Thirty-one individuals have held the office of governor of Idaho since the state's admission to the Union in 1890, two of whom served non-consecutive terms. The state's first governor, George L. Shoup, had the shortest term, of three months; Cecil Andrus had the longest, of 14 years.
There were sixteen territorial governors appointed by the president of the United States from the territory's organization in 1863 until the formation of the state of Idaho in 1890. Due to the long distance from Washington, D.C. to Boise, there was often a lengthy gap between a governor being appointed and his arrival in the territory; four resigned before even arriving.
State of Idaho
Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890. The terms for governor and lieutenant governor are 4 years, commencing on the first Monday in the January following the election.[71] Prior to 1946, the offices were elected to terms of two years.[72] If the office of governor is vacant or the governor is out of state or unable to discharge his duties, the lieutenant governor acts as governor until such time as the disability is removed.[73] If both the offices of governor and lieutenant governor are vacant or both those officers are unable to fulfill their duties, the President pro tempore of the Idaho Senate is next in line, and then the Speaker of the Idaho House of Representatives.[74] After the change to four-year terms, self-succession (re-election) was not initially allowed; newly elected Governor Robert E. Smylie, formerly the state's attorney general, successfully lobbied the 1955 legislature to propose an amendment to the state constitution to allow gubernatorial re-election, which was approved by voters in the 1956 general election.[75][76] There is no limit to the number of terms a governor may serve.[77] The governor and the lieutenant governor are elected at the same time but not on the same ticket.
^The range given is from the date the governor was confirmed by the Senate, or appointed by the President during a Senate recess, to the date the governor left office.
^Wallace was nominated on March 7, 1863,[6] confirmed by the Senate on March 10,[7] and took office in July.[5]
^Wallace resigned, having been elected to the United States House of Representatives.[8] Limbaugh is the only source yet found that specifies when he resigned, and even then only a month.[9]
^Lyon was nominated on February 2, 1864,[11] confirmed by the Senate on February 26,[12] and arrived in the territory some six months later.[10]
^Ballard was nominated on March 14, 1866,[14] confirmed by the Senate on April 10,[15] and arrived in the territory in June.[16]
^The date of Ballard's departure is the date of his farewell message to the state.[17]
^Bard was nominated on February 8, 1870,[18] and confirmed by the Senate on March 30.[19] However, he resigned on June 5 to continue being a journalist in Georgia, having never reached the territory.[20]
^Marston was nominated on May 27, 1870,[21] and confirmed on June 7.[22] However, he resigned on December 3,[23] due to the delay, through it was rumored that he was unhappy with the salary.[24]>[25]
^Conner was nominated on December 16, 1870,[26] and confirmed by the Senate on January 12, 1871.[27] However, he declined the appointment;[24] it is unknown when, though Limbaugh writes that he "declined the offer as soon as it was made."[25] The date given for the end of his term is when his successor was confirmed.
^Bowen was nominated on April 18, 1871,[28] in place of Ebenezer Dumont, who was nominated on March 17[29] but died on April 16, before the Senate could confirm him. The Senate Executive Journal has no record of if or when the Senate confirmed Bowen, but some sources say it was on April 19.[30] He took office on July 7.[24]
^Bowen resigned September 30.[31] Upon arriving in Idaho, Bowen reportedly did not like the look of the landscape, so he decided to stay only a few weeks.[32]
^Bennett was nominated on December 6, 1871,[34] and confirmed by the Senate on December 14.[35] However, sources say he took office on October 24,[30][33] implying a recess appointment.
^Bennett resigned, having been elected to the United States House of Representatives.[33] His term in the house started on March 4, and he had held both offices for nine months.[36]
^Thompson was nominated on December 15, 1875,[38] confirmed by the Senate on December 16,[39] and took office on April 6, 1876.[37]
^Thompson resigned due to a conflict of interest as a federal officer holding government contracts. Limbaugh says he resigned upon learning that this was not allowed.[40] McMullin says Grant requested his resignation on July 24, 1876,[37] but Thompson's resignation was dated July 1.[41]
^Thomas W. Bennett was nominated on July 17, 1876.[43] However, Bennett declined, so Brayman was nominated on July 18,[44] confirmed by the Senate on July 24.[45] and he took office on August 1.[42]
^Many petitions were filed to remove Brayman, and President Hayes responded by nominating John Philo Hoyt on June 11, 1878,[46] though he declined the appointment.[42] Brayman was allowed to serve out the remainder of his term.[47]
^Neil was appointed on July 12, 1880,[48] during a Senate recess; nominated on December 7;[49] and confirmed by the Senate on December 14.[50] He took office on August 4.[51]
^Irwin was nominated on March 1, 1883,[53] confirmed by the Senate on March 2,[54] and arrived in Boise on April 24.[52]
^Irwin took a leave of absence on May 15, and resigned on December 20 for personal reasons,[52] and returned his salary for the period he was absent.[55]
^Bunn was nominated on March 4, 1884,[57] confirmed by the Senate on March 26,[58] and took office on June 26.[59]
^Bunn resigned, citing personal reasons.[60]
^Stevenson was appointed on September 29, 1885,[62] during a Senate recess; nominated on December 10, 1885;[63] and confirmed by the Senate on February 3, 1886.[64]
^Shoup was nominated on March 29, 1889,[68] confirmed on April 1,[69] and took office on April 30.[70]
^Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
^Shoup was elected governor on October 1; as he was already territorial governor, some sources list this as when he took office,[67] while others say he took office when the first legislature convened on December 8.[78]
^Steunenberg ran on an fusion ticket in 1896 with the Democratic, Populist, and Silver Republican parties, and in 1898 with the Democratic and Silver Republican parties.[89]
^Hunt ran on an electoral fusion ticket with two other parties, who were holding their nominating convention at the same time and place as the Democrats.[89][90]
"Past Governors (1890 through present)". Office of the Governor. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
Brosnan, C. J. (1918). History of the State of Idaho. Charles Scribner's Sons. p. 217. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
Hailey, John (1910). History of Idaho. Boise, Idaho: Syms-York Company. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
Limbaugh, Ronald H. (1982). Rocky Mountain Carpetbaggers: Idaho's Territorial Governors, 1863–1890. Moscow, Idaho: University Press of Idaho. ISBN 0-89301-082-0. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
Sobel, Robert (1978). Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. I. Meckler Books. ISBN 9780930466015. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
McMullin, Thomas A. (1984). Biographical directory of American territorial governors. Westport, CT : Meckler. ISBN 978-0-930466-11-4. Retrieved January 19, 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 Idaho - History". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
Constitution
"Constitution of the State of Idaho". Idaho State Legislature. 1890. Archived from the original on July 1, 2010. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
Specific
^"CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries". The Council of State Governments. June 25, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
^The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant Digital Edition. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, Rotunda, 2018. Original source: Volume 21: November 1, 1870–May 31, 1871 (accessed February 22, 2023)
^The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant Digital Edition. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, Rotunda, 2018. Original source: Volume 27: January 1–October 31, 1876 (accessed February 22, 2023)
^Donaldson, Thomas (1941). Idaho of Yesterday. Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Printers, Ltd. p. 271. OCLC 100976.
^"Gov. Bunn Sends His Resignation to the President". Kennebec Journal. July 10, 1885. p. 1. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
^McMullin 1984, pp. 140–141.
^"Edward A. Stevenson of Boise City, Idaho Appointed Governor of That Territory". The Des Moines Register. September 30, 1885. p. 2. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
^"C. Ben Ross, Idaho's Native Son, Becomes State's 15th Governor at Bright Inaugural Ceremony". The Idaho Statesman. January 6, 1931. p. 1. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
^Miller, H. H. (January 5, 1937). "Governor Clark Takes Office As Idaho Legislature Meets To Ponder State Problems". The Idaho Statesman. p. 1. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
^Bottcher, Walter R. (January 3, 1939). "Bottolfsen Sworn In As Governor While Guns Boom Salute". The Idaho Statesman. Associated Press. p. 1. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
^"Idaho Inducts New Administration; Governor Chase Clark To Address Members of Legislature Today at Noon". The Idaho Statesman. January 7, 1941. p. 1. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
^"Colorful Ceremonies Install New Chiefs at Idaho Statehouse". The Idaho Statesman. January 5, 1943. p. 1. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
^Corlett, John (January 3, 1967). "Don Samuelson Pledges To Meet Needs of Gem State With Frugal Government". The Idaho Statesman. p. 1. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
^Kreller, Kathleen (January 2, 2007). "Otter Sworn In Again Before Family at Simplot Mansion". The Idaho Statesman. p. 3. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
^Russell, Betsy Z. (October 14, 2014). "Otter on running for 4th term: 'If I did, I'd be running as a bachelor, my wife told me'". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved July 7, 2016.