The governor of Missouri is the head of government of the U.S. state of Missouri and the commander-in-chief of the Missouri National Guard. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Missouri Legislature, to convene the legislature and grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment.
The current governor is Republican Mike Kehoe, who took office on January 13, 2025.
List of governors Louisiana was purchased from France in 1803, with it being proclaimed in St. Louis in Upper Louisiana on March 10, 1804, by Amos Stoddard, who remained as military commander of the region until October 1, 1804, when Orleans Territory was split from it. The remainder was designated the District of Louisiana and placed under the jurisdiction of Indiana Territory and its governor, William Henry Harrison.
Louisiana Territory and Missouri Territory The District of Louisiana was organized as Louisiana Territory on July 4, 1805; it was renamed Missouri Territory on June 4, 1812, after the admission of the state of Louisiana. It had four governors appointed by the president of the United States, including both Meriwether Lewis and William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
+ Governors of Louisiana and Missouri Territory GovernorTerm in officeAppointed by1James WilkinsonJuly 4, 1805–March 3, 18072Meriwether LewisMarch 3, 1807–October 11, 18093Benjamin HowardApril 18, 1810–October 31, 18124William ClarkJuly 1, 1813–September 18, 1820
State of Missouri Missouri was admitted to the union on August 10, 1821.
The original constitution of 1820 created the offices of governor1820 Const. art. IV, § 1 and lieutenant governor,1820 Const. art. IV, § 14 to serve terms of four years1820 Const. art. IV, § 3 without being able to succeed themselves.1820 Const. art. IV, § 4 Terms were shortened to 2 years in 1865,1865 Const. art. V, § 3 with a limit of serving no more than four out of every six years.1865 Const. art. V, § 4 They were returned in 1875 to the four-year term and limit on succession of the 1820 constitution,1875 Const. art. V, § 2 and the term limit changed to two terms in 1965.University of Missouri Institute for Public Policy, "Constitutional Amendments, Statutory Revision and Referenda Submitted to the Voters by the General Assembly or by Initiative Petition, 1910–2010," accessed March 24, 2023 Originally, the lieutenant governor would act as governor in the event of a vacancy;1820 Const. art. IV, § 16 a 1968 amendment made it so that the lieutenant governor becomes governor in that situation.
A group including the governor, lieutenant governor, and members of the Missouri General Assembly, proclaimed Missouri's secession from the Union on October 31, 1861, and it was admitted to the Confederate States of America on November 28, 1861.Confederate Public Law Session V, Chapter I; accessed May 22, 2015 The Confederate government elected two governors, but only had any control in the south of the state, and was forced into exile in Marshall, Texas, after the Battle of Pea Ridge in March 1862.