List of governors of Connecticut

Governor of Connecticut
Seal of the Governor
Portrait
Incumbent
Ned Lamont
since January 19, 2019
Government of Connecticut
StyleGovernor
(informally)
His Excellency
(formal)
TypeHead of state
Head of government
Member ofCabinet
ResidenceGovernor's Residence
SeatConnecticut State Capitol, Hartford, Connecticut
NominatorPolitical parties
AppointerPopular vote
Term lengthFour years, no limit
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Connecticut
PrecursorGovernor of Saybrook (merged with Connecticut, 1644)
Governor of New Haven (merged with Connecticut, 1665)
Formation1639; 385 years ago (1639)
DeputyLieutenant Governor of Connecticut
Salary$150,000 (2013)
WebsiteOffice of the Governor

The governor of Connecticut is the head of government of Connecticut, 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. Unusual among governors, the governor of Connecticut has no power to pardon. The governor of Connecticut is automatically a member of the state's Bonding Commission. He is an ex-officio member of the board of trustees of the University of Connecticut and Yale University.

There have been 69 post-Revolution governors of the state, serving 73 distinct spans in office. Four have served non-consecutive terms: Henry W. Edwards, James E. English, Marshall Jewell, and Raymond E. Baldwin. 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 United States Senate. Additionally, Lowell Weicker 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 Ned Lamont, a Democrat who took office on January 9, 2019.

Governors

Connecticut was one of the original Thirteen Colonies and was admitted as a state on January 9, 1788. Before it declared its independence, Connecticut was a colony of the Kingdom of Great Britain.

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.

The current Constitution of Connecticut, ratified in 1965, calls for a four-year term for the governor, commencing on the Wednesday after the first Monday in the January following an election. The previous constitution of 1818 originally had only a one-year term for governor; this was increased to two years in 1875, and four years in 1948. 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. 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. In the event of a vacancy in the office of governor, the lieutenant governor becomes governor. Before the adoption of the 1965 constitution, the lieutenant governor only acted as governor. There is no limit of any kind on the number of terms one may serve.

Governors of the State of Connecticut
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor
16   Jonathan Trumbull
(1710–1785)
October 13, 1769

May 13, 1784
(did not run)
No party 1776   Matthew Griswold
1777
1778
1779
1780
1781
1782
1783
17 Matthew Griswold
(1714–1799)
May 13, 1784

May 11, 1786
(lost election)
No party 1784 Samuel Huntington
1785
18 Samuel Huntington
(1731–1796)
May 11, 1786

January 5, 1796
(died in office)
Federalist 1786 Oliver Wolcott
1787
1788
1789
1790
1791
1792
1793
1794
1795
19 Oliver Wolcott
(1726–1797)
January 5, 1796

December 1, 1797
(died in office)
Federalist Lieutenant
governor
acting
Acting as governor
1796 Jonathan Trumbull Jr.
1797
20 Jonathan Trumbull Jr.
(1740–1809)
December 1, 1797

August 7, 1809
(died in office)
Federalist Lieutenant
governor
acting
Acting as governor
1798 John Treadwell
1799
1800
1801
1802
1803
1804
1805
1806
1807
1808
1809
21 John Treadwell
(1745–1823)
August 7, 1809

May 9, 1811
(lost election)
Federalist Lieutenant
governor
acting
Acting as governor
1810 Roger Griswold
22 Roger Griswold
(1762–1812)
May 9, 1811

October 25, 1812
(died in office)
Federalist 1811 John Cotton Smith
1812
23 John Cotton Smith
(1765–1845)
October 25, 1812

May 8, 1817
(lost election)
Federalist Lieutenant
governor
acting
Acting as governor
1813 Chauncey Goodrich
(died August 18, 1815)
1814
1815
Vacant
1816 Jonathan Ingersoll
(died January 12, 1823)
24 Oliver Wolcott Jr.
(1760–1833)
May 8, 1817

May 2, 1827
(lost election)
Toleration 1817
1818
Democratic-
Republican
1819
1820
1821
1822
Vacant
1823 David Plant
1824
1825
1826
25 Gideon Tomlinson
(1780–1854)
May 2, 1827

March 2, 1831
(resigned)
Democratic-
Republican
1827 John Samuel Peters
National
Republican
1828
1829
1830
26 John Samuel Peters
(1772–1858)
March 2, 1831

May 4, 1833
(lost election)
National
Republican
Lieutenant
governor
acting
Acting as governor
1831 Vacant
1832 Thaddeus Betts
27 Henry W. Edwards
(1779–1847)
May 4, 1833

May 7, 1834
(lost election)
Democratic 1833 Ebenezer Stoddard
28 Samuel A. Foot
(1780–1846)
May 7, 1834

May 6, 1835
(lost election)
Whig 1834 Thaddeus Betts
29 Henry W. Edwards
(1779–1847)
May 6, 1835

May 3, 1838
(did not run)
Democratic 1835 Ebenezer Stoddard
1836
1837
30 William W. Ellsworth
(1791–1868)
May 3, 1838

May 6, 1842
(lost election)
Whig 1838 Charles Hawley
1839
1840
1841
31 Chauncey Fitch Cleveland
(1799–1887)
May 6, 1842

May 2, 1844
(lost election)
Democratic 1842 William S. Holabird
1843
32 Roger Sherman Baldwin
(1793–1863)
May 2, 1844

May 8, 1846
(did not run)
Whig 1844 Reuben Booth
1845
33 Isaac Toucey
(1792–1869)
May 8, 1846

May 5, 1847
(lost nomination)
Democratic 1846 Noyes Billings
34 Clark Bissell
(1782–1857)
May 5, 1847

May 3, 1849
(lost nomination)
Whig 1847 Charles J. McCurdy
1848
35 Joseph Trumbull
(1782–1861)
May 3, 1849

May 2, 1850
(did not run)
Whig 1849 Thomas Backus
36 Thomas H. Seymour
(1807–1868)
May 2, 1850

October 13, 1853
(resigned)
Democratic 1850 Charles H. Pond
1851 Green Kendrick
1852 Charles H. Pond
1853
37 Charles H. Pond
(1781–1861)
October 13, 1853

May 4, 1854
(successor took office)
Democratic Lieutenant
governor
acting
Acting as governor
38 Henry Dutton
(1796–1869)
May 4, 1854

May 3, 1855
(lost election)
Whig 1854 Alexander H. Holley
39 William T. Minor
(1815–1889)
May 3, 1855

May 6, 1857
(did not run)
American 1855 William Field
1856 Albert Day
40 Alexander H. Holley
(1804–1887)
May 6, 1857

May 5, 1858
(did not run)
Republican 1857 Alfred A. Burnham
41 William Alfred Buckingham
(1804–1875)
May 5, 1858

May 2, 1866
(did not run)
Republican 1858 Julius Catlin
1859
1860
1861 Benjamin Douglas
1862 Roger Averill
1863
1864
1865
42 Joseph Roswell Hawley
(1826–1905)
May 2, 1866

May 1, 1867
(lost election)
Republican 1866 Oliver Winchester
43 James E. English
(1812–1890)
May 1, 1867

May 5, 1869
(lost election)
Democratic 1867 Ephraim H. Hyde
1868
44 Marshall Jewell
(1825–1883)
May 5, 1869

May 4, 1870
(lost election)
Republican 1869 Francis Wayland III
45 James E. English
(1812–1890)
May 4, 1870

May 16, 1871
(lost election)
Democratic 1870 Julius Hotchkiss
46 Marshall Jewell
(1825–1883)
May 16, 1871

May 7, 1873
(did not run)
Republican 1871 Morris Tyler
1872
47 Charles Roberts Ingersoll
(1821–1903)
May 7, 1873

January 3, 1877
(did not run)
Democratic 1873 George G. Sill
1874
1875
Apr. 1876
48 Richard D. Hubbard
(1818–1884)
January 3, 1877

January 9, 1879
(lost election)
Democratic Nov. 1876 Francis Loomis
49 Charles B. Andrews
(1834–1902)
January 9, 1879

January 5, 1881
(did not run)
Republican 1878 David Gallup
50 Hobart B. Bigelow
(1834–1891)
January 5, 1881

January 3, 1883
(did not run)
Republican 1880 William H. Bulkeley
51 Thomas M. Waller
(1839–1924)
January 3, 1883

January 8, 1885
(lost election)
Democratic 1882 George G. Sumner
52 Henry Baldwin Harrison
(1821–1901)
January 8, 1885

January 6, 1887
(did not run)
Republican 1884 Lorrin A. Cooke
53 Phineas C. Lounsbury
(1841–1925)
January 6, 1887

January 10, 1889
(did not run)
Republican 1886 James L. Howard
54 Morgan Bulkeley
(1837–1922)
January 10, 1889

January 4, 1893
(did not run)
Republican 1888 Samuel E. Merwin
1890
55 Luzon B. Morris
(1827–1895)
January 4, 1893

January 9, 1895
(did not run)
Democratic 1892 Ernest Cady
56 Owen Vincent Coffin
(1836–1921)
January 9, 1895

January 6, 1897
(did not run)
Republican 1894 Lorrin A. Cooke
57 Lorrin A. Cooke
(1831–1902)
January 6, 1897

January 4, 1899
(did not run)
Republican 1896 James D. Dewell
58 George E. Lounsbury
(1838–1904)
January 4, 1899

January 9, 1901
(did not run)
Republican 1898 Lyman A. Mills
59 George P. McLean
(1857–1932)
January 9, 1901

January 7, 1903
(did not run)
Republican 1900 Edwin O. Keeler
60 Abiram Chamberlain
(1837–1911)
January 7, 1903

January 4, 1905
(did not run)
Republican 1902 Henry Roberts
61 Henry Roberts
(1853–1929)
January 4, 1905

January 9, 1907
(did not run)
Republican 1904 Rollin S. Woodruff
62 Rollin S. Woodruff
(1854–1925)
January 9, 1907

January 6, 1909
(did not run)
Republican 1906 Everett J. Lake
63 George L. Lilley
(1859–1909)
January 6, 1909

April 21, 1909
(died in office)
Republican 1908 Frank B. Weeks
64 Frank B. Weeks
(1854–1935)
April 21, 1909

January 4, 1911
(successor took office)
Republican Lieutenant
governor
acting
Acting as governor
65 Simeon Eben Baldwin
(1840–1927)
January 4, 1911

January 6, 1915
(did not run)
Democratic 1910 Dennis A. Blakeslee
1912 Lyman T. Tingier
66 Marcus H. Holcomb
(1844–1932)
January 6, 1915

January 5, 1921
(did not run)
Republican 1914 Clifford B. Wilson
1916
1918
67 Everett J. Lake
(1871–1948)
January 5, 1921

January 3, 1923
(did not run)
Republican 1920 Charles A. Templeton
68 Charles A. Templeton
(1871–1955)
January 3, 1923

January 7, 1925
(did not run)
Republican 1922 Hiram Bingham III
69 Hiram Bingham III
(1875–1956)
January 7, 1925

January 8, 1925
(resigned)
Republican 1924 John H. Trumbull
70 John H. Trumbull
(1873–1961)
January 8, 1925

January 7, 1931
(did not run)
Republican Lieutenant
governor
acting
Acting as governor
1926 J. Edwin Brainard
1928 Ernest E. Rogers
71 Wilbur Lucius Cross
(1862–1948)
January 7, 1931

January 4, 1939
(lost election)
Democratic 1930 Samuel R. Spencer
1932 Roy C. Wilcox
1934 T. Frank Hayes
1936
72 Raymond E. Baldwin
(1893–1986)
January 4, 1939

January 8, 1941
(lost election)
Republican 1938 James L. McConaughy
73 Robert A. Hurley
(1895–1968)
January 8, 1941

January 6, 1943
(lost election)
Democratic 1940 Odell Shepard
74 Raymond E. Baldwin
(1893–1986)
January 6, 1943

December 27, 1946
(resigned)
Republican 1942 William L. Hadden
1944 Charles Wilbert Snow
75 Charles Wilbert Snow
(1884–1977)
December 27, 1946

January 8, 1947
(successor took office)
Democratic Lieutenant
governor
acting
Acting as governor
76 James L. McConaughy
(1887–1948)
January 8, 1947

March 7, 1948
(died in office)
Republican 1946 James C. Shannon
77 James C. Shannon
(1896–1980)
March 7, 1948

January 5, 1949
(lost election)
Republican Lieutenant
governor
acting
Acting as governor
78 Chester B. Bowles
(1901–1986)
January 5, 1949

January 3, 1951
(lost election)
Democratic 1948 William T. Carroll
79 John Davis Lodge
(1903–1985)
January 3, 1951

January 5, 1955
(lost election)
Republican 1950 Edward N. Allen
80 Abraham Ribicoff
(1910–1998)
January 5, 1955

January 21, 1961
(resigned)
Democratic 1954 Charles W. Jewett
1958 John N. Dempsey
81 John N. Dempsey
(1915–1989)
January 21, 1961

January 6, 1971
(did not run)
Democratic Lieutenant
governor
acting
Acting as governor
1962 Samuel J. Tedesco
(resigned January 15, 1966)
Fred J. Doocy
1966 Attilio R. Frassinelli
82 Thomas Meskill
(1928–2007)
January 6, 1971

January 8, 1975
(did not run)
Republican 1970 T. Clark Hull
(resigned June 1, 1973)
Peter L. Cashman
83 Ella Grasso
(1919–1981)
January 8, 1975

December 31, 1980
(resigned)
Democratic 1974 Robert K. Killian
1978 William A. O'Neill
84
W A ONeill.jpg
William A. O'Neill
(1930–2007)
December 31, 1980

January 9, 1991
(did not run)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Joseph J. Fauliso
1982
1986
85 Lowell Weicker
(1931–2023)
January 9, 1991

January 4, 1995
(did not run)
A Connecticut
Party
1990 Eunice Groark
86 John G. Rowland
(b. 1957)
January 4, 1995

July 1, 2004
(resigned)
Republican 1994 Jodi Rell
1998
2002
87 Jodi Rell
(b. 1946)
July 1, 2004

January 5, 2011
(did not run)
Republican Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Kevin Sullivan
2006 Michael Fedele
88 Dannel Malloy
(b. 1955)
January 5, 2011

January 9, 2019
(did not run)
Democratic 2010 Nancy Wyman
2014
89 Ned Lamont
(b. 1954)
January 9, 2019

Incumbent
Democratic 2018 Susan Bysiewicz
2022

See also


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