The governor of Delaware (known as the president of Delaware from 1776 to 1792) is the head of government of Delaware and the commander-in-chief of the state'smilitary forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Delaware Legislature, to convene the legislature,[2] and to grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment, and only with the recommendation of the Board of Pardons.[3]
There have been 71 people who have served as governor, over 74 distinct terms. Three (Joseph Haslet, Charles Polk Jr. and Elbert N. Carvel) served non-consecutive terms. Additionally, Henry Molleston was elected, but died before he could take office. Only four governors have been elected to two consecutive terms, with the longest-serving being Ruth Ann Minner, who was elected twice after succeeding to the office, serving a total of just over eight years. The shortest term is that of Bethany Hall-Long, who served 15 days following her predecessor's resignation; Dale E. Wolf served 18 days and David P. Buckson served 19 days under similar circumstances. The current governor is DemocratMatt Meyer, who took office on January 21, 2025.
In 1776, soon after Delaware and the other Thirteen Colonies declared independence from Britain, the state adopted its first state constitution. It created the office of President of Delaware, a chief executive to be chosen by the legislature to serve a term of three years, who would be ineligible to be president again until three years had passed after leaving office.[4]
The office of President was renamed Governor by the constitution of 1792,[5] which set the commencement date of the term to the third Tuesday in the January following an election, and limited governors to serving only three out of any six years.[6] The term was lengthened to four years by the 1831 constitution, but governors were limited to a single term.[7] The current constitution of 1897 allows governors to serve two terms.[8]
The 1776 constitution stated that if the presidency were vacant, the speaker of the legislative council would be a vice-president.[9] The 1792 constitution has the speaker of the senate exercising the office when it is vacant, and the 1897 constitution created the office of lieutenant governor,[10] upon whom the office devolves in case of vacancy.[11] The offices of governor and lieutenant governor are elected at the same time but not on the same ticket.
^The office of lieutenant governor was created in 1897,[10] with the first election taking place in 1900.
^Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
^Most sources do not specify the day McKinly was captured; at least one specifies that McKinly and the city of Wilmington were captured the day after the Battle of Brandywine, which was on September 11, 1777.[17]
^ abSpeaker of the Assembly McKean acted as chief executive until the return of speaker of the Legislative Council Read from the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, who then served as vice-president for the remainder of the term.[23]
^Kallenbach has Rodney leaving office on November 5, with a gap until Dickinson takes office, with no reason given.[22]
^ abUnder the 1776 constitution, presidents were ineligible to the office until three years had passed after leaving it.[28]
^Sources disagree on when Dickinson took office; the proceedings of the assembly, published in 1988, says his inaugural address was delivered November 13;[31] the governor's register, published in 1926, says he was elected on November 13 and inaugurated on November 14.[32]
^Dickinson was elected President of Pennsylvania and took office November 7, 1782, holding both presidencies simultaneously. Criticism of this caused him to turn administration of the state over to Speaker of the Legislative Council Cook, but Dickinson did not formally resign until January 13, 1783.[14][33]
^Clayton's first term was as president, so he was eligible to run for a term as governor.[50]
^ abcdefghUnder the 1792 constitution, governors could serve no longer than three in any term of six years.[51]
^ abSources disagree on if Bedford died on September 28 or September 30, sometimes within the same source.[56]
^The constitutional start date for the term in 1799 was January 15; multiple sources say Bassett took office January 9, but it is not known why it was off schedule.[22][63] A few sources do say he took office January 15.[64]
^ abDue to the death of Governor-elect Molleston, there was some question as to who should take office when Clark's term ended. To minimize any confusion, Clark resigned a few days ahead of schedule, and the newly elected state senate chose a speaker, John Stout, who would act as governor for one year of Molleston's term before a special election was held for the remaining two years.[92][93]
^Special election to serve out the last two years of Henry Molleston's term[93]
^The governor's register has Haslet being inaugurated on January 22, but it specifies the third Tuesday in January, which in 1823 was the 21st.[105]
^Haslet died on June 20;[109] Thomas was not sworn in until June 24.[110]
^Because of the death of Haslet so early in his term, an early election was called. Unlike when Henry Molleston died, where the election was only for the final two years of his term, in this case the new election was for a new three-year term, causing the election schedule to shift.[93]
^ abcdefghijklmnUnder the 1831 constitution, governors were not eligible a second time to the office.[124]
^First term under the 1831 constitution, which lengthened terms to four years.[7]
^Special election called due to the deaths of Stockton and Maull, causing a shift in the election schedule.[157]
^Because Marvil died so early in his term, the General Assembly decided to conduct an election for a full term in 1896, changing the election schedule.[215]
^"none". Aurora General Advertiser. January 22, 1802. p. 2. Retrieved August 5, 2023. On Tuesday the 19th inst. colonel David Hall, governor elect, was installed into office...
^"none". Aurora General Advertiser. January 24, 1805. p. 2. Retrieved August 5, 2023. ... the following address was delivered on the 15th inst. by Mr. Mitchell, who succeeds him.
^"none". Aurora General Advertiser. January 30, 1808. p. 2. Retrieved August 5, 2023. On Tuesday last, the federal governor of the state of Delaware, G. Truitt, was sworn into power and place.
^"none". The Alexandria Herald. June 30, 1823. p. 2. Retrieved August 7, 2023. We also learn that Charles Thomas, esq. the speaker of the senate, on whom the duties of governor now devolve, lies dangerously ill.
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