Donald DiFrancesco

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{{Infobox_Governor |name= Donald DiFrancesco |image= Donalddifrancesco.jpg |caption= |order=51^{st 1} |office= Governor of New Jersey |term_start= 2001 |term_end= January 8, 2002 |predecessor= Christine Todd Whitman |successor=John Farmer Jr. |spouse=Diane DiFrancesco |birth_date= 1944 |birth_place= |death_date= |death_place= |party= Republican |footnotes= 1. As of January 9, 2006, New Jersey law states that an Acting Governor serving for 180 or more days is officially Governor. This applies retroactively to both Richard Codey and Donald DiFrancesco. }}

Donald Thomas DiFrancesco (b. 1944) was the Republican Governor of New Jersey (his title was officially Acting Governor until it was changed retroactively by legislation passed on January 10, 2006) from 2001 to 2002 by virtue of his status as President of the New Jersey Senate, the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature. DiFrancesco, a state senator representing the Scotch Plains, New Jersey area, became governor when Christine Todd Whitman resigned from office to join the administration of newly elected President George W. Bush. Prior to serving in the State Senate, DiFrancesco represented Union County in the State Assembly.

At the time of Whitman's resignation, the New Jersey State Constitution stipulated that the Senate president retains that position while also serving as acting governor. This made DiFrancesco, in his own words, the most powerful New Jersey governor ever (and perhaps the most powerful governor ever) because he was the leader of both the legislative and executive branches simultaneously. This distinction was shared by later acting governors John Farmer Jr., John O. Bennett, and Richard Codey.

DiFrancesco ended his bid to be elected governor in his own right because of corruption allegations. He presently serves on the Commerce Bancorp board of directors.

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