List of United States governors born outside the United States

Kate Brown, Governor of Oregon from July 2016 to 2023, was born in Spain, making her the second most recent U.S. governor who was born outside the United States. Her father was an American citizen serving there in the United States Air Force.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California from 2003 to 2011, born in Austria, is the third most recent U.S. governor to have been born outside of the country.
John H. Sununu, Governor of New Hampshire from 1983 to 1989, was the first U.S. governor who was born in the Caribbean.
Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo, Governor of New Mexico from 1919 to 1921, was the first U.S. governor who was born in Latin America.
Knute Nelson, Governor of Minnesota from 1893 to 1895, was the first U.S. governor who was born in Scandinavia.
Jacob Dolson Cox, Governor of Ohio from 1866 to 1868, was the first U.S. governor who was born outside the United States, but still within the Americas.
John A. Treutlen, Governor of Georgia from 1777 to 1778, was the first U.S. governor who was born in a non-English-speaking country.

In total, 72 governors of U.S. states have been born outside the current territory of the United States. Joe Lombardo of Nevada, born in Japan, is the only current governor to have been born outside the United States. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California, Jennifer Granholm of Michigan (whose terms both ended in January 2011), and Kate Brown of Oregon (whose term ended in January 2023) are the other most recent foreign-born governors.

Of the fifty states, 30 (or 60 percent) have had at least one governor born outside the United States. 19 states have had multiple governors who were born outside the United States. Georgia has had six foreign-born governors, who all served in office during the 18th century. The other states with the most foreign-born governors are Wisconsin (five), Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, and Oregon (four each). Additionally, from 1905 to 1921 Utah had three consecutive foreign-born governors (John Cutler, William Spry, and Simon Bamberger).

Of the 72 foreign-born governors, 59 were born in Europe and thirteen were born in North America, including the Caribbean. A total of 30 U.S. governors have been born on the present territory of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (fifteen in England, seven in Scotland, six in Northern Ireland, and two in Wales), with another 2 born on territory of the Republic of Ireland while part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and 2 while part of the pre-union Kingdom of Ireland. Nine governors have been born within the present territory of Canada, seven Germany, five Norway, five Sweden, three France, three Mexico, and one Austria.

Only three foreign-born women have served as U.S. governors – Madeleine Kunin of Vermont, who was born in Switzerland; Jennifer Granholm of Michigan, who was born in Canada; and Kate Brown of Oregon, who was born in Spain.


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