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List of governors of West Virginia

None

None

FieldValue
postGovernor
bodyWest Virginia
insigniaSeal of the Governor of West Virginia.svg
insigniasize110px
insigniacaptionSeal of the governor
imageGovernor Patrick Morrisey in 2025.jpg
imagesize200px
incumbentPatrick Morrisey
incumbentsinceJanuary 13, 2025
style
status
residenceWest Virginia Governor's Mansion
termlengthFour years, renewable once consecutively
formationJune 20, 1863
successionLine of succession
inauguralArthur I. Boreman
salary$150,000 (2022)
website

The governor of West Virginia is the head of government of West Virginia and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the West Virginia Legislature, to convene the legislature at any time, and, except when prosecution has been carried out by the House of Delegates, to grant pardons and reprieves.

Since West Virginia was admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, during the American Civil War, 37 men have served as governor. Two, Arch A. Moore Jr. (West Virginia's 28th and 30th governor) and Cecil H. Underwood (West Virginia's 25th and 32nd governor), served two nonconsecutive terms in office. The longest-serving governor was Moore, who served for three terms over twelve years. The state's first governor after admission into the Union, Arthur I. Boreman, served the most consecutive terms, resigning a week before the end of his third term. Before the state's admission, Francis Harrison Pierpont, the "Father of West Virginia," was elected governor during the Wheeling Convention of 1861. Daniel D.T. Farnsworth was senate president at the time; he filled the last seven days of Boreman's term and remains the shortest-serving governor. Underwood has the unusual distinction of being both the youngest person to be elected as governor (age 34 upon his first term in 1957) and the oldest to both be elected and serve (age 74 upon his second term in 1997; age 78 at the end of his second term in 2001). The current governor is Republican Patrick Morrisey, who assumed office on January 13, 2025.

To serve as governor, a person must be at least 30 years old, and must have been a citizen of West Virginia for at least five years at the time of inauguration. Under the current Constitution of West Virginia, ratified in 1872, the governor serves a four-year term commencing on the Monday after the second Wednesday in January, following an election. The original constitution of 1863 only called for a two-year term. Since 1968, a governor may be reelected any number of times, but not more than twice in a row. Any partial term served counts toward the limit of two consecutive terms.

The constitution makes no mention of a lieutenant governor; if the governorship becomes vacant, the senate president stands first in the line of succession. If more than one year remains in the governor's term at the time of vacancy, a new election is held for the balance of the term. If less than a year remains, the senate president acts as governor for the remainder of the term. A bill passed in 2000 grants the senate president the honorary title of lieutenant governor, but this title is rarely used in practice and the terms of the senate president do not correspond with governorships. The same bill states that the line of succession after the senate president will be the speaker of the House of Delegates, followed by the state attorney general, the state auditor and former governors, in inverse order of term, that are in residence in the state at the time of the vacancy.

Qualifications

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

  • Be a citizen of the United States
  • Be a resident of West Virginia for at least five years preceding the election
  • Be a duly qualified elector of West Virginia
  • Be at least 30 years old

Governors

No.GovernorTerm in officePartyElection12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637
[[File:Arthur I. Boreman - Brady-Handy (cropped).jpg75px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Arthur I. Boreman
(1823–1896)
–
February 26, 1869
(resigned)Republican1863
1864
1866
[[File:Daniel D.T. Farnsworth.png75px]]Daniel D. T. Farnsworth
(1819–1892)
–
March 4, 1869
(successor took office)RepublicanPresident of
the Senate
acting
[[File:William E. Stevenson, unknown date (cropped).jpg75px]]William E. Stevenson
(1820–1883)
–
March 4, 1871
(lost election)Republican1868
[[File:Governor J. J. Jacob.jpg75px]]Democratic Party (United States)}};"John J. Jacob
(1829–1893)
–
March 4, 1877
(term-limited)Democratic1870
Independent Republican (United States)}};"People's
Independent1872
[[File:Henry M. Mathews - Brady-Handy.jpg75px]]Democratic Party (United States)}};"Henry M. Mathews
(1834–1884)
–
March 4, 1881
(term-limited)Democratic1876
[[File:Jacob Beeson Jackson.gif75px]]Jacob B. Jackson
(1829–1893)
–
March 4, 1885
(term-limited)Democratic1880
[[File:GovernorWilson.gif75px]]Emanuel Willis Wilson
(1844–1905)
–
February 6, 1890
(term-limited)Democratic1884
[[File:ABFleming.gif75px]]Aretas B. Fleming
(1839–1923)
–
March 4, 1893
(term-limited)Democratic1888
[[File:GovernorMaccorkle.gif75px]]William A. MacCorkle
(1857–1930)
–
March 4, 1897
(term-limited)Democratic1892
[[File:George W. Atkinson.gif75px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"George W. Atkinson
(1845–1925)
–
March 4, 1901
(term-limited)Republican1896
[[File:Albert Blakeslee White wmm.jpg75px]]Albert B. White
(1856–1941)
–
March 4, 1905
(term-limited)Republican1900
[[File:William Dawson.gif75px]]William M. O. Dawson
(1853–1916)
–
March 4, 1909
(term-limited)Republican1904
[[File:GovernorGlasscock.gif75px]]William E. Glasscock
(1862–1925)
–
March 4, 1913
(term-limited)Republican1908
[[File:Henry Hatfield.jpg75px]]Henry D. Hatfield
(1875–1962)
–
March 4, 1917
(term-limited)Republican1912
[[File:John J. Cornwell.jpg75px]]Democratic Party (United States)}};"John J. Cornwell
(1867–1953)
–
March 4, 1921
(term-limited)Democratic1916
[[File:Ephraim F. Morgan.jpg75px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Ephraim F. Morgan
(1869–1950)
–
March 4, 1925
(term-limited)Republican1920
[[File:Howard Mason Gore.jpg75px]]Howard Mason Gore
(1877–1947)
–
March 4, 1929
(term-limited)Republican1924
[[File:WilliamGConley (cropped).jpg75px]]William G. Conley
(1866–1940)
–
March 4, 1933
(term-limited)Republican1928
[[File:H. Guy Kump (West Virginia Governor).jpg75px]]Democratic Party (United States)}};"Herman G. Kump
(1877–1962)
–
January 18, 1937
(term-limited)Democratic1932
[[File:Homer A. Holt.jpg75px]]Homer A. Holt
(1898–1975)
–
January 13, 1941
(term-limited)Democratic1936
[[File:Matthewneely.jpg75px]]Matthew M. Neely
(1874–1958)
–
January 15, 1945
(term-limited)Democratic1940
[[File:Clarence W. Meadows.jpg75px]]Clarence W. Meadows
(1904–1961)
–
January 17, 1949
(term-limited)Democratic1944
[[File:Okey Patteson.jpg75px]]Okey Patteson
(1898–1989)
–
January 19, 1953
(term-limited)Democratic1948
[[File:William C. Marland.jpg75px]]William C. Marland
(1918–1965)
–
January 14, 1957
(term-limited)Democratic1952
[[File:Cecil Underwood.jpg75px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Cecil H. Underwood
(1922–2008)
–
January 16, 1961
(term-limited)Republican1956
[[File:William Wallace Barron.jpg75px]]Democratic Party (United States)}};"Wally Barron
(1911–2002)
–
January 18, 1965
(term-limited)Democratic1960
[[File:Hulett C. Smith.jpg75px]]Hulett C. Smith
(1918–2012)
–
January 13, 1969
(term-limited)Democratic1964
[[File:Arch Moore 1976.jpg75px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Arch A. Moore Jr.
(1923–2015)
–
January 17, 1977
(term-limited)Republican1968
1972
[[File:Jay Rockefeller 1977 crop.png75px]]Democratic Party (United States)}};"Jay Rockefeller
(b. 1937)
–
January 14, 1985
(term-limited)Democratic1976
1980
[[File:Arch Moore.jpg75px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Arch A. Moore Jr.
(1923–2015)
–
January 16, 1989
(lost election)Republican1984
[[File:Gaston Caperton crop.jpg75px]]Democratic Party (United States)}};"Gaston Caperton
(b. 1940)
–
January 13, 1997
(term-limited)Democratic1988
1992
[[File:Cecil Underwood 1998 (cropped).jpg75px]]Republican Party (United States)}};"Cecil H. Underwood
(1922–2008)
–
January 15, 2001
(lost election)Republican1996
[[File:Bob Wise.jpg75px]]Democratic Party (United States)}};"Bob Wise
(b. 1948)
–
January 17, 2005
(did not run)Democratic2000
[[File:Joe Manchin, Official Senate Portrait.jpg75px]]Joe Manchin
(b. 1947)
–
November 15, 2010
(resigned)Democratic2004
2008
[[File:Earl Ray Tomblin 2 (cropped).jpg75px]]Earl Ray Tomblin
(b. 1952)
–
January 16, 2017
(term-limited)DemocraticPresident of
the Senate
acting
2011
(special)
2012
[[File:Jim Justice West Virginia Chamber Business Summit 2024.jpg75px]]Jim Justice
(b. 1951)
–
(term-limited)Democratic2016
Republican Party (United States)}};"Republican2020
[[File:Governor Patrick Morrisey in 2025.jpg75px]]Patrick Morrisey
(b. 1967)
–
IncumbentRepublican2024

Timeline

Notes

References

;General

  • Morgan, John G. West Virginia Governors 1863-1980 (2nd ed. 1980)

;Specific

References

  1. "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries". The Council of State Governments.
  2. WV Constitution article VII, § 5.
  3. WV Constitution article VII, § 12.
  4. WV Constitution article VII, § 14.
  5. WV Constitution article VI, § 18–19.
  6. WV Constitution article VII, § 11.
  7. Morgan, John G.. (2025-01-13). "Governors of West Virginia".
  8. Compston-Strough, Jennifer. (2013-06-20). "Francis Harrison Pierpont: 'Father of West Virginia'". The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register.
  9. WV Constitution article VII, § 1.
  10. WV 1863 Constitution article V, § 1.
  11. WV Constitution, Article VII, section 4.
  12. WV Constitution article VII, § 16.
  13. "H.B. 4781 (Enrolled March 11, 2009)". West Virginia Legislature, 2000 Sessions.
  14. "Governor of West Virginia".
  15. (November 15, 2015). "Arthur Ingraham Boreman". [[National Governors Association]].
  16. (1863-06-22). "none". Alexandria Gazette.
  17. (November 15, 2015). "Daniel Duane Tompkins Farnsworth". [[National Governors Association]].
  18. (1869-02-27). "Sworn In". The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer.
  19. (November 15, 2015). "William Erskine Stevenson". [[National Governors Association]].
  20. (1869-03-05). "Inauguration of State Officers". The Wheeling Daily Register.
  21. (November 15, 2015). "John Jeremiah Jacob". [[National Governors Association]].
  22. (1871-03-06). "Inauguration of Governor Jacob". The Wheeling Daily Register.
  23. "1872 W.Va. Const. art. VII, § 4".
  24. (November 15, 2015). "Henry Mason Mathews". [[National Governors Association]].
  25. (1877-03-06). "Gubernatorial". The Wheeling Daily Register.
  26. (November 15, 2015). "Jacob Beeson Jackson". [[National Governors Association]].
  27. (1881-03-05). "The New Regime". The Daily Register.
  28. (November 15, 2015). "Emanuel Willis Wilson". [[National Governors Association]].
  29. (1885-03-05). "The New Governor". The Daily Register.
  30. (November 15, 2015). "Aretas Brooks Fleming". [[National Governors Association]].
  31. (1890-02-07). "Inaugurated". The Daily Register.
  32. (November 15, 2015). "William Alexander MacCorkle". [[National Governors Association]].
  33. (1893-03-05). "Governor M'Corkle". Wheeling Sunday Register.
  34. (November 15, 2015). "George Wesley Atkinson". [[National Governors Association]].
  35. (1897-03-05). "There Are Others". The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer.
  36. (November 15, 2015). "Albert Blakeslee White". [[National Governors Association]].
  37. (1901-03-09). "Inauguration of Gov. A. B. White". Martinsburg Herald.
  38. (November 15, 2015). "William M.O. Dawson". [[National Governors Association]].
  39. (1905-03-04). "Governor Dawson". The Fairmont West Virginian.
  40. (November 15, 2015). "William E. Glasscock". [[National Governors Association]].
  41. (1909-03-04). "State's New Governor". The Daily Telegram.
  42. (November 15, 2015). "Henry Drury Hatfield". [[National Governors Association]].
  43. (1913-03-04). "Hon. Henry D. Hatfield Is Inaugurated Governor". The Fairmont West Virginian.
  44. (November 15, 2015). "John Jacob Cornwell". [[National Governors Association]].
  45. (1917-03-05). "Cornwell Takes Oath on Sunday". The Birmingham News.
  46. (November 15, 2015). "Ephraim Franklin Morgan". [[National Governors Association]].
  47. (1921-03-11). "Judge Morgan Inaugurated". Greenbrier Independent.
  48. (November 15, 2015). "Howard M. Gore". [[National Governors Association]].
  49. (1925-03-04). "Gore Inaugurated as Governor of West Va.". The Plain Speaker.
  50. (November 15, 2015). "William Gustavus Conley". [[National Governors Association]].
  51. (1929-03-04). "New Governor Seeks Co-operation; Favors Lessening Tax Burdens". Hinton Daily News.
  52. (November 15, 2015). "Herman Guy Kump". [[National Governors Association]].
  53. (1933-03-04). "Relief Plan Outlines As Kump Takes Office". The Charleston Daily Mail.
  54. (November 15, 2015). "Homer Adams Holt". [[National Governors Association]].
  55. (1937-01-18). "Crowds Jam the Capitol". The Charleston Daily Mail.
  56. (November 15, 2015). "Matthew Mansfield Neely". [[National Governors Association]].
  57. (1941-01-15). "Thousands Witness Inauguration Celebration". The Independent-Herald.
  58. (November 15, 2015). "Clarence W. Meadows". [[National Governors Association]].
  59. (1945-01-15). "New Governor Inaugurated at Ceremony". Hinton Daily News.
  60. (November 15, 2015). "Okey Leonidas Patteson". [[National Governors Association]].
  61. (1949-01-17). "Patteson Is Installed As New Governor". Hinton Daily News.
  62. (November 15, 2015). "William Casey Marland". [[National Governors Association]].
  63. (1953-01-19). "William C. Marland Sworn In As State's 24th Governor". Hinton Daily News.
  64. (November 15, 2015). "Cecil H. Underwood". [[National Governors Association]].
  65. (1957-01-14). "Inauguration Held Outdoors Despite Weather". The Weirton Daily Times.
  66. (November 15, 2015). "William W. Barron". [[National Governors Association]].
  67. (1961-01-16). "Barron Becomes Governor, Signs BIll Increasing Tax". Hinton Daily News.
  68. (November 15, 2015). "Hulett Carlson Smith". [[National Governors Association]].
  69. McKinney, John. (1965-01-19). "Smith Promises 'High Standard'". Beckley Post-Herald.
  70. (November 15, 2015). "Arch A. Moore". [[National Governors Association]].
  71. Mellace, Bob. (1969-01-13). "Good, Able State Rule Moore's Inaugural Aim". The Charleston Daily Mail.
  72. "W.Va. Const. art. VII, § 4".
  73. (November 15, 2015). "John Davison Rockefeller". [[National Governors Association]].
  74. (1977-01-17). "Rockefeller Sworn In As 29th W. VA. Governor". The Raleigh Register.
  75. LeVine, Steve. (1985-01-14). "Moore Vows Strong W. Virginia Economy". The Indianapolis News.
  76. (November 15, 2015). "Gaston Caperton". [[National Governors Association]].
  77. (1989-01-17). "West Virginia Governor Sworn In". Tulsa World.
  78. (1997-01-14). "Once Youngest Governor, He's Now Oldest". Tulsa World.
  79. (November 15, 2015). "Bob Wise". [[National Governors Association]].
  80. Yost, Pete. (2001-01-27). "Democrat Blasts Clinton Over Pardon". The Buffalo News.
  81. (November 15, 2015). "Joe Manchin III". [[National Governors Association]].
  82. (2005-01-19). "none". Portland Press Herald.
  83. (November 15, 2015). "Earl Ray Tomblin". [[National Governors Association]].
  84. (2010-11-16). "Tomblin Takes Oath as W. Va. Governor". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
  85. (January 18, 2021). "Jim Justice". [[National Governors Association]].
  86. (2017-01-16). "Jim Justice sworn into office as WV's governor". WTAP.
  87. (2017-08-03). "In West Virginia, Trump Hails Conservatism and a New G.O.P. Governor". The New York Times.
  88. "Patrick Morrisey". [[National Governors Association]].
  89. (2025-01-13). "West Virginia's new governor Patrick Morrisey sworn into office". WOWK-TV.
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