This list contains the 50 longest-serving terms for governors of U.S. states, consecutively or otherwise. Pre-statehood territorial and colonial governors are not included.
#GovernorStateTime in officeTook officeLeft officeParty1Iowa daysJanuary 14, 1983January 15, 1999RepublicanJanuary 14, 2011May 24, 20172New York daysJuly 30, 1777June 30, 1795Democratic-RepublicanJuly 1, 1801June 30, 18043Alabama daysJanuary 14, 1963January 16, 1967DemocraticJanuary 18, 1971January 15, 1979January 17, 1983January 19, 19874California daysJanuary 6, 1975January 3, 1983January 3, 2011January 7, 2019South Dakota daysJanuary 1, 1979January 6, 1987RepublicanJanuary 7, 1995January 3, 20036Ohio daysJanuary 14, 1963January 11, 1971January 13, 1975January 10, 1983North Carolina daysJanuary 8, 1977January 5, 1985DemocraticJanuary 9, 1993January 6, 20018Louisiana daysMay 9, 1972March 10, 1980March 12, 1984March 14, 1988January 13, 1992January 8, 19969Rhode Island daysMay 5, 1790October 15, 1805Country10Maryland daysJanuary 14, 1920January 9, 1935Democratic11New York daysJanuary 1, 1959December 18, 1973Republican12Texas daysDecember 21, 2000January 20, 201513Wisconsin daysJanuary 5, 1987February 1, 200114Idaho daysJanuary 4, 1971January 23, 1977DemocraticJanuary 5, 1987January 2, 199515New Hampshire daysJune 5, 1794June 6, 1805FederalistJune 3, 1813June 6, 181616Illinois daysJanuary 10, 1977January 14, 1991Republican17Iowa daysJanuary 16, 1969January 14, 198318Michigan daysJanuary 22, 1969January 1, 198319Arizona daysFebruary 14, 1912January 1, 1917DemocraticDecember 25, 1917January 6, 1919January 1, 1923January 7, 1929January 5, 1931January 2, 193320New Jersey daysAugust 31, 1776July 25, 1790Federalist21Rhode Island daysMay 6, 1807May 1, 1811Democratic-Republican,Law and OrderMay 5, 1824May 4, 1831May 2, 1843May 6, 184522New Jersey daysFebruary 6, 1817October 30, 1829Democratic-Republican23Oregon daysJanuary 9, 1995January 13, 2003DemocraticJanuary 10, 2011February 18, 201524Tennessee daysOctober 1, 1821October 1, 1827Democratic-Republican,DemocraticOctober 1, 1829October 12, 183525West Virginia daysJanuary 13, 1969January 17, 1977RepublicanJanuary 14, 1985January 16, 198926Idaho daysJanuary 1, 2007January 7, 201927New Mexico daysJanuary 1, 1971January 1, 1975DemocraticJanuary 1, 1979January 1, 1983January 1, 1991January 1, 199528Washington daysJanuary 15, 1941January 10, 1945RepublicanJanuary 12, 1949January 16, 1957Michigan daysJanuary 1, 1949January 1, 1961DemocraticMassachusetts daysJanuary 2, 1975January 4, 1979January 6, 1983January 3, 1991Michigan daysJanuary 1, 1991January 1, 2003Republican32New York daysJanuary 1, 1943December 31, 1954Idaho daysJanuary 3, 1955January 2, 1967Arkansas daysJanuary 11, 1955January 10, 1967DemocraticHawaii daysDecember 3, 1962December 2, 1974Utah daysJanuary 4, 1965January 3, 1977Washington daysJanuary 13, 1965January 12, 1977RepublicanHawaii daysDecember 2, 1974December 1, 1986DemocraticWyoming daysJanuary 6, 1975January 5, 1987Colorado daysJanuary 14, 1975January 13, 1987New York daysJanuary 1, 1983December 31, 1994Colorado daysJanuary 13, 1987January 12, 1999New York daysJanuary 1, 1995December 31, 2006RepublicanWashington daysJanuary 16, 2013January 15, 2025Democratic45North Dakota daysJanuary 4, 1961January 2, 1973Democratic–Nonpartisan League46Arkansas daysJanuary 9, 1979January 19, 1981DemocraticJanuary 11, 1983December 12, 199247Alaska daysJanuary 3, 1959December 5, 1966December 7, 1970December 2, 197448Mississippi daysMarch 29, 1876January 2, 1882January 13, 1890January 20, 189649Texas daysJanuary 20, 2015incumbentRepublican50Connecticut daysDecember 1, 1797August 7, 1809Federalist
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