Gubernatorial executive orders, 2023

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An executive order is a directive issued by the governor that regulates administrative agencies within the executive branch. Governors use executive orders in a variety of ways, to include creating commissions, declaring state of emergencies, and managing administrative agencies.

State governors issued 1,514 executive orders in 2023.

HIGHLIGHTS

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) issued the most executive orders (525) in 2023.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) issued the fewest executive orders (zero) in 2023.

Republican governors issued 997 executive orders, while Democratic governors issued 517.

Governors issued 1,575 executive orders in 2022. This count excludes Hawaii, as Ballotpedia had not identified counts as of May 16, 2023.

This page was updated bi-weekly and tracked the number of gubernatorial executive orders issued in 2023. This page did not track executive orders issued by governors of U.S. territories.

Gubernatorial executive orders

See also: Executive order

State executive action is left to each state's governor. According to the National Governors Association, the governors of the states find authority to issue executive orders in a number of places, including state constitutions, case law, statutes, or authority inferred from the general powers granted to state executives. Governors use executive orders in a variety of ways, from creating commissions to managing administrative agencies.

The National Governors Association provides a table outlining the authorization, provisions, and procedures associated with each state's gubernatorial executive orders. That table can be found here.

Ballotpedia News

This section displays Ballotpedia News coverage of gubernatorial executive orders by state. Ballotpedia covered 11 states during 2023: Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin. Click the button below to select a state, then click the specific week to view the Ballotpedia News story.

Colorado

See also: Jared Polis

• Governor Jared Polis (D) issues two executive orders from Jan. 23-30
• Governor Jared Polis (D) issues one executive order from Feb. 20-26
• Governor Jared Polis (D) issues two executive orders from Feb. 27-March 5
• Governor Jared Polis (D) issues one executive order from April 3-9

Florida

See also: Ron DeSantis

• Governor Ron DeSantis (R) issues one executive order from Feb. 6-12
• Governor Ron DeSantis (R) issues 12 executive orders from Feb. 20-26
• Governor Ron DeSantis (R) issues two executive orders from Feb. 27-March 5
• Governor Ron DeSantis (R) issues one executive order from March 6-12
• Governor Ron DeSantis (R) issues nine executive orders from March 13-19
• Governor Ron DeSantis (R) issues six executive orders from March 20-26
• Governor Ron DeSantis (R) issues 20 executive orders from April 17-23
• Governor Ron DeSantis (R) issues 16 executive orders from May 1-7
• Governor Ron DeSantis (R) issues one executive order from May 8-14

Indiana

See also: Eric Holcomb

• Governor Eric Holcomb (R) issues one executive order from Feb. 27-March 5
• Governor Eric Holcomb (R) issues one executive order from March 27-April 2
• Governor Eric Holcomb (R) issues one executive order from April 3-9

Iowa

See also: Kim Reynolds

Kentucky

See also: Andy Beshear

• Governor Andy Beshear (D) issues one executive order from March 13-19

New Jersey

See also: Phil Murphy

• Governor Phil Murphy (D) issues one executive order from Jan. 31-Feb. 6
• Governor Phil Murphy (D) issues five executive orders from Feb. 13-19
• Governor Phil Murphy (D) issues four executive orders from March 13-19
• Governor Phil Murphy (D) issues three executive orders from April 3-9
• Governor Phil Murphy (D) issues one executive order from April 10-16
• Governor Phil Murphy (D) issues one executive order from May 1-7
• Governor Phil Murphy (D) issues one executive order from May 8-14

New Mexico

See also: Michelle Lujan Grisham

• Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) issues one executive order from Feb. 13-19
• Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) issues one executive order from March 6-12
• Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) issues one executive order from March 13-19
• Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) issues one executive order from March 20-26
• Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) issues one executive order from April 17-23
• Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) issues five executive orders from April 24-30
• Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) issues one executive order from May 8-14

New York

See also: Kathy Hochul

• Governor Kathy Hochul (D) issues one executive order from Jan. 23-30
• Governor Kathy Hochul (D) issues one executive order from Jan. 31-Feb. 6
• Governor Kathy Hochul (D) issues one executive order from Feb. 13-19
• Governor Kathy Hochul (D) issues one executive order from Feb. 20-26
• Governor Kathy Hochul (D) issues one executive order from Feb. 27-March 5
• Governor Kathy Hochul (D) issues two executive orders from March 13-19
• Governor Kathy Hochul (D) issues one executive order from March 20-26
• Governor Kathy Hochul (D) issues one executive order from March 27-April 2
• Governor Kathy Hochul (D) issues one executive order from April 10-16
• Governor Kathy Hochul (D) issues one executive order from April 17-23
• Governor Kathy Hochul (D) issues one executive order from April 24-30
• Governor Kathy Hochul (D) issues one executive order from May 8-14

North Carolina

See also: Roy Cooper

• Governor Roy Cooper (D) issues two executive orders from March 13-19
• Governor Roy Cooper (D) issues one executive order from May 1-7

Texas

See also: Greg Abbott

Wisconsin

See also: Tony Evers

• Governor Tony Evers (D) issues one executive order from Feb. 6-12
• Governor Tony Evers (D) issues three executive orders from Feb. 20-26
• Governor Tony Evers (D) issues one executive order from March 20-26
• Governor Tony Evers (D) issues one executive order from April 3-9
• Governor Tony Evers (D) issues three executive orders from April 10-16
• Governor Tony Evers (D) issues two executive orders from April 17-23
• Governor Tony Evers (D) issues three executive orders from May 1-7
• Governor Tony Evers (D) issues three executive orders from May 8-14

2023 officeholders

The table below displays the 2023 governors across the United States and its territories.