How powerful are state governors?
This is a not a simple question. The governorship of each state is as unique as the states themselves and gubernatorial influence is related to a variety of static and temporal factors. Academic scholars have considered this issue and generated indexes to show how state governors compare with their peers. These indexes, such as a well-known one promoted by Thad Beyle in recent years, incorporates factors such as potential time left in office, appointment power, budgetary control, veto abilities, and political party power. But these are certainly not the limits of possible consideration, other factors that have been compared include the electoral mandate or margin of victory in an election, the governors apparently personal political ambition, and public opinion ratings.[1]
Below Ballotpedia presents some comparative information related to the power of a governor:
Term limits and appointment powers
This section looks at gubernatorial terms of office and appointment powers. Scholars generally regard governors with longer terms and fewer restriction on how many times they can be re-elected as have having more power. Similarly, scholars point to governors with more appointments and less secondary oversight (such as required legislative approval) as having more power.[1]
2012 data by state
Governor
|
Terms
|
Selected State Administrative Officials (2012*)
|
State
|
Term limits in effect
|
Term lengths (years)
|
Total executive branch positions tracked
(including governor)
|
# of gubernatorial appointments
|
# of gubernatorial appointments that are shared or require approval
|
# of appointments that require gubernatorial approval
|
Alabama
|
2 consecutive term limit
|
4
|
44
|
16
|
2
|
0
|
Alaska
|
2 consecutive term limit
|
4
|
45
|
17
|
16
|
22
|
Arizona
|
2 consecutive term limit
|
4
|
44
|
19
|
17
|
0
|
Arkansas
|
2 lifetime term limit
|
4
|
41
|
15
|
13
|
7
|
California
|
2 lifetime term limit
|
4
|
38
|
26
|
17
|
2
|
Colorado
|
2 consecutive term limit
|
4
|
48
|
18
|
13
|
0
|
Connecticut
|
No term limits
|
4
|
49
|
27
|
27
|
2
|
Delaware
|
2 lifetime term limit
|
4
|
44
|
15
|
15
|
18
|
Florida
|
2 consecutive term limit
|
4
|
48
|
22
|
18
|
0
|
Georgia
|
2 consecutive term limit
|
4
|
46
|
13
|
5
|
4
|
Hawaii
|
2 consecutive term limit
|
4
|
45
|
19
|
18
|
2
|
Idaho
|
No term limits
|
4
|
35
|
16
|
16
|
0
|
Illinois
|
No term limits
|
4
|
32
|
21
|
20
|
0
|
Indiana
|
8 out of 12 year limit
|
4
|
44
|
27
|
0
|
0
|
Iowa
|
No term limits
|
4
|
45
|
21
|
21
|
0
|
Kansas
|
2 consecutive term limit
|
4
|
43
|
16
|
14
|
0
|
Kentucky
|
2 consecutive term limit
|
4
|
45
|
24
|
1
|
9
|
Louisiana
|
2 consecutive term limit
|
4
|
50
|
24
|
22
|
2
|
Maine
|
2 consecutive term limit
|
4
|
39
|
18
|
16
|
0
|
Maryland
|
2 consecutive term limit
|
4
|
45
|
22
|
18
|
3
|
Massachusetts
|
No term limits
|
4
|
51
|
18
|
0
|
19
|
Michigan
|
2 lifetime term limit
|
4
|
35
|
19
|
19
|
0
|
Minnesota
|
No term limits
|
4
|
42
|
22
|
22
|
0
|
Mississippi
|
2 lifetime term limit
|
4
|
42
|
17
|
17
|
0
|
Missouri
|
2 lifetime term limit
|
4
|
47
|
15
|
13
|
5
|
Montana
|
8 out of 16 year limit
|
4
|
51
|
20
|
17
|
0
|
Nebraska
|
2 consecutive term limit
|
4
|
46
|
20
|
20
|
0
|
Nevada
|
2 lifetime term limit
|
4
|
36
|
16
|
3
|
1
|
New Hampshire
|
No term limits
|
2
|
44
|
23
|
20
|
13
|
New Jersey
|
2 consecutive term limit
|
4
|
44
|
23
|
22
|
1
|
New Mexico
|
2 consecutive term limit
|
4
|
35
|
23
|
18
|
0
|
New York
|
No term limits
|
4
|
40
|
31
|
26
|
0
|
North Carolina
|
2 consecutive term limit
|
4
|
45
|
20
|
0
|
0
|
North Dakota
|
No term limits
|
4
|
42
|
17
|
1
|
0
|
Ohio
|
2 consecutive term limit
|
4
|
48
|
21
|
19
|
2
|
Oklahoma
|
2 lifetime term limit
|
4
|
44
|
15
|
15
|
0
|
Oregon
|
8 out of 12 year limit
|
4
|
46
|
19
|
16
|
1
|
Pennsylvania
|
2 consecutive term limit
|
4
|
49
|
32
|
20
|
7
|
Rhode Island
|
2 consecutive term limit
|
4
|
48
|
26
|
24
|
0
|
South Carolina
|
2 consecutive term limit
|
4
|
48
|
13
|
12
|
0
|
South Dakota
|
2 consecutive term limit
|
4
|
38
|
18
|
18
|
0
|
Tennessee
|
2 consecutive term limit
|
4
|
49
|
24
|
0
|
0
|
Texas
|
No term limits
|
4
|
41
|
7
|
0
|
2
|
Utah
|
No term limits
|
4
|
48
|
21
|
19
|
5
|
Vermont
|
No term limits
|
2
|
45
|
13
|
13
|
23
|
Virginia
|
No consecutive terms
|
4
|
45
|
31
|
29
|
0
|
Washington
|
No term limits
|
4
|
33
|
20
|
0
|
0
|
West Virginia
|
2 consecutive term limit
|
4
|
41
|
21
|
21
|
0
|
Wisconsin
|
No term limits
|
4
|
47
|
15
|
14
|
0
|
Wyoming
|
8 out of 16 year limit (May be unconstitutional)
|
4
|
43
|
20
|
9
|
0
|
- Note: 2012 executive branch data is abstracted from The Council of State Governments' Book of the States 2012.[2]
2012 data by districts and territories
Governor
|
Terms
|
Selected State Administrative Officials (2012*)
|
State
|
Term limits in effect
|
Term lengths (years)
|
Total executive branch positions tracked
(including governor)
|
# of gubernatorial appointments
|
# of gubernatorial appointments that are shared or require approval
|
# of appointments that require gubernatorial approval
|
American Samoa
|
2 consecutive term limit
|
4
|
27
|
20
|
15
|
1
|
Guam
|
2 consecutive term limit
|
4
|
47
|
33
|
32
|
0
|
North Mariana Islands
|
2 lifetime term limit
|
4
|
48
|
19
|
13
|
0
|
Puerto Rico
|
No term limits
|
4
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
U.S. Virgin Islands
|
2 consecutive term limit
|
4
|
49
|
43
|
39
|
0
|
Washington D.C.
|
No term limits (Mayor)
|
4
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
--
|
2010 comparison
- Note: U.S. Districts and territories saw no change between 2010 and 2012 and were therefore omitted. 2010 executive branch data is abstracted from The Council of State Governments' Book of the States 2010.[3]
Current governors
The tables below present the basic election and term information of the various governors of the U.S. as of 2012. Scholars generally regard governors who are elected, earlier in their terms of office, and have more chances to be re-elected as being more powerful.[1]
States in 2012
State
|
Current Governor
|
Party
|
Current Term Began
|
Current Term Ends
|
Number of Previous Terms
|
Total Possible Consecutive Terms
|
Notes
|
Alabama
|
Robert J. Bentley
|
Republican
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
0
|
2
|
|
Alaska
|
Sean Parnell
|
Republican
|
2010 (December)
|
2014 (December)
|
1
|
2
|
Succeeded into governorship July 26, 2009. Elected in November of 2010.
|
Arizona
|
Jan Brewer
|
Republican
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
1
|
2
|
Succeeded into governorship January 21, 2009. Elected in November of 2010.
|
Arkansas
|
Mike Beebe
|
Democrat
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
1
|
2
|
|
California
|
Jerry Brown
|
Democrat
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
2
|
2
|
Elected in November of 1974 and 1978 before constitutional term limits. Elected again in November of 2010.
|
Colorado
|
John Hickenlooper
|
Democrat
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
0
|
2
|
|
Connecticut
|
Dan Malloy
|
Democrat
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
0
|
|
|
Delaware
|
Jack Markell
|
Democrat
|
2009 (January)
|
2013 (January)
|
0
|
2
|
|
Florida
|
Rick Scott
|
Republican
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
0
|
2
|
|
Georgia
|
Nathan Deal
|
Republican
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
0
|
2
|
|
Hawaii
|
Neil Abercrombie
|
Democrat
|
2010 (December)
|
2014 (December)
|
0
|
2
|
|
Idaho
|
Butch Otter
|
Republican
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
1
|
|
|
Illinois
|
Pat Quinn
|
Democrat
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
1
|
|
Succeeded into governorship January 29, 2009. Elected in November of 2010.
|
Indiana
|
Mitch Daniels
|
Republican
|
2009 (January)
|
2013 (January)
|
1
|
2
|
|
Iowa
|
Terry E. Branstad
|
Republican
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
4
|
|
Elected in November of 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, and 2010.
|
Kansas
|
Sam Brownback
|
Republican
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
0
|
2
|
|
Kentucky
|
Steve Beshear
|
Democrat
|
2011 (December)
|
2015 (December)
|
1
|
2
|
|
Louisiana
|
Bobby Jindal
|
Republican
|
2012 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
1
|
2
|
|
Maine
|
Paul LePage
|
Republican
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
0
|
2
|
|
Maryland
|
Martin O'Malley
|
Democrat
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
1
|
2
|
|
Massachusetts
|
Deval Patrick
|
Democrat
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
1
|
|
|
Michigan
|
Rick Snyder
|
Republican
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
0
|
2
|
|
Minnesota
|
Mark Dayton
|
Democrat
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
0
|
|
|
Mississippi
|
Phil Bryant
|
Republican
|
2012 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
0
|
2
|
|
Missouri
|
Jay Nixon
|
Democrat
|
2009 (January)
|
2013 (January)
|
0
|
2
|
|
Montana
|
Brian Schweitzer
|
Democrat
|
2009 (January)
|
2013 (January)
|
1
|
2
|
|
Nebraska
|
Dave Heineman
|
Republican
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
2
|
2
|
Succeeded into governorship January 21, 2005. Elected in November of 2006 and 2010.
|
Nevada
|
Brian Sandoval
|
Republican
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
0
|
2
|
|
New Hampshire
|
John H. Lynch
|
Democrat
|
2011 (January)
|
2013 (January)
|
3
|
|
Two year terms.
|
New Jersey
|
Chris Christie
|
Republican
|
2010 (January)
|
2014 (January)
|
0
|
2
|
|
New Mexico
|
Susana Martinez
|
Republican
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
0
|
2
|
|
New York
|
Andrew Cuomo
|
Democrat
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
0
|
|
|
North Carolina
|
Beverly Perdue
|
Democrat
|
2009 (January)
|
2013 (January)
|
0
|
2
|
|
North Dakota
|
Jack Dalrymple
|
Republican
|
2010 (December)
|
2012 (December)
|
0
|
|
Suceeded into governorship December 7, 2010.
|
Ohio
|
John Kasich
|
Republican
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
0
|
2
|
|
Oklahoma
|
Mary Fallin
|
Republican
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
0
|
2
|
|
Oregon
|
John Kitzhaber
|
Democrat
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
2
|
2
|
Elected November of 1994, 1998, and 2010
|
Pennsylvania
|
Tom Corbett
|
Republican
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
0
|
2
|
|
Rhode Island
|
Lincoln Chafee
|
Independent
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
0
|
2
|
|
South Carolina
|
Nikki Haley
|
Republican
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
0
|
2
|
|
South Dakota
|
Dennis Daugaard
|
Republican
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
0
|
2
|
|
Tennessee
|
Bill Haslam
|
Republican
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
0
|
2
|
|
Texas
|
Rick Perry
|
Republican
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
3
|
|
Succeeded into governorship December 21, 2000. Elected in November of 2002, 2006, and 2010.
|
Utah
|
Gary R. Herbert
|
Republican
|
2009 (August)
|
2013 (January)
|
0
|
|
Succeeded into governorship August 11, 2009. Elected in a special election in November of 2010 to fill the remainder of term.
|
Vermont
|
Peter Shumlin
|
Democrat
|
2011 (January)
|
2013 (January)
|
0
|
|
Two year terms.
|
Virginia
|
Bob McDonnell
|
Republican
|
2010 (January)
|
2014 (January)
|
0
|
1
|
|
Washington
|
Christine Gregoire
|
Democrat
|
2009 (January)
|
2013 (January)
|
1
|
|
|
West Virginia
|
Earl Ray Tomblin
|
Democrat
|
2010 (November)
|
2013 (January)
|
0
|
2
|
Succeeded into governorship November 15, 2010. Elected in special election in October of 2011 to fill the remainder of term.
|
Wisconsin
|
Scott Walker
|
Republican
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
0
|
|
|
Wyoming
|
Matt Mead
|
Republican
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
0
|
2
|
|
- Note: Current governor data is abstracted from the National Governors Association.[4]
Districts and territories in 2012
State
|
Current Governor
|
Party
|
Current Term Began
|
Current Term Ends
|
Number of Previous Terms
|
Total Possible Consecutive Terms
|
Notes
|
American Samoa
|
Togiola T.A. Tulafono
|
Democrat
|
2009 (January)
|
2013 (January)
|
2
|
2
|
Succeeded into governorship April 7, 2003. Elected November of 2004 and 2008.
|
Guam
|
Eddie Calvo
|
Republican
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
0
|
2
|
|
North Mariana Islands
|
Benígno Fitial
|
Republican
|
2010 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
1
|
2
|
Elected in November of 2005 and 2009. Will serve a 5-year term as North Mariana Islands move to an even year election cycle.
|
Puerto Rico
|
Luis G. Fortuño
|
Republican
|
2009 (January)
|
2013 (January)
|
0
|
|
|
U.S. Virgin Islands
|
John deJongh, Jr.
|
Democrat
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
1
|
2
|
|
Washington D.C.
|
Vincent C. Gray
|
Democrat
|
2011 (January)
|
2015 (January)
|
0
|
|
Mayor.
|
- Note: Current governor data is abstracted from the National Governors Association.[4] Information on the Mayor of Washington D.C. is abstracted from the Executive Office of the Mayor.[5]
See also
External links
|
|