2003 Governor's Chairs by State

The Green Papers: Off Year Election 2003

2003 Governor's Chairs
by State

3 Governor's Chairs up for election in 2003

4 Elected

47 Governor's Chairs not up for election in 2003

2 Open Governor's Chairs (voluntary retirement, seeking other political office, term limits)

1 Incumbent renominated by same party

1 Democrat

150 Candidates seeking a Governor's Chair

This is a list of the current Governors' seats, the incumbents occupying them, and the candidacy status of said incumbents. Chairs up for election in the year 2003 are marked as such.

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Governor Links



Alabama 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Bob Riley • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is NOT affected by a term limit.

Alaska 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Frank H. Murkowski • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is NOT affected by a term limit.

Arizona 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat

	Democrat	Governor Janet Napolitano • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is NOT affected by a term limit.

Arkansas 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: No one can serve more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Mike Huckabee • As Lieutenant Governor, succeeded to the office upon the resignation of Governor Jim Guy Tucker (Democrat): 15 July 1996; first elected to a full term: 1998; re-elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and CANNOT run in the next election for Governor.

California 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger • First elected: 7 October 2003 in a recall election to replace Governor Gary Davis. • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is NOT affected by a term limit.

Colorado 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Bill Owens • First elected: 1998; re-elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and CANNOT run in the next election for Governor.

Connecticut 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor John G. Rowland • First elected 1994; re-elected: 1998, 2002 [also served in U.S. House- elected: 1984, 1986, 1988] • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Delaware 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2000, 2004. Term Limit: No one can serve more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat

	Democrat	Governor Ruth Ann Minner • First elected: 2000 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004 • The current Governor is NOT affected by a term limit.

Florida 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor John Ellis "Jeb" Bush • First elected: 1998; re-elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and CANNOT run in the next election for Governor.

Georgia 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Sonny Perdue • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is NOT affected by a term limit.

Hawaii 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Linda Lingle • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is NOT affected by a term limit.

Idaho 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Dirk Kempthorne • First elected: 1998; re-elected: 2002 [also served in U.S. Senate- elected: 1992] • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Illinois 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat

	Democrat	Governor Rod R. Blagojevich • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Indiana 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2000, 2004. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in any 3-term period
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat

	Democrat	Governor Joseph E. "Joe" Kernan • Succeeded to the office of Governor upon the death of Governor Frank O'Bannon, 13 September 2003 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004 • The current Governor is NOT affected by a term limit.

Iowa 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat

	Democrat	Governor Tom Vilsack • First elected: 1998; re-elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Kansas 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat

	Democrat	Governor Kathleen Sebelius • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is NOT affected by a term limit.

Kentucky 4 year term, Election Cycle: 1999, 2003. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat

	Democrat	Governor Paul Patton • First elected: 1995; re-elected; 1999 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2003 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and CANNOT run in the next election for Governor. • Open Chair - at term limit

Louisiana 4 year term, Election Cycle: 1999, 2003. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor M.J. "Mike" Foster • First elected: 1995; re-elected: 1999 • Chair up for election: Saturday 15 November 2003 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and CANNOT run in the next election for Governor. • Open Chair - at term limit

Maine 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms. GOVERNOR is the only Statewide elected officer
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat

	Democrat	Governor John E. Baldacci • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is NOT affected by a term limit.

Maryland 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Robert L. "Bob" Ehrlich, Jr. • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is NOT affected by a term limit.

Massachusetts 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Mitt Romney • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Michigan 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat

	Democrat	Governor Jennifer M. Granholm • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is NOT affected by a term limit.

Minnesota 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Tim Pawlenty • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Mississippi 4 year term, Election Cycle: 1999, 2003. Term Limit: No one can serve more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat

	Democrat	Governor Ronnie Musgrove • First elected: 1999 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2003 • The current Governor is NOT affected by a term limit. • Renominated - Tuesday 5 August 2003 Primary

Missouri 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2000, 2004. Term Limit: No one can serve more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat

	Democrat	Governor Bob Holden • First elected: 2000 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004 • The current Governor is NOT affected by a term limit.

Montana 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2000, 2004. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in any 4-term period
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Judy Martz • First elected: 2000 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004 • The current Governor is NOT affected by a term limit. • 13 August 2003: Governor Martz announced that she will not run for re-election in 2004.

Nebraska 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Mike Johanns • First elected: 1998; re-elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and CANNOT run in the next election for Governor.

Nevada 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Kenny Guinn • First elected: 1998; re-elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and CANNOT run in the next election for Governor.

New Hampshire 2 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2004. Term Limit: None. GOVERNOR is the only Statewide elected officer
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Craig Benson • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

New Jersey 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2001, 2005. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat

	Democrat	Governor James E. ["Jim"] McGreevey • First elected: 2001 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 8 November 2005 • The current Governor is NOT affected by a term limit.

New Mexico 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat

	Democrat	Governor Bill Richardson • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is NOT affected by a term limit.

New York 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor George E. Pataki • First elected: 1994; re-elected: 1998, 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

North Carolina 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2000, 2004. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat

	Democrat	Governor Mike Easley • First elected: 2000 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004 • The current Governor is NOT affected by a term limit.

North Dakota 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2000, 2004. Term Limit: North Dakota passed an initiative in November 2022 to amend the state's Constitution to add Gubernatorial term limits of 2 4 year terms. Applies to individuals elected after 1 January 2023
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor John Hoeven • First elected: 2000 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004 • The current Governor is NOT affected by a term limit.

Ohio 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Bob Taft • First elected: 1998; re-elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and CANNOT run in the next election for Governor.

Oklahoma 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat

	Democrat	Governor Brad Henry • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is NOT affected by a term limit.

Oregon 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in any 3-term period
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat

	Democrat	Governor Ted Kulongoski • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is NOT affected by a term limit.

Pennsylvania 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat

	Democrat	Governor Ed Rendell • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is NOT affected by a term limit.

Rhode Island 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Donald L. Carcieri • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is NOT affected by a term limit.

South Carolina 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Mark Sanford • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is NOT affected by a term limit.

South Dakota 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Mike Rounds • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is NOT affected by a term limit.

Tennessee 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms. GOVERNOR is the only Statewide elected officer
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat

	Democrat	Governor Phil Bredesen • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is NOT affected by a term limit.

Texas 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Rick Perry • Lt. Gov. Rick Perry became Governor 21 December 2000 when George W. Bush resigned to take the office of President of the United States. First elected to a full term: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Utah 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2000, 2004. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor Olene S. Walker • Succeeded to the Governor's chair upon the resignation of Governor Michael O. Leavitt: 2003. • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

Vermont 2 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2004. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Republican

	Republican	Governor James H. "Jim" Douglas • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004

Virginia 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2001, 2005. Term Limit: ineligble to immediately succeed after a given 4-year term
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat

	Democrat	Governor Mark Warner • First elected: 2001 (succeeding Republican James S. Gilmore) • Chair up for election: Tuesday 8 November 2005 • The current Governor is affected by a term limit and CANNOT run in the next election for Governor.

Washington 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2000, 2004. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat

	Democrat	Governor Gary Locke • First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2000 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004 • 21 July 2003: Governor Locke announced that he will not seek re-election in 2004.

West Virginia 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2000, 2004. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat

	Democrat	Governor Robert E. Wise, Jr. • First elected: 2000 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2004 • The current Governor is NOT affected by a term limit. • 12 August 2003: Governor Wise announced that he is not a candidate for re-election in 2004 (issue with marital infidelity).

Wisconsin 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: None
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat

	Democrat	Governor Jim Doyle • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006

Wyoming 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2002, 2006. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in any 4-term period. The Wyoming Supreme Court determined on 4 May 2004 that term limits require an amendment to the state constitution rather than, as they were, imposed by a 1992 ballot initiative. At the time, the ruling was not applied to statewide offices. Reference: CATHCART v. MEYER, 2004 WY 49, 88 P.3d 1050, Case Number: 04-32, 04-33, 04-34, Decided: 05/04/2004
Partisan Composition: 1 Democrat

	Democrat	Governor Dave Freudenthal • First elected: 2002 • Chair up for election: Tuesday 7 November 2006 • The current Governor is NOT affected by a term limit.