Most famous governors known as such

[President Johnson]

Which American governors would you say are mostly or exclusively known for being in that role? Certainly excluding any who were president.

I'd say George Wallace and Arnold Schwarzenegger, though the latter is are known for his career as actor. Maybe there's also an argument for Tom Dewey, Nelson Rockefeller and Jesse Ventura.

[Torrain]

The Cuomo’s, Mario and Andrew. Established a dynasty that ran New York for 20 of the past 40 years, with both reigns ending in political humiliation of the Governor - either through electoral loss or scandal-induced resignation.

[kcguy]

From early American history, DeWitt Clinton is the first name that comes to mind.

[Independents for Nihilism]

I think of Sam Houston as Governor of Texas even though he held like 300 other offices over his lifetime. Governors of large states who were notable in some way also come to mind, like Ann Richards (woman, hung out with Hank Hill) and Jerry Brown (youngest/oldest gov of CA? may be due to his presidential runs however).

[Skill and Chance]

Huey Long?

[Cassius]

Jimmie Davis, at least in purely political terms.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Probably not widely famous, but Governor Francis Perkins of South Carolina ought to be more infamous by his cheapskate ways helping to bring about the Civil War.

At the time of secession, Fort Sumter was still in the final stages of construction. Rather than immediately occupying Fort Sumter (the Federal garrison under the command of Maj. Anderson was still at the obsolete and indefensible Fort Moultrie) he didn't so the Federal government could continue paying the workmen there finishing the fort a little longer. Had Gov. Pickens moved to occupy Fort Sumter before Maj. Anderson moved his command there, then at minimum the Civil War would've been delayed a few weeks as Lincoln wouldn't have been forced to act so soon. It might have even given time for a negotiated solution of some sort to happen, tho I think that was a longshot.

[StateBoiler]

Huey Long
Jerry Brown
Mario and Andrew Cuomo
Ed Rendell
Ann Richards
Connelly (the guy assassinated sitting next to JFK)

James Hunt?

Per your rules, Arnold is more known for being an actor and I think George Wallace is more known now for 1968 presidential candidate than being a governor.

[StateBoiler]

Probably not widely famous, but Governor Francis Perkins of South Carolina ought to be more infamous by his cheapskate ways helping to bring about the Civil War.

At the time of secession, Fort Sumter was still in the final stages of construction. Rather than immediately occupying Fort Sumter (the Federal garrison under the command of Maj. Anderson was still at the obsolete and indefensible Fort Moultrie) he didn't so the Federal government could continue paying the workmen there finishing the fort a little longer. Had Gov. Pickens moved to occupy Fort Sumter before Maj. Anderson moved his command there, then at minimum the Civil War would've been delayed a few weeks as Lincoln wouldn't have been forced to act so soon. It might have even given time for a negotiated solution of some sort to happen, tho I think that was a longshot.

That is very heavily revisionist history.

[thebeloitmoderate]

Jessie Ventura in addition to governor was also a professional wrestler and actor as well.

[beesley]

I think of Sam Houston as Governor of Texas even though he held like 300 other offices over his lifetime. Governors of large states who were notable in some way also come to mind, like Ann Richards (woman, hung out with Hank Hill) and Jerry Brown (youngest/oldest gov of CA? may be due to his presidential runs however).

I thought of Houston as well. It seems in popular history, his image has been watered down to being a 'Mr. Texas' culminating in his gubernatorial tenure.

[Sir Mohamed]

Possibly the Cuomos and Jesse Ventura.

I would exclude Arnold Schwarzenegger, because the title says "known as such". Arnold is well known beyond America, but was already before he ran for elected office. Gov is just one "role" he had in addition to a career in film and business.

[LBJer]

Edwin Edwards of Louisiana

[bore]

Governor Morris

[Klobmentum Mutilated Herself]

Christie is pretty well known due to Bridgegate and Hurricane Sandy.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Governor Morris

Gouverneur, hilariously, was Morris's first name, not a title.

Nelson Rockefeller strikes me as an especially good answer since he's thought of primarily as Governor of New York despite also having served in the ostensibly higher office of Vice President.

[bore]

My serious answer is Orval Faubus,  whose dad Sam Faubus was also an interesting political figure:

Hardships politically radicalized Faubus,[5] and in his older days he reminisced, "I worked in my younger days as a tiemaker—not the wearing kind, but the kind that railroads use. I made them for 10 cents a piece. That's why I became a liberal. I don't like slave labor, and that's just what it was."[6]

Under the influence of his older and more political savvy neighbor, O. T. Green, Sam joined the Socialist Party of America.[7] In May 1910, he and his friend Arch Cornett, a local teacher, founded the Mill Creek Local of the Socialist Party in Combs with ten members; at an all-time high, membership was close to 30, including Addie Faubus.[8] Sam Faubus was a firm opponent of the U.S. involvement in World War I and once was arrested with Arch Cornett for distributing anti-war literature and charged with the Sedition Act of 1918 violation. The end of the war helped him to escape imprisonment.[3] He also advocated introduction of the graduated income tax, old age benefits, supported racial equality (he despised and opposed segregation and racism, viewing it as plots to divide the working class), repeal of restricting voting poll tax, and women's suffrage, along with other socialists in Arkansas.[9][10] In the 1950s, he supported desegregation.

Faubus's son, Orval Faubus, being the Governor of Arkansas, became nationally and internationally controversial for seeking to oppose the 1957 integration of Central High School in the state capital of Little Rock. Sam Faubus disapproved of Orval's actions during the integration crisis and privately conveyed his position to him. Unbeknownst to his son, he wrote letters in support of desegregation to the Arkansas Gazette signed by a pseudonym, Jimmie Higgins, which was the Socialist Party slang for a novice member.[3] At that time, Sam Faubus already changed his political standing, becoming a Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal Democrat. Ultimately, the Federal Government intervened, and nine African American students known as the Little Rock Nine went on to graduate from Little Rock Central High School.