On November 8, 1864, he was elected governor, and on January 9, 1865 took the oath of office; On September 5, 1866 he became the first person to be re-elected governor of Kansas.
Governor Crawford resigned on November 4, 1868 to take command of the 19th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry which was to join the 7th United States Cavalry in the Custer-Sheridan Winter Campaign of 1868-69.