Lieutenant Governor of Virginia

Last updated
Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia
Seal of Virginia.svg
Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia
Winsome Sears in November 2021.jpg
Incumbent
Winsome Earle Sears
since January 15, 2022
Style The Honorable
Term length Four years
Inaugural holder Shelton Leake
Formation1852
Website www.ltgov.virginia.gov/

The Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia is a constitutional officer of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The lieutenant governor is elected every four years along with the governor and attorney general.

Contents

The office is currently held by Winsome Earle Sears, who was elected in 2021 and is the first woman of color to hold this position. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected separately and thus may be of different political parties. The lieutenant governor serves as the President of the Senate of Virginia and is first in the line of succession to the governorship; if the governor dies, resigns, or otherwise leaves office, the lieutenant governor becomes governor. In Virginia, the governor is not permitted to serve consecutive terms, but the lieutenant governor may do so, and has no term limit.

History

Beginning in the 1630s, the British Crown appointed several officials to aide the governors of the Colony of Virginia in the execution of their duties, collectively known as the Governor's Council or the Council of State. One member of this body was designated as the governor's deputy, or lieutenant governor, and exercised the governor's authority when they were absent. [1] [2] The Virginia Constitution of 1776 abolished the council. [1]

The Virginia Constitution of 1851 created the modern office of the lieutenant governor. [2] It provided for the popular election of the officer and designated them ex officio president of the Virginia Senate. [3] In this capacity they replaced the Speaker of the Senate, which had been chosen by the body's own members as their presiding officer from 1776 until 1852. During the American Civil War, Virginia had two different governments and accordingly different sets of lieutenant governors. From 1865 until 1870, the lieutenant governors were appointed by the commanding general of the First Military District. In 1870, Virginia was readmitted to the federal union and, from then on, the officers were chosen by popular election. [2] That year, the state adopted a new constitution which gave the lieutenant governor the power to cast tie-breaking votes in the Senate. [3]

Douglas Wilder, sworn-in in 1986, was Virginia's first black lieutenant governor. [4] Winsome Sears, sworn in on January 15, 2022, [5] is the first woman to have held the office. [6]

Election

Along with the governor and attorney general, the lieutenant governor is one of three popularly elected executive offices in the state of Virginia. [7] The lieutenant governor is elected on their own ticket separate from the governor. They serve without term limits. [8] If the governor-elect does not assume their office, the lieutenant governor-elect becomes governor. [9]

Powers, duties, and structure

Article V of the Constitution of Virginia designates the lieutenant governor as the president of the Senate. [8] If absent, its president pro tempore serves as its presiding officer. [10] The lieutenant governor is allowed to vote in the Senate only to break ties. [3] While this power has been interpreted to apply to most generic legislation, it has been disputed by state officials as to whether the tie-breaking power applies to votes on matters such as constitutional amendments or on the Senate's concurrence with an executive appointment. Such questions are yet to be resolved by litigation in state courts. [11] The constitution additionally stipulates that the lieutenant governor succeeds the governor in their office should it become vacant due to death, disqualification, or resignation. State law empowers the lieutenant governor to serve on several state boards and commissions. [8] The lieutenant governor can be impeached and removed from office by the Virginia General Assembly. [12]

The lieutenant governor's office is located in the Oliver Hill Building in Richmond, Virginia. [13] [14] Their salary is set by legislation and cannot be altered during a given term to which they were elected. [3] As of 2021, the annual salary is $36,321. [15] As the role is a part-time position, most incumbents—unless already wealthy or retired by the time of their tenure—have held additional occupations. [16]

List of elected lieutenant governors of Virginia

Parties

   No party/Conservative (3 lieutenant governors)   Democrat (28 lieutenant governors)   Whig (2 lieutenant governors)   Republican (9 lieutenant governors)

#ImageNamePartyTermGovernorNotesSource
1 Shelton Leake Democratic1852–1856 Joseph Johnson [2]
2 Elisha W. McComas Democratic1856–1857 Henry A. Wise [2]
3 William Lowther Jackson.jpg William Lowther Jackson Democratic1857–1860 Henry A. Wise [2]
4 Robert Latane Montague Democratic1860–1864 John Letcher Richmond (Confederate) Government [2]
5 Samuel Price - Brady-Handy.jpg Samuel Price Democratic1864–1865 William Smith Richmond (Confederate) Government [2]
6 DanielPolsley.jpg Daniel Polsley Unionist 1861–1863 John Letcher Restored (Unionist) Government [2]
7 Leopold Copeland Parker Cowper Unionist1863–1865 John Letcher Restored (Unionist) Government [2]
81865–1869 William Smith
Francis Harrison Pierpont
Henry H. Wells
Gilbert Carlton Walker 		[2]
9 Hon. John F. Lewis - NARA - 527363.jpg John F. Lewis Republican1869–1870 Gilbert Carlton Walker [2]
10 John L Marye, Jr..jpg John Lawrence Marye, Jr. Conservative1870–1874 Gilbert Carlton Walker [2]
11 Robert E. Withers - Brady-Handy.jpg Robert E. Withers Democratic1874–1875 James L. Kemper [2]
12 Henry Wirtz Thomas.jpg Henry Wirtz Thomas Republican1875–1878 James L. Kemper [2]
13 JAWalker.jpg James A. Walker Democratic1878–1882 Frederick W. M. Holliday [2]
14 Hon. John F. Lewis - NARA - 527363.jpg John F. Lewis Republican1882–1886 William E. Cameron [2]
15 John E. Massey.jpg John E. Massey Democratic1886–1890 Fitzhugh Lee [2]
16 James Hoge Tyler.jpg James Hoge Tyler Democratic1890–1894 Philip W. McKinney [2]
17 Robert C Kent 1891.jpg Robert Craig Kent Democratic1894–1898 Charles Triplett O'Ferrall [2]
18 Edward Echols 1912.jpg Edward Echols Democratic1898–1902 James H. Tyler [2]
19 J.E. Willard LCCN2014693220 (3x4a).jpg Joseph Edward Willard Democratic1902–1906 Andrew J. Montague [2]
20 James Taylor Ellyson.jpg James Taylor Ellyson Democratic1906–1918 Claude A. Swanson
William Hodges Mann
Henry Carter Stuart 		[2]
21 Benjamin F Buchanan 1920 square.jpg Benjamin Franklin Buchanan Democratic1918–1922 Westmoreland Davis [2]
22 Junius E West 1912.jpg Junius Edgar West Democratic1922–1930 Elbert L. Trinkle
Harry F. Byrd 		[2]
23 James H Price 1922 square.jpg James H. Price Democratic1930–1938 John Garland Pollard
George C. Peery 		[2]
24 Lieutenant Governor Holt 1940.jpg Saxon Winston Holt Democratic1938–1940 James H. Price died in office [2]
25 William M. Tuck.jpg William M. Tuck Democratic1942–1946 Colgate Darden [2]
26 Lewis Preston Collins II Democratic1946–1952 William M. Tuck died in office [2]
27 Allie Edward Stokes Stephens Democratic1952–1962 John S. Battle filled Collins's term [2]
28 Mills Godwin 1966.jpg Mills E. Godwin, Jr. Democratic1962–1966 Albertis Harrison [2]
29 Fred G. Pollard 1968.png Fred G. Pollard Democratic1966–1970 Mills Godwin [2]
30 J Sargeant Reynolds 1970.jpg J. Sargeant Reynolds Democratic1970–1971 Linwood Holton died in office [2]
31 Henry Howell 1972.jpg Henry Howell Democratic1971–1974 Linwood Holton filled Reynolds's term [2]
32 John Dalton 1976.jpg John N. Dalton Republican1974–1978 Mills Godwin [2]
33 Charles Robb 1980.jpg Chuck Robb Democratic1978–1982 John N. Dalton [2]
34 Dick Davis 1984.jpg Dick Davis Democratic1982–1986 Chuck Robb [2]
35 D.Wilder S.Senate poster (cropped).jpg Douglas Wilder Democratic1986–1990 Gerald Baliles [2]
36 Donald S Beyer Jr ambassador (cropped).jpg Don Beyer Democratic1990–1998 Douglas Wilder
George Allen 		[2]
37 JHHager.jpg John H. Hager Republican1998–2002 Jim Gilmore [2]
38 Tim Kaine in 2003 (030820-N-4294K (cropped).jpg Tim Kaine Democratic2002–2006 Mark Warner [2]
39 Bill Bolling (cropped).jpg Bill Bolling Republican2006–2014 Tim Kaine
Bob McDonnell 		[2]
40 Watts BBQ 2013 (8993613772) (cropped).jpg Ralph Northam Democratic2014–2018 Terry McAuliffe [2]
41 Justin Fairfax 20.jpg Justin Fairfax Democratic2018–2022 Ralph Northam [2]
42 Winsome Sears in November 2021.jpg Winsome Sears Republican2022–present Glenn Youngkin [2]

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References

  1. 1 2 Tarter, Brent (December 7, 2020). "Governor's Council, The". Encyclopedia Virginia. Virginia Humanities. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  2. 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 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 "Lieutenant Governors of Virginia". Encyclopedia Virginia. Virginia Humanities. June 8, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Dinan 2014, p. 142.
  4. ↑ Elsman, Dale (January 12, 1986). "Baliles, Wilder, Ms. Terry sworn in, say state 'leading the nation again'". Richmond Times-Dispatch. pp. 1, 12.
  5. ↑ Lenor, Mel (January 16, 2022). "Inauguration Day : Youngkin Sworn in as Governor". Richmond Times-Dispatch. pp. A1, A15.
  6. ↑ Rankin, Sarah (January 22, 2022). "First female lieutenant governor takes her seat in the Senate". Eastern Shore News. Associated Press. p. 2A.
  7. ↑ Williamson, Jeff (October 31, 2021). "Virginia governor, attorney general and lieutenant governor 2021 election results". WSLS. Graham Media Group. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 "History of the Office". Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  9. ↑ Dinan 2014, p. 160.
  10. ↑ Dinan 2014, p. 121.
  11. ↑ Dinan 2014, pp. 143–144.
  12. ↑ Dinan 2014, p. 138.
  13. ↑ Schapiro, Jeff E. (February 3, 2013). "Cuccinelli comes a'courting – Bolling". Richmond Times-Dispatch. pp. B1, B12.
  14. ↑ "State Agencies : Office of the Lieutenant Governor". Legislative Liaisons. Commonwealth of Virginia. 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  15. ↑ Wilson, Patrick (May 6, 2021). "Here's a pre-convention glance at the six GOP candidates for lieutenant governor". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  16. ↑ Vozzella, Laura (September 4, 2018). "Like part-timers before him, Virginia's lieutenant governor gets a gig on the side". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 28, 2023.

Works cited

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