Bullock received the Republican Party nomination for governor in 1865 after John A. Andrew decided not to stand for reelection.
 Bullock defeated Civil War General Darius Couch in the general election, and served three consecutive one-year terms.
 Bullock was a member of an informal group of Republicans known as the "Bird Club" (for its organizer, paper magnate Francis W. Bird), which effectively controlled the state Republican Party organization and dominated the state's elected offices into the 1870s.
During his tenure he improved the state's finances, reducing war-related debts.
Bullock was an outspoken advocate of women's suffrage, although the more conservative legislature never enacted enabling legislation.
He also favored state support for railroads, signing bills providing loans totalling $6 million to the Troy and Greenfield Railroad for the construction of the Hoosac Tunnel in each of his terms.
He was also responsible for hiring Benjamin Latrobe, Jr. to oversee the work on that troubled project.

One of the more contentious issues during Bullock's tenure was the state's alcohol prohibition law, which had been enacted in the 1850s, and which politically divided the otherwise dominant Republicans.
 Easing of either the law's strict rules or their enforcement was regularly debated in the legislature.
 Bullock, in contrast to the laissez-faire approach of Andrew before him, enforced the prohibition law more strictly than any other governor of the period.
 This policy was probably responsible for the declining margins of victory in his three elections.
In 1868, legislative proponents of relaxed rules secured passage of a law abolishing the state police, who were tasked with the law's enforcement.
 Bullock vetoed this bill, pointing out that the state police performed other vital functions.
 At the same time, a law replacing abolition with a licensing scheme was passed; Bullock allowed this bill to become law without his signature.
 In 1869, a more conservative legislature restored the previous prohibition statute.

Bullock declined to run for reelection in 1868, promoting Henry L. Dawes as his successor.
 Opposing Dawes for the Republican nomination was George F. Loring, a protégé of Benjamin Franklin Butler.
 Bullock's mentor Francis Bird worked behind the scenes to secure the nomination instead for William Claflin, who went on to win the election.
Bullock received the Republican Party nomination for governor in 1865 after John A. Andrew decided not to stand for reelection.  Bullock defeated Civil War General Darius Couch in the general election, and served three consecutive one-year terms.  Bullock was a member of an informal group of Republicans known as the "Bird Club" (for its organizer, paper magnate Francis W. Bird), which effectively controlled the state Republican Party organization and dominated the state's elected offices into the 1870s. During his tenure he improved the state's finances, reducing war-related debts. Bullock was an outspoken advocate of women's suffrage, although the more conservative legislature never enacted enabling legislation. He also favored state support for railroads, signing bills providing loans totalling $6 million to the Troy and Greenfield Railroad for the construction of the Hoosac Tunnel in each of his terms. He was also responsible for hiring Benjamin Latrobe, Jr. to oversee the work on that troubled project.
One of the more contentious issues during Bullock's tenure was the state's alcohol prohibition law, which had been enacted in the 1850s, and which politically divided the otherwise dominant Republicans.  Easing of either the law's strict rules or their enforcement was regularly debated in the legislature.  Bullock, in contrast to the laissez-faire approach of Andrew before him, enforced the prohibition law more strictly than any other governor of the period.  This policy was probably responsible for the declining margins of victory in his three elections. In 1868, legislative proponents of relaxed rules secured passage of a law abolishing the state police, who were tasked with the law's enforcement.  Bullock vetoed this bill, pointing out that the state police performed other vital functions.  At the same time, a law replacing abolition with a licensing scheme was passed; Bullock allowed this bill to become law without his signature.  In 1869, a more conservative legislature restored the previous prohibition statute.
Bullock declined to run for reelection in 1868, promoting Henry L. Dawes as his successor.  Opposing Dawes for the Republican nomination was George F. Loring, a protégé of Benjamin Franklin Butler.  Bullock's mentor Francis Bird worked behind the scenes to secure the nomination instead for William Claflin, who went on to win the election.
Alexander Bullock