Lieutenant Governor of Florida

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Lieutenant Governor of Florida
Seal of Florida.svg
Seal of the State of Florida
Flag of Florida.svg
Flag of the State of Florida
Official Lt. Gov Photo (cropped).jpeg
Incumbent
Jeanette Nuñez
since January 8, 2019
Style
  • Lieutenant Governor
    (informal)
  • The Honorable
    (formal)
  • Her Excellency
    (courtesy)
AppointerGovernor of Florida
Term length4 years
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Florida
Inaugural holderWilliam W. J. Kelly
Ray C. Osborne (restoration)
Formation1865
1968 (office restored by constitutional revision)
SuccessionFirst
Salary$125,000
WebsiteLieutenant Governor Nuñez

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 Nuñez, who took office on January 8, 2019.

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 their 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.

Lieutenant Governors of Florida are limited to two consecutive terms, but are eligible to run again after four years out of office[5]

List of lieutenant governors[]

Parties

  No party   Democratic (7)   Republican (13)

No. Name Image Took office Left office Party Governor Notes
1 William W. J. Kelly William W J Kelly.jpg December 20, 1865 July 4, 1868 Republican David S. Walker
2 William Henry Gleason William Henry Gleason.jpg July 7, 1868 December 14, 1868 Republican Harrison Reed
3 Edmund C. Weeks Edmund Cottle Weeks.jpg January 24, 1870 December 27, 1870 Republican
4 Samuel T. Day No image.svg January 3, 1871 June 3, 1872 Republican[6]
5 Marcellus Stearns Florida Governor Marcellus Stearns.png January 7, 1873 March 18, 1874 Republican Ossian B. Hart Became governor upon the death of O. B. Hart
6 Noble A. Hull Noble A Hull.png January 2, 1877 March 3, 1879 Democratic George Franklin Drew Resigned to become a U.S. Representative
7 Livingston W. Bethel No image.svg January 4, 1881 January 7, 1885 Democratic William D. Bloxham
8 Milton H. Mabry Milton Mabry.jpg January 7, 1885 January 8, 1889 Democratic Edward A. Perry
The position of Lieutenant Governor of Florida was abolished in 1889 in the Constitution of 1885. It was reestablished in 1969 following a constitutional amendment in 1968.
9 Ray C. Osborne Lt Gov Ray C. Osborne, Official Portrait.jpg January 7, 1969 January 5, 1971 Republican Claude R. Kirk, Jr.
10 Tom Adams Thomas Burton Adams, Jr.jpg January 5, 1971 January 7, 1975 Democratic Reubin O'Donovan Askew
11 Jim Williams James Hunter Williams.jpg January 7, 1975 January 2, 1979 Democratic
12 Wayne Mixson John Wayne Mixson.jpg January 2, 1979 January 3, 1987 Democratic Bob Graham Became governor upon the resignation of Bob Graham
13 Bobby Brantley Lieutenant Governor Bobby Brantley.jpg January 6, 1987 January 8, 1991 Republican Bob Martinez
14 Buddy MacKay Buddy MacKay (official portrait).jpg January 8, 1991 December 12, 1998 Democratic Lawton Chiles Became governor upon the death of Lawton Chiles
15 Frank Brogan Lt Gov Frank Brogan.jpg January 5, 1999 March 3, 2003 Republican Jeb Bush Resigned to become President of Florida Atlantic University
16 Toni Jennings Toni Jennings2.jpg March 3, 2003 January 2, 2007 Republican Appointed to replace Brogan
17 Jeff Kottkamp Jeff Kottkamp.jpg January 2, 2007 January 4, 2011 Republican Charlie Crist
18 Jennifer Carroll Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll.jpg January 4, 2011 March 12, 2013 Republican Rick Scott Resigned
19 Carlos Lopez-Cantera Lt Gov Carlos Lopez-Cantera Portrait.jpg February 3, 2014 January 7, 2019 Republican Appointed to replace Carroll
20 Jeanette Nuñez Jeanette Nunez official photo.jpg 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 Milton Mabry.jpg 8 January 1889 8 January 1893 Democratic Governor of Florida
No image.svg 8 January 1893 4 January 1925 Democratic Governor of Florida
1 No image.svg 4 January 1925 18 March 1925 No Party Governor of Florida
2 No image.svg 4 January 1925 3 March 1927 Democratic Governor of Florida
3 No image.svg 4 January 1925 7 January 1929 Democratic Governor of Florida
4 No image.svg 7 January 1929 8 January 1933 Democratic President of United States
5 No image.svg 8 January 1933 7 January 1945 No Party President of United States
6 Nathan Mayo Nathan Mayo.jpg 8 January 1933 7 January 1945 Democratic President of United States
7 No image.svg 7 January 1945 7 January 1961 Democratic President of United States
8 LeeThompson.jpg 7 January 1961 7 January 1967 No Party President of United States
9 Ray C. Osborne Lt Gov Ray C. Osborne, Official Portrait.jpg 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 (1948-04-06) April 6, 1948 (age 73)
Buddy MacKay 1991–1998 (1933-03-22) March 22, 1933 (age 88)
Frank Brogan 1999–2003 (1953-09-06) September 6, 1953 (age 67)
Toni Jennings 2003–2007 (1949-05-17) May 17, 1949 (age 72)
Jeff Kottkamp 2007–2011 (1960-11-12) November 12, 1960 (age 60)
Jennifer Carroll 2011–2013 (1959-08-27) August 27, 1959 (age 62)
Carlos Lopez-Cantera 2014–2019 (1973-12-29) December 29, 1973 (age 47)

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. ^ Jump up to: a b "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. ^ Jump up to: a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ "The Florida Constitution". Florida Constitution. pp. Article VI, § 4C. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  6. ^ "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)

External links[]

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