Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana

Last updated
Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana
Lieutenant-Gouverneur de la Louisiane
Billy Nungesser 2018.jpg
Incumbent
Billy Nungesser
since January 11, 2016
Government of Louisiana
AppointerPopular election
Term length Four years
Inaugural holder Trasimond Landry
Formation1846
Succession1st

The lieutenant governor of Louisiana (French : Lieutenant-Gouverneur de la Louisiane) is the second highest state office in Louisiana. The current lieutenant governor is Billy Nungesser, a Republican. The lieutenant governor is also the commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism.

Contents

Paul J. Hardy, who served from 1988 to 1992, was the first Republican to be elected to the position since the Reconstruction Era.

History

The office was established by the Louisiana Constitution of 1845. [1] Prior to that, the successor to the governor in the event of his death or resignation was the President of the Louisiana State Senate. [2] A number of state senate presidents succeeded governors before the 1845 Constitution was adopted, including Henry S. Thibodaux, Armand Beauvais and Jacques Dupre.

The lieutenant governor presided over the Louisiana Senate from 1845 until the adoption of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974.[ citation needed ] Under the new constitution, the lieutenant governor was—effective in 1976—primarily tasked with serving as acting governor in the governor's absence from the state and succeeding to gubernatorial office in the event it became vacant. The document also allowed the governor and the Louisiana State Legislature to delegate responsibilities upon the lieutenant governor at their discretion. [3] In 1986, the legislature placed the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism under the lieutenant governor's purview, enabling them to appoint the department's leaders. [4] [5]

Selection

Only qualified voters in Louisiana are eligible to be elected lieutenant governor. Any potential lieutenant governor must be at least 25 years of age and have resided in the state for the five previous years. [6] The lieutenant governor is elected on their own ticket separate from the governor. [5]

In the event the lieutenant governor's office becomes vacant, the governor is empowered to nominate a new incumbent subject to the approval of both houses of the legislature. [7]

Duties and responsibilities

The constitution directs the lieutenant governor to assume the office of governor if the previous incumbent vacates the office. If the incumbent governor is unable to act as governor, or is temporarily absent from the state, the lieutenant governor assumes the governor's powers and duties as acting governor. [5] [8] The constitution also designates the lieutenant governor an ex officio member of each committee, board, and commission on which the governor serves. [5] [9]

Aside from these duties, the lieutenant governor can exercise powers delegated to them by the governor or as provided by law. [5] [9] Accordingly, state law designates the lieutenant governor as the commissioner of the Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism. [5] [10] In this capacity they appoint the department's secretary and several other leading officers, subject to the confirmation of the State Senate. [5]

List of lieutenant governors

Parties

   Independent (0)   Democratic (46)   Republican (8)

1846–1860

No.Lt. governorTook officeLeft officePartyNotes Governor
1 Trasimond Landry 18461850Democratic [11] [12] Isaac Johnson
2 Jean Baptiste Plauche General Plauche.jpg 18501853Democratic [11] [12] [13] [14] Joseph Marshall Walker
3 William Wood Farmer 18531854Democratic [11] [12] [15] Paul Octave Hébert
4 Robert C. Wickliffe RobertWickliffe.jpg 18541856Democratic [16] [17] Paul Octave Hébert
5 Charles Homer Mouton 18561856Democratic [11] [12] [18] Robert C. Wickliffe
6 William F. Griffin 18561860Democratic [11] [12] [19] Robert C. Wickliffe

Civil War era

Lieutenant governors of Confederate Louisiana

No.Lt. governorTook officeLeft officePartyNotes Governor
7 Henry M. Hyams 18601864 Democratic Thomas Overton Moore
8 Benjamin W. Pearce 18641865Democratic Henry Watkins Allen

Lieutenant governors of Union-held territory in Louisiana

No.Lt. governorTook officeLeft officePartyNotes Governor
9 James M. Wells James Madison Wells.jpg 18641865 Democrat Michael Hahn (Republican)
10 Albert Voorhies 18651866Democrat James Madison Wells (Democrat)

Resumption of U.S. statehood

No.Lt. governorTook officeLeft officePartyNotes Governor
11 Oscar J. Dunn Lieut. Governor Dunn, La - NARA - 527896.jpg 18681871Republican Henry C. Warmoth (Republican)
12 P. B. S. Pinchback P. B. S. Pinchback - Brady-Handy.jpg 18711872Republican Henry C. Warmoth (Republican)
14 C.C. Antoine Caesar Antoine (circa 1873).jpg 18731877Republican William P. Kellogg (Republican) 1873-1877
Stephen B. Packard (Republican) 1877
15 Louis A. Wiltz Louis Alfred Wiltz.jpg 18771880Democratic Francis T. Nicholls (Democratic)
16 Samuel D. McEnery Samuel Douglas McEnery.jpg 18801881Democratic Louis A. Wiltz (Democratic)
17 W.A. Robertson 18811881Democratic Samuel D. McEnery (Democratic)
18 George L. Walton 18811882Democratic Samuel D. McEnery (Democratic)
19 Clay Knobloch 18841888Democratic Samuel D. McEnery (Democratic)
20 James Jeffries 18881892Democratic Francis T. Nicholls (Democratic)
21 Charles Parlange Charles Parlange.jpg 18921893Democratic Murphy J. Foster (Democratic)
22 Hiram R. Lott 18931896Democratic Murphy J. Foster (Democratic)
23 Robert H. Snyder 18961900Democratic Murphy J. Foster (Democratic)
24 Albert Estopinal EstopinalOfLouisiana.jpg 19001904Democratic W. W. Heard (Democratic)
25 Jared Y. Sanders, Sr. Jared Young Sanders.jpg 19041908Democratic Newton C. Blanchard (Democratic)
26 Paul M. Lambremont 19081911Democratic Jared Y. Sanders, Sr. (Democratic)
27 Thomas C. Barret Thomas Charles Barret.png 19121916Democratic Luther E. Hall (Democratic)
28 Fernand Mouton 19161920Democratic Ruffin G. Pleasant (Democratic)
29 Hewitt Bouanchaud 19201924Democratic John M. Parker (Democratic)
30 Delos R. Johnson 19241924Democratic John M. Parker (Democratic)
31 Oramel H. Simpson GovOSimpson.jpg 19241926Democratic Henry L. Fuqua (Democratic)
32 Philip H. Gilbert 19261928Democratic Oramel H. Simpson (Democratic)
33 Paul N. Cyr 19281931Democratic [20] Huey P. Long (Democratic)
34 Alvin Olin King GovKing.jpg 19311932Democratic [12] [21] [22] Huey P. Long (Democratic)
35 John B. Fournet 19321935Democratic O. K. Allen (Democratic)
36 Thomas C. Wingate 19351935Democratic O. K. Allen (Democratic)
37 James A. Noe James Noe portrait.jpg 19351936Democratic O. K. Allen (Democratic)
38 Earl K. Long Earl Long portrait.jpg 19361939Democratic Richard W. Leche (Democratic)
39 Coleman Lindsey 19391940Democratic Earl K. Long (Democratic)
40 Marc M. Mouton 19401944Democratic Sam H. Jones (Democratic)
41 J. Emile Verret 19441948Democratic Jimmie H. Davis (Democratic)
42 William J. Dodd Bill Dodd of Louisiana.jpg 19481952Democratic Earl K. Long (Democratic)
43 Charles E. (Cap) Barham 19521956Democratic Robert F. Kennon (Democratic)
44 Lether Frazar 19561960Democratic Earl K. Long (Democratic)
45 Clarence C. (Taddy) Aycock 19601972Democratic Jimmie H. Davis (Democratic) 1960-1964
John J. McKeithen (Democratic) 1964-1972
46 James E. (Jimmy) Fitzmorris, Jr. 19721980Democratic Edwin Edwards (Democratic)
47 Robert Louis Freeman Sr. 19801988Democratic David C. Treen (Republican) 1980-1984
Edwin Edwards (Democratic) 1984-1988
48 Paul Hardy 19881992Republican Buddy Roemer (Democratic turn Republican)
49 Melinda Schwegmann 19921996Democratic Edwin Edwards (Democratic)
50 Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Kathleen Blanco 2006 (cropped).jpg 19962004Democratic Mike Foster (Republican)
51 Mitchell (Mitch) Landrieu Mitch Landrieu 2007March01.jpg 20042010Democratic Kathleen Blanco (Democratic)
Bobby Jindal (Republican)
52 Scott Angelle Scott Angelle official photo.jpg 20102010Democratic
20102010Republican
53 John L. (Jay) Dardenne Jay Dardenne Feb 2013.jpg 20102016Republican
54 Billy Nungesser Billy Nungesser 2018.jpg 20162024Republican John Bel Edwards (Democratic)
2024IncumbentRepublican Jeff Landry (Republican)

See also

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References

  1. Dawson 1990, p. xvii.
  2. Dawson 1990, p. xvi.
  3. "New Lieutenant Governor Role Seen". The Shreveport Times. Associated Press. August 27, 1975. p. 5-A.
  4. Hill, John (July 6, 1986). "Money not only issue Legislature tackled". The Times. Gannett News Service. p. 12-B.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Branches of Government : Executive Branch : Statewide Elected Officials". Louisiana.gov. Government of Louisiana. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  6. Qualifications of Candidates 2022, p. 1.
  7. Hargrave 2011, p. 75.
  8. Hutchinson, Piper (June 21, 2023). "Louisiana's governor and lt. governor are out of the country. Who's running the state?". Louisiana Illuminator. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  9. 1 2 Hargrave 2011, p. 72.
  10. "Branches of Government : Executive Branch : Officers". Louisiana.gov. Government of Louisiana. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Louisiana. Report of the Secretary of State to His Excellency W.W. Heard, Governor of the State of Louisiana. May 12th, 1902.[Baton Rouge]: Baton Rouge news Pub. Co., State printers, 1902. p 325
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Calhoun, Milburn, and Bernie McGovern. Louisiana Almanac, 2002-2003 Edition. Gretna, LA: Pelican Pub. Co, 2001. PP 462-63
  13. s:Louisiana State Constitution of 1852 The Constitution of 1852 shortened this term.
  14. Hyde, Samuel C. Pistols and Politics: The Dilemma of Democracy in Louisiana's Florida Parishes, 1810-1899. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1998. p.71
  15. Died in office
  16. When William Wood Farmer died in office in 1854, Robert C. Wickliffe, as president pro temp, became lieutenant governor.
  17. s:Louisiana State Constitution of 1852 The Constitution of 1852 Set this to in end in 1856
  18. Resigned
  19. When Charles Homer Mouton resigned from office, William F. Griffin, as president pro temp, became lieutenant governor.
  20. Vacated the lieutenant governorship by trying to declare himself governor
  21. As President pro tempore of the Senate became lieutenant governor when Paul N. Cyr vacated the lieutenant governorship
  22. Became Governor on January 25, 1932

Works cited