Governors of Michigan

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Governor
Term Start
Term End
Party
Stevens T. MasonNov 3, 1835Jan 7, 1840Democratic
William WoodbridgeJan 7, 1840Feb 23, 1841Whig
James Wright GordonFeb 23, 1841Jan 3, 1842Whig
John S. BarryJan 3, 1842Jan 5, 1846Democratic
Alpheus FelchJan 5, 1846Mar 3, 1847Democratic
William L. GreenlyMar 4, 1847Jan 3, 1848Democratic
Epaphroditus RansomJan 3, 1848Jan 7, 1850Democratic
John S. BarryJan 7, 1850Jan 1, 1852Democratic
Robert McClellandJan 1, 1852Mar 7, 1853Democratic
Andrew ParsonsMar 8, 1853Jan 3, 1855Democratic
Kinsley S. BinghamJan 3, 1855Jan 5, 1859Republican
Moses WisnerJan 5, 1859Jan 2, 1861Republican
Austin BlairJan 2, 1861Jan 3, 1865Republican
Henry H. CrapoJan 3, 1865Jan 6, 1869Republican
Henry P. BaldwinJan 6, 1869Jan 1, 1873Republican
John J. BagleyJan 1, 1873Jan 3, 1877Republican
Charles CroswellJan 3, 1877Jan 1, 1881Republican
David JeromeJan 1, 1881Jan 1, 1883Republican
Josiah BegoleJan 1, 1883Jan 1, 1885Democratic
Russell A. AlgerJan 1, 1885Jan 1, 1887Republican
Cyrus G. LuceJan 1, 1887Jan 1, 1891Republican
Edwin B. WinansJan 1, 1891Jan 1, 1893Democratic
John Treadway RichJan 1, 1893Jan 1, 1897Republican
Hazen S. PingreeJan 1, 1897Jan 1, 1901Republican
Aaron T. BlissJan 1, 1901Jan 1, 1905Republican
Fred M. WarnerJan 1, 1905Jan 2, 1911Republican
Chase OsbornJan 2, 1911Jan 1, 1913Republican
Woodbridge Nathan FerrisJan 1, 1913Jan 1, 1917Democratic
Albert SleeperJan 1, 1917Jan 1, 1921Republican
Alex J. GroesbeckJan 1, 1921Jan 1, 1927Republican
Fred W. GreenJan 1, 1927Jan 1, 1931Republican
Wilber M. BruckerJan 1, 1931Jan 1, 1933Republican
William ComstockJan 1, 1933Jan 1, 1935Democratic
Frank FitzgeraldJan 1, 1935Jan 1, 1937Republican
Frank MurphyJan 1, 1937Jan 1, 1939Democratic
Frank FitzgeraldJan 1, 1939Mar 16, 1939Republican
Luren DickinsonMar 16, 1939Jan 1, 1941Republican
Murray Van WagonerJan 1, 1941Jan 1, 1943Democratic
Harry KellyJan 1, 1943Jan 1, 1947Republican
Kim SiglerJan 1, 1947Jan 1, 1949Republican
G. Mennen WilliamsJan 1, 1949Jan 1, 1961Democratic
John SwainsonJan 1, 1961Jan 1, 1963Democratic
George W. RomneyJan 1, 1963Jan 22, 1969Republican
William MillikenJan 22, 1969Jan 1, 1983Republican
James BlanchardJan 1, 1983Jan 1, 1991Democratic
John EnglerJan 1, 1991Jan 1, 2003Republican
Jennifer GranholmJan 1, 2003Jan 1, 2011Democratic
Rick SnyderJan 1, 2011Jan 1, 2019Republican
Gretchen WhitmerJan 1, 2019-Democratic
showing: 49 rows

Michigan joined the United States in the 1830s. Since that time, the state has had a total of 47 governors. Gretchen Whitmer is the current governor of Michigan, and she has served in that position since 2019. She has gone through a lot during her time as Governor, including an attempted coup during the coronavirus pandemic. While she has handled that well, she has had to deal with a number of other problems during her time in office. She is a member of the Democratic Party, succeeding Rick Synder who served from 2011 to 2019 as a member of the Republican Party.

Who Was the First Governor of Michigan?

The first governor of Michigan was Stevens T. Mason, who served in that office from 1835 to 1840. After he left office, the state had two governors from the Whig party, William Woodbridge who served from 1840 to 1840, and James Wright Gordon, who served from 1841 to 1842. In 1842, the Democratic party took over power in Michigan again, holding the office of the governor until 1855. From 1842 to 1845, there were seven consecutive Democratic governors of Michigan.

What Party Usually Has the Power in Michigan?

Michigan is a member of the Rust Belt. As a result, the state has had a number of governors from each party. Prior to Gretchen Whitmer, Rick Snyder was a member of the Republican Party. Before Rick Snyder took over, Jennifer Granholm was the governor of Michigan, and she was a member of the democratic party. John Engler served as the governor of Michigan from 1991 to 2003, one of the longest-serving governors in the history of Michigan, and he was a member of the Republican Party. The parties have gone back and forth regarding control of the governor’s office in Michigan.

Current Governor
Gretchen Whitmer
Governor Since
Jan 1, 2019
# of Governors Since Statehood
47

Governors of Michigan

Which party is the current governor of Michigan?

The current governor of Michigan is Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat.

How many governors has Michigan had?

There have been 47 governors of Michigan, 18 Democrats, 27 Republicans, and 2 from other parties.

When was the last Democratic governor in Michigan?

The last Democratic governor in Michigan is Gretchen Whitmer, who has served from 2019 to the present day.

When was the last Republican governor in Michigan?

The last Republican governor in Michigan was Rick Snyder, who served from 2011 to 2019.

Frequently Asked Questions