For a formal letter, address the governor as “The Honorable [Full Name], Governor of [State]” on the envelope or inside address, and use “Dear Governor [Last Name]:” as the salutation. The Emily Post Institute and other letter-writing guides also note that “The Honorable” is the formal title, while “Governor [Last Name]” is the usual spoken or letter greeting.

Simple format

Envelope / inside address

  • The Honorable [Full Name]
  • Governor of [State]
  • [Office address]

Salutation

  • Dear Governor [Last Name]:

Closing

  • Sincerely,
  • [Your Name]

Example

The Honorable Maria Smith
Governor of California
Dear Governor Smith:

A few notes

  • Use the governor’s last name , not their first name, unless you have a very informal reason to do otherwise.
  • If you are writing to a former governor , the special title is usually not used; “Mr.” or “Mrs.” plus last name is standard.
  • In some states, a governor may have a different formal style, such as “Your Excellency” in a few states, but “Governor [Last Name]” is the safest general choice.

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