<P> California was obtained by the United States in the Mexican Cession following the Mexican--American War . Unlike most other states, it was never organized as a territory, and was admitted as the 31st state on September 9, 1850 . </P> <P> The original California Constitution of 1849 called for elections every two years, with no set start date for the term . An amendment ratified in 1862 increased the term to four years, and the 1879 constitution set the term to begin on the first Monday in January following an election . In 1990, Proposition 140 led to a constitutional amendment implementing a term limit of two terms; prior to this limit, only one governor, Earl Warren, served more than two terms . Jerry Brown was able to be elected to a third term in 2010 because his previous terms were before the term limit was enacted . The 1849 constitution also created the office of lieutenant governor, who, in cases of vacancy in the office of governor, becomes governor . The governor and lieutenant governor are not elected on the same ticket . </P> <Table> Governors of the State of California <Tr> <Th> No . </Th> <Th> Portrait </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> Governor </Th> <Th> Term in office </Th> <Th> Party </Th> <Th> Election </Th> <Th> Previous office </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> Lt. Governor </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> Peter Hardeman Burnett (1807 - 11 - 15) November 15, 1807--(1895 - 05 - 17) May 17, 1895 (Aged 87) </Th> <Td> December 20, 1849--January 9, 1851 </Td> <Td> Democratic </Td> <Td> 1849 </Td> <Td> 5th Supreme Judge of the Provisional Oregon Supreme Court (1845--1846) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> John McDougal </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> John McDougal ca . 1818--March 30, 1866 (Aged 48) </Th> <Td> January 9, 1851--January 8, 1852 </Td> <Td> Democratic </Td> <Td> 1st Lieutenant Governor of California (1849--1851) </Td> <Td> David C. Broderick (acting) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> John Bigler January 8, 1805--November 29, 1871 (Aged 66) </Th> <Td> January 8, 1852--January 9, 1856 </Td> <Td> Democratic </Td> <Td> 1851 </Td> <Td> 2nd Speaker of the California Assembly (1850--1851) </Td> <Td> Samuel Purdy </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1853 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> J. Neely Johnson August 2, 1825--August 31, 1872 (Aged 47) </Th> <Td> January 9, 1856--January 8, 1858 </Td> <Td> American </Td> <Td> 1855 </Td> <Td> California State Assemblyman (1852--1856) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Robert M. Anderson </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> John B. Weller February 22, 1812--August 17, 1875 (Aged 63) </Th> <Td> January 8, 1858--January 9, 1860 </Td> <Td> Democratic </Td> <Td> 1857 </Td> <Td> U.S. Senator from California (1852--1857) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> John Walkup </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> Milton Latham May 23, 1827--March 4, 1882 (Aged 54) </Th> <Td> January 9, 1860--January 14, 1860 </Td> <Td> Democratic </Td> <Td> 1859 </Td> <Td> U.S. Representative for California's At - large (1853--1855) </Td> <Td> John G. Downey </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> John G. Downey June 24, 1827--March 1, 1894 (Aged 66) </Th> <Td> January 14, 1860--January 10, 1862 </Td> <Td> Democratic </Td> <Td> 6th Lieutenant Governor of California (1860) </Td> <Td> Isaac N. Quinn (acting) (resigned January 7, 1861) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Pablo de la Guerra (acting) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> Leland Stanford March 9, 1824--June 21, 1893 (Aged 69) </Th> <Td> January 10, 1862--December 10, 1863 </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> <Td> 1861 </Td> <Td> 1st President of Central Pacific Railroad (1861--1893) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> John F. Chellis </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> Frederick Low June 30, 1828--July 21, 1894 (Aged 66) </Th> <Td> December 10, 1863--December 5, 1867 </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> <Td> 1863 </Td> <Td> U.S. Representative for California's At - large (1862--1863) </Td> <Td> Tim N. Machin </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> Henry Huntly Haight May 20, 1825--September 2, 1878 (Aged 53) </Th> <Td> December 5, 1867--December 8, 1871 </Td> <Td> Democratic </Td> <Td> 1867 </Td> <Td> None </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> William Holden </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> Newton Booth December 30, 1825--July 14, 1892 (Aged 66) </Th> <Td> December 8, 1871--February 27, 1875 </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> <Td> 1871 </Td> <Td> California State Senator (1863) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Romualdo Pacheco </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> Romualdo Pacheco October 31, 1831--January 23, 1899 (Aged 67) </Th> <Td> February 27, 1875--December 9, 1875 </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> <Td> 9th Lieutenant Governor of California (1871--1875) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> William Irwin (acting) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> William Irwin ca . 1827--March 15, 1886 (Aged 58--59) </Th> <Td> December 9, 1875--January 8, 1880 </Td> <Td> Democratic </Td> <Td> 1875 </Td> <Td> Acting Lieutenant Governor of California (1875) </Td> <Td> James A. Johnson </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 14 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> George Clement Perkins August 23, 1839--February 26, 1923 (Aged 83) </Th> <Td> January 8, 1880--January 10, 1883 </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> <Td> 1879 </Td> <Td> California State Senator (1869--1876) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> John Mansfield </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 15 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> George Stoneman August 8, 1822--September 5, 1894 (Aged 72) </Th> <Td> January 10, 1883--January 8, 1887 </Td> <Td> Democratic </Td> <Td> 1882 </Td> <Td> Major General of the Union Army (since 1861) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> John Daggett </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 16 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> Washington Bartlett February 29, 1824--September 12, 1887 (Aged 63) </Th> <Td> January 8, 1887--September 12, 1887 </Td> <Td> Democratic </Td> <Td> 1886 </Td> <Td> 20th Mayor of San Francisco (1883--1887) </Td> <Td> Robert Waterman </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> Robert Waterman December 15, 1826--April 12, 1891 (Aged 64) </Th> <Td> September 12, 1887--January 8, 1891 </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> <Td> 17th Lieutenant Governor of California (1887) </Td> <Td> Stephen M. White (acting) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> Henry Markham November 16, 1840--October 9, 1923 (Aged 82) </Th> <Td> January 8, 1891--January 11, 1895 </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> <Td> 1890 </Td> <Td> U.S. Representative for California's 1st (1885--1887) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> John B. Reddick </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> James Budd May 18, 1851--July 30, 1908 (Aged 57) </Th> <Td> January 11, 1895--January 4, 1899 </Td> <Td> Democratic </Td> <Td> 1894 </Td> <Td> U.S. Representative for California's 2nd (1883--1885) </Td> <Td> Spencer G. Millard (died October 24, 1895) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> William T. Jeter </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 20 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> Henry Gage December 25, 1852--August 28, 1924 (Aged 71) </Th> <Td> January 4, 1899--January 7, 1903 </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> <Td> 1898 </Td> <Td> Federal prosecutor (since 1891) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Jacob H. Neff </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> George Pardee July 25, 1857--September 1, 1941 (Aged 84) </Th> <Td> January 7, 1903--January 9, 1907 </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> <Td> 1902 </Td> <Td> 29th Mayor of Oakland (1893--1895) </Td> <Td> Alden Anderson </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 22 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> James Gillett September 20, 1860--April 20, 1937 (Aged 76) </Th> <Td> January 9, 1907--January 3, 1911 </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> <Td> 1906 </Td> <Td> U.S. Representative for California's 1st (1903--1906) </Td> <Td> Warren R. Porter </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 23 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> Hiram Johnson September 2, 1866--August 6, 1945 (Aged 78) </Th> <Td> January 3, 1911--March 15, 1917 </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> <Td> 1910 </Td> <Td> Assistant District attorney of California (1902--1910) </Td> <Td> Albert Joseph Wallace </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Progressive </Td> <Td> 1914 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> John M. Eshleman (died February 28, 1916) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Vacant </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> William Stephens (took office July 22, 1916) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 24 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> William Stephens December 26, 1859--April 25, 1944 (Aged 84) </Th> <Td> March 15, 1917--January 8, 1923 </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> <Td> 27th Lieutenant Governor of California (1916--1917) </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> Vacant </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1918 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> C.C. Young </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 25 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> Friend Richardson December 1, 1865--September 6, 1943 (Aged 77) </Th> <Td> January 9, 1923--January 4, 1927 </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> <Td> 1922 </Td> <Td> 21st California State Treasurer (1915--1923) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 26 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> C.C. Young April 28, 1869--December 24, 1947 (Aged 78) </Th> <Td> January 4, 1927--January 6, 1931 </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> <Td> 1926 </Td> <Td> 29th Lieutenant Governor of California (1919--1927) </Td> <Td> Buron Fitts (resigned November 30, 1928) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Vacant </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> H.L. Carnahan (appointed December 4, 1928) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 27 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> James Rolph August 23, 1869--June 2, 1934 (Aged 64) </Th> <Td> January 6, 1931--June 2, 1934 </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> <Td> 1930 </Td> <Td> 30th Mayor of San Francisco (1912--1931) </Td> <Td> Frank Merriam </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 28 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> Frank Merriam December 22, 1865--April 25, 1955 (Aged 89) </Th> <Td> June 2, 1934--January 2, 1939 </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> <Td> 31st Lieutenant Governor of California (1931--1934) </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> Vacant </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1934 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> George J. Hatfield </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 29 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> Culbert Olson November 7, 1876--April 13, 1962 (Aged 85) </Th> <Td> January 2, 1939--January 4, 1943 </Td> <Td> Democratic </Td> <Td> 1938 </Td> <Td> California State Senator (1934--1938) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Ellis E. Patterson </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 30 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> Earl Warren March 19, 1891--July 9, 1974 (Aged 83) </Th> <Td> January 4, 1943--October 5, 1953 </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> <Td> 1942 </Td> <Td> 20th Attorney General of California (1939--1943) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Frederick F. Houser </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1946 </Td> <Td> Goodwin Knight </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1950 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 31 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> Goodwin Knight December 9, 1896--May 22, 1970 (Aged 73) </Th> <Td> October 5, 1953--January 5, 1959 </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> <Td> 35th Lieutenant Governor of California (1947--1953) </Td> <Td> Harold J. Powers </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1954 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 32 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> Pat Brown April 21, 1905--February 16, 1996 (Aged 90) </Th> <Td> January 5, 1959--January 2, 1967 </Td> <Td> Democratic </Td> <Td> 1958 </Td> <Td> 23rd Attorney General of California (1951--1959) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Glenn M. Anderson </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1962 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 33 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> Ronald Reagan February 6, 1911--June 5, 2004 (Aged 93) </Th> <Td> January 2, 1967--January 6, 1975 </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> <Td> 1966 </Td> <Td> 9th and 13th President of the Screen Actors Guild (1947--1952; 1959--1960) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Robert Finch (resigned January 8, 1969) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Edwin Reinecke (resigned October 2, 1974) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1970 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> John L. Harmer </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 34 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> Jerry Brown (1938 - 04 - 07) April 7, 1938 (age 80) </Th> <Td> January 6, 1975--January 3, 1983 </Td> <Td> Democratic </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 24th Secretary of State of California (1971--1975) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Mervyn M. Dymally </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1978 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Michael Curb </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 35 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> George Deukmejian June 6, 1928--May 8, 2018 (Aged 89) </Th> <Td> January 3, 1983--January 7, 1991 </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> <Td> 1982 </Td> <Td> 27th Attorney General of California (1979--1983) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Leo T. McCarthy </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1986 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 36 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> Pete Wilson (1933 - 08 - 23) August 23, 1933 (age 84) </Th> <Td> January 7, 1991--January 4, 1999 </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> U.S. Senator from California (1983--1991) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Gray Davis </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 37 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> Gray Davis (1942 - 12 - 26) December 26, 1942 (age 75) </Th> <Td> January 4, 1999--November 17, 2003 </Td> <Td> Democratic </Td> <Td> 1998 </Td> <Td> 44th Lieutenant Governor of California (1995--1999) </Td> <Td> Cruz Bustamante </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2002 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 38 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> Arnold Schwarzenegger (1947 - 07 - 30) July 30, 1947 (age 70) </Th> <Td> November 17, 2003--January 3, 2011 </Td> <Td> Republican </Td> <Td> Chair of the President's Council on Fitness and Sports (1990--1993) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2006 </Td> <Td> John Garamendi (resigned November 3, 2009) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Mona Pasquil (Acting) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Abel Maldonado (appointed April 27, 2010) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 39 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Th> Jerry Brown (1938 - 04 - 07) April 7, 1938 (age 80) </Th> <Td> January 3, 2011--Present </Td> <Td> Democratic </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 31st Attorney General of California (2007--2011) 34th Governor of California (1975--1983) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Gavin Newsom (took office January 10, 2011) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2014 </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> No . </Th> <Th> Portrait </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> Governor </Th> <Th> Term in office </Th> <Th> Party </Th> <Th> Election </Th> <Th> Previous office </Th> <Th_colspan="2"> Lt. Governor </Th> </Tr>

Who was the first governor of california after statehood