The area of present-day Gojōme was part of ancient Dewa Province, dominated by the Satake clan during the Edo period, who ruled Kubota Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate.

The village of Gojōme was created on April 1, 1889 within Minamiakita District, Akita with the establishment of the modern municipalities system.

Gojōme has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral town council of 14 members.

Gojōme, together with the city of Noshiro and the other municipalities of Yamamoto District contributes four members to the Akita Prefectural Assembly.

In terms of national politics, the town is part of Akita 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.