The governor of Nebraska is the head of government of the U.S. state of Nebraska as provided by the fourth article of the Constitution of Nebraska. The officeholder is elected to a four-year term, with elections held two years after presidential elections. The governor may be elected any number of times, but not more than twice in a row. The current officeholder is Jim Pillen, a Republican, who was sworn in on January 5, 2023.

Governors of Nebraska must be at least 30 years old and have been citizens and residents of the state for five years before being elected. Before 1966, the governor was elected to a two-year term. In 1962, a constitutional amendment extended the gubernatorial term to four years, effective with the 1966 election. In 1966, another amendment imposed a term limit of two consecutive terms. The lieutenant governor is subject to the same limitations and runs on a combined ticket with the governor. Charles W. Bryan is the only Governor of Nebraska to serve non-consecutive terms. Dave Heineman holds the record as Nebraska's longest-serving governor with 10 years.

The governor's term, along with all other elected statewide officers, begins on the first Thursday after the first Tuesday in the month of January after an election. If the governor becomes incapacitated or is out of the state, the lieutenant governor acts as governor; if there is a vacancy or permanent incapacitation, the lieutenant governor becomes governor and serves the balance of the term. However, if both offices become vacant, the next person in the line of succession is the Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, who is then followed by the chairs of various committees in the legislature.

List of governors Nebraska Territory Nebraska Territory was organized on May 30, 1854. It had five governors appointed by the president of the United States.

On July 26, 1853, William Walker was elected provisional governor of Nebraska Territory; this spurred the federal government into action to organize the territory.

+ Governors of the Territory of NebraskaGovernorTerm in officeAppointed by1Francis BurtAugust 2, 1854–October 18, 18542Mark W. IzardDecember 20, 1854–October 25, 18573William Alexander RichardsonDecember 10, 1857–December 5, 18584Samuel W. BlackFebruary 8, 1859–February 24, 18615Alvin SaundersMarch 27, 1861–March 27, 1867

State of Nebraska

Nebraska was admitted to the Union on March 1, 1867.

+ Governors of the State of NebraskaGovernorTerm in officePartyElectionLt. Governor1 David ButlerMarch 27, 1867–June 2, 1871Republican1866Office did not exist18681870–William H. JamesJune 2, 1871–January 13, 1873Republican2Robert Wilkinson FurnasJanuary 13, 1873Nebraska General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 9th Regular Session, 1873, 62, accessed March 27, 2023.–January 12, 1875Republican18723Silas GarberJanuary 12, 1875Nebraska General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 11th Regular Session, 1875, 131, accessed March 27, 2023.–January 9, 1879Republican18741876 4Albinus NanceJanuary 9, 1879Nebraska General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 15th Regular Session, 1879, 90, accessed March 27, 2023.–January 4, 1883Republican187818805James W. DawesJanuary 4, 1883Nebraska General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 18th Regular Session, 1883, 108, accessed March 27, 2023.–January 6, 1887Republican188218846John Milton ThayerJanuary 6, 1887–January 15, 1891Republican188618887James E. BoydJanuary 15, 1891–May 5, 1891Democratic18906John Milton ThayerMay 5, 1891–February 8, 1892Republican7James E. BoydFebruary 8, 1892–January 13, 1893Democratic8Lorenzo CrounseJanuary 13, 1893Nebraska General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 23rd Regular Session, 1893, 74, accessed March 27, 2023.–January 3, 1895Republican18929Silas A. HolcombJanuary 3, 1895–January 5, 1899Fusion1894189610William A. PoynterJanuary 5, 1899Nebraska General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 26th Regular Session, 1899, 194, accessed March 27, 2023.–January 3, 1901Fusion189811Charles Henry DietrichJanuary 3, 1901Nebraska General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 28th Regular Session, 1901, 130, accessed March 27, 2023.–May 1, 1901Republican190012Ezra P. SavageMay 1, 1901–January 8, 1903Republican13John H. MickeyJanuary 8, 1903Nebraska General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 28th Regular Session, 1903,98, accessed March 27, 2023.–January 3, 1907Republican1902190414George L. SheldonJanuary 3, 1907–January 7, 1909Republican190615Ashton C. ShallenbergerJanuary 7, 1909–January 5, 1911Democratic190816Chester Hardy AldrichJanuary 5, 1911–January 9, 1913Republican191017John H. MoreheadJanuary 9, 1913–January 4, 1917Democratic1912191418Keith NevilleJanuary 4, 1917–January 9, 1919Democratic191619Samuel Roy McKelvieJanuary 9, 1919–January 4, 1923Republican1918192020Charles W. BryanJanuary 4, 1923–January 8, 1925Democratic192221Adam McMullenJanuary 8, 1925–January 3, 1929Republican1924192622Arthur J. WeaverJanuary 3, 1929–January 8, 1931Republican192823Charles W. BryanJanuary 8, 1931–January 3, 1935Democratic1930193224Robert Leroy CochranJanuary 3, 1935–January 9, 1941Democratic19341936Vacant193825Dwight GriswoldJanuary 9, 1941Nebraska Legislature. Legislative Journal. 55th Session, 1941, 53, accessed March 28, 2023.–January 9, 1947Republican19401942194426Val PetersonJanuary 9, 1947Nebraska Legislature. Legislative Journal. 60th Session, 1947, 58, accessed March 28, 2023.–January 8, 1953Republican19461948195027Robert B. CrosbyJanuary 8, 1953Nebraska Legislature. Legislative Journal. 65th Session, 1953, 81, accessed March 28, 2023.–January 6, 1955Republican195228Victor AndersonJanuary 6, 1955Nebraska Legislature. Legislative Journal. 67th Session, 1955, 73, accessed March 28, 2023.–January 8, 1959Republican1954Vacant195629Ralph G. BrooksJanuary 8, 1959Nebraska Legislature. Legislative Journal. 69th Session, 1959, 56, accessed March 28, 2023.–September 9, 1960Democratic195830Dwight BurneySeptember 9, 1960–January 5, 1961RepublicanVacant31Frank B. MorrisonJanuary 5, 1961Nebraska Legislature. Legislative Journal. 72nd Session, 1961, 55, accessed March 28, 2023.–January 5, 1967Democratic19601962196432Norbert TiemannJanuary 5, 1967Nebraska Legislature. Legislative Journal. 77th Session, 1967, 70, accessed March 28, 2023.–January 7, 1971Republican196633J. James ExonJanuary 7, 1971Nebraska Legislature. Legislative Journal. 82nd Legislature, First Session, 1971, 64, accessed March 28, 2023.–January 4, 1979Democratic1970197434Charles ThoneJanuary 4, 1979Nebraska Legislature. Legislative Journal. 86th Legislature, First Session, 1979, 87, accessed March 29, 2023.–January 6, 1983Republican197835Bob KerreyJanuary 6, 1983Nebraska Legislature. Legislative Journal. 88th Legislature, First Session, 1983, 80, accessed March 29, 2023.–January 8, 1987Democratic198236Kay OrrJanuary 8, 1987Nebraska Legislature. Legislative Journal. 90th Legislature, First Session, 1987, 72, accessed March 29, 2023.–January 10, 1991Republican198637Ben NelsonJanuary 10, 1991Nebraska Legislature. Legislative Journal. 92nd Legislature, First Session, 1991, 90, accessed March 29, 2023.–January 7, 1999Democratic1990199438Mike JohannsJanuary 7, 1999Nebraska Legislature. Legislative Journal. 96th Legislature, First Session, 1999, 73, accessed March 29, 2023.–January 20, 2005Republican1998200239Dave HeinemanJanuary 20, 2005–January 8, 2015RepublicanVacant20062010VacantVacant40Pete RickettsJanuary 8, 2015Nebraska Legislature. Legislative Journal. 104th Legislature, First Session, 2015, 71, accessed March 29, 2023.–January 5, 2023Republican2014201841Jim PillenJanuary 5, 2023Nebraska Legislature. Legislative Journal. 108th Legislature, First Session, 2023, 101, accessed March 29, 2023.–IncumbentRepublican2022

Timeline Timeline of Nebraska governors

See also Gubernatorial line of succession in Nebraska List of Nebraska state legislatures Nebraska's congressional delegations Political party strength in Nebraska

Notes

References General

Specific

External links Office of the Governor of Nebraska