Governors_of_Alaska
The governor of Alaska is the head of government of Alaska. The governor is the chief executive of the state and is the holder of the highest office in the executive branch of the government as well as being the commander in chief of the Alaska's state forces.
Governor of Alaska | |
---|---|
Government of Alaska | |
Residence | Alaska Governor's Mansion |
Term length | Four years, renewable once consecutively |
Inaugural holder | William A. Egan |
Formation | January 3, 1959 |
Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of Alaska |
Salary | $145,000 [1] |
Website | gov |
Twelve people have served as governor of the State of Alaska over 14 distinct terms, though Alaska had over 30 civilian and military governors during its long history as a United States territory. Only two governors, William A. Egan and Bill Walker, were born in Alaska. Two people, Egan and Wally Hickel, have been elected to multiple non-consecutive terms as governor. Hickel is also noted for a rare third party win in American politics, having been elected to a term in 1990 representing the Alaskan Independence Party. The longest-serving governor of the state was Egan, who was elected three times and served nearly 12 years. The longest-serving territorial governor was Ernest Gruening, who served over 13 years.
The current governor is Republican Mike Dunleavy, who took office on December 3, 2018.
Alaska was purchased by the United States from the Russian Empire in 1867, with formal transfer occurring on October 18, 1867,[2] which is now celebrated as Alaska Day. Before then, it was known as Russian America or Russian Alaska, controlled by the governors and general managers of the Russian-American Company.
Commanders of the Department of Alaska
The vast region was initially designated the Department of Alaska, under the jurisdiction of the Department of War and administered by Army officers until 1877, when the Army was withdrawn from Alaska. The Department of the Treasury then took control, with the Collector of Customs as the highest ranking federal official in the territory. In 1879, the Navy was given jurisdiction over the department.[3]
Some believe the first American administrator of Alaska was Polish immigrant Włodzimierz Krzyżanowski. However, the Anchorage Daily News was unable to find any conclusive information to support this claim.[4]
No. | Commander | Position | Term in office | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jefferson C. Davis (1828–1879) |
Army Colonel |
October 18, 1867 – August 31, 1870 | |
2 | George K. Brady (1838–1899) |
Army Captain |
September 1, 1870 – September 22, 1870 | |
3 | John C. Tidball (1825–1906) |
Army Major |
September 23, 1870 – September 19, 1871 | |
4 | Harvey A. Allen (1818–1882) |
Army Major |
September 20, 1871 – January 3, 1873 | |
5 | Joseph Stewart (1822–1904) |
Army Major |
January 4, 1873 – April 20, 1874 | |
6 | George B. Rodney Jr. (1842–1927) |
Army Captain |
April 21, 1874 – August 16, 1874 | |
7 | Joseph B. Campbell (d. 1891) |
Army Captain |
August 17, 1874 – June 14, 1876 | |
8 | John Mendenhall (1829–1892) |
Army Major |
June 15, 1876 – March 4, 1877 | |
9 | Arthur Morris (1843–1892) |
Army Captain |
March 5, 1877 – June 14, 1877 | |
10 | Montgomery P. Berry (1828–1898) |
Collector of Customs |
June 14, 1877 – August 13, 1877 | |
11 | Henry Charles DeAhna (d. 1891) |
Collector of Customs |
August 14, 1877 – March 26, 1878 | |
12 | M. D. Ball (1835–1887) |
Collector of Customs |
March 27, 1878 – June 13, 1879 | |
13 | Lester A. Beardslee (1836–1903) |
Navy Captain |
June 14, 1879 – September 12, 1880 | |
14 | Henry Glass (1844–1908) |
Navy Commander |
September 13, 1880 – August 9, 1881 | |
15 | Edward P. Lull (1836–1887) |
Navy Commander |
August 10, 1881 – October 18, 1881 | |
16 | Henry Glass (1844–1908) |
Navy Commander |
October 19, 1881 – March 12, 1882 | |
17 | Frederick Pearson (1842–1890) |
Navy Commander |
March 13, 1882 – October 3, 1882 | |
18 | Edgar C. Merriman (1840–1894) |
Navy Commander |
October 4, 1882 – September 13, 1883 | |
19 | Joseph Coghlan (1844–1908) |
Navy Commander |
September 15, 1883 – September 13, 1884 | |
20 | Henry E. Nichols (1842–1899) |
Navy Lieutenant commander |
September 14, 1884 – September 15, 1884 |
Governors of the District of Alaska
On May 17, 1884, the Department of Alaska was redesignated the District of Alaska, an incorporated but unorganized territory with a civil government.[5] The governor was appointed by the president of the United States.
No. | Governor | Term in office[lower-alpha 1] | Appointed by | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | John Henry Kinkead (1826–1904) [6] |
July 4, 1884[lower-alpha 2] – May 8, 1885 (successor appointed) |
Chester A. Arthur | |
2 | Alfred P. Swineford (1836–1909) [10] |
May 8, 1885[lower-alpha 3] – April 13, 1889 (resigned)[lower-alpha 4] |
Grover Cleveland | |
3 | Lyman Enos Knapp (1837–1904) [17] |
April 13, 1889[lower-alpha 5] – June 28, 1893 (successor appointed)[lower-alpha 6] |
Benjamin Harrison | |
4 | James Sheakley (1829–1917) [21] |
June 28, 1893[lower-alpha 7] – July 15, 1897 (resigned)[lower-alpha 8] |
Grover Cleveland | |
5 | John Green Brady (d. 1918) [25] |
June 19, 1897[lower-alpha 9] – March 21, 1906 (resigned)[lower-alpha 10] |
William McKinley | |
Theodore Roosevelt | ||||
6 | Wilford Bacon Hoggatt (1865–1938) [31] |
March 21, 1906[lower-alpha 11] – October 1, 1909 (resigned)[lower-alpha 12] |
Theodore Roosevelt | |
7 | Walter Eli Clark (1869–1950) [36] |
May 20, 1909[lower-alpha 13] – August 24, 1912 (became territorial governor) |
William Howard Taft |
Governors of the Territory of Alaska
The District of Alaska was organized into Alaska Territory on August 24, 1912.[40] Governors continued to be appointed by the president of the United States.
Alaska was admitted to the Union on January 3, 1959.
The state constitution provides for the election of a governor and lieutenant governor every four years on the same ticket, with their terms commencing on the first Monday in the December following the election. Governors are allowed to succeed themselves once, having to wait four years after their second term in a row before being allowed to run again. Should the office of governor become vacant, the lieutenant governor assumes the office of governor. The original constitution of 1956 created the office of secretary of state, which was functionally identical to a lieutenant governor, and was renamed to "lieutenant governor" in 1970.[87]
No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor[lower-alpha 29][lower-alpha 30] | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | William A. Egan (1914–1984) [88][89] |
January 3, 1959[90] – December 5, 1966 (lost election)[lower-alpha 31] |
Democratic[92] | 1958 | Hugh Wade | |||
1962 | ||||||||
2 | Wally Hickel (1919–2010) [93][94] |
December 5, 1966[95] – January 24, 1969 (resigned)[lower-alpha 32] |
Republican[92] | 1966 | Keith Harvey Miller | |||
3 | Keith Harvey Miller (1925–2019) [96][97] |
January 24, 1969[98] – December 7, 1970 (lost election) |
Republican[92] | Succeeded from secretary of state |
Robert W. Ward | |||
1 | William A. Egan (1914–1984) [88][89] |
December 7, 1970[99] – December 2, 1974 (lost election) |
Democratic[92] | 1970 | H. A. Boucher | |||
4 | Jay Hammond (1922–2005) [100][101] |
December 2, 1974[102] – December 6, 1982 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 33] |
Republican[92] | 1974 | Lowell Thomas Jr. | |||
1978 | Terry Miller | |||||||
5 | Bill Sheffield (1928–2022) [104] |
December 6, 1982[105] – December 1, 1986 (lost nomination)[106] |
Democratic[104] | 1982 | Steve McAlpine | |||
6 | Steve Cowper (b. 1938) [107] |
December 1, 1986[108] – December 3, 1990 (did not run)[109] |
Democratic[107] | 1986 | ||||
2 | Wally Hickel (1919–2010) [94] |
December 3, 1990[110] – December 5, 1994 (did not run)[111] |
Alaskan Independence[lower-alpha 34] |
1990 | Jack Coghill | |||
7 | Tony Knowles (b. 1943) [113] |
December 5, 1994[114] – December 2, 2002 (term-limited)[lower-alpha 33] |
Democratic[113] | 1994 | Fran Ulmer | |||
1998 | ||||||||
8 | Frank Murkowski (b. 1933) [115] |
December 2, 2002[116] – December 4, 2006 (lost nomination)[117] |
Republican[115] | 2002 | Loren Leman | |||
9 | Sarah Palin (b. 1964) [118] |
December 4, 2006[119] – July 26, 2009 (resigned)[lower-alpha 35] |
Republican[118] | 2006 | Sean Parnell | |||
10 | Sean Parnell (b. 1962) [121] |
July 26, 2009[122] – December 1, 2014 (lost election)[123] |
Republican[121] | Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | |||
Craig Campbell (took office August 10, 2009)[lower-alpha 36] | ||||||||
2010 | Mead Treadwell | |||||||
11 | Bill Walker (b. 1951) [126] |
December 1, 2014[127] – December 3, 2018 (withdrew)[lower-alpha 37] |
Independent[126] | 2014 | Byron Mallott (resigned October 16, 2018) | |||
Valerie Davidson | ||||||||
12 | Mike Dunleavy (b. 1961) [129] |
December 3, 2018[130] – Incumbent[lower-alpha 38] |
Republican[129] | 2018 | Kevin Meyer | |||
2022 | Nancy Dahlstrom |
- Swineford submitted his resignation on March 4, 1889, to take effect when his successor was appointed;[15] while modern sources say he resigned on April 20,[10] his successor was nominated on April 13, took the oath of office outside of the state on April 15, and took office on June 1.[16] As no sourcing of when Swineford actually left office has been found, this article uses the date his successor was confirmed, April 13.
- No sources specify when Knapp left office; McMullin says "August 1893", which is when his successor took office, but their presidential appointment specified, "vice Lyman E. Knapp, removed", implying he may not have remained governor until then.[20] As his successor was appointed on June 28, that date is used here.
- Hoggatt resigned to tend to business interests. He submitted his resignation on May 18, 1909, to take effect on October 1, when his successor's term was scheduled to begin.[35]
- Clark submitted his resignation on March 4, 1913, to take effect upon the appointment of his successor, to return to private life.[41]
- According to Ernest Gruening, Wilson declined to reappoint Strong because he may have still been a Canadian citizen.[42] President Wilson's nomination of Strong's successor specified, "vice John F. A. Strong, term expired and resigned;"[46] however, Strong denied resigning.[47]
- President Wilson's nomination of Riggs' successor specified, "vice Thomas Riggs, resigned;" no other reference to Riggs' resignation has been found.[51]
- During most of World War II, Lt. Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr., was the military commander of Alaska, and held much executive power over the territory.[66]
- Heintzleman resigned to return to private life;[74] some sources say he was unhappy with the job, and did not expect to be reappointed.[78] He submitted his resignation to President Eisenhower on December 19, 1956,[79] and it took effect on January 3, 1957; Territorial Secretary Waino Hendrickson acted as governor until his successor arrived.[80]
- Stepovich resigned to run for the United States Senate, losing that election.[85] He submitted his resignation on August 1, 1958, to take effect August 9;[86] Territorial Secretary Waino Hendrickson acted as governor until statehood.
- The office of lieutenant governor was named secretary of state until 1970.[87]
- As Egan's first term did not begin until statehood, he had not served the "two full successive terms" that would have constitutionally prohibited him from running for a third term.[91]
- Hickel resigned, having been confirmed as United States Secretary of the Interior.[94]
- Governors who have served two full successive terms are not eligible again until another full term has passed.[103]
- Palin resigned, citing the costs of ethics investigations.[120]
- Walker withdrew from the election on October 19, 2018, after the deadline of September 4, and so remained on the ballot.[128]
- Dunleavy's second term began on December 5, 2022, and will expire December 7, 2026; he will be term-limited.
- General
- "Former Alaska Governors". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
- Gates, Nancy (2007). The Alaska Almanac: Facts about Alaska (30th ed.). Graphic Arts Center Publishing Co. pp. 85–87. ISBN 978-0-88240-652-7. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
- Sobel, Robert (1978). Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. I. Meckler Books. ISBN 9780930466015. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- McMullin, Thomas A. (1984). Biographical directory of American territorial governors. Westport, CT : Meckler. ISBN 978-0-930466-11-4. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- 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 Alaska - History". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
- Specific
- "The Governors: Compensation, Staff, Travel and Residence" (PDF). The Council of State Governments. April 3, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
- "Purchase of Alaska, 1867". United States Department of State Office of the Historian. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
- Gates 2007, p. 86.
- Ruskin, Liz (December 20, 2002). "Barking up the wrong Pole: Hero wasn't governor". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved August 26, 2008.
- McMullin 1984, pp. 3–4.
- "The New Alaskan Government". The Scranton Republican. November 12, 1884. p. 2. Retrieved January 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- McMullin 1984, pp. 4–5.
- "A New Governor for Alaska". Reno Gazette-Journal. May 9, 1885. p. 2. Retrieved January 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Alaska Territory - The Governor Arrived". The San Francisco Examiner. October 4, 1885. p. 8. Retrieved January 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Gov. Swineford Resigns". The Weekly Wisconsin. March 9, 1889. p. 11. Retrieved January 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- McMullin 1984, pp. 6–7.
- McMullin 1984, pp. 7–8.
- "10,000 Have Gone... Ex-Governor Sheakley Says Wait for Spring". The Buffalo Sunday Morning News. August 15, 1897. p. 1. Retrieved January 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- McMullin 1984, pp. 8–11.
- Janson, Lone (1975). The Copper Spike. Alaska Northwest Publishing Co. p. 44. ISBN 0-88240-045-2.
- "Governor Brady Resigns". The Alaska Prospector. March 1, 1906. p. 1. Retrieved January 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- McMullin 1984, pp. 11–12.
- "Gov. Hoggatt Takes Oath of Office". The Daily Alaskan. May 2, 1906. p. 1. Retrieved January 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Newspaper Man to Rule Alaska". The Tacoma Daily Ledger. May 19, 1909. p. 2. Retrieved January 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- McMullin 1984, pp. 12–14.
- "Clark Will Oust Graft". Spokane Chronicle. October 2, 1909. p. 24. Retrieved January 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Gov. Clark Resigns". The Alaska Daily Empire. March 5, 1913. p. 1. Retrieved January 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- McMullin 1984, pp. 14–15.
- "Strong Governor of Alaska Now". The Tacoma Times. May 21, 1913. p. 3. Retrieved January 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Gov. Strong Is Denying Report That He Quit". The Seward Gateway. March 8, 1918. p. 1. Retrieved January 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- McMullin 1984, pp. 15–17.
- "Riggs Takes Oath of Office in Ketchikan". The Alaska Daily Empire. April 26, 1918. p. 1. Retrieved January 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- McMullin 1984, pp. 17–18.
- "Scott C. Bone Now Governor of Northland". The Alaska Daily Empire. June 13, 1921. p. 1. Retrieved January 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Scott C. Bone Takes Oath of Office in East". The Alaska Daily Empire. June 15, 1921. p. 1. Retrieved January 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Harding with Alaskans Says Governor Bone". The Alaska Daily Empire. July 13, 1921. p. 1. Retrieved January 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- McMullin 1984, pp. 18–20.
- "Parks Becomes Governor With No Ceremonies". The Alaska Daily Empire. June 16, 1925. p. 1. Retrieved January 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- McMullin 1984, pp. 20–21.
- "Troy Sworn In As Governor of Alaska". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. April 19, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved January 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Request Gov. Troy Remain in Office". The Nome Nugget. October 13, 1939. p. 1. Retrieved January 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- Personal Justice Denied: Report of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians. University of Washington Press. 1997. p. 319. ISBN 0-295-97558-X.
- McMullin 1984, pp. 21–23.
- "Governor Troy Resigned; New Gov. Appointed". The Nome Nugget. September 4, 1939. p. 1. Retrieved January 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Gruening Inaugurated Alaska Governor". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. December 6, 1939. p. 1. Retrieved January 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- McMullin 1984, pp. 23–25.
- "Gov. Heintzleman Takes Office, Promises New Cycle for Alaska To Develop Into Fruitful Land". The Nome Nugget. Associated Press. April 10, 1953. p. 1. Retrieved January 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- Naske, Claus-M. (1985). A History of Alaska Statehood. University Press of America. p. 244. ISBN 0-8191-4556-4.
- "Gov. Heintzleman to Resign January 3". The Nome Nugget. Associated Press. December 19, 1956. p. 1. Retrieved January 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Gov. Heintzleman Ends Dutues; Waino Hendrickson Takes Over". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Associated Press. January 3, 1957. p. 1. Retrieved January 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- McMullin 1984, pp. 25–26.
- "Gov. Stepvich Urges Statehood". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Associated Press. June 8, 1957. p. 1. Retrieved January 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- Naske, Claus-M.; Herman E. Slotnick (1979). Alaska: A History of the 49th State. Eerdmans. p. 309. ISBN 0-8028-7041-4.
- "President Replies to Governor". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Associated Press. August 1, 1958. p. 1. Retrieved January 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- Kallenbach 1977, pp. 41–43.
- Sobel 1978, pp. 43–44.
- "William Allan Egan". National Governors Association. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- "Solemnity Marks Statehood's Dawn". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Associated Press. January 3, 1959. p. 1. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
- Kallenbach 1977, pp. 43–44.
- Kallenbach 1977, p. 43.
- Sobel 1978, p. 44.
- "Walter J. Hickel". National Governors Association. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- "Capital's Lights Back On As Governor Takes Office". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Associated Press. December 5, 1966. p. 1. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, pp. 44–45.
- "Keith H. Miller". National Governors Association. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- "Hickel Takes Oath". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Associated Press. January 24, 1969. p. 1. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
- "Egan Sworn In for Third Term As Governor". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Associated Press. December 7, 1970. p. 1. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
- Sobel 1978, p. 45.
- "Jay S. Hammond". National Governors Association. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- Greeley, John (December 2, 1974). "Gov. Hammond Recites Oath of Office". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Associated Press. p. 1. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
- "Alaska Const. art. III, § 5". www.stateconstitutions.umd.edu. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
- "William Jennings Sheffield". National Governors Association. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- "Sheffield Restores Loan Program for Fishermen". Daily Sitka Sentinel. Associated Press. December 7, 1982. p. 1. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
- "Steve Cowper". National Governors Association. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- "Cowper Inaugurated; 6th Alaska Governor". Daily Sitka Sentinel. Associated Press. December 1, 1986. p. 1. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
- Hanlon, Tegan (October 27, 2015). "Former Alaska first lady Michael Margaret Stewart, ex-wife of Steve Cowper, dead at 62". Alaska Dispatch News. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
- Akre, Brian S. (December 4, 1990). "Hickel Sworn In; Vows a 'New Day'". Daily Sitka Sentinel. Associated Press. p. 1. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
- "Two in the House Advance In Drive for Senator's Seat". The New York Times. August 25, 1994. Retrieved July 23, 2008.
- "Alaska's Gov. Hickel Rejoins Gop Amid Speculation Over Another Term". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. April 15, 1994. Retrieved September 28, 2008.
- "Tony Knowles". National Governors Association. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- Mutchler, Terry (December 5, 1994). "Knowles Sworn In As Ninth Governor". Daily Sitka Sentinel. Associated Press. p. 1. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
- "Frank H. Murkowski". National Governors Association. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- "Governors Vows 'Rebirth and Renewal'". Whitehorse Daily Star. Associated Press. December 4, 2002. p. 8. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
- "STATE OF ALASKA – 2006 PRIMARY ELECTION AUGUST 22, 2006 OFFICIAL RESULTS". Archived from the original on March 4, 2010. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
- "Sarah Palin". National Governors Association. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- Pemberton, Mary (December 5, 2006). "Alaska Governor Is First Woman to Lead State". Ventura County Star. Associated Press. p. A3. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
- "Legal Bills Swayed Palin, Official Says". The New York Times. July 5, 2009. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
- "Sean Parnell". National Governors Association. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- Daly, Matthew (July 27, 2009). "Palin Leaves 'em Guessing About Her Plans". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Associated Press. p. A1. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
- "2014 General Election November 4, 2014 Official Results". elections.alaska.gov. November 11, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
- Forgey, Pat (July 28, 2009). "Alaska gets first ever 'temporary substitute' lt. governor". Juneau Empire. Archived from the original on October 13, 2017. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
- "Bill Walker". National Governors Association. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- Bohrer, Becky (December 3, 2014). "Walker Knows Tough Days Are Ahead". Whitehorse Daily Star. Associated Press. p. 7. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
- Hobson, Margaret Kriz (October 24, 2018). "Chaos, Questions in Alaska As Governor's Race Shrinks". E&E News. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
- "Mike Dunleavy". National Governors Association. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- Bohrer, Becky (December 4, 2018). "Dunleavy Sworn In As Alaska Governor". The Times-Tribune. Associated Press. p. B10. Retrieved July 31, 2023.