List of governors of West Virginia

Governor of West Virginia
Seal of the governor
Incumbent Patrick Morrisey since January 13, 2025
Style	Governor (informal) The Honorable (formal)
Status	Head of state Head of government
Residence	West Virginia Governor's Mansion
Term length	Four years, renewable once consecutively
Inaugural holder	Arthur I. Boreman
Formation	June 20, 1863
Salary	$150,000 (2022)[1]
Website	governor.wv.gov

The Governor of West Virginia is the head of the executive branch of West Virginia's state government^[2] and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.^[3]

The current governor is Republican Patrick Morrisey since 2025.

List of Governors

Parties

  Democratic (19)   People's Independent (1)   Republican (16)

Governors of the State of West Virginia

No.	Governor			Term in office	Party	Election
1			Arthur I. Boreman (1823–1896) [4][5]	June 20, 1863[6] – February 26, 1869 (resigned)[a]	Republican[7]	1863
						1864
						1866
2			Daniel D. T. Farnsworth (1819–1892) [8][9]	February 26, 1869[10] – March 4, 1869 (successor took office)	Republican[7]	President of the Senate acting
3			William E. Stevenson (1820–1883) [11][12]	March 4, 1869[13] – March 4, 1871 (lost election)	Republican[7]	1868
4			John J. Jacob (1829–1893) [14][15]	March 4, 1871[16] – March 4, 1877 (term-limited)[b]	Democratic[18]	1870
					People's Independent[18]	1872
5			Henry M. Mathews (1834–1884) [19][20]	March 4, 1877[c] – March 4, 1881 (term-limited)[b]	Democratic[7]	1876
6			Jacob B. Jackson (1829–1893) [22][23]	March 4, 1881[24] – March 4, 1885 (term-limited)[b]	Democratic[7]	1880
7			Emanuel Willis Wilson (1844–1905) [25][26]	March 4, 1885[27] – February 6, 1890 (term-limited)[d]	Democratic[7]	1884
8			Aretas B. Fleming (1839–1923) [28][29]	February 6, 1890[30] – March 4, 1893 (term-limited)[b]	Democratic[7]	1888
9			William A. MacCorkle (1857–1930) [31][32]	March 4, 1893[33] – March 4, 1897 (term-limited)[b]	Democratic[7]	1892
10			George W. Atkinson (1845–1925) [34][35]	March 4, 1897[36] – March 4, 1901 (term-limited)[b]	Republican[7]	1896
11			Albert B. White (1856–1941) [37][38]	March 4, 1901[39] – March 4, 1905 (term-limited)[b]	Republican[7]	1900
12			William M. O. Dawson (1853–1916) [40][41]	March 4, 1905[42] – March 4, 1909 (term-limited)[b]	Republican[7]	1904
13			William E. Glasscock (1862–1925) [43][44]	March 4, 1909[45] – March 4, 1913 (term-limited)[b]	Republican[7]	1908
14			Henry D. Hatfield (1875–1962) [46][47]	March 4, 1913[48] – March 4, 1917 (term-limited)[b]	Republican[7]	1912
15			John J. Cornwell (1867–1953) [49][50]	March 4, 1917[51] – March 4, 1921 (term-limited)[b]	Democratic[7]	1916
16			Ephraim F. Morgan (1869–1950) [52][53]	March 4, 1921[54] – March 4, 1925 (term-limited)[b]	Republican[7]	1920
17			Howard Mason Gore (1877–1947) [55][56]	March 4, 1925[57] – March 4, 1929 (term-limited)[b]	Republican[7]	1924
18			William G. Conley (1866–1940) [58][59]	March 4, 1929[60] – March 4, 1933 (term-limited)[b]	Republican[7]	1928
19			Herman G. Kump (1877–1962) [61][62]	March 4, 1933[63] – January 18, 1937 (term-limited)[b]	Democratic[7]	1932
20			Homer A. Holt (1898–1975) [64][65]	January 18, 1937[66] – January 13, 1941 (term-limited)[b]	Democratic[7]	1936
21			Matthew M. Neely (1874–1958) [67][68]	January 13, 1941[69] – January 15, 1945 (term-limited)[b]	Democratic[7]	1940
22			Clarence W. Meadows (1904–1961) [70][71]	January 15, 1945[72] – January 17, 1949 (term-limited)[b]	Democratic[7]	1944
23			Okey Patteson (1898–1989) [73][74]	January 17, 1949[75] – January 19, 1953 (term-limited)[b]	Democratic[7]	1948
24			William C. Marland (1918–1965) [76][77]	January 19, 1953[78] – January 14, 1957 (term-limited)[b]	Democratic[7]	1952
25			Cecil H. Underwood (1922–2008) [79][80]	January 14, 1957[81] – January 16, 1961 (term-limited)[b]	Republican[7]	1956
26			Wally Barron (1911–2002) [82][83]	January 16, 1961[84] – January 18, 1965 (term-limited)[b]	Democratic[7]	1960
27			Hulett C. Smith (1918–2012) [85][86]	January 18, 1965[87] – January 13, 1969 (term-limited)[b]	Democratic[7]	1964
28			Arch A. Moore Jr. (1923–2015) [88][89]	January 13, 1969[90] – January 17, 1977 (term-limited)[e]	Republican[7]	1968
						1972
29			Jay Rockefeller (b. 1937) [92][93]	January 17, 1977[94] – January 14, 1985 (term-limited)[e]	Democratic[93]	1976
						1980
30			Arch A. Moore Jr. (1923–2015) [88][89]	January 14, 1985[95] – January 16, 1989 (lost election)	Republican[89]	1984
31			Gaston Caperton (b. 1940) [96]	January 16, 1989[97] – January 13, 1997 (term-limited)[e]	Democratic[96]	1988
						1992
32			Cecil H. Underwood (1922–2008) [79][80]	January 13, 1997[98] – January 15, 2001 (lost election)	Republican[80]	1996
33			Bob Wise (b. 1948) [99]	January 15, 2001[100] – January 17, 2005 (did not run)	Democratic[99]	2000
34			Joe Manchin (b. 1947) [101]	January 17, 2005[102] – November 15, 2010 (resigned)[f]	Democratic[101]	2004
						2008
35			Earl Ray Tomblin (b. 1952) [103]	November 15, 2010[104] – January 16, 2017 (term-limited)[e]	Democratic[103]	President of the Senate acting
						2011 (special)
						2012
36			Jim Justice (b. 1951) [105]	January 16, 2017[106] – January 13, 2025 (term-limited)[e]	Democratic[g]	2016
					Republican[105]	2020
37			Patrick Morrisey (b. 1967)	January 13, 2025 – Incumbent[h]	Republican[108]	2024

Notes

1. Boreman resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.^[4]
2. Under the 1872 constitution, governors were ineligible for four years after the end of their term.^[17]
3. The constitutional start date of the gubernatorial term was March 4, with no requirement for an oath; Mathews was not sworn in until March 5, presumably because March 4 was a Sunday.^[21]
4. The 1888 election was disputed, ^[b]and Wilson remained as governor until the investigation was complete.^[25]
5. Under a 1970 amendment to the constitution, governors who have served two consecutive terms are ineligible for the next term.^[91]
6. Manchin resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.^[101]
7. Justice switched to the Republican Party in August 2017.^[107]
8. Morrisey's current term will expire on January 15, 2029.

References

1. "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries". The Council of State Governments. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
2. WV Constitution article VII, § 5.
3. WV Constitution article VII, § 12.
4. Sobel 1978, pp. 1691–1692. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
5. "Arthur Ingraham Boreman". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
6. "none". Alexandria Gazette. 1863-06-22. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-21. Hon. A. J. Boreman was on Saturday inaugurated as the first Governor of West Virginia.
7. Kallenbach 1977, pp. 629–630. sfn error: no target: CITEREFKallenbach1977 (help)
8. Sobel 1978, p. 1692. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
9. "Daniel Duane Tompkins Farnsworth". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
10. "Sworn In". The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer. 1869-02-27. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
11. Sobel 1978, pp. 1692–1693. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
12. "William Erskine Stevenson". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
13. "Inauguration of State Officers". The Wheeling Daily Register. 1869-03-05. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
14. Sobel 1978, pp. 1693–1694. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
15. "John Jeremiah Jacob". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
16. "Inauguration of Governor Jacob". The Wheeling Daily Register. 1871-03-06. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
17. "1872 W.Va. Const. art. VII, § 4". www.stateconstitutions.umd.edu. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
18. Glashan 1979, p. 334. sfn error: no target: CITEREFGlashan1979 (help)
19. Sobel 1978, p. 1694. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
20. "Henry Mason Mathews". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
21. "Gubernatorial". The Wheeling Daily Register. 1877-03-06. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
22. Sobel 1978, p. 1695. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
23. "Jacob Beeson Jackson". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
24. "The New Regime". The Daily Register. 1881-03-05. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
25. Sobel 1978, pp. 1695–1696. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
26. "Emanuel Willis Wilson". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
27. "The New Governor". The Daily Register. 1885-03-05. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
28. Sobel 1978, pp. 1696–1697. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
29. "Aretas Brooks Fleming". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
30. "Inaugurated". The Daily Register. 1890-02-07. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
31. Sobel 1978, p. 1697. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
32. "William Alexander MacCorkle". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
33. "Governor M'Corkle". Wheeling Sunday Register. 1893-03-05. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
34. Sobel 1978, pp. 1697–1698. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
35. "George Wesley Atkinson". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
36. "There Are Others". The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer. 1897-03-05. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
37. Sobel 1978, pp. 1698–1699. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
38. "Albert Blakeslee White". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
39. "Inauguration of Gov. A. B. White". Martinsburg Herald. 1901-03-09. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
40. Sobel 1978, pp. 1699–1700. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
41. "William M.O. Dawson". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
42. "Governor Dawson". The Fairmont West Virginian. 1905-03-04. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
43. Sobel 1978, p. 1700. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
44. "William E. Glasscock". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
45. "State's New Governor". The Daily Telegram. 1909-03-04. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
46. Sobel 1978, pp. 1701–1702. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
47. "Henry Drury Hatfield". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
48. "Hon. Henry D. Hatfield Is Inaugurated Governor". The Fairmont West Virginian. Associated Press. 1913-03-04. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
49. Sobel 1978, pp. 1702–1703. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
50. "John Jacob Cornwell". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
51. "Cornwell Takes Oath on Sunday". The Birmingham News. Associated Press. 1917-03-05. p. 7. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
52. Sobel 1978, p. 1703. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
53. "Ephraim Franklin Morgan". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
54. "Judge Morgan Inaugurated". Greenbrier Independent. 1921-03-11. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
55. Sobel 1978, p. 1704. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
56. "Howard M. Gore". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
57. "Gore Inaugurated as Governor of West Va". The Plain Speaker. United Press. 1925-03-04. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
58. Sobel 1978, p. 1705. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
59. "William Gustavus Conley". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
60. "New Governor Seeks Co-operation; Favors Lessening Tax Burdens". Hinton Daily News. Associated Press. 1929-03-04. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
61. Sobel 1978, p. 1706. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
62. "Herman Guy Kump". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
63. "Relief Plan Outlines As Kump Takes Office". The Charleston Daily Mail. 1933-03-04. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
64. Sobel 1978, pp. 1706–1707. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
65. "Homer Adams Holt". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
66. "Crowds Jam the Capitol". The Charleston Daily Mail. 1937-01-18. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
67. Sobel 1978, pp. 1707–1708. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
68. "Matthew Mansfield Neely". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
69. "Thousands Witness Inauguration Celebration". The Independent-Herald. 1941-01-15. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
70. Sobel 1978, pp. 1708–1709. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
71. "Clarence W. Meadows". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
72. "New Governor Inaugurated at Ceremony". Hinton Daily News. United Press. 1945-01-15. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
73. Sobel 1978, p. 1709. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
74. "Okey Leonidas Patteson". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
75. "Patteson Is Installed As New Governor". Hinton Daily News. United Press. 1949-01-17. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
76. Sobel 1978, p. 1710. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
77. "William Casey Marland". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
78. "William C. Marland Sworn In As State's 24th Governor". Hinton Daily News. United Press. 1953-01-19. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
79. Sobel 1978, pp. 1710–1711. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
80. "Cecil H. Underwood". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
81. "Inauguration Held Outdoors Despite Weather". The Weirton Daily Times. United Press. 1957-01-14. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
82. Sobel 1978, pp. 1711–1712. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
83. "William W. Barron". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
84. "Barron Becomes Governor, Signs BIll Increasing Tax". Hinton Daily News. United Press International. 1961-01-16. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
85. Sobel 1978, pp. 1712–1713. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
86. "Hulett Carlson Smith". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
87. McKinney, John (1965-01-19). "Smith Promises 'High Standard'". Beckley Post-Herald. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
88. Sobel 1978, p. 1713. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
89. "Arch A. Moore". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
90. Mellace, Bob (1969-01-13). "Good, Able State Rule Moore's Inaugural Aim". The Charleston Daily Mail. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
91. "W.Va. Const. art. VII, § 4". www.stateconstitutions.umd.edu. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
92. Sobel 1978, p. 1714. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSobel1978 (help)
93. "John Davison Rockefeller". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
94. "Rockefeller Sworn In As 29th W. VA. Governor". The Raleigh Register. United Press International. 1977-01-17. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
95. LeVine, Steve (1985-01-14). "Moore Vows Strong W. Virginia Economy". The Indianapolis News. Associated Press. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
96. "Gaston Caperton". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
97. "West Virginia Governor Sworn In". Tulsa World. Associated Press. 1989-01-17. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
98. "Once Youngest Governor, He's Now Oldest". Tulsa World. Associated Press. 1997-01-14. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
99. "Bob Wise". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
100. Yost, Pete (2001-01-27). "Democrat Blasts Clinton Over Pardon". The Buffalo News. Associated Press. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
101. "Joe Manchin III". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
102. "none". Portland Press Herald. Associated Press. 2005-01-19. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-07-22. Chief Justice Joseph Albright, left, swears in West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin on Monday in Charleston.
103. "Earl Ray Tomblin". National Governors Association. November 15, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
104. "Tomblin Takes Oath as W. Va. Governor". Richmond Times-Dispatch. 2010-11-16. p. A7. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
105. "Jim Justice". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
106. "Jim Justice sworn into office as WV's governor". WTAP. Associated Press. 2017-01-16. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
107. Shear, Michael D.; Martin, Jonathan (2017-08-03). "In West Virginia, Trump Hails Conservatism and a New G.O.P. Governor". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
108. "Republican Patrick Morrisey wins election for governor in West Virginia". wsaz.com. WSAZ News. Retrieved November 7, 2024.