There have been 32 governors since North Dakota became a state, serving 33 distinct terms, with William Langer having been elected to multiple terms. The current officeholder is RepublicanDoug Burgum.
Governors
Dakota Territory was organized on March 2, 1861;[1] on November 2, 1889, it was split into the states of North Dakota and South Dakota.[2]
The Constitution of North Dakota originally provided for the election of a governor and lieutenant governor every two years, which was changed to four years in 1964.[3] A limit of two terms was added in 2023.[4] The governor and lieutenant governor are elected together on a ticket,[5] and should the office of governor become vacant, the lieutenant governor becomes governor.[6] The term of office begins on the December 15 following the election.[7]
^Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
^Sources disagree on when Shortridge took office; Sobel says January 2,[15] the State Historical Society says January 3,[17] one contemporary news source says Shortridge qualified on January 3,[18] and Shortridge delivered his inaugural address (dated January 3) to the legislature on January 4.[19]
^Sources disagree on when Briggs took office; Sobel says January 8,[24] the State Historical Society says January 6,[26] and a contemporary news source says he was sworn in on January 7,[27] which notes that inaugural proceedings were delayed by the death of Briggs' daughter.
^Fancher was nominated by the Republican Party, but withdrew from the election due to health concerns.[34]
^ a bFrazier was recalled and Nestos elected to replace him in a special election.
^Sources disagree on when Langer took office; the State Historical Society says December 31, 1932,[64] but contemporary news indicates it was on January 4, 1933, the matter being complicated because Langer was ill and unable to attend..[65]
^ a bLanger was removed from office following his conviction of felony conspiracy to defraud the federal government; he was later cleared.[62] He was convicted on June 17 and Lieutenant Governor Ole H. Olson immediately moved to take over, receiving the oath of office.[66] The Supreme Court ruled Langer was ineligible on July 17, and Olson formally took office on July 19.[67]
^The Supreme Court ruled that Moodie did not meet residency requirements to run for governor, and so removed him.[70]
^Sinner took the oath of office on December 31, so that he would become governor at midnight on January 1; Olson claimed that his term did not end until January 5, and refused to leave office. The Supreme Court ruled on January 4 that Sinner was governor, and had been since January 1.[98][99]
^Burgum's second term began December 15, 2020, and will expire on December 15, 2024. Burgum is retiring by the end of his term
References
General
"Former North Dakota Governors". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
Sobel, Robert (1978). Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. III. Meckler Books. ISBN 9780930466008. Retrieved May 9, 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 North Dakota - History". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
^"New Governor Kindles Pride in State, Pledges Economy. Asks Strife Be Forgotten". The Bismarck Tribune. November 23, 1921. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
^"Sorlie, Nestos Both Speak; New Governor Inaugurated Before Joint Session Today". The Bismarck Tribune. January 7, 1925. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.