Territorial Governors
- Robert Lucas 1838-1841
- John Chambers 1841-1845
- James Clarke 1845-1846
Governors of Iowa
- Ansel Briggs Democratic 1846-1850
- Stephen P. Hempstead Democratic 1850-1854
- James W. Grimes Whig 1854-1858
- Ralph P. Lowe Republican 1858-1860
- Samuel J. Kirkwood Republican 1860-1864
- William M. Stone Republican 1864-1868
- Samuel Merrill Republican 1868-1872
- Cyrus C. Carpenter Republican 1872-1876
- Samuel J. Kirkwood Republican 1876-1877
- Joshua G. Newbold Republican 1877-1878
- John H. Gear Republican 1878-1882
- Buren R. Sherman Republican 1882-1886
- William Larrabee Republican 1886-1890
- Horace Boies Democratic 1890-1894
- Frank D. Jackson Republican 1894-1896
- Francis M. Drake Republican 1896-1898
- Leslie M. Shaw Republican 1898-1902
- Albert B. Cummins Republican 1902-1908
- Warren Garst Republican 1908-1909
- Beryl F. Carroll Republican 1909-1913
- George W. Clarke Republican 1913-1917
- William L. Harding Republican 1917-1921
- N. E. Kendall Republican 1921-1925
- John Hammill Republican 1925-1931
- Daniel W. Turner Republican 1931-1933
- Clyde L. Herring Democratic 1933-1937
- Nelson G. Kraschel Democratic 1937-1939
- George A. Wilson Republican 1939-1943
- Bourke B. Hickenlooper Republican 1943-1945
- Robert D. Blue Republican 1945-1949
- William S. Beardsley Republican 1949-1954
- Leo Elthon Republican 1954-1955
- Leo A. Hoegh Republican 1955-1957
- Herschel C. Loveless Democratic 1957-1961
- Norman A. Erbe Republican 1961-1963
- Harold E. Hughes Democratic 1963-1969
- Robert D. Fulton Democratic 1969-1969
- Robert D. Ray Republican 1969-1983
- Terry E. Branstad Republican 1983-1999
- Tom Vilsack Democratic 1999-
