| Governor of Colorado | |
|---|---|
 Seal of the Executive Office | |
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| Government of Colorado | |
| Style | The Honorable |
| Residence | Colorado Governor's Mansion |
| Term length | Four years, renewable once consecutively |
| Inaugural holder | John Long Routt |
| Formation | August 1, 1876 |
| Succession | Line of succession |
| Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of Colorado |
| Salary | $123,193 (2019)[1] |
| Website | www |
Thegovernor of Colorado is thehead of government of theU.S. state ofColorado. Thegovernor is the head of theexecutive branch ofColorado's state government and is charged with enforcing state laws. The governor has the power to either approve orveto bills passed by theColorado General Assembly, to convene the legislature, and to grantpardons, except in cases of treason or impeachment.[2] The governor is also thecommander-in-chief of the state'smilitary forces.
Seven people served as governor ofColorado Territory over eight terms, appointed by the president of the United States. Since statehood, there have been 38 governors, serving 43 distinct terms. One governorAlva Adams served three non-consecutive terms, whileJohn Long Routt,James Hamilton Peabody, andEdwin C. Johnson each served during two non-consecutive periods. The longest-serving governors wereRichard "Dick" Lamm (1975–1987) andRoy Romer (1987–1999), who each served 12 years over three terms. The shortest term occurred on March 16 and 17, 1905, when the state had three governors in the span of 24 hours:Alva Adams won the election, but soon after he took office, the legislature declared his opponent,James Hamilton Peabody, governor, but on the condition that he immediately resign, so that his lieutenant governor,Jesse McDonald, could be governor. Thus, Peabody served less than a day as governor.
The current governor is DemocratJared Polis, who took office on January 8, 2019.
The self-proclaimedProvisional Government of the Territory of Jefferson was organized on November 7, 1859.[3] Jefferson Territory included all of present-day Colorado, but extended about 3 miles (5 km) farther east, 138 miles (222 km) farther north, and about 50 miles (80 km) farther west.[4] The territory was never recognized by thefederal government in the tumultuous days before theAmerican Civil War. The Jefferson Territory had only one governor,Robert Williamson Steele, a pro-union Democrat elected by popular vote. He proclaimed the territory dissolved on June 6, 1861, several months after the official formation of theColorado Territory, but only days after the arrival of its first governor.[5]
TheTerritory of Colorado was organized on February 28, 1861, from parts of the territories ofNew Mexico,Utah, andNebraska, and the unorganized territory that was previously the western portion ofKansas Territory.[6]
| No. | Governor | Term in office[a] | Appointed by | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | .jpg) | William Gilpin (1813–1894) [7][8] | March 25, 1861[b] – March 26, 1862 (successor appointed)[c] | Abraham Lincoln |
| 2 |  | John Evans (1814–1897) [12][13] | March 26, 1862[d] – October 17, 1865 (resigned)[e] | Abraham Lincoln |
| 3 |  | Alexander Cummings (1810–1879) [17][18] | October 17, 1865[f] – May 8, 1867 (resigned)[g] | Andrew Johnson |
| 4 |  | Alexander Cameron Hunt (1825–1894) [26][27] | May 8, 1867[h] – April 19, 1869 (successor appointed) | Andrew Johnson |
| 5 |  | Edward M. McCook (1833–1909) [30][31] | April 19, 1869[i] – April 17, 1873 (successor appointed)[j] | Ulysses S. Grant |
| 6 |  | Samuel Hitt Elbert (1833–1899) [35][36] | April 17, 1873[k] – July 26, 1874[l] (successor appointed) | Ulysses S. Grant |
| 7 | | Edward M. McCook (1833–1909) [30][31] | June 19, 1874[m] – February 8, 1875 (successor appointed)[n] | Ulysses S. Grant |
| 8 |  | John Long Routt (1826–1907) [45][46] | February 8, 1875[o] – November 3, 1876 (elected state governor) | Ulysses S. Grant |
The State of Colorado wasadmitted to the Union on August 1, 1876.
To serve as governor, one must be at least 30 years old, be a citizen of the United States, and have been a resident of the state for at least two years prior to election. Thestate constitution of 1876 originally called for election of the governor every two years, with their term beginning on the second Tuesday of the January following the election.[49] An amendment passed in 1956, taking effect in 1959, increased terms to four years.[50] Originally, there was noterm limit applied to the governor; a 1990 amendment allowed governors to succeed themselves only once.[51] There is however no limit on the total number of terms one may serve as long as one who has served the two term limit is out of office for four years.
Should the office of governor become vacant, thelieutenant governor becomes governor.[52] If both the offices governor and lieutenant governor are vacant, the line of succession moves down through the senior members of the state senate and state house of representatives of the same party as the governor.[53] The lieutenant governor was elected separately from the governor until a 1968 amendment to the constitution[54] made it so that they are elected on the sameticket.[55]
| Timeline of Colorado governors |
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General Alexander Cummings, of Philadelphia, has been appointed Governor and ex officio superintendent of Indian affairs of the Territory of Colorado.
[Elbert] claims to be legal Governor until formally relieved by his successor.
Gov. E. M. McCook, arrived at Denver via Denver Pacific, Friday morning.
Three different governors within twenty-four hours is a record established by Colorado this week that will remain undisputed.
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Travel information from Wikivoyage Colorado statewide elected officials | |
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38°59′50″N105°32′52″W / 38.9972°N 105.5478°W /38.9972; -105.5478 (State of Colorado)
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