The lieutenant governor is the second-highest-ranking government official in 45 of the 50 U.S. States and four 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, 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 28 Democrats, 26 Republicans and two members of third parties, one with Vermont Progressive Party and one with Puerto Rico New Progressive Party.
In the table below, "term ends" indicates the year the current lieutenant governor will leave office, or the year of the next election, whichever is first; 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.
28 | 1 | 1 | 26 |
Democratic | Progressive | New Progressive | Republican |
Territory | Picture | Lieutenant governor | Party | Prior office(s) held | Took office | Seat up | Chosen by [1] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(List) | Lemanu Peleti Mauga | Democratic | American Samoa Senate | January 3, 2013 | 2021 | Same ticket | |
(List) | Josh Tenorio | Democratic | No prior offices | January 7, 2019 | 2023 | Same ticket | |
(List) | Arnold Palacios | Republican | Northern Mariana Islands Senate | January 14, 2019 | 2023 | Same ticket | |
(List) | Tregenza Roach | Democratic | Legislature of the Virgin Islands | January 7, 2019 | 2023 | Same ticket |
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.
State | Office | Picture | Officeholder | Party | Prior office(s) held | Took position |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(List) | Secretary of State | Katie Hobbs | Democratic | Arizona Senate Arizona House | January 7, 2019 | |
(List) | President of the Senate | Troy Jackson | Democratic | Maine Senate | December 5, 2018 | |
(List) | President of the Senate | Donna Soucy | Democratic | New Hampshire Senate New Hampshire House | December 5, 2018 | |
(List) | State Treasurer | Tobias Read | Democratic | Oregon House | January 3, 2017 First in the line of succession from February 26, 2019. Secretary of State Beverly Clarno's status as an appointee makes her ineligible for succession. | |
(List) | Secretary of State | Edward Buchanan | Republican | Wyoming House Speaker | March 1, 2018 |
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.
Federal district or territory | Office | Picture | Officeholder | Party | Prior Offices Held | Took position |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(List) | Chairman of the Council | Phil Mendelson [5] | Democratic | DC Councilman Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner | June 13, 2012 | |
(List) | Secretary of State | Elmer Román | New Progressive | Puerto Rico Commissioner of Safety and Public Protection | December 20, 2019 |
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 |
New Hampshire | Republican | Democratic |
North Carolina | Democratic | Republican |
Vermont | Republican | Progressive |
The following table indicates the party of elected officials in the U.S. state of Ohio:
In the United States, a governor serves as the chief executive officer and commander-in-chief in each of the fifty states and in the five permanently inhabited territories, functioning as both head of state and head of government therein. As such, governors are responsible for implementing state laws and overseeing the operation of the state executive branch. As state leaders, governors advance and pursue new and revised policies and programs using a variety of tools, among them executive orders, executive budgets, and legislative proposals and vetoes. Governors carry out their management and leadership responsibilities and objectives with the support and assistance of department and agency heads, many of whom they are empowered to appoint. A majority of governors have the authority to appoint state court judges as well, in most cases from a list of names submitted by a nominations committee.
The 2010 United States elections were held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010, in the middle of Democratic President Barack Obama's first term. Republicans ended unified Democratic control of Congress and the presidency by winning a majority in the House of Representatives.
The following table indicates the party of elected officials in the U.S. state of Arkansas:
The following table indicates the party of elected officials in the U.S. state of Colorado:
Illinois is a Democratic stronghold in presidential elections and one of the three largest Democratic states in the nation alongside California and New York. It is one of the most Democratic states in the nation with all state executive offices and both state legislative branches held by Democrats. For most of its history, Illinois was widely considered to be a swing state, voting for the winner of all but two presidential elections in the 20th century. Political party strength in Illinois is highly dependent upon Cook County, and the state's reputation as a blue state rests upon the fact that the majority of its population and political power is concentrated in Chicago, Cook County, and the Chicago metropolitan area. Outside of Chicago, the suburban collar counties continue trending Democratic while downstate Illinois can be considered more conservative with some moderate regions.
The following table indicates the party of elected officials in the U.S. state of Mississippi:
The following tables indicate the historic party affiliation of elected officials in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, including: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction. The tables also indicate the historical party composition in the State Senate, State Assembly, the State delegation to the United States Senate, and the State delegation to the United States House of Representatives. For years in which a United States presidential election was held, the tables indicate which party's nominees received the state's electoral votes.
In the United States, 45 of the 50 states have an office of lieutenant governor. In two of the 45 states, the speaker of the upper house of the state legislature serves in such a capacity. In most cases, the lieutenant governor is the highest officer of state after the governor, standing in for that officer when they are absent from the state or temporarily incapacitated. In the event a governor dies, resigns or is removed from office, the lieutenant governor typically becomes governor.
The 2001 United States elections were held on November 5 of that year. The 2001 recession was a dominant issue throughout the year as well as the September 11 attacks and subsequent War on Terror.
The 1996 United States elections were held on November 5. Democratic President Bill Clinton won re-election, while the Republicans maintained their majorities in both houses of the United States Congress.
The 2022 United States elections will be held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, in the middle of the term of the president elected in 2020. During this mid-term election year, all 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives and 34 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate will be contested. 39 state and territorial governorships and numerous other state and local elections will also be contested. This will be the first election affected by the redistricting that will follow the 2020 United States Census.