David Boren (1941–2025), longtime Oklahoma senator

David Boren was a politician from Oklahoma, serving as the state’s governor, U.S. senator, andthe longtime president of the University of Oklahoma.

Jimmy Carter (1924–2024), 39th president of the United States

Jimmy Carter was the 39th president of the United States of America, serving from 1977 to 1981.

Jodi Rell (1946–2024), former governor of Connecticut

M. Jodi Rell was the governor of Connecticut from 2004 to 2011.

Dan Evans (1925–2024), former Washington governor and U.S. senator

Dan Evans was a three-term governor of Washington state in the 1960s and ‘70s who went on to serve as a U.S. senator in the ‘80s.

David Pryor (1934–2024), U.S. senator and Arkansas governor

David Pryor was a Democratic politician who served as governor of Arkansas in the 1970s, as well as representing the state in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. 

Bob Graham (1936-2024), former U.S. senator and Florida governor

Bob Graham was a Democratic politician who served as the governor of Florida in the 1970s and ‘80s and went on to become a three-term U.S. senator.

Joseph Brennan (1934–2024), former governor of Maine

Joseph Brennan was the 70th governor of Maine and a former state Attorney General who also served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Ted Schwinden (1925–2023), former Montana governor

Ted Schwinden was an American politician elected to office in Montana, first in the state’s House of Representatives and later as a two-term governor.

Bill Richardson (1947–2023), former governor of New Mexico 

Bill Richardson was a two-term governor of New Mexico who later became a private diplomat advocating for Americans unjustly imprisoned while abroad. 

Don Sundquist (1936–2023), former governor of Tennessee  

Don Sundquist was a Tennessee politician and businessman who served in Congress for 12 years before becoming governor of Tennessee, a position he held for two terms.

Al Quie (1923–2023), former congressman and Governor of Minnesota 

Al Quie was a Republican who served in Congress for more than 20 years and as Governor of Minnesota, in addition to being considered twice as a potential vice-presidential running mate in a U.S. presidential election.

Lowell Weicker (1931–2023), U.S. senator and Connecticut governor 

Lowell Weicker was a Republican U.S. congressman who later went Independent and served as governor of Connecticut.

John Y. Brown Jr. (1933–2022), former KFC owner and Kentucky governor

John Y. Brown Jr. was a businessman and politician who built KFC into a fast-food empire and went on to be elected governor of Kentucky.

Edwin Edwards (1927–2021), four-term Louisiana governor

Edwin Edwards was the Democratic governor of Louisiana for four terms in the 1970s, ‘80s, and ‘90s.

Buddy Roemer (1943–2021), former Louisiana governor

Buddy Roemer was governor of Louisiana from 1988 to 1992, and he became the first governor in U.S. history to switch political parties while in office.

Dick Thornburgh (1932–2020), former U.S. Attorney General and Pennsylvania governor

Dick Thornburgh was the former U.S. Attorney General as well as the former governor of Pennsylvania, who guided the state through the 1979 Three Mile Island nuclear disaster.

James R. Thompson (1936–2020), longest-serving governor of Illinois

James R. Thompson was a Republican former governor of Illinois, who served from 1977 to 1991 and was the longest-serving governor in the state’s history.

George Deukmejian (1928 – 2018), Former Governor of California

He was called "The Iron Duke"…

Rose Mofford (1922 - 2016), first female governor of Arizona

Rose Mofford, Arizona's first female governor, died Sept. 15, 2016, according to multiple news sources. She was 94.

George Wallace: The Great Divider

As another presidential election approaches, we remember a man who was as controversial in his time as any current candidate: George Wallace. In 2008 on the 10th anniversary of Wallace’s death, Jeff Frederick considered the evolution of his politics.

Ann Richards Had Annitude!

Late Texas governor Ann Richards was full of spunk, spirit and humor, just to name some of her best-known qualities.