The Governor of Nova Scotia is the chief executive of the state of Nova Scotia. He has the power to veto legislation sent by the Legislature of Nova Scotia, is the commander-in-chief of the Nova Scotia National Guard and the Nova Scotia State Police Division (NSSP) and appoints the heads of state departments and state judges, as well as all state row officers, making the Governor of Nova Scotia among the most powerful governorships in the country. The Governor's office is in the Nova Scotia State Capitol in Halifax and he is eligible to reside at the Stanfield House across the street. In case of a vacancy in the event of a resignation or death, the Governor is succeeded by the President of the Nova Scotia Senate until the end of his constitutionally mandated term. This provision has only come into effect once, after the death of Angus MacDonald in 1954.
The current Governor of Nova Scotia is Dominic LeBlanc, who has served since January 1, 2017.
List of Governors of Nova Scotia
| Name | Portrait | Term | Party | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Borden | 1901-1909 | Democrat | Later US President 1913-1917 | |
| George William Grafton | 1909-1917 | National | ||
| Robert Kick | 1917-1925 | National | ||
| James Callahan | 1925-1933 | Democrat | ||
| Angus L. McDonald | 1933 - 1941 | Democrat | First two terms | |
| William Logan Brown | 1941-1949 | National | ||
| Angus L. McDonald | 1949 - April 13, 1954 | Democrat | Second two terms; died in office | |
| Harold Connolly (acting) | April 13, 1954 - April 20, 1954 | Democrat | President pro tem of the Senate; Acting Governor for 7 days after death of Angus L. McDonald | |
| Henry Hicks | April 20, 1954 - January 1957 | Democrat | President of the Senate, succeeded to office upon death of Angus McDonald | |
| Robert Stanfield | 1957-1965 | National | Elected US Senator (1965-1989) | |
| Hédard Robichaud | 1965-1973 | Democrat | Previously US Representative for Nova Scotia's 1st District (1949-1965); later US Senator (1973-1985), succeeded as both Governor and Senator by Gerald Regan | |
| Gerald Regan | 1973-1981 | Democrat | Formerly Attorney General of Nova Scotia; Succeeded Hédard Robichaud as both Governor and US Senator (1985-1997) | |
| John Buchanan | 1981-1989 | National | Later elected US Senator, 1989-2001 | |
| Ed Kapinski | 1989-1993 | Democrat | Former Mayor of Halifax | |
| John Hamm | 1993-2001 | National | ||
| Gerald Keddy | 2001-2009 | National | US Representative for Nova Scotia's 3rd District, 1995-2001 | |
| Shawn Graham | 2009-2017 | Democrat | Son of former Speaker of the Nova Scotia House Alan Graham | |
| Dominic LeBlanc | January 2017 - present | Democrat | Son of former US Representative Romeo LeBlanc |
