Republican Governor Sarah H. Palin, who was first elected in 2006, resigned on 26 July 2009. She had announced her resignation on 26 July.

20 January 2009: Governor Janet Napolitano, who was first elected in 2002 and re-elected in 2006, resigned her Chair to become Secretary of Homeland Security in the Obama Administration. She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate viva voce (by voice vote).

Pursuant to law, Ms. Napolitano transmitted the following letter to Arizona’s Secretary of State:

Dear Secretary Brewer:

It has been my honor to serve the people of Arizona as Governor. I look forward to continuing to serve Arizona, our new president, and all the people of our great nation in my new role as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

Pursuant to Arizona Revised Statute 38-294, please accept this letter as my official resignation from the Office of the Governor effective upon my confirmation.

Very truly yours,
Janet Napolitano
Governor

20 January 2009: Secretary of State Janice K. "Jan" Brewer (Republican) became governor upon Governor Janet Napolitano's resignation to become Secretary of Homeland Security.

Friday 9 January 2009:
ILLINOIS GOVERNOR IMPEACHED;
NOW FACES TRIAL IN STATE SENATE

The ILLINOIS House of Representatives has voted to impeach Governor Rod Blagojevich (D-Illinois) by a vote of 114-1; a trial on the charges brought against the Governor by the House will now have to be held in the State Senate, the other chamber in the Land of Lincoln's bicameral General Assembly; the sole punishment which can be brought to bear as a a result of such a trial would be removal of the Governor from office (which would make no difference as regards the Federal criminal charges Blagojevich currently faces, as these will have to adjudicated in Federal court).

Blagojevich remained defiant in a news conference during which he responded to the House action, claiming that, among the reasons he had been impeached, one was "because I've done things to fight for families".

Thursday 29 January 2009
ILLINOIS GOVERNOR REMOVED FROM OFFICE

After a 4-day-long impeachment trial, the ILLINOIS State Senate voted 59 to 0 to convict Governor Rod Blagojevich (Democratic) per the Articles of Impeachment passed by the Illinois House earlier this month. Mr. Blagojevich, who was first elected in 2002 and re-elected in 2006, is banned from ever again holding office in Illinois. Under Article V, Section 6 (c) of the Constitution of the State of Illinois, the Lieutenant Governor assumes all duties and powers of Governor.

Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn becomes the 41st Governor of the State of Illinois, having taken the Oath of Office at 5:40 p.m. on Thursday 29 January 2009. The Oath of Office was administered by Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke in a brief ceremony in the Chamber of the Illinois House of Representatives.

Governor Kathleen Sebelius (Democratic) who was first elected in 2002 and re-elected in 2006 was nominated for Secretary of Health and Human Services by President Obama on Monday 2 March 2009. On Tuesday 28 April 2009, she was confirmed by a U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote of 65-31 with 3 not voting. A short time afterwards, she resigned her Governor's Chair and was sworn in as a member of President Obama's Cabinet. Lieutenant Governor Mark Parkinson (Democratic) who was first elected in 2006 was sworn in as Governor of Kansas.

Governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. (Republican), who was first elected in 2004 and re-elected in 2008, was nominated in May 2009 by President Barack Obama as Ambassador to China. The U.S. Senate confirmed Governor Huntsman by voice vote on 7 August 2009. The Governor resigned his Chair on 11 August 2009. Lieutenant Governor Gary R. Herbert, who was first elected in 2004 and re-elected in 2008 (the Governor and Lieutenant Governor run on the same ticket), succeeded to the Governorship. State Senator Gregory S. Bell (Republican) was selected on 5 August 2009 by then Lieutenant Governor Herbert as the new Lieutenant Governor.