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
Incumbent
Jeanette Núñez
since January 8, 2019
Term length4 years, renewable once
Formation1968 (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. governorImageTook officeLeft officePartyappointed(s) served underNotes
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. governorImageTook officeLeft officePartyappointed(s) served undernote
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 Partie 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 Partie 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 Partie 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 January 2019, there are eight former lieutenant governors of Florida who are currently living, the oldest being Wayne Mixson (served 1979–1987, born 1922). The former lieutenant governor of Florida who died most recently was J.H. Williams (served 1975–1979, born 1926) on December 16, 2016.

Lt. Governor Lt. Gubernatorial term Date of birth (and age)
Wayne Mixson 1979–1987 (1922-06-16) June 16, 1922
Bobby Brantley 1987–1991 (1948-04-06) April 6, 1948
Buddy MacKay 1991–1998 (1933-03-22) March 22, 1933
Frank Brogan 1999–2003 (1953-09-06) September 6, 1953
Toni Jennings 2003–2007 (1949-05-17) May 17, 1949
Jeff Kottkamp 2007–2011 (1960-11-12) November 12, 1960
Jennifer Carroll 2011–2013 (1959-08-27) August 27, 1959
Carlos Lopez-Cantera 2014–2019 (1973-12-29) December 29, 1973

See also

References
  1. "Constitution of Florida: Article IV, Section 3". Florida Legislature. Archived from the original on December 8, 2008. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  2. "Florida Statutes 14.055". Law Server. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  3. "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.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "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 |journal= (help)
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