Joe Kernan (politician)

Joe Kernan
Kernan in 2008
48th Governor of Indiana
In office September 13, 2003 – January 10, 2005
Lieutenant	Kathy Davis
Preceded by	Frank O'Bannon
Succeeded by	Mitch Daniels
47th Lieutenant Governor of Indiana
In office January 13, 1997 – September 13, 2003
Governor	Frank O'Bannon
Preceded by	Frank O'Bannon
Succeeded by	Kathy Davis
30th Mayor of South Bend
In office January 3, 1988 – January 3, 1997
Preceded by	Roger Parent
Succeeded by	Steve Luecke
South Bend Controller
In office January 1, 1980 – February 17, 1984
Appointed by	Roger Parent
Preceded by	Peter Mullen
Succeeded by	Michael Vance
Personal details
Born	Joseph Eugene Kernan III (1946-04-08)April 8, 1946 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	July 29, 2020(2020-07-29) (aged 74) South Bend, Indiana, U.S.
Resting place	Cedar Grove Cemetery, Notre Dame, Indiana, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Maggie McCullough ​ (m. 1974)​
Education	University of Notre Dame (BA)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Years of service	1969–1974 (Active) 1974–1982 (Reserve)
Rank	Lieutenant
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Distinguished Flying Cross Purple Heart (2) Air Medal (2)

Joseph Eugene Kernan III (April 8, 1946 – July 29, 2020) was an American businessman and Democratic politician who served as the 48th governor of Indiana from 2003 to 2005.^[1] He previously served as the 47th lieutenant governor of Indiana from 1997 to 2003 under Frank O'Bannon and succeeded the governorship after O'Bannon's death. Kernan had also served nearly a year as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War.

After graduating from the University of Notre Dame, Kernan joined the Navy in 1969. A naval aviator, he was shot down in North Vietnam and taken prisoner in 1972. After his release, Kernan continued on active duty through 1974. A member of the Democratic Party, Kernan served as Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and then as the 47th lieutenant governor of Indiana from 1997 to 2003. He became governor on September 13, 2003, upon the death of Governor Frank O'Bannon. He lost an election to serve a full term as governor to former Office of Management and Budget director Mitch Daniels on November 2, 2004. Kernan returned to South Bend and retired from politics. As of 2024, he is the most recent governor of Indiana from the Democratic Party.