This is a list of pre-statehood governors of California. For governors of the state, see List of Governors of California.

Spanish Military Governors of California Nueva, 1769-1777

• 1769-1770: Gaspar de Portolá
• 1770-1774: Pedro Fages
• 1774-1777: Fernando Rivera y Moncada

Spanish Governors of Las Californias , 1777-1804

• 1777-1782: Felipe de Neve
• 1782-1791: Pedro Fages
• 1791-1792: José Antonio Roméu
• 1792-1794: José Joaquín de Arrillaga (acting)
• 1794-1800: Diego de Borica
• 1800: Pedro de Alberni (acting)
• 1800-1804: José Joaquín de Arrillaga

Spanish Governors of Alta California, 1804-1822

• 1804-1814: José Joaquín de Arrillaga
• 1814-1815: José Darío Argüello (acting)
• 1815-1822: Pablo Vicente Solá

Mexican Governors of Alta California, 1822-1847

• 1822-1825: Luis Antonio Argüello
• 1825-1831: José Maria de Echeandía
• 1831-1832: Manuel Victoria
• 1832: Pío Pico
• 1832-1833: Augustín Zamorano and José Maria de Echeandía
• 1833-1835: José Figueroa
• 1835-1836: José Castro (acting)
• 1836: Nicolas Gutierrez (acting)
• 1836: Mariano Chico
• 1836: Nicolas Gutierrez (acting)
• 1836-1842: Juan B. Alvarado
• 1842-1845: Manuel Micheltoreno
• 1845-1846: Pío Pico
• 1846-1847: José María Flores (in opposition to the United States in Los Angeles)
• 1847: Andrés Pico (in opposition to the United States in Los Angeles)

(see also Governor of Baja California and Governor of Baja California Sur for the Mexican States of Baja California and Baja California Sur)

President of the California Republic, June-July 1846

• 1846: William B. Ide (in Sonoma)

American Military Governors of California, 1846-1849

• 1846: John Drake Sloat
• 1846-1847: Robert Field Stockton
• 1847: John C. Frémont
• 1847: Stephen W. Kearny
• 1847-1849: Richard Barnes Mason (acting)
• 1849: Persifor Frazer Smith
• 1849: Bennett Riley