List of current United States lieutenant governors
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The lieutenant governor is the second-highest-ranking government official in 45 of the 50 U.S. states and four of the five territories. In those states and territories, it is the first in the line of succession in case of a vacancy in the office of governor (note: in Massachusetts and West Virginia, the lieutenant governor succeeds 'only' as acting governor), while in the remaining states and territories another office holds that status. Currently, 26 states elect a lieutenant governor on a ticket with the governor, while 17 states elect a lieutenant governor separately. In West Virginia, the president of the Senate, as elected by the State Senators, serves as the state's lieutenant governor. In Tennessee, the State Senators elect a Speaker of the Senate, who in turn serves as lieutenant governor. Five states do not have a lieutenant governor. In the 50 states, District of Columbia, and 5 territories, there are currently 29 Republicans, 26 Democrats, and one member with the Puerto Rico New Progressive Party.
List of lieutenant governors by state[edit]
In the table below, "term ends" indicates the year the current lieutenant governor will leave office; a notation (term limits) after the year indicates that the current lieutenant governor is ineligible to seek re-election in that year. A notation of (retiring) after the year indicates that the current lieutenant governor is leaving office that year, having not sought re-election. A notation of (defeated) indicates that the current lieutenant governor was defeated for re-election.
List of lieutenant governors by territory[edit]
Democratic (3) Independent (1) | |||||||||
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Territory | Picture | Lieutenant governor | Party | Prior office(s) held | Took office | Seat up | Chosen by[1] | ||
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Salo Ale | Democratic | Attorney General | January 3, 2021 | 2025 | Same ticket | ||
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Josh Tenorio | Democratic | No prior offices | January 7, 2019 | 2023 | Same ticket | ||
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Arnold Palacios | Independent | Northern Mariana Islands Senate | January 14, 2019 | 2023 | Same ticket | ||
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Tregenza Roach | Democratic | Legislature of the Virgin Islands | January 7, 2019 | 2023 | Same ticket |
States which do not have lieutenant governors[edit]
Five states do not have a position of an official lieutenant governor. In these cases, the secretary of state or the president of the Senate is next in line for the governorship.
Democratic (3) Republican (2) | ||||||||||
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State | Office | Picture | Officeholder | Party | Prior office(s) held | Took position | ||||
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Secretary of State | ![]() |
Katie Hobbs | Democratic | Arizona Senate Arizona House |
January 7, 2019 | ||||
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President of the Senate | Troy Jackson | Democratic | Maine Senate | December 5, 2018 | |||||
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President of the Senate | ![]() |
Chuck Morse | Republican | New Hampshire Senate | December 2, 2020 | ||||
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Secretary of State | ![]() |
Shemia Fagan |
Democratic | Oregon Senate Oregon House |
January 4, 2021 | ||||
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Secretary of State | Edward Buchanan | Republican | Wyoming House Speaker | March 1, 2018 |
Federal district and territories which do not have lieutenant governors or deputy mayors[edit]
One territory, Puerto Rico, places the secretary of state next in line for the governorship. In the District of Columbia, the chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia is first in line of succession in the event of a vacancy in the office of mayor of the District of Columbia.
Democratic (1) New Progressive (1) | |||||||||
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Federal district or territory |
Office | Picture | Officeholder | Party | Prior Offices Held | Took position | |||
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Chairman of the Council | ![]() |
Phil Mendelson[4] | Democratic | DC Councilman Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner |
June 13, 2012 | |||
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Secretary of State | ![]() |
Omar J. Marrero | New Progressive | July 12, 2021 |
States and territories with differing party membership at the executive level[edit]
In most states or territories, the governor and lieutenant governor are members of the same political party. In the following states, the designated successor to the governorship is of a different political party than the governor:
State or territory |
Governor | Designated successor |
---|---|---|
Arizona | Republican | Democratic |
Louisiana | Democratic | Republican |
North Carolina | Democratic | Republican |
Vermont | Republican | Democratic |
See also[edit]
- List of current United States first spouses
- List of current United States governors
- List of current United States lieutenant governors by age
- List of female lieutenant governors in the United States
- List of minority governors and lieutenant governors in the United States
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Executive Branch of the Several States". The Green Papers. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
- ^ The Tennessee Senate elects their speaker who serves as lieutenant governor. The full title of the office is Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the Senate.
- ^ West Virginia Code 6A-1-4(b), as enacted in 2000, entitles the president of the West Virginia Senate to use the title Lieutenant Governor
- ^ Mendelson was initially appointed Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia after the position was vacated on June 6, 2012, due to the resignation of Kwame R. Brown. Brown had been charged in federal court with bank fraud and, after his resignation, was further charged in D.C. Superior Court with making an unlawful cash campaign expenditure. Mendelson was subsequently elected to complete Brown's term on November 6, 2013.