List of Governors of Florida

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Governor of Florida
Seal of Florida.svg
Rick Scott.jpg
Incumbent
Rick Scott
since January 4, 2011
Style Mr. Governor
Residence Florida Governor's Mansion
Term length Four years, renewable once
Inaugural holder William Dunn Moseley
Formation 1845
Deputy Carlos López-Cantera, Lieutenant Governor
Salary $130,273 (2013)[1]
Website www.flgov.com

The Governor of Florida is the head of the executive branch of Florida's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.[2] The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Florida Legislature,[3] to convene the legislature,[4] and to grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment.[5]

When Florida was first acquired by the United States, future president Andrew Jackson served as its military governor. Florida Territory was established in 1822, and five people served as governor over six distinct terms. The first territorial governor, William Pope Duval, served 12 years, the longest of any governor to date.

Since statehood in 1845 there have been 43 people who have served as governor, one of whom served two distinct terms. Three state governors have served two full four-year terms: William D. Bloxham, in two stints; and Reubin Askew and Jeb Bush, who each served their terms consecutively. Bob Graham almost served two terms, as he resigned with only three days left. The shortest term in office belongs to Wayne Mixson, who served three days following the resignation of his predecessor.

The current governor is Rick Scott, who took office on January 4, 2011, following the 2010 election. He was re-elected in 2014, and his second term began in January 2015.

Governors

Military governor

For the a list of governors before Florida became a United States territory, see the list of colonial governors of Florida.

Spanish Florida was acquired from Spain in the Adams–Onís Treaty, which took effect July 10, 1821.[6] Parts of West Florida had already been assigned to Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi; the remainder and East Florida were governed by the commander of the military force that had helped secure American influence in the region.

Picture Governor Took office Left office Appointed by Notes
Andrew Jackson.jpg Andrew Jackson March 10, 1821 December 31, 1821 James Monroe [lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2]

Governors of the Territory of Florida

Florida Territory was organized on March 30, 1822, combining East and West Florida.[11]

Picture Governor Took office Left office Appointed by
2 Duval.jpg William Pope Duval April 17, 1822 April 24, 1834 James Monroe
John Quincy Adams
Andrew Jackson
John Eaton.jpg John Eaton April 24, 1834 March 16, 1836 Andrew Jackson
Richardkeithcall.jpg Richard K. Call March 16, 1836 December 2, 1839 Andrew Jackson
Robert Raymond Reid.jpg Robert R. Reid December 2, 1839 March 19, 1841 Martin Van Buren
Richardkeithcall.jpg Richard K. Call March 19, 1841 August 11, 1844 William Henry Harrison
John Tyler
JohnBranch2.jpg John Branch August 11, 1844 June 25, 1845 John Tyler

Governors of the State of Florida

The State of Florida was admitted to the Union on March 3, 1845. It seceded from the Union on January 10, 1861,[12] and joined the Confederate States of America on February 8, 1861,[13] as a founding member; there was no Union government in exile, so there was a single line of governors. Following the end of the American Civil War, it was part of the Third Military District.[14] Florida was readmitted to the Union on June 25, 1868.[15]

The first Florida Constitution, ratified in 1838, provided that a governor be elected every four years, who was not allowed to serve consecutive terms.[16] The secessionist constitution of 1861 would have reduced this to two years and removed the term limit,[17] but the state fell to the Union before the first election under that constitution. The rejected constitution of 1865 and the ratified constitution of 1868 maintained the four-year term,[18][19] though without the earlier term limit, which was reintroduced in the 1885 constitution.[20] The current constitution of 1968 states that should the governor serve, or would have served had he not resigned, more than six years in two consecutive terms, he cannot be elected to the succeeding term.[21] The start of a term was set in 1885 at the first Tuesday after the first Monday in the January following the election,[20] where it has remained.[22]

Originally, the president of the state senate acted as governor should that office be vacant.[23] The 1865 and 1868 constitutions created the office of lieutenant governor,[24][25] who would similarly act as governor. This office was abolished in 1885, with the president of the senate again taking on that duty.[26] The 1968 constitution recreated the office of lieutenant governor, who now becomes governor in the absence of the governor.[27] The governor and lieutenant governor are elected on the same ticket.[21]

Florida was a strongly Democratic state before the Civil War, electing only candidates from the Democratic and Whig parties. It elected three Republican governors following Reconstruction, but after the Democratic Party re-established control, 90 years passed before voters chose another Republican.

Parties

      Democratic (34)       Independent (1)[lower-alpha 3]       Prohibition (1)       Provisional (1)       Republican (8)[lower-alpha 3]       Whig (1)

#[lower-alpha 4] Portrait Governor Term start Term end Party Term[lower-alpha 5] Lt. Governor[lower-alpha 6][lower-alpha 7]
1 8 Moseley.jpg   William Dunn Moseley June 25, 1845 October 1, 1849 Democratic 1 Office did not exist
2 100px Thomas Brown October 1, 1849 October 3, 1853 Whig 2
3 Florida Governor James E. Broome.jpg James E. Broome October 3, 1853 October 5, 1857 Democratic 3
4 Florida Governor Madison S. Perry.jpg Madison S. Perry October 5, 1857 October 7, 1861 Democratic 4
5 John Milton Florida.jpg John Milton October 7, 1861 April 1, 1865 Democratic 5[lower-alpha 8]
6 Florida Governor Abraham K. Allison.jpg Abraham K. Allison April 1, 1865 May 19, 1865 Democratic
— Interregnum May 19, 1865 July 13, 1865 —
7 Florida Governor William Marvin.jpg William Marvin July 13, 1865 December 20, 1865 Provisional 6[lower-alpha 9]
8 Florida Governor David S. Walker.jpg David S. Walker December 20, 1865 July 4, 1868 Democratic[lower-alpha 10]   William W. J. Kelly[lower-alpha 11]
9 Governor Harrison Reed of Florida.jpg Harrison Reed July 4, 1868 January 7, 1873 Republican 7[lower-alpha 12] William Henry Gleason[lower-alpha 13]
Vacant
  Edmund C. Weeks[lower-alpha 14]
Samuel T. Day
10 Florida Governor Ossian B. Hart.jpg Ossian B. Hart January 7, 1873 March 18, 1874 Republican 8[lower-alpha 15] Marcellus Stearns
11 Florida Governor Marcellus Stearns.png Marcellus Stearns March 18, 1874 January 2, 1877 Republican Vacant
12 Florida Governor George Franklin Drew.jpg George Franklin Drew January 2, 1877 January 4, 1881 Democratic 9 Noble A. Hull[lower-alpha 16]
Vacant
13 Florida Governor William Bloxham.jpg William D. Bloxham January 4, 1881 January 7, 1885 Democratic 10 Livingston W. Bethel
14 Florida Governor Edward A. Perry.jpg Edward A. Perry January 7, 1885 January 8, 1889 Democratic 11 Milton H. Mabry
15 FPFleming.jpg Francis P. Fleming January 8, 1889 January 3, 1893 Democratic 12 Office did not exist
16 Henry L Mitchell.jpg Henry L. Mitchell January 3, 1893 January 5, 1897 Democratic 13
17 100px William D. Bloxham January 5, 1897 January 8, 1901 Democratic 14
18 William Sherman Jennings.jpg William Sherman Jennings January 8, 1901 January 3, 1905 Democratic 15
19 Napoleon Bonaparte Broward.jpg Napoleon B. Broward January 3, 1905 January 5, 1909 Democratic 16
20 Florida Governor Albert W. Gilchrist.jpg Albert W. Gilchrist January 5, 1909 January 7, 1913 Democratic 17
21 100px Park Trammell January 7, 1913 January 2, 1917 Democratic 18
22 Sidney Johnston Catts.jpg Sidney Johnston Catts January 2, 1917 January 4, 1921 Prohibition 19
23 Cary Hardee portrait.jpg Cary A. Hardee January 4, 1921 January 6, 1925 Democratic 20
24 Florida Governor John Martin.jpg John W. Martin January 6, 1925 January 8, 1929 Democratic 21
25 Doyle E. Carlton.jpg Doyle E. Carlton January 8, 1929 January 3, 1933 Democratic 22
26 33 Sholtz.jpg David Sholtz January 3, 1933 January 5, 1937 Democratic 23
27 Florida Governor Frederick Cone.jpg Fred P. Cone January 5, 1937 January 7, 1941 Democratic 24
28 Sen Spessard Holland.jpg Spessard Holland January 7, 1941 January 2, 1945 Democratic 25
29 Millard F. Caldwell.jpg Millard F. Caldwell January 2, 1945 January 4, 1949 Democratic 26
30 37 Warren.jpg Fuller Warren January 4, 1949 January 6, 1953 Democratic 27
31 Daniel T. McCarty.jpg Daniel T. McCarty January 6, 1953 September 28, 1953 Democratic 28[lower-alpha 17]
32 Charley Eugene Johns 1963.jpg Charley Eugene Johns September 28, 1953 January 4, 1955 Democratic
33 LeRoy Collins.jpg LeRoy Collins January 4, 1955 January 3, 1961 Democratic
29
34 C. Farris Bryant.jpg C. Farris Bryant January 3, 1961 January 5, 1965 Democratic 30
35 W Haydon Burns.jpg W. Haydon Burns January 5, 1965 January 3, 1967 Democratic 31[lower-alpha 18]
36 Governor Claude R Kirk.jpg Claude R. Kirk, Jr. January 3, 1967 January 5, 1971 Republican 32
Ray C. Osborne
37 Florida Governor Reubin Askew.jpg Reubin Askew January 5, 1971 January 2, 1979 Democratic 33 Thomas Burton Adams, Jr.
34 Jim Williams
38 Bob Graham, official Senate photo portrait, color.jpg Bob Graham January 2, 1979 January 3, 1987 Democratic 35 Wayne Mixson
36[lower-alpha 19]
39 John Wayne Mixson.jpg Wayne Mixson January 3, 1987 January 6, 1987 Democratic Vacant
40 Bobmartinez.jpg Bob Martinez January 6, 1987 January 8, 1991 Republican 37 Bobby Brantley
41 100px Lawton Chiles January 8, 1991 December 12, 1998 Democratic 38 Buddy MacKay
39[lower-alpha 20]
42 49 Mackay.jpg Buddy MacKay December 12, 1998 January 5, 1999 Democratic Vacant
43 Gov Jeb Bush.jpg Jeb Bush January 5, 1999 January 2, 2007 Republican 40 Frank Brogan[lower-alpha 21]
41
Toni Jennings
44 Gov charlie crist.jpg Charlie Crist January 2, 2007 January 4, 2011 Republican 42 Jeff Kottkamp[lower-alpha 11]
Independent[lower-alpha 22]
45 Rick Scott.jpg Rick Scott January 4, 2011 Incumbent Republican 43 Jennifer Carroll[lower-alpha 23]
Vacant
Carlos López-Cantera
44[lower-alpha 24]

Other high offices held

Fourteen of Florida's governors have served higher federal offices, including one President of the United States, two Cabinet secretaries, and one ambassador. One served as Governor of North Carolina, and all fourteen were elected to the U.S. Congress, though only nine represented Florida, and only seven actually took their seats. One died before taking office, and the other was refused his seat by the U.S. Senate shortly after the American Civil War, because Florida had not yet been reconstructed. One governor (marked with *) resigned to take his seat in the Senate.

Governor Gubernatorial term Other offices held Source
Andrew Jackson 1821 Representative and Senator from Tennessee, President of the United States [40]
William Pope Duval 1822–1834 Representative from Kentucky [41]
John Eaton 1834–1836 Senator from Tennessee, Minister to Spain, Secretary of War [42]
Richard K. Call 1836–1839
1841–1844		 Territorial Delegate from Florida Territory [43]
Robert R. Reid 1839–1841 Representative from Florida, Representative from Georgia [44]
John Branch 1844–1845 Representative and Senator from North Carolina, Governor of North Carolina, Secretary of the Navy [45]
William Marvin 1865 Elected to the Senate from Florida but was refused seat [46]
Napoleon B. Broward 1905–1909 Elected to the Senate from Florida but died before taking office [47]
Park Trammell 1913–1917 Senator from Florida [48]
Spessard Holland 1941–1945 Senator from Florida [49]
Millard F. Caldwell 1945–1949 Representative from Florida [50]
Bob Graham 1979–1987 Senator from Florida* [51]
Lawton Chiles 1991–1998 Senator from Florida [52]
Buddy MacKay 1998–1999 Representative from Florida [53]

Living former U.S. governors of Florida

As of May 2015, there are six former governors who are currently living at this time, the oldest U.S. governor of Florida being Wayne Mixson (1987, born 1922). The most recent death of a former U.S. governor of Florida was that of Reubin Askew (1971–1979), on March 13, 2014. The most recently serving U.S. governor of Florida to die was Lawton Chiles, who died in office on December 12, 1998.

Governor Gubernatorial term Date of birth (and age)
Bob Graham 1979–1987 (1936-11-09) November 9, 1936 (age 88)
Wayne Mixson 1987 (1922-06-16) June 16, 1922 (age 102)
Bob Martinez 1987–1991 (1934-12-25) December 25, 1934 (age 89)
Buddy MacKay 1998–1999 (1933-03-22) March 22, 1933 (age 91)
Jeb Bush 1999–2007 (1953-02-11) February 11, 1953 (age 71)
Charlie Crist 2007–2011 (1956-07-24) July 24, 1956 (age 68)

Line of Succession

Since 2003, the line of succession to the office of Governor has been as follows:[54]

  1. Lieutenant Governor, currently Carlos López-Cantera
  2. Attorney General, currently Pam Bondi
  3. Chief Financial Officer, currently Jeff Atwater
  4. Commissioner of Agriculture, currently Adam Putnam

If a vacancy occurs in the office of Governor and a successor within the above-stated line of succession can not fill the vacancy, the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives and the President of the Senate must convene the Legislature by joint proclamation within 15 days for the purpose of choosing a person to serve as Governor for the remainder of the term. A successor can only be chosen by a majority vote in a joint session of both houses.[55]

If, after the appointment of a Lieutenant Governor, a vacancy occurs in the office of Governor with more than 28 months remaining in the term and the appointed Lieutenant Governor becomes Governor, voters must choose a governor and lieutenant governor to serve out the remainder of the terms at the next general election.

Notes

  1. ↑ Jackson's official titles were "Commissioner of the United States" and "Governor of East and West Florida".[7]
  2. ↑ Jackson left Florida on October 8, 1821.[8] His resignation was submitted on November 13, 1821,[9] and the president accepted it on December 31, 1821.[10]
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Includes one partial term served by a governor who represented another party during the same term.
  4. ↑ The official numbering includes repeat terms, as well as the provisional governor.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ The office of lieutenant governor was created in 1868, abolished in 1885, and recreated in 1968.
  7. ↑ Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
  8. ↑ Milton died in office, having committed suicide due to the pending defeat of the Confederate States of America, stating in his final address to the legislature that "death would be preferable to reunion."[28] As president of the senate, Allison acted as governor until he resigned to go into hiding from approaching Union troops, and was captured by them on June 19, 1865.[29] Following his resignation, Florida was without governance until a federal governor was appointed.
  9. ↑ Marvin and Walker were appointed by President Andrew Johnson following the American Civil War.
  10. ↑ Most sources state Walker was a Democrat; the state archives say he was "Conservative".[30]
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Represented the Republican Party.
  12. ↑ Reed was popularly elected under the terms of the 1868 constitution, and took the oath of office on June 8, 1868; it was not until July 4, 1868, however, that the federal commander of Florida, still under Reconstruction, recognized the validity of the state constitution and the election.[31]
  13. ↑ During an attempted impeachment of Reed, Gleason proclaimed himself governor. The Supreme Court eventually sided with Reed, and Gleason was removed from office.[32]
  14. ↑ Appointed as temporary lieutenant governor to replace William Henry Gleason. However, the state comptroller did not believe the governor could appoint a replacement to an elected office and refused to pay Weeks, and the Senate refused to accept his presidency over them, even proposing a motion to arrest him. Governor Reed called for a special election to replace him, and though Weeks fought it, the Florida Supreme Court declared his term to have ended when the new election results were certified.[33]
  15. ↑ Hart died in office. As lieutenant governor, Stearns acted as governor for the remainder of the term.
  16. ↑ Resigned to take an elected seat in the United States House of Representatives; however, his election was successfully contested by Horatio Bisbee, Jr.[34]
  17. ↑ McCarty died in office. As president of the senate, Johns acted as governor until a special election, in which Collins was chosen.[35]
  18. ↑ Burns' term was only two years as the election schedule was changed so that it would not coincide with presidential elections.[36]
  19. ↑ Graham resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate. As lieutenant governor, Mixson became governor.
  20. ↑ Chiles died in office; as lieutenant governor, MacKay became governor.
  21. ↑ Resigned to become president of Florida Atlantic University.[37]
  22. ↑ Crist was elected as a member of the Republican Party, and switched to independent in April 2010.[38]
  23. ↑ Resigned amid a racketeering probe.[39]
  24. ↑ Governor Scott's second term expires on January 8, 2019; he will be term limited.

References

General
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Constitutions
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Specific
  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ FL Const. art. IV, § 1a
  3. ↑ FL Const. art. III, § 8
  4. ↑ FL Const. art. III, § 3c
  5. ↑ FL Const. art. IV, § 8
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ 1838 Const. art III, § 2
  17. ↑ 1861 Const. art. III, § 2
  18. ↑ 1865 Const. art. III, § 2
  19. ↑ 1868 Const. art. V, § 2
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 1885 Const. art. IV, § 2
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 FL Const. art. IV, § 5
  22. ↑ FL Const. art. IV, § 2
  23. ↑ 1838 Const. art III, § 18
  24. ↑ 1865 Const. art. III, § 19
  25. ↑ 1868 Const. art. V, § 15
  26. ↑ 1885 Const. art. IV, § 19
  27. ↑ FL Const. art. IV, § 3
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  50. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  51. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  52. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  53. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  54. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  55. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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