Territorial Governor of Kansas

Governor of the State of Kansas
Flag of the Governor
Incumbent Sam Brownback since January 10, 2011
Residence	Cedar Crest
Term length	Four years, renewable once
Formation	February 9, 1861
Salary	$99,636 (2013)
Website	governor.ks.gov

The Governor of Kansas is the head of the executive branch of Kansas's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Kansas Legislature, to convene the legislature at any time, and to grant pardons.

The governor has a four-year term, commencing on the second Monday of January after election. The governor originally had a two-year term; this was changed to four years by a constitutional amendment in 1974. The lieutenant governor is elected at the same time as the governor. When the office of governor becomes vacant for any reason, the lieutenant governor becomes governor for the remainder of the term.

Since becoming a state, Kansas has had 45 governors, including 32 Republicans, 11 Democrats, and 2 Populists. The state's longest-serving governors were Robert Docking, John W. Carlin, and Bill Graves, each of whom served 8 years and 4 days (Docking served four two-year terms; Carlin and Graves each served two four-year terms). The shortest-serving governor was John McCuish, who served only 11 days after the resignation of Fred Hall. The current governor is Republican Sam Brownback, who took office January 10, 2011 and was reelected November 4, 2014.

  Democratic (5)   Independent (1)