Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi

Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi
Incumbent Delbert Hosemann since January 14, 2020
Type	Lieutenant Governor
Term length	Four years Two terms
Website	www.ltgov.ms.gov

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The lieutenant governor of Mississippi is the second-highest ranking executive officer in Mississippi, below the governor of Mississippi. The office of lieutenant governor was established when Mississippi became a state, abolished for a few decades in the first half of the 19th century, and restored later in the century.

The lieutenant governor is the president of the (state) Senate and presides over that body, only voting to break a tie. Compared to the lieutenant governors in other states, Mississippi's has a great deal of power concerning the state Senate. The lieutenant governor has the sole ability to appoint members, vice-chairmen, and chairmen to the various Senate committees, regardless of each party's strength in the chamber. For example, Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck, a Republican, appointed other Republicans to the chairmanships of some committees, even though the Democrats had a four-seat majority. Given that power, it is argued that the office is more powerful than the governorship.

In the event of the death, resignation, or removal of the governor, the lieutenant governor assumes the higher office. Also, if the governor is out of state, then the lieutenant governor can act in the governor's place.

There is a two-term limit, with each term being four years long.

The majority of Mississippi Lieutenant Governors have been Democrats, although the post has been held continuously by Republicans since 2002. Since the end of Reconstruction, there have been only four Republicans: Eddie Briggs, who served from 1992 to 1996; Amy Tuck, who served from 2000 to 2008 (who was originally elected as a Democrat before switching to the Republican Party in December 2002 and being re-elected as a Republican in 2003). There have been three consecutive full-time Republicans since 2008, Phil Bryant, who served from 2008 to 2012; Tate Reeves, who served from 2012 to 2020; and Delbert Hosemann who assumed office on January 14, 2020.

List[]

Parties

  No party   Democratic   Republican

Lieutenant governors (1817–1832)[]

Presidents of the Senate[]

The Office of Lieutenant Governor was abolished by the Constitution of 1832, and the duties of President of the Senate were incorporated into a separate office.

Lieutenant governors (1870–present)[]

The Constitution of 1868 re-established the Office of Lieutenant Governor. This office also re-assumed the duties of President of the Senate.

1. Amy Tuck switched to the Republican Party in December 2002.

Living former lieutenant governors of Mississippi[]

As of December 2020, there are five former lieutenant governors of Mississippi who are currently living at this time, the oldest lieutenant governor of Mississippi being Eddie Briggs (served 1992–1996, born 1949). The most recent death of a former lieutenant governor of Mississippi was that of William F. Winter (served 1972–1976, born 1923) on December 18, 2020. The most recently serving former lieutenant governor of Mississippi to die was Brad Dye (served 1980–1992, born 1933) on July 1, 2018.

External links[]

• Media related to Lieutenant Governors of Mississippi at Wikimedia Commons