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Historical Record

Previous Governors of California

Governors who previously held office in California, with term dates and party affiliation.

Gavin Newsom
Gavin NewsomDemocrat20192027

Gavin Christopher Newsom is an American politician and businessman serving as the governor of California since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the lieutenant governor of California from 2011 to 2019 and as the mayor of San Francisco from 2004 to 2011.

Jerry Brown
Jerry BrownDemocrat20112019

Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown Jr., is an American lawyer, author, and politician who served as the 34th and 39th governor of California from 1975 to 1983 and 2011 to 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected secretary of state of California in 1970; Brown later served as the mayor of Oakland from 1999 to 2007 and the attorney general of California from 2007 to 2011. He was both the oldest and sixth-youngest governor of California due to the 28-year gap between his second and third terms. Upon completing his fourth term in office, Brown became the fourth-longest-serving governor in U.S. history, serving 16 years and 5 days in office.

Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold SchwarzeneggerRepublican20032011

Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian and American actor, businessman, film producer, politician, and former professional bodybuilder who served as the 38th governor of California from 2003 to 2011.

Gray Davis
Gray DavisDemocrat19992003

Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis Jr. is an American attorney and former politician who served as the 37th governor of California from 1999 until he was recalled and removed from office in 2003. He is the second state governor in U.S. history to have been recalled, after Lynn Frazier of North Dakota.

Pete Wilson
Pete WilsonRepublican19911999

Peter Barton Wilson is an American attorney and politician who served as the 36th governor of California from 1991 to 1999. A member of the Republican Party, Wilson previously served as a United States senator from California from 1983 to 1991, and as mayor of San Diego from 1971 to 1983.

George Deukmejian
George DeukmejianDemocrat19831991

Courken George Deukmejian Jr. was an American politician who served as the 35th governor of California from 1983 to 1991. A member of the Republican Party, he was the state's first governor of Armenian descent.

Jerry Brown
Jerry BrownDemocrat19751983

Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown Jr., is an American lawyer, author, and politician who served as the 34th and 39th governor of California from 1975 to 1983 and 2011 to 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected secretary of state of California in 1970; Brown later served as the mayor of Oakland from 1999 to 2007 and the attorney general of California from 2007 to 2011. He was both the oldest and sixth-youngest governor of California due to the 28-year gap between his second and third terms. Upon completing his fourth term in office, Brown became the fourth-longest-serving governor in U.S. history, serving 16 years and 5 days in office.

Ronald Reagan
Ronald ReaganRepublican19671975

Ronald Wilson Reagan was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. A member of the Republican Party, he became an important figure in the American conservative movement. The period encompassing his presidency is known as the Reagan era.

Pat Brown
Pat BrownDemocrat19591967

Edmund Gerald "Pat" Brown was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 32nd governor of California from 1959 to 1967. His first elected office was as district attorney for San Francisco, and he was later elected attorney general of California in 1950, before becoming the state's governor after the 1958 election.

Goodwin Knight
Goodwin KnightRepublican19531959

Goodwin Jess "Goodie" Knight was an American politician and judge who served as the 31st governor of California from 1953 to 1959. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 35th lieutenant governor of California from 1947 to 1953 under Governor Earl Warren.

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