Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin

Last updated

Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
Privy Seal of Wisconsin.svg
Privy Seal of the State of Wisconsin
Flag of Wisconsin.svg
State flag
Incumbent
Sara Rodriguez
since January 3, 2023
Government of Wisconsin
Style
  • Mr. or Madam Lieutenant Governor
    (informal)
  • The Honorable
    (formal)
Term length Four years, no term limit
Constituting instrument Wisconsin Constitution, Article V
Inaugural holder John Edwin Holmes
FormationJune 7, 1848
(177 years ago) (June 7, 1848)
SuccessionFirst
Salary$80,684 [1]
Website Official page

The lieutenant governor of Wisconsin is the first person in the line of succession of Wisconsin's executive branch, thus serving as governor in the event of the death, resignation, removal, impeachment, absence from the state, or incapacity due to illness of the governor of Wisconsin. [2] Forty-one individuals have held the office of lieutenant governor since Wisconsin's admission to the Union in 1848, two of whom— Warren Knowles and Jack Olson —have served for non-consecutive terms. The first lieutenant governor was John Holmes, who took office on June 7, 1848. The current lieutenant governor is Sara Rodriguez, who took office on January 3, 2023. [3]

Contents

Succession to the governorship

Until 1979, the Wisconsin Constitution merely stated that in the event of the governor's death, resignation, removal from office, impeachment, absence from the state or incapacity due to illness, "the powers and duties of the office [of Governor of Wisconsin] shall devolve upon the lieutenant governor". [2] Lieutenant governors who served as governor during this period are referred to as "acting governors". [3] [4] In 1979, the constitution was amended to make this more specific: in the event of the governor's death, resignation, or removal from office, the lieutenant governor becomes governor; in the event of the governor's impeachment, absence, or incapacity, the lieutenant governor becomes acting governor until the governor is again able to serve. [2]

Lieutenant gubernatorial elections and term of office

Under the original terms of the state constitution, the lieutenant governor was elected for a two-year term on a separate ticket from the governor; [2] because of this, the governor and lieutenant governor of Wisconsin have not always been of the same party. After a 1967 amendment, however, the two have been nominated, and voted upon, as a single ticket. The 1967 amendment also increased the terms of both the governor and lieutenant governor to four years. There is no limit to the number of terms a lieutenant governor may hold. [2]

Vacancy

The original constitution made no provision for a vacancy in the office of the lieutenant governor; in the event of the lieutenant governor's death, resignation, or service as acting governor, the lieutenant governorship usually remained vacant until the end of the term. In 1938, following the resignation of lieutenant governor Henry Gunderson, Governor Philip La Follette appointed Herman Ekern lieutenant governor to fill the vacancy. This appointment was challenged in court, and ruled valid in the case State ex rel. Martin v. Ekern. [4] In 1979 the constitution was amended to explicitly allow this: in the event of a vacancy in the office of the lieutenant governor, the governor nominates a candidate who becomes lieutenant governor for the remainder of the term upon his approval by the Wisconsin Assembly and Wisconsin State Senate. [5]

Removal

A lieutenant governor may be removed from office through an impeachment trial or a recall. [6] They may also choose to resign from office. No lieutenant governor has ever been impeached; two have resigned. [3] Rebecca Kleefisch is the only lieutenant governor in the history of any state to face recall election in 2012. She faced Democrat Mahlon Mitchell and won the election with a six percent majority.

Lieutenant gubernatorial powers

If the governor appoints the lieutenant governor to a statutory board, committee or commission on which he is entitled membership as his representative, the lieutenant governor has all the authority in that position that would be granted the governor. [7]

Originally, the lieutenant governor also presided over the state senate and cast a vote in the event of a tie; however, after an amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution in 1979, the senate chooses a senator to be presiding officer. [7]

List of lieutenant governors

Number of lieutenant governors of Wisconsin by party affiliation
PartyLt. governors
Republican 29
Democratic 16
Progressive 2

From 1836, until 1848, what is now Wisconsin was part of Wisconsin Territory. [8] There was no position of "Territorial Lieutenant Governor"; however, the territory had a Secretary who was similar in that one of his functions was to assume the powers and duties of the territorial governor if he were unable to carry them out. [9] For the secretaries from the territorial period, see the List of secretaries of Wisconsin Territory.

Wisconsin was admitted to the Union on May 29, 1848. Since then, it has had 41 lieutenant governors, two of whom have served non-consecutive terms. [3]

Parties

   Democratic (16)   Whig (0)   Republican (27)   Progressive (2)

#ImageLt. GovernorPartyTook officeLeft office [note 1] GovernorTerm(s) [note 2]
1 John E. Holmes.png John E. Holmes Democratic June 7, 1848 [10] January 7, 1850 Nelson Dewey 1
2 Samuel W. Beall DemocraticJanuary 7, 1850 [10] January 5, 1852Nelson Dewey1
3 Timothy Burns (Wisconsin lieutenant governor).jpg Timothy Burns DemocraticJanuary 5, 1852 [10] September 21, 1853 [11] Leonard Farwell 1⁄2 [note 3]
vacantSeptember 21, 1853January 2, 1854Leonard Farwell1⁄2 [note 4]
4 James T. Lewis Cropped.jpg James T. Lewis DemocraticJanuary 2, 1854 [10] January 7, 1856 William Barstow 1
5 Arthur macarthur sr.png Arthur MacArthur Sr. DemocraticJanuary 7, 1856 [10] March 21, 1856 [3] William Barstow1⁄3 [note 5]
MacArthur acting as governor [note 6] March 21, 1856March 25, 1856 Arthur MacArthur Sr. 1⁄3 [note 7]
Arthur MacArthur Sr.DemocraticMarch 25, 1856 [3] January 4, 1858 Coles Bashford 1⁄3 [note 5]
6 ED Campbell.jpg Erasmus D. Campbell DemocraticJanuary 4, 1858 [10] January 2, 1860 Alexander Randall 1
7 Butler G. Noble Republican January 2, 1860 [10] January 6, 1862Alexander Randall1
8 Wisconsin Governor Edward Salomon.jpg Edward Salomon RepublicanJanuary 6, 1862 [10] April 19, 1862 [3] Louis Harvey [note 3] 1⁄2
Salomon acting as governor [note 6] April 19, 1862January 4, 1864 Edward Salomon 1⁄2 [note 7]
vacantJanuary 4, 1864by January 13, 1864 [note 8] James Lewis 1⁄2
9 Wyman Spooner.png Wyman Spooner Republicanby January 13, 1864 [note 8] January 3, 1870James Lewis21⁄2
Lucius Fairchild
10 Thaddeus C. Pound - Brady-Handy.jpg Thaddeus C. Pound RepublicanJanuary 3, 1870 [10] January 1, 1872Lucius Fairchild1
11 Milton H. Pettit.png Milton H. Pettit RepublicanJanuary 1, 1872 [10] March 23, 1873 [3] Cadwallader Washburn 1⁄2 [note 3]
vacantMarch 23, 1873January 5, 1874Cadwallader Washburn1⁄2 [note 4]
12 Charles D. Parker (Wisconsin lieutenant governor).jpg Charles D. Parker DemocraticJanuary 5, 1874 [10] January 7, 1878 William Taylor 2
Harrison Ludington
13 James M. Bingham (Wisconsin lieutenant governor).jpg James M. Bingham RepublicanJanuary 7, 1878 [10] January 2, 1882 William Smith 2
14 Samuel Fifield.png Sam S. Fifield RepublicanJanuary 2, 1882 [10] January 3, 1887 Jeremiah Rusk 2 [note 9]
15 George W Ryland.png George W. Ryland RepublicanJanuary 3, 1887 [10] January 5, 1891Jeremiah Rusk2
William Hoard
16 Jan Vilimek - Karel Jonas HL.jpg Charles Jonas DemocraticJanuary 5, 1891 [10] April 4, 1894 [10] George Peck 11⁄2 [note 10]
vacantApril 4, 1894January 7, 1895George Peck1⁄2 [note 11]
17 Emil Baensch (June 12, 1857 - August 17, 1939) circa 1915.jpg Emil Baensch RepublicanJanuary 7, 1895 [note 12] January 2, 1899William Upham2
Edward Scofield
18 Jesse Stone (Wisconsin politician).gif Jesse Stone RepublicanJanuary 2, 1899 [10] May 11, 1902 [17] Edward Scofield11⁄2 [note 3]
Robert La Follette Sr.
vacantMay 11, 1902January 5, 1903Robert La Follette Sr.1⁄2 [note 4]
19 James Ole Davidson (Wisconsin Governor).png James O. Davidson RepublicanJanuary 5, 1903 [3] January 1, 1906 [3] Robert La Follette Sr. [note 10] 11⁄2
Davidson acting as governor [note 6] January 1, 1906January 7, 1907 James Davidson 1⁄2 [note 7]
20 William D. Connor (American Lumbermen; vol. 3, 1906).png William D. Connor RepublicanJanuary 7, 1907 [10] January 4, 1909James Davidson1
21 Wisconsin lieutenant governor John Strange.png John Strange RepublicanJanuary 4, 1909 [10] January 2, 1911James Davidson1
22 Wisconsin politician Thomas Morris.png Thomas Morris RepublicanJanuary 2, 1911 [10] January 4, 1915 Francis McGovern 2
23 Edward Dithmar.png Edward F. Dithmar RepublicanJanuary 4, 1915 [10] January 3, 1921 Emanuel Philipp 3
24 George Comings (Wisconsin lieutenant governor).jpg George F. Comings RepublicanJanuary 3, 1921 [10] January 5, 1925 John Blaine 2
25 Henry Alan Huber.jpg Henry A. Huber RepublicanJanuary 5, 1925 [10] January 2, 1933John Blaine4
Fred R. Zimmerman
Walter Kohler Sr.
Philip La Follette
26 Thomas J. O'Malley.jpg Thomas J. O'Malley DemocraticJanuary 2, 1933 [18] May 27, 1936 [19] Albert Schmedeman 11⁄2 [note 3]
Philip La Follette
vacantMay 27, 1936January 4, 1937Philip La Follette1⁄2 [note 4]
27 Henry Gunderson (WI).png Henry A. Gunderson Progressive January 4, 1937 [20] October 16, 1937 [3] Philip La Follette1⁄3 [note 10]
vacantOctober 16, 1937May 16, 1938Philip La Follette1⁄3 [note 11]
28 Herman Ekern (WI).jpg Herman L. Ekern ProgressiveMay 16, 1938 [3] January 2, 1939Philip La Follette1⁄3 [note 13]
29 Walter Samuel Goodland.jpg Walter S. Goodland RepublicanJanuary 2, 1939 [21] January 4, 1943 [3] Julius Heil 2
Goodland acting as governor [note 6] January 4, 1943January 1, 1945 Walter Goodland 1 [note 14]
30 Rennebohm Governor.jpg Oscar Rennebohm RepublicanJanuary 1, 1945 [22] March 12, 1947 [3] Walter Goodland [note 3] 11⁄2
Rennebohm acting as governor [note 6] March 12, 1947January 3, 1949 Oscar Rennebohm 1⁄2 [note 7]
31 George M. Smith (lieutenant governor of Wisconsin).jpg George M. Smith RepublicanJanuary 3, 1949 [23] January 3, 1955Oscar Rennebohm3
Walter Kohler Jr.
32 Warren P. Knowles (Wisconsin governor).jpg Warren P. Knowles RepublicanJanuary 3, 1955 [24] January 5, 1959Walter Kohler Jr.2
Vernon Thomson
33 Photograph of White House aide Philleo Nash with a fish he caught during President Truman's vacation at Key West... - NARA - 200538 (cropped).jpg Philleo Nash DemocraticJanuary 5, 1959 [25] January 2, 1961 Gaylord Nelson 1
34 Warren P. Knowles (Wisconsin governor).jpg Warren P. KnowlesRepublicanJanuary 2, 1961 [26] January 7, 1963Gaylord Nelson1
35 Jack B. Olson.png Jack B. Olson RepublicanJanuary 7, 1963 [27] January 4, 1965 John Reynolds 1
36 Patrick Lucey.png Patrick J. Lucey DemocraticJanuary 4, 1965 [28] January 2, 1967 Warren Knowles 1
37 Jack B. Olson.png Jack B. OlsonRepublicanJanuary 2, 1967 [29] January 4, 1971Warren Knowles2
38 Martin J. Schreiber (1977).png Martin J. Schreiber DemocraticJanuary 4, 1971 [30] July 6, 1977 [3] Patrick Lucey [note 10] 11⁄2 [note 15]
Schreiber acting as governor [note 6] July 6, 1977January 3, 1979 Martin Schreiber 1⁄2 [note 7]
39 Russell A. Olson (Wisconsin lieutenant governor).jpg Russell A. Olson RepublicanJanuary 3, 1979 [31] January 3, 1983 Lee Dreyfus 1
40 James Flynn (WI).png James Flynn DemocraticJanuary 3, 1983 [32] January 5, 1987 Anthony Earl 1
41 Governor Scott McCallum 2001 (cropped).jpg Scott McCallum RepublicanJanuary 5, 1987 [33] February 1, 2001 [3] Tommy Thompson [note 10] 31⁄3
vacantFebruary 1, 2001May 9, 2001Scott McCallum1⁄3 [note 16]
42 Margaret Farrow (Wisconsin lieutenant governor).jpg Margaret A. Farrow RepublicanMay 9, 2001 [3] January 6, 2003 Scott McCallum 1⁄3 [note 13]
43 Lawton barbara official.jpg Barbara Lawton DemocraticJanuary 6, 2003 [34] January 3, 2011 Jim Doyle 2
44 Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch (cropped).jpg Rebecca Kleefisch RepublicanJanuary 3, 2011January 7, 2019 Scott Walker 2
45 Mandela Barnes Headshot (1).jpg Mandela Barnes DemocraticJanuary 7, 2019January 3, 2023 Tony Evers 1
46 Sara Rodriguez, 2022.jpg Sara Rodriguez DemocraticJanuary 3, 2023Incumbent1

Notes

    1. ↑ When there is no evidence to the contrary, it is assumed that lieutenant governors left office the same day their successors were sworn in.
    2. ↑ The fractional terms of some lieutenant governors are not to be understood absolutely literally; rather, they are meant to show single terms during which multiple lieutenant governors served, due to resignations, deaths, and delayed inaugurations.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Died in office.
    4. 1 2 3 4 Vacant due to death of lieutenant governor.
    5. 1 2 MacArthur was elected lieutenant governor in the 1855 election; initially Barstow was declared the winner of the gubernatorial election, but when he resigned amid claims that he had won by fraudulent means, MacArthur began to act as governor. After five days, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that Bartow's opponent, Bashford, was the legitimate governor, at which point MacArthur returned to serving as lieutenant governor.
    6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Periods during which the lieutenant governor acted as governor are listed only if they would have caused the lieutenant governor to become governor had the 1979 amendment existed during that time; that is, those resulting from the death, resignation, or removal of the governor. Those resulting from the governor's temporary absence from the state, impeachment, or his inability to serve due to illness are not listed.
    7. 1 2 3 4 5 Note that when lieutenant governors are acting as governors, they technically continue to be lieutenant governors. However, in order to avoid confusion, they are here listed as governors only. Some sources will include these periods in the lieutenant governors' terms of office. [3]
    8. 1 2 Governor Lewis was sworn in on January 4, [3] but Lieutenant Governor Spooner was not. [12] Contemporary newspaper articles dated January 13 refer to him as "lieutenant governor", [13] [14] suggesting that he was sworn in before that day. However, the Wisconsin Blue Books variously give his date of inauguration as January 1, [15] January 14, [10] or list only the year, 1864. [3]
    9. ↑ During Fifield's first term, the Wisconsin Constitution was amended to say that all elections of state and county officers would henceforth take place in even-numbered years. By the provisions of the amendment, the terms of all officials who would have left office in 1884, including Fifield, were extended by one year.
    10. 1 2 3 4 5 Resigned from office.
    11. 1 2 Vacant due to resignation of lieutenant governor.
    12. ↑ Governor Upham was sworn in on January 7. [3] Contemporary newspaper accounts indicate that Lieutenant Governor Baensch was sworn in on the same day; [16] however, the Wisconsin Blue Book states that he was inaugurated on January 8. [10]
    13. 1 2 Appointed to fill vacancy.
    14. ↑ Goodland was re-elected lieutenant governor in the 1942 election, and Orland Loomis was elected governor. When Loomis died before taking office, Goodland acted as governor for the entire term, per a ruling of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
    15. ↑ As per a 1967 amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution, Schreiber's first term was the first lieutenant gubernatorial term to last for 4 years.
    16. ↑ Vacant due to lieutenant governor becoming governor for remainder of unexpired term.

    References

    General
    Specific
    1. ↑ Salaries of Wisconsin State Elected Officials (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. 2019. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 17, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
    2. 1 2 3 4 5 Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau, ed. (2007). "Chapter 3: Wisconsin Constitution (Article V)" (PDF). State of Wisconsin 2007–2008 Blue Book (PDF). Madison: Wisconsin Legislature Joint Committee on Legislative Organization. pp. 213–215. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau, ed. (2007). "Chapter 8: Statistics" (PDF). State of Wisconsin 2007–2008 Blue Book (PDF). Madison: Wisconsin Legislature Joint Committee on Legislative Organization. pp. 720–723. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
    4. 1 2 "Previous Lieutenant Governors". Office of the Lieutenant Governor. April 23, 2007. Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved February 24, 2008.
    5. ↑ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau, ed. (2007). "Chapter 3: Wisconsin Constitution (Article XIII)" (PDF). State of Wisconsin 2007–2008 Blue Book. Madison: Wisconsin Legislature Joint Committee on Legislative Organization. p. 236. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
    6. ↑ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau, ed. (2007). "Chapter 3: Wisconsin Constitution (Article XIII)" (PDF). State of Wisconsin 2007–2008 Blue Book. Madison: Wisconsin Legislature Joint Committee on Legislative Organization. p. 218. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
    7. 1 2 "History". Office of the Lieutenant Governor. April 23, 2007. Archived from the original on September 18, 2007. Retrieved February 24, 2008.
    8. ↑ "Chapter 8: Statistical Information on Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2007–2008. p. 692. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2008. Retrieved February 25, 2008.
    9. ↑ Tuttle, Charles Richard (1875). An Illustrated History of the State of Wisconsin. Boston, Massachusetts: B. B. Russell. p.  189 . Retrieved February 24, 2008.
    10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Anderson, William J. (1929). William A. Anderson (ed.). The Wisconsin blue book, 1929. Madison, Wisconsin: Democrat Printing Company. p. 136. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2008.
    11. ↑ The History of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin. Racine County, Wisconsin: Western Historical Company. 1879. p.  62 . Retrieved January 14, 2008.
    12. ↑ "Inaugurated" (PDF). The Waukesha Freeman. Waukesha, Wisconsin. January 5, 1864. p. 2. Retrieved February 25, 2008.
    13. ↑ "Wisconsin Legislature" (PDF). Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin. January 13, 1864. p. 1. Retrieved February 25, 2008.
    14. ↑ "Wisconsin Legislature" (PDF). Janesville Daily Gazette. Janesville, Wisconsin. January 15, 1864. p. 2. Retrieved February 25, 2008.
    15. ↑ Stewart, Frank M.; E. W. Young, eds. (1866). The legislative manual, of the state of Wisconsin; comprising Jefferson's manual, rules, forms, and laws, for the regulation of business; also, lists and tables for reference. Madison, Wisconsin: Wm. J. Park, State Printer. p. 148. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved February 26, 2008.
    16. ↑ "UPHAM INAUGURATED" (PDF). The Centralia Enterprise and Tribune. January 12, 1895. p. 6. Retrieved February 25, 2008.
    17. ↑ "Lieut. Gov. Stone Dead" (PDF). New York Times. May 12, 1902. p. 9. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved January 23, 2008.
    18. ↑ "Governor Takes Oath Amid Cheers of 5,000" (PDF). Wisconsin State Journal. January 3, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
    19. ↑ "Lieutenant Governor O'Malley Dead" (PDF). La Crosse Tribune and Leader-Press. May 27, 1936. p. 1. Retrieved January 23, 2008.
    20. ↑ "New Administrations Started" (PDF). The Oshkosh Northwestern. January 4, 1937. p. 6. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
    21. ↑ "Mayor's Brother Is Lieutenant Governor" (PDF). Appleton Post-Crescent. January 3, 1939. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
    22. ↑ "Badger Officials Are Inaugurated" (PDF). Ironwood Daily Globe. January 2, 1945. p. 2. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
    23. ↑ "Rennebohm Inaugurated for Own Term as Governor" (PDF). Waukesha Daily Freeman. January 3, 1949. p. 2. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
    24. ↑ "Gov. Kohler, Four State Officers Are Inaugurated" (PDF). The Sheboygan Press. January 3, 1955. p. 1. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
    25. ↑ "Gaylord Nelson Becomes State's 34th Governor" (PDF). Stevens Point Daily Journal. January 5, 1959. p. 1. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
    26. ↑ "Nelson Calls for Unity" (PDF). Wisconsin State Journal. January 3, 1961. p. 1. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
    27. ↑ "Reynolds Calls for Unity At Inaugural Ceremonies" (PDF). Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. January 7, 1963. p. 1. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
    28. ↑ "Knowles Seeks State's Aid in Move Forward" (PDF). Wisconsin State Journal. January 5, 1965. p. 1. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
    29. ↑ "Knowles Is Sworn In" (PDF). The Holland Evening Sentinel. January 3, 1967. p. 8. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
    30. ↑ "Lucey Hopes to Bridge Troubled State Waters" (PDF). Wisconsin State Journal. January 5, 1971. p. 1. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
    31. ↑ "Inaugural Caps Dreyfus Miracle" (PDF). Ironwood Daily Globe. Ironwood, Michigan. January 4, 1979. p. 3. Retrieved January 27, 2008.
    32. ↑ "Earl discusses financial crunch" (PDF). Ironwood Daily Globe. Ironwood, Michigan. January 4, 1983. p. 11. Retrieved April 21, 2010.
    33. ↑ "State needs new ideas, says Wisconsin governor" (PDF). Ironwood Daily Globe. Ironwood, Michigan. January 5, 1987. p. 6. Retrieved January 27, 2008.
    34. ↑ Walters, Steven (January 7, 2003). "The guard changes". The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. p. 1A. ProQuest   261710319.

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