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Lieutenant Governor of Florida

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The lieutenant governor of Florida is a statewide constitutional office in the executive branch of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the second highest-ranking official in the state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four-year term.

Lieutenant Governor of Florida
Seal of the State of Florida
Flag of the State of Florida
since January 8, 2019
Government of Florida
Style
Member ofFlorida Executive Branch
Florida Cabinet
ResidenceNone official
SeatTallahassee, Florida
AppointerDirect election
Term lengthFour years, renewable once consecutively
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Florida
Inaugural holderWilliam W. J. Kelly
Formation1865
SuccessionFirst
(gubernatorial line of succession)
Salary$125,000 (per year)
WebsiteLieutenant Governor Nuñez

Official duties dictated to the lieutenant governor under the present Florida Constitution are to serve as the acting governor in the absence of the governor from the state or the disability of the governor, or to become governor in the event of the governor's death, resignation or removal from office via impeachment.

Jeanette Nuñez is the 20th and current lieutenant governor of Florida, in office since January 2019 under Ron DeSantis.

History

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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.[1] 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.[1] 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.[2] 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 current Florida Constitution of 1968 recreated the office of lieutenant governor who is now elected directly along with the governor as a 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.[2] The first lieutenant governor under the current Constitution was Ray C. Osborne, who took office in 1969.

The state constitution also forbids anyone from being elected lieutenant governor more than twice.

List of lieutenant governors

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Parties

  No party   Democratic (7)   Republican (13)

No. Name Image Took office Left office Party Governor 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[3]
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
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   January 7, 1969 January 5, 1971 Republican Claude R. Kirk, Jr.
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 Nuñez   January 8, 2019 present Republican Ron DeSantis

List of acting lieutenant governors

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Parties

  No party   Democratic (7)   Republican (13)

No. 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[dubious – discuss][citation needed]   8 January 1893 4 January 1925[dubious – discuss][citation needed] 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

See also

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References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b "Florida Governors". Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2011.
  3. ^ "The American Annual Cyclopædia and Register of Important Events of the Year 1871". New York: D. Appleton and Company. 1872. p. 308. Retrieved May 25, 2008.
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