List of governors of Florida

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]

Governor of Florida
Great Seal of the State of Florida
Incumbent
Ron DeSantis
since January 8, 2019
StyleThe Honorable
ResidenceFlorida Governor's Mansion
Term lengthFour years, renewable once
Inaugural holderWilliam Dunn Moseley
FormationJune 25, 1845
DeputyJeanette Núñez,
lieutenant governor
Salary$130,273 (2013)[1]
Websitewww.flgov.com

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 6 distinct terms. The first territorial governor, William Pope Duval, served 12 years, the longest of any Florida governor to date.

Since statehood in 1845, there have been 45 people who have served as governor, one of whom served two distinct terms. Four state governors have served two full four-year terms: William D. Bloxham, in two stints; and Reubin Askew, Jeb Bush, and Rick Scott 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, Bob Graham.

The current governor is Ron DeSantis, a member of the Republican Party who took office on January 8, 2019.

Governors

Federal military commissioner

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 a military commissioner with the powers of governor until the territory was organized and incorporated.[7]

Federal Military Commissioner of Florida
Commissioner Term in office Appointed by Notes
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.[12]

Governors of the Territory of Florida
No. Governor Term in office Appointed by
1 William Pope Duval April 17, 1822
–
April 24, 1834		 James Monroe
John Quincy Adams
Andrew Jackson
2 John Eaton April 24, 1834
–
March 16, 1836
3 Richard K. Call March 16, 1836
–
December 2, 1839
4 Robert R. Reid December 2, 1839
–
March 19, 1841		 Martin Van Buren
5 Richard K. Call March 19, 1841
–
August 11, 1844		 William Henry Harrison
John Tyler
6 John Branch August 11, 1844
–
June 25, 1845

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,[13] and joined the Confederate States of America on February 8, 1861,[14] as a founding member. Following the end of the American Civil War, it was part of the Third Military District.[15] Florida was readmitted to the Union on June 25, 1868.[16]

The Florida Constitution of 1838 provided that a governor be elected every 4 years, who was not allowed to serve consecutive terms.[17] The secessionist constitution of 1861 would have reduced this to two years and removed the term limit,[18] 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,[19][20] though without the earlier term limit, which was reintroduced in the 1885 constitution.[21] 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.[22] The start of a term was set in 1885 at the first Tuesday after the first Monday in the January following the election,[21] where it has remained.[23]

Originally, the president of the state senate acted as governor should that office be vacant.[24] The 1865 and 1868 constitutions created the office of lieutenant governor,[25][26] who would similarly act as governor. This office was abolished in 1885, with the president of the senate again taking on that duty.[27] The 1968 constitution recreated the office of lieutenant governor, who now becomes governor in the absence of the governor.[28] The governor and lieutenant governor are elected on the same ticket.[22]

Florida was a strongly Democratic state before the Civil War, electing only one candidate from the Whig party (the Democrat's chief opposition at the time).[29] It elected three Republican governors following Reconstruction, but after the Democratic Party re-established control, 90 years passed before voters chose another Republican.

Governors of the State of Florida[lower-alpha 3]
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor[lower-alpha 4][lower-alpha 5]
1   William Dunn Moseley June 25, 1845
–
October 1, 1849
(term limited)		 Democratic 1845 Office did not exist
2 Thomas Brown October 1, 1849
–
October 3, 1853
(term limited)		 Whig 1848
3 James E. Broome October 3, 1853
–
October 5, 1857
(term limited)		 Democratic 1852
4 Madison S. Perry October 5, 1857
–
October 7, 1861
(term limited)		 Democratic 1856
5 John Milton October 7, 1861
–
April 1, 1865
(died in office)[lower-alpha 6]		 Democratic 1860
6 Abraham K. Allison April 1, 1865
–
May 19, 1865
(resigned)[lower-alpha 7]		 Democratic President of
the Senate
acting as
Governor
— Vacant May 19, 1865
–
July 13, 1865		 — Office vacated
after civil war
7 William Marvin July 13, 1865
–
December 20, 1865
(provisional term ended)		 — Provisional
governor
appointed by
President[lower-alpha 8]
8 David S. Walker December 20, 1865
–
July 4, 1868		 Democratic[lower-alpha 9] 1865   William W. J. Kelly[lower-alpha 10]
9 Harrison Reed July 4, 1868[lower-alpha 11]
–
January 7, 1873
(not candidate for election)		 Republican 1868 William Henry Gleason
(removed December 14, 1868)[lower-alpha 12]
Vacant
  Edmund C. Weeks
(appointed January 24, 1870)
(term ended December 27, 1870)[lower-alpha 13]
Samuel T. Day
(took office December 27, 1870)
10 Ossian B. Hart January 7, 1873
–
March 18, 1874
(died in office)		 Republican 1872 Marcellus Stearns
11 Marcellus Stearns March 18, 1874
–
January 2, 1877
(lost election)		 Republican Lieutenant
Governor
acting as
Governor		 Acting as Governor
12 George Franklin Drew January 2, 1877
–
January 4, 1881
(not candidate for election)		 Democratic 1876 Noble A. Hull
(resigned March 3, 1879)
Vacant
13 William D. Bloxham January 4, 1881
–
January 7, 1885
(term limited)		 Democratic 1880 Livingston W. Bethel
14 Edward A. Perry January 7, 1885
–
January 8, 1889
(term limited)		 Democratic 1884 Milton H. Mabry
15 Francis P. Fleming January 8, 1889
–
January 3, 1893
(term limited)		 Democratic 1888 Office did not exist
16 Henry L. Mitchell January 3, 1893
–
January 5, 1897
(term limited)		 Democratic 1892
17 William D. Bloxham January 5, 1897
–
January 8, 1901
(term limited)		 Democratic 1896
18 William Sherman Jennings January 8, 1901
–
January 3, 1905
(term limited)		 Democratic 1900
19 Napoleon B. Broward January 3, 1905
–
January 5, 1909
(term limited)		 Democratic 1904
20 Albert W. Gilchrist January 5, 1909
–
January 7, 1913
(term limited)		 Democratic 1908
21 Park Trammell January 7, 1913
–
January 2, 1917
(term limited)		 Democratic 1912
22 Sidney Johnston Catts January 2, 1917
–
January 4, 1921
(term limited)		 Prohibition 1916
23 Cary A. Hardee January 4, 1921
–
January 6, 1925
(term limited)		 Democratic 1920
24 John W. Martin January 6, 1925
–
January 8, 1929
(term limited)		 Democratic 1924
25 Doyle E. Carlton January 8, 1929
–
January 3, 1933
(term limited)		 Democratic 1928
26 David Sholtz January 3, 1933
–
January 5, 1937
(term limited)		 Democratic 1932
27 Fred P. Cone January 5, 1937
–
January 7, 1941
(term limited)		 Democratic 1936
28 Spessard Holland January 7, 1941
–
January 2, 1945
(term limited)		 Democratic 1940
29 Millard Caldwell January 2, 1945
–
January 4, 1949
(term limited)		 Democratic 1944
30 Fuller Warren January 4, 1949
–
January 6, 1953
(term limited)		 Democratic 1948
31 Daniel T. McCarty January 6, 1953
–
September 28, 1953
(died in office)		 Democratic 1952
32 Charley Eugene Johns September 28, 1953
–
January 4, 1955
(lost election)		 Democratic President of
the Senate
acting as
Governor
33 LeRoy Collins January 4, 1955
–
January 3, 1961
(term limited)		 Democratic 1954
(special)[lower-alpha 14]
1956
34 C. Farris Bryant January 3, 1961
–
January 5, 1965
(term limited)		 Democratic 1960
35 W. Haydon Burns January 5, 1965
–
January 3, 1967
(lost election)		 Democratic 1964[lower-alpha 15]
36 Claude R. Kirk Jr. January 3, 1967
–
January 5, 1971
(lost election)		 Republican 1966
Ray C. Osborne
(office created January 7, 1969)
37 Reubin Askew January 5, 1971
–
January 2, 1979
(term limited)		 Democratic 1970 Thomas Burton Adams Jr.
1974 Jim Williams
38 Bob Graham January 2, 1979
–
January 3, 1987
(resigned)[lower-alpha 16]		 Democratic 1978 Wayne Mixson
1982
39 Wayne Mixson January 3, 1987
–
January 6, 1987
(successor took office)		 Democratic Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor		 Vacant
40 Bob Martinez January 6, 1987
–
January 8, 1991
(lost election)		 Republican 1986 Bobby Brantley
41 Lawton Chiles January 8, 1991
–
December 12, 1998
(died in office)		 Democratic 1990 Buddy MacKay
1994
42 Buddy MacKay December 12, 1998
–
January 5, 1999
(successor took office)[lower-alpha 17]		 Democratic Succeeded from
Lieutenant
Governor		 Vacant
43 Jeb Bush January 5, 1999
–
January 2, 2007
(term limited)		 Republican 1998 Frank Brogan
(resigned March 3, 2003)
2002
Toni Jennings
44 Charlie Crist January 2, 2007
–
January 4, 2011
(not candidate for election)		 Republican[lower-alpha 18] 2006 Jeff Kottkamp
45 Rick Scott January 4, 2011
–
January 7, 2019[lower-alpha 19]
(term limited)		 Republican 2010 Jennifer Carroll
(resigned March 12, 2013)
Vacant
Carlos Lopez-Cantera
(appointed February 3, 2014)
2014
46 Ron DeSantis January 8, 2019
–
present[lower-alpha 20]		 Republican 2018 Jeanette Núñez

Living former governors of Florida

There are seven living former governors of Florida, the oldest being Wayne Mixson (served 1987, born 1922). The most recent death of a former governor was that of Reubin Askew (served 1971–1979, born 1928), on March 13, 2014. The most recent-serving governor to die was Lawton Chiles (served 1991–1998, born 1930), who died while still in office on December 12, 1998.

The living former governors, in order of service, are:

Governor Gubernatorial term Date of birth (and age)
Bob Graham 1979–1987 (1936-11-09) November 9, 1936
Wayne Mixson 1987 (1922-06-16) June 16, 1922
Bob Martinez 1987–1991 (1934-12-25) December 25, 1934
Buddy MacKay 1998–1999 (1933-03-22) March 22, 1933
Jeb Bush 1999–2007 (1953-02-11) February 11, 1953
Charlie Crist 2007–2011 (1956-07-24) July 24, 1956
Rick Scott 2011–2019 (1952-12-01) December 1, 1952

Line of succession

Since 2003, the line of succession to the office of governor has been as follows:[42]

  1. Lieutenant Governor, currently Jeanette Núñez
  2. Attorney General, currently Ashley Moody
  3. Chief Financial Officer, currently Jimmy Patronis
  4. Commissioner of Agriculture, currently Nikki Fried

Whenever the governor is unable or unwilling to discharge the office, either temporarily or permanently, the lieutenant governor takes over all the duties of the governorship either until the governor is able to resume the office or until the next election. At any time that the governor is on trial for impeachment, the lieutenant governor becomes the acting governor. Additionally, at any time that three members of the cabinet and the chief justice of the Supreme Court agree on the governor's mental or physical unfitness for office, they may suspend and reinstate the governor, pursuant to Article IV, Section 3 of the Florida Constitution.

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.[43]

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.[43]

See also
  • List of Florida state legislatures

Notes
  1. Jackson's official titles were "Commissioner of the United States" and "Governor of East and West Florida".[8]
  2. Jackson left Florida on October 8, 1821.[9] His resignation was submitted on November 13, 1821,[10] and the president accepted it on December 31, 1821.[11]
  3. Data is sourced from the National Governors Association, unless supplemental references are required.
  4. The office of lieutenant governor was created in 1868,[25] abolished in 1885,[27] and recreated in 1968.[28]
  5. Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
  6. Milton 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."[30]
  7. Allison resigned to go into hiding from approaching Union troops, and was captured by them on June 19, 1865.[31]
  8. Marvin was appointed provisional governor by the Union occupation.[32]
  9. Most sources state Walker was a Democrat; the state archives say he was "Conservative".[33]
  10. Represented the Republican Party
  11. 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.[34]
  12. During an attempted impeachment of Reed, Gleason proclaimed himself governor. The Supreme Court eventually sided with Reed, and Gleason was removed from office.[35]
  13. 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.[36]
  14. Special election to fill the remainder of McCarty's term[37]
  15. This term was only two years as the election schedule was changed so that it would not coincide with presidential elections.[38]
  16. Graham resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.[39]
  17. MacKay was a candidate in the 1998 election but lost; he succeeded Lawton Chiles after the election but before his successor took office.
  18. Crist was elected as a member of the Republican Party, and switched to independent in April 2010.[40]
  19. Due to Ron DeSantis and Jeannette Núñez taking their oath of office ahead of time, they became governor and lieutenant governor at midnight on January 8, rather than waiting for an inauguration ceremony. Thus, Scott and Lopez-Cantera's terms ended at the end of January 7.[41]
  20. DeSantis' current term expires on January 2, 2023.

References
General
  • "Former Florida Governors". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  • "A Guide to Florida Governors and the Florida Cabinet". State Library and Archives of Florida. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  • Buccellato, Robert (2015). Florida Governors Lasting Legacies (Images of America). Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-1467113694.
  • Sobel, Robert (1978). Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. I. Meckler Books. ISBN 9780930466015. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
Constitutions
Specific
  1. "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries". The Council of State Governments. June 25, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  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. "Adams-Onís Treaty". Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture. Oklahoma Historical Society. Archived from the original on July 31, 2010. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  7. "Andrew Jackson, Commissioner of the United States". Florida Department of State. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  8. "Andrew Jackson". State Library and Archives of Florida. Archived from the original on February 2, 2010. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  9. Morris, Allen; Joan Perry Morris (1999). The Florida Handbook, 1999–2000. Peninsular Books. ISBN 978-0-9616000-7-5. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  10. Harold D. Moser; David R. Hoth; George H. Hoemann, eds. (1996). The Papers of Andrew Jackson: 1821–1824. University of Tennessee Press. p. 513. ISBN 0-87049-897-5. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  11. Stanislaus Murray Hamilton, ed. (1902). The Writings of James Monroe. G.P. Putnam's Sons. p. 207. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  12. Peters, Virginia Bergman (1979). The Florida Wars. Hamden: The Shoestring Press. pp. 63–74. ISBN 0-208-01719-4.
  13. "Florida and the Civil War" A Short History". Florida Memory. State Library & Archives of Florida. Archived from the original on April 26, 2010. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
  14. "February 1861–1865". This Day in History. Florida Historical Society. Archived from the original on January 10, 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  15. Cox, Merlin (January 1968). "Military Reconstruction in Florida". Florida Historical Quarterly. 46 (3): 219.
  16. "June in Florida History". This Day in History. Florida Historical Society. Archived from the original on October 14, 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  17. 1838 Const. art III, § 2
  18. 1861 Const. art. III, § 2
  19. 1865 Const. art. III, § 2
  20. 1868 Const. art. V, § 2
  21. 1885 Const. art. IV, § 2
  22. FL Const. art. IV, § 5
  23. FL Const. art. IV, § 2
  24. 1838 Const. art III, § 18
  25. 1865 Const. art. III, § 19
  26. 1868 Const. art. V, § 15
  27. 1885 Const. art. IV, § 19
  28. FL Const. art. IV, § 3
  29. "Whig Party | History, Beliefs, Significance, & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
  30. "John Milton". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  31. "Abraham Kurkindolle Allison". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  32. "William Marvin". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  33. "David Shelby Walker". State Library and Archives of Florida. Archived from the original on January 23, 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  34. "Florida Governors' Portraits – Harrison Reed". Museum of Florida History. Archived from the original on April 30, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  35. Davis, William Watson (1913). The Civil War and Reconstruction in Florida, Volume 53. Columbia University. pp. 550–555. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  36. Cases argued and adjudged in the Supreme Court of Florida. XIII. State of Florida. 1871. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  37. "Thomas Leroy Collins". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  38. "Haydon Burns". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  39. "Daniel Robert Graham". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  40. "Can Crist Win in Florida as an Independent?". Time. May 3, 2010. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
  41. "DeSantis already governor when ceremony begins". Tampa Bay Times. January 5, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  42. "States' Lines of Succession of Gubernatorial Powers" (PDF). National Emergency Management Association (NEMA). May 2011. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  43. "Succession to office of Governor". The Florida Legislature. Retrieved May 1, 2015.

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