List of oldest living United States governors
The following are lists of the politicians who were or are the longest living and oldest still-living governors of each U.S. state. The current oldest living U.S. state governor is Jimmy Carter (born October 1, 1924), aged 99 years, 295 days, Governor of Georgia from 1971 to 1975. The second oldest living U.S. state governor is Daniel J. Evans (born October 16, 1925), aged 98 years, 280 days, Governor of Washington from 1965 to 1977. Albert Rosellini (1910–2011), the Governor of Washington from 1957 to 1965, lived the longest lifespan of any governor, having died at the age of 101 years, 262 days.
Territorial governors are included in italics.
Longest living U.S. governors[edit]
Start date | End date | Governor | State | Birth date | Gubernatorial term(s) | Party |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
December 7, 1787 | December 12, 1787 | Thomas Collins[1] | Delaware | 1732 | 1786–1789 | No party |
December 12, 1787 | April 17, 1790 | Benjamin Franklin[2] | Pennsylvania | January 17, 1706 | 1785–1788 | No party |
April 17, 1790 | July 25, 1790 | William Livingston | New Jersey | November 30, 1723 | 1776–1790 | Federalist |
July 25, 1790 | October 8, 1793 | Josiah Bartlett | New Hampshire | November 21, 1729 | 1790–1794 | Democratic-Republican |
October 8, 1793 | October 2, 1803 | Samuel Adams[3] | Massachusetts | September 27, 1722 | 1794–1797 | Democratic-Republican |
October 2, 1803 | February 13, 1813 | Samuel Ashe | North Carolina | March 24, 1725 | 1795–1798 | Democratic-Republican |
February 13, 1813 | August 17, 1816 | Samuel Johnston | North Carolina | December 15, 1733 | 1787–1789 | Federalist |
August 17, 1816 | June 24, 1817 | Thomas McKean | Pennsylvania | March 19, 1734 | 1799–1808 | Democratic-Republican |
June 24, 1817 | September 18, 1819 | John Langdon | New Hampshire | June 26, 1741 | 1785–1786, 1788–1789, 1805–1809, 1810–1812, | Democratic-Republican |
September 18, 1819 | March 19, 1829 | John Tayler | New York | July 4, 1742 | 1817 | Democratic-Republican |
March 19, 1829 | May 17, 1829 | John Jay | New York | December 12, 1745 | 1795–1801 | Federalist |
May 17, 1829 | June 10, 1832 | Joseph Hiester | Pennsylvania | November 18, 1752 | 1820–1823 | Democratic-Republican |
June 10, 1832 | September 24, 1834 | Jonas Galusha | Vermont | February 11, 1753 | 1809–1813, 1815–1820 | Democratic-Republican |
September 24, 1834 | December 11, 1838 | Isaac Tichenor | Vermont | February 8, 1754 | 1797–1807, 1808–1809 | Federalist |
December 11, 1838 | April 7, 1844 | Morgan Lewis | New York | October 16, 1754 | 1804–1807 | Democratic-Republican |
April 7, 1844 | December 22, 1850 | William Plumer | New Hampshire | June 25, 1759 | 1812–1813, 1816–1819 | Democratic-Republican |
December 22, 1850 | December 25, 1862 | Joshua Hall | Maine | October 22, 1768 | 1830 | Democratic |
December 25, 1862 | October 16, 1869 | Joseph Ritner | Pennsylvania | March 25, 1780 | 1835–1839 | Anti-Masonic |
October 16, 1869 | February 3, 1870 | Allen Trimble | Ohio | November 24, 1783 | 1822, 1826–1830 | National Republican |
February 3, 1870 | October 10, 1870 | Mordecai Bartley | Ohio | December 16, 1783 | 1844–1846 | Whig |
October 10, 1870 | November 1, 1874 | Enos T. Throop | New York | August 21, 1784 | 1829–1832 | Democratic |
November 1, 1874 | February 27, 1877 | Joseph Johnson | Virginia | December 19, 1785 | 1852–1856 | Democratic |
February 27, 1877 | December 18, 1885 | Hiland Hall | Vermont | July 20, 1795 | 1858–1860 | Republican |
December 18, 1885 | April 27, 1894 | Nathaniel S. Berry | New Hampshire | September 1, 1796 | 1861–1863 | Republican |
April 27, 1894 | June 13, 1896 | Alpheus Felch | Michigan | September 28, 1804 | 1846–1847 | Democratic |
June 13, 1896 | August 23, 1898 | Moody Currier | New Hampshire | April 22, 1806 | 1885–1887 | Republican |
August 23, 1898 | February 28, 1899 | James Madison Wells | Louisiana | January 8, 1808 | 1865–1867 | Republican |
February 28, 1899 | July 9, 1902 | William Marvin | Florida | April 14, 1808 | 1865 | Democratic |
July 9, 1902 | April 27, 1909 | Frederick Holbrook | Vermont | February 15, 1813 | 1861–1863 | Republican |
April 27, 1909 | February 3, 1912 | Frederick Robie | Maine | August 12, 1822 | 1885–1887 | Republican |
February 3, 1912 | June 4, 1912 | Royal C. Taft | Rhode Island | February 14, 1823 | 1888–1889 | Republican |
June 4, 1912 | January 8, 1914 | Simon Bolivar Buckner | Kentucky | April 1, 1823 | 1887–1891 | Democratic |
January 8, 1914 | May 16, 1920 | Levi P. Morton | New York | May 16, 1824 | 1895–1896 | Republican |
May 16, 1920 | April 4, 1923 | Horace Boies | Iowa | December 7, 1827 | 1890–1894 | Democratic |
April 4, 1923 | April 3, 1924 | Ebenezer J. Ormsbee | Vermont | June 8, 1834 | 1886–1888 | Republican |
April 3, 1924 | January 28, 1925 | Augustus O. Bourn | Rhode Island | October 1, 1834 | 1883–1885 | Republican |
January 28, 1925 | April 12, 1933 | Adelbert Ames | Mississippi | October 31, 1835 | 1868–1870, 1874–1876 | Republican |
April 12, 1933 | October 30, 1939 | Roswell K. Colcord | Nevada | April 25, 1839 | 1891–1895 | Republican |
October 30, 1939 | August 23, 1945 | Martin Frederick Ansel | South Carolina | December 12, 1850 | 1907–1911 | Democratic |
August 23, 1945 | September 6, 1946 | John I. Cox | Tennessee | November 23, 1855 | 1905–1907 | Democratic |
September 6, 1946 | April 11, 1949 | Chase Osborn | Michigan | January 22, 1860 | 1911–1913 | Republican |
April 11, 1949 | May 9, 1958 | Fenimore Chatterton | Wyoming | July 21, 1860 | 1903–1905 | Republican |
May 9, 1958 | August 12, 1958 | Augustus Owsley Stanley | Kentucky | May 21, 1867 | 1915–1919 | Democratic |
August 12, 1958 | May 19, 1966 | Theodore F. Green | Rhode Island | October 2, 1867 | 1933–1937 | Democratic |
May 19, 1966 | June 12, 1969 | Percival Proctor Baxter | Maine | November 22, 1876 | 1921–1925 | Republican |
June 12, 1969 | December 19, 1977 | Nellie Tayloe Ross | Wyoming | November 29, 1876 | 1925–1927 | Democratic |
December 19, 1977 | March 3, 1980 | Forrest C. Donnell | Missouri | August 20, 1884 | 1941–1945 | Republican |
March 3, 1980 | October 12, 1987 | Alf Landon | Kansas | September 9, 1887 | 1933–1937 | Republican |
October 12, 1987 | April 21, 1990 | Frank Lausche | Ohio | November 14, 1895 | 1945–1947, 1949–1957 | Democratic |
April 21, 1990 | June 10, 1993 | Milward Simpson | Wyoming | November 12, 1897 | 1955–1959 | Republican |
June 10, 1993 | October 20, 1996 | J. Bracken Lee | Utah | January 7, 1899 | 1949–1957 | Republican |
October 20, 1996 | November 5, 2000 | Jimmie Davis | Louisiana | September 11, 1899 | 1944–1948, 1960–1964 | Democratic |
November 5, 2000 | June 26, 2003 | Strom Thurmond | South Carolina | December 5, 1902 | 1947–1951 | Democratic |
June 26, 2003 | April 19, 2004 | Frank B. Morrison | Nebraska | May 20, 1905 | 1961–1967 | Democratic |
April 19, 2004 | November 15, 2004 | Elmer L. Andersen | Minnesota | June 17, 1909 | 1961–1963 | Republican |
November 15, 2004 | October 10, 2011 | Albert Rosellini | Washington | January 21, 1910 | 1957–1965 | Democratic |
October 10, 2011 | April 10, 2015 | Raúl Héctor Castro | Arizona | June 12, 1916 | 1975–1977 | Democratic |
April 10, 2015 | February 4, 2016 | Edgar Whitcomb | Indiana | November 6, 1917 | 1969–1973 | Republican |
February 4, 2016 | January 17, 2017 | David P. Buckson | Delaware | July 25, 1920 | 1960–1961 | Republican |
January 17, 2017 | June 4, 2021 | John M. Patterson | Alabama | September 27, 1921 | 1959–1963 | Democratic |
June 4, 2021 | August 18, 2023 | Al Quie | Minnesota | September 18, 1923 | 1979–1983 | Republican |
August 18, 2023 | present | Jimmy Carter | Georgia | October 1, 1924 | 1971–1975 | Democratic |
Oldest living U.S. governors[edit]
These are the 100 oldest living United States governors, current or former. The longevity in this table is calculated as of July 22, 2024. Territorial governors are included but not ranked.
- Key
![]() |
Incumbent |
Rank |
Governor |
Date of birth |
Gubernatorial term(s) |
State |
Party |
Lifespan |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jimmy Carter | October 1, 1924 | 1971–1975 | Georgia | Democratic | 99 years, 295 days |
2 | Daniel J. Evans | October 16, 1925 | 1965–1977 | Washington | Republican | 98 years, 280 days |
3 | George Ariyoshi | March 12, 1926 | 1974–1986 | Hawaii | Democratic | 98 years, 132 days |
4 | George Nigh | June 9, 1927 | 1963 1979–1987 |
Oklahoma | Democratic | 97 years, 43 days |
5 | Winfield Dunn | July 1, 1927 | 1971–1975 | Tennessee | Republican | 97 years, 21 days |
6 | Roy Romer | October 31, 1928 | 1987–1999 | Colorado | Democratic | 95 years, 265 days |
7 | Douglas Wilder | January 17, 1931 | 1990–1994 | Virginia | Democratic | 93 years, 187 days |
8 | Kenneth M. Curtis | February 8, 1931 | 1967–1975 | Maine | Democratic | 93 years, 165 days |
9 | Philip Noel | June 6, 1931 | 1973–1977 | Rhode Island | Democratic | 93 years, 46 days |
10 | Thomas P. Salmon | August 19, 1932 | 1973–1977 | Vermont | Democratic | 91 years, 338 days |
11 | Richard Riley | January 2, 1933 | 1979–1987 | South Carolina | Democratic | 91 years, 202 days |
12 | Buddy MacKay | March 22, 1933 | 1998–1999 | Florida | Democratic | 91 years, 122 days |
13 | Frank Murkowski | March 28, 1933 | 2002–2006 | Alaska | Republican | 91 years, 116 days |
14 | Pete Wilson | August 23, 1933 | 1991–1999 | California | Republican | 90 years, 334 days |
15 | Madeleine Kunin | September 28, 1933 | 1985–1991 | Vermont | Democratic | 90 years, 298 days |
16 | Michael Dukakis | November 3, 1933 | 1975–1979 1983–1991 |
Massachusetts | Democratic | 90 years, 262 days |
17 | George Ryan | February 24, 1934 | 1999–2003 | Illinois | Republican | 90 years, 149 days |
18 | Edward D. DiPrete | July 8, 1934 | 1985–1991 | Rhode Island | Republican | 90 years, 14 days |
N/A | Paul McDonald Calvo | July 25, 1934 | 1979–1983 | Guam | Republican | 89 years, 363 days |
19 | Fob James | September 15, 1934 | 1979–1983 1995–1999 |
Alabama | Democratic/ Republican |
89 years, 311 days |
20 | Arne Carlson | September 24, 1934 | 1991–1999 | Minnesota | Republican | 89 years, 302 days |
21 | Bob Martinez | December 25, 1934 | 1987–1991 | Florida | Republican | 89 years, 210 days |
22 | Thomas Kean | April 21, 1935 | 1982–1990 | New Jersey | Republican | 89 years, 92 days |
23 | James G. Martin | December 11, 1935 | 1985–1993 | North Carolina | Republican | 88 years, 224 days |
24 | Joe Frank Harris | February 16, 1936 | 1983–1991 | Georgia | Democratic | 88 years, 157 days |
25 | Robert List | September 1, 1936 | 1979–1983 | Nevada | Republican | 87 years, 325 days |
26 | Martha Layne Collins | December 7, 1936 | 1983–1987 | Kentucky | Democratic | 87 years, 228 days |
27 | Barbara Roberts | December 21, 1936 | 1991–1995 | Oregon | Democratic | 87 years, 214 days |
N/A | Carlos S. Camacho | February 27, 1937 | 1978–1982 | Northern Mariana Islands | Democratic | 87 years, 146 days |
28 | Jim Hunt | May 16, 1937 | 1977–1985 1993–2001 |
North Carolina | Democratic | 87 years, 67 days |
29 | Paul E. Patton | May 26, 1937 | 1995–2003 | Kentucky | Democratic | 87 years, 57 days |
30 | Jay Rockefeller | June 18, 1937 | 1977–1985 | West Virginia | Democratic | 87 years, 34 days |
31 | Richard Bryan | July 16, 1937 | 1983–1989 | Nevada | Democratic | 87 years, 6 days |
32 | Dick Celeste | November 11, 1937 | 1983–1991 | Ohio | Democratic | 86 years, 254 days |
33 | Jerry Brown | April 7, 1938 | 1975–1983 2011–2019 |
California | Democratic | 86 years, 106 days |
34 | Neil Abercrombie | June 26, 1938 | 2010–2014 | Hawaii | Democratic | 86 years, 26 days |
35 | Bruce Babbitt | June 27, 1938 | 1978–1987 | Arizona | Democratic | 86 years, 25 days |
36 | Steve Cowper | August 21, 1938 | 1986–1990 | Alaska | Democratic | 85 years, 336 days |
37 | Allen I. Olson | November 5, 1938 | 1981–1985 | North Dakota | Republican | 85 years, 260 days |
38 | Kay A. Orr | January 2, 1939 | 1987–1991 | Nebraska | Republican | 85 years, 202 days |
39 | Kit Bond | March 6, 1939 | 1973–1977 1981–1985 |
Missouri | Republican | 85 years, 138 days |
40 | Martin J. Schreiber | April 8, 1939 | 1977–1979 | Wisconsin | Democratic | 85 years, 105 days |
41 | Chuck Robb | June 26, 1939 | 1982–1986 | Virginia | Democratic | 85 years, 26 days |
42 | Mike Castle | July 2, 1939 | 1985–1992 | Delaware | Republican | 85 years, 20 days |
43 | John H. Sununu | July 2, 1939 | 1983–1989 | New Hampshire | Republican | 85 years, 20 days |
44 | Garrey Carruthers | August 29, 1939 | 1987–1991 | New Mexico | Republican | 84 years, 328 days |
45 | Mike Sullivan | September 22, 1939 | 1987–1995 | Wyoming | Democratic | 84 years, 304 days |
46 | Ben Cayetano | November 14, 1939 | 1994–2002 | Hawaii | Democratic | 84 years, 251 days |
47 | Gaston Caperton | February 21, 1940 | 1989–1997 | West Virginia | Democratic | 84 years, 152 days |
48 | Lamar Alexander | July 3, 1940 | 1979–1987 | Tennessee | Republican | 84 years, 19 days |
49 | John W. Carlin | August 3, 1940 | 1979–1987 | Kansas | Democratic | 83 years, 354 days |
50 | Ted Kulongoski | November 5, 1940 | 2003–2011 | Oregon | Democratic | 83 years, 260 days |
51 | David Boren | April 21, 1941 | 1975–1979 | Oklahoma | Democratic | 83 years, 92 days |
52 | Toney Anaya | April 29, 1941 | 1983–1987 | New Mexico | Democratic | 83 years, 84 days |
53 | Ben Nelson | May 17, 1941 | 1991–1999 | Nebraska | Democratic | 83 years, 66 days |
54 | Ted Strickland | August 4, 1941 | 2007–2011 | Ohio | Democratic | 82 years, 353 days |
N/A | Carl Gutierrez | October 15, 1941 | 1995–2003 | Guam | Democratic | 82 years, 281 days |
55 | Tommy Thompson | November 19, 1941 | 1987–2001 | Wisconsin | Republican | 82 years, 246 days |
56 | Bob Taft | January 9, 1942 | 1999–2007 | Ohio | Republican | 82 years, 195 days |
57 | Butch Otter | May 3, 1942 | 2007–2019 | Idaho | Republican | 82 years, 80 days |
58 | John Ashcroft | May 9, 1942 | 1985–1993 | Missouri | Republican | 82 years, 74 days |
59 | Parris Glendening | June 11, 1942 | 1995–2003 | Maryland | Democratic | 82 years, 41 days |
60 | James J. Blanchard | August 8, 1942 | 1983–1991 | Michigan | Democratic | 81 years, 349 days |
61 | Nathan Deal | August 25, 1942 | 2011–2019 | Georgia | Republican | 81 years, 332 days |
N/A | Sila María Calderón | September 23, 1942 | 2001–2005 | Puerto Rico | Popular Democratic | 81 years, 303 days |
62 | Donald Carcieri | December 16, 1942 | 2003–2011 | Rhode Island | Republican | 81 years, 219 days |
63 | Gray Davis | December 26, 1942 | 1999–2003 | California | Democratic | 81 years, 209 days |
64 | Tony Knowles | January 1, 1943 | 1994–2002 | Alaska | Democratic | 81 years, 203 days |
65 | Robert J. Bentley | February 3, 1943 | 2011–2017 | Alabama | Republican | 81 years, 170 days |
66 | Jim Risch | May 3, 1943 | 2006–2007 | Idaho | Republican | 81 years, 80 days |
67 | Jim Guy Tucker | June 13, 1943 | 1992–1996 | Arkansas | Democratic | 81 years, 39 days |
68 | Bob Kerrey | August 27, 1943 | 1983–1987 | Nebraska | Democratic | 80 years, 330 days |
69 | Phil Bredesen | November 21, 1943 | 2003–2011 | Tennessee | Democratic | 80 years, 244 days |
N/A | Joseph Franklin Ada | December 3, 1943 | 1987–1995 | Guam | Republican | 80 years, 232 days |
70 | Ed Rendell | January 5, 1944 | 2003–2011 | Pennsylvania | Democratic | 80 years, 199 days |
71 | Frank Keating | February 10, 1944 | 1995–2003 | Oklahoma | Republican | 80 years, 163 days |
72 | Mike Hayden | March 16, 1944 | 1987–1991 | Kansas | Republican | 80 years, 128 days |
73 | Angus King | March 31, 1944 | 1995–2003 | Maine | Independent | 80 years, 113 days |
N/A | Pedro Rosselló | April 5, 1944 | 1993–2001 | Puerto Rico | New Progressive | 80 years, 108 days |
74 | Jim Geringer | April 24, 1944 | 1995–2003 | Wyoming | Republican | 80 years, 89 days |
75 | Steve Beshear | September 21, 1944 | 2007–2015 | Kentucky | Democratic | 79 years, 305 days |
76 | Jan Brewer | September 26, 1944 | 2009–2015 | Arizona | Republican | 79 years, 300 days |
77 | Bob Riley | October 3, 1944 | 2003–2011 | Alabama | Republican | 79 years, 293 days |
78 | Kay Ivey ![]() |
October 15, 1944 | 2017–present | Alabama | Republican | 79 years, 281 days |
79 | Donald DiFrancesco | November 20, 1944 | 2001–2002 | New Jersey | Republican | 79 years, 245 days |
80 | Jim Gibbons | December 16, 1944 | 2007–2011 | Nevada | Republican | 79 years, 219 days |
81 | Bob Miller | March 30, 1945 | 1989–1999 | Nevada | Democratic | 79 years, 114 days |
82 | George Pataki | June 24, 1945 | 1995–2006 | New York | Republican | 79 years, 28 days |
83 | Bill Weld | July 31, 1945 | 1991–1997 | Massachusetts | Republican | 78 years, 357 days |
84 | Fife Symington | August 12, 1945 | 1991–1997 | Arizona | Republican | 78 years, 345 days |
85 | Tom Ridge | August 26, 1945 | 1995–2001 | Pennsylvania | Republican | 78 years, 331 days |
86 | Jim Doyle | November 23, 1945 | 2003–2011 | Wisconsin | Democratic | 78 years, 242 days |
N/A | Benigno Fitial | November 27, 1945 | 2006–2013 | Northern Mariana Islands | Republican/Covenant | 78 years, 238 days |
87 | Don Siegelman | February 24, 1946 | 1999–2003 | Alabama | Democratic | 78 years, 149 days |
88 | John D. Waiheʻe III | May 19, 1946 | 1986–1994 | Hawaii | Democratic | 78 years, 64 days |
89 | Jodi Rell | June 16, 1946 | 2004–2011 | Connecticut | Republican | 78 years, 36 days |
90 | George W. Bush | July 6, 1946 | 1995–2000 | Texas | Republican | 78 years, 16 days |
91 | Jim Edgar | July 22, 1946 | 1991–1999 | Illinois | Republican | 78 years, 0 days |
92 | Ed Schafer | August 8, 1946 | 1992–2000 | North Dakota | Republican | 77 years, 349 days |
93 | Bill Clinton | August 19, 1946 | 1979–1981 1983–1992 |
Arkansas | Democratic | 77 years, 338 days |
94 | Christine Todd Whitman | September 26, 1946 | 1994–2001 | New Jersey | Republican | 77 years, 300 days |
95 | Terry Branstad | November 17, 1946 | 1983–1999 2011–2017 |
Iowa | Republican | 77 years, 248 days |
96 | Richard Codey | November 27, 1946 | 2002 2004–2006 |
New Jersey | Democratic | 77 years, 238 days |
97 | Sonny Purdue | December 20, 1946 | 2003–2011 | Georgia | Republican | 77 years, 215 days |
98 | Mike Beebe | December 28, 1946 | 2007–2015 | Arkansas | Democratic | 77 years, 207 days |
99 | Jon Corzine | January 1, 1947 | 2006–2010 | New Jersey | Democratic | 77 years, 203 days |
100 | Mike DeWine ![]() |
January 5, 1947 | 2019–present | Ohio | Republican | 77 years, 199 days |
See also[edit]
- Oldest living United States president
- List of the oldest living members of the United States House of Representatives
- Dean of the United States House of Representatives
- Dean of the United States Senate
- List of longest-living United States senators
- List of members of the United States Congress by longevity of service
- List of living former United States governors
- Earliest serving United States governor
- List of living former United States senators