Lieutenant Governor of Michigan

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Lieutenant Governor of the State of Michigan
Seal of Michigan.svg
Great Seal of the State of Michigan
Garlin Gilchrist in Grand Rapids.jpg
Incumbent
Garlin Gilchrist
since January 1, 2019
Government of Michigan
AppointerPopularly Elected With the Governor
Term length 4 Years, renewable once
Inaugural holder Edward Mundy
FormationJanuary 26, 1837
Succession First
Website michigan.gov/ltgov
President of Senate of the State of Michigan
Incumbent
Garlin Gilchrist
since January 1, 2019
Appointerex officio
Term length 4 Years
Inaugural holder Edward Mundy
FormationJanuary 26, 1837
Website michigan.gov/ltgov

The lieutenant governor of Michigan is the second-ranking official in U.S. state of Michigan, behind the governor.

Contents

The current lieutenant governor is Garlin Gilchrist, a Democrat, who has held the office since January 1, 2019.

Process

In Michigan, the governor and lieutenant governor are elected as a ticket to serve a term of four years. The election takes place two years after each presidential election; thus, the next election will take place in November 2026.

Nomination

Following the August primary election in each gubernatorial election year, the state's two largest political parties convene a state convention and nominate candidates for lieutenant governor, secretary of state and attorney general, among other offices. Because the governor and lieutenant governor are elected as a ticket, the party's gubernatorial nominee usually makes the de facto decision as to whom the party will nominate for lieutenant governor, then convention delegates officially confirm the designation.

Historically, the governor and lieutenant governor were elected separately, leading to occasions where Republicans controlled one office and the Democrats another (as with George Romney and T. John Lesinski). This changed with the Michigan Constitution of 1963.

Election and inauguration

After the November general election, the governor and lieutenant governor take office on January 1. Thus, the winners of the 2022 election began their term on January 1, 2023.

Term limits

Like the governor, the lieutenant governor is allowed to serve up to two terms in office.

Duties

There are three main duties assigned to the lieutenant governor:

These days, the lieutenant governor also acts as an assistant to the governor. When the governor is unable to attend a function, for instance, the lieutenant governor may be sent in place of the governor. The lieutenant governor will also occasionally head blue-ribbon commissions into pressing public policy issues.

List of lieutenant governors

Parties

   Democratic (18)   Republican (43)   Whig (3)

#Lieutenant GovernorTerm in officePolitical partyGovernor(s)
1 Edward Mundy.png   Edward Mundy 1835–1840 Democratic Stevens T. Mason (D)
2 J Wright Gordon.JPG   James Wright Gordon 1840–1841 Whig William Woodbridge (W)
3 No image.svg   Thomas J. Drake 1841–1842WhigJames Wright Gordon (W)
4 Origen D. Richardson.jpg   Origen D. Richardson 1842–1846Whig John S. Barry (D)
5 William Greenly.png   William L. Greenly 1846–1847Democratic Alpheus Felch (D)
6 No image.svg   Charles P. Bush 1847–1848Democratic William L. Greenly (D)
7 William M. Fenton.png   William M. Fenton 1848–1852Democratic Epaphroditus Ransom (D)
John S. Barry (D)
8 No image.svg   Calvin Britain 1852–1853Democratic Robert McClelland (D)
9 Andrew parsons.jpg   Andrew Parsons 1853Democratic Robert McClelland (D)
10 No image.svg   George Griswold 1853–1855Democratic Andrew Parsons (D)
11 No image.svg   George Coe 1855–1859 Republican Kinsley S. Bingham (R)
12 Edmund Burke Fairfield.png   Edmund Burke Fairfield 1859–1861Republican Moses Wisner (R)
13 James Birney (Michigan Lieutenant Governor).jpg   James M. Birney 1861Republican Austin Blair (R)
14 Joseph R. Williams.jpg   Joseph R. Williams 1861RepublicanAustin Blair (R)
15 Henry Titus Backus.jpg   Henry T. Backus 1861–1863RepublicanAustin Blair (R)
16 Charles S. May.png   Charles S. May 1863–1865Republican Austin Blair (R)
17 Ebenezer Oliver Grosvenor portrait.jpg   Ebenezer O. Grosvenor 1865–1867Republican Henry H. Crapo (R)
18 Dwight May.png   Dwight May 1867–1869Republican Henry H. Crapo (R)
19 Morgan Bates.png   Morgan Bates 1869–1873Republican Henry P. Baldwin (R)
20 Henry H. Holt.png   Henry H. Holt 1873–1877Republican John J. Bagley (R)
21 Alonzo Sessions.png   Alonzo Sessions 1877–1881Republican Charles Croswell (R)
22 No image.svg   Moreau S. Crosby 1881–1885Republican David Jerome (R)
Josiah Begole (D)
23 Archibald Buttars.png   Archibald Buttars 1885–1887Republican Russell A. Alger (R)
24 James H. MacDonald.png   James H. MacDonald 1887–1889Republican Cyrus G. Luce (R)
25 Michigan Lieutenant Governor William Ball.png   William Ball 1889–1891RepublicanCyrus G. Luce (R)
26 John Strong Michigan.png   John Strong 1891–1893Democratic Edwin B. Winans (D)
27 J. Wight Giddings.png   J. Wight Giddings 1893–1895Republican John Treadway Rich (R)
28 Alfred Milnes - Livingstone.png   Alfred Milnes 1895RepublicanJohn Treadway Rich (R)
29 Joseph R. McLaughlin.png   Joseph R. McLaughlin 1895–1897RepublicanJohn Treadway Rich (R)
30 Thomas B. Dunstan.png   Thomas B. Dunstan 1897–1899Republican Hazen S. Pingree (R)
31 Orrin W. Robinson.png   Orrin W. Robinson 1899–1903RepublicanHazen S. Pingree (R)
Aaron T. Bliss (R)
32 Alexander Maitland LG.png   Alexander Maitland 1903–1907RepublicanAaron T. Bliss (R)
Fred M. Warner (R)
33 PatrickHKelley.jpg   Patrick H. Kelley 1907–1911RepublicanFred M. Warner (R)
34 John Q. Ross 2.png   John Q. Ross 1911–1915Republican Chase Osborn (R)
Woodbridge N. Ferris (D)
35 Luren D. Dickinson.jpg   Luren Dickinson 1915–1921Republican Woodbridge N. Ferris (D)
Albert Sleeper (R)
36 Thomas Read Politician.jpg   Thomas Read 1921–1925Republican Alex J. Groesbeck (R)
37 George W. Welsh.png   George W. Welsh 1925–1927RepublicanAlex J. Groesbeck (R)
38 Luren D. Dickinson.jpg   Luren Dickinson 1927–1933Republican Fred W. Green (R)
Wilber M. Brucker (R)
39 Allen E. Stebbins.png   Allen E. Stebbins 1933–1935Democratic William Comstock (D)
40 Thomas Read Politician.jpg   Thomas Read 1935–1937Republican Frank Fitzgerald (R)
41 Leo J. Nowicki.png   Leo J. Nowicki 1937–1939Democratic Frank Murphy (D)
42 Luren D. Dickinson.jpg   Luren Dickinson 1939RepublicanFrank Fitzgerald (R)
Office vacant from March 16, 1939 – November 19, 1940
43 Matildadodge.jpg   Matilda Dodge Wilson 1940–1941RepublicanLuren Dickinson (R)
44 Lieutenant Governor Frank Murphy.png   Frank Murphy 1941–1943Democratic Murray Van Wagoner (D)
45 Eugene C. Keyes.png   Eugene C. Keyes 1943–1945Republican Harry Kelly (R)
46 Vernon J. Brown.jpg   Vernon J. Brown 1945–1947RepublicanHarry Kelly (R)
47 Eugene C. Keyes.png   Eugene C. Keyes 1947–1949Republican Kim Sigler (R)
48 John W. Connolly.png   John W. Connolly 1949–1951Democratic G. Mennen Williams (D)
49 William C. Vandenberg.png   William C. Vandenberg 1951–1953RepublicanG. Mennen Williams (D)
50 Clarence A. Reid.png   Clarence A. Reid 1953–1955RepublicanG. Mennen Williams (D)
51 Philip Hart 1965.png   Philip Hart 1955–1959DemocraticG. Mennen Williams (D)
52 John Swainson (1961 portrait).png   John Swainson 1959–1961DemocraticG. Mennen Williams (D)
53 T. John Lesinski.png   T. John Lesinski 1961–1965DemocraticJohn Swainson (D)
George W. Romney (R)
54 William Milliken 1969.png   William G. Milliken 1965–1969RepublicanGeorge W. Romney (R)
Office vacant from January 22, 1969 –[ ? ], 1970
55 Thomas F. Schweigert.png   Thomas F. Schweigert 1970–1971RepublicanWilliam G. Milliken (R)
56 James H. Brickley.png   James H. Brickley 1971–1975RepublicanWilliam G. Milliken (R)
57 James Damman.png   James Damman 1975–1979RepublicanWilliam G. Milliken (R)
58 James H. Brickley.png   James H. Brickley 1979–1982RepublicanWilliam G. Milliken (R)
Office vacant from December 27, 1982 – January 1, 1983
59 Martha Wright Griffiths.jpg   Martha Griffiths 1983–1991Democratic James Blanchard (D)
60 Connie Binsfeld.png   Connie Binsfeld 1991–1999Republican John Engler (R)
61 Dick Posthumus (cropped).jpeg   Dick Posthumus 1999–2003RepublicanJohn Engler (R)
62 JohnDCherryMichigan.jpg   John D. Cherry 2003–2011Democratic Jennifer Granholm (D)
63 Michigan Lt. Governor Brian Calley in Detroit 2016.jpg   Brian Calley 2011–2019Republican Rick Snyder (R)
64 8R4A9159 (53359280492) (Garlin Gilchrist 2).jpg   Garlin Gilchrist 2019–presentDemocratic Gretchen Whitmer (D)

Notes

    Source: Michigan Manual 2003-2004, Chapter IV, Former Officials of Michigan