List of oldest living United States governors
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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 George Ariyoshi, aged 99 years, 24 days, Governor of Hawaii from 1974 to 1986. 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
Start date | End date | Governor | State | Birth date | Gubernatorial term(s) | Party |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
October 28, 1786 | March 29, 1789 | Thomas Collins | ![]() |
1732 | 1786–1789 | No party |
March 29, 1789 | April 17, 1790 | Benjamin Franklin | ![]() |
January 17, 1706 | 1785–1788 | No party |
April 17, 1790 | July 25, 1790 | William Livingston | ![]() |
November 30, 1723 | 1776–1790 | Federalist |
July 25, 1790 | May 19, 1795 | Josiah Bartlett | ![]() |
November 21, 1729 | 1790–1794 | Democratic-Republican |
May 19, 1795 | October 2, 1803 | Samuel Adams | ![]() |
September 27, 1722 | 1794–1797 | Democratic-Republican |
October 2, 1803 | February 3, 1813 | Samuel Ashe | ![]() |
March 24, 1725 | 1795–1798 | Democratic-Republican |
February 3, 1813 | August 17, 1816 | Samuel Johnston | ![]() |
December 15, 1733 | 1787–1789 | Federalist |
August 17, 1816 | June 24, 1817 | Thomas McKean | ![]() |
March 19, 1734 | 1799–1808 | Democratic-Republican |
June 24, 1817 | September 18, 1819 | John Langdon | ![]() |
June 26, 1741 | 1785–1786, 1788–1789, 1805–1809, 1810–1812, | Democratic-Republican |
September 18, 1819 | March 19, 1829 | John Tayler | ![]() |
July 4, 1742 | 1817 | Democratic-Republican |
March 19, 1829 | May 17, 1829 | John Jay | ![]() |
December 12, 1745 | 1795–1801 | Federalist |
May 17, 1829 | June 10, 1832 | Joseph Hiester | ![]() |
November 18, 1752 | 1820–1823 | Democratic-Republican |
June 10, 1832 | September 24, 1834 | Jonas Galusha | ![]() |
February 11, 1753 | 1809–1813, 1815–1820 | Democratic-Republican |
September 24, 1834 | December 11, 1838 | Isaac Tichenor | ![]() |
February 8, 1754 | 1797–1807, 1808–1809 | Federalist |
December 11, 1838 | April 7, 1844 | Morgan Lewis | ![]() |
October 16, 1754 | 1804–1807 | Democratic-Republican |
April 7, 1844 | December 22, 1850 | William Plumer | ![]() |
June 25, 1759 | 1812–1813, 1816–1819 | Democratic-Republican |
December 22, 1850 | December 25, 1862 | Joshua Hall | ![]() |
October 22, 1768 | 1830 | Democratic |
December 25, 1862 | October 16, 1869 | Joseph Ritner | ![]() |
March 25, 1780 | 1835–1839 | Anti-Masonic |
October 16, 1869 | February 3, 1870 | Allen Trimble | ![]() |
November 24, 1783 | 1822, 1826–1830 | National Republican |
February 3, 1870 | October 10, 1870 | Mordecai Bartley | ![]() |
December 16, 1783 | 1844–1846 | Whig |
October 10, 1870 | November 1, 1874 | Enos T. Throop | ![]() |
August 21, 1784 | 1829–1832 | Democratic |
November 1, 1874 | February 27, 1877 | Joseph Johnson | ![]() |
December 19, 1785 | 1852–1856 | Democratic |
February 27, 1877 | December 18, 1885 | Hiland Hall | ![]() |
July 20, 1795 | 1858–1860 | Republican |
December 18, 1885 | April 27, 1894 | Nathaniel S. Berry | ![]() |
September 1, 1796 | 1861–1863 | Republican |
April 27, 1894 | June 13, 1896 | Alpheus Felch | ![]() |
September 28, 1804 | 1846–1847 | Democratic |
June 13, 1896 | August 23, 1898 | Moody Currier | ![]() |
April 22, 1806 | 1885–1887 | Republican |
August 23, 1898 | February 28, 1899 | James Madison Wells | ![]() |
January 8, 1808 | 1865–1867 | Republican |
February 28, 1899 | July 9, 1902 | William Marvin | ![]() |
April 14, 1808 | 1865 | Democratic |
July 9, 1902 | April 28, 1909 | Frederick Holbrook | ![]() |
February 15, 1813 | 1861–1863 | Republican |
April 28, 1909 | February 3, 1912 | Frederick Robie | ![]() |
August 12, 1822 | 1885–1887 | Republican |
February 3, 1912 | June 4, 1912 | Royal C. Taft | ![]() |
February 14, 1823 | 1888–1889 | Republican |
June 4, 1912 | January 8, 1914 | Simon Bolivar Buckner | ![]() |
April 1, 1823 | 1887–1891 | Democratic |
January 8, 1914 | May 16, 1920 | Levi P. Morton | ![]() |
May 16, 1824 | 1895–1896 | Republican |
May 16, 1920 | April 4, 1923 | Horace Boies | ![]() |
December 7, 1827 | 1890–1894 | Democratic |
April 4, 1923 | April 3, 1924 | Ebenezer J. Ormsbee | ![]() |
June 8, 1834 | 1886–1888 | Republican |
April 3, 1924 | January 28, 1925 | Augustus O. Bourn | ![]() |
October 1, 1834 | 1883–1885 | Republican |
January 28, 1925 | April 13, 1933 | Adelbert Ames | ![]() |
October 31, 1835 | 1868–1870, 1874–1876 | Republican |
April 13, 1933 | October 30, 1939 | Roswell K. Colcord | ![]() |
April 25, 1839 | 1891–1895 | Republican |
October 30, 1939 | August 23, 1945 | Martin Frederick Ansel | ![]() |
December 12, 1850 | 1907–1911 | Democratic |
August 23, 1945 | September 5, 1946 | John I. Cox | ![]() |
November 23, 1855 | 1905–1907 | Democratic |
September 5, 1946 | April 11, 1949 | Chase Osborn | ![]() |
January 22, 1860 | 1911–1913 | Republican |
April 11, 1949 | May 9, 1958 | Fenimore Chatterton | ![]() |
July 21, 1860 | 1903–1905 | Republican |
May 9, 1958 | August 12, 1958 | Augustus Owsley Stanley | ![]() |
May 21, 1867 | 1915–1919 | Democratic |
August 12, 1958 | May 19, 1966 | Theodore F. Green | ![]() |
October 2, 1867 | 1933–1937 | Democratic |
May 19, 1966 | June 12, 1969 | Percival P. Baxter | ![]() |
November 22, 1876 | 1921–1925 | Republican |
June 12, 1969 | December 19, 1977 | Nellie Tayloe Ross | ![]() |
November 29, 1876 | 1925–1927 | Democratic |
December 19, 1977 | March 3, 1980 | Forrest C. Donnell | ![]() |
August 20, 1884 | 1941–1945 | Republican |
March 3, 1980 | October 12, 1987 | Alf Landon | ![]() |
September 9, 1887 | 1933–1937 | Republican |
October 12, 1987 | April 21, 1990 | Frank Lausche | ![]() |
November 14, 1895 | 1945–1947, 1949–1957 | Democratic |
April 21, 1990 | June 11, 1993 | Milward Simpson | ![]() |
November 12, 1897 | 1955–1959 | Republican |
June 11, 1993 | October 20, 1996 | J. Bracken Lee | ![]() |
January 7, 1899 | 1949–1957 | Republican |
October 20, 1996 | November 5, 2000 | Jimmie Davis | ![]() |
September 11, 1899 | 1944–1948, 1960–1964 | Democratic |
November 5, 2000 | June 26, 2003 | Strom Thurmond | ![]() |
December 5, 1902 | 1947–1951 | Democratic |
June 26, 2003 | April 19, 2004 | Frank B. Morrison | ![]() |
May 20, 1905 | 1961–1967 | Democratic |
April 19, 2004 | November 15, 2004 | Elmer L. Andersen | ![]() |
June 17, 1909 | 1961–1963 | Republican |
November 15, 2004 | October 10, 2011 | Albert Rosellini | ![]() |
January 21, 1910 | 1957–1965 | Democratic |
October 10, 2011 | April 10, 2015 | Raúl Héctor Castro | ![]() |
June 12, 1916 | 1975–1977 | Democratic |
April 10, 2015 | February 4, 2016 | Edgar Whitcomb | ![]() |
November 6, 1917 | 1969–1973 | Republican |
February 4, 2016 | January 17, 2017 | David P. Buckson | ![]() |
July 25, 1920 | 1960–1961 | Republican |
January 17, 2017 | June 4, 2021 | John M. Patterson | ![]() |
September 27, 1921 | 1959–1963 | Democratic |
June 4, 2021 | August 18, 2023 | Al Quie | ![]() |
September 18, 1923 | 1979–1983 | Independent-Republican |
August 18, 2023 | December 29, 2024 | Jimmy Carter | ![]() |
October 1, 1924 | 1971–1975 | Democratic |
December 29, 2024 | Present | George Ariyoshi | ![]() |
March 12, 1926 | 1974–1986 | Democratic |
Oldest living U.S. governors
These are the 100 oldest living United States governors, current or former. Territorial governors are included but not ranked.
- Key
Incumbent |
Rank | Governor | Date of birth | Gubernatorial term(s) | State | Party | Age (years, days) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | George Ariyoshi | March 12, 1926 | 1974–1986 | ![]() |
Democratic | 99 years, 24 days |
2 | George Nigh | June 9, 1927 | 1963, 1979–1987 | ![]() |
Democratic | 97 years, 300 days |
3 | Roy Romer | October 31, 1928 | 1987–1999 | ![]() |
Democratic | 96 years, 156 days |
4 | Douglas Wilder | January 17, 1931 | 1990–1994 | ![]() |
Democratic | 94 years, 78 days |
5 | Kenneth M. Curtis | February 8, 1931 | 1967–1975 | ![]() |
Democratic | 94 years, 56 days |
6 | Philip Noel | June 6, 1931 | 1973–1977 | ![]() |
Democratic | 93 years, 303 days |
7 | Richard Riley | January 2, 1933 | 1979–1987 | ![]() |
Democratic | 92 years, 93 days |
8 | Frank Murkowski | March 28, 1933 | 2002–2006 | ![]() |
Republican | 92 years, 8 days |
9 | Pete Wilson | August 23, 1933 | 1991–1999 | ![]() |
Republican | 91 years, 225 days |
10 | Madeleine Kunin | September 28, 1933 | 1985–1991 | ![]() |
Democratic | 91 years, 189 days |
11 | Michael Dukakis | November 3, 1933 | 1975–1979, 1983–1991 | ![]() |
Democratic | 91 years, 153 days |
12 | George Ryan | February 24, 1934 | 1999–2003 | ![]() |
Republican | 91 years, 40 days |
13 | Edward D. DiPrete | July 8, 1934 | 1985–1991 | ![]() |
Republican | 90 years, 271 days |
14 | Fob James | September 15, 1934 | 1979–1983, 1995–1999 | ![]() |
Democratic (1979–1983)
Republican (1995–1999) |
90 years, 202 days |
15 | Arne Carlson | September 24, 1934 | 1991–1999 | ![]() |
Independent-Republican/Republican | 90 years, 193 days |
16 | Bob Martinez | December 25, 1934 | 1987–1991 | ![]() |
Republican | 90 years, 101 days |
17 | Thomas Kean | April 21, 1935 | 1982–1990 | ![]() |
Republican | 89 years, 349 days |
18 | James G. Martin | December 11, 1935 | 1985–1993 | ![]() |
Republican | 89 years, 115 days |
19 | Joe Frank Harris | February 16, 1936 | 1983–1991 | ![]() |
Democratic | 89 years, 48 days |
20 | Robert List | September 1, 1936 | 1979–1983 | ![]() |
Republican | 88 years, 216 days |
21 | Martha Layne Collins | December 7, 1936 | 1983–1987 | ![]() |
Democratic | 88 years, 119 days |
22 | Barbara Roberts | December 21, 1936 | 1991–1995 | ![]() |
Democratic | 88 years, 105 days |
– | Carlos S. Camacho | February 27, 1937 | 1978–1982 | ![]() |
Democratic | 88 years, 37 days |
23 | Jim Hunt | May 16, 1937 | 1977–1985, 1993–2001 | ![]() |
Democratic | 87 years, 324 days |
24 | Paul E. Patton | May 26, 1937 | 1995–2003 | ![]() |
Democratic | 87 years, 314 days |
25 | Jay Rockefeller | June 18, 1937 | 1977–1985 | ![]() |
Democratic | 87 years, 291 days |
26 | Richard Bryan | July 16, 1937 | 1983–1989 | ![]() |
Democratic | 87 years, 263 days |
27 | Dick Celeste | November 11, 1937 | 1983–1991 | ![]() |
Democratic | 87 years, 145 days |
28 | Jerry Brown | April 7, 1938 | 1975–1983, 2011–2019 | ![]() |
Democratic | 86 years, 363 days |
29 | Neil Abercrombie | June 26, 1938 | 2010–2014 | ![]() |
Democratic | 86 years, 283 days |
30 | Bruce Babbitt | June 27, 1938 | 1978–1987 | ![]() |
Democratic | 86 years, 282 days |
31 | Steve Cowper | August 21, 1938 | 1986–1990 | ![]() |
Democratic | 86 years, 227 days |
32 | Allen I. Olson | November 5, 1938 | 1981–1985 | ![]() |
Republican | 86 years, 151 days |
33 | Kay A. Orr | January 2, 1939 | 1987–1991 | ![]() |
Republican | 86 years, 93 days |
34 | Kit Bond | March 6, 1939 | 1973–1977, 1981–1985 | ![]() |
Republican | 86 years, 30 days |
35 | Martin J. Schreiber | April 8, 1939 | 1977–1979 | ![]() |
Democratic | 85 years, 362 days |
36 | Chuck Robb | June 26, 1939 | 1982–1986 | ![]() |
Democratic | 85 years, 283 days |
37 | Mike Castle | July 2, 1939 | 1985–1992 | ![]() |
Republican | 85 years, 277 days |
John H. Sununu | 1983–1989 | ![]() |
Republican | |||
39 | Garrey Carruthers | August 29, 1939 | 1987–1991 | ![]() |
Republican | 85 years, 219 days |
40 | Mike Sullivan | September 22, 1939 | 1987–1995 | ![]() |
Democratic | 85 years, 195 days |
41 | Ben Cayetano | November 14, 1939 | 1994–2002 | ![]() |
Democratic | 85 years, 142 days |
42 | Gaston Caperton | February 21, 1940 | 1989–1997 | ![]() |
Democratic | 85 years, 43 days |
43 | Lamar Alexander | July 3, 1940 | 1979–1987 | ![]() |
Republican | 84 years, 276 days |
44 | John W. Carlin | August 3, 1940 | 1979–1987 | ![]() |
Democratic | 84 years, 245 days |
45 | Ted Kulongoski | November 5, 1940 | 2003–2011 | ![]() |
Democratic | 84 years, 151 days |
46 | Toney Anaya | April 29, 1941 | 1983–1987 | ![]() |
Democratic | 83 years, 341 days |
47 | Ben Nelson | May 17, 1941 | 1991–1999 | ![]() |
Democratic | 83 years, 323 days |
48 | Ted Strickland | August 4, 1941 | 2007–2011 | ![]() |
Democratic | 83 years, 244 days |
– | Carl Gutierrez | October 15, 1941 | 1995–2003 | ![]() |
Democratic | 83 years, 172 days |
49 | Tommy Thompson | November 19, 1941 | 1987–2001 | ![]() |
Republican | 83 years, 137 days |
50 | Bob Taft | January 8, 1942 | 1999–2007 | ![]() |
Republican | 83 years, 86 days |
51 | Butch Otter | May 3, 1942 | 2007–2019 | ![]() |
Republican | 82 years, 337 days |
52 | John Ashcroft | May 9, 1942 | 1985–1993 | ![]() |
Republican | 82 years, 331 days |
53 | Parris Glendening | June 11, 1942 | 1995–2003 | ![]() |
Democratic | 82 years, 298 days |
54 | James J. Blanchard | August 8, 1942 | 1983–1991 | ![]() |
Democratic | 82 years, 240 days |
55 | Nathan Deal | August 25, 1942 | 2011–2019 | ![]() |
Republican | 82 years, 223 days |
– | Sila María Calderón | September 23, 1942 | 2001–2005 | ![]() |
Popular Democratic | 82 years, 194 days |
56 | Donald Carcieri | December 16, 1942 | 2003–2011 | ![]() |
Republican | 82 years, 110 days |
57 | Gray Davis | December 26, 1942 | 1999–2003 | ![]() |
Democratic | 82 years, 100 days |
58 | Tony Knowles | January 1, 1943 | 1994–2002 | ![]() |
Democratic | 82 years, 94 days |
59 | Robert J. Bentley | February 3, 1943 | 2011–2017 | ![]() |
Republican | 82 years, 61 days |
60 | Jim Risch | May 3, 1943 | 2006–2007 | ![]() |
Republican | 81 years, 337 days |
– | Ralph D. Hough | May 21, 1943 | 1993 | ![]() |
Republican | 81 years, 319 days |
61 | Bob Kerrey | August 27, 1943 | 1983–1987 | ![]() |
Democratic | 81 years, 221 days |
62 | Phil Bredesen | November 21, 1943 | 2003–2011 | ![]() |
Democratic | 81 years, 135 days |
– | Joseph Franklin Ada | December 3, 1943 | 1987–1995 | ![]() |
Republican | 81 years, 123 days |
63 | Ed Rendell | January 5, 1944 | 2003–2011 | ![]() |
Democratic | 81 years, 90 days |
64 | Frank Keating | February 10, 1944 | 1995–2003 | ![]() |
Republican | 81 years, 54 days |
65 | Mike Hayden | March 16, 1944 | 1987–1991 | ![]() |
Republican | 81 years, 20 days |
66 | Angus King | March 31, 1944 | 1995–2003 | ![]() |
Independent | 81 years, 5 days |
– | Pedro Rosselló | April 5, 1944 | 1993–2001 | ![]() |
New Progressive | 81 years, 0 days |
67 | Jim Geringer | April 24, 1944 | 1995–2003 | ![]() |
Republican | 80 years, 346 days |
68 | Steve Beshear | September 21, 1944 | 2007–2015 | ![]() |
Democratic | 80 years, 196 days |
69 | Jan Brewer | September 26, 1944 | 2009–2015 | ![]() |
Republican | 80 years, 191 days |
70 | Bob Riley | October 3, 1944 | 2003–2011 | ![]() |
Republican | 80 years, 184 days |
71 | Kay Ivey | October 15, 1944 | 2017–Present | ![]() |
Republican | 80 years, 172 days |
72 | Donald DiFrancesco | November 20, 1944 | 2001–2002 | ![]() |
Republican | 80 years, 136 days |
73 | Jim Gibbons | December 16, 1944 | 2007–2011 | ![]() |
Republican | 80 years, 110 days |
74 | Bob Miller | March 30, 1945 | 1989–1999 | ![]() |
Republican | 80 years, 6 days |
75 | George Pataki | June 24, 1945 | 1995–2006 | ![]() |
Republican | 79 years, 285 days |
76 | Bill Weld | July 31, 1945 | 1991–1997 | ![]() |
Republican | 79 years, 248 days |
77 | Fife Symington | August 12, 1945 | 1991–1997 | ![]() |
Republican | 79 years, 236 days |
78 | Tom Ridge | August 26, 1945 | 1995–2001 | ![]() |
Republican | 79 years, 222 days |
79 | Jim Doyle | November 23, 1945 | 2003–2011 | ![]() |
Democratic | 79 years, 133 days |
– | Benigno Fitial | November 27, 1945 | 2006–2013 | ![]() |
Republican | 79 years, 129 days |
80 | Don Siegelman | February 24, 1946 | 1999–2003 | ![]() |
Democratic | 79 years, 40 days |
81 | John D. Waiheʻe III | May 19, 1946 | 1986–1994 | ![]() |
Democratic | 78 years, 321 days |
82 | George W. Bush | July 6, 1946 | 1995–2000 | ![]() |
Republican | 78 years, 273 days |
83 | Jim Edgar | July 22, 1946 | 1991–1999 | ![]() |
Republican | 78 years, 257 days |
84 | Ed Schafer | August 8, 1946 | 1992–2000 | ![]() |
Republican | 78 years, 240 days |
85 | Bill Clinton | August 19, 1946 | 1979–1981, 1983–1992 | ![]() |
Democratic | 78 years, 229 days |
86 | Christine Todd Whitman | September 26, 1946 | 1994–2001 | ![]() |
Republican | 78 years, 191 days |
87 | Terry Branstad | November 17, 1946 | 1983–1999, 2011–2017 | ![]() |
Republican | 78 years, 139 days |
88 | Richard Codey | November 27, 1946 | 2004–2006 | ![]() |
Democratic | 78 years, 129 days |
89 | Sonny Perdue | December 20, 1946 | 2003–2011 | ![]() |
Republican | 78 years, 106 days |
90 | Mike Beebe | December 28, 1946 | 2007–2015 | ![]() |
Democratic | 78 years, 98 days |
91 | Jon Corzine | January 1, 1947 | 2006–2010 | ![]() |
Democratic | 78 years, 94 days |
92 | Mike DeWine | January 5, 1947 | 2019–Present | ![]() |
Republican | 78 years, 90 days |
93 | Bev Perdue | January 14, 1947 | 2009–2013 | ![]() |
Democratic | 78 years, 81 days |
94 | Tom Carper | January 23, 1947 | 1993–2001 | ![]() |
Democratic | 78 years, 72 days |
95 | Mark Dayton | January 26, 1947 | 2011–2019 | ![]() |
Democratic | 78 years, 69 days |
96 | Jeanne Shaheen | January 28, 1947 | 1997–2003 | ![]() |
Democratic | 78 years, 67 days |
97 | Judd Gregg | February 14, 1947 | 1989–1993 | ![]() |
Republican | 78 years, 50 days |
– | Togiola Tulafono | February 28, 1947 | 2003–2013 | ![]() |
Democratic | 78 years, 36 days |
98 | John Kitzhaber | March 5, 1947 | 1995–2003, 2011–2015 | ![]() |
Democratic | 78 years, 31 days |
99 | Mitt Romney | March 12, 1947 | 2003–2007 | ![]() |
Republican | 78 years, 24 days |
100 | Christine Gregoire | March 24, 1947 | 2005–2013 | ![]() |
Democratic | 78 years, 12 days |