Final answer:
The correct phrase to complete the sentence about the governors of the contiguous United States is 'their own governor', as it refers to the plural noun 'states'. Each of the 50 states, including the non-contiguous, has its own publicly elected officials and governor.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct word to fill in the blank for the statement 'There are 48 states in the contiguous United States and each has ___ own governor' is 'their'. The blank is referring to multiple states, so the possessive pronoun must be plural to match. Therefore, 'its' would be inappropriate as it is singular, and 'his' and 'her' are singular possessive pronouns typically used to indicate ownership by a male or a female individual, not states.
Each of the 50 states (including the contiguous 48 states and the two non-contiguous states of Alaska and Hawaii) has its own array of public officials, with a governor playing a vital role. All governors are elected by popular vote, with the majority serving four-year terms and holding the ability to get re-elected, subject to term limits present in over half of the states. Governors have the authority to issue executive orders, prepare state budgets, make appointments, veto legislation, and grant pardons, among other powers.