As the calendar turns to January, the nation’s newly elected governors face a demanding transition period that extends far beyond inaugural ceremonies and administrative appointments. Across the United States, 19 incoming state leaders will also find themselves managing a move into official executive residences—or navigating alternative housing arrangements in the rare states that do not provide government-owned mansions.
While a handful of states leave their top executives to secure private accommodations, the vast majority maintain longstanding traditions of housing their governors in historic, architecturally distinct executive mansions. These properties span centuries of American history, ranging from grand neoclassical estates and sprawling Colonial Revivals to Victorian landmarks that have witnessed generations of political shifts, social milestones, and, in some cases, tales of things going bump in the night.
The Tradition of Executive Residences
Among all 50 states, exactly 45 provide official governor’s mansions, while Arizona, Idaho, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont do not maintain official executive residences. In these states, leaders traditionally rely on privately owned homes during their terms in office. Across the country, governors occasionally choose to bypass state-owned quarters for personal residences as well. California Governor Gavin Newsom recently listed the $7.5 million Fair Oaks home where he resided instead of moving into the official executive mansion, a 19th-century Victorian structure in Sacramento. In other parts of the country, executive spaces have faced logistical hurdles; Montana’s official governor’s mansion is currently vacant and in a state of disrepair, while Nebraska’s executive residence has remained unoccupied by a sitting governor for over a decade.
For the states that do maintain active traditions of housing their leaders, the residences serve as both private homes and centers for state diplomacy. Virginia lays claim to the oldest continuously inhabited executive residence in the nation, with every governor having lived there since 1813. As a fresh wave of political leaders prepares to take office following recent gubernatorial races, the architectural and historical backdrops of these properties offer a fascinating glimpse into state governance.
Alabama: Tommy Tuberville
Following his victory in the Alabama gubernatorial race, Republican Tommy Tuberville is set to move into a century-old executive mansion located in Montgomery. Built in 1907 and designed by architect T. Weatherly Carter, the 17-room neoclassical residence features a prominent row of four Corinthian columns gracing its front entrance. The facade opens directly into an expansive foyer dominated by a grand bifurcated staircase, establishing a formal tone for the state’s chief executive.
California: Xavier Becerra
In California, Democratic governor-elect Xavier Becerra will soon take up residence in a distinctive three-story Victorian home situated in Sacramento. Constructed in 1877, the sprawling 20,000-square-foot property underwent a comprehensive renovation in 2015. Decades earlier, Ronald and Nancy Reagan briefly stayed in the home in 1967 before deeming it uninhabitable, prompting the state to turn the building into a museum. It returned to active service as a governor’s residence following the 2015 updates. The historic structure boasts 30 rooms, intricate Italian marble fireplaces, original wood flooring, and an outdoor kidney-shaped swimming pool.
Colorado: Phil Weiser
In Denver, Democratic official Phil Weiser will receive the keys to Colorado’s official executive residence, affectionately known as "Colorado’s Home." Erected in 1908, the building has served as the state’s official governor’s mansion since 1960. The Colonial Revival-style dwelling encompasses 27 rooms situated on a one-acre urban parcel that features manicured gardens, a historic gazebo, a greenhouse, and a traditional carriage house. Thanks to a tradition established by former Governor John Hickenlooper, the residence also features a rotating selection of local craft beers on tap.
Florida: Byron Donalds
Republican Byron Donalds made history with his election as Florida’s first Black governor. He will manage state affairs from Tallahassee, where a Greek Revival-style governor’s mansion was completed in 1956. The structure was built on the exact site of an older executive residence from 1907 that had fallen into extensive disrepair. The modern estate provides amenities including a screened swimming pool, a dedicated greenhouse, and an extensive rose garden.
Georgia: Keisha Lance Bottoms
Democratic governor-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms achieved a historic milestone as the first Black woman elected to lead a state as governor in the United States. Her future residence in Atlanta is a substantial 30-room Greek Revival mansion completed in 1967 by architect A. Thomas Bradbury. Spanning three distinct levels, the structure measures an impressive 30,000 square feet.
Iowa: Rob Sand
Iowa’s executive residence, historically known as Terrace Hill, is slated to become home to Democratic official Rob Sand. Dating back to 1869, Terrace Hill is an expansive 18,000-square-foot Second Empire-style mansion located in Des Moines. State governors have inhabited the property since 1976, while its first two floors remain accessible to the public as a museum and venue for official state events.
Maine: Democratic Leadership and the Blaine House
Democrat Hannah Pingree will soon take up residence at the historic Blaine House located in Augusta, Maine. Originally constructed in 1833 utilizing a blend of Federal and Greek Revival architectural elements, the mansion became the official gubernatorial residence in 1919 following renovations that introduced more prominent Colonial features. The two-story estate contains 28 rooms, including a dedicated billiards room, alongside formal gardens and a tennis court on the grounds.
Michigan: Jocelyn Benson
In Michigan, Democratic official Jocelyn Benson holds the unique position of governing a state equipped with two official executive residences: a primary home in the state capital of Lansing and a seasonal retreat on Mackinac Island. The Lansing property is an 8,700-square-foot ranch-style dwelling built in 1957 featuring five bedrooms and four bathrooms, while the Mackinac Island property is an Arts-and-Crafts-style mansion constructed in 1901.
Minnesota: Amy Klobuchar
Minnesota’s newly elected governor, current U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, will transition into a sprawling 16,000-square-foot residence located in St. Paul. Built in 1912, the stone-and-brick dwelling was designed by architect William Channing Whitney, who blended English Tudor and Beaux-Arts architectural styles. The interior features seven bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, and nine operational fireplaces.
Nevada: Aaron Ford
Nevada voters elected the state’s first Black governor, Democrat Aaron Ford, who will soon reside in a Classical Revival-style mansion in Carson City. Designed by architect George A. Ferris and completed in 1909, the executive home includes a grand entrance hall, a formal reception room, a state dining room, a governor’s study, and a luncheon room, alongside private family living quarters.
New Mexico: Deb Haaland
New Mexico governor-elect Deb Haaland made history as the first Native American woman to win election to the office. In Santa Fe, the official executive residence is widely known as The People’s House. Designed by architect W.C. Kruger, the midcentury-modern structure was officially completed in 1955 to accommodate the state’s chief executive.
Ohio: Amy Acton
Democrat Amy Acton is set to become Ohio’s next governor, securing her residency within a 1925 mansion situated in the Columbus suburb of Bexley. The Tudor-style home was designed and constructed by architect Robert Gilmore Hanford. Its three-acre grounds feature extensive gardens, including a whimsical "Storybook Trail" inspired by classic children’s literature.
Oklahoma: Mike Mazzei
Republican governor-elect Mike Mazzei will take stewardship of Oklahoma’s official executive residence in Tulsa. The 14,000-square-foot Dutch Colonial structure was built in 1928, featuring a limestone facade designed to echo the State Capitol building located two blocks away. The estate grounds include a swimming pool uniquely shaped like the state of Oklahoma, an outdoor kitchen, and a tennis court positioned on the former site of a helipad used by President Lyndon B. Johnson during a 1964 visit.
Rhode Island: Helena Buonanno Foulkes
While Democrat Helena Buonanno Foulkes won the gubernatorial race in Rhode Island, she will not face an immediate move into a government-owned property, as the state does not maintain an official governor’s mansion. Instead, Foulkes manages personal real estate holdings within the state, including an eight-bedroom summer house in Narragansett and a three-bedroom home in Providence.
South Carolina: Alan Wilson
Republican governor-elect Alan Wilson won the vote in South Carolina, designating a two-story Federal-style mansion dating back to 1855 as his next home. Originally constructed to serve as officers’ quarters for a military academy, the building has functioned as the official governor’s residence since 1868, shortly after the conclusion of the Civil War. The interior layout features a central entrance hall linking two drawing rooms, a formal state dining room, and a library, with private living quarters situated on the upper floor.
Tennessee: Marsha Blackburn
Republican Tennessee governor-elect Marsha Blackburn is positioned to move into a 10-acre estate located in Nashville’s Oak Hill suburb. Named Far Hills in recognition of its surrounding landscape views, the 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 office. Her official residence will be the historic Greek Revival-style mansion located in Austin. Spanning nearly 10,000 square feet, the property has served as the official home of Texas governors since its completion in 1856.
Wisconsin: David Crowley
Democrat David Crowley secured a victory in Wisconsin, becoming the state’s first Black governor. The official executive residence is a Classical Revival-style mansion located in Madison. Completed in 1928, the property provides 16,000 square feet of interior space across three floors, accommodating seven bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, seven fireplaces, and 10 distinct garden areas.
Wyoming: Eric Barlow
Republican Eric Barlow will soon gain access to the state’s executive residence located near Frontier Park in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Constructed in 1976 to replace an older 1905 mansion that now operates as a local museum, the current facility may soon see updates, with plans for a modern, upgraded executive facility focused on enhanced security and administrative functionality currently under consideration by state officials.
