Governor of Massachusetts

The governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the chief executive officer of the government of Massachusetts. The governor is the head of the state cabinet and the commander-in-chief of the commonwealth's military forces.

Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Seal of the governor
Standard of the governor
Incumbent Maura Healey since January 5, 2023
Government of Massachusetts
Style	Governor (informal) Her Excellency (formal)
Status	Head of state Head of government
Member of	Governor's Council Cabinet
Residence	None official
Seat	State House, Boston, Massachusetts
Nominator	Nominating petition, Political parties
Appointer	Popular vote
Term length	Four years, no term limits^[1]
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Massachusetts
Formation	Original post: April 30, 1629 Current form: October 25, 1780
First holder	John Endecott
Deputy	Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
Salary	$185,000 (2018)^[2]
Website	Official website

Massachusetts has a republican system of government that is akin to a presidential system. The governor acts as the head of government while having a distinct role from that of the legislative branch. The governor has far-reaching political obligations, including ceremonial and political duties. The governor also signs bills into law and has veto power. The governor is a member of the Massachusetts Governor's Council, a popularly elected council with eight members who provide advice and consent on certain legal matters and appointments.^[3]

Beginning with the Massachusetts Bay Company in 1629, the role of the governor has changed throughout its history in terms of powers and selection. The modern form of the position was created in the 1780 Constitution of Massachusetts, which called for the position of a "supreme executive magistrate".^[4]

Governors of Massachusetts are elected every four years during state elections that are held on the first Tuesday of November after November 1. As of November 2022, the most recent Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held in 2022. Following each gubernatorial election, the elected governor is inaugurated on the Thursday after the first Wednesday in January following the election.^[5] There are no term limits restricting how long a governor may serve.^[6][7][8] The longest-serving Massachusetts governor is Michael Dukakis, who served 12 years; Dukakis was in office from 1975 to 1979 and from 1983 to 1991. The current governor is Maura Healey, a Democrat who won the 2022 gubernatorial election.

Qualifications

Any person seeking to become governor of Massachusetts must meet the following requirements:^[9]

• Be at least eighteen years of age
• Be a registered voter in Massachusetts
• Be a Massachusetts resident for at least seven years when elected
• Receive 10,000 signatures from registered voters on nomination papers

Election and term

The governor is an elected position. The term of office is four years, with no term limit.

Elections for governor are held on a four-year basis concurrently with elections for the offices of lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of the commonwealth, state treasurer, and state auditor.

History

The role of governor has existed in Massachusetts since the Royal Charter of 1628. The original role was one of a president of the board of a joint-stock company, namely the Massachusetts Bay Company. The governor would be elected by freemen, who were shareholders of the company. These shareholders were mostly colonists themselves who fit certain religious requirements. The governor acted in a vice-regal manner, overseeing the governance and functioning of the colony. Originally they were supposed to reside in London, as was the case with other colonial company governors, although this protocol was broken when John Winthrop was appointed governor. The governor served as the executive of the colony, originally elected annually, they were joined by a Council of Assistants. This council was a group of magistrates who performed judicial functions, acted as an upper house of the General Court, and provided advice and consent to the governor. The early governors of Massachusetts Bay were staunchly Puritan colonists who wished to form a state that coincided with religious law.^[10]

With the founding of the Dominion of New England, the New England colonies were combined with the Province of New York, Province of West Jersey, and the Province of East Jersey. During this period (1686-1689) Massachusetts had no governor of its own. Instead there existed a royally appointed governor who resided in Boston and served at the King's pleasure. Though there existed a council which served as a quasi-legislature, however the logistics of calling the council to meet were so arduous that the Dominion was essentially governed by the Crown through the royal governor. The reason for the creation of such a post was there existed tremendous hostility between the Kingdom of England and the colonists of Massachusetts Bay. In an effort to bring the colonies under tighter control the Crown dismantled the old assembly system and created the Viceroy system based on the Spanish model in New Spain. This model of government was greatly disliked by the colonists all throughout British North America but especially in New England where colonists at one time did have some semblance of democratic and local control. With the Glorious Revolution and the Boston Revolt the Dominion was abolished in 1689.^[11]

With the creation of the Massachusetts Charter in 1691, the role of civilian governor was restored in Massachusetts Bay. Now the Province of Massachusetts Bay, the colony then encompassed the territory of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Plymouth Colony, and areas of what is now the state of Maine. The governor however would not be chosen by the electorate, instead the position would remain a royal appointment. In order to ease tensions with royal authorities and the colonists the General Court was reestablished and given significant powers. This created acrimony between the governors and the assembly of the General Court. The governor could veto any decision made by the assembly and had control over the militia, however the General Court had authority of the treasury and provincial finances. This meant that in the event the governor did not agree with or consent with the rulings and laws of the General Court then the assembly would threaten to withhold any pay for the governor and other Royal Officers.^[12]

From 1765 on the unraveling of the Province into a full political crisis only increased the tensions between the governor and the people of Massachusetts Bay. Following the passage of the Stamp Act Governor Thomas Hutchinson had his home broken into and ransacked. The early stages of the American Revolution saw political turmoil in Massachusetts Bay. With the passage of the Intolerable Acts the then Royal Governor Thomas Gage dissolved the General Court and began to govern the province by decree. In 1774 the Massachusetts Provincial Congress was formed as an alternative revolutionary government to the royal government in Boston. With Massachusetts Bay declaring its independence in May 1776 the role of governor was vacant for four years. The executive role during this time was filled by the Governor's Council, the Committee of Safety, and the president of the Congress when in session.^[12]

With the adoption of the Constitution of Massachusetts in 1780 the role of an elected civilian governor was restored. John Hancock was elected as the first governor of the independent commonwealth on October 25, 1780.^[12]

Constitutional role

Part the Second, Chapter II, Section I, Article I of the Massachusetts Constitution reads,

There shall be a supreme executive magistrate, who shall be styled, The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and whose title shall be – His Excellency.

The governor of Massachusetts is the chief executive of the commonwealth, and is supported by a number of subordinate officers. He, like most other state officers, senators, and representatives, was originally elected annually. In 1918 this was changed to a two-year term, and since 1966 the office of governor has carried a four-year term. The governor of Massachusetts does not receive a mansion or other official residence and resides in their own private residence. However, the governor does receive a housing allowance/stipend for $65,000. The title "His Excellency" is a holdover from the royally appointed governors of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. The first governor to use the title was Richard Coote, 1st Earl of Bellomont, in 1699; since he was an Earl, it was thought proper to call him "Your Excellency." The title was retained until 1742, when an order from King George II forbade its further use. However, the framers of the state constitution revived it because they found it fitting to dignify the governor with this title.^[13]

The governor also serves as commander-in-chief of the commonwealth's armed forces.

Succession

See also: Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States § Massachusetts

According to the Massachusetts State Constitution:

Whenever the chair of the governor shall be vacant, by reason of his death, or absence from the commonwealth, or otherwise, the lieutenant governor, for the time being, shall, during such vacancy, perform all the duties incumbent upon the governor, and shall have and exercise all the powers and authorities, which by this constitution the governor is vested with, when personally present.^[14]

The Constitution does not use the term "acting governor", but the practice in Massachusetts has been that the lieutenant governor retains his or her position and title as "lieutenant governor" and becomes acting governor, not governor. The lieutenant governor, when acting as governor, is referred to as "the lieutenant-governor, acting governor" in official documents.^[15]

Despite this terminology, the Massachusetts courts have found that the full authority of the office of the governor devolves to the lieutenant governor upon vacancy in the office of governor, and that there is no circumstance short of death, resignation, or impeachment that would relieve the acting governor from the full gubernatorial responsibilities.^{[citation needed]}

The first use of the succession provision occurred in 1785, five years after the constitution's adoption, when Governor John Hancock resigned the post, leaving Lieutenant Governor Thomas Cushing as acting governor. Most recently, Jane Swift became acting governor upon the resignation of Paul Cellucci.

When the constitution was first adopted, the Governor's Council was charged with acting as governor in the event that both the governorship and lieutenant governorship were vacant. This occurred in 1799 when Governor Increase Sumner died in office on June 7, 1799, leaving Lieutenant Governor Moses Gill as acting governor. Acting Governor Gill never received a lieutenant and died on May 20, 1800, between that year's election and the inauguration of Governor-elect Caleb Strong. The Governor's Council served as the executive for ten days; the council's chair, Thomas Dawes was at no point named governor or acting governor.

Article LV of the Constitution, enacted in 1918, created a new line of succession:

#	Office	Current officeholder
	Governor of Massachusetts	Maura Healey (D)
1	Lieutenant Governor	Kim Driscoll (D)
2	Secretary of the Commonwealth	William F. Galvin (D)
3	Attorney General	Andrea Campbell (D)
4	Treasurer and Receiver-General	Deb Goldberg (D)
5	Auditor	Diana DiZoglio (D)

Cabinet

The governor has a 10-person cabinet, each of whom oversees a portion of the government under direct administration (as opposed to independent executive agencies). See Government of Massachusetts for a complete listing.

Traditions

The front doors of the State House are only opened when a governor leaves office, a head of state or the president of the United States comes to visit the State House, or for the return of flags from Massachusetts regiments at the end of wars. The tradition of the ceremonial door originated when departing governor Benjamin Butler kicked open the front door and walked out by himself in 1884.

Incoming governors usually choose at least one past governor's portrait to hang in their office.

Immediately before being sworn into office, the governor-elect receives four symbols from the departing governor: the ceremonial pewter "Key" for the governor's office door, the Butler Bible, the "Gavel", and a two-volume set of the Massachusetts General Statutes with a personal note from the departing governor to their successor added to the back of the text. The governor-elect is then escorted by the sergeant-at-arms to the House Chamber and sworn in by the President of the Senate before a joint session of the House and Senate.^[16]

Lone walk

Upon completion of their term, the departing governor takes a "lone walk" down the Grand Staircase, through the House of Flags, into Doric Hall, out the central doors, and down the steps of the Massachusetts State House. The governor then crosses the street into Boston Common, thereby symbolically rejoining the commonwealth as a private citizen. Benjamin Butler started the tradition in 1884.^[17] Some walks have been modified with some past governors having their wives, friends, or staff accompany them.^[18] A 19-gun salute is offered during the walk, and frequently the steps are lined by the outgoing governor's friends and supporters.^[19]

In January 1991, outgoing lieutenant governor Evelyn Murphy, the first woman elected to statewide office in Massachusetts, walked down the stairs before Governor Michael Dukakis. In a break from tradition, the January 2007 inauguration of Governor Deval Patrick took place the day after outgoing governor Mitt Romney took the lone walk down the front steps.^[19]

Governor's residence

Despite several proposals for establishing an official residence for the governor of Massachusetts, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts does not have a governor's mansion.

In 1955, Governor Foster Furcolo turned down a proposal to establish the Shirley–Eustis House in Roxbury, built by royal Governor William Shirley, as the official residence.^[20]

At one time, Governor John A. Volpe accepted the donation of the Endicott Estate in Dedham from the heirs of Henry Bradford Endicott. He intended to renovate the 19th-century mansion into a splendid governor's residence.^[21] After Volpe resigned to become United States Secretary of Transportation in the Nixon administration, the plan was aborted by his successor in consideration of budgetary constraints and because the location was considered too far from the seat of power, the State House in Boston.

Prior to their respective demolitions in 1922 and 1863, the Province House and the Hancock Manor^[21] were also proposed as official residences.

Since the governor has no official residence, the expression "corner office", rather than "governor's mansion", is commonly used in the press as a metonym for the office of governor. This refers instead to the governor's office on the third floor of the State House.^[22]

List of governors

Since 1780, 65 people have been elected governor, six to non-consecutive terms (John Hancock, Caleb Strong, Marcus Morton, John Davis, John Volpe, and Michael Dukakis), and seven lieutenant governors have acted as governor without subsequently being elected governor. Thomas Talbot served a stint as acting governor, but was elected governor several years later. Prior to 1918 constitutional reforms, both the governor's office and that of lieutenant governor were vacant on one occasion, when the state was governed by the Governor's Council.

Colonial Massachusetts

Further information: List of colonial governors of Massachusetts

The colonial history of Massachusetts begins with the founding first of the Plymouth Colony in 1620, and then the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1628. The Dominion of New England combined these and other New England colonies into a single unit in 1686, but collapsed in 1689. In 1692 the Province of Massachusetts Bay was established, merging Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay, which then included the territory of present-day Maine.

Colonial governors of Plymouth and the Massachusetts Bay Colony were elected annually by a limited subset of the male population (known as freemen), while Dominion officials and those of the 1692 province were appointed by the British crown. In 1774 General Thomas Gage became the last royally appointed governor of Massachusetts. He was recalled to England after the Battle of Bunker Hill in June 1775, by which time the Massachusetts Provincial Congress exercised de facto control of Massachusetts territory outside British-occupied Boston. Between 1775 and the establishment of the Massachusetts State Constitution in 1780 the state was governed by the provincial congress and an executive council.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts: 1780–present

The constitution of Massachusetts created the offices of governor^[23] and lieutenant governor,^[24] to be elected annually.^[25] Terms were lengthened to two years in 1918, to last until their successor was inaugurated, which would be at least the first Wednesday in the January after their election.^[26] This was changed to the Thursday following the first Wednesday in the January after the election in 1950,^[27] and terms were lengthened to four years in 1966.^[28]

Governors of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

No.	Governor			Term in office	Party	Election	Lt. Governor^[a]
1			John Hancock (1737–1793) ^[29]^[30]	October 25, 1780^[31]^[32] – February 18, 1785 (resigned)^[b]	None^[36]	1780		Thomas Cushing
						1781
						1782
						1783
						1784
—			Thomas Cushing (1725–1788) ^[37]	February 18, 1785^[31] – May 27, 1785 (lost election)	None^[36]	Lieutenant governor acting		Acting as governor
2			James Bowdoin (1726–1790) ^[38]	May 27, 1785^[31] – June 1, 1787 (lost election)	None^[36]	1785		Thomas Cushing
						1786
3			John Hancock (1737–1793) ^[29]^[30]	June 1, 1787^[c] – October 8, 1793 (died in office)	None^[36]	1787
						1788		Benjamin Lincoln
						1789		Samuel Adams
						1790
						1791
						1792
						1793
4			Samuel Adams (1722–1803) ^[39]^[40]	October 8, 1793^[31] – June 2, 1797 (did not run)	None^[36]	Lieutenant governor acting		Acting as governor
					Democratic- Republican^[36]	1794		Moses Gill^[d]
						1795
						1796
5			Increase Sumner (1746–1799) ^[41]^[42]	June 2, 1797^[31] – June 7, 1799 (died in office)	Federalist^[36]	1797
						1798
						1797
—			Moses Gill (1733–1800) ^[43]	June 7, 1799^[31] – May 20, 1800 (died in office)	Federalist^[44]	Lieutenant governor acting		Acting as governor
—			Governor's Council chaired by Thomas Dawes ^[45]	May 20, 1800^[31] – May 30, 1800	—	Governor's Council acting	Vacant
6			Caleb Strong (1745–1819) ^[46]^[47]	May 30, 1800^[31]^[48] – May 29, 1807 (lost election)	Federalist^[36]	1800
						1801		Samuel Phillips Jr.
						1802		Edward Robbins^[e]
						1803
						1804
						1805
						1806
7			James Sullivan (1744–1808) ^[49]^[50]	May 29, 1807^[31]^[51] – December 10, 1808 (died in office)	Democratic- Republican^[36]	1807		Levi Lincoln Sr.
						1808
—			Levi Lincoln Sr. (1749–1820) ^[52]^[53]	December 10, 1808^[31] – June 3, 1809 (lost election)	Democratic- Republican^[44]	Lieutenant governor acting		Acting as governor
8			Christopher Gore (1758–1827) ^[54]^[55]	June 3, 1809^[31]^[56] – June 2, 1810 (lost election)	Federalist^[36]	1809		David Cobb
9			Elbridge Gerry (1744–1814) ^[57]^[58]	June 2, 1810^[59] – May 30, 1812 (lost election)	Democratic- Republican^[36]	1810		William Gray
						1811
10			Caleb Strong (1745–1819) ^[46]^[47]	May 30, 1812^[31]^[60] – June 1, 1816 (did not run)^[46]	Federalist^[36]	1812		William Phillips Jr.^[e]
						1813
						1814
						1815
11			John Brooks (1752–1825) ^[61]^[62]	June 1, 1816^[63] – May 30, 1823 (did not run)^[61]	Federalist^[36]	1816
						1817
						1818
						1819
						1820
						1821
						1822
12			William Eustis (1753–1825) ^[64]^[65]	May 30, 1823^[66] – February 6, 1825 (died in office)	Democratic- Republican^[67]	1823		Marcus Morton
						1824
—			Marcus Morton (1784–1864) ^[68]^[69]	February 6, 1825^[70] – May 27, 1825 (successor took office)	Democratic- Republican^[44]	Lieutenant governor acting		Acting as governor
13			Levi Lincoln Jr. (1782–1868) ^[71]^[72]	May 27, 1825^[73] – January 21, 1834 (did not run)^[71]	Democratic- Republican^[67]	1825		Thomas L. Winthrop^[e]
						1826
						1827
						1828
					National Republican^[67]	1829
						1830
						Apr. 1831
						Nov. 1831
						1832
14			John Davis (1787–1854) ^[74]^[75]	January 21, 1834^[76] – March 3, 1835 (resigned)^[f]	National Republican^[67]	1833		Samuel Turell Armstrong^[g]
					Whig^[67]	1834
—			Samuel Turell Armstrong (1784–1850) ^[77]^[78]	March 3, 1835^[79] – January 13, 1836 (lost election)^[h]	Whig^[44]	Lieutenant governor acting		Acting as governor
15			Edward Everett (1794–1865) ^[80]^[81]	January 13, 1836^[82] – January 18, 1840 (lost election)	Whig^[67]	1835		George Hull^[g]
						1836
						1837
						1838
16			Marcus Morton (1784–1864) ^[68]^[69]	January 18, 1840^[83] – January 9, 1841 (lost election)	Democratic^[67]	1839
17			John Davis (1787–1854) ^[74]^[75]	January 9, 1841^[84] – January 18, 1843 (lost election)	Whig^[67]	1840
						1841
18			Marcus Morton (1784–1864) ^[68]^[69]	January 18, 1843^[85] – January 9, 1844 (lost election)	Democratic^[67]	1842		Henry H. Childs
19			George N. Briggs (1796–1861) ^[86]^[87]	January 9, 1844^[88] – January 13, 1851 (lost election)	Whig^[67]	1843		Henry W. Cushman
						1844
						1845
						1846
						1847
						1848
						1849
20			George S. Boutwell (1818–1905) ^[89]^[90]	January 13, 1851^[91] – January 14, 1853 (did not run)^[89]	Democratic^[67]	1850
						1851
21			John H. Clifford (1809–1876) ^[92]^[93]	January 14, 1853^[94] – January 12, 1854 (did not run)^[92]	Whig^[67]	1852		William C. Plunkett
22			Emory Washburn (1800–1877) ^[95]^[96]	January 12, 1854^[97] – January 9, 1855 (lost election)	Whig^[67]	1853
23			Henry Gardner (1819–1892) ^[98]^[99]	January 9, 1855^[100] – January 2, 1858 (lost election)	Know Nothing^[67]	1854		Simon Brown
						1855		Henry Wetherby Benchley^[i]
						1856
24			Nathaniel P. Banks (1816–1894) ^[101]^[102]	January 2, 1858^[103] – January 2, 1861 (did not run)^[101]	Republican^[67]	1857		Eliphalet Trask
						1858
						1859
25			John Albion Andrew (1818–1867) ^[104]^[105]	January 2, 1861^[106] – January 6, 1866 (did not run)^[104]	Republican^[67]	1860		John Z. Goodrich
						1861		John Nesmith
						1862		Joel Hayden
						1863
						1864
26			Alexander Bullock (1816–1882) ^[107]^[108]	January 6, 1866^[109] – January 9, 1869 (did not run)^[107]	Republican^[110]	1865		William Claflin
						1866
						1867
27			William Claflin (1818–1905) ^[111]^[112]	January 9, 1869^[113] – January 5, 1872 (did not run)^[111]	Republican^[110]	1868		Joseph Tucker
						1869
						1870
28			William B. Washburn (1820–1887) ^[114]^[115]	January 5, 1872^[116] – April 30, 1874 (resigned)^[j]	Republican^[110]	1871
						1872		Thomas Talbot
						1873
—			Thomas Talbot (1818–1885) ^[117]^[118]	April 30, 1874^[119] – January 7, 1875 (lost election)	Republican^[120]	Lieutenant governor acting		Acting as governor
29			William Gaston (1820–1894) ^[121]^[122]	January 7, 1875^[123] – January 6, 1876 (lost election)	Democratic^[110]	1874		Horatio G. Knight^[i]
30			Alexander H. Rice (1818–1895) ^[124]^[125]	January 6, 1876^[126] – January 2, 1879 (did not run)^[124]	Republican^[110]	1875
						1876
						1877
31			Thomas Talbot (1818–1885) ^[117]^[118]	January 2, 1879^[127] – January 8, 1880 (did not run)^[117]	Republican^[110]	1878		John Davis Long
32			John Davis Long (1838–1915) ^[128]^[129]	January 8, 1880^[130] – January 4, 1883 (did not run)^[128]	Republican^[110]	1879		Byron Weston
						1880
						1881
33			Benjamin Butler (1818–1893) ^[131]^[132]	January 4, 1883^[133] – January 3, 1884 (lost election)	Democratic^[110]	1882		Oliver Ames^[i]
34			George D. Robinson (1834–1896) ^[134]^[135]	January 3, 1884^[136] – January 6, 1887 (did not run)^[134]	Republican^[110]	1883
						1884
						1885
35			Oliver Ames (1831–1895) ^[137]^[138]	January 6, 1887^[139] – January 2, 1890 (did not run)^[137]	Republican^[110]	1886		John Q. A. Brackett
						1887
						1888
36			John Q. A. Brackett (1842–1918) ^[140]^[141]	January 2, 1890^[142] – January 8, 1891 (lost election)	Republican^[110]	1889		William H. Haile^[i]
37			William E. Russell (1857–1896) ^[143]^[144]	January 8, 1891^[145] – January 4, 1894 (did not run)^[143]	Democratic^[110]	1890
						1891
						1892		Roger Wolcott^[i]
38			Frederic T. Greenhalge (1842–1896) ^[146]^[147]	January 4, 1894^[148] – March 5, 1896 (died in office)	Republican^[110]	1893
						1894
						1895
39			Roger Wolcott (1847–1900) ^[149]^[150]	March 5, 1896^[151] – January 4, 1900 (did not run)^[149]	Republican^[110]	Lieutenant governor acting		Acting as governor
						1896		Winthrop M. Crane
						1897
						1898
40			Winthrop M. Crane (1853–1920) ^[152]^[153]	January 4, 1900^[154] – January 8, 1903 (did not run)^[152]	Republican^[110]	1899		John L. Bates
						1900
						1901
41			John L. Bates (1859–1946) ^[155]^[156]	January 8, 1903^[157] – January 5, 1905 (lost election)	Republican^[110]	1902		Curtis Guild Jr.^[i]
						1903
42			William Lewis Douglas (1845–1924) ^[158]^[159]	January 5, 1905^[160] – January 4, 1906 (did not run)^[158]	Democratic^[110]	1904
43			Curtis Guild Jr. (1860–1915) ^[161]^[162]	January 4, 1906^[163] – January 7, 1909 (did not run)^[161]	Republican^[110]	1905		Eben Sumner Draper
						1906
						1907
44			Eben Sumner Draper (1858–1914) ^[164]^[165]	January 7, 1909^[166] – January 5, 1911 (lost election)	Republican^[167]	1908		Louis A. Frothingham^[i]
						1909
45			Eugene Foss (1858–1939) ^[168]^[169]	January 5, 1911^[170] – January 8, 1914 (lost election)	Democratic^[167]	1910
						1911		Robert Luce^[i]
						1912		David I. Walsh
46			David I. Walsh (1872–1947) ^[171]^[172]	January 8, 1914^[173] – January 6, 1916 (lost election)	Democratic^[167]	1913		Edward P. Barry
						1914		Grafton D. Cushing^[i]
47			Samuel W. McCall (1851–1923) ^[174]^[175]	January 6, 1916^[176] – January 2, 1919 (did not run)^[174]	Republican^[167]	1915		Calvin Coolidge
						1916
						1917
48			Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) ^[177]^[178]	January 2, 1919^[179] – January 6, 1921 (did not run)^[k]	Republican^[167]	1918		Channing H. Cox
						1919
49			Channing H. Cox (1879–1968) ^[180]^[181]	January 6, 1921^[182] – January 8, 1925 (did not run)	Republican^[167]	1920		Alvan T. Fuller
						1922
50			Alvan T. Fuller (1878–1958) ^[183]^[184]	January 8, 1925^[185] – January 3, 1929 (did not run)	Republican^[167]	1924		Frank G. Allen
						1926
51			Frank G. Allen (1874–1950) ^[186]^[187]	January 3, 1929^[188] – January 8, 1931 (lost election)	Republican^[167]	1928		William S. Youngman^[i]
52			Joseph B. Ely (1881–1956) ^[189]^[190]	January 8, 1931^[191] – January 3, 1935 (did not run)^[189]	Democratic^[167]	1930
						1932		Gaspar G. Bacon^[i]
53			James Michael Curley (1874–1958) ^[192]^[193]	January 3, 1935^[194] – January 7, 1937 (did not run)^[l]	Democratic^[167]	1934		Joseph L. Hurley
54			Charles F. Hurley (1893–1946) ^[195]^[196]	January 7, 1937^[197] – January 5, 1939 (lost nomination)	Democratic^[167]	1936		Francis E. Kelly
55			Leverett Saltonstall (1892–1979) ^[198]^[199]	January 5, 1939^[200] – January 4, 1945 (did not run)^[m]	Republican^[167]	1938		Horace T. Cahill
						1940
						1942
56			Maurice J. Tobin (1901–1953) ^[201]^[202]	January 4, 1945^[203] – January 2, 1947 (lost election)	Democratic^[167]	1944		Robert F. Bradford^[i]
57			Robert F. Bradford (1902–1983) ^[204]^[205]	January 2, 1947^[206] – January 6, 1949 (lost election)	Republican^[167]	1946		Arthur W. Coolidge
58			Paul A. Dever (1903–1958) ^[207]^[208]	January 6, 1949^[209] – January 8, 1953 (lost election)	Democratic^[167]	1948		Charles F. Sullivan
						1950
59			Christian Herter (1895–1966) ^[210]^[211]	January 8, 1953^[212] – January 3, 1957 (did not run)^[210]	Republican^[167]	1952		Sumner G. Whittier
						1954
60			Foster Furcolo (1911–1995) ^[213]^[214]	January 3, 1957^[215] – January 5, 1961 (did not run)^[n]	Democratic^[167]	1956		Robert F. Murphy
						1958
							Vacant
61			John A. Volpe (1908–1994) ^[216]^[217]	January 5, 1961^[218] – January 3, 1963 (lost election)	Republican^[167]	1960		Edward F. McLaughlin Jr.^[o]
62			Endicott Peabody (1920–1997) ^[219]^[220]	January 3, 1963^[221] – January 7, 1965 (lost nomination)	Democratic^[167]	1962		Francis Bellotti
63			John A. Volpe (1908–1994) ^[216]^[217]	January 7, 1965^[222] – January 22, 1969 (resigned)^[p]	Republican^[167]	1964		Elliot Richardson
						1966		Francis Sargent
64			Francis Sargent (1915–1998) ^[223]^[224]	January 22, 1969^[225] – January 2, 1975 (lost election)	Republican^[167]	Lieutenant governor acting		Acting as governor
						1970		Donald Dwight
65			Michael Dukakis (b. 1933) ^[226]^[227]	January 2, 1975^[228] – January 4, 1979 (lost nomination)	Democratic^[167]	1974		Thomas P. O'Neill III
66			Edward J. King (1925–2006)	January 4, 1979^[229] – January 6, 1983 (lost nomination)	Democratic^[167]	1978
67			Michael Dukakis (b. 1933) ^[226]^[227]	January 6, 1983^[230] – January 3, 1991 (did not run)	Democratic^[227]	1982		John Kerry
							Vacant
						1986		Evelyn Murphy
68			Bill Weld (b. 1945) ^[231]	January 3, 1991^[232] – July 29, 1997 (resigned)^[q]	Republican^[231]	1990		Paul Cellucci
						1994
69			Paul Cellucci (1948–2013) ^[233]	July 29, 1997^[234] – April 10, 2001 (resigned)^[r]	Republican^[233]	Lieutenant governor acting		Acting as governor
						1998		Jane Swift
—			Jane Swift (b. 1965) ^[235]	April 10, 2001^[236] – January 2, 2003 (did not run)	Republican^[235]	Lieutenant governor acting		Acting as governor
70			Mitt Romney (b. 1947) ^[237]	January 2, 2003^[238] – January 4, 2007 (did not run)	Republican^[237]	2002		Kerry Healey
71			Deval Patrick (b. 1956) ^[239]	January 4, 2007^[240] – January 8, 2015 (did not run)	Democratic^[239]	2006		Tim Murray
						2010
							Vacant
72			Charlie Baker (b. 1956) ^[241]	January 8, 2015^[242] – January 5, 2023 (did not run)	Republican^[241]	2014		Karyn Polito
						2018
73			Maura Healey (b. 1971) ^[243]	January 5, 2023^[244] – Incumbent^[s]	Democratic^[243]	2022		Kim Driscoll

Notes

1. Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
2. Hancock resigned abruptly in a "winter of increasing economic distress, political controversy, and social discord",^[33] and was suffering ill health, particularly gout.^[34] He announced his intention to resign on January 29, and left office on February 18.^[35]
3. Modern sources say Hancock took office on May 30,^[29] but a contemporary source says it was June 1.^[31]
4. Represented the Federalist Party
5. Represented the Democratic-Republican Party
6. Davis resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.^[74]
7. Represented the Whig Party
8. Armstrong either did not receive or did not expect the Whig nomination, and so ran as an independent.^[77]
9. Represented the Republican Party
10. Washburn resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.^[114]
11. Coolidge was instead elected Vice President of the United States.^[177]
12. Curley instead ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate.^[192]
13. Saltonstall was instead elected to the United States Senate.^[198]
14. Furcolo instead ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination to the United States Senate.^[213]
15. Represented the Democratic Party
16. Volpe resigned, having been confirmed as United States Secretary of Transportation.^[216]
17. Weld resigned when nominated to be United States Ambassador to Mexico, but was not confirmed.^[231]
18. Cellucci resigned, having been confirmed as United States Ambassador to Canada.^[233]
19. Healey's term will expire on January 7, 2027.

References

Citations

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2. Michaels, Matthew (June 22, 2018). "Here's the salary of every governor in the United States". Business Insider.
3. Morison 1917, p.22-28.
4. "Massachusetts Constitution".
5. William, Galvin. "Elected Officials' Effective Dates of Office". Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
6. "A Third Term For Governor Charlie Baker?". News. June 8, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
7. "What Charlie Baker faces should he seek a third term". Boston Herald. July 4, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
8. "Term Limits on Governor". U.S. Term Limits. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
9. "How to Run for Office in Massachusetts" (PDF). Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. March 2017. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
10. Adams 1913, p.444-445.
11. Adams 1913, p.430-445
12. Morison 1917, p.9-22.
13. Frothingham, Louis Adams. A Brief History of the Constitution and Government of Massachusetts, p. 74. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1916.
14. Constitution of Massachusetts, Chapter II, Section II, Article III.
15. An example of this is found in Chapter 45 of the Acts of 2001, where a veto by Swift was overridden by the General Court.
16. Massachusetts State Library Information, Governor Transfer of Power, Retrieved February 14, 2007.
17. "A Tour of the Grounds of the Massachusetts State House". Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
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23. MA Const. chp II, § 1, art. I
24. MA Const. chp II, § 2, art. I
25. MA Const. chp II, § 1, art. II
26. MA Const. amendment LXIV
27. MA Const. amendment LXXX
28. MA Const. amendment LXXXII
29. Sobel 1978, pp. 689–690.
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Sources

• Lincoln, William, ed. (1838). Journals of each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts in 1774 and 1775 and of the Committee of Safety, with an Appendix containing the Proceedings of the County Conventions_Narratives of the Events of the Nineteenth of April, 1775-Paper relating to Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and other documents. Dutton and Wentworth, Printers to the State.
• Hart, Albert Bushnell, ed. (1927). Commonwealth History of Massachusetts. New York: The States History Company. OCLC 1543273. (five volume history of Massachusetts until the early 20th century; volume 3 deals with the provisional period and post-independence history until 1820)
• Morison, Samuel (1917). A History of the Constitution of Massachusetts. Harvard University Library: Wright & Potter Printing Co.
• Truslow Adams, James (1913). The Founding of New England. Stanford University Library: Atlantic Monthly Press.
• "Former Massachusetts Governors". National Governors Association. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
• Sobel, Robert (1978). Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. II. Meckler Books. ISBN 9780930466008. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
• Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-1439-0.
• Dubin, Michael J. (2014). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1861-1911: The Official Results by State and County. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-5646-8.
• Kallenbach, Joseph Ernest (1977). American State Governors, 1776-1976. Oceana Publications. ISBN 978-0-379-00665-0. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
• Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Meckler Books. ISBN 978-0-930466-17-6.
• "Our Campaigns - Governor of Massachusetts - History". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved July 25, 2023.

External links

• Official website  
• Office of the Governor, hdl:2452/35301. (Various documents).