List of minority governors and lieutenant governors in the United States

This is a list of minority governors and lieutenant state governors in the United States. In the United States, an ethnic minority is anyone who has at least one parent who is not of non-Hispanic white descent (such as African Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islands Americans, Hispanic and Latino Americans, or Native Americans). Ethnic minorities currently constitute around 38.9% of the total population. United States governors are included but lieutenant governor-equivalent roles (positions next in the line of succession absent an office of the lieutenant governor, such as secretary of state or senate president) are not currently included.

List of ethnic-minority governors

Italics denotes acting governor

ImageNameMinorityethnicityPartyStateTerm startTerm endNotesElevated from lieutenant governor. Dunn served as acting governor twice in 1871 due to an injury suffered by Gov. Henry C. Warmoth that required him to recuperate out of state.African AmericanRepublicanLouisianaTerm endedElevated from lieutenant governor.African AmericanRepublicanLouisianaTerm endedPacheco was elevated from lieutenant governor. Pacheco later served as U.S. Representative from California's 4th congressional district.CalifornioRepublicanCaliforniaTerm endedElevated from lieutenant governor. Antoine served as acting governor 1876 due to Gov. William Pitt Kellogg being out of state.African AmericanRepublicanLouisianaTerm endedCabeza De Baca previously served as lieutenant governor.HispanoDemocraticNew MexicoDied in officeLarrazolo previously served as U.S. Senator from New Mexico.Mexican AmericanRepublicanNew MexicoLost renomination Johnston MurrayNative American (Chickasaw)Murray was not a registered member of the Chickasaw Nation.DemocraticOklahomaTerm limited Ariyoshi had previously been elevated to acting governor from lieutenant governor until elected in his own right.DemocraticHawaiiTerm limitedMexican AmericanDemocraticNew MexicoTerm limitedResigned to become United States Ambassador to ArgentinaMexican AmericanDemocraticArizonaResigned to become Ambassador of the United States to ArgentinaMexican AmericanDemocraticNew MexicoTerm limitedSununu later served as White House Chief of StaffSalvadoran AmericanRepublicanRetiredWaihee previously served as lieutenant governor.Native HawaiianDemocraticHawaiiTerm limitedSpanish AmericanRepublicanFloridaLost reelectionWilder previously served as lieutenant governor.African AmericanDemocraticVirginiaTerm limitedFilipino AmericanDemocraticHawaiiLocke later served as United States Secretary of Commerce and United States Ambassador to China.Chinese AmericanDemocraticWashingtonRetiredRichardson previously served as United States Secretary of Energy, United States Ambassador to the United Nations and U.S. Representative from New Mexico's 3rd congressional district.Mexican AmericanDemocraticNew MexicoTerm limitedAfrican AmericanDemocraticMassachusettsRetiredJindal previously served as U.S. Representative from Louisiana's 1st congressional district.Indian AmericanRepublicanLouisianaTerm limitedElevated to office from lieutenant governor.African AmericanDemocraticNew YorkRetired Mexican AmericanRepublicanNew MexicoTerm limitedMexican AmericanRepublicanNevadaNikki HaleyResigned to become United States Ambassador to the United NationsIndian AmericanRepublicanSouth CarolinaResigned to become Ambassador of the United States to the United NationsDemocraticHawaiiTerm limited Michelle Lujan GrishamLujan Grisham previously served as U.S. Representative from New Mexico's 1st congressional district. Mexican AmericanDemocraticNew MexicoJanuary 1, 2019presentKevin StittNative American (Cherokee)RepublicanOklahomaJanuary 14, 2019 African American, Cuban AmericanDemocraticMaryland Territorial governors Several governors of U.S. territories have been ethnic minorities. Many of these officials were appointed before elections were instituted in these jurisdictions. In each of the five current U.S. territories, Hispanic or non-white ethnic groups make up large majorities: Puerto Rican Hispanic Americans in Puerto Rico, African Americans in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Chamorros in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, and Samoans in American Samoa. Elected governors and some appointed governors in these territories that have come from these majority ethnic groups are not listed here; for more details see List of governors of Puerto Rico, List of governors of the United States Virgin Islands, List of governors of Guam, List of governors of the Northern Mariana Islands, and List of governors of American Samoa.

Italics denotes acting governor

ImageNameMinorityethnicityPartyTerritory/DistrictTerm startTerm endNotesRepublicanNew MexicoAppointment endedSpanish AmericanIndependentGuamDeposedA Spanish Filipino, José Sisto, served from December 12, 1898 – February 1, 1899 in the Spanish government's name, despite tacit acknowledgment by the Americans until the 1898 Treaty of Paris.SamoanIndependentAppointment ended Elevated to acting governor from secretary until appointed in his own rightPanamanian AmericanDemocraticU.S. Virgin IslandsResigned appointmentNative HawaiianRepublicanHawaiiElevated to governor from lieutenant governor.Later elected in his own right.Puerto RicanIndependent Citizens Movement U.S. Virgin IslandsTerm limitedIndependent CarolinianCovenant Northern Mariana IslandsImpeached and removed from officeRepublican

List of ethnic-minority lieutenant governors

Italics denotes acting lieutenant governor

ImageNameMinority ethnicityPartyStateTerm startTerm endNotesMexican AmericanDemocraticCaliforniaRetiredAfrican AmericanRepublicanLouisianaDiedRansier later served as U.S. Representative from South Carolina's 2nd congressional district.African AmericanRepublicanRetired to run successfully for South Carolina's 2nd congressional districtAfrican AmericanRepublicanMississippiResignedAfrican AmericanRepublicanLouisianaElevated to governorMexican AmericanRepublicanCaliforniaElevated to governorAfrican AmericanRepublicanSouth CarolinaLost reelectionAfrican AmericanRepublicanLouisianaEstopinal later served as U.S. Representative from Louisiana's 1st congressional district.Spanish AmericanDemocraticRetiredMexican AmericanDemocraticNew MexicoRetired to run successfully for governorMexican AmericanDemocraticDiedMexican AmericanDemocraticRetiredMexican AmericanDemocraticMontoya later served as U.S. Representative from New Mexico's at-large congressional district and U.S. Senator from New Mexico.Mexican AmericanDemocraticLost reelectionRetired to run successfully for New Mexico's at-large congressional districtMexican AmericanDemocraticLost reelectionNative Hawaiian,Chinese AmericanRepublicanHawaiiRetired to run unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for governorNative Hawaiian,Chinese AmericanDemocraticResigned to become Chief Justice of the Hawaii Supreme CourtChinese AmericanDemocraticReturned to previous post as Director of FinanceGill previously served as U.S. Representative from Hawaii's at-large congressional district.Cuban AmericanDemocraticRetired to run unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for governor Japanese AmericanDemocraticRetired to run successfully for governorMexican AmericanDemocraticNew MexicoRetiredJapanese AmericanDemocraticHawaiiRetired to run unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for Mayor of HonoluluDymally later served as U.S. Representative from California's 31st congressional district.African American, Indian AmericanDemocraticCaliforniaLost reelectionAfrican AmericanDemocraticColoradoRetiredJapanese AmericanDemocraticHawaiiRetired to run unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for governorMexican AmericanRepublicanCaliforniaRetired to run unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for governorNative HawaiianDemocraticHawaiiRetired to run successfully for governorChinese AmericanDemocraticDelawareRetired to run unsuccessfully for U.S. Senator from DelawareAfrican AmericanDemocraticVirginiaRetired to run successfully for governorFilipino AmericanDemocraticHawaiiRetired to run successfully for governorMexican AmericanDemocraticNew MexicoRetired to run unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for governorHirono later served as U.S. Senator from Hawaii.Japanese AmericanDemocraticHawaiiRetired to run unsuccessfully for governorMexican AmericanDemocraticCaliforniaRetired to run unsuccessfully for California Insurance CommissionerAfrican AmericanRepublicanColoradoRetiredNative Alaskan (Alutiiq)RepublicanAlaskaNative Hawaiian,Chinese AmericanRepublicanHawaiiRetired to run unsuccessfully for governorAfrican AmericanRepublicanOhioResigned to become Ohio TreasurerSteele later served as Chairman of the Republican National Committee.African AmericanRepublicanMarylandRetired to run unsuccessfully for U.S. Senator from MarylandAfrican AmericanDemocraticNew YorkElevated to governorAfrican AmericanDemocraticMarylandRetired to run unsuccessfully for governorAfrican AmericanDemocraticNew YorkResigned and convicted.Puerto RicanDemocraticBasque AmericanDemocraticCalifornia Resigned to take seat in the U.S. House of Representatives to which he had been electedFilipino AmericanDemocraticRetiredMexican AmericanRepublicanLost reelectionMexican AmericanRepublicanNew MexicoTerm limitedAfrican AmericanRepublicanFloridaResignedMexican AmericanDemocraticColoradoJapanese AmericanDemocraticHawaiiCuban AmericanRepublicanFloridaNative Alaskan (Tlingit)IndependentAlaskaCuban American,Ecuadorian AmericanRepublicanIllinoisLost reelectionAfrican AmericanRepublicanKentuckyRetiredAfrican AmericanRepublicanMarylandTerm limitedIranian AmericanDemocraticWashingtonRetired to become a Jesuit PriestAfrican AmericanDemocraticVirginiaRetired to run unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for governorAfrican AmericanDemocraticNew JerseyDiedChinese AmericanDemocraticHawaiiRetired to run unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for Hawaii's 1st congressional districtNative Alaskan (Yup'ik)IndependentAlaskaRetiredGarlin GilchristAfrican AmericanDemocraticMichiganpresentHowie MoralesMexican AmericanDemocraticNew MexicoAfrican AmericanDemocraticWisconsinRetired to run unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate.Native American (Chippewa)Democratic (DFL)MinnesotapresentCuban AmericanRepublicanFloridaResigned to serve as Interim President of Florida International UniversityJuliana StrattonAfrican AmericanDemocraticIllinoisJanuary 14, 2019presentAfrican American RepublicanNorth CarolinaRetired to run unsuccessfully for governor.(born 1974)African American,Dominican AmericanDemocraticRhode IslandApril 14, 2021present African American DemocraticNew YorkNew Lieutenant Governor appointedAfrican American DemocraticSeptember 9, 2021April 12, 2022Resigned Argentine American,Paraguayan AmericanDemocraticNevadaDecember 16, 2021January 3, 2023Lost election to a full termAfrican American, Jamaican AmericanRepublicanVirginiaJanuary 15, 2022January 17, 2026Retired to run unsuccessfully for governorAfrican American,Colombian American,Mexican American,Venezuelan AmericanDemocraticNew YorkMay 25, 2022present Korean AmericanDemocraticHawaii African AmericanDemocraticPennsylvania Indian AmericanDemocraticMaryland African AmericanDemocraticNew JerseyRetired Indian AmericanDemocraticVirginiapresent African AmericanDemocraticNew JerseySeptember 25, 2026Resigned

Territorial lieutenant governors In each of the four current U.S. territories that have the office of lieutenant governor, non-white ethnic groups make up large majorities: African Americans in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Chamorros in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, and Samoans in American Samoa. Elected governors and some appointed governors in these territories that have come from these majority ethnic groups are not listed here; for more details see Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands, Lieutenant Governor of Guam, Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa.