The first African American to be elected to the office of governor of a U. S. state was L. Douglas Wilder for the state of Virginia from 1990 to 1994. From 2005 through 2009 he has been the mayor of Richmond, Virginia. Mr. Wilder is also a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated.
Contrary to the previous answer, Tom Bradley is not the first governor of California, however he was the first and only African American mayor of Los Angeles (1973-1993). To date there has been no African American governor of California. That said, Mervyn M. Dymally was the the only African American lieutenant governor of California (2003-2008). If you really wanted to split etymological hairs, former Governor Schwarzenegger's surname translates from German to "black ploughman." This of course is derivative of the area from which the surname originated (Switzerland/Austria), and does not necessarily denote someone's color as in the obvious case of said Governer.
P.B.S. Pinchback
Pinckney Benton Stewart Pinchback was the first African American governor. He was governor of Louisiana for just 35 days from December 9, 1872 to January 13, 187).
barrack obama
lawerence douglas
no, he was the first black lt. governor of California
I would like to know who was the first governor of California after statehood?
Peter Burnett.
California became a state on September 9, 1850. The first governor was Peter Hardeman Burnett, who was elected almost a year prior and continued as the governor after statehood. The first governor to BECOME governor AFTER statehood was John McDougal who, as the then Lieutenant Governor, was elevated to Governor when Burnett resigned in 1851. The first governor ELECTED after statehood was granted was California's 3rd governor, John Bigler, who was elected in 1852. California's 2nd Governor, John McDougal was elected as Lieutenant Governor before California became a state and succeed Burnett as governor upon Burnett's resignation - never having been elected as governor.
Jerry Brown
Peter Burnett
The first govenor is Peter Hardeman Bernett
Peter Burnett was the first governor of California state, and served just over a year, from December 20, 1849 to January 9, 1851.
Romualdo Pacheco was California's first elected governor as part of the Union. This was in 1875. He belonged to the Republican Party.
As the first day of the term of a Governor of the State of California begins on the first Monday after January 1 after their election, the end of the term for a sitting Governor of California (that is not serving another term) is the end of the first Sunday after January 1 after the election where a new Governor is chosen. Use the link below to learn more about the office of the Governor of California.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger The current Governor of California is Jerry Brown. He was the 34th and is now the 39th governor of California. He is the only governor to serve twice as a California Governor. He was first elected in 1975 and he served until 1983. He was recently elected Governor of California again in 2011.
(Lawrence) Douglas Wilder of Virginia was the first elected black governor. He was elected in 1989.Louisiana has never had a black governor.