List of lieutenant governors of Colorado

Last updated
Lieutenant Governor of Colorado
Seal of the Executive Office of Colorado.svg
2010 Official Picture of Representative Dianne Primavera (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Dianne Primavera
since 8 January 2019
Government of Colorado
Style The Honorable
Term length Four years, renewable once
Inaugural holder Lafayette Head
Formation1877
Salary$93,360 per year
Website

The lieutenant governor of Colorado is the second-highest-ranking member of the executive department of the Government of Colorado, United States, below the governor of Colorado. The lieutenant governor of Colorado, who acts as governor of Colorado in the absence of the officeholder and succeeds to the governorship in case of vacancy, is elected on a partisan ticket.

Contents

After the 1966 general election, the Constitution of Colorado was amended to require the joint election of governor and lieutenant governor — candidates running as a ticket. [1] Prior to this amendment, the lieutenant governor candidate was elected separately from the governor during the same election—sometimes resulting in a governor and a lieutenant governor from different political parties.

The current lieutenant governor is Dianne Primavera, a Democrat, who took office 8 January 2019.

Lieutenant governors

Lieutenant governors of the State of Colorado
No.Lieutenant GovernorTerm in officePartyElection Governor [lower-alpha 1]
1 Lafayette Head.jpg   Lafayette Head
(1825–1897)
August 1, 1876

January 14, 1879
(did not run)
Republican 1876   John Long Routt
2 HoraceTabor.jpg Horace Tabor
(1830–1899)
January 14, 1879

January 9, 1881
(did not run)
Republican 1878 Frederick Walker Pitkin
No image.svg George B. Robinson
(d. 1880)
Died before
taking office
Republican 1880 [lower-alpha 2]
2 HoraceTabor.jpg Horace Tabor
(1830–1899)
January 9, 1881

January 9, 1883
(did not run)
Republican
3 No image.svg William H. Meyer
(1847–1923)
January 9, 1883

January 13, 1885
(did not run)
Republican 1882 James Benton Grant [lower-alpha 3]
4 No image.svg Peter W. Breene
(1846–1926)
January 13, 1885

January 11, 1887
(did not run) [lower-alpha 4]
Republican 1884 Benjamin Harrison Eaton
5 No image.svg Norman H. Meldrum
(1841–1920)
January 11, 1887

January 8, 1889
(did not run)
Democratic 1886 Alva Adams
6 No image.svg William Grover Smith
(1857–1921)
January 8, 1889

January 13, 1891
(did not run)
Republican 1888 Job Adams Cooper
7 William Story (attorney).jpg William Story
(1843–1921)
January 13, 1891

January 10, 1893
(did not run)
Republican 1890 John Long Routt
8 David H. Nichols.jpg David H. Nichols
(1826–1900)
January 10, 1893

January 8, 1895
(did not run)
Populist 1892 Davis Hanson Waite
9 No image.svg Jared L. Brush
(1835–1913)
January 8, 1895

January 10, 1899
(did not run)
Republican 1894 Albert McIntire
1896 Alva Adams [lower-alpha 3]
10 No image.svg Francis Patrick Carney
(1846–1902)
January 10, 1899

January 8, 1901
(did not run)
Populist 1898 Charles Spalding Thomas [lower-alpha 3]
11 David C. Coates.jpg David C. Coates
(1868–1933)
January 8, 1901

January 13, 1903
(did not run)
Democratic 1900 James Bradley Orman
12 Warren A. Haggott (Colorado Congressman).jpg Warren A. Haggott
(1864–1958)
January 13, 1903

January 10, 1905
(did not run)
Republican 1902 James Hamilton Peabody
13 No image.svg Arthur Cornforth
(1861–1938)
January 10, 1905

March 17, 1905
(declared loser in election) [lower-alpha 5]
Democratic 1904 [lower-alpha 5] Alva Adams
14 Jesse Mcdonald.gif Jesse Fuller McDonald
(1858–1942)
March 17, 1905

March 17, 1905
(succeeded to governor) [lower-alpha 5]
Republican James Hamilton Peabody
(resigned March 17, 1905)
13 No image.svg Arthur Cornforth
(1861–1938)
March 17, 1905

July 5, 1905
(removed July 5, 1905)
Democratic Succeeded from
president of
the Senate
[lower-alpha 5]
Jesse Fuller McDonald [lower-alpha 6]
15 No image.svg Fred W. Parks
(1871–1941)
July 5, 1905

January 8, 1907
(did not run)
Republican Succeeded from
president of
the Senate
[lower-alpha 5]
16 No image.svg Erastus Harper
(1854–1927)
January 8, 1907

January 12, 1909
(did not run)
Republican 1906 Henry Augustus Buchtel
17 Lt. Gov. Fitzgarrald (Colo.) LCCN2014686500 (cropped).jpg Stephen R. Fitzgarrald
(1854–1926)
January 12, 1909

January 14, 1913
(did not run)
Democratic 1908 John F. Shafroth
1910
18 No image.svg Benjamin F. Montgomery
(1834–1912)
January 14, 1913

January 12, 1915
(did not run)
Democratic 1912 Elias M. Ammons
19 Moses E Lewis.jpg Moses E. Lewis
(1854–1951)
January 12, 1915

January 9, 1917
(lost election)
Republican 1914 George Alfred Carlson
20 No image.svg James Pulliam
(1863–1934)
January 9, 1917

January 14, 1919
(did not run)
Democratic 1916 Julius Caldeen Gunter
21 No image.svg George Stephan
(1862–1944)
January 14, 1919

January 11, 1921
(did not run)
Republican 1918 Oliver Henry Shoup
22 No image.svg Earl Cooley
(1880–1940)
January 11, 1921

January 9, 1923
(did not run) [lower-alpha 7]
Republican 1920
23 Robert F. Rockwell (Colorado Congressman).jpg Robert F. Rockwell
(1886–1950)
January 9, 1923

January 13, 1925
(did not run) [lower-alpha 8]
Republican 1922 William Ellery Sweet [lower-alpha 3]
24 No image.svg Sterling Byrd Lacy
(1882–1957)
January 13, 1925

January 11, 1927
(did not run)
Democratic 1924 Clarence Morley [lower-alpha 6]
25 No image.svg George Milton Corlett
(1884–1955)
January 11, 1927

January 13, 1931
(did not run)
Republican 1926 Billy Adams [lower-alpha 3]
1928
26 Sen. Ed C. Johnson 1937 (cropped).jpg Edwin C. Johnson
(1884–1970)
January 13, 1931

January 10, 1933
(elected governor)
Democratic 1930
27 Raymond Talbot (Colorado governor).jpg Ray Herbert Talbot
(1896–1955)
January 10, 1933

January 1, 1937
(succeeded to governor)
Democratic 1932 Edwin C. Johnson
(resigned January 2, 1937)
1934
VacantJanuary 1, 1937

January 12, 1937
Office vacated
by succession to governor
Ray Herbert Talbot
28 Frank J. Hayes.jpg Frank Hayes
(1882–1948)
January 12, 1937

January 10, 1939
(lost election)
Democratic 1936 Teller Ammons
29 John C. Vivian (Colorado governor).jpg John Charles Vivian
(1887–1964)
January 10, 1939

January 12, 1943
(elected governor)
Republican 1938 Ralph Lawrence Carr
1940
30 No image.svg William Eugene Higby
(1884–1967)
January 12, 1943

January 14, 1947
(did not run)
Republican 1942 John Charles Vivian
1944
31 No image.svg Homer L. Pearson
(1900–1985)
January 14, 1947

January 11, 1949
(lost election)
Democratic 1946 William Lee Knous
(resigned April 15, 1950)
32 CO Gov Walter Walford Johnson.jpg Walter Walford Johnson
(1904–1987)
January 11, 1949

April 15, 1950
(succeeded to governor)
Democratic 1948
33 No image.svg Charles P. Murphy
(1882–1953)
April 15, 1950

January 9, 1951
(did not run)
Republican Succeeded from
president of
the Senate
Walter Walford Johnson
34 Gordon L Allott.jpg Gordon Allott
(1907–1989)
January 9, 1951

January 11, 1955
(did not run) [lower-alpha 9]
Republican 1950 Daniel I. J. Thornton
1952
35 Stephen McNichols 1962.jpg Stephen McNichols
(1914–1997)
January 11, 1955

January 8, 1957
(elected governor)
Democratic 1954 Edwin C. Johnson
36 No image.svg Frank L. Hays
(1922–2003)
January 8, 1957

January 13, 1959
(lost election)
Republican 1956 Stephen McNichols
37 No image.svg Robert Lee Knous
(1917–2000)
January 13, 1959

January 10, 1967
(did not run) [lower-alpha 10]
Democratic 1958
1962 John Arthur Love [lower-alpha 6]
(resigned July 16, 1973)
38 No image.svg Mark Anthony Hogan
(1931–2017)
January 10, 1967

January 12, 1971
(did not run) [lower-alpha 11]
Democratic 1966
39 John D. Vanderhoof (Colorado Governor) (cropped).jpg John D. Vanderhoof
(1922–2013)
January 12, 1971

July 16, 1973
(succeeded to governor)
Republican 1970
40 No image.svg Ted L. Strickland
(1932–2012)
July 16, 1973

January 14, 1975
(lost election)
Republican Succeeded from
president of
the Senate
John D. Vanderhoof
41 George l. brown.jpg George L. Brown
(1926–2006)
January 14, 1975

January 10, 1979
(did not run)
Democratic 1974 Richard Lamm
42 No image.svg Nancy E. Dick
(b. 1930)
January 10, 1979

January 13, 1987
(did not run)
Democratic 1978
1982
43 No image.svg Mike Callihan
(b. 1947)
January 13, 1987

May 10, 1994
(resigned)
Democratic 1986 Roy Romer
1990
VacantMay 10, 1994

May 11, 1994
Office vacated
by succession to governor
44 No image.svg Samuel H. Cassidy
(b. 1950)
May 11, 1994

January 3, 1995
(did not run)
Democratic Appointed by
governor
45 No image.svg Gail Schoettler
(b. 1943)
January 3, 1995

January 12, 1999
(did not run) [lower-alpha 12]
Democratic 1994
46 Joe rogers.jpg Joe Rogers
(1964–2013)
January 12, 1999

January 14, 2003
(did not run) [lower-alpha 13]
Republican 1998 Bill Owens
47 Jane E. Norton.jpg Jane E. Norton
(b. 1954)
January 14, 2003

January 9, 2007
(did not run)
Republican 2002
48 Barbaraobrien.jpg Barbara O'Brien
(b. 1950)
January 9, 2007

January 11, 2011
(did not run)
Democratic 2006 Bill Ritter
49 JosephAGarcia.jpg Joseph Garcia
(b. 1957)
January 11, 2011

May 12, 2016
(resigned) [lower-alpha 14]
Democratic 2010 John Hickenlooper
2014
50 Donna Lynne Ted Eytan.jpg Donna Lynne
(b. 1953)
May 12, 2016

January 8, 2019
(did not run) [lower-alpha 15]
Democratic Appointed by
governor
51 2010 Official Picture of Representative Dianne Primavera (cropped).jpg Dianne Primavera
(b. 1950)
January 8, 2019

Incumbent [lower-alpha 16]
Democratic 2018 Jared Polis
2022

Notes

  1. Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
  2. Robinson was elected in the 1880 election, but died before taking office; the sitting lieutenant governor, Tabor, claimed the office and held it for the term.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Represented the Democratic Party.
  4. Breene instead ran successfully for Colorado State Treasurer.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 The 1904 gubernatorial election was rife with fraud and controversy. Adams and Cornforth won election, but soon after Adams took office the Republican legislature declared Peabody to be the actual winner, on the condition that Peabody immediately tender his resignation, postdated to the next day. Peabody's lieutenant governor, McDonald, then succeeded to the governorship. Cornforth, as president pro tempore of the senate, acted as lieutenant governor until the Colorado Supreme Court declared that Parks, who had been elected president pro tempore of the senate on April 3, 1905, was the rightful acting lieutenant governor. [2]
  6. 1 2 3 Represented the Republican Party
  7. Cooley instead ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for governor.
  8. Rockwell instead ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for governor.
  9. Allott instead ran successfully for the United States Senate.
  10. Knous instead ran unsuccessfully for governor.
  11. Hogan instead ran unsuccessfully for governor.
  12. Schoettler instead ran unsuccessfully for governor.
  13. Rogers instead ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for the United States House of Representatives.
  14. Garcia resigned to be President of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education.
  15. Lynne instead ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for governor.
  16. Primavera's second term began on January 10, 2023, and will expire on January 12, 2027; she will be term-limited.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lieutenant Governor of Texas</span> Position

The lieutenant governor of Texas is the second-highest executive office in the government of Texas, a state in the U.S. It is the second most powerful post in Texas government because its occupant controls the work of the Texas Senate and controls the budgeting process as a leader of the Legislative Budget Board.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lieutenant Governor of Georgia</span> Position

The lieutenant governor of Georgia is a constitutional officer of the State of Georgia, elected to a four-year term by popular vote. Unlike in some other U.S. states, the lieutenant governor is elected on a separate ticket from the governor of Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alabama Senate</span> Upper house of the Alabama legislature

The Alabama State Senate is the upper house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The body is composed of 35 members representing an equal number of districts across the state, with each district containing at least 127,140 citizens. Similar to the lower house, the Alabama House of Representatives, the senate serves both without term limits and with a four-year term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska</span> Government official in the United States

The lieutenant governor of Nebraska is the highest-ranking executive official in the State of Nebraska after the governor. According to the Nebraska State Constitution, in the event a governor dies, becomes permanently incapacitated, resigns, or is removed from office, the lieutenant governor will become governor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee E. Emerson</span> American politician

Lee Earl Emerson was an American politician who served in both the Vermont House of Representatives and the Vermont Senate. A member of the Republican Party, he was the 63rd Lieutenant Governor of Vermont and the 69th governor of Vermont. When he was first elected in the 1950 Vermont gubernatorial election, he received over 70% of the vote, something no Republican since has equaled. Despite his success in 1950, he lost the Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Vermont in 1958 to Congressman Winston L. Prouty. He also lost the 1960 primary for Vermont's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives to incumbent Governor Robert T. Stafford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma</span> Second-highest executive official of the state government of Oklahoma

The lieutenant governor of Oklahoma is the second-highest executive official of the state government of Oklahoma. As first in the gubernatorial line of succession, the lieutenant governor becomes the new governor of Oklahoma upon the death, resignation, or removal of the governor. The lieutenant governor also serves as the president of the Oklahoma Senate, and may cast a vote to break ties in that chamber.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lieutenant Governor of Alaska</span>

The lieutenant governor of Alaska is the deputy elected official to the governor of the U.S. state of Alaska. Unlike most lieutenant governors in the U.S., the office also maintains the duties of a secretary of state, and indeed was named such until August 25, 1970. Prior to statehood, the territorial-era Secretary of Alaska, who was appointed by the president of the United States like the governor, functioned as an acting governor or successor-in-waiting. Currently, the lieutenant governor accedes to the governorship in case of a vacancy. The lieutenant governor runs together with the governor in both the primary and the general election as a slate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas</span> Second-highest constitutional office in the U.S. state of Arkansas

The lieutenant governor of Arkansas presides over the Arkansas Senate with a tie-breaking vote, serves as acting governor of Arkansas when the governor is out of state and assumes the governorship in cases of impeachment, removal from office, death or inability to discharge the office's duties. The position is elected separately from the Arkansas Governor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate</span>

The president pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate is the second-highest-ranking official of the Oklahoma Senate and the highest-ranking state senator. The Oklahoma Constitution designates the Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma as the highest-ranking official, serving ex officio as President of the Senate, even though the lieutenant governor only votes in the case of a tie. During the lieutenant governor's absence, the president pro tempore presides over sessions. By longstanding custom, the lieutenant governor presides over sessions devoted to ceremonial purposes, while the bulk of the legislative management and political power is reserved for the president pro tempore, who is elected directly by the Oklahoma Senate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lieutenant Governor of Alabama</span>

The lieutenant governor of Alabama is the president of the Alabama Senate, elected to serve a four-year term. The office was created in 1868, abolished in 1875, and recreated in 1901. According to the current constitution, should the governor be out of the state for more than 20 days, the lieutenant governor becomes acting governor, and if the governor dies, resigns or is removed from office, the lieutenant governor ascends to the governorship. Earlier constitutions said the powers of the governor devolved upon the successor, rather than them necessarily becoming governor, but the official listing includes these as full governors. The governor and lieutenant governor are not elected on the same ticket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louisiana State Senate</span> Upper house of the state legislature of Louisiana

The Louisiana State Senate is the upper house of the state legislature of Louisiana. All senators serve four-year terms and are assigned to multiple committees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lieutenant Governor of Indiana</span> Constitutional office in the US State of Indiana.

The lieutenant governor of Indiana is a constitutional office in the US state of Indiana. Republican Suzanne Crouch, who assumed office January 9, 2017, is the incumbent. The office holder's constitutional roles are to serve as the president of the Indiana Senate, become acting governor during the incapacity of the governor, and become governor should the incumbent governor resign, die in office, or be impeached and removed from office. Lieutenant governors have succeeded ten governors following their deaths or resignations. The lieutenant governor holds statutory positions, serving as the head of the state agricultural and rural affairs bureaus, and as the chairman of several state committees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1970 Florida gubernatorial election</span>

The 1970 Florida gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1970, to determine the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Florida, concurrent with the election to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections.

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:

The following table indicates the party of elected officials in the U.S. state of Connecticut:

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Governor of Colorado</span> Chief executive of the U.S. state of Colorado

The governor of Colorado is the head of government of the U.S. state of Colorado. The governor is the head of the executive branch of Colorado's state government and is charged with enforcing state laws. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Colorado General Assembly, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons, except in cases of treason or impeachment. The governor is also the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.

References

General
Constitutions
Specific
  1. Oesterle, Dale A.; Collins, Richard B. (2011). The Colorado State Constitution. Oxford University Press. p. 102. ISBN   9780199778843.
  2. "Cornforth is Deposed, Parks Lieutenant Governor". New Castle, Colorado: New Castle Nonpareil. July 8, 1905. Retrieved November 28, 2018.

See also

38°59′50″N105°32′52″W / 38.9972°N 105.5478°W / 38.9972; -105.5478 (State of Colorado)