The governor of Washington is the head of government of Washington and commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.WA Const. art. III, § 2.WA Const. art. III, § 8. The officeholder has a duty to enforce state laws,WA Const. art. III, § 5. the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Washington Legislature and line-item veto power to cancel specific provisions in spending bills.WA Const. art. III, § 12. The Washington governor may also convene the legislature on "extraordinary occasions".

Washington Territory had 14 territorial governors from its organization in 1853 until the formation of the state of Washington in 1889. Territorial governors were appointed by the president of the United States. Elisha P. Ferry had the longest term of eight years and went on to become the state's first governor. William H. Wallace was appointed governor but never took office due to being elected as the territory's congressional delegate. George Edward Cole was appointed governor and took office, but his appointment was never ratified by the U.S. Senate and he was replaced as governor after four months.

Twenty-two individuals have held the office of Governor of Washington since the state's admission to the Union, with Arthur B. Langlie serving non-consecutive terms. Populist Party candidate John Rankin Rogers is the only non-Democratic or Republican nominee to win office. The most recent governor to be from Eastern Washington was Clarence D. Martin, elected in 1932. The current governor is Democrat Bob Ferguson, who took office on January 15, 2025.

List of governors Territory of Washington Washington Territory was organized on March 2, 1853, from the northern half of Oregon Territory.

+ Governors of the Territory of WashingtonGovernorTerm in officeAppointed by1Isaac StevensMarch 17, 1853–May 13, 18572Fayette McMullenMay 13, 1857–March 5, 18593Richard D. GholsonMarch 5, 1859–February 14, 1861—William H. WallaceApril 9, 1861–July 8, 18614William PickeringDecember 19, 1861–November 21, 18665George Edward ColeNovember 21, 1866–March 1, 18676Marshall F. MooreApril 20, 1867–April 5, 18697Alvan FlandersApril 5, 1869–March 14, 18708Edward S. SalomonMarch 14, 1870–April 26, 18729Elisha P. FerryApril 26, 1872–April 26, 188010William A. NewellApril 26, 1880–July 2, 188411Watson C. SquireJuly 2, 1884–April 9, 188712Eugene SempleApril 9, 1887–March 23, 188913Miles Conway MooreMarch 23, 1889–November 18, 1889

State of Washington Washington was admitted to the Union on November 11, 1889. The term for governor is four years, commencing on the second Monday in the January following the election.WA Const. art. III, § 4 If the office of governor is vacant or the governor is unable to discharge their duties, the lieutenant governor assumes the duties of governor, though still officially retains the office of lieutenant governor. If both the offices of governor and lieutenant governor are unable to fulfill their duties, the secretary of state is next in line, and then the treasurer.WA Const. art. III, § 10 There is no limit to the number of terms a governor may serve. The office of lieutenant governor is not elected on the same ticket as the governor.

+ Governors of the State of WashingtonGovernorTerm in officePartyElectionLt. Governor1 Elisha P. FerryNovember 18, 1889–January 11, 1893Republican1889 2John McGrawJanuary 11, 1893Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 3rd legislature, 44, accessed July 20, 2023–January 13, 1897Republican18923John Rankin RogersJanuary 13, 1897Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 5th legislature, 34, accessed July 20, 2023–December 26, 1901Populist1896Democratic19004Henry McBrideDecember 26, 1901–January 11, 1905RepublicanVacant5Albert E. MeadJanuary 11, 1905Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 9th legislature, 33, accessed July 20, 2023–January 27, 1909Republican19046Samuel G. CosgroveJanuary 27, 1909Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 11th legislature, 152, accessed July 20, 2023–March 28, 1909Republican19087Marion E. HayMarch 28, 1909–January 15, 1913RepublicanVacant8Ernest ListerJanuary 15, 1913Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 13th legislature, 44, accessed July 20, 2023–June 14, 1919Democratic191219169Louis F. HartJune 14, 1919–January 14, 1925RepublicanVacant192010Roland H. HartleyJanuary 14, 1925Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 19th legislature, 23, accessed July 20, 2023–January 11, 1933Republican1924192811Clarence D. MartinJanuary 11, 1933–January 15, 1941Democratic1932193612Arthur B. LanglieJanuary 15, 1941Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 27th legislature, 32, accessed July 20, 2023–January 10, 1945Republican194013Monrad WallgrenJanuary 10, 1945Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 29th legislature, 31, accessed July 20, 2023–January 12, 1949Democratic194414Arthur B. LanglieJanuary 12, 1949Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 31st legislature, 39, accessed July 20, 2023–January 16, 1957Republican1948195215Albert RoselliniJanuary 16, 1957Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 35th legislature, 41, accessed July 20, 2023–January 13, 1965Democratic1956196016Daniel J. EvansJanuary 13, 1965Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 39th legislature, 60, accessed July 20, 2023–January 12, 1977Republican19641968197217Dixy Lee RayJanuary 12, 1977Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 45th legislature, 44, accessed July 20, 2023–January 14, 1981Democratic197618John SpellmanJanuary 14, 1981Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 47th legislature, 52, accessed July 20, 2023–January 16, 1985Republican198019Booth GardnerJanuary 16, 1985Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 49th legislature, 44, accessed July 20, 2023–January 13, 1993Democratic1984198820Mike LowryJanuary 13, 1993Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 53rd legislature, 55, accessed July 20, 2023–January 15, 1997Democratic199221Gary LockeJanuary 15, 1997Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 55th legislature, 96, accessed July 20, 2023–January 12, 2005Democratic1996200022Christine GregoireJanuary 12, 2005Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 59th legislature, 69, accessed July 20, 2023–January 16, 2013Democratic2004200823Jay InsleeJanuary 16, 2013Washington State Legislature. Journal of the House of Representatives. 63rd legislature, 50, accessed July 20, 2023–January 15, 2025Democratic20122016202024Bob FergusonJanuary 15, 2025–IncumbentDemocratic2024

Timeline Timeline of Washington governors

Electoral history (1952–) YearDemocratic nomineeRepublican nomineeSocialist Labor nomineeSocialist Workers nomineeLibertarian nomineeOther candidateOther candidateOther candidateCandidate#%Candidate#%Candidate#%Candidate#%Candidate#%Candidate#%Candidate#%Candidate#% 1952 Hugh Mitchell 510,675 47.35% Arthur B. Langlie 567,822 52.65% – – – – – – 1956 Albert Rosellini 616,773 54.63% Emmett T. Anderson 508,041 45.00% Henry Killman 4,163 0.37% – – – – – 1960 Albert Rosellini 611,987 50.34% Lloyd J. Andrews 594,122 48.87% Henry Killman 8,647 0.71% Jack W. Wright 992 0.08% – – – – 1964 Albert Rosellini 548,692 43.89% Daniel J. Evans 697,256 55.77% Henry Killman 4,326 0.35% – – – – – 1968 John J. O'Connell 560,262 44.28% Daniel J. Evans 692,378 54.72% Henry Killman 1,113 0.09% – – Ken Chriswell(Conservative) 11,602 0.92% – – 1972 Albert Rosellini 630,613 42.82% Daniel J. Evans 747,825 50.78% Henry Killman 2,709 0.18% Robin David 4,552 0.31% – Vic Gould(Taxpayers) 86,843 5.90% – – 1976 Dixy Lee Ray 821,797 53.14% John Spellman 687,039 44.43% Henry Killman 4,137 0.27% Patricia A. Bethard 3,106 0.20% Maurice Willey 4,133 0.27% 12,406 0.80% Red Kelly(OWL) 12,400 0.80% 1,364 0.09% 1980 Jim McDermott 749,813 43.32% John Spellman 981,083 56.68% – – – – – – 1984 Booth Gardner 1,006,993 53.31% John Spellman 881,994 46.69% – – – – – – 1988 Booth Gardner 1,166,448 62.21% Bob Williams 708,481 37.79% – – – – – – 1992 Mike Lowry 1,184,315 52.16% Ken Eikenberry 1,086,216 47.84% – – – – – – 1996 Gary Locke 1,296,492 57.96% Ellen Craswell 940,538 42.04% – – – – – – 2000 Gary Locke 1,441,973 58.38% John Carlson 980,060 39.68% – – Steve LePage 47,819 1.94% – – – 2004 Christine Gregoire 1,373,361 48.87% Dino Rossi 1,373,228 48.87% – – Ruth Bennett 63,464 2.26% – – – 2008 Christine Gregoire 1,598,738 53.24% Dino Rossi 1,404,124 46.76% – – – – – – 2012 Jay Inslee 1,582,802 51.54% Rob McKenna 1,488,245 48.46% – – – – – – 2016 Jay Inslee 1,760,520 54.25% Bill Bryant 1,476,346 45.49% – – – – – – 2020 Jay Inslee 2,294,243 56.56% Loren Culp 1,749,066 43.12% – – – – – – 2024 Bob Ferguson 2,143,368 55.51% Dave Reichert 1,709,818 44.28% – – – – – –

See also List of Washington state legislatures Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Washington

Notes

References General

Specific

External links

Office of the Governor of Washington