Seal of the governor of MaineThe Blaine House is the official residence of the governor of Maine. The Executive Mansion was officially declared the residence of the governor in 1919 with the name "The Blaine House". It is located in Augusta, Maine, across the street from the Maine State House.
The governor of Maine is the head of government of Maine[1] and the commander-in-chief of its military forces.[2] The governor has a duty to enforce state laws,[3] and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Maine Legislature,[4] to convene the legislature at any time,[5] and, except in cases of impeachment, to grant pardons.[6]
There have been 71 governors of Maine since statehood, serving 75 distinct terms. Four governors served multiple non-consecutive terms (Edward Kent, John Fairfield, John W. Dana, and Burton M. Cross).[7] The longest-serving governor was Joseph E. Brennan, who served two terms from 1979 to 1987. The shortest-serving governors were Nathaniel M. Haskell and Richard H. Vose, who each served only one day. John W. Dana also served for one day in 1844, after the incumbent governor resigned, but was later elected to the governorship. The current governor is Democrat Janet Mills, who took office on January 2, 2019.
Governors
The District of Maine of Massachusetts was admitted to the Union on March 15, 1820, as the State of Maine.[8] The Maine Constitution of 1820 originally established a gubernatorial term of one year,[9] to begin on the first Wednesday of January; constitutional amendments expanded this to two years in 1879[10] and to four years in 1957.[11] The 1957 amendment also prohibited governors from succeeding themselves after serving two terms.[11] The constitution does not establish an office of lieutenant governor; a vacancy in the office of governor is filled by the president of the Maine Senate.[12] Prior to an amendment in 1964, the president of the senate only acted as governor.[13][14]
^ a bThe numbering from the Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library notes that, in the past, Burton M. Cross and Nathaniel M. Haskell's short terms in 1952–1953 were not counted, and they corrected the count by one prior to John R. McKernan Jr.'s inauguration.[232]
^King resigned to be a commissioner for the adjustment of Spanish claims in Florida.[15]
^Ames felt that, with a new Maine Senate, the new president of the Senate should take office, and resigned upon Daniel Rose being elected.[24]
^Sobel says Parris resigned upon being elected to the United States Senate;[25] however, he was not elected until January 31.[29]
^The Senate that Cutler was president of had ended, and there was controversy over if he could remain governor; the Maine Supreme Court ruled against him. Sobel says that he resigned at this point, but no source corroborates this.[38]
^Sobel describes Cutler as a Democrat,[35] but Kallenbach[22] and Glashan[39] label him a Democratic-Republican.
^Sources label Smith either a Jacksonian Democrat[46][22] or a Democratic-Republican.[43][47]
^Kent won a close election, but Democrats challenged the election. He was finally declared winner by the Maine Supreme Court and sworn in on January 19, 1838.[54] Dunlap left office on January 3,[48] but no source mentions if the president of the Senate acted as governor in the interim.
^ a bThe 1840 election was very close, and the legislature had to decide a winner. Due to the delay, President of the Senate Vose declared himself acting governor on January 12, 1841,[58] under the principle that the office was vacant, so it fell to him.[59] Sobel writes that Vose took over after Fairfield resigned, but this appears to be a mistake, mixing it up with Fairfield's resignation in 1843.
^Kavanagh resigned due to ill health;[68] he died 19 days later.
^Dunn resigned once the new Maine Legislature was sworn in and a president of the Senate chosen.[69][72]
^Dubin[87] and Kallenbach[22] label Morrill an "Anti Maine-Law" and American, Glashan labels him an "Anti-Nebraska Fusion (Republican)"[47] and Sobel simply labels him Republican.[88]
^The 1879 election was not close, but at the time a governor had to receive a majority of votes cast, and Davis fell slightly short. Governor Garcelon refused to certify new Republican members of the legislature, instead seating Democrats, which led to the State Supreme Court ruling against him.[130] A Fusionist legislature declared Joseph L. Smith the winner, and inaugurated him on January 17;[132] however, this was not considered legitimate, and Davis was inaugurated later that day when the Republican legislature met.[133]
^Kallenbach[137] and Sobel[134] label Plaisted as a Democrat and Greenback, while Glashan describes him as "National (or Greenback Labor)".[138]
^ a b c dFrederick G. Payne resigned at midnight December 25, 1952, and President of the Senate Burton M. Cross became acting governor at 12:01am on December 26.[208] Cross had already been elected to the post, and would take office on January 8, 1953. However, the new Senate elected Nathaniel M. Haskell as president on January 7, so he took over as acting governor for less than a day.[209]
^ a b c d e fUnder a 1957 amendment to the constitution, governors are ineligible to succeed themselves after serving two consecutive elected terms.[226]
^Mills' second term began on January 4, 2023, and will expire January 6, 2027; she will be term-limited.
Sobel, Robert (1978). Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. II. Meckler Books. ISBN 9780930466008. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-1439-0.
Dubin, Michael J. (2014). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1861-1911: The Official Results by State and County. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-5646-8.
Kallenbach, Joseph Ernest (1977). American State Governors, 1776-1976. Oceana Publications. ISBN 978-0-379-00665-0. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Meckler Books. ISBN 978-0-930466-17-6.
"Governors of Maine". Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
"Enacted Constitutional Amendments, 1834—". Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
"Constitution of the State of Maine, as amended". Maine Legislature. 1820. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
"Constitution of the State of Maine" (PDF). Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library. 1820. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
"Our Campaigns - Governor of Maine - History". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
Specific
^ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 1.
^ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 7.
^ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 12.
^ME Const. art. IV (Pt. III), § 3.
^ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 13.
^ME Const. art. V (Pt. I), § 11.
^Governors of Maine. Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library.
^"Mass Moments: Massachusetts Loses Maine". Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
^"none". The Portland Gazette. May 29, 1821. p. 2. Retrieved September 2, 2023. The Hon. William D. Williamson President of the Senate upon whom the duties of Governour devolve by the constitution...
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw axKallenbach 1977, pp. 233–235.
^"Legislature of Maine". Bangor Daily Whig and Courier. January 5, 1844. p. 2. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
^The Pittsfield Sun (Pittsfield, MA): p. 2. January 11, 1844. "Hon. David Dunn, as Speaker of the House for 1843, entered upon the discharge of the duties of that office on Tuesday, and continued to discharge them until he had completed the administration of the necessary oaths to the members of the Senate and House, yesterday. He then resigned that place, and took his seat in the House."
^"Hon. Frederick W. Plaisted of Augusta Sworn In As the Governor of the State of Maine". Morning Sentinel. January 6, 1911. p. 1. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
^"Notables Congratulate Barrows at Luncheon in Blaine Mansion". Portland Press Herald. Associated Press. January 8, 1937. p. 1. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
^"800 Persons at Colorful Inaugural; Hildreth Gets Big Ovation As He Leaves". The Bangor Daily News. January 7, 1949. p. 1. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
^"Burton M. Cross Takes Oath As Acting Maine Governor". Portland Press Herald. December 26, 1952. p. 1. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
^"Maine To Have No Governor for Eleven Hours". Evening Express. January 7, 1953. p. 2. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
^St. Germain, Wayne (January 9, 1953). "Protect Liquor and Highway Boards From Political Pressure, Urges Cross". The Bangor Daily News. p. 1. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
^"Sen. Pres. Haskell To Become Maine's 49th Governor – For 5 1/2 Days in Office". Portland Press Herald. Associated Press. January 2, 1959. p. 1. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
^"Curtis Takes Oath As Governor; Plans Major Govt. Reorganization". Sun-Journal. Associated Press. January 5, 1967. p. 1. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
^Jackson, Peter (January 9, 1987). "McKernan: Maine 'Opportunity State'". The Lewiston Daily Sun. Associated Press. p. 1. Retrieved September 18, 2023.