List of Governors of Connecticut

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Governor of Connecticut
Seal of the Governor of Connecticut.svg
DannelMalloy.jpg
Incumbent
Dannel Malloy

since January 5, 2011
Style His Excellency
Residence Connecticut Governor's Residence
Term length Four years
Inaugural holder Jonathan Trumbull
Deputy Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut
Salary $150,000 (2013)[1]
Website www.ct.gov/governor

The Governor of Connecticut is the head of the executive branch of Connecticut'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 Connecticut General Assembly and to convene the legislature.[2] Unusual among U.S. governors, the Governor of Connecticut has no power to pardon.[3]

There have been 68 governors of the state, serving 72 distinct spans in office. The longest terms in office were in the state's early years, when four governors were elected to nine or more one-year terms. The longest was that of the first governor, Jonathan Trumbull, who served over 14 years, but 7 of those as colonial governor; the longest-serving state governor — with no other position included in the term — was his son, Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., who served over 11 years. The shortest term was that of Hiram Bingham III, who served only one day before resigning to take an elected seat in the U.S. Senate. Lowell P. Weicker, Jr., is noted for a rare third party win in American politics, having been elected to a term in 1990 representing A Connecticut Party. The current governor is Dan Malloy, who took office on January 5, 2011.

Governors

For the period before independence, see the list of colonial governors of Connecticut.

Connecticut was one of the original Thirteen Colonies and was admitted as a state on January 9, 1788.[4] Before it declared its independence, Connecticut was a colony of the Kingdom of Great Britain. Like most early states, Connecticut had claims to western areas, but did not cede all of its claims during the formation of the country like the other states. It maintained its Western Reserve until 1800, at which time it was reassigned to the Northwest Territory.[5]

The current Constitution of Connecticut, ratified in 1965, calls for a four-year term for the governor,[6] commencing on the Wednesday after the first Monday in the January following an election.[7] The previous constitution of 1818 originally had only a one-year term for governor; this was increased to two years in 1875,[8] and four years in 1948.[9] The 1875 amendment also set the start date of the term to its current date; before then, it was the first Wednesday in the May following an election.[10] The constitution provides for the election of a lieutenant governor for the same term as the governor. The two offices are elected on the same ticket; this provision was added in 1962.[11] In the event of a vacancy in the office of governor, the lieutenant governor becomes governor.[12] Before the adoption of the 1965 constitution, the lieutenant governor only acted as governor.[13] There is no limit of any kind on the number of terms one may serve.

Connecticut did not create a state constitution for itself until several decades after it became a state; until 1818, the state operated under the provisions of its colonial charter. The charter called for the election of a governor every year, but not more than once every two years, with the term commencing on the second Thursday in May.[14]

Parties

      A Connecticut Party (1)       American (1)       Democratic (22)[lower-alpha 1]       Democratic-Republican (2)       Federalist (7)       National Republican (1)       No party (1)       Republican (32)[lower-alpha 1]       Whig (6)

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Jonathan Trumbull, first Governor of the State of Connecticut, 16th governor overall
Roger Sherman Baldwin, 32nd Governor of Connecticut, famous for his defense in the Amistad case.
Thomas H. Seymour, 36th Governor of Connecticut
Marshall Jewell, 44th and 46th Governor of Connecticut, and 25th U.S. Postmaster General
Morgan Bulkeley, 54th Governor of Connecticut, and first president of the National League
Hiram Bingham III, 69th Governor of Connecticut, famous for rediscovering Macchu Picchu
Raymond E. Baldwin, 72nd and 74th Governor of Connecticut
Ella T. Grasso, 83rd and first female Governor of Connecticut
Lowell P. Weicker, Jr., 85th Governor of Connecticut
#[lower-alpha 2] Governor Term start Term end Party Lt. Governor[lower-alpha 3][lower-alpha 4] Terms[lower-alpha 5]
16   Jonathan Trumbull October 1, 1769 May 13, 1784 No party   Matthew Griswold 14 12[lower-alpha 6][lower-alpha 7]
17 Matthew Griswold May 13, 1784 May 11, 1786 Federalist Samuel Huntington 2
18 Samuel Huntington May 11, 1786 January 5, 1796 Federalist Oliver Wolcott 9 12[lower-alpha 8]
19 Oliver Wolcott January 5, 1796 December 1, 1797 Federalist Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. 12+​12[lower-alpha 9][lower-alpha 8]
20 Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. December 1, 1797 August 7, 1809 Federalist John Treadwell 10 12+​12[lower-alpha 9][lower-alpha 8]
21 John Treadwell August 7, 1809 May 9, 1811 Federalist Roger Griswold[lower-alpha 10] 1 12[lower-alpha 9]
22 Roger Griswold May 9, 1811 October 25, 1812 Federalist John Cotton Smith 12[lower-alpha 8]
23 John Cotton Smith October 25, 1812 May 8, 1817 Federalist Chauncey Goodrich[lower-alpha 8] 4 12[lower-alpha 9]
24 Oliver Wolcott, Jr. May 8, 1817 May 2, 1827 Toleration
Republican
Jonathan Ingersoll[lower-alpha 8] 10[lower-alpha 11]
David Plant[lower-alpha 12]
25 Gideon Tomlinson May 2, 1827 March 2, 1831 Democratic-
Republican
John Samuel Peters 3 12[lower-alpha 13]
26 John Samuel Peters March 2, 1831 May 1, 1833 National
Republican
Thaddeus Betts 2 12[lower-alpha 9]
27 Henry W. Edwards May 1, 1833 May 7, 1834 Democratic Ebenezer Stoddard 1
28 Samuel A. Foot May 7, 1834 May 6, 1835 Whig Thaddeus Betts 1
29 Henry W. Edwards May 6, 1835 May 2, 1838 Democratic Ebenezer Stoddard 3
30 William W. Ellsworth May 2, 1838 May 4, 1842 Whig Charles Hawley 4
31 Chauncey Fitch Cleveland May 4, 1842 May 1, 1844 Democratic William S. Holabird 2
32 Roger Sherman Baldwin May 1, 1844 May 6, 1846 Whig Reuben Booth 2
33 Isaac Toucey May 6, 1846 May 5, 1847 Democratic Noyes Billings 1[lower-alpha 14]
34 Clark Bissell May 5, 1847 May 2, 1849 Whig Charles J. McCurdy 2
35 Joseph Trumbull May 2, 1849 May 4, 1850 Whig Thomas Backus 1
36 Thomas H. Seymour May 4, 1850 October 13, 1853 Democratic Charles H. Pond 3 12[lower-alpha 15]
Green Kendrick
Charles H. Pond
37 Charles H. Pond October 13, 1853 May 3, 1854 Democratic Vacant 12[lower-alpha 16]
38 Henry Dutton May 3, 1854 May 2, 1855 Whig Alexander H. Holley 1
39 William T. Minor May 2, 1855 May 6, 1857 American William Field 2
Albert Day
40 Alexander H. Holley May 6, 1857 May 5, 1858 Republican Alfred A. Burnham 1
41 William A. Buckingham May 5, 1858 May 2, 1866 Republican Julius Catlin 8
Benjamin Douglas
Roger Averill
42 Joseph R. Hawley May 2, 1866 May 1, 1867 Republican Oliver Winchester 1
43 James E. English May 1, 1867 May 5, 1869 Democratic Ephraim H. Hyde 2
44 Marshall Jewell May 5, 1869 May 4, 1870 Republican Francis Wayland 1
45 James E. English May 4, 1870 May 16, 1871 Democratic Julius Hotchkiss 1
46 Marshall Jewell May 16, 1871 May 7, 1873 Republican Morris Tyler 2[lower-alpha 17]
47 Charles R. Ingersoll May 7, 1873 January 3, 1877 Democratic George G. Sill 3[lower-alpha 18]
48 Richard D. Hubbard January 3, 1877 January 9, 1879 Democratic Francis Loomis 1[lower-alpha 19]
49 Charles B. Andrews January 9, 1879 January 5, 1881 Republican David Gallup 1
50 Hobart B. Bigelow January 5, 1881 January 3, 1883 Republican William H. Bulkeley 1
51 Thomas M. Waller January 3, 1883 January 8, 1885 Democratic George G. Sumner 1
52 Henry B. Harrison January 8, 1885 January 7, 1887 Republican Lorrin A. Cooke 1
53 Phineas C. Lounsbury January 7, 1887 January 10, 1889 Republican James L. Howard 1
54 Morgan G. Bulkeley January 10, 1889 January 4, 1893 Republican Samuel E. Merwin 2[lower-alpha 20]
55 Luzon B. Morris January 4, 1893 January 9, 1895 Democratic Ernest Cady 1
56 Owen Vincent Coffin January 9, 1895 January 6, 1897 Republican Lorrin A. Cooke 1
57 Lorrin A. Cooke January 6, 1897 January 4, 1899 Republican James D. Dewell 1
58 George E. Lounsbury January 4, 1899 January 9, 1901 Republican Lyman A. Mills 1
59 George P. McLean January 9, 1901 January 7, 1903 Republican Edwin O. Keeler 1
60 Abiram Chamberlain January 7, 1903 January 4, 1905 Republican Henry Roberts 1
61 Henry Roberts January 4, 1905 January 9, 1907 Republican Rollin S. Woodruff 1
62 Rollin S. Woodruff January 9, 1907 January 6, 1909 Republican Everett J. Lake 1
63 George L. Lilley January 6, 1909 April 21, 1909 Republican Frank B. Weeks 12[lower-alpha 8]
64 Frank B. Weeks April 21, 1909 January 4, 1911 Republican Vacant 12[lower-alpha 16]
65 Simeon E. Baldwin January 4, 1911 January 6, 1915 Democratic Dennis A. Blakeslee[lower-alpha 21] 2
Lyman T. Tingier
66 Marcus H. Holcomb January 6, 1915 January 5, 1921 Republican Clifford B. Wilson 3
67 Everett J. Lake January 5, 1921 January 3, 1923 Republican Charles A. Templeton 1
68 Charles A. Templeton January 3, 1923 January 7, 1925 Republican Hiram Bingham III 1
69 Hiram Bingham III January 7, 1925 January 8, 1925 Republican John H. Trumbull 12[lower-alpha 13]
70 John H. Trumbull January 8, 1925 January 7, 1931 Republican J. Edwin Brainard[lower-alpha 22] 2 12[lower-alpha 9]
Ernest E. Rogers
71 Wilbur Lucius Cross January 7, 1931 January 4, 1939 Democratic Samuel R. Spencer[lower-alpha 21] 4
Roy C. Wilcox[lower-alpha 21]
T. Frank Hayes
72 Raymond E. Baldwin January 4, 1939 January 8, 1941 Republican James L. McConaughy 1
73 Robert A. Hurley January 8, 1941 January 6, 1943 Democratic Odell Shepard 1
74 Raymond E. Baldwin January 6, 1943 December 27, 1946 Republican William L. Hadden 1 12[lower-alpha 13]
Charles W. Snow[lower-alpha 23]
75 Charles W. Snow December 27, 1946 January 8, 1947 Democratic Vacant 12[lower-alpha 16]
76 James L. McConaughy January 8, 1947 March 7, 1948 Republican James C. Shannon 12[lower-alpha 8]
77 James C. Shannon March 7, 1948 January 5, 1949 Republican Robert E. Parsons[lower-alpha 22] 12[lower-alpha 16]
78 Chester Bowles January 5, 1949 January 3, 1951 Democratic William T. Carroll 1
79 John Davis Lodge January 3, 1951 January 5, 1955 Republican Edward N. Allen 1[lower-alpha 24]
80 Abraham A. Ribicoff January 5, 1955 January 21, 1961 Democratic Charles W. Jewett 1 12[lower-alpha 25]
John N. Dempsey
81 John N. Dempsey January 21, 1961 January 6, 1971 Democratic Anthony J. Armentano[lower-alpha 22] 2 12[lower-alpha 9]
Samuel J. Tedesco[lower-alpha 26]
Fred J. Doocy[lower-alpha 27]
Attilio R. Frassinelli
82 Thomas J. Meskill January 6, 1971 January 8, 1975 Republican T. Clark Hull[lower-alpha 26] 1
Peter L. Cashman[lower-alpha 27]
83 Ella T. Grasso January 8, 1975 December 31, 1980 Democratic Robert K. Killian 1 12[lower-alpha 28]
William A. O'Neill
84 William A. O'Neill December 31, 1980 January 9, 1991 Democratic Joseph J. Fauliso[lower-alpha 27] 2 12[lower-alpha 29]
85 Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. January 9, 1991 January 4, 1995 A Connecticut Party Eunice Groark 1
86 John G. Rowland January 4, 1995 July 1, 2004 Republican Jodi Rell 2 12[lower-alpha 30]
87 Jodi Rell July 1, 2004 January 5, 2011 Republican Kevin Sullivan[lower-alpha 23][lower-alpha 27] 1 12[lower-alpha 29]
Michael Fedele
88 Dannel Malloy January 5, 2011 Incumbent Democratic Nancy Wyman 2[lower-alpha 31]

Other high offices held

Thirty-three governors have served other high office, including four Cabinet secretaries (one of whom served in two different departments) and four ambassadors. One served as a judge on a U.S. Court of Appeals. Three represented Connecticut in the Continental Congress and 28 have represented the state in the U.S. Congress, including one Speaker of the House. Four (marked with *) resigned to take other offices, and one (marked with dagger) resigned his seat in the U.S. House to take office as governor.

All representatives and senators listed represented Connecticut.

Governor Gubernatorial term Other offices held Source
Samuel Huntington 1786–1796 Continental Delegate (including President of the Continental Congress) [23]
Oliver Wolcott 1796–1797 Continental Delegate [24]
Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. 1797–1809 Representative (including Speaker of the House), Senator [25]
John Treadwell 1809–1811 Continental Delegate [26]
Roger Griswold 1811–1812 Representative [27]
John Cotton Smith 1812–1817 Representative [28]
Oliver Wolcott, Jr. 1817–1827 Secretary of the Treasury [29]
Gideon Tomlinson 1827–1831 Representative, Senator* [30]
Henry W. Edwards 1833–1834
1835–1838
Representative, Senator [31]
Samuel A. Foot 1834–1835 Representativedagger, Senator [32]
William W. Ellsworth 1838–1842 Representative [33]
Chauncey Fitch Cleveland 1842–1843 Representative [34]
Roger Sherman Baldwin 1844–1846 Senator [35]
Isaac Toucey 1846–1847 Representative, Senator, Attorney General, Secretary of the Navy [18]
Joseph Trumbull 1849–1850 Representative [36]
Thomas Hart Seymour 1850–1853 Representative, Minister to Russia* [37]
William A. Buckingham 1858–1866 Senator [38]
Joseph R. Hawley 1866–1867 Representative, Senator [39]
James E. English 1867–1869
1870–1871
Representative, Senator [40]
Marshall Jewell 1869–1870
1871–1873
Minister to Russia, Postmaster General [41]
Richard D. Hubbard 1878–1879 Representative [42]
Morgan G. Bulkeley 1889–1893 Senator [43]
George P. McLean 1901–1903 Senator [44]
George L. Lilley 1909 Representative [45]
Hiram Bingham III 1925 Senator [46]
Raymond E. Baldwin 1939–1941
1943–1946
Senator* [47]
Chester Bowles 1949–1951 Representative, Ambassador to India, Ambassador to Nepal [48]
John Davis Lodge 1951–1955 Representative, Ambassador to Argentina, Ambassador to Spain, Ambassador to Switzerland [49]
Abraham A. Ribicoff 1955–1961 Representative, Senator, Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare* [50]
Thomas J. Meskill 1971–1975 Representative, Second Circuit Court Judge [51]
Ella T. Grasso 1975–1980 Representative [52]
Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. 1991–1995 Representative, Senator [53]
John G. Rowland 1995–2004 Representative [54]

Living former U.S. governors of Connecticut

As of May 2015, there are three former U.S. governors of Connecticut who are currently living at this time, the oldest U.S. governor of Connecticut being Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. (1991–1995, born 1931). The most recent death of a former U.S. governor of Connecticut was that of William O'Neill (1980–1991), who died on November 24, 2007; he is also the most recently serving U.S. governor of Connecticut to have died.

Governor Gubernatorial term Date of birth (and age)
Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. 1991–1995 (1931-05-16) May 16, 1931 (age 92)
John G. Rowland 1995–2004 (1957-05-24) May 24, 1957 (age 66)
M. Jodi Rell 2004–2011 (1946-06-16) June 16, 1946 (age 77)

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 Includes two terms served by repeat governors.
  2. According to the Connecticut State Library, the official listing goes back to the first governor of Connecticut Colony in 1639, and did not include repeat governors serving non-consecutive terms in the colonial period; this makes Trumbull the 16th governor.[15] The official numbering since statehood includes repeat and acting governors.
  3. The office of Lieutenant Governor was known as Deputy-Governor under the colonial charter, but the name 'Lieutenant Governor' was predominantly used after independence.[14]
  4. Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
  5. The fractional terms of some governors are not to be understood absolutely literally; rather, they are meant to show how many times a governor was elected, and to show single terms during which multiple governors served, due to resignations, deaths and the like.
  6. The Connecticut General Assembly approved the United States Declaration of Independence on October 10, 1776, and resolved that the state's government would continue as established under the charter. So, as colonial governor, Jonathan Trumbull became state governor, serving roughly ​7 12 years.[16]
  7. As deputy governor, became governor upon the death of William Pitkin.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 Died in office.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 As lieutenant governor, acted as governor for unexpired term, and was subsequently elected in their own right.
  10. Appointed by the general assembly to fill the vacant Lieutenant Governor office.[17]
  11. Wolcott was the first governor elected under the provisions of the 1818 constitution, which shifted the start date of his third term from May 13 to May 5.
  12. Represented the National Republican Party.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 Resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate.
  14. Lost election, but was appointed by state legislature.[18]
  15. Resigned to be U.S. Minister to Russia.
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 As lieutenant governor, acted as governor for unexpired term.
  17. James English won the popular vote, but a canvassing committee found the election was fraudulent, and named Jewell governor several days into the term.[19]
  18. The end date of Ingersoll's term was moved back from May 3, 1876, to January 3, 1877, due to the adoption of the 26th amendment to the state constitution.
  19. Hubbard was the first governor elected under the provisions of the 26th amendment to the state constitution, increasing term lengths to two years and moving the start date of his term to January 3.
  20. Morgan Bulkeley did not run for re-election in 1890, but due to such a close contest and controversies, the results were not certified, and the legislature spent two years debating the issue; Bulkeley essentially served as governor by default.[20]
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 Represented the Republican Party.
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 As president pro tempore of the state senate, filled vacancy in office of lieutenant governor.[17]
  23. 23.0 23.1 Represented the Democratic Party.
  24. John Davis Lodge was the first governor elected under the provisions of the 45th amendment to the state constitution, lengthening terms to four years.
  25. Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare.
  26. 26.0 26.1 Resigned to become a superior court judge.[17]
  27. 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 As president pro tempore of the state senate, became lieutenant governor.[17]
  28. Resigned due to ovarian cancer.
  29. 29.0 29.1 As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term, and was subsequently elected in their own right.
  30. Resigned due to a federal corruption investigation;[21] he later pleaded guilty to corruption.[22]
  31. Governor Malloy's second term expires on January 9, 2019.

References

General
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Constitutions
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Specific
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  2. CT Const. art. IV
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  6. CT Const. art. IV, § 1
  7. CT Const. art. IV, § 2
  8. 1818 Const. amendment XVI
  9. 1818 Const. amendment XLV
  10. 1818 Const. art. IV § 1
  11. 1818 Const. new amendment VII
  12. CT Const. art. IV § 19
  13. 1818 Const. art. IV § 14
  14. 14.0 14.1 1662 Charter
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External links