How to Become a Governor

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: February 2, 2023 References

In the United States, the governor holds the highest office in the state in which they are elected, acting as the chief executive officer. To become a governor in the U.S., you will need to gain the necessary education and get involved in local politics so you can work your way up to the state governorship. If you live in the U.K., you can apply to be a governor at a local school or college, where you will help to set the goals and policies for the school. You will need to apply for the position and lobby the school or college so you can become a school governor.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Developing the Skills of a State Governor

1
Gain relevant skills through your education choices. Start by graduating high school with good grades, especially in your Social Studies and History classes, as this will help to prepare you for a life in politics. Then, you should get an undergraduate degree in political science or a related field, like pre-law.^{[1]
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- You will need to have good grades in high school to apply for top tier college programs. Speak to an academic advisor at your high school for more information on applying for programs.
- In an undergraduate political science program, you will learn about the history of politics and key political figures. You will also learn how the political system works in your country and elsewhere.
- You might also decide on another major like international relations, history, or economics. Public Administration or a Public Health Degree are both ideal for policy making.
- Going on to law school to earn a Juris Doctor degree can also be very helpful for a future in politics.
2
Develop your public speaking skills. Join a public speaking club or the debate team at school. Take a class on public speaking. You will need to speak to large crowds when you campaign for governor and answer to your constituents if you get elected.
- You can also take classes on public relations and how to appeal to large groups of people.
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3
Apply for internships at a local government agency or political office. Gain hands-on experience in politics by applying for internships at a local government agency like the mayor’s office or the city councillor’s office. You can also apply to intern at a national political office, such as the Chairman’s office or the office of a political candidate. Look online for a list of internships in your area at government agencies or political offices.
- You can also inquire if there are spots for interns at a local government agency you are interested in or feel would be a valuable place to learn.
4
Volunteer for neighborhood associations and community organizations. Get involved in community politics by volunteering your time. Start volunteering in high school in your free time. Pick one or two neighborhood associations and community organizations and devote 1-2 hours a week to volunteering for them.
- For example, you may volunteer for a seat on the neighborhood safety committee. Or you may volunteer to run a community fundraiser.
5
Attend local political party meetings. Use the meetings as an opportunity to get to know your local party leaders and candidates. These meetings are a good place to network with other members of the party and find out what issues the party is focusing on.
- Look up political committee meetings in your town or county online or contact your political party for more information.
6
Work for a political campaign. Find a local campaign in your area and apply to work for them as a staff member. You can also sign up for a national campaign as a volunteer. As a worker for the campaign, you will gain invaluable experience and contacts. You will also get to see what it takes to run a political campaign, from making calls to constituents to planning outreach events to knocking on doors.
- Working on a political campaign can also allow you to network with others in the political arena and use these contacts when you decide to run for office.
7
Avoid scandal and be a responsible citizen. Keep your background clean and honest. Do not post questionable content on social media. Obey the law and be a responsible citizen so that when you do run for office, you do not have to worry about having a scandal or a past indiscretion that puts your political career in jeopardy.^{[2]
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- If you have any questionable content on your social media, try to erase it or get rid of it before you run for office.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Running for Offices Leading to a State Governorship

1
Run for local office. Start local by running for a civic office position, such as a school board position or town council. You can also run for party offices like Democratic or Republican committee person. Organize a local campaign with the help of volunteers and a campaign manager.
- Call your political party’s headquarters and find out which offices are up for election soon. You can then volunteer to run for these positions. Getting the backing of the party may help to improve your chances.
2
Consider running for mayor. Some former governors have come off of a run as mayor of a major city or town. You may run for mayor to boost your political profile and get more experience in local politics.^{[3]
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- Find out when the mayoral elections are happening in your city or town. Get a campaign going by hiring a campaign manager and campaign staffers.
3
Try for a seat in Congress. Another common route for a governorship is to get elected to a seat in Congress. Congressional elections can be more demanding and cut throat than mayoral elections. You will need a good campaign manager and possibly a few wealthy donors to help pay for the campaign.^{[4]
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- Most congressional elections last for at least two years. You will need to campaign hard against several other candidates to win the election.
4
Run for attorney general. Many governors work their way up the ladder by becoming an attorney general first. Attorney generals are the chief legal advisor and enforcer for state government. In 42 states, the attorney general is elected by the populace.^{[5]
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- In 5 states (Alaska, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Wyoming, and New Jersey), the attorney general is appointed by the governor.
- In Tennessee, the attorney general is appointed by the state supreme court.
- In Maine, the attorney general is chosen by the state legislature.
5
Work your way up to lieutenant governor. This is the office below the governor. The lieutenant governor’s role is to act as governor when the person in that office can't perform their duties. Many lieutenant governors became governor when their bosses retire early or do not run for another term.^{[6]
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- In Hawaii and New Jersey, the lieutenant governor also serves as the secretary of state.
- In Tennessee and West Virginia, the President of the Senate also serves as the lieutenant governor.
- Five states in the U.S. do not have a lieutenant governor position: Arizona, Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, and Wyoming.
6
Make a bid for governor. You can run for governor even if you are not the lieutenant governor or a serving member in government. You will need to run against other candidates in the election and win. Then, you will compete in the general election to become governor.^{[7]
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- Determine the election timeline for the governorship based on your state. Most states hold primary elections for governor in November.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Becoming a School Governor

1
Find schools that are seeking a school governor. You do not need to be a parent of a child at the college or school to apply to be a school governor. Most schools and colleges treat the position as voluntary, so you will not be paid for the position.^{[8]
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- You must be at least 18 years of age to become a school governor.
2
Apply online if you live in England. You can complete an online application for school governor by accessing the official U.K. government website. You can complete the application to register as a school governor in your chosen school or college.^{[9]
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- In the application, you will need to provide your name, email, and phone number. You will also need to explain why you feel you would be a good fit for the position.
3
Put in an application with your local school council if you live in Scotland or Wales. Contact your local school council to find out how you can apply. You may be able to apply online through their website, or you may need to fill out a paper application and send it in.^{[10]
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4
Be prepared for the responsibilities of the position. As school governor, you will work on the governing board with other school governors. You will work with the others on the board to set the aims and objectives for the school as well as the policies. You will also monitor and evaluate the school's progress on the objectives and be a critical friend to the headteacher. The board will help to support the headteacher and challenge them when needed.^{[11]
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- The board also keeps an eye on the school's budget and ensures it is being properly managed.
- As a school governor, you will need to work with the others on the board and come together to make decisions. You will need to be comfortable working with a team and be able to discuss objectives and aims with others.
5
Lobby the headteacher for the position. Once you have put in your application, you should speak to the headteacher or headmaster at the school or college. Let them know you are strongly interested in the position and feel you have the skills necessary to do the role. Lobby them for the position so you can contribute to the school or college in a positive way.^{[12]
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6
Maintain your role as school governor. Because this role is voluntary and usually unpaid, you may find it easier than expected to become a school governor at the school or college. You will then need to maintain your position by showing up to board meetings and making good contributions to the discussion. You will need to commit time to the role and act professionally around the other board members.^{[13]
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