List of governors of Florida

head of the executive branch of the state government of the state of Florida

The governor of Florida is the head of state and government of the U.S. state of Florida and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor is also the head of the executive branch of the state government and is the chairman of the gubernatorial cabinet.

Governor of Florida
Seal of the State of Florida
Flag of the State of Florida
Incumbent
Ron DeSantis

since January 8, 2019
StyleGovernor
(formal)
The Honorable
(formal)
His Excellency
(diplomatic)
TypeHead of state
Head of government
Member ofFlorida Executive Branch
Florida Cabinet
ResidenceFlorida Governor's Mansion
SeatTallahassee, Florida
AppointerPopular election
Term lengthFour years, renewable once
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Florida
Inaugural holderWilliam D. Moseley
FormationJuly 25, 1845; 179 years ago (1845-07-25)
DeputyLieutenant Governor of Florida
Salary$130,273 (annually)
Websitewww.flgov.com

Ron DeSantis is the 46th and current governor of Florida, in office since January 2019.

History

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Florida had been a French and then a Spanish colony. It came under British control and then returned to Spanish control again after the American Revolution. It had many and multiple governors during these colonial periods of time. The British divided the state into East Florida and West Florida, each with its own head of state.

There were also five military governors during the colonial period time such as, William P. Duval, John Eaton, Richard K. Call, Robert R. Reid, and John Branch.

Powers and Duties

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The governor has the power to enforce state laws and the duty to either approve or veto bills passed by the Florida Legislature or the Florida Senate to assemble the legislature and grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment.

Eligibility & requirements

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Section 5 of the state's constitution states for a person to serve as governor must:

  • be at least thirty years old.
  • be a permanent resident in Florida for at least seven years.

Election process and gubernatorial terms

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The governor is elected by the people through the popular election to a four-year term, along with the lieutenant gubernatorial candidate or the incumbent lieutenant governor of Florida as their running mate. The gubernatorial candidate or incumbent governor must have the majority of the popular vote in order to win the election.

Under Section 5 of the state's constitution forbids anyone from being elected governor more than twice.

Governor-elect of Florida

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The governor-elect is the candidate who has won the state's gubernatorial election and is awaiting inauguration to become the governor.

Inauguration

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The governor-elect, or incumbent governor immediately began their four-year team on inauguration day every four years in the month of January, along with the incumbent lieutenant governor and lieutenant governor-elect.

Gubernatorial line of succession

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If the governor dies, reigns, or is impeached, the lieutenant governor ranks first in the succession will assume the gubernatorial office and duties.

Residence

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Florida Governor's Mansion, Tallahassee, Florida, the official residence of the governor of Florida.

The Florida Governor's Mansion is the official residence of the governor and the state's first family. it has been the official residence of every governor since Thomas LeRoy Collins in 1956.

List of governors of Florida

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  1. William Dunn Moseley
  2. Thomas Brown
  3. James Broome
  4. Madison Perry
  5. John Milton
  6. Abraham Allison
  7. William Marvin
  8. David Shelby Walker
  9. Harrison Reed
  10. Ossian Hart
  11. Marcellus Stearns
  12. George Franklin Drew
  13. William Bloxham
  14. Edward Aylsworth Perry
  15. Francis Philip Fleming
  16. Henry Mitchell
  17. William Bloxham
  18. William Sherman Jennings
  19. Napoleon Broward
  20. Albert Waller Gilchrist
  21. Park Trammell
  22. Sidney Johnston Catts
  23. Cary Hardee
  24. John Wellborn Martin
  25. Doyle Elam Carlton
  26. David Sholtz
  27. Frederick Preston Cone
  28. Spessard Lindsey Holland
  29. Millard Fillmore Caldwell
  30. Fuller Warren
  31. Daniel Thomas McCarty
  32. Charley Eugene Johns
  33. Thomas LeRoy Collins
  34. Cecil Farris Bryant
  35. William Haydon Burns
  36. Claude Roy Kirk
  37. Reubin Askew
  38. Daniel Robert Graham
  39. John Mixson
  40. Bob Martinez
  41. Lawton Mainor Chiles
  42. Kenneth Hood MacKay
  43. John Ellis Bush
  44. Charlie Crist
  45. Rick Scott
  46. Ron DeSantis

List of living former governors of Florida

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