The Governor of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of Kentucky's state government,^[18] and serves as commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.^[19] The governor has a duty to enforce state laws;^[20] the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Kentucky General Assembly;^[21] the power to convene the legislature;^[22] and the power to grant pardons, except in cases of treason and impeachment.^[23] He or she is also empowered to reorganize the state government or reduce it in size. Historically, the office has been regarded as one of the most powerful executive positions in the United States.^[24]

Fifty-eight individuals have held the office of Governor. Prior to a 1992 amendment to the state's constitution, the Governor was prohibited from succeeding himself in office, though four men (Isaac Shelby, John L. Helm, James B. McCreary and Happy Chandler) served multiple non-consecutive terms. Paul E. Patton, the first Kentucky Governor eligible for a second consecutive term under the amendment, won his reelection bid in 1999. James Garrard succeeded himself in 1800, before the constitutional provision existed.

William Goebel, who was elected to the office in the disputed election of 1899, remains the only Governor of any U.S. state to die from assassination while in office.^[25] Martha Layne Collins, who held the office from 1983 to 1987, was the first woman to serve as governor and was only the third woman to serve as governor of any U.S. state who was not the wife or widow of a previous governor.^[24] The 62nd and current Kentucky Governor is Republican Matt Bevin, who took office on December 8, 2015.

Kentucky was initially Kentucky County in Virginia. It achieved statehood and was admitted to the Union on June 1, 1792; see the list of governors of Virginia for the period before statehood. There have been 57 governors, serving 61 distinct terms.

An unelected group proclaimed Kentucky's secession from the Union on November 20, 1861, and it was annexed by the Confederate States of America on December 10, 1861. The Confederate government elected two governors (listed separately), but it never held much control over the state, and the main line of governors was preserved.

The original 1792 Kentucky Constitution had the governor chosen by an electoral college for a term of four years.^[26] The second constitution in 1799 changed this to a popular vote, and prevented governors from succeeding themselves within seven years of their terms.^[27] The third constitution in 1850 reduced the succession limitation to four years.^[28] A 1992 amendment to the constitution allowed governors to have a second term before being prevented from succeeding themselves for four years.^[29]

During the Civil War, a group of secessionists met at Russellville to form a Confederate government for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. While this government never successfully displaced the government in Frankfort, two men were elected governor of the Confederate government: George W. Johnson, who served from November 20, 1861 to his death on April 8, 1862 at the Battle of Shiloh, and, on Johnson's death, Richard Hawes, who served until the Confederate surrender on April 9, 1865. The Confederate government disbanded shortly after the end of the war in 1865.^[32]