Lieutenant Governor of Florida
The lieutenant governor of Florida is a statewide elected office in the government of the U.S. state of Florida. According to the Florida Constitution, the lieutenant governor is elected to a four-year term congruent with that of the governor of Florida, and succeeds to the office of governor if it becomes vacant.[1][2] The incumbent is Jeanette Núñez, who took office on January 8, 2019.
Lieutenant Governor of Florida | |
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Term length | 4 years, renewable once |
Formation | 1968 (office restored by constitutional revision) |
Website | "Page on state's website" |
History
The position of lieutenant governor has been used in Florida's government twice in the state's history. The first period spanned from 1865, after the American Civil War, through 1889.[3] During this time, the lieutenant governor was elected independently of the governor. In addition to being first in succession to the governor, the lieutenant governor was the ex officio president of the Florida Senate, and could cast a vote in the case of a tie.[3] William W. J. Kelly was the first person elected lieutenant governor after the position was created by the 1865 Constitution of Florida. The position was officially abolished by the post-Reconstruction Constitution of 1885, with the last lieutenant governor, Milton H. Mabry, serving out his term until 1889.[4] After this point the office of President of the Senate was given to an elected member of the Senate, who also served as first in line of succession to the governor.
The state constitution was again revised in 1968, and the office of lieutenant governor was recreated. In the modern period, the lieutenant governor is elected directly along with the governor as his or her running mate. The lieutenant governor serves as first in the line of succession, but the office of President of the Senate remains with an elected senator. The lieutenant governor has a few prescribed duties and otherwise assists the governor with the duties of the executive branch.[4] The first lieutenant governor in the modern period was Ray C. Osborne, who took office in 1969.
List of lieutenant governors
- Parties
No party Democratic (7) Republican (13)
# | Lt. governor | Image | Took office | Left office | Party | appointed(s) served under | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | William W. J. Kelly | ![]() |
December 20, 1865 | July 4, 1868 | Republican | David S. Walker | |
2 | William Henry Gleason | ![]() |
July 7, 1868 | December 14, 1868 | Republican | Harrison Reed | |
3 | Edmund C. Weeks | ![]() |
January 24, 1870 | December 27, 1870 | Republican | ||
4 | Samuel T. Day | ![]() |
January 3, 1871 | June 3, 1872 | Republican[5] | ||
5 | Marcellus Stearns | ![]() |
January 7, 1873 | March 18, 1874 | Republican | Ossian B. Hart | Became governor upon the death of O. B. Hart |
6 | Noble A. Hull | ![]() |
January 2, 1877 | March 3, 1879 | Democratic | George Franklin Drew | Resigned to become a U.S. Representative |
7 | Livingston W. Bethel | ![]() |
January 4, 1881 | January 7, 1885 | Democratic | William D. Bloxham | |
8 | Milton H. Mabry | ![]() |
January 7, 1885 | January 8, 1889 | Democratic | Edward A. Perry | Position abolished |
9 | Ray C. Osborne | ![]() |
January 7, 1969 | January 5, 1971 | Republican | Claude R. Kirk, Jr. | Position recreated |
10 | Tom Adams | ![]() |
January 5, 1971 | January 7, 1975 | Democratic | Reubin O'Donovan Askew | |
11 | Jim Williams | ![]() |
January 7, 1975 | January 2, 1979 | Democratic | ||
12 | Wayne Mixson | ![]() |
January 2, 1979 | January 3, 1987 | Democratic | Bob Graham | Became governor upon the resignation of Bob Graham |
13 | Bobby Brantley | ![]() |
January 6, 1987 | January 8, 1991 | Republican | Bob Martinez | |
14 | Buddy MacKay | ![]() |
January 8, 1991 | December 12, 1998 | Democratic | Lawton Chiles | Became governor upon the death of Lawton Chiles |
15 | Frank Brogan | ![]() |
January 5, 1999 | March 3, 2003 | Republican | Jeb Bush | Resigned to become President of Florida Atlantic University |
16 | Toni Jennings | ![]() |
March 3, 2003 | January 2, 2007 | Republican | Appointed to replace Brogan | |
17 | Jeff Kottkamp | ![]() |
January 2, 2007 | January 4, 2011 | Republican | Charlie Crist | |
18 | Jennifer Carroll | ![]() |
January 4, 2011 | March 12, 2013 | Republican | Rick Scott | Resigned |
19 | Carlos Lopez-Cantera | ![]() |
February 3, 2014 | January 7, 2019 | Republican | Appointed to replace Carroll | |
20 | Jeanette Núñez | ![]() |
January 8, 2019 | present | Republican | Ron DeSantis |
List of acting
- Parties
No party Democratic (7) Republican (13)
# | acting Lt. governor | Image | Took office | Left office | Party | appointed(s) served under | note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Milton H. Mabry | ![]() |
8 January 1889 | 8 January 1893 | Democratic | Governor of Florida | ||
Milton Albert Watson | ![]() |
8 January 1893 | 4 January 1925 | Democratic | Governor of Florida | ||
1 | Marcellus Mikeson | ![]() |
4 January 1925 | 18 March 1925 | No Party | Governor of Florida | |
2 | N.A. Hull | ![]() |
4 January 1925 | 3 March 1927 | Democratic | Governor of Florida | |
3 | Livingston W. Beth | ![]() |
4 January 1925 | 7 January 1929 | Democratic | Governor of Florida | |
4 | Milton H.Haris | ![]() |
7 January 1929 | 8 January 1933 | Democratic | President of United States | |
5 | A.J.Thompson | ![]() |
8 January 1933 | 7 January 1945 | No Party | President of United States | |
6 | Nathan Mayo | ![]() |
8 January 1933 | 7 January 1945 | Democratic | President of United States | |
7 | Nathan Thompson | ![]() |
7 January 1945 | 7 January 1961 | Democratic | President of United States | |
8 | Lee Thompson | ![]() |
7 January 1961 | 7 January 1967 | No Party | President of United States | |
9 | Ray C. Osborne | ![]() |
7 January 1967 | 7 January 1969 | Republican | President of United States | Position abolished |
Living former lieutenant governors of Florida
As of July 2020, there are seven former lieutenant governors of Florida who are currently living, the oldest being Buddy MacKay (served 1991–1998, born 1933). The most recent death of a former lieutenant governor was that of Wayne Mixson (served 1979–1987, born 1922), on July 8, 2020.
Lt. Governor | Lt. Gubernatorial term | Date of birth (and age) |
---|---|---|
Bobby Brantley | 1987–1991 | April 6, 1948 |
Buddy MacKay | 1991–1998 | March 22, 1933 |
Frank Brogan | 1999–2003 | September 6, 1953 |
Toni Jennings | 2003–2007 | May 17, 1949 |
Jeff Kottkamp | 2007–2011 | November 12, 1960 |
Jennifer Carroll | 2011–2013 | August 27, 1959 |
Carlos Lopez-Cantera | 2014–2019 | December 29, 1973 |
See also
- Florida
- Florida Constitution
- Florida Democratic Party
- Florida State Capitol
- List of governors of Florida
- List of current United States Lieutenant Governors
- Republican Party of Florida
References
- "Constitution of Florida: Article IV, Section 3". Florida Legislature. Archived from the original on December 8, 2008. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
- "Florida Statutes 14.055". Law Server. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
- "The Truth-O-Meter Says: Jennifer Carroll is the "first African-American Republican woman to be part of a statewide ticket in Florida."". politifact.com. St. Petersburg Times and The Miami Herald. Retrieved January 5, 2011.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "The American Annual Cyclopædia and Register of Important Events of the Year 1871". New York: D. Appleton and Company. 1872: 308. Retrieved May 25, 2008. Cite journal requires
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