New Jersey is weird. Honestly, the way we handle politics in the Garden State is unlike anywhere else in the country. If you look at a list of NJ governors, you aren't just looking at a names of people who sat in a fancy office in Trenton. You're looking at what is arguably the most powerful state-level executive position in the United States.
Seriously. While other states elect their Attorney General or their Secretary of State, in Jersey, the Governor just picks them. It’s a massive amount of concentrated power. Because of that, the people on this list have shaped everything from our property taxes to the literal shape of our coastline.
From the first guy who took the oath during the Revolution to the current occupant of Drumthwacket, the history is messy, fascinating, and occasionally a little scandalous.
The Early Days and the 1776 Crew
The story starts with William Livingston. He wasn’t just the first; he was the longest-serving governor we've ever had. He stayed in power from 1776 all the way to 1790. Imagine trying to run a brand-new state while the British are actively trying to hunt you down. He did it.
Back then, the Governor was actually elected by the legislature, not the people. It was a different world. You had guys like William Paterson, who ended up on the Supreme Court, and Joseph Bloomfield, who has a whole town named after him now.
It's kinda wild to think that for the first 70 years or so, the "list of NJ governors" was basically a roll call of guys selected behind closed doors by other politicians. It wasn't until the 1844 Constitution that things started to look a bit more like what we recognize today, though they still had those weird three-year terms where you couldn't run for re-election immediately.
Why the 1947 Constitution Changed Everything
If you really want to understand the modern list of NJ governors, you have to look at 1947. That’s when the state threw out the old rules and created the "Super Governor" model.
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Alfred E. Driscoll was the first to serve under these new rules. He got a four-year term and the power to actually run the executive branch without the legislature constantly breathing down his neck. This era gave us some of the biggest names in Jersey history.
Take Richard J. Hughes (1962–1970). He’s the only person in the state’s history to serve as both Governor and Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court. Then you’ve got Brendan Byrne, who basically created the Meadowlands and saved the Pinelands. If you’ve ever sat in traffic on the way to a Giants game or a concert, you can thank (or blame) Byrne for that.
And we can't forget Tom Kean. "New Jersey and You: Perfect Together." That was his brand. He was a Republican who somehow won over a heavily Democratic state and eventually became the guy who led the 9/11 Commission.
The Modern Era and the Power Shifts
The 90s and 2000s were... eventful.
Jim Florio (1990–1994) learned the hard way that raising taxes in Jersey is a great way to ensure you only get one term. He was followed by Christine Todd Whitman, our first and only female governor. She eventually left early to work for the EPA under George W. Bush, which kicked off a weird period of "Acting Governors."
Remember when we had three different governors in one year?
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In 2002, because of how the succession rules worked back then, Donald DiFrancesco, John Farmer Jr., John O. Bennett, and Richard Codey all had a turn at the top spot within a very short window. It was so confusing that the state eventually created the office of Lieutenant Governor just to make sure we knew who was in charge if the Governor resigned.
Then came the heavy hitters of the recent past:
- James McGreevey (2002–2004): Resigned in a historic, highly personal announcement.
- Jon Corzine (2006–2010): A former Goldman Sachs CEO who tried to run the state like a business.
- Chris Christie (2010–2018): Love him or hate him, he was everywhere. From the boardwalk after Hurricane Sandy to the Bridgegate scandal, his tenure was never quiet.
- Phil Murphy (2018–present): He broke a 40-year streak by becoming the first Democrat to win re-election to a second term since Brendan Byrne.
The 2025 Election and the 2026 Transition
As we sit here in 2026, the list of NJ governors has a new name at the top.
Phil Murphy just wrapped up his eighth and final year. In his final State of the State address on January 13, 2026, he talked a lot about "the principle of 'and'"—basically trying to grow the economy while also being a progressive leader.
The November 2025 election was a total nail-biter. Mikie Sherrill, who had been a Congresswoman from North Jersey, faced off against Republican Jack Ciattarelli. It was Ciattarelli’s second big run for the office, but Sherrill ultimately pulled it off with about 56% of the vote.
She took the oath of office on January 20, 2026, becoming the 57th Governor of New Jersey.
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What the "List" Actually Tells Us
Looking at these names, you see a pattern. New Jersey voters are fickle. We like "strong" leaders, but we turn on them the second the property tax bill goes up. We've had bankers, judges, soldiers, and career politicians.
The office remains the only statewide elected position besides the U.S. Senators. That gives the Governor a unique mandate. When a New Jersey Governor speaks, they aren't just representing a district; they’re representing nine million people who are all notoriously difficult to please.
If you’re looking to dig deeper into this history, here is what you should actually do:
- Check out the Eagleton Center on the American Governor. It’s run by Rutgers and has the most detailed archives on every modern administration.
- Visit the New Jersey State House in Trenton. They have portraits of almost every person on this list, and seeing them in person gives you a sense of the weight of the office.
- Look up the 1947 Constitution. If you really want to know why the Governor has so much power, read Article V. It’s the blueprint for the "Super Governor" model.
The list will keep growing, but the power of the office isn't going anywhere. Whether it's managing the next big storm or trying to fix the school funding formula, the person in that chair has more influence over your daily life than almost anyone in Washington.
To keep up with the latest from the current administration, the official state website at nj.gov/governor is still the best place for direct press releases and executive orders.