Governors Who Became President
Throughout American history, seventeen U.S. presidents have served as governors before becoming president. Of these seventeen, six served as Governor when they ran for president, seven ran for president after their gubernatorial term(s) ended, and four served as vice president and assumed office following the sitting president's death. Governorships often provide a unique platform for future presidents to showcase their leadership skills, manage budgets, and respond to crises—skills directly transferable to the presidency.
Notable examples include Thomas Jefferson, who served as Governor of Virginia before becoming the third U.S. President. More recently, figures like Jimmy Carter of Georgia, Ronald Reagan of California, Bill Clinton of Arkansas, and George W. Bush of Texas followed a similar path, using their state-level executive roles as springboards to national office. These governors capitalized on their outsider appeal or reformist reputations to win over a broader electorate. Serving as a governor can provide distance from Washington's gridlock, allowing candidates to campaign as pragmatic problem-solvers rather than entrenched politicians.
Thomas Jefferson
3rd President of the United States
Thomas Jefferson was the 3rd President of the United States, serving from 1801 to 1809. Jefferson served as the 2nd Governor of Virginia from 1779 to 1781.
James K. Polk
11th President of the United States
James K. Polk was the 11th President of the United States, serving from 1845 to 1849. Polk served as the 9th Governor of Tennessee from 1839 to 1841.
William McKinley
25th President of the United States
William McKinley was the 25th President of the United States, serving from 1897 to 1901. McKinley served as the 39th Governor of Ohio from 1892 to 1896.
Franklin Roosevelt
32nd President of the United States
Franklin Roosevelt was the 32nd President of the United States, serving from 1933 to 1945. Roosevelt served as the 44th Governor of New York from 1929 to 1932.
George W. Bush
43rd President of the United States
George W. Bush was the 43rd President of the United States, serving from 2001 to 2009. Bush served as the 46th Governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000.
James Monroe
5th President of the United States
James Monroe was the 5th President of the United States, serving from 1817 to 1825. Monroe served as the 12th and 16th Governor of Virginia from 1799 to 1802 and 1811.
Andrew Johnson
17th President of the United States
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States, serving from 1865-1869. Johnson served as the 15th Governor of Tennessee from 1853-1857.
Theodore Roosevelt
26th President of the United States
Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States, serving from 1901 to 1909. Roosevelt served as the 33rd Governor of New York from 1899 to 1900.
Jimmy Carter
39th President of the United States
Jimmy Carter was the 39th President of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981. Carter served as the 76th Governor of Georgia from 1971 to 1975.
Martin Van Buren
8th President of the United States
Martin Van Buren was the 8th President of the United States, serving from 1837 to 1841. Van Buren served as the 9th Governor of New York in 1829.
Rutherford B. Hayes
19th President of the United States
Rutherford B. Hayes was the 19th President of the United States, serving from 1877 to 1881. Hayes served as the 29th and 32nd Governor of Ohio from 1868 to 1872 and 1876 to 1877.
Woodrow Wilson
28th President of the United States
Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, serving from 1913 to 1921. Wilson served as the 34th Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913.
Ronald Reagan
40th President of the United States
Ronald Reagan was the 40th President of the United States, serving from 1981 to 1989. Reagan served as the 33rd Governor of California from 1967 to 1975.
John Tyler
10th President of the United States
John Tyler was the 10th President of the United States, serving from 1841 to 1845. Tyler served as the 23rd Governor of Virginia from 1825 to 1827.
Grover Cleveland
22nd & 24th President of the United States
Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th President of the United States from 1885 to 1889 and 1883 to 1897. Cleveland served as the 28th Governor of New York from 1883 to 1884.
Calvin Coolidge
30th President of the United States
Calvin Coolidge was the 30th President of the United States, serving from 1923 to 1929. Coolidge served as the 48th Governor of Massachusetts from 1919 to 1921.
Bill Clinton
42nd President of the United States
Bill Clinton was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. Clinton served as the 40th & 42nd Governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and 1983 to 1992.