Forms of Address
How to address a governor
A governor is addressed as "The Honorable [Full Name], Governor of [State]" on the envelope. The salutation is "Dear Governor [Last Name]:" and the same short form, "Governor," is used in conversation. A lieutenant governor follows the same pattern with "Lieutenant Governor of [State]" in place of "Governor."
Checked September 10, 2026/6 min read
Written by Claire PostReviewed against USPS Publication 28
What is on this page6 sections
A governor sits in an unusual spot compared to titles like President or Vice President: the office is powerful and formal, but there are 50 of them at once, so the name has to do the identifying work the office alone cannot.
That is the whole logic behind the format. The Honorable establishes the formality, the name identifies the specific person, and “Governor of [State]” tells the reader which of the fifty offices is meant.
Step by step
Start the envelope with The Honorable and the full name
Then the office and state on the next line: "Governor of [State]." Governors are addressed by name, unlike the presidency, since there is no single, universally recognized short office form for the role.
THE HONORABLE JANE R MORALESGOVERNOR OF OHIO77 S HIGH STCOLUMBUS OH 43215CorrectStandard envelope format for a sitting governor. Use Governor plus last name in the salutation
"Dear Governor [Last Name]:" is the standard formal salutation, used regardless of the state or the size of its government.
Use the same short form in conversation
"Governor [Last Name]" when first addressing them, and simply "Governor" afterward, is standard, the same pattern used for judges and other elected officeholders.
Adjust the office line for a lieutenant governor
Everything else stays the same; only "Governor of [State]" changes to "Lieutenant Governor of [State]." The salutation becomes "Dear Lieutenant Governor [Last Name]:"
Drop the office once they leave, keep The Honorable
A former governor keeps "The Honorable [Full Name]" but drops the "Governor of [State]" line, since the office no longer applies. Many people continue using "Governor [Last Name]" as a courtesy title afterward, though it is not the strict formal requirement.
Quick reference
| Who | Envelope (line 2) | Salutation |
|---|---|---|
| Governor | Governor of [State] | Dear Governor [Last Name]: |
| Lieutenant Governor | Lieutenant Governor of [State] | Dear Lieutenant Governor [Last Name]: |
| Former Governor | (omitted) | Dear Governor [Last Name]: (courtesy) or Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name]: |
| Governor spouse | (personal title, no office line) | Dear Mrs./Mr. [Last Name]: |
Special cases
The rule above covers most people. Here is what changes for the rest.
Is a tribal governor addressed the same way as a US state governor?
The Honorable plus full name is still correct, but the office line should reflect the specific nation or tribe rather than a state, for example "Governor of the [Nation Name]." Confirm the exact preferred wording with the tribal government office directly, since conventions vary.
Does a governor staff member get addressed differently than the governor themselves?
Yes. A staff member is addressed by their own name and title, such as "Mr./Ms. [Full Name], Chief of Staff to the Governor," not by the governor title. Only the governor themselves uses "The Honorable" and the office line.
Key terms on this page
- The Honorable
- A courtesy title used before the full name of a current or former holder of a high government office, including a sitting or former governor.
- Lieutenant Governor
- The second-highest executive office in most US states, addressed with the same pattern as a governor but with the office title adjusted.
