List of governors of Illinois

The governor of Illinois is the head of government of the U.S. state of Illinois. The governor is the head of the executive branch of Illinois's state government and is charged with enforcing state laws. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Illinois Legislature, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment.^[2] The governor is also the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.

Since becoming a state in 1818, 43 people have served as governor of Illinois; before statehood, it had only one territorial governor, Ninian Edwards. The longest-serving governor was James R. Thompson, who was elected to four terms lasting 14 years, from 1977 to 1991. Only one governor, Richard J. Oglesby, has served multiple non-consecutive terms, having been elected in 1864, 1872, and 1884.

The current governor is J. B. Pritzker, who took office on January 14, 2019.^[3]

List of governors

Territory of Illinois

Illinois Territory was formed on March 1, 1809, from Indiana Territory.^[4] It had only two governors appointed by the president of the United States before it became a state, and only one ever took office.

State of Illinois

Illinois was admitted to the Union on December 3, 1818, consisting of the southern portion of Illinois Territory; the remainder was assigned to Michigan Territory.^[17]

The first Illinois Constitution, ratified in 1818, provided that a governor be elected every 4 years^[18] for a term starting on the first Monday in the December following an election.^[19] The constitution of 1848 moved the start of the term to the second Monday in January starting in 1849, thus shortening the term won in the 1844 election to 2 years.^[20] Governors were not allowed to succeed themselves^[19] until the 1870 constitution, which removed this limit.

The office of lieutenant governor was created in the first constitution,^[21] to exercise the power of governor if that office becomes vacant.^[22] The 1848 constitution changed this to say the power "devolves" upon the lieutenant governor in case of a vacancy.^[23] The current constitution of 1970 made it so that, in the event of a vacancy, the lieutenant becomes governor,^[24] and the governor and lieutenant governor are now elected on the same ticket.^[25] If the governor feels seriously impeded in performing their job, they can inform the secretary of state and the next in the line of succession, who becomes acting governor until the governor can resume office.^[24]

See also

• List of Illinois state legislatures
• List of commandants of the Illinois Country

Notes

1. The range given is from the date the governor was confirmed by the Senate, or appointed by the President during a Senate recess, to the date the governor left office.
2. Boyle was nominated on March 6, 1809,^[5] and confirmed by the Senate on March 7.^[6] However, he resigned on April 3, having never taken office.^[7]
3. Territorial Secretary Nathaniel Pope served as acting governor until Edwards arrived in Illinois in June 1809.^[8]
4. Edwards was appointed on April 24, 1809;^[9] nominated on June 16;^[11] and confirmed by the Senate on June 17.^[12] He took office on June 11.^[9] He was reappointed on July 7, 1812,^[13] during a Senate recess; reconfirmed on November 20, 1812;^[14] reappointed on November 20, 1815,^[15] during a Senate recess; and reconfirmed on January 9, 1816.^[16]
5. Edwards served as governor until statehood, when he was elected to the United States Senate.
6. Based on the official site labeling Bruce Rauner as the 42nd governor,^[26] it is assumed the official numbering includes repeat governors only once; subsequent terms are marked with their original number italicized.
7. Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
8. When the lieutenant governor is serving as governor, the Illinois Blue Book considers the president pro tempore of the senate to be acting lieutenant governor. However, this only applies to acting lieutenant governors before 1883; after that, there are no acting lieutenant governors noted, and instead these are marked vacant. It is unknown why this changed; the constitution does not appear to have any relevant changes around that time.^[27]
9. Under the 1818 constitution, governors were limited to no more than four years out of every term of eight years.^[31]
10. Dubin labels Edward as a pro-Administration candidate;^[38] Kallenbach labels him as National Republican;^[36] and Sobel and Glashan label him as Democratic-Republican.^[10][39]
11. Reynolds resigned, having been elected to the United States House of Representatives.^[41]
12. Dubin and Kallenbach label Reynolds as National Republican,^[42][36] and Glashan and Sobel label him as Democratic-Republican.^[40][39]
13. Represented the Democratic Party
14. Kallenbach labels Ewing a National Republican^[36] and Glashan labels him a Democratic-Republican.^[46] However, Sobel describes him as a "Jacksonian Democrat," which would be the opposition to those parties.^[43]
15. Under the 1848 constitution, governors elected after 1848 were limited to no more than four years out of every term of eight years.^[61]
16. The election schedule was shifted after this term, shortening it to two years.^[20]
17. The term limit was removed in the 1870 constitution, but Palmer was first elected under the previous constitution; Sobel writes that this meant he was term-limited.^[81]
18. Oglesby resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.^[79]
19. Cullom resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.^[89][91]
20. Tanner instead ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination to the United States Senate.^[101]
21. Stevenson instead ran unsuccessfully for President of the United States.^[131]
22. Kerner resigned, having been confirmed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.^[138][140]
23. Walker lost the Democratic nomination to Michael Howlett.^[147]
24. The schedule for the 1970 constitution provided that the 1976 election would be for a two-year term, shifting the election schedule away from presidential election years.^[153]
25. Blagojevich was impeached and removed from office on charges of corruption.^[158][160]
26. Pritzker's second term began on January 9, 2023, and will expire January 11, 2027.

References

General

• "Former Illinois Governors". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
• "Illinois Blue Book" (PDF). Illinois Secretary of State. pp. 359–360. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
• Sobel, Robert (1978). Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. I. Meckler Books. ISBN 9780930466015. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
• McMullin, Thomas A. (1984). Biographical directory of American territorial governors. Westport, CT : Meckler. ISBN 978-0-930466-11-4. Retrieved January 19, 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.
• "Our Campaigns - Governor of Illinois - History". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved July 25, 2023.

Constitutions

• "Constitution of the State of Illinois". 1818.
• "Constitution of the State of Illinois". 1848.
• "Constitution of the State of Illinois". 1870.
• "Constitution of the State of Illinois". 1970.

Specific

1. "Governors' Salaries, 2015". The Council of State Governments. June 25, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
2. IL Const. art. V
3. "Election Results". Elections.il.gov. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
4. 2 Stat. 514
5. U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 11th Cong., special sess., 119, accessed February 23, 2023.
6. U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 11th Cong., special sess., 120, accessed February 23, 2023.
7. The Territorial Papers of the United States: Volume XVI: The Territory of Illinois 1809-1814 (PDF). United States Government Publishing Office. 1948. pp. 18–19.
8. Robert P. Howard (1988), Mostly Good and Competent Men: Illinois Governors, 1818–1988, Illinois Issues and the Illinois State Historical Society, 39–40.
9. McMullin 1984, pp. 145–147.
10. Sobel 1978, pp. 366–367.
11. U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 11th Cong., 1st sess., 122, accessed February 23, 2023.
12. U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 11th Cong., 1st sess., 124, accessed February 23, 2023.
13. Ferguson, Gillum (2012). Illinois in the War of 1812. University of Illinois Press. pp. 115–130. doi:10.5406/j.ctt1xcqz0.12. ISBN 978-0-252-03674-3.
14. U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 12th Cong., 2nd sess., 305, accessed February 23, 2023.
15. The Territorial Papers of the United States: Volume I: General. United States Government Publishing Office. 1934. p. 11.
16. U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 14th Cong., 1st sess., 21, accessed February 23, 2023.
17. 3 Stat. 536
18. 1818 Const. art. III, § 2
19. 1818 Const. art. III, § 3
20. 1848 Const. art. IV, § 3
21. 1818 Const. art. III, § 13
22. 1818 Const. art. III, § 18
23. 1848 Const. art. IV, § 19
24. IL Const. art. V, § 6
25. IL Const. art. V, § 4
26. "About the Governor". State of Illinois. Archived from the original on April 26, 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
27. Illinois Blue Book, p. 360
28. Sobel 1978, p. 365.
29. "Shadrack Bond". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
30. Kallenbach pp. 161–162
31. "1818 Ill. Const. art. III, § 3". www.stateconstitutions.umd.edu. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
32. Dubin 2003, p. 45.
33. Sobel 1978, p. 366.
34. "Edward Coles". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
35. "Illinois Legislature". Edwardsville Spectator. December 14, 1822. p. 1. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
36. Kallenbach 1977, p. 161.
37. "Ninian Edwards". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
38. Dubin 2003, p. 46.
39. Glashan 1979, p. 80.
40. Sobel 1978, pp. 367–368.
41. "John Reynolds". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
42. Dubin 2003, p. 47.
43. Sobel 1978, p. 368.
44. "William Lee Davidson Ewing". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
45. "Resignation". Vandalia Whig and Illinois Intelligencer. November 27, 1834. p. 2. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
46. Glashan 1979, p. 78.
47. Sobel 1978, p. 369.
48. "Joseph Duncan". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
49. Illinois General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1834 sess., 21, accessed August 16, 2023
50. Sobel 1978, pp. 369–370.
51. "Thomas Carlin". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
52. Illinois General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1838 sess., 16, accessed August 16, 2023
53. Dubin 2003, p. 48.
54. Sobel 1978, pp. 370–371.
55. "Thomas Ford". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
56. Illinois General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1842 sess., 33, accessed August 16, 2023
57. Dubin 2003, p. 49.
58. Sobel 1978, p. 371.
59. "Augustus C. French". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
60. Illinois General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1846 sess., 13, accessed August 16, 2023
61. "1848 Ill. Const. art. IV, § 3". www.stateconstitutions.umd.edu. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
62. Dubin 2003, pp. 49–50.
63. Sobel 1978, pp. 371–372.
64. "Joel Aldrich Matteson". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
65. Illinois General Assembly. Journal of the House of Representatives. 1853 sess., 46, accessed August 16, 2023
66. Dubin 2003, p. 51.
67. Sobel 1978, pp. 372–373.
68. "William Henry Bissell". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
69. Illinois General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1857 sess., 60, accessed August 16, 2023
70. Dubin 2003, p. 52.
71. Sobel 1978, p. 373.
72. "John Wood". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
73. "Death of Gov. Bissell". The Rock Island Argus. March 21, 1860. p. 2. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
74. Sobel 1978, p. 374.
75. "Richard Yates Sr". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
76. Illinois General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1861 sess., 58, accessed August 16, 2023
77. Dubin 2003, p. 53.
78. Sobel 1978, pp. 374–375.
79. "Richard James Oglesby". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
80. Illinois General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1865 sess., 163, accessed August 16, 2023
81. Sobel 1978, p. 376.
82. "John McAuley Palmer". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
83. Illinois General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1869 sess., 186, accessed August 16, 2023
84. Illinois General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1873 sess., 52, accessed August 16, 2023
85. Sobel 1978, p. 377.
86. "John Lourie Beveridge". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
87. Illinois General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1873 sess., 138, accessed August 16, 2023
88. Sobel 1978, pp. 377–378.
89. "Shelby Moore Cullom". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
90. Illinois General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1877 sess., 39, accessed August 16, 2023
91. "Down and Out: The Governor's Resignation". Chicago Tribune. February 7, 1883. p. 3. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
92. Sobel 1978, pp. 378–379.
93. "John Marshall Hamilton". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
94. Illinois General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1885 sess., 122, accessed August 16, 2023
95. Sobel 1978, pp. 379–380.
96. "Joseph Wilson Fifer". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
97. Illinois General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1889 sess., 99, accessed August 16, 2023
98. Sobel 1978, pp. 380–381.
99. "John Peter Altgeld". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
100. Illinois General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1893 sess., 113, accessed August 16, 2023
101. Sobel 1978, p. 381.
102. "John Riley Tanner". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
103. Illinois General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1897 sess., 167, accessed August 16, 2023
104. Sobel 1978, p. 382.
105. "Richard Yates Jr". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
106. Illinois General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1901 sess., 173, accessed August 16, 2023
107. Sobel 1978, pp. 382–383.
108. "Charles Samuel Deneen". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
109. Illinois General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1905 sess., 237, accessed August 16, 2023
110. Sobel 1978, p. 383.
111. "Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
112. Illinois General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1913 sess., 395, accessed August 16, 2023
113. Sobel 1978, p. 384.
114. "Frank Orren Lowden". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
115. Illinois General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1917 sess., 239, accessed August 16, 2023
116. Sobel 1978, pp. 384–385.
117. "Lennington Small". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
118. Illinois General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1921 sess., 313, accessed August 16, 2023
119. Sobel 1978, pp. 385–386.
120. "Louis Lincoln Emmerson". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
121. Illinois General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1929 sess., 104, accessed August 16, 2023
122. Sobel 1978, p. 386.
123. "Henry Horner". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
124. Illinois General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1933 sess., 43, accessed August 16, 2023
125. Sobel 1978, pp. 386–387.
126. "John Henry Stelle". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
127. "Gov. Henry Horner Dies – Stelle Automatically Becomes Governor". The Pantagraph. Associated Press. October 7, 1940. p. 1. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
128. Sobel 1978, pp. 387–388.
129. "Dwight Herbert Green". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
130. Illinois General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1941 sess., 27, accessed August 16, 2023
131. Sobel 1978, p. 388.
132. "Adlai Ewing Stevenson". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
133. Illinois General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1949 sess., 40, accessed August 16, 2023
134. Sobel 1978, p. 389.
135. "William Grant Stratton". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
136. Illinois General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1953 sess., 43, accessed August 16, 2023
137. Sobel 1978, pp. 389–390.
138. "Otto Kerner, Jr". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
139. Illinois General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1961 sess., Volume 1, 35, accessed August 16, 2023
140. "Kerner Resigns As Ill. Governor". Daily Republican-Register. United Press International. May 20, 1968. p. 1. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
141. Sobel 1978, p. 390.
142. "Samuel H. Shapiro". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
143. "Kerner Resigns Post to Shapiro". Daily Republican-Register. United Press International. May 21, 1968. p. 1. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
144. Sobel 1978, pp. 390–391.
145. "Richard Buell Ogilvie". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
146. Illinois General Assembly. Journal of the Senate. 1969 sess., Volume 1, 33, accessed August 16, 2023
147. Sobel 1978, p. 391.
148. "Daniel Walker". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
149. Lahey, Bob (January 9, 1973). "Walker Inaugurated, Promises 'People Government'". The Daily Herald. p. 1. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
150. Sobel 1978, p. 392.
151. "James Robert Thompson". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
152. Mehler, Neil; Elmer, John (January 11, 1977). "It's Gov Thompson Now". Chicago Tribune. p. 1. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
153. Lousin, Ann (2011). The Illinois State Constitution. Oxford University Press. p. 130. ISBN 9780199766925.
154. "Jim Edgar". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
155. Pearson, Rick; Hardy, Thomas (January 15, 1991). "Edgar Takes Helm in Illinois". Chicago Tribune. p. 1. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
156. "George H. Ryan". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
157. "Ryan Pledges Cooperation". The Pantagraph. Associated Press. January 12, 1999. p. A1. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
158. "Rod R. Blagojevich". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
159. Pearson, Rick; Parsons, Christi (January 14, 2003). "Blagojevich Takes Over, Puts Deficit at $5 Billion". Chicago Tribune. p. 1. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
160. Gay, Malcolm; Saulny, Susan (January 29, 2009). "Blagojevich Ousted by Illinois State Senate". The New York Times. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
161. "Pat Quinn". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
162. Garcia, Monique; Huppke, Rex (January 30, 2009). "Low-Key Quinn Facing Challenge of a Lifetime With Ailing State". Chicago Tribune. p. 1. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
163. "Bruce Rauner". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
164. Pearson, Rick; Garcia, Monique; Geiger, Kim (January 13, 2015). "Rauner, Sworn In As Governor, Says Business As Usual Would Be 'Morally Corrupt'". Chicago Tribune. p. 6. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
165. "JB Pritzker". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
166. O'Connor, John (January 15, 2019). "43rd Governor Sees an Illinois 'Of Promise'". The Pantagraph. p. A1. Retrieved August 19, 2023.

External links

• Office of the Governor of Illinois