Walter Welford (May 21, 1868 – June 28, 1952) was inaugurated as the 20th governor of North Dakota on February 2, 1935, after Thomas H. Moodie was removed after it was determined he was ineligible to hold the office.

Welford lost the 1936 election to former governor William Langer, and served until the end of his term in January 1937.

Welford met with President Franklin Roosevelt and obtained federal aid for drought-stricken farmers.

(The third-place candidate was Democrat John Moses, who became North Dakota's twenty-second governor, following Langer's second term.)

Welford died on June 28, 1952, at the age of 84 en route to a hospital in Altona, Manitoba after being stricken at his home in Pembina County.