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List of governors of Utah

None

Summary

None

FieldValue
postGovernor
bodyUtah
insigniaSeal of the Governor of Utah (enhanced variant).svg
insigniacaptionSeal of the Governor
imageFile:Spencer Cox at the Economic Club of Washington D.C. (53545313288).jpg
incumbentSpencer Cox
incumbentsinceJanuary 4, 2021
styleThe Honorable
residenceUtah Governor's Mansion
termlengthFour years, renewable, no term limits
inauguralHeber Manning Wells
formationJanuary 6, 1896
successionLine of succession
deputyLieutenant Governor of Utah
salary$150,000 (2019)
website

The governor of Utah is the head of government of Utah and the commander-in-chief of its military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws as well as the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Utah Legislature. The governor may also convene the legislature on "extraordinary occasions".

The self-proclaimed State of Deseret, precursor to the organization of the Utah Territory, had only one governor, Brigham Young. Utah Territory had 15 territorial governors from its organization in 1850 until the formation of the state of Utah in 1896, appointed by the President of the United States. John W. Dawson had the shortest term of only three weeks and Brigham Young, the first territorial governor, had the longest term at seven years.

There have been 18 governors of the State of Utah, with the longest serving being Cal Rampton, who served three terms from 1965 to 1977. Olene Walker served the shortest term, the remaining 14 months of Mike Leavitt's term upon Leavitt's resignation to become head of the Environmental Protection Agency. At the age of 36, Heber Manning Wells was the youngest person to become governor. At the age of 70, Simon Bamberger became the oldest person to be elected, while Olene Walker, at age 72, was the oldest person to succeed to the office.

J. Bracken Lee (1949–1957) was the most recent of three Governors of Utah who was not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), the other two being Simon Bamberger (1917–1921) and George Dern (1925–1933).

Currently, a term of service is set at four years, and there are no overall limits (consecutive or lifetime) to the number of terms one may be elected to serve. Elections for the office of Governor of Utah are normally held in November of the same year as the United States presidential election.

The current governor is Spencer Cox, who took office on January 4, 2021. Governor Cox was elected in November 2020.

Qualifications

Anyone who seeks to be elected Governor of Utah must meet the following qualifications:

  • Be at least 30 years old
  • Be a resident of Utah for at least five years on the day of the election
  • Be a United States citizen
  • Be a qualified elector of Utah at the time of election

List of governors

The area that became Utah was part of the Mexican Cession obtained by the United States on May 19, 1848, in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo following the Mexican–American War.

State of Deseret

A constitutional convention was convened in Salt Lake City on March 8, 1849, to work on a proposal for federal recognition of a state or territory. The convention resulted in the provisional State of Deseret. Deseret claimed most of present-day Utah, Nevada and Arizona, with parts of California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Oregon, and Wyoming. Brigham Young was elected governor on March 12, 1849, and the legislature first met on July 2, 1849. The state, having never been recognized by the federal government, was formally dissolved on April 5, 1851, several months after word of the creation of Utah Territory reached Salt Lake City.

Territory of Utah

On September 9, 1850, as part of the Compromise of 1850, Utah Territory was organized, encompassing roughly the northern half of Deseret. The news did not reach Salt Lake City until January 1851. Governors of the Utah Territory were appointed by the president of the United States, and other than Brigham Young, they were frequently considered carpetbagger patronage appointees.

No.GovernorTerm in officeAppointing President123456789101112131415
[[File:BYoung.jpg75pxalt=Portrait of a well-dressed nineteenth-century man, sitting.]]Brigham Young
(1801–1877)
–
July 11, 1857
(successor appointed)
[[File:Alfred Cumming.jpg75pxalt=Upper-body portrait of a mid-nineteenth-century man in a suit.]]Alfred Cumming
(1802–1873)
–
May 17, 1861
(left territory)
[[File:John W Dawson.jpg75pxalt=Upper-body portrait of a mid-nineteenth-century man in a suit.]]John W. Dawson
(1820–1877)
–
December 31, 1861
(left territory)
[[File:Stephen Selwyn Harding.jpg75pxalt=Upper-body portrait of a mid-nineteenth-century man in a suit.]]Stephen S. Harding
(1808–1891)
–
June 2, 1863
(successor appointed)
[[File:James Duane Doty.jpg75pxalt=Upper-body portrait of a mid-nineteenth-century man in a suit.]]James Duane Doty
(1799–1865)
–
June 13, 1865
(died in office)
[[File:Charles Durkee portrait.jpg75pxalt=Upper-body portrait of a mid-nineteenth-century man in a suit.]]Charles Durkee
(1805–1870)
–
January 17, 1870
(successor appointed)
[[File:John Wilson Shaffer.jpg75pxalt=Upper-body portrait of a mid-nineteenth-century man in a suit.]]John Shaffer
(1827–1870)
–
October 31, 1870
(died in office)
[[File:Vernon H Vaughan.jpg75pxalt=Upper-body portrait of a mid-nineteenth-century man in a suit.]]Vernon H. Vaughan
(1838–1878)
–
February 2, 1871
(successor appointed)
[[File:George Lemuel Woods portrait.jpg75pxalt=Upper-body portrait of a mid-nineteenth-century man in a suit.]]George Lemuel Woods
(1832–1890)
–
February 2, 1875
(successor appointed)
[[File:Samuel Beach Axtell.jpg75pxalt=Upper-body portrait of a late-nineteenth-century man in a suit.]]Samuel Beach Axtell
(1819–1891)
–
July 1, 1875
(resigned)
[[File:George W Emery.jpg75pxalt=Upper-body portrait of a late-nineteenth-century man in a suit.]]George W. Emery
(1830–1909)
–
January 27, 1880
(successor appointed)
[[File:Eli Houston Murray.jpg75pxalt=Upper-body portrait of a late-nineteenth-century man in a suit.]]Eli Houston Murray
(1843–1896)
–
March 16, 1886
(resigned)
[[File:Caleb Walton West.jpg75pxalt=Upper-body portrait of a late-nineteenth-century man in a suit.]]Caleb Walton West
(1844–1909)
–
May 6, 1889
(successor appointed)
[[File:Arthur Lloyd Thomas.jpg75pxalt=Upper-body portrait of a late-nineteenth-century man in a suit.]]Arthur Lloyd Thomas
(1851–1924)
–
May 9, 1893
(successor appointed)
[[File:Caleb Walton West.jpg75pxalt=Upper-body portrait of a late-nineteenth-century man in a suit.]]Caleb Walton West
(1844–1909)
–
January 4, 1896
(statehood)

State of Utah

The State of Utah was admitted to the Union on January 4, 1896.

The governor has a four-year term, commencing on the first Monday of the January after an election. The Constitution of Utah originally stated that, should the office of governor be vacant, the power be devolved upon the Secretary of State, but the office of Lieutenant Governor was created in 1976, and a 1980 constitutional amendment added it to the constitution. If the office of governor becomes vacant during the first year of the term, the lieutenant governor becomes governor until the next general election; if it becomes vacant after the first year of the term, the lieutenant governor becomes governor for the remainder of the term. The offices of governor and lieutenant governor are elected on the same ticket. The Governor of Utah was formerly limited to serving three terms, but all term limit laws were repealed by the Utah Legislature in 2003; Utah is one of the few states where gubernatorial term limits are not determined by the constitution.

No.GovernorTerm in officePartyElectionLt. Governor123456789101112131415161718
[[File:Heber Wells (Utah Governor).jpg75px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Heber Manning Wells
(1859–1938)
–
January 2, 1905
(did not run)Republican1895Office did not exist
1900
[[File:John Christopher Cutler.jpg75px]]John Christopher Cutler
(1846–1928)
–
January 4, 1909
(did not run)Republican1904
[[File:William Spry (cropped).jpg75px]]William Spry
(1864–1929)
–
January 1, 1917
(lost nomination)Republican1908
1912
[[File:Simon Bamberger.jpg75px]]Democratic Party (United States)}};"Simon Bamberger
(1845–1926)
–
January 3, 1921
(did not run)Democratic1916
[[File:CharlesRMabey.jpg75px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Charles R. Mabey
(1877–1959)
–
January 5, 1925
(lost election)Republican1920
[[File:DERN, GEORGE H., GOVERNOR LCCN2016860082 Crop.jpg75px]]Democratic Party (United States)}};"George Dern
(1872–1936)
–
January 2, 1933
(did not run)Democratic1924
1928
[[File:Henry H. Blood.jpg75px]]Henry H. Blood
(1872–1942)
–
January 6, 1941
(did not run)Democratic1932
1936
[[File:Herbert B. Maw (UT).png75px]]Herbert B. Maw
(1893–1990)
–
January 3, 1949
(lost election)Democratic1940
1944
[[File:J. Bracken Lee.jpg75px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"J. Bracken Lee
(1899–1996)
–
January 7, 1957
(lost election)Republican1948
1952
[[File:George Dewey Clyde.jpg75px]]George Dewey Clyde
(1898–1972)
–
January 4, 1965
(did not run)Republican1956
1960
[[File:Calvin L. Rampton.jpg75px]]Democratic Party (United States)}};"Cal Rampton
(1913–2007)
–
January 3, 1977
(did not run)Democratic1964
1968
1972Democratic Party (United States)}};"
[[File:Scott Matheson speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the USS Salt Lake City, May 12, 1984 (cropped).JPEG75px]]Scott M. Matheson
(1929–1990)
–
January 7, 1985
(did not run)Democratic1976Republican Party (United States)}};"
1980
[[File:Norman Bangerter (Utah governor).png75px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Norman H. Bangerter
(1933–2015)
–
January 4, 1993
(did not run)Republican1984
1988
[[File:Mike Leavitt.jpg75px]]Mike Leavitt
(b. 1951)
–
November 5, 2003
(resigned)Republican1992
1996
2000
[[File:Olene Walker (cropped).JPG75px]]Olene Walker
(1930–2015)
–
January 3, 2005
(lost nomination)RepublicanSucceeded from
lieutenant
governor
[[File:Ambassador Jon Huntsman (cropped).jpg75px]]Jon Huntsman Jr.
(b. 1960)
–
August 11, 2009
(resigned)Republican2004
2008
[[File:2013-05-23 Gary R Herbert.JPG75px]]Gary Herbert
(b. 1947)
–
January 4, 2021
(did not run)RepublicanSucceeded from
lieutenant
governorVacant
Republican Party (United States)}};"
(appointed September 1, 2009)
(resigned October 16, 2013)
2010
(special)
2012
(appointed October 16, 2013)
2016
[[File:DCM Reception for the Governor of Utah. September 12, 2022 47 (crop) (cropped).jpg75px]]Spencer Cox
(b. 1975)
–
IncumbentRepublican2020
2024

Timeline

Notes

References

;General

;Specific

References

  1. (June 25, 2013). "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries". The Council of State Governments.
  2. UT Const. art. VII, § 5
  3. UT Const. art. VII, § 4
  4. UT Const. art. VII, § 8
  5. UT Const. art. VII, § 6
  6. Pace, Eric. (22 October 1996). "J. Bracken Lee Is Dead at 97; Was Blunt Governor of Utah". The New York Times.
  7. "Governor of Utah".
  8. "Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo". [[Library of Congress]].
  9. McClintock, James H.. (1921). "Mormon settlement in Arizona". State of Arizona.
  10. Whitney, Orson Ferguson. (1892). "History of Utah". George Q Cannon and Sons.
  11. Powell, Allen Kent. (1994). "Utah History Encyclopedia". University of Utah Press.
  12. "Thirty-First Congress. Session I Chapter LI.". Library of Congress.
  13. Whitney, Orson Ferguson. (1892). "History of Utah". George Q Cannon and Sons.
  14. Murphy, Miriam B.. (1994). "Utah History Encyclopedia". [[University of Utah Press]].
  15. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 31st Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=Gj4tAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA252 252], accessed July 10, 2023.
  16. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 31st Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=Gj4tAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA266 266], accessed July 10, 2023.
  17. (1916-10-22). "Utah's New Capitol Grows from Humble Beginning". Salt Lake Telegram.
  18. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 33rd Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=USxRI4KXAbwC&pg=PA393 393], accessed July 10, 2023.
  19. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 33rd Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=USxRI4KXAbwC&pg=PA396 396], accessed July 10, 2023.
  20. (1934). "The Territorial Papers of the United States: Volume I: General". [[United States Government Publishing Office]].
  21. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 35th Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=RzctAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA275 275], accessed July 11, 2023.
  22. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 35th Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=RzctAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA294 294], accessed July 11, 2023.
  23. Whitney, Orson F.. (1892). "History of Utah". George Q. Cannon and Sons.
  24. (June 17, 1861). "Affairs in Utah". [[The New York Times]].
  25. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 37th Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=iDctAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA30 30], accessed July 11, 2023.
  26. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 37th Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=iDctAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA172 172], accessed July 11, 2023.
  27. (December 28, 1861). "Affairs in Utah". [[The New York Times]].
  28. Bagley, Will. (2001-12-30). "Third Governor Was Run Out of Utah After 3 Weeks". The Salt Lake Tribune.
  29. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 37th Cong., 3rd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=OdqGAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA182 182], accessed July 11, 2023.
  30. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 37th Cong., 3rd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=OdqGAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA197 197], accessed July 11, 2023.
  31. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 38th Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=lS8tAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA327 327], accessed July 11, 2023.
  32. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 38th Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=lS8tAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA390 390], accessed July 11, 2023.
  33. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 39th Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=VS8tAQAAMAAJ%201865%20durkee&pg=PA305 305], accessed July 11, 2023.
  34. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 39th Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=VS8tAQAAMAAJ%201865%20durkee&pg=PA316 316], accessed July 11, 2023.
  35. (1865-10-12). "The New Governor". The Deseret News.
  36. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 41st Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=TRhHAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA317 317], accessed July 11, 2023.
  37. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 41st Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=TRhHAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA342 342], accessed July 11, 2023.
  38. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 41st Cong., 3rd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=WmNE_7V_ESoC&pg=PA604 604], accessed July 11, 2023.
  39. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 41st Cong., 3rd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=WmNE_7V_ESoC&pg=PA618 618], accessed July 11, 2023.
  40. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 41st Cong., 3rd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=WmNE_7V_ESoC&pg=PA635 635], accessed July 11, 2023.
  41. (1874-10-14). "Off for California". The Salt Lake Tribune.
  42. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 43rd Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=QVoUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA429 429], accessed July 11, 2023.
  43. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 43rd Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=QVoUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA448 448], accessed July 11, 2023.
  44. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 44th Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=rS4tAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA77 77], accessed July 11, 2023.
  45. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 44th Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=rS4tAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA108 108], accessed July 11, 2023.
  46. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 46th Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=5TctAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA173 173], accessed July 11, 2023.
  47. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 46th Cong., 2nd sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=5TctAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA210 210], accessed July 11, 2023.
  48. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 48th Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=Zd-tAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA312 312], accessed July 26, 2023.
  49. (1886-03-17). "Eli Requested to Resign". The Ogden Standard.
  50. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 49th Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=97kzyydE0yoC&pg=PA385 385], accessed July 11, 2023.
  51. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 49th Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=97kzyydE0yoC&pg=PA434 434], accessed July 11, 2023.
  52. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 51st Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=ubzy660-TXoC&pg=PA83 83], accessed July 11, 2023.
  53. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 51st Cong., 1st sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=ubzy660-TXoC&pg=PA197 197], accessed July 11, 2023.
  54. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 53rd Cong., special sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=7VUUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA451 451], accessed July 11, 2023.
  55. U.S. Congress. ''Senate Exec. Journal''. 53rd Cong., special sess., [https://books.google.com/books?id=7VUUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA457 457], accessed July 11, 2023.
  56. UT Const. art. VII, § 1
  57. UT Const. original art. VII, §11
  58. White, Jean Bickmore. (1998). "The Utah State Constitution: A Reference Guide". Greenwood Press.
  59. UT Const. art. VII, § 11
  60. UT Const. art. VII, § 2
  61. "Utah set to repeal term limits". National Conference of State Legislatures.
  62. (January 4, 2016). "Heber Manning Wells". [[National Governors Association]].
  63. (1896-01-07). "Heber M. Wells Now the Governor of the Peace-Born State". The Salt Lake Herald.
  64. (January 4, 2016). "John Christopher Cutler". [[National Governors Association]].
  65. (1905-01-02). "New Governor In; Old One Is Out". Deseret News.
  66. (January 4, 2016). "William Spry". [[National Governors Association]].
  67. (1909-01-05). "William Spry Is Governor of Utah". The Salt Lake Tribune.
  68. (January 4, 2016). "Simon Bamberger". [[National Governors Association]].
  69. (1917-01-01). "Bamberger Is Inaugurated". The Journal.
  70. (January 4, 2016). "Charles Rendell Mabey". [[National Governors Association]].
  71. (1921-01-03). "Republicans Take Charge of State and County Offices". The Daily Herald.
  72. (January 4, 2016). "George Henry Dern". [[National Governors Association]].
  73. (1925-01-05). "Dern Becomes Utah Governor; Mabey Retires". Salt Lake Telegram.
  74. (January 4, 2016). "Henry Hooper Blood". [[National Governors Association]].
  75. (1933-01-03). "Utah's New Governor Takes Office Monday at Capitol Building". Cache American.
  76. (January 4, 2016). "Herbert Brown Maw". [[National Governors Association]].
  77. (1941-01-07). "Maw Takes Oath as Eighth Utah Governor". The Salt Lake Tribune.
  78. (January 4, 2016). "Joseph Bracken Lee". [[National Governors Association]].
  79. (1949-01-04). "Lee Assumes Utah Helm Before 4000". The Salt Lake Tribune.
  80. (January 4, 2016). "George Dewey Clyde". [[National Governors Association]].
  81. Full, Jerome K.. (1957-01-08). "Clyde Takes Governor Oath in Solemn Capitol Ceremony". The Salt Lake Tribune.
  82. (January 4, 2016). "Calvin Lewellyn Rampton". [[National Governors Association]].
  83. Malmquist, O. N.. (1965-01-05). "Rampton Takes Oath As Governor". The Salt Lake Tribune.
  84. (January 4, 2016). "Scott M. Matheson". [[National Governors Association]].
  85. Garbett, Bryson. (1977-01-04). "Matheson Takes Office, Stresses Energy, People". The Daily Utah Chronicle.
  86. (January 4, 2016). "Norman Howard Bangerter". [[National Governors Association]].
  87. Jonsson, Dave. (1985-01-08). "Bangerter Takes Utah's Reins at Inauguration". The Salt Lake Tribune.
  88. (January 4, 2016). "Michael Okerlund Leavitt". [[National Governors Association]].
  89. Christian, Pat. (1993-01-05). "Utah's Governors Provide Potpourri of Style". The Daily Herald.
  90. (January 4, 2016). "Olene Smith Walker". [[National Governors Association]].
  91. Harrie, Dan. (2003-11-06). "Change of Guard". The Salt Lake Tribune.
  92. (January 4, 2016). "Jon Huntsman". [[National Governors Association]].
  93. Foy, Paul. (2005-01-04). "New Era for Utah". The Daily Spectrum.
  94. (January 4, 2016). "Gary Herbert". [[National Governors Association]].
  95. Vergakis, Brock. (2009-08-12). "Herbert Takes the Oath". The Daily Herald.
  96. "Spencer Cox". [[National Governors Association]].
  97. Stevens, Taylor. "Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox is sworn in as Utah's 18th governor". The Salt Lake Tribune.
  98. Gehrke, Robert. (2025-01-08). "Utah needs to boost its unique 'social capital' to build its future, Gov. Spencer Cox says as he begins second term". The Salt Lake Tribune.
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