The Governor of Alaska is the chief executive

Head of government

Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...

 of the State of Alaska

Alaska

Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...

. The governor

Governor (United States)

In the United States, the title governor refers to the chief executive of each state or insular territory, not directly subordinate to the federal authorities, but the political and ceremonial head of the state.-Role and powers:...

 is the commander-in-chief

Commander-in-Chief

A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...

 of the state's

U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

 military forces (including the Alaska National Guard

Alaska National Guard

The Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs manages military and veterans affairs for the U.S. state of Alaska. It comprises a number of subdepartments, including the Alaska National Guard, Veterans Affairs, the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Alaska Naval...

 and Alaska State Defense Force

Alaska State Defense Force

The Alaska State Defense Force is the State Defense Force of Alaska. It is one of 23 such forces in the U.S. states.The Alaska State Defense Force is the successor of the Alaska Territorial Guard founded during World War II...

), has a duty to enforce state law

State law

In the United States, state law is the law of each separate U.S. state, as passed by the state legislature and adjudicated by state courts. It exists in parallel, and sometimes in conflict with, United States federal law. These disputes are often resolved by the federal courts.-See also:*List of U.S...

s, and the power to either approve or veto

Veto

A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...

 bills passed by the Alaska Legislature

Alaska Legislature

The Alaska Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is a bicameral institution, consisting of the lower Alaska House of Representatives, with 40 members, and the upper house Alaska Senate, with 20 members...

, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons, except in cases of impeachment.

Nine people have served as governor of the State of Alaska over 11 distinct terms, though Alaska had over 30 civilian and military governors during its long history as a United States territory

United States territory

United States territory is any extent of region under the jurisdiction of the federal government of the United States, including all waters including all U.S. Naval carriers. The United States has traditionally proclaimed the sovereign rights for exploring, exploiting, conserving, and managing its...

. Two people, William Allen Egan

William Allen Egan

William Allen Egan was an American Democratic politician. He served as the first Governor of the State of Alaska from January 3, 1959 to 1966, and the fourth Governor from 1970 to 1974...

 and Wally Hickel, have been elected to multiple non-consecutive terms as governor. Hickel is also noted for a rare third party

Third party (United States)

The term third party is used in the United States for any and all political parties in the United States other than one of the two major parties . The term can also refer to independent politicians not affiliated with any party at all and to write-in candidates.The United States has had a...

 win in American politics, having been elected to a term in 1990 representing the Alaskan Independence Party

Alaskan Independence Party

The Alaskan Independence Party is a political party in the U.S. state of Alaska that advocates an in-state referendum which includes the option of Alaska becoming an independent country...

. The longest-serving governor of the state was Egan, who was elected three times and served nearly 12 years. The longest-serving territorial governor was Ernest Gruening

Ernest Gruening

Ernest Henry Gruening was an American journalist and Democrat who was the Governor of the Alaska Territory from 1939 until 1953, and a United States Senator from Alaska from 1959 until 1969.-Early life:...

, who served 13½ years.

The current governor is Sean Parnell

Sean Parnell

Sean R. Parnell is an American Republican politician who is the tenth and current Governor of Alaska. He succeeded Sarah Palin following her resignation, and was sworn in at the Governor's Picnic in Fairbanks on July 26, 2009...

, who took office on July 26, 2009, following the resignation

Resignation of Sarah Palin

The resignation of Sarah Palin as Governor of Alaska was announced on July 3, 2009 and became effective on July 26. Sean Parnell, the lieutenant governor, took Palin's place as governor.-Reasons for the resignation:...

 of Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin

Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...

, and was elected to a full term in 2010.

Governors

Alaska was purchased

Alaska purchase

The Alaska Purchase was the acquisition of the Alaska territory by the United States from Russia in 1867 by a treaty ratified by the Senate. The purchase, made at the initiative of United States Secretary of State William H. Seward, gained of new United States territory...

 by the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 from Russia

Russia

Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

 in 1867, with formal transfer occurring on October 18, 1867, which is now celebrated as Alaska Day

Alaska Day

Alaska Day is a legal holiday in the U.S. state of Alaska, observed on October 18. It is the anniversary of the formal transfer of the Territory of Alaska from Russia to the United States which took place at a flag-raising ceremony at Fort Sitka on Friday October 18, 1867 Alaska Day is a legal...

. Prior to then, it was known as Russian America or Russian Alaska, controlled by the governors and general managers of the Russian-American Company

Russian-American Company

The Russian-American Company was a state-sponsored chartered company formed largely on the basis of the so-called Shelekhov-Golikov Company of Grigory Shelekhov and Ivan Larionovich Golikov The Russian-American Company (officially: Under His Imperial Majesty's Highest Protection (patronage)...

.

Commanders of the Department of Alaska

The vast region was initially designated the Department of Alaska

Department of Alaska

The Department of Alaska was the designation for the government of Alaska from its purchase by the United States of America in 1867 until its organization as the District of Alaska in 1884. During the department era, Alaska was variously under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army , the United States...

, under the jurisdiction of the Department of War

United States Department of War

The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...

 and administered by U.S. Army

United States Army

The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...

 officers until 1877, when the Army was withdrawn from Alaska. The Department of the Treasury

United States Department of the Treasury

The Department of the Treasury is an executive department and the treasury of the United States federal government. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1789 to manage government revenue...

 then took control, with the Collector of Customs as the highest ranking federal official in the territory. In 1879, the U.S. Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 was given jurisdiction over the department.

Some believe the first American administrator of Alaska was Polish

Poles

thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...

 immigrant Włodzimierz Krzyżanowski. However, the Anchorage Daily News

Anchorage Daily News

The Anchorage Daily News is a daily newspaper based in Anchorage, Alaska, in the United States. It is often referred to colloquially as either "the Daily News" or "the ADN"...

was unable to find any conclusive information to support this claim.

Commander	Took office	Left office
United States Army United States Army The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Brevet Major General Jefferson C. Davis Jefferson C. Davis Jefferson Columbus Davis was an officer in the United States Army who served in the Mexican-American War, the Civil War, and the Modoc War. He was the first commander of the Department of Alaska, from 1868 to 1870...	October 18, 1867	August 31, 1870
Brevet Lieutenant Colonel George K. Brady George K. Brady George K. Brady was an officer in the United States Army who served as the second commander of the Department of Alaska, from September 1, 1870 to September 22, 1870.-Early life:...	September 1, 1870	September 22, 1870
Maj. John C. Tidball John C. Tidball John Caldwell Tidball was a career military officer, noted for his service in the horse artillery in the cavalry in the Union Army during the American Civil War...	September 23, 1870	September 19, 1871
Maj. Harvey A. Allen Harvey A. Allen Harvey A. Allen was an officer in the United States Army who served as the fourth commander of the Department of Alaska, from September 20, 1871 to January 3, 1873....	September 20, 1871	January 3, 1873
Maj. Joseph Stewart Joseph Stewart (Alaska) Joseph Stewart was an officer in the United States Army notable for serving as commander of Fort Alcatraz, Fort Churchill and the Department of Alaska. His name is occasionally seen as Jasper Stewart.-Early life:...	January 4, 1873	April 20, 1874
Captain George R. Rodney George R. Rodney George R. Rodney was an officer in the United States Army who served as the sixth commander of the Department of Alaska, from April 21, 1874 to August 16, 1874.-Notes:...	April 21, 1874	August 16, 1874
Capt. Joseph B. Campbell Joseph B. Campbell Joseph B. Campbell was an officer in the United States Army who served as the seventh commander of the Department of Alaska, from August 17, 1874 to June 14, 1876.-Notes:...	August 17, 1874	June 14, 1876
Capt. John Mendenhall	June 15, 1876	March 4, 1877
Capt. Arthur Morris Arthur Morris (Alaska) Arthur Morris was an officer in the United States Army who served as the ninth commander of the Department of Alaska, from March 5, 1877 to June 14, 1877....	March 5, 1877	June 14, 1877
United States Department of the Treasury United States Department of the Treasury The Department of the Treasury is an executive department and the treasury of the United States federal government. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1789 to manage government revenue...
Montgomery P. Berry Montgomery P. Berry Montgomery P. Berry was a collector of customs for the United States Department of the Treasury, and from June 14, 1877 to August 13, 1877 was the highest-ranking federal official in the Department of Alaska, making him the de facto governor of the territory.-Notes:...	June 14, 1877	August 13, 1877
H.C. DeAhna H.C. DeAhna H.C. DeAhna was a collector of customs for the United States Department of the Treasury, and from August 14, 1877 to March 26, 1878 was the highest-ranking federal official in the Department of Alaska, making him the de facto governor of the territory....	August 14, 1877	March 26, 1878
Mottrom D. Ball Mottrom D. Ball Mottrom Dulany Ball was an American lawyer, newspaper publisher and collector of customs for the United States Department of the Treasury. From March 27, 1878 to June 13, 1879 was the highest-ranking federal official in the Department of Alaska, making him the de facto governor of the...	March 27, 1878	June 13, 1879
United States Navy United States Navy The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
Capt. Lester A. Beardslee Lester A. Beardslee Lester Anthony Beardslee was an officer in the United States Navy who served as the commander of the Department of Alaska from June 14, 1879 to September 12, 1880, and as Captain of the USS Jamestown.-Notes:...	June 14, 1879	September 12, 1880
Commander Henry Glass	September 13, 1880	August 9, 1881
Cmdr. Edward P. Lull Edward P. Lull Edward P. Lull was an officer in the United States Navy who served as the commander of the Department of Alaska from August 10, 1881 to October 18, 1881....	August 10, 1881	October 18, 1881
Cmdr. Henry Glass	October 19, 1881	March 12, 1882
Cmdr. Frederick Pearson Frederick Pearson (Alaska) Frederick Pearson was an officer in the United States Navy who served as the commander of the Department of Alaska from March 13, 1882 to October 3, 1882 as Commander of the USS Wachusett. During the American Civil War, Pearson was on the USS St. Lawrence when she engaged the rebel privateer...	March 13, 1882	October 3, 1882
Cmdr. Edgar C. Merriman Edgar C. Merriman Edgar C. Merriman was an officer in the United States Navy who served as the commander of the Department of Alaska from October 4, 1882 to September 13, 1883 as commander of the USS Adams.-Notes:...	October 4, 1882	September 13, 1883
Cmdr. Joseph Coghlan Joseph Coghlan Rear Admiral Joseph Bulloch Coghlan was an officer in the United States Navy during the American Civil War and the Spanish–American War.-Biography:...	September 15, 1883	September 13, 1884
Cmdr. Henry E. Nichols Henry E. Nichols Henry E. Nichols was an officer in the United States Navy who served as the commander of the Department of Alaska from September 14, 1884 to September 15, 1884 as commander of the USS Pinta.-Notes:...	September 14, 1884	September 15, 1884

Governors of the District of Alaska

On May 17, 1884, the Department of Alaska was redesignated the District of Alaska

District of Alaska

The District of Alaska was the governmental designation for Alaska from May 17, 1884 to August 24, 1912, when it became Alaska Territory. Previously it had been known as the Department of Alaska. At the time, legislators in Washington, D.C., were occupied with post-Civil War reconstruction issues,...

, an incorporated but unorganized territory

Unorganized territory

An unorganized territory is a region of land without a "normally" constituted system of government. This does not mean that the territory has no government at all or that it is unclaimed territory...

 with a civil government. The governor was appointed by the President of the United States

President of the United States

The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....

.

Governor	Took office	Left office	Appointed by

Governors of the Territory of Alaska

The District of Alaska was organized into Alaska Territory

Alaska Territory

The Territory of Alaska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 24, 1912, until January 3, 1959, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Alaska...

 on August 24, 1912. Governors continued to be appointed by the President of the United States. During World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, parts of the Aleutian Islands were occupied by Imperial Japan from June 5, 1942, to June 28, 1943.

Governor	Took office	Left office	Appointed by	Notes
			Acting
			Acting

Governors of the State of Alaska

Alaska was admitted to the Union on January 3, 1959.

The state constitution provides for the election of a governor and lieutenant governor every four years on the same ticket

Ticket (election)

A ticket refers to a single election choice which fills more than one political office or seat. For example, in the U.S., the candidates for President and Vice President run on the same "ticket", because they are elected together on a single ballot question rather than separately.A ticket can also...

, with their terms commencing on the first Monday in the December following the election. Governors are allowed to succeed themselves once, having to wait four years after their second term in a row before being allowed to run again. Should the office of governor become vacant, the lieutenant governor assumes the title of governor. The original constitution of 1956 created the office of secretary of state, which was functionally identical to a lieutenant governor, and was renamed to "lieutenant governor" in 1970.

There have been six governors from the Republican Party

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

, five from the Democratic

Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

 Party, and one, Wally Hickel, who was elected under the Alaskan Independence Party

Alaskan Independence Party

The Alaskan Independence Party is a political party in the U.S. state of Alaska that advocates an in-state referendum which includes the option of Alaska becoming an independent country...

 during his second period in office. Many Republicans were unhappy with the choice of Arliss Sturgulewski as their party's candidate for governor in the 1990 election, and Hickel was able to attract their votes. However, he never held the AIP's secessionist ideals, and switched back to the Republican Party eight months before his term ended.

	Governor		Term start	Term end	Party	Lieutenant Governor		TermsThe fractional terms of some governors are not to be understood absolutely literally; rather, they are meant to show single terms during which multiple governors served, due to resignations, deaths and the like.
1		William Allen Egan William Allen Egan William Allen Egan was an American Democratic politician. He served as the first Governor of the State of Alaska from January 3, 1959 to 1966, and the fourth Governor from 1970 to 1974...	January 3, 1959	December 5, 1966	Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...		Hugh Wade Hugh Wade Hugh Joseph Wade was the first Lieutenant Governor of Alaska from 1959 to 1966.-External links:* Photo of Hugh and Madge Wade with Bob Bartlett and John F. Kennedy...	2
2		Wally Hickel	December 5, 1966	January 29, 1969	Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...		Keith Harvey Miller Keith Harvey Miller Keith Harvey Miller is an American Republican politician from Alaska. Miller was the second Lieutenant Governor of Alaska under Walter Hickel from 1966 until Hickel's resignation to become U.S. Secretary of Interior in the Cabinet of President Richard M...	Resigned to become United States Secretary of the Interior United States Secretary of the Interior The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries... .
3		Keith Harvey Miller Keith Harvey Miller Keith Harvey Miller is an American Republican politician from Alaska. Miller was the second Lieutenant Governor of Alaska under Walter Hickel from 1966 until Hickel's resignation to become U.S. Secretary of Interior in the Cabinet of President Richard M...	January 29, 1969	December 7, 1970	Republican		Robert W. Ward Robert W. Ward Robert Walter Ward was an electrician, business and government executive, and Republican politician from the U.S. state of Alaska...	As secretary of state, filled unexpired term.
1		William Allen Egan William Allen Egan William Allen Egan was an American Democratic politician. He served as the first Governor of the State of Alaska from January 3, 1959 to 1966, and the fourth Governor from 1970 to 1974...	December 7, 1970	December 2, 1974	Democratic		H. A. Boucher H. A. Boucher Henry Aristide "Red" Boucher, Jr. was the fourth Lieutenant Governor of Alaska from 1970 to 1974. He had also served as mayor of Fairbanks, Alaska from 1966 to 1970, and in the Alaska House of Representatives...	1
4		Jay Hammond Jay Hammond Jay Sterner Hammond was an American politician of the Republican Party, who served as the fourth Governor of Alaska from 1974 to 1982.-Early life:...	December 2, 1974	December 6, 1982	Republican		Lowell Thomas, Jr. Lowell Thomas, Jr. Lowell Jackson Thomas, Jr. is a film and television producer who collaborated with his father, the accomplished reporter and author Lowell Thomas, on several projects before becoming an Alaskan State Senator in the early 1970s, and later the fifth Lieutenant Governor of Alaska .In the 1980s, he...	2
							Terry Miller Terry Miller (politician) Terry Miller was the sixth Lieutenant Governor of Alaska, 1978–1982.Miller was born in San Francisco, California. His father, Conrad B. Miller, came to Fairbanks, Alaska in 1949 and soon began work as a fur trader in rural Alaska...
5		Bill Sheffield	December 6, 1982	December 1, 1986	Democratic		Stephen McAlpine Stephen McAlpine Stephen Alan McAlpine was the seventh Lieutenant Governor of Alaska from 1982 to 1990.Stephen McAlpine was born in Yakima, Washington, the fourth child of Robert E. and Myrtle B. McAlpine. He attended school in Yakima, but two years at Maryknoll Seminary in Mt. View, California...	1
6		Steve Cowper Steve Cowper Steve Cowper is an American Democratic politician who was the sixth Governor of Alaska of Alaska from 1986 to 1990. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and later served in the Alaska House of Representatives before being elected governor.Cowper served as Governor at...	December 1, 1986	December 3, 1990	Democratic		Stephen McAlpine Stephen McAlpine Stephen Alan McAlpine was the seventh Lieutenant Governor of Alaska from 1982 to 1990.Stephen McAlpine was born in Yakima, Washington, the fourth child of Robert E. and Myrtle B. McAlpine. He attended school in Yakima, but two years at Maryknoll Seminary in Mt. View, California...	1
2		Wally Hickel	December 3, 1990	December 5, 1994	Alaskan Independence Alaskan Independence Party The Alaskan Independence Party is a political party in the U.S. state of Alaska that advocates an in-state referendum which includes the option of Alaska becoming an independent country...		Jack Coghill Jack Coghill John Bruce "Jack" Coghill was the eighth lieutenant governor of Alaska, serving from 1990 to 1994 under Governor Walter Hickel. Both were members of the Alaskan Independence Party... Represented the Alaskan Independence Party Alaskan Independence Party The Alaskan Independence Party is a political party in the U.S. state of Alaska that advocates an in-state referendum which includes the option of Alaska becoming an independent country... .	1
					Republican
7		Tony Knowles Tony Knowles (politician) Anthony Carroll Knowles is an American Democratic politician and businessman who served as the seventh Governor of Alaska from December 1994 to December 2002. Barred from seeking a third consecutive term as governor in 2002, he ran unsuccessfully for Senate in 2004 and again for governor in...	December 5, 1994	December 2, 2002	Democratic		Fran Ulmer Fran Ulmer Frances Ann "Fran" Ulmer is an administrator and Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Alaska. She is currently the chancellor of the University of Alaska Anchorage...	2
8		Frank Murkowski Frank Murkowski Francis Hughes Murkowski is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He was a United States Senator from Alaska from 1981 until 2002 and the eighth Governor of Alaska from 2002 until 2006.- Early life and career :...	December 2, 2002	December 4, 2006	Republican		Loren Leman Loren Leman Loren Dwight Leman was the tenth Lieutenant Governor of Alaska, traces his family history in Alaska to a marriage in Kodiak more than 200 years ago between a Russian shipbuilder and an Alutiiq woman from Afognak...	1
9		Sarah Palin Sarah Palin Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...	December 4, 2006	July 26, 2009	Republican		Sean Parnell Sean Parnell Sean R. Parnell is an American Republican politician who is the tenth and current Governor of Alaska. He succeeded Sarah Palin following her resignation, and was sworn in at the Governor's Picnic in Fairbanks on July 26, 2009...
10		Sean Parnell Sean Parnell Sean R. Parnell is an American Republican politician who is the tenth and current Governor of Alaska. He succeeded Sarah Palin following her resignation, and was sworn in at the Governor's Picnic in Fairbanks on July 26, 2009...	July 26, 2009	Incumbent	Republican		Craig Campbell Craig Campbell (politician) Craig Eaton Campbell was the 12th Lieutenant Governor of Alaska, holding the office from August 10, 2009 through December 6 2010. Prior to that date, he was "temporary substitute" lieutenant governor for several weeks until being confirmed in the position by the State Legislature...	As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term and was subsequently elected in his own right.Governor Parnell's first full term expires December 1, 2014; he is not yet term limit Term limit A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for... ed.
							Mead Treadwell Mead Treadwell Mead Treadwell is the 13th and current Lieutenant Governor of Alaska and former Chair of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission.- Work with the Arctic Research Commission :...

Other high offices held

Five of Alaska's governors have served other high offices, including a Secretary of the Interior

United States Secretary of the Interior

The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries...

, a Governor of Nevada, and three members of the U.S. Congress

United States Congress

The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....

, although only two represented Alaska. One (marked with *) resigned his office to be the Secretary of the Interior, and one (marked with ) resigned his position as senator to take office as governor.

Governor	Gubernatorial term	Other offices held	Source
	1884–1885	Governor of Nevada
	1893–1897	Representative United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...  from Pennsylvania Pennsylvania The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
	1939–1953	Senator United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...  from Alaska
	1966–1969, 1990–1994	Secretary of the Interior United States Secretary of the Interior The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries... *
	2002–2006	Senator from Alaska

Living former governors

, seven former governors were alive, including Mike Stepovich, the last living pre-statehood governor in the United States. The most recent death of a former governor was that of Wally Hickel (1966–1969, 1990–1994), who died on May 7, 2010.

Governor	Term in office	Date of birth
Mike Stepovich	1957–1958	12 March 1919 (age 92)
Keith Harvey Miller Keith Harvey Miller Keith Harvey Miller is an American Republican politician from Alaska. Miller was the second Lieutenant Governor of Alaska under Walter Hickel from 1966 until Hickel's resignation to become U.S. Secretary of Interior in the Cabinet of President Richard M...	1969–1970	1 March 1925 (age 86)
Bill Sheffield	1982–1986	26 June 1928 (age 83)
Steve Cowper Steve Cowper Steve Cowper is an American Democratic politician who was the sixth Governor of Alaska of Alaska from 1986 to 1990. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and later served in the Alaska House of Representatives before being elected governor.Cowper served as Governor at...	1986–1990	21 August 1938 (age 73)
Tony Knowles Tony Knowles (politician) Anthony Carroll Knowles is an American Democratic politician and businessman who served as the seventh Governor of Alaska from December 1994 to December 2002. Barred from seeking a third consecutive term as governor in 2002, he ran unsuccessfully for Senate in 2004 and again for governor in...	1994–2002	1 January 1943 (age 69)
Frank Murkowski Frank Murkowski Francis Hughes Murkowski is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He was a United States Senator from Alaska from 1981 until 2002 and the eighth Governor of Alaska from 2002 until 2006.- Early life and career :...	2002–2006	28 March 1933 (age 78)
Sarah Palin Sarah Palin Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...	2006–2009	11 February 1964 (age 47)

External links

• Office of the Governor of Alaska