The governor of Ohio is the head of government of Ohio and the commander-in-chief of the U.S. state's military forces. The officeholder has a duty to enforce state laws, the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Ohio General Assembly, the power to convene the legislature and the power to grant pardons, except in cases of treason and impeachment.

There have been 64 governors of Ohio, serving 70 distinct terms. The longest term was held by Jim Rhodes, who was elected four times and served just under sixteen years in two non-consecutive periods of two terms each (1963–1971 and 1975–1983). The shortest terms were held by John William Brown and Nancy Hollister, who each served for only 11 days after the governors preceding them resigned in order to begin the terms to which they had been elected in the United States Senate; the shortest-serving elected governor was John M. Pattison, who died in office five months into his term. The current governor is Republican Mike DeWine, who took office on January 14, 2019.

To become governor of Ohio, a candidate must be a qualified elector in the state. This means that any candidate for governor must be at least 18 years old at the time of election, a resident of Ohio for at least 30 days before the election, and a U.S. citizen. Convicted felons and those deemed by the courts as incompetent to vote are not eligible. There is a term limit of two consecutive terms as governor.

The governor is the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws; the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Ohio State Legislature; the power to convene the legislature; and the power to grant pardons, except in cases of treason and impeachment.

Other duties and privileges of the office include:

• Executing all laws and requiring written information on any office from the head of that office
• Making an annual address to the General Assembly, with recommendation for legislation
• Convening extraordinary sessions of the legislature with limited purposes
• Adjourning the legislature when the two chambers cannot agree to do so themselves, not to include the privilege of adjourning the legislature past the sine die set for the regular session
• Keeping and using "The Great Seal of the State of Ohio"
• Signing and sealing all commissions granted in the name of the state of Ohio
• Nominating, in the event of a vacancy in the Lieutenant Governor's office, a new officer, subject to a confirmatory vote of both chambers of the legislature
• Making vacancy appointments for all "key state officers" (the Auditor, the Treasurer, the Secretary of State, and the Attorney General. Such appointments are for the remainder of the term when the next general election is less than 40 days away and until the next general election otherwise
• Accepting a report from the head of each executive department at least once a year, not later than five days before the regular session of the legislature convenes, and including the substance of those reports in the annual address to the legislature
• Making all appointments not otherwise provided for, with the advice and consent of the Senate, unless the Senate refuses to act, in which case the Governor's appointee takes offices by default

Should the office of governor become vacant due to death, resignation, or conviction of impeachment, the lieutenant governor assumes the title of governor. Should the office of lieutenant governor also become vacant, the president of the senate becomes the acting governor. If the vacancy of both offices took place during the first twenty months of the term, a special election is to be held on the next even-numbered year to elect new officers to serve out the current term. Prior to 1851, the speaker of the senate acted as governor for the term. Since 1978, the governor and lieutenant governor have been elected on the same ticket; prior to then, they could be (and often were) members of different parties.

The Territory Northwest of the Ohio River, commonly known as the Northwest Territory, was organized on July 13, 1787. Many territories and states were split from Northwest Territory over the years, with the last portion being split between Indiana Territory and the newly admitted state of Ohio on March 1, 1803.

Throughout its 15-year history, Northwest Territory had only one governor appointed by the federal government, Arthur St. Clair. He was removed from office by President Thomas Jefferson on November 22, 1802, and no successor was named; Secretary of the Territory Charles Willing Byrd acted as governor until statehood.

Governor of the Territory Northwest of the River Ohio

Governor		Term in office	Appointed by
	Arthur St. Clair (1737–1818)	October 5, 1787 – November 22, 1802 (removed)	Continental Congress
			George Washington
			John Adams

Ohio was admitted to the Union on March 1, 1803. Since then, it has had 64 governors, six of whom (Allen Trimble, Wilson Shannon, Rutherford B. Hayes, James M. Cox, Frank Lausche, and Jim Rhodes) served non-consecutive terms.

The first constitution of 1803 allowed governors to serve for two-year terms, limited to six of any eight years, commencing on the first Monday in the December following an election. The current constitution of 1851 removed the term limit, and shifted the start of the term to the second Monday in January following an election. In 1908, Ohio switched from holding elections in odd-numbered years to even-numbered years, with the preceding governor (from the 1905 election) serving an extra year. A 1957 amendment lengthened the term to four years and allowed governors to only succeed themselves once, having to wait four years after their second term in a row before being allowed to run again. An Ohio Supreme Court ruling in 1973 clarified this to mean governors could theoretically serve unlimited terms, as long as they waited four years after every second term.

Governors of the State of Ohio

No.	Governor			Term in office	Party	Election	Lt. Governor
1			Edward Tiffin (1766–1829)	March 3, 1803 – March 4, 1807 (resigned)	Democratic- Republican	1803	Office did not exist
						1805
2			Thomas Kirker (1760–1837)	March 4, 1807 – December 12, 1808 (lost election)	Democratic- Republican	Speaker of the Senate acting
						1807
3			Samuel Huntington (1765–1817)	December 12, 1808 – December 8, 1810 (did not run)	Democratic- Republican	1808
4			Return J. Meigs Jr. (1764–1825)	December 8, 1810 – March 25, 1814 (resigned)	Democratic- Republican	1810
						1812
5			Othniel Looker (1757–1845)	March 25, 1814 – December 8, 1814 (lost election)	Democratic- Republican	Speaker of the Senate acting
6			Thomas Worthington (1773–1827)	December 8, 1814 – December 14, 1818 (did not run)	Democratic- Republican	1814
						1816
7			Ethan Allen Brown (1776–1852)	December 14, 1818 – January 4, 1822 (resigned)	Democratic- Republican	1818
						1820
8			Allen Trimble (1783–1870)	January 4, 1822 – December 28, 1822 (lost election)	Democratic- Republican	Speaker of the Senate acting
9			Jeremiah Morrow (1771–1852)	December 28, 1822 – December 19, 1826 (did not run)	Democratic- Republican	1822
						1824
10			Allen Trimble (1783–1870)	December 19, 1826 – December 18, 1830 (did not run)	National Republican	1826
						1828
11			Duncan McArthur (1772–1839)	December 18, 1830 – December 7, 1832 (did not run)	National Republican	1830
12			Robert Lucas (1781–1853)	December 7, 1832 – December 13, 1836 (did not run)	Democratic	1832
						1834
13			Joseph Vance (1786–1852)	December 13, 1836 – December 13, 1838 (lost election)	Whig	1836
14			Wilson Shannon (1802–1877)	December 13, 1838 – December 16, 1840 (lost election)	Democratic	1838
15			Thomas Corwin (1794–1865)	December 16, 1840 – December 14, 1842 (lost election)	Whig	1840
16			Wilson Shannon (1802–1877)	December 14, 1842 – April 15, 1844 (resigned)	Democratic	1842
17			Thomas W. Bartley (1812–1885)	April 15, 1844 – December 3, 1844 (lost nomination)	Democratic	Speaker of the Senate acting
18			Mordecai Bartley (1783–1870)	December 3, 1844 – December 12, 1846 (did not run)	Whig	1844
19			William Bebb (1802–1873)	December 12, 1846 – January 22, 1849 (did not run)	Whig	1846
20			Seabury Ford (1801–1855)	January 22, 1849 – December 12, 1850 (did not run)	Whig	1848
21			Reuben Wood (d. 1864)	December 12, 1850 – July 13, 1853 (resigned)	Democratic	1850
						1851		William Medill
22			William Medill (1802–1865)	July 13, 1853 – January 14, 1856 (lost election)	Democratic	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
						1853		James Myers
23			Salmon P. Chase (1808–1873)	January 14, 1856 – January 9, 1860 (did not run)	Republican	1855		Thomas H. Ford
						1857		Martin Welker
24			William Dennison Jr. (1815–1882)	January 9, 1860 – January 13, 1862 (did not run)	Republican	1859		Robert C. Kirk
25			David Tod (1805–1868)	January 13, 1862 – January 11, 1864 (lost nomination)	Republican	1861		Benjamin Stanton
26			John Brough (1811–1865)	January 11, 1864 – August 29, 1865 (died in office)	Union	1863		Charles Anderson
27			Charles Anderson (1814–1895)	August 29, 1865 – January 8, 1866 (did not run)	Republican	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
28			Jacob Dolson Cox (1828–1900)	January 8, 1866 – January 13, 1868 (did not run)	Republican	1865		Andrew McBurney
29			Rutherford B. Hayes (1822–1893)	January 13, 1868 – January 8, 1872 (did not run)	Republican	1867		John C. Lee
						1869
30			Edward Follansbee Noyes (1832–1890)	January 8, 1872 – January 12, 1874 (lost election)	Republican	1871		Jacob Mueller
31			William Allen (1803–1879)	January 12, 1874 – January 10, 1876 (lost election)	Democratic	1873		Alphonso Hart
32			Rutherford B. Hayes (1822–1893)	January 10, 1876 – March 2, 1877 (resigned)	Republican	1875		Thomas L. Young
33			Thomas L. Young (1832–1888)	March 2, 1877 – January 14, 1878 (did not run)	Republican	Succeeded from lieutenant governor		H. W. Curtiss (acting)
34			Richard M. Bishop (1812–1893)	January 14, 1878 – January 12, 1880 (lost nomination)	Democratic	1877		Jabez W. Fitch
35			Charles Foster (1828–1904)	January 12, 1880 – January 14, 1884 (did not run)	Republican	1879		Andrew Hickenlooper
						1881		Rees G. Richards
36			George Hoadly (1826–1902)	January 14, 1884 – January 11, 1886 (lost election)	Democratic	1883		John G. Warwick
37			Joseph B. Foraker (1846–1917)	January 11, 1886 – January 13, 1890 (lost election)	Republican	1885		Robert P. Kennedy (resigned March 3, 1887)
								Silas A. Conrad
						1887		William C. Lyon
38			James E. Campbell (1843–1924)	January 13, 1890 – January 11, 1892 (lost election)	Democratic	1889		Elbert L. Lampson (replaced January 31, 1890)
								William V. Marquis
39			William McKinley (1843–1901)	January 11, 1892 – January 13, 1896 (did not run)	Republican	1891		Andrew L. Harris
						1893
40			Asa S. Bushnell (1834–1904)	January 13, 1896 – January 8, 1900 (did not run)	Republican	1895		Asa W. Jones
						1897
41			George K. Nash (1842–1904)	January 8, 1900 – January 11, 1904 (did not run)	Republican	1899		John A. Caldwell
						1901		Carl L. Nippert (resigned May 1, 1902)
								Harry L. Gordon
42			Myron T. Herrick (1854–1929)	January 11, 1904 – January 8, 1906 (lost election)	Republican	1903		Warren G. Harding
43			John M. Pattison (1847–1906)	January 8, 1906 – June 18, 1906 (died in office)	Democratic	1905		Andrew L. Harris
44			Andrew L. Harris (1835–1915)	June 18, 1906 – January 11, 1909 (lost election)	Republican	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
45			Judson Harmon (1846–1927)	January 11, 1909 – January 13, 1913 (did not run)	Democratic	1908		Francis W. Treadway
						1910		Atlee Pomerene (resigned March 4, 1911)
								Hugh L. Nichols
46			James M. Cox (1870–1957)	January 13, 1913 – January 11, 1915 (lost election)	Democratic	1912		W. A. Greenlund
47			Frank B. Willis (1871–1928)	January 11, 1915 – January 8, 1917 (lost election)	Republican	1914		John H. Arnold
48			James M. Cox (1870–1957)	January 8, 1917 – January 10, 1921 (did not run)	Democratic	1916		Earl D. Bloom
						1918		Clarence J. Brown
49			Harry L. Davis (1878–1950)	January 10, 1921 – January 8, 1923 (did not run)	Republican	1920
50			A. Victor Donahey (1873–1946)	January 8, 1923 – January 14, 1929 (did not run)	Democratic	1922		Earl D. Bloom
						1924		Charles H. Lewis
						1926		Earl D. Bloom (resigned April 1928)
								William G. Pickrel (term ended November 1928)
								George C. Braden
51			Myers Y. Cooper (1873–1958)	January 14, 1929 – January 12, 1931 (lost election)	Republican	1928		John T. Brown
52			George White (1872–1953)	January 12, 1931 – January 14, 1935 (did not run)	Democratic	1930		William G. Pickrel
						1932		Charles W. Sawyer
53			Martin L. Davey (1884–1946)	January 14, 1935 – January 9, 1939 (lost nomination)	Democratic	1934		Harold G. Mosier
						1936		Paul P. Yoder
54			John W. Bricker (1893–1986)	January 9, 1939 – January 8, 1945 (did not run)	Republican	1938		Paul M. Herbert
						1940
						1942
55			Frank Lausche (1895–1990)	January 8, 1945 – January 13, 1947 (lost election)	Democratic	1944		George D. Nye
56			Thomas J. Herbert (1894–1974)	January 13, 1947 – January 10, 1949 (lost election)	Republican	1946		Paul M. Herbert
57			Frank Lausche (1895–1990)	January 10, 1949 – January 3, 1957 (resigned)	Democratic	1948		George D. Nye
						1950
						1952		John William Brown
						1954
58			John William Brown (1913–1993)	January 3, 1957 – January 14, 1957 (successor took office)	Republican	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
59			C. William O'Neill (1916–1978)	January 14, 1957 – January 12, 1959 (lost election)	Republican	1956		Paul M. Herbert
60			Michael DiSalle (1908–1981)	January 12, 1959 – January 14, 1963 (lost election)	Democratic	1958		John W. Donahey
61			Jim Rhodes (1909–2001)	January 14, 1963 – January 11, 1971 (term-limited)	Republican	1962		John William Brown
						1966
62			John J. Gilligan (1921–2013)	January 11, 1971 – January 13, 1975 (lost election)	Democratic	1970
63			Jim Rhodes (1909–2001)	January 13, 1975 – January 10, 1983 (term-limited)	Republican	1974		Dick Celeste
						1978		George Voinovich (resigned November 1979)
							Vacant
64			Dick Celeste (b. 1937)	January 10, 1983 – January 14, 1991 (term-limited)	Democratic	1982		Myrl Shoemaker (died July 30, 1985)
							Vacant
						1986		Paul Leonard
65			George Voinovich (1936–2016)	January 14, 1991 – December 31, 1998 (resigned)	Republican	1990		Mike DeWine (resigned November 12, 1994)
							Vacant
						1994		Nancy Hollister
66			Nancy Hollister (b. 1949)	December 31, 1998 – January 11, 1999 (successor took office)	Republican	Succeeded from lieutenant governor	Vacant
67			Bob Taft (b. 1942)	January 11, 1999 – January 8, 2007 (term-limited)	Republican	1998		Maureen O'Connor (resigned December 31, 2002)
							Vacant
						2002		Jennette Bradley (resigned January 5, 2005)
								Bruce Johnson (resigned December 8, 2006)
							Vacant
68			Ted Strickland (b. 1941)	January 8, 2007 – January 10, 2011 (lost election)	Democratic	2006		Lee Fisher
69			John Kasich (b. 1952)	January 10, 2011 – January 14, 2019 (term-limited)	Republican	2010		Mary Taylor
						2014
70			Mike DeWine (b. 1947)	January 14, 2019 – Incumbent	Republican	2018		Jon Husted
						2022

• List of Ohio state legislatures

General

Specific

• Office of the Governor of Ohio