When January arrives across the United States, a fresh wave of newly elected governors will face more than just the traditional pomp, circumstance, and solemnity of inauguration day. For nineteen incoming state leaders, the start of a new legislative term also signals a mandatory moving day, as they prepare to transition into some of the most historic, sprawling, and architecturally significant properties in the country.
While the majority of U.S. states maintain dedicated executive residences for their leaders, five notable exceptions exist. Arizona, Idaho, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont do not provide official governor’s mansions, leaving their chief executives to navigate private housing arrangements on their own. For instance, newly elected Rhode Island Governor Helena Buonanno Foulkes will not be packing moving boxes for an official state residence, as the state lacks one entirely. Foulkes instead maintains her own properties within the state, including an expansive $3.8 million eight-bedroom summer house in Narragansett alongside a $2.3 million three-bedroom home located in Providence.
Even in states where official mansions do exist, tradition is occasionally bypassed. Governors throughout modern history have occasionally opted to forgo official state housing in favor of privately owned homes. California Governor Gavin Newsom famously listed his $7.5 million Fair Oaks estate rather than utilizing the state’s official executive residence—a grand 19th-century
Victorian structure situated in Sacramento. Elsewhere, executive properties face varying fates; Montana’s official governor’s mansion currently sits empty and in a state of disrepair, while Nebraska’s official gubernatorial residence has remained completely unoccupied by a sitting governor for over a decade.
Despite these exceptions, the vast majority of states preserve a longstanding tradition of housing their leaders within official state-owned mansions. Virginia currently boasts the oldest continuously inhabited executive residence in the entire nation, with every sitting governor having called the property home since 1813. As a fresh league of governors prepares to take the oath of office, the architectural and historical estates waiting to receive them reflect a diverse tapestry of American state heritage.
Alabama: Tommy Tuberville
Following his successful gubernatorial campaign, Republican Tommy Tuberville will prepare to move into a striking 119-year-old neoclassical mansion located in Montgomery. Constructed in 1907 by the architect T. Weatherly Carter, the expansive 17-room residence is defined by its stately row of four prominent Corinthian columns at the main front entrance. This impressive facade opens directly into an interior foyer dominated by a grand, bifurcated staircase, blending southern history with classical architectural grandeur for the incoming administration.
California: Xavier Becerra
In California, Democrat Xavier Becerra assumes the mantle of governor-elect and will soon take up residence within a landmark three-story Victorian structure in Sacramento. Originally built in 1877, this sprawling 20,000-square-foot house underwent extensive and thorough renovations in 2015. Decades prior, Ronald and Nancy Reagan briefly attempted to live in the historic home during 1967 before ultimately deeming it uninhabitable, leading the state to convert the property into a museum for many years. Following its major 2015 update, the mansion returned to its original purpose as the official home of California governors. Today, the estate features thirty distinct rooms, intricate Italian marble fireplaces, original hardwood floors, and an outdoor kidney-shaped swimming pool.
Colorado: Phil Weiser
Colorado will see Democrat Phil Weiser step into the official red brick governor’s mansion in Denver, affectionately known throughout the state as "Colorado’s Home." Originally constructed in 1908, the property has served as the official executive residence since 1960. Designed in the Colonial Revival style, the home contains twenty-seven rooms and shares its beautifully manicured one-acre grounds with mature gardens, a historic gazebo, a charming greenhouse, and a traditional carriage house. Adding a distinct modern flair to the historic estate, former governor John Hickenlooper famously installed local craft beers on tap during his tenure from 2011 to 2019, a popular amenity that remains a conversation piece for incoming leaders.
Florida: Byron Donalds
Republican Byron Donalds secured a historic victory in Florida, making history as the state’s first Black governor. The official gubernatorial residence awaiting him in Tallahassee is a distinguished Greek Revival-style mansion completed in 1956. The structure was built directly upon the site of the state’s original 1907 governor’s mansion, which had deteriorated beyond practical repair over the decades. Today, the property provides the incoming governor with a range of comfortable amenities, including a screened-in swimming pool, a dedicated greenhouse, and a sprawling, meticulously maintained rose garden.
Georgia: Keisha Lance Bottoms
Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms achieved a historic milestone of her own, earning the distinction of becoming the first Black woman governor-elect in the United States. Her upcoming residence in Atlanta is an imposing 30-room Greek Revival mansion designed by architect A. Thomas Bradbury and completed in 1967. Spanning three distinct levels, the massive executive home measures an impressive 30,000 square feet, offering ample space for both state functions and private family living.
Iowa: Rob Sand
Democrat Rob Sand will soon take up residence at Terrace Hill, Iowa’s historic governor’s mansion located in Des Moines. Dating back to 1869, Terrace Hill is an expansive 18,000-square-foot Second Empire-style residence that has served as the official home of Iowa’s governors since 1976. Uniquely structured for both public engagement and private life, the mansion’s first two floors are regularly open to the general public to function as an operating museum and community events space.
Maine: Hannah Pingree
In Augusta, Maine, Democrat Hannah Pingree is set to move into the historic Blaine House. Originally constructed in 1833, the structure originally showcased a blend of Federal and Greek Revival architectural styles before undergoing extensive renovations in 1919 that imparted a more traditional Colonial aesthetic. Having served as the official governor’s residence for over a century, the two-story home features twenty-eight rooms, including a dedicated billiards room, while the surrounding grounds offer a formal garden and an athletic tennis court.
Michigan: Jocelyn Benson
Michigan governor-elect Jocelyn Benson enjoys the unique advantage of governing a state that maintains two distinct official executive residences: a primary home located in the capital city of Lansing, and an official summer estate situated on scenic Mackinac Island. The Lansing property is a single-level, ranch-style home built in 1957 that spans 8,700 square feet and contains five bedrooms and four bathrooms. Meanwhile, the historic summer residence on Mackinac Island is a charming Arts-and-Crafts-style mansion originally constructed in 1901.
Minnesota: Amy Klobuchar
Minnesota’s incoming governor, Democrat Amy Klobuchar, will transition from her role as a U.S. senator to the state’s grand executive mansion in St. Paul. Dating back to 1912, the sprawling 16,000-square-foot residence was designed by architect William Channing Whitney, who blended English Tudor and Beaux-Arts architectural elements. The grand stone-and-brick dwelling is heavily equipped for a large household, featuring seven bedrooms, ten bathrooms, and nine individual fireplaces.
Nevada: Aaron Ford
Nevada also made history by electing its first Black governor, Democrat Aaron Ford. He will soon occupy a stately Classical Revival-style mansion in Carson City, which was designed by architect George A. Ferris in 1909. The historic property features a grand entrance hall, an official reception room, a formal dining room, a dedicated governor’s study, and a luncheon room, alongside comfortable private living quarters for the state’s chief executive.
New Mexico: Deb Haaland
New Mexico governor-elect Deb Haaland made historic waves as the first Native American woman to hold the state’s highest office. In Santa Fe, the official executive residence is widely known as The People’s House. Designed by prominent architect W.C. Kruger, the sleek midcentury-modern structure was officially completed in 1955, offering a distinct architectural departure from the traditional 19th-century properties found in many other states.
Ohio: Amy Acton
Democrat Amy Acton will assume the governorship of Ohio, securing her residency inside a historic 1925 mansion located in Bexley, just outside Columbus. The striking Tudor-style home was originally constructed by architect Robert Gilmore Hanford. Its sprawling grounds encompass three acres of extensive, beautifully landscaped gardens, most notably featuring a whimsical "Storybook Trail" inspired by classic literature such as The Tales of Peter Rabbit.
Oklahoma: Mike Mazzei
Republican governor-elect Mike Mazzei will take over stewardship of Oklahoma’s official governor’s residence in Tulsa. Built in 1928, the 14,000-square-foot Dutch Colonial home features a distinctive limestone facade designed to closely mirror the architectural style of the State Capitol building located two blocks away. The estate’s unique outdoor amenities include a swimming pool shaped in the precise outline of the state of Oklahoma, an outdoor kitchen, and a tennis court built directly over the former site of a helipad where President Lyndon B. Johnson famously landed in 1964.
South Carolina: Alan Wilson
Following his victory in South Carolina, Republican governor-elect Alan Wilson will move into a two-story Federal-style mansion dating back to 1855 in Columbia. Originally constructed to serve as quarters for military academy officers, the building has functioned as the official governor’s residence since 1868, just three years after the conclusion of the Civil War. The interior layout features a central entrance hall that branches out into two formal drawing rooms, a grand state dining room, and a library, with private family living quarters situated securely on the second floor.
Tennessee: Marsha Blackburn
Tennessee Republican governor-elect Marsha Blackburn will take up residence on a sprawling 10-acre estate located in the affluent Nashville suburb of Oak Hill. Locally known as Far Hills due to the surrounding picturesque landscapes, the stately three-story Georgian-style mansion was constructed in 1931 and has served as the state’s official executive residence since 1949.
Texas: Gina Hinojosa
In Texas, Democrat Gina Hinojosa will make history as the first Latina to hold the state’s highest executive office. Her official residence will be the historic Greek Revival-style mansion located in Austin. Spanning nearly 10,000 square feet of interior space, the prominent property has served as a continuous home for Texas governors since its original construction in 1856.
Wisconsin: David Crowley
Democrat David Crowley secured a landmark victory in Wisconsin, becoming the state’s first Black governor. The official Wisconsin executive residence is a grand Classical Revival-style mansion located in Madison. Completed in 1928, the property provides 16,000 square feet of interior living space spread across three floors, complete with seven bedrooms, thirteen bathrooms, seven fireplaces, and ten distinct formal gardens.
Wyoming: Eric Barlow
Republican Eric Barlow will soon gain access to Wyoming’s official governor’s residence, situated near Frontier Park in Cheyenne. Constructed in 1976, the current building replaced the state’s former executive mansion built in 1905, which has since been transitioned into a public museum. While available architectural details regarding the modern residence remain relatively sparse, planning discussions suggest that a newly updated version of the facility featuring enhanced security and updated functionality may soon be pursued.