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Governors and state executives by higher education background

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State Executive Analyses

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Compensation - lieutenant governors
Term limits - attorneys general
Term limits - lieutenant governors
Term limits - secretaries of state

As of February 2025, there were 192 officials holding the top four state executive official positions of governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and secretary of state across the country, and their educational attainment is as follows:

  • 183 officeholders with a bachelor's degree (B.A., B.S.)
  • 55 officeholders with a master's degree (M.A., M.S., MBA, etc.)
  • 100 officeholders with a J.D.
  • 7 officeholders with a Ph.D.
  • 1 officeholders with an M.D.
  • 6 officeholders with no higher education degree

The six officeholders without a higher education degree in their official biography are Gov. Mike Kehoe (R-Mo.), Gov. Larry Rhoden (R-S.D.), Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser (R-La.), Lt. Gov. Craig Blair (R-W.Va.), Sec. of State Josh Cockroft (R-Okla.), and Sec. of State Monae Johnson (R-S.D.).

The total number of degrees is greater than the number of top four state executive officials because some officials have multiple degrees.

Ballotpedia compiled this data by consulting officeholders' official biographies, campaign websites, resumes included on LinkedIn profiles, and media accounts.

Here is a summary of the educational attainment of these state executive officers:

  • 38 have a bachelor's degree (B.A., B.S.)
  • 38 have a bachelor's degree and a master's degree (M.A., M.S., MBA, etc.)
  • 87 have a bachelor's degree and a law degree (J.D.)
  • 10 have a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, and a law degree
  • six have no higher education degree
  • five have a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, and a Ph.D.
  • two have a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, a law degree, and a Ph.D.
  • one has a bachelor's degree and a Ph.D.
  • one has a bachelor's degree and a medical degree (M.D.)
  • one has a bachelor's degree and a degree in veterinary medicine (DVM)
  • one has a bachelor's degree, a law degree, and a master of laws degree (LLM)
Breakdown of higher education degrees held by current officeholders (as of February 2025)
Office Bachelor's Master's J.D. Ph.D. M.D. None
Governor 48 15 20 1 1 2
Lieutenant Governor 41 13 15 2 0 2
Attorney General 50 8 50 2 0 0
Secretary of State 45 18 16 2 0 2

Most popular schools by degree

Bachelor's

  • Harvard University: 6
  • Yale University: 5
  • Brigham Young University: 5
  • University of Vermont: 4
  • University of Washington: 3
  • Auburn University: 3
  • University of Georgia: 3
28 schools have two alumni, the rest have one

Master's

  • University of Oxford: 4
  • Harvard University: 4
  • University of Washington: 3
  • Columbia University: 2
  • University of Nevada, Las Vegas: 2
All other schools have one alumni

J.D.

  • Harvard University: 8
  • Stanford University: 3
  • University of Chicago: 3
  • University of Mississippi: 3
  • University of Virginia: 4
10 schools have two alumni; the rest have one

State executive educations by party

Democratic officeholders breakdown

Democratic state executives held the following higher education degrees:

Breakdown of higher education degrees held by current Democratic officeholders (as of February 2025)
Office Bachelor's Master's J.D. Ph.D. M.D. None
Governor 23 10 11 1 1 0
Lieutenant Governor 20 7 8 1 0 0
Attorney General 22 4 22 1 0 0
Secretary of State 21 9 10 1 0 0



The most popular schools for Democratic state executive officials (by degree) were:

Bachelor's

  • Harvard University: 5
  • Yale University: 4
15 schools have two alumni; the rest have one

Master's

  • University of Washington: 4
  • Columbia University: 3
  • University of Oxford: 3
  • Harvard University: 2
All other schools have one alumnus

J.D.

  • Harvard University: 4
  • Stanford University: 3
Five schools have two alumni; the rest have one

Republican officeholders breakdown

Republican state executives held the following higher education degrees:

Breakdown of higher education degrees held by current Republican officeholders (as of February 2025)
Office Bachelor's Master's J.D. Ph.D. M.D. None
Governor 25 5 9 0 0 2
Lieutenant Governor 21 6 7 1 0 2
Attorney General 28 4 28 1 0 0
Secretary of State 24 9 6 1 0 2



The most popular schools for Republican state executive officials (by degree) were:

Bachelor's

  • Brigham Young University: 5
  • Auburn University: 3
  • University of Georgia: 3
Eight other schools have two alumni; the rest have one

Master's

  • University of Nevada, Las Vegas: 2
All other schools have one alumnus

J.D.

  • Harvard University: 3
  • University of Mississippi: 3
Three schools have two alumni; the rest have one

Governors

Last updated February 7, 2025
Degrees earned by governors
State Name Bachelor's Master's JD Ph.D. MD Other
Alabama Kay Ivey Auburn University          
Alaska Mike Dunleavy Misericordia University University of Alaska, Fairbanks        
Arizona Katie Hobbs Northern Arizona University Arizona State University        
Arkansas Sarah Huckabee Sanders Ouachita Baptist University          
California Gavin Newsom Santa Clara University          
Colorado Jared Polis Princeton University          
Connecticut Ned Lamont Harvard University Yale University        
Delaware Matt Meyer Brown University   University of Michigan      
Florida Ron DeSantis Yale University   Harvard Law School      
Georgia Brian Kemp University of Georgia          
Hawaii Joshua Green Swarthmore College       Pennsylvania State University  
Idaho Brad Little University of Idaho          
Illinois J.B. Pritzker Duke University   Northwestern University      
Indiana Mike Braun Wabash College Harvard University        
Iowa Kim Reynolds Iowa State University          
Kansas Laura Kelly Bradley University Indiana University        
Kentucky Andy Beshear Vanderbilt University   University of Virginia      
Louisiana Jeff Landry University of Southwestern Louisiana   Loyola University      
Maine Janet Mills University of Massachusetts   University of Maine      
Maryland Wes Moore Johns Hopkins University University of Oxford        
Massachusetts Maura Healey Harvard University   Northeastern University      
Michigan Gretchen Whitmer Michigan State University   Michigan State University      
Minnesota Tim Walz Chadron State College Minnesota State University        
Mississippi Tate Reeves Millsaps College          
Missouri Mike Kehoe            
Montana Greg Gianforte Stevens Institute of Technology Stevens Institute of Technology        
Nebraska Jim Pillen University of Nebraska         Kansas State University
Nevada Joe Lombardo University of Nevada, Las Vegas University of Nevada, Las Vegas        
New Hampshire Kelly Ayotte Pennsylvania State University   Villanova University      
New Jersey Phil Murphy Harvard University University of Pennsylvania        
New Mexico Michelle Lujan Grisham University of New Mexico   University of New Mexico      
New York Kathy Hochul Syracuse University   Catholic University      
North Carolina Josh Stein Dartmouth College Harvard University Harvard Law School      
North Dakota Kelly Armstrong University of North Dakota   University of North Dakota      
Ohio Mike DeWine Miami University of Ohio   Ohio Northern University      
Oklahoma Kevin Stitt Oklahoma State University          
Oregon Tina Kotek University of Oregon University of Washington        
Pennsylvania Josh Shapiro University of Rochester   Georgetown University      
Rhode Island Dan McKee Assumption College Harvard University        
South Carolina Henry McMaster University of South Carolina   University of South Carolina      
South Dakota Larry Rhoden            
Tennessee Bill Lee Auburn University          
Texas Greg Abbott University of Texas, Austin   Vanderbilt University      
Utah Spencer Cox Utah State University   Washington and Lee University      
Vermont Phil Scott University of Vermont          
Virginia Glenn Youngkin Rice University Harvard University        
Washington Bob Ferguson University of Washington   New York University      
West Virginia Patrick Morrisey Rutgers University, New Brunswick   Rutgers University, Newark      
Wisconsin Tony Evers University of Wisconsin University of Wisconsin   University of Wisconsin    
Wyoming Mark Gordon Middlebury College          

Lieutenant Governors

Last updated February 7, 2025
Degrees earned by lieutenant governors
State Name Bachelor's Master's JD Ph.D. MD Other
Alabama Will Ainsworth Auburn University          
Alaska Nancy Dahlstrom Wayland Baptist University University of LaVerne        
Arkansas Leslie Rutledge University of Arkansas   University of Arkansas at Little Rock      
California Eleni Kounalakis Dartmouth College University of California, Berkeley        
Colorado Dianne Primavera Regis College University of Northern Colorado        
Connecticut Susan Bysiewicz Yale University   Duke University      
Delaware Kyle Evans Gay Brown University   Boston University      
Florida Jeanette Nuñez Florida International University Florida International University        
Georgia Burt Jones University of Georgia          
Hawaii Sylvia Luke University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa   University of San Francisco School of Law      
Idaho Scott Bedke Brigham Young University          
Illinois Juliana Stratton University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign   DePaul University      
Indiana Micah Beckwith Huntington University          
Iowa Adam Gregg Central College   Drake University      
Kansas David Toland University of Kansas University of Kansas        
Kentucky Jacqueline Coleman Centre College University of Louisville        
Louisiana Billy Nungesser            
Maryland Aruna Miller Missouri University of Science and Technology          
Massachusetts Kim Driscoll Salem State University   Massachusetts School of Law      
Michigan Garlin Gilchrist II University of Michigan          
Minnesota Peggy Flanagan University of Minnesota          
Mississippi Delbert Hosemann Notre Dame University   University of Mississippi     New York University
Missouri David Wasinger University of Missouri   Boston University School of Law      
Montana Kristen Juras University of Montana   Georgia School of Law      
Nebraska Joe Kelly University of Nebraska   University of Nebraska College of Law      
Nevada Stavros Anthony Wayne State University University of Nevada, Las Vegas   University of Nevada, Las Vegas    
New Jersey Tahesha Way Brown University   University of Virginia      
New Mexico Howie Morales Western New Mexico University Western New Mexico University   New Mexico State University    
New York Antonio Delgado Colgate University University of Oxford Harvard Law School      
North Carolina Rachel Hunt University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill   University of South Carolina School of Law      
North Dakota Michelle Strinden University of North Dakota Minnesota State University Moorhead        
Ohio Vacant            
Oklahoma Matt Pinnell Oral Roberts University          
Pennsylvania Austin Davis University of Pittsburgh          
Rhode Island Sabina Matos Rhode Island College          
South Carolina Pamela Evette Cleveland State University          
South Dakota Tony Venhuizen South Dakota State University   University of South Dakota School of Law      
Tennessee Randy McNally Memphis State University University of Tennessee, Memphis        
Texas Dan Patrick University of Maryland, Baltimore County          
Utah Deidre Henderson Brigham Young University          
Vermont John Rodgers           New Hampshire Vocational Technical College
Virginia Winsome Earle-Sears Old Dominion University Regent University        
Washington Denny Heck Evergreen State College          
West Virginia Craig Blair            
Wisconsin Sara Rodriguez The Johns Hopkins University
Illinois Wesleyan University		 The Johns Hopkins University        

Attorneys General

Last updated February 7, 2025
Degrees earned by attorneys general
State Name Bachelor's Master's JD Ph.D. MD Other
Alabama Steve Marshall University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill   University of Alabama      
Alaska Treg Taylor Brigham Young University   Brigham Young University      
Arizona Kris Mayes Arizona State University Columbia University Arizona State University      
Arkansas Tim Griffin Hendrix College United States Army War College Tulane University Law School      
California Rob Bonta Yale University   Yale University      
Colorado Phil Weiser Swarthmore College   New York University      
Connecticut William Tong Brown University   University of Chicago      
Delaware Kathy Jennings University of Delaware   Villanova University      
Florida John Guard Florida State University   Tulane University Law School      
Georgia Chris Carr University of Georgia   University of Georgia      
Hawaii Anne Lopez San José State University   University of Hawaii School of Law      
Idaho Raúl Labrador Brigham Young University   University of Washington      
Illinois Kwame Raoul DePaul University   Chicago-Kent College of Law      
Indiana Todd Rokita Wabash College   Indiana University      
Iowa Brenna Bird Drake University   University of Chicago Law School      
Kansas Kris Kobach Harvard University University of Oxford Yale Law School University of Oxford    
Kentucky Russell Coleman University of Kentucky   University of Kentucky      
Louisiana Liz Murrill Louisiana State University Pepperdine University Louisiana State University      
Maine Aaron Frey Saint Anselm College   Roger Williams University      
Maryland Anthony Brown Harvard University   Harvard Law School      
Massachusetts Andrea Joy Campbell Princeton University   University of California at Los Angeles      
Michigan Dana Nessel University of Michigan   Wayne State University      
Minnesota Keith Ellison Wayne State University   University of Minnesota      
Mississippi Lynn Fitch University of Mississippi   University of Mississippi      
Missouri Andrew Bailey University of Missouri-Columbia   University of Missouri School of Law      
Montana Austin Knudsen Montana State University - Bozeman   University of Montana      
Nebraska Mike Hilgers Baylor University   University of Chicago Law School      
Nevada Aaron D. Ford Texas A&M University, College Station George Washington University
Ohio State University		 Ohio State University Ohio State University    
New Hampshire John Formella Florida State University   George Washington University      
New Jersey Matt Platkin Stanford University   Stanford Law School      
New Mexico Raul Torrez Harvard University London School of Economics Stanford Law School      
New York Letitia James City University of New York, Lehman Columbia University Howard University      
North Carolina Jeff Jackson Emory University   University of North Carolina School of Law      
North Dakota Drew Wrigley University of North Dakota   American University      
Ohio Dave Yost Ohio State University   Capital University      
Oklahoma Gentner Drummond Oklahoma State University   Georgetown University      
Oregon Dan Rayfield Western Oregon University   Willamette University College of Law      
Pennsylvania Dave Sunday Pennsylvania State University   Widener University Commonwealth Law School      
Rhode Island Peter Neronha Boston College   Boston College      
South Carolina Alan Wilson Francis Marion University   University of South Carolina      
South Dakota Marty Jackley South Dakota School of Mines and Technology   University of South Dakota      
Tennessee Jonathan Skrmetti George Washington University
University of Oxford		   Harvard Law School      
Texas Ken Paxton Baylor University Baylor University University of Virginia      
Utah Derek Brown Brigham Young University   Pepperdine University School of Law      
Vermont Charity Clark University of Vermont   Boston College School of Law      
Virginia Jason Miyares James Madison University   College of William and Mary      
Washington Nick Brown Morehouse College   Harvard Law School      
West Virginia John B. McCuskey George Washington University   West Virginia University College of Law      
Wisconsin Josh Kaul Yale University   Stanford University      
Wyoming Bridget Hill University of Wyoming   University of Wyoming      

Secretaries of State

Last updated February 7, 2025
Degrees earned by secretaries of state
State Name Bachelor's Master's JD Ph.D. MD Other
Alabama Wes Allen University of Alabama Troy University        
Arizona Adrian Fontes Arizona State University   University of Denver College of Law      
Arkansas John Thurston Agape College          
California Shirley Weber University of California - Los Angeles University of California - Los Angeles   University of California - Los Angeles    
Colorado Jena Griswold Whitman College   University of Pennsylvania      
Connecticut Stephanie Thomas New York University New School        
Delaware Jeffrey W. Bullock University of Delaware          
Florida Cord Byrd University of North Florida   St. Thomas University      
Georgia Brad Raffensperger Western University Georgia State University        
Idaho Phil McGrane University of Washington Boise State University University of Denver College of Law      
Illinois Alexi Giannoulias Boston University   Tulane University School of Law      
Indiana Diego Morales Indiana University Purdue University
Tilburg University		        
Iowa Paul Pate Kirkwood Community College          
Kansas Scott Schwab Fort Hays University          
Kentucky Michael Adams University of Louisville   Harvard Law School      
Louisiana Nancy Landry Louisiana State University   Louisiana State University      
Maine Shenna Bellows Middlebury College          
Maryland Susan Lee University of Maryland   University of San Francisco School of Law      
Massachusetts William Galvin Boston College   Suffolk University      
Michigan Jocelyn Benson Wellesley College University of Oxford Harvard Law School      
Minnesota Steve Simon Tufts University   University of Minnesota      
Mississippi Michael D. Watson Jr. University of Mississippi   University of Mississippi      
Missouri Denny Hoskins University of Central Missouri University of Missouri        
Montana Christi Jacobsen Carroll College University of Montana        
Nebraska Bob Evnen Michigan State University   University of Southern California      
Nevada Cisco Aguilar University of Arizona University of Arizona University of Arizona      
New Hampshire David Scanlan West Virginia University          
New Jersey Tahesha Way Brown University   University of Virginia      
New Mexico Maggie Toulouse Oliver University of New Mexico University of New Mexico        
New York Robert Rodriguez Yale University New York University        
North Carolina Elaine Marshall University of Maryland, College Park   Campbell University      
North Dakota Michael Howe North Dakota State University          
Ohio Frank LaRose Ohio State University          
Oklahoma Josh Cockroft            
Oregon Tobias Read Willamette University University of Washington        
Pennsylvania Al Schmidt Allegheny College     Brandeis University    
Rhode Island Gregg Amore Providence College New England College        
South Carolina Mark Hammond Newberry College Clemson University        
South Dakota Monae Johnson            
Tennessee Tre Hargett University of Memphis University of Memphis        
Texas Jane Nelson University of North Texas          
Vermont Sarah Copeland Hanzas University of Vermont          
Virginia Kelly Gee William & Mary University Virginia Tech        
Washington Steve Hobbs University of Washington University of Washington        
West Virginia Kris Warner West Virginia University          
Wisconsin Sarah Godlewski George Mason University          
Wyoming Chuck Gray University of Pennsylvania          


Have information about an official's educational background not yet included on this page? Send us an email and we'll get it added.

See also

Footnotes

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