List of governors of Washington
The Governor of Washington is the head of the executive branch of the Government of the State of Washington and commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The officeholder has a duty to enforce state laws, the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Washington Legislature and line-item veto power to cancel specific provisions in spending bills. The Washington Governor may also convene the legislature on "extraordinary occasions".
Washington Territory had 14 territorial governors from its organization in 1853 until the formation of the state of Washington in 1889. Territorial governors were appointed by the President of the United States. Elisha Peyre Ferry had the longest term of eight years and went on to become the state's first governor. William H. Wallace was appointed governor but never took office due to being elected as the territory's congressional delegate. George E. Cole was appointed governor and took office, but his appointment was never ratified by the U.S. Senate and he was replaced as governor after four months.
Twenty-two individuals have held the office of Governor of Washington since the state's admission to the Union, with Arthur B. Langlie serving non-consecutive terms. Langlie and Daniel J. Evans are the state's only three term governors. Populist Party candidate John Rankin Rogers is the only non-Democratic or Republican nominee to win office. The current governor is Democrat Jay Inslee, who took office on January 16, 2013 and was reelected in 2016; his term will expire on January 13, 2021. The last Republican to hold the office was John Spellman in 1985; Washington has had the longest streak of Democratic governors in the nation.
Governors
Governors of the Territory of Washington
Washington Territory was created on March 2, 1853 from the northern half of Oregon Territory. At this point, Washington Territory also included the northern panhandle of modern Idaho and parts of Montana. The southern half of Idaho was assigned to the Washington Territory in 1859 after Oregon was admitted as a state. Idaho Territory was split from Washington Territory in 1863 giving Washington Territory its final borders.Due to the long distance between Washington, D.C. and Olympia, there was often a lengthy gap between a governor being appointed and his arrival in the territory.
Governors of the State of Washington
Washington was admitted to the Union on November 11, 1889. The term for governor is four years, commencing on the second Monday in the January following the election. If the office of governor is vacant or the governor is unable to discharge their duties, the lieutenant governor assumes the office of governor. If both the offices of governor and lieutenant governor are unable to fulfill their duties, the secretary of state is next in line, and then the treasurer. There is no limit to the number of terms a governor may serve. The office of lieutenant governor is not elected on the same ticket as the governor.; Parties
Succession
Other high offices held
Six of Washington's territorial governors and four of its state governors have served higher federal or confederate offices, or as governors of other states. Three represented Washington Territory as delegates to the U.S. House, and one additionally represented Idaho Territory in the same fashion, as well as serving as Governor of Idaho Territory. Two territorial governors represented eastern states, one as a representative from, and governor of, New Jersey, and one represented Virginia both in the United States and Confederate Houses. Three governors represented the state in the U.S. Senate, and two represented the state in the House. One governor has served in the United States Cabinet. Two of the territorial governors resigned their office to serve as territorial delegates.| Governor | Gubernatorial term | Other offices held | Source |
| Isaac Stevens | 1853–1857 | Delegate from Washington Territory* | |
| LaFayette McMullen | 1857–1859 | Representative and Confederate Representative from Virginia | |
| William H. Wallace | 1861–1861 | Delegate from Washington Territory*, Delegate from Idaho Territory, Governor of Idaho Territory | |
| Alvan Flanders | 1869–1870 | Delegate from Washington Territory | |
| William A. Newell | 1880–1884 | Representative from New Jersey, Governor of New Jersey | |
| Watson C. Squire | 1884–1887 | Senator from Washington | |
| Monrad Wallgren | 1945–1949 | Senator and Representative from Washington | |
| Daniel J. Evans | 1965–1977 | Senator from Washington | |
| Mike Lowry | 1993–1997 | Representative from Washington | |
| Gary Locke | 1997–2005 | Secretary of Commerce, Ambassador to China | |
| Jay Inslee | 2013–present | Representative from Washington |