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Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana

The lieutenant governor of Louisiana (French: Lieutenant-Gouverneur de la Louisiane; Spanish: Vicegobernador de Luisiana) is the second highest state office in Louisiana. The current lieutenant governor is Billy Nungesser, a Republican. The lieutenant governor is also the commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism.

Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana
Lieutenant-Gouverneur de la Louisiane
Vicegobernador de Luisiana
since January 11, 2016
Government of Louisiana
AppointerPopular election
Term lengthFour years, no term limit
Inaugural holderTrasimond Landry
Formation1846
Succession1st

Paul J. Hardy, who served from 1988 to 1992, was the first Republican to be elected to the position since the Reconstruction Era.

History

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The office was established by the Louisiana Constitution of 1845.[1] Prior to that, the successor to the governor in the event of his death or resignation was the President of the Louisiana State Senate.[2] A number of state senate presidents succeeded governors before the 1845 Constitution was adopted, including Henry S. Thibodaux, Armand Beauvais and Jacques Dupre.

The lieutenant governor presided over the Louisiana Senate from 1845 until the adoption of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974.[citation needed] Under the new constitution, the lieutenant governor was—effective in 1976—primarily tasked with serving as acting governor in the governor's absence from the state and succeeding to gubernatorial office in the event it became vacant. The document also allowed the governor and the Louisiana State Legislature to delegate responsibilities upon the lieutenant governor at their discretion.[3] In 1986, the legislature placed the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism under the lieutenant governor's purview, enabling them to appoint the department's leaders.[4][5]

Selection

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Only qualified voters in Louisiana are eligible to be elected lieutenant governor. Any potential lieutenant governor must be at least 25 years of age and have resided in the state for the five previous years.[6] The lieutenant governor is elected on their own ticket separate from the governor.[5]

In the event the lieutenant governor's office becomes vacant, the governor is empowered to nominate a new incumbent subject to the approval of both houses of the legislature.[7]

Duties and responsibilities

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The constitution directs the lieutenant governor to assume the office of governor if the previous incumbent vacates the office. If the incumbent governor is unable to act as governor, or is temporarily absent from the state, the lieutenant governor assumes the governor's powers and duties as acting governor.[5][8] The constitution also designates the lieutenant governor an ex officio member of each committee, board, and commission on which the governor serves.[5][9]

Aside from these duties, the lieutenant governor can exercise powers delegated to them by the governor or as provided by law.[5][9] Accordingly, state law designates the lieutenant governor as the commissioner of the Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism.[5][10] In this capacity they appoint the department's secretary and several other leading officers, subject to the confirmation of the State Senate.[5]

List of lieutenant governors

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Parties

  Independent (0)   Democratic (46)   Republican (8)

1846–1860

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No. Lt. governor Took office Left office Party Notes Governor
1 Trasimond Landry 1846 1850 Democratic [11][12] Isaac Johnson
2 Jean Baptiste Plauche   1850 1853 Democratic [11][12][13][14] Joseph Marshall Walker
3 William Wood Farmer 1853 1854 Democratic [11][12][15] Paul Octave Hébert
4 Robert C. Wickliffe   1854 1856 Democratic [16][17] Paul Octave Hébert
5 Charles Homer Mouton 1856 1856 Democratic [11][12][18] Robert C. Wickliffe
6 William F. Griffin 1856 1860 Democratic [11][12][19] Robert C. Wickliffe

Civil War era

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Lieutenant governors of Confederate Louisiana

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No. Lt. governor Took office Left office Party Notes Governor
7 Henry M. Hyams 1860 1864 Democratic Thomas Overton Moore
8 Benjamin W. Pearce 1864 1865 Democratic Henry Watkins Allen

Lieutenant governors of Union-held territory in Louisiana

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No. Lt. governor Took office Left office Party Notes Governor
9 James M. Wells   1864 1865 Democrat Michael Hahn (Republican)
10 Albert Voorhies   1865 1866 Democrat James Madison Wells (Democrat)

Resumption of U.S. statehood

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No. Lt. governor Took office Left office Party Notes Governor
11 Oscar J. Dunn   1868 1871 Republican Henry C. Warmoth (Republican)
12 P. B. S. Pinchback   1871 1872 Republican Henry C. Warmoth (Republican)
14 C.C. Antoine   1873 1877 Republican William P. Kellogg (Republican) 1873-1877
Stephen B. Packard (Republican) 1877
15 Louis A. Wiltz   1877 1880 Democratic Francis T. Nicholls (Democratic)
16 Samuel D. McEnery   1880 1881 Democratic Louis A. Wiltz (Democratic)
17 William A. Robertson 1881 1881 Democratic Samuel D. McEnery (Democratic)
18 George L. Walton 1881 1882 Democratic Samuel D. McEnery (Democratic)
19 Clay Knobloch 1884 1888 Democratic Samuel D. McEnery (Democratic)
20 James Jeffries 1888 1892 Democratic Francis T. Nicholls (Democratic)
21 Charles Parlange   1892 1893 Democratic Murphy J. Foster (Democratic)
22 Hiram R. Lott 1893 1896 Democratic Murphy J. Foster (Democratic)
23 Robert H. Snyder 1896 1900 Democratic Murphy J. Foster (Democratic)
24 Albert Estopinal   1900 1904 Democratic W. W. Heard (Democratic)
25 Jared Y. Sanders, Sr.   1904 1908 Democratic Newton C. Blanchard (Democratic)
26 Paul M. Lambremont 1908 1911 Democratic Jared Y. Sanders, Sr. (Democratic)
27 Thomas C. Barret   1912 1916 Democratic Luther E. Hall (Democratic)
28 Fernand Mouton 1916 1920 Democratic Ruffin G. Pleasant (Democratic)
29 Hewitt Bouanchaud 1920 1924 Democratic John M. Parker (Democratic)
30 Delos R. Johnson 1924 1924 Democratic John M. Parker (Democratic)
31 Oramel H. Simpson   1924 1926 Democratic Henry L. Fuqua (Democratic)
32 Philip H. Gilbert 1926 1928 Democratic Oramel H. Simpson (Democratic)
33 Paul N. Cyr 1928 1931 Democratic [20] Huey P. Long (Democratic)
34 Alvin Olin King   1931 1932 Democratic [12][21][22] Huey P. Long (Democratic)
35 John B. Fournet 1932 1935 Democratic O. K. Allen (Democratic)
36 Thomas C. Wingate 1935 1935 Democratic O. K. Allen (Democratic)
37 James A. Noe   1935 1936 Democratic O. K. Allen (Democratic)
38 Earl K. Long   1936 1939 Democratic Richard W. Leche (Democratic)
39 Coleman Lindsey 1939 1940 Democratic Earl K. Long (Democratic)
40 Marc M. Mouton 1940 1944 Democratic Sam H. Jones (Democratic)
41 J. Emile Verret 1944 1948 Democratic Jimmie H. Davis (Democratic)
42 William J. Dodd   1948 1952 Democratic Earl K. Long (Democratic)
43 C. E. Barham 1952 1956 Democratic Robert F. Kennon (Democratic)
44 Lether Frazar 1956 1960 Democratic Earl K. Long (Democratic)
45 Clarence C. (Taddy) Aycock 1960 1972 Democratic Jimmie H. Davis (Democratic) 1960-1964
John J. McKeithen (Democratic) 1964-1972
46 James E. (Jimmy) Fitzmorris, Jr. 1972 1980 Democratic Edwin Edwards (Democratic)
47 Robert Louis Freeman Sr. 1980 1988 Democratic David C. Treen (Republican) 1980-1984
Edwin Edwards (Democratic) 1984-1988
48 Paul Hardy 1988 1992 Republican Buddy Roemer (Democratic turn Republican)
49 Melinda Schwegmann 1992 1996 Democratic Edwin Edwards (Democratic)
50 Kathleen Babineaux Blanco   1996 2004 Democratic Mike Foster (Republican)
51 Mitchell (Mitch) Landrieu   2004 2010 Democratic Kathleen Blanco (Democratic)
Bobby Jindal (Republican)
52 Scott Angelle   2010 2010 Democratic
2010 2010 Republican
53 John L. (Jay) Dardenne   2010 2016 Republican
54 Billy Nungesser   2016 2024 Republican John Bel Edwards (Democratic)
2024 Incumbent Republican Jeff Landry (Republican)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Dawson 1990, p. xvii.
  2. ^ Dawson 1990, p. xvi.
  3. ^ "New Lieutenant Governor Role Seen". The Shreveport Times. Associated Press. August 27, 1975. p. 5-A.
  4. ^ Hill, John (July 6, 1986). "Money not only issue Legislature tackled". The Times. Gannett News Service. p. 12-B.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Branches of Government : Executive Branch : Statewide Elected Officials". Louisiana.gov. Government of Louisiana. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  6. ^ Qualifications of Candidates 2022, p. 1.
  7. ^ Hargrave 2011, p. 75.
  8. ^ Hutchinson, Piper (June 21, 2023). "Louisiana's governor and lt. governor are out of the country. Who's running the state?". Louisiana Illuminator. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  9. ^ a b Hargrave 2011, p. 72.
  10. ^ "Branches of Government : Executive Branch : Officers". Louisiana.gov. Government of Louisiana. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  11. ^ a b c d e Louisiana. Report of the Secretary of State to His Excellency W.W. Heard, Governor of the State of Louisiana. May 12th, 1902. [Baton Rouge]: Baton Rouge news Pub. Co., State printers, 1902. p 325
  12. ^ a b c d e f Calhoun, Milburn, and Bernie McGovern. Louisiana Almanac, 2002-2003 Edition. Gretna, LA: Pelican Pub. Co, 2001. PP 462-63
  13. ^ s:Louisiana State Constitution of 1852 The Constitution of 1852 shortened this term.
  14. ^ Hyde, Samuel C. Pistols and Politics: The Dilemma of Democracy in Louisiana's Florida Parishes, 1810-1899. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1998. p.71
  15. ^ Died in office
  16. ^ When William Wood Farmer died in office in 1854, Robert C. Wickliffe, as president pro temp, became lieutenant governor.
  17. ^ s:Louisiana State Constitution of 1852 The Constitution of 1852 Set this to in end in 1856
  18. ^ Resigned
  19. ^ When Charles Homer Mouton resigned from office, William F. Griffin, as president pro temp, became lieutenant governor.
  20. ^ Vacated the lieutenant governorship by trying to declare himself governor
  21. ^ As President pro tempore of the Senate became lieutenant governor when Paul N. Cyr vacated the lieutenant governorship
  22. ^ Became Governor on January 25, 1932

Works cited

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