee pp. 160–161
- ↑ Lundy et al. (1921) p. 127
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- ↑ Lee pp. 377–378
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- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Lundy et al. (1905) p. 16
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 Lundy et al. (1921) p. 22
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- ↑ Lundy et al. (1905) p. 284
- ↑ Lundy et al. (1921) p. 252
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- ↑ Lundy et al. (1921) p. 262
- ↑ Kerney p. 140
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 Kerney p. 141
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- ↑ Lundy et al. (1921) p. 361
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- ↑ http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/chris_christie_officially_begins_second_term_with_passionate_speech_that_dodges_scandals.html#incart_river_default
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