There are “55 governors” because that phrase usually refers to all the chief executives of U.S. states and territories, not just the 50 states.

Quick Scoop: What “55 governors” really means

When people say there are 55 governors, they’re counting:

  • 50 U.S. states
  • 4 inhabited U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands)
  • 1 commonwealth/territory (American Samoa is usually grouped in this total, and the term “states, commonwealths, and territories” gets used together)

Each of these has its own governor (or equivalent chief executive), which adds up to 55 governors in total.

In other words, it’s not 55 states – it’s 55 separate jurisdictions (states + territories/commonwealths) that each elect a governor‑level leader.

Why this shows up in news and forums

You’ll often see “55 governors” in:

  • Statements from the National Governors Association, which says its mission is to represent “all 55 governors” across states, commonwealths, and territories.
  • Articles or explainers about federalism or state leadership, where governors are described as the chief executive officers of “the fifty‑five states, commonwealths, and territories of the United States.”

This phrasing has become a kind of shorthand in political talk and forum discussions, especially when people are talking about collective positions of all U.S. governors on national issues.

Mini FAQ

  1. Isn’t the U.S. only 50 states?
    Yes, there are 50 states, and each has a governor. The “extra” five come from U.S. territories/commonwealths that also elect governor‑level leaders.
  1. Does Washington, D.C., have a governor?
    No. D.C. has a mayor, not a governor, so it’s not part of the “55 governors” count.
  1. Why group them together?
    Because in terms of day‑to‑day governing, these leaders all function as the top executive for their jurisdiction, so organizations and news outlets lump them together when talking about “governors” as a political bloc.

TL;DR: “Why are there 55 governors?” Because the count includes governors of the 50 states plus governors of 5 U.S. territories/commonwealths, all of whom serve as their jurisdiction’s top executive.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.