List of United States governors born outside the United States

In total, 72 governors of U.S. states have been born outside the current territory of the United States. Joe Lombardo of Nevada, born in Japan, is the only current governor to have been born outside the United States. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California, Jennifer Granholm of Michigan (whose terms both ended in January 2011), and Kate Brown of Oregon (whose term ended in January 2023) are the other most recent foreign-born governors.

Of the fifty states, 30 (or 60 percent) have had at least one governor born outside the United States. 19 states have had multiple governors who were born outside the United States. Georgia has had six foreign-born governors, who all served in office during the 18th century. The other states with the most foreign-born governors are Wisconsin (five), Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, and Oregon (four each). Additionally, from 1905 to 1921 Utah had three consecutive foreign-born governors (John Cutler, William Spry, and Simon Bamberger).

Of the 72 foreign-born governors, 59 were born in Europe and thirteen were born in North America, including the Caribbean. A total of 30 U.S. governors have been born on the present territory of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (fifteen in England, seven in Scotland, six in Northern Ireland, and two in Wales), with another 2 born on territory of the Republic of Ireland while part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and 2 while part of the pre-union Kingdom of Ireland. Nine governors have been born within the present territory of Canada, seven Germany, five Norway, five Sweden, three France, three Mexico, and one Austria.

Only three foreign-born women have served as U.S. governors – Madeleine Kunin of Vermont, who was born in Switzerland; Jennifer Granholm of Michigan, who was born in Canada; and Kate Brown of Oregon, who was born in Spain.

List 18th century Governors who were succeeded by other foreign-born governors are marked with a dagger (†). Governors who were preceded by other foreign-born governors are marked with a section sign (§).

NameStateBirthplace (current country) Then the territory ofTerm startTerm endDelaware †Georgia §Treutlen was born in what was then Württemberg.Georgia South Carolina Georgia Virginia North Carolina Georgia North Carolina Georgia New Jersey Georgia North Carolina

19th century Governors who were succeeded by other foreign-born governors are marked with a dagger (†). Governors who were preceded by other foreign-born governors are marked with a section sign (§).

NameStateBirthplace (current country) Then the territory ofTerm startTerm end†Ohio §Ohio Georgia Louisiana Wisconsin California Wisconsin Louisiana Ohio Alabama Ohio Wisconsin Rhode Island Nevada Nebraska Minnesota Illinois Massachusetts †Nevada North Dakota §Nevada Minnesota

20th century Governors who were succeeded by other foreign-born governors are marked with a dagger (†). Governors who were preceded by other foreign-born governors are marked with a section sign (§).

NameStateBirthplace (current country) Then the territory ofTerm startTerm endMichigan †Utah Idaho New Hampshire Wisconsin §†Utah Pothier was born in what was then the Province of United Canada.Rhode Island Minnesota †Oregon Pennsylvania §Oregon †Idaho §Bamberger was born in what was then Hesse-Darmstadt.Utah New Mexico §Idaho North Dakota Washington Oregon Montana North Dakota Minnesota Wisconsin North Dakota South Dakota Massachusetts Montana Vermont †Michigan Connecticut §Michigan Illinois Arizona New Hampshire Vermont Montana Connecticut

21st century NameStateBirthplace (current country) Then the territory ofTerm startTerm endMichigan California Allied-occupied Austria Oregon Spain Nevada present

By birthplace CountryState or provinceNo. of governorsAustriaStyria 1CanadaAlberta 1British Columbia 1Colony of New Brunswick 1Ontario 4Quebec 2TOTAL 9CubaHavana 1DenmarkZealand 1Estonia 1FranceHauts-de-France 1Paris 2TOTAL 3Germany 7Ireland 4JapanSapporo 1MexicoChihuahua 2Sonora 1TOTAL 3Norway 5PolandProvince of Posen 1SpainCommunity of Madrid 1Sweden 5SwitzerlandCanton of Zürich 1United KingdomEngland 15Northern Ireland 6Scotland 7Wales 2TOTAL 30

By state StateNo. of governors 1 1 2 2 1 6 3 2 2 2 4 4 3 1 4 2 1 1 3 4 4 4 1 2 1 3 2 1 15

See also List of current United States governors List of female governors in the United States List of minority governors and lieutenant governors in the United States List of United States senators born outside the United States Natural-born-citizen clause (United States)

References