Lieutenant Governor of Florida

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Lieutenant Governor of Florida
Seal of Florida.svg
Seal of the State of Florida
Flag of Florida.svg
Flag of the State of Florida
Incumbent
Vacant
since February 16, 2025
Government of Florida
Member of Florida Executive Branch
Florida Cabinet
Residence None official
Seat Tallahassee, Florida
Appointer Direct election
Term length Four years, renewable once consecutively
Constituting instrument Constitution of Florida
Inaugural holder William W. J. Kelly
Formation1865
Succession First
(gubernatorial line of succession)
Salary$125,000 (per year)
Website Lieutenant Governor Nuñez

The lieutenant governor of Florida is a statewide constitutional office in the executive branch of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the second highest-ranking official in the state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four-year term.

Contents

Official duties dictated to the lieutenant governor under the present Florida Constitution are to serve as the acting governor in the absence of the governor from the state or the disability of the governor, or to become governor in the event of the governor's death, resignation or removal from office via impeachment.

The office is currently vacant after Jeanette Nuñez resigned on February 16, 2025 to become Interim President of Florida International University. [1]

History

The position of lieutenant governor has been used in Florida's government twice in the state's history. The first period spanned from 1865, after the American Civil War, through 1889. [2] During this time, the lieutenant governor was elected independently of the governor. In addition to being first in succession to the governor, the lieutenant governor was the ex officio president of the Florida Senate, and could cast a vote in the case of a tie. [2] William W. J. Kelly was the first person elected lieutenant governor after the position was created by the 1865 Constitution of Florida. The position was officially abolished by the post-Reconstruction Constitution of 1885, with the last lieutenant governor, Milton H. Mabry, serving out his term until 1889. [3] After this point the office of President of the Senate was given to an elected member of the Senate, who also served as first in line of succession to the governor.

The current Florida Constitution of 1968 recreated the office of lieutenant governor who is now elected directly along with the governor as a running mate. The lieutenant governor serves as first in the line of succession, but the office of President of the Senate remains with an elected senator. The lieutenant governor has a few prescribed duties and otherwise assists the governor with the duties of the executive branch. [3] The first lieutenant governor under the current Constitution was Ray C. Osborne, who took office in 1969.

The state constitution also forbids anyone from being elected lieutenant governor more than twice.

List of lieutenant governors

Parties

   No party    Democratic (7)   Republican (13)

No.NameImageTook officeLeft officePartyGovernorNotes
1 William W. J. Kelly William W J Kelly.jpg December 20, 1865July 4, 1868 Republican David S. Walker
2 William Henry Gleason William Henry Gleason.jpg July 7, 1868December 14, 1868Republican Harrison Reed
3 Edmund C. Weeks Edmund Cottle Weeks.jpg January 24, 1870December 27, 1870Republican
4 Samuel T. Day No image.svg January 3, 1871June 3, 1872Republican [4]
5 Marcellus Stearns Florida Governor Marcellus Stearns.png January 7, 1873March 18, 1874Republican Ossian B. Hart Became governor upon the death of O. B. Hart
6 Noble A. Hull Noble A Hull.png January 2, 1877March 3, 1879 Democratic George Franklin Drew Resigned to become a U.S. Representative
7 Livingston W. Bethel No image.svg January 4, 1881January 7, 1885Democratic William D. Bloxham
8 Milton H. Mabry Milton Mabry.jpg January 7, 1885January 8, 1889Democratic Edward A. Perry
The position of Lieutenant Governor of Florida was abolished in 1889 in the Constitution of 1885. It was reestablished in 1969 following a constitutional amendment in 1968.
9 Ray C. Osborne Lt Gov Ray C. Osborne, Official Portrait.jpg January 7, 1969January 5, 1971Republican Claude R. Kirk, Jr.
10 Tom Adams Lt. Governor Tom Adams (cropped).jpg January 5, 1971January 7, 1975Democratic Reubin O'Donovan Askew
11 Jim Williams James Hunter Williams.jpg January 7, 1975January 2, 1979Democratic
12 Wayne Mixson John Wayne Mixson.jpg January 2, 1979January 3, 1987Democratic Bob Graham Became governor upon the resignation of Bob Graham
13 Bobby Brantley Lieutenant Governor Bobby Brantley.jpg January 6, 1987January 8, 1991Republican Bob Martinez
14 Buddy MacKay Buddy MacKay (official portrait).jpg January 8, 1991December 12, 1998Democratic Lawton Chiles Became governor upon the death of Lawton Chiles
15 Frank Brogan Lt Gov Frank Brogan.jpg January 5, 1999March 3, 2003Republican Jeb Bush Resigned to become President of Florida Atlantic University
16 Toni Jennings Toni Jennings2.jpg March 3, 2003January 2, 2007RepublicanAppointed to replace Brogan
17 Jeff Kottkamp Jeff Kottkamp.jpg January 2, 2007January 4, 2011Republican Charlie Crist
18 Jennifer Carroll Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll.jpg January 4, 2011March 12, 2013Republican Rick Scott Resigned
19 Carlos Lopez-Cantera Lt Gov Carlos Lopez-Cantera Portrait.jpg February 3, 2014January 7, 2019RepublicanAppointed to replace Carroll
20 Jeanette Nuñez Jeanette Nunez official photo.jpg January 8, 2019February 16, 2025Republican Ron DeSantis Resigned to become President of Florida International University

List of acting lieutenant governors

Parties

   No party    Democratic (7)   Republican (13)

No.acting Lt. governorImageTook officeLeft officePartyappointed(s) served undernote
Milton H. Mabry Milton Mabry.jpg 8 January 18898 January 1893DemocraticGovernor of Florida
Milton Albert Watson [ dubious – discuss ][ citation needed ] No image.svg 8 January 18934 January 1925[ dubious – discuss ][ citation needed ]DemocraticGovernor of Florida
1 Marcellus Mikeson No image.svg 4 January 192518 March 1925No PartyGovernor of Florida
2 N.A. Hull No image.svg 4 January 19253 March 1927 Democratic Governor of Florida
3 Livingston W. Beth No image.svg 4 January 19257 January 1929DemocraticGovernor of Florida
4 Milton H. Haris No image.svg 7 January 19298 January 1933DemocraticPresident of United States
5 A.J. Thompson No image.svg 8 January 19337 January 1945No PartyPresident of United States
6 Nathan Mayo Nathan Mayo.jpg 8 January 19337 January 1945DemocraticPresident of United States
7 Nathan Thompson No image.svg 7 January 19457 January 1961DemocraticPresident of United States
8 Lee Thompson LeeThompson.jpg 7 January 19617 January 1967No PartyPresident of United States
9 Ray C. Osborne Lt Gov Ray C. Osborne, Official Portrait.jpg 7 January 19677 January 1969RepublicanPresident of United StatesPosition abolished

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Jeanette Nunez introduces herself to FIU as interim president". CBS News. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "The Truth-O-Meter Says: Jennifer Carroll is the "first African-American Republican woman to be part of a statewide ticket in Florida."". politifact.com. St. Petersburg Times and The Miami Herald . Retrieved January 5, 2011.
  3. 1 2 "Florida Governors". Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2011.
  4. ↑ "The American Annual Cyclopædia and Register of Important Events of the Year 1871". New York: D. Appleton and Company. 1872. p. 308. Retrieved May 25, 2008.
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