List of governors of West Virginia

The governor of West Virginia is the head of government of West Virginia^[2] and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.^[3] The governor has a duty to enforce state laws,^[2] and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the West Virginia Legislature,^[4] to convene the legislature at any time,^[5] and, except when prosecution has been carried out by the House of Delegates, to grant pardons and reprieves.^[6]

Governor of West Virginia
Seal of the governor
Incumbent Jim Justice since January 16, 2017
Style	Governor (informal) The Honorable (formal)
Status	Head of state Head of government
Residence	West Virginia Governor's Mansion
Term length	Four years, renewable once consecutively
Inaugural holder	Arthur I. Boreman
Formation	June 20, 1863
Salary	$150,000 (2022)[1]
Website	governor.wv.gov

Since West Virginia was admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, during the American Civil War, 34 men have served as governor. Two, Arch A. Moore Jr. (West Virginia's 28th and 30th governor) and Cecil H. Underwood (West Virginia's 25th and 32nd governor), served two nonconsecutive terms in office. The longest-serving governor was Moore, who served for three terms over twelve years. The state's first governor after admission into the Union, Arthur I. Boreman, served the most consecutive terms, resigning a week before the end of his third term. Before the state's admission, Francis Harrison Pierpont, the "Father of West Virginia,"^[7] was elected governor during the Wheeling Convention of 1861. Daniel D.T. Farnsworth was senate president at the time; he filled the last seven days of Boreman's term and remains the shortest-serving governor. Underwood has the unusual distinction of being both the youngest person to be elected as governor (age 34 upon his first term in 1957) and the oldest to both be elected and serve (age 74 upon his second term in 1997; age 78 at the end of his second term in 2001).

The current governor is Republican Jim Justice, who assumed office on January 16, 2017. West Virginia's 36th governor, Justice was elected as a Democrat, but switched to the Republican Party on August 4 of that year.^[8]

To serve as governor, a person must be at least 30 years old, and must have been a citizen of West Virginia for at least five years at the time of inauguration.^[9] Under the current Constitution of West Virginia, ratified in 1872, the governor serves a four-year term commencing on the third Wednesday in January, following an election.^[9] The original constitution of 1863 only called for a two-year term.^[10] Since 1968, a governor may be reelected any number of times, but not more than twice in a row.^[11] Any partial term served counts toward the limit of two consecutive terms.^[11]

The constitution makes no mention of a lieutenant governor; if the governorship becomes vacant, the senate president stands first in the line of succession. If more than one year remains in the governor's term at the time of vacancy, a new election is held for the balance of the term. If less than a year remains, the senate president acts as governor for the remainder of the term.^[12] A bill passed in 2000 grants the senate president the honorary title of lieutenant governor,^[13] but this title is rarely used in practice and the terms of the senate president do not correspond with governorships. The same bill states that the line of succession after the senate president will be the speaker of the House of Delegates, followed by the state attorney general, the state auditor and former governors, in inverse order of term, that are in residence in the state at the time of the vacancy.^[13]

Qualifications

Anyone who seeks to be elected Governor of West Virginia must meet the following qualifications:^[14]

• Be a citizen of the United States
• Be a resident of West Virginia for at least five years preceding the election
• Be a duly qualified elector of West Virginia
• Be at least 30 years old

Governors

Governors of the State of West Virginia

No.	Governor			Term in office	Party	Election
1			Arthur I. Boreman (1823–1896) [15][16]	June 20, 1863[17] – February 26, 1869 (resigned)[lower-alpha 1]	Republican[18]	1863
						1864
						1866
2			Daniel D. T. Farnsworth (1819–1892) [19][20]	February 26, 1869[21] – March 4, 1869 (successor took office)	Republican[18]	President of the Senate acting
3			William E. Stevenson (1820–1883) [22][23]	March 4, 1869[24] – March 4, 1871 (lost election)	Republican[18]	1868
4			John J. Jacob (1829–1893) [25][26]	March 4, 1871[27] – March 4, 1877 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 2]	Democratic[29]	1870
					People's Independent[29]	1872
5			Henry M. Mathews (1834–1884) [30][31]	March 4, 1877[lower-alpha 3] – March 4, 1881 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 2]	Democratic[18]	1876
6			Jacob B. Jackson (1829–1893) [33][34]	March 4, 1881[35] – March 4, 1885 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 2]	Democratic[18]	1880
7			Emanuel Willis Wilson (1844–1905) [36][37]	March 4, 1885[38] – February 6, 1890 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 4]	Democratic[18]	1884
8			Aretas B. Fleming (1839–1923) [39][40]	February 6, 1890[41] – March 4, 1893 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 2]	Democratic[18]	1888
9			William A. MacCorkle (1857–1930) [42][43]	March 4, 1893[44] – March 4, 1897 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 2]	Democratic[18]	1892
10			George W. Atkinson (1845–1925) [45][46]	March 4, 1897[47] – March 4, 1901 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 2]	Republican[18]	1896
11			Albert B. White (1856–1941) [48][49]	March 4, 1901[50] – March 4, 1905 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 2]	Republican[18]	1900
12			William M. O. Dawson (1853–1916) [51][52]	March 4, 1905[53] – March 4, 1909 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 2]	Republican[18]	1904
13			William E. Glasscock (1862–1925) [54][55]	March 4, 1909[56] – March 4, 1913 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 2]	Republican[18]	1908
14			Henry D. Hatfield (1875–1962) [57][58]	March 4, 1913[59] – March 4, 1917 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 2]	Republican[18]	1912
15			John J. Cornwell (1867–1953) [60][61]	March 4, 1917[62] – March 4, 1921 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 2]	Democratic[18]	1916
16			Ephraim F. Morgan (1869–1950) [63][64]	March 4, 1921[65] – March 4, 1925 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 2]	Republican[18]	1920
17			Howard Mason Gore (1877–1947) [66][67]	March 4, 1925[68] – March 4, 1929 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 2]	Republican[18]	1924
18			William G. Conley (1866–1940) [69][70]	March 4, 1929[71] – March 4, 1933 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 2]	Republican[18]	1928
19			Herman G. Kump (1877–1962) [72][73]	March 4, 1933[74] – January 18, 1937 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 2]	Democratic[18]	1932
20			Homer A. Holt (1898–1975) [75][76]	January 18, 1937[77] – January 13, 1941 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 2]	Democratic[18]	1936
21			Matthew M. Neely (1874–1958) [78][79]	January 13, 1941[80] – January 15, 1945 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 2]	Democratic[18]	1940
22			Clarence W. Meadows (1904–1961) [81][82]	January 15, 1945[83] – January 17, 1949 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 2]	Democratic[18]	1944
23			Okey Patteson (1898–1989) [84][85]	January 17, 1949[86] – January 19, 1953 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 2]	Democratic[18]	1948
24			William C. Marland (1918–1965) [87][88]	January 19, 1953[89] – January 14, 1957 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 2]	Democratic[18]	1952
25			Cecil H. Underwood (1922–2008) [90][91]	January 14, 1957[92] – January 16, 1961 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 2]	Republican[18]	1956
26			Wally Barron (1911–2002) [93][94]	January 16, 1961[95] – January 18, 1965 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 2]	Democratic[18]	1960
27			Hulett C. Smith (1918–2012) [96][97]	January 18, 1965[98] – January 13, 1969 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 2]	Democratic[18]	1964
28			Arch A. Moore Jr. (1923–2015) [99][100]	January 13, 1969[101] – January 17, 1977 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 5]	Republican[18]	1968
						1972
29			Jay Rockefeller (b. 1937) [103][104]	January 17, 1977[105] – January 14, 1985 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 5]	Democratic[104]	1976
						1980
30			Arch A. Moore Jr. (1923–2015) [99][100]	January 14, 1985[106] – January 16, 1989 (lost election)	Republican[100]	1984
31			Gaston Caperton (b. 1940) [107]	January 16, 1989[108] – January 13, 1997 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 5]	Democratic[107]	1988
						1992
32			Cecil H. Underwood (1922–2008) [90][91]	January 13, 1997[109] – January 15, 2001 (lost election)	Republican[91]	1996
33			Bob Wise (b. 1948) [110]	January 15, 2001[111] – January 17, 2005 (did not run)	Democratic[110]	2000
34			Joe Manchin (b. 1947) [112]	January 17, 2005[113] – November 15, 2010 (resigned)[lower-alpha 6]	Democratic[112]	2004
						2008
35			Earl Ray Tomblin (b. 1952) [114]	November 15, 2010[115] – January 16, 2017 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 5]	Democratic[114]	President of the Senate acting
						2011 (special)
						2012
36			Jim Justice (b. 1951) [116]	January 16, 2017[117] – Incumbent[lower-alpha 7]	Democratic[lower-alpha 8]	2016
					Republican[116]	2020

See also

• Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States § West Virginia
• List of West Virginia state legislatures

Notes

1. Boreman resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.^[15]
2. Under the 1872 constitution, governors were ineligible for four years after the end of their term.^[28]
3. The constitutional start date of the gubernatorial term was March 4, with no requirement for an oath; Mathews was not sworn in until March 5, presumably because March 4 was a Sunday.^[32]
4. The 1888 election was disputed, ^{[lower-alpha 2]}and Wilson remained as governor until the investigation was complete.^[36]
5. Under a 1970 amendment to the constitution, governors who have served two consecutive terms are ineligible for the next term.^[102]
6. Manchin resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.^[112]
7. Justice's second term will expire on January 13, 2025; he will be term-limited.
8. Justice switched to the Republican Party in August 2017.^[118]

References

General

• "Former West Virginia Governors". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
• Sobel, Robert (1978). Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. IV. Meckler Books. ISBN 9780930466008. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
• Kallenbach, Joseph Ernest (1977). American State Governors, 1776-1976. Oceana Publications. ISBN 978-0-379-00665-0. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
• Dubin, Michael J. (2014). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1861-1911: The Official Results by State and County. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-5646-8.
• Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Meckler Books. ISBN 978-0-930466-17-6.
• "Our Campaigns - Governor of West Virginia - History". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved July 25, 2023.

Specific

1. "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries". The Council of State Governments. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
2. WV Constitution article VII, § 5.
3. WV Constitution article VII, § 12.
4. WV Constitution article VII, § 14.
5. WV Constitution article VI, § 18–19.
6. WV Constitution article VII, § 11.
7. Compston-Strough, Jennifer (June 20, 2013). "Francis Harrison Pierpont: 'Father of West Virginia'". The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register. Archived from the original on August 17, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
8. Shear, Michael D.; Martin, Jonathan (August 3, 2017). "West Virginia Governor to Switch from Democrat to Republican". New York Times. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
9. WV Constitution article VII, § 1.
10. WV 1863 Constitution article V, § 1.
11. WV Constitution, Article VII, section 4.
12. WV Constitution article VII, § 16.
13. "H.B. 4781 (Enrolled March 11, 2009)". West Virginia Legislature, 2000 Sessions. Retrieved August 16, 2009.
14. "Governor of West Virginia".
15. Sobel 1978, pp. 1691–1692.
16. "Arthur Ingraham Boreman". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
17. "none". Alexandria Gazette. June 22, 1863. p. 1. Retrieved July 21, 2023. Hon. A. J. Boreman was on Saturday inaugurated as the first Governor of West Virginia.
18. Kallenbach 1977, pp. 629–630.
19. Sobel 1978, p. 1692.
20. "Daniel Duane Tompkins Farnsworth". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
21. "Sworn In". The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer. February 27, 1869. p. 4. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
22. Sobel 1978, pp. 1692–1693.
23. "William Erskine Stevenson". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
24. "Inauguration of State Officers". The Wheeling Daily Register. March 5, 1869. p. 3. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
25. Sobel 1978, pp. 1693–1694.
26. "John Jeremiah Jacob". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
27. "Inauguration of Governor Jacob". The Wheeling Daily Register. March 6, 1871. p. 1. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
28. "1872 W.Va. Const. art. VII, § 4". www.stateconstitutions.umd.edu. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
29. Glashan 1979, p. 334.
30. Sobel 1978, p. 1694.
31. "Henry Mason Mathews". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
32. "Gubernatorial". The Wheeling Daily Register. March 6, 1877. p. 4. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
33. Sobel 1978, p. 1695.
34. "Jacob Beeson Jackson". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
35. "The New Regime". The Daily Register. March 5, 1881. p. 4. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
36. Sobel 1978, pp. 1695–1696.
37. "Emanuel Willis Wilson". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
38. "The New Governor". The Daily Register. March 5, 1885. p. 4. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
39. Sobel 1978, pp. 1696–1697.
40. "Aretas Brooks Fleming". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
41. "Inaugurated". The Daily Register. February 7, 1890. p. 1. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
42. Sobel 1978, p. 1697.
43. "William Alexander MacCorkle". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
44. "Governor M'Corkle". Wheeling Sunday Register. March 5, 1893. p. 5. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
45. Sobel 1978, pp. 1697–1698.
46. "George Wesley Atkinson". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
47. "There Are Others". The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer. March 5, 1897. p. 1. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
48. Sobel 1978, pp. 1698–1699.
49. "Albert Blakeslee White". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
50. "Inauguration of Gov. A. B. White". Martinsburg Herald. March 9, 1901. p. 2. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
51. Sobel 1978, pp. 1699–1700.
52. "William M.O. Dawson". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
53. "Governor Dawson". The Fairmont West Virginian. March 4, 1905. p. 1. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
54. Sobel 1978, p. 1700.
55. "William E. Glasscock". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
56. "State's New Governor". The Daily Telegram. March 4, 1909. p. 4. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
57. Sobel 1978, pp. 1701–1702.
58. "Henry Drury Hatfield". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
59. "Hon. Henry D. Hatfield Is Inaugurated Governor". The Fairmont West Virginian. Associated Press. March 4, 1913. p. 1. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
60. Sobel 1978, pp. 1702–1703.
61. "John Jacob Cornwell". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
62. "Cornwell Takes Oath on Sunday". The Birmingham News. Associated Press. March 5, 1917. p. 7. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
63. Sobel 1978, p. 1703.
64. "Ephraim Franklin Morgan". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
65. "Judge Morgan Inaugurated". Greenbrier Independent. March 11, 1921. p. 1. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
66. Sobel 1978, p. 1704.
67. "Howard M. Gore". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
68. "Gore Inaugurated as Governor of West Va". The Plain Speaker. United Press. March 4, 1925. p. 1. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
69. Sobel 1978, p. 1705.
70. "William Gustavus Conley". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
71. "New Governor Seeks Co-operation; Favors Lessening Tax Burdens". Hinton Daily News. Associated Press. March 4, 1929. p. 1. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
72. Sobel 1978, p. 1706.
73. "Herman Guy Kump". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
74. "Relief Plan Outlines As Kump Takes Office". The Charleston Daily Mail. March 4, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
75. Sobel 1978, pp. 1706–1707.
76. "Homer Adams Holt". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
77. "Crowds Jam the Capitol". The Charleston Daily Mail. January 18, 1937. p. 1. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
78. Sobel 1978, pp. 1707–1708.
79. "Matthew Mansfield Neely". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
80. "Thousands Witness Inauguration Celebration". The Independent-Herald. January 15, 1941. p. 1. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
81. Sobel 1978, pp. 1708–1709.
82. "Clarence W. Meadows". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
83. "New Governor Inaugurated at Ceremony". Hinton Daily News. United Press. January 15, 1945. p. 1. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
84. Sobel 1978, p. 1709.
85. "Okey Leonidas Patteson". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
86. "Patteson Is Installed As New Governor". Hinton Daily News. United Press. January 17, 1949. p. 1. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
87. Sobel 1978, p. 1710.
88. "William Casey Marland". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
89. "William C. Marland Sworn In As State's 24th Governor". Hinton Daily News. United Press. January 19, 1953. p. 1. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
90. Sobel 1978, pp. 1710–1711.
91. "Cecil H. Underwood". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
92. "Inauguration Held Outdoors Despite Weather". The Weirton Daily Times. United Press. January 14, 1957. p. 1. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
93. Sobel 1978, pp. 1711–1712.
94. "William W. Barron". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
95. "Barron Becomes Governor, Signs BIll Increasing Tax". Hinton Daily News. United Press International. January 16, 1961. p. 1. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
96. Sobel 1978, pp. 1712–1713.
97. "Hulett Carlson Smith". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
98. McKinney, John (January 19, 1965). "Smith Promises 'High Standard'". Beckley Post-Herald. p. 1. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
99. Sobel 1978, p. 1713.
100. "Arch A. Moore". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
101. Mellace, Bob (January 13, 1969). "Good, Able State Rule Moore's Inaugural Aim". The Charleston Daily Mail. p. 1. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
102. "W.Va. Const. art. VII, § 4". www.stateconstitutions.umd.edu. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
103. Sobel 1978, p. 1714.
104. "John Davison Rockefeller". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
105. "Rockefeller Sworn In As 29th W. VA. Governor". The Raleigh Register. United Press International. January 17, 1977. p. 1. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
106. LeVine, Steve (January 14, 1985). "Moore Vows Strong W. Virginia Economy". The Indianapolis News. Associated Press. p. 4. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
107. "Gaston Caperton". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
108. "West Virginia Governor Sworn In". Tulsa World. Associated Press. January 17, 1989. p. 2. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
109. "Once Youngest Governor, He's Now Oldest". Tulsa World. Associated Press. January 14, 1997. p. 5. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
110. "Bob Wise". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
111. Yost, Pete (January 27, 2001). "Democrat Blasts Clinton Over Pardon". The Buffalo News. Associated Press. p. 8. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
112. "Joe Manchin III". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
113. "none". Portland Press Herald. Associated Press. January 19, 2005. p. 2. Retrieved July 22, 2023. Chief Justice Joseph Albright, left, swears in West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin on Monday in Charleston.
114. "Earl Ray Tomblin". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
115. "Tomblin Takes Oath as W. Va. Governor". Richmond Times-Dispatch. November 16, 2010. p. A7. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
116. "Jim Justice". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
117. "Jim Justice sworn into office as WV's governor". WTAP. Associated Press. January 16, 2017. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
118. Shear, Michael D.; Martin, Jonathan (August 3, 2017). "In West Virginia, Trump Hails Conservatism and a New G.O.P. Governor". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 21, 2023.

External links

• Office of the Governor of West Virginia