State Governors: Ferry to Inslee
Published by Steve Campion. Category: Politics & Government
It was once a classroom tradition to line the chalkboard with presidential portraits. Memorizing the names and faces of America’s chief executives isn’t as common these days but it’s still more likely than listing or reciting the state governors. With a new governor in Olympia this year, we thought it fitting to provide such a list. (But we won’t make anyone memorize it!)
Jay Inslee (photo, right) took office as the state’s 23rd governor January 16. He is also the fifth Democrat governor in a row — a 28 year streak that now surpasses the run of four consecutive Republicans in a 12 year period early last century (1901-13). Historically, the Republicans still outnumber Democrats by a slim 12 to 10½.
Inslee, who is 62 years old following his birthday last weekend, was the third oldest governor on inauguration day in state history. Only Elisha P. Ferry (64) and Dixy Lee Ray (62) were older upon taking office. Exactly half of his predecessors were in the their forties or — in the case of Dan Evans — thirties. Today Evans is the oldest of seven living current or former governors.
And speaking of Ferry and Ray: They were both “firsts” for Washington. Ferry (photo, left) was the first governor. He had been a territorial governor in the 1870s but was called back to Olympia when Washington gained statehood in 1889. Ray, our 17th executive, was our first female state executive. Recently retired Christine Gregoire was the second.
STATE GOVERNORS OF WASHINGTON
| No. | Governor | Party | Life | Age when taking office |
Term | |
| 1. | Elisha P. Ferry | Republican | 1825-1895 | 64 | 1889 Nov 11 | -1893 Jan 9 |
| 2. | John McGraw | Republican | 1850-1910 | 42 | 1893 Jan 9 | -1897 Jan 11 |
| 3. | John Rogers | Populist / Democrat | 1838-1901 | 57 | 1897 Jan 11 | -1901 Dec 26* |
| 4. | Henry McBride | Republican | 1856-1937 | 45 | 1901 Dec 26 | -1905 Jan 9 |
| 5. | Albert E. Mead | Republican | 1861-1913 | 43 | 1905 Jan 9 | -1909 Jan 27 |
| 6. | Samuel G. Cosgrove | Republican | 1847-1909 | 61 | 1909 Jan 27 | -1909 Mar 28* |
| 7. | Marion E. Hay | Republican | 1865-1933 | 43 | 1909 Mar 28 | -1913 Jan 11 |
| 8. | Ernest Lister | Democrat | 1870-1919 | 42 | 1913 Jan 11 | -1919 Feb 13* |
| 9. | Louis F. Hart | Republican | 1862-1929 | 57 | 1919 Feb 13 | -1925 Jan 12 |
| 10. | Roland H. Hartley | Republican | 1864-1952 | 60 | 1925 Jan 12 | -1933 Jan 9 |
| 11. | Clarence D. Martin | Democrat | 1887-1955 | 45 | 1933 Jan 9 | -1941 Jan 13 |
| 12. | Arthur B. Langlie | Republican | 1900-1966 | 40 | 1941 Jan 13 | -1945 Jan 8 |
| 13. | Monrad C. Wallgren | Democrat | 1891-1961 | 53 | 1945 Jan 8 | -1949 Jan 12 |
| 14. | Arthur B. Langlie | Republican | ** | 48 | 1949 Jan 12 | -1957 Jan 14 |
| 15. | Albert D. Rosellini | Democrat | 1910-2011 | 46 | 1957 Jan 14 | -1965 Jan 11 |
| 16. | Daniel J. Evans | Republican | 1925- | 39 | 1965 Jan 11 | -1977 Jan 12 |
| 17. | Dixy Lee Ray | Democrat | 1914-1994 | 62 | 1977 Jan 12 | -1981 Jan 14 |
| 18. | John D. Spellman | Republican | 1926- | 54 | 1981 Jan 24 | -1985 Jan 16 |
| 19. | Booth Gardner | Democrat | 1936-2013 | 48 | 1985 Jan 16 | -1993 Jan 13 |
| 20. | Mike Lowry | Democrat | 1939- | 53 | 1993 Jan 13 | -1997 Jan 15 |
| 21. | Gary Locke | Democrat | 1950- | 46 | 1997 Jan 15 | -2005 Jan 12 |
| 22. | Christine Gregoire | Democrat | 1947- | 57 | 2005 Jan 12 | -2013 Jan |
| 23. | Jay Inslee | Democrat | 1951- | 61 | 2013 Jan 16 | – |
*died in office
**Arthur Langlie was the Grover Cleveland of Washington: the only executive to serve two non-consecutive terms. He was the 12th and 14th governor. We listed his birth and death years only once.
UPDATE: Since this list was first published, we have edited it to include a death date for Booth Gardner.
PHOTOS: Jay Inslee’s photo courtesy the Office of the Governor. Elisha P. Ferry’s photo is in the public domain.
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