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. The incumbent is Jeanette Núñez, 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. 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. 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. 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. The first lieutenant governor in the modern period was Ray C. Osborne, who took office in 1969.

List of lieutenant governors

;Parties
#Lt. governorImageTook officeLeft officePartyappointed served underNotes
1William W. J. KellyDecember 20, 1865July 4, 1868RepublicanDavid S. Walker
2William Henry GleasonJuly 7, 1868December 14, 1868RepublicanHarrison Reed
3Edmund C. WeeksJanuary 24, 1870December 27, 1870RepublicanHarrison Reed
4Samuel T. DayJanuary 3, 1871June 3, 1872RepublicanHarrison Reed
5Marcellus StearnsJanuary 7, 1873March 18, 1874RepublicanOssian B. HartBecame governor upon the death of O. B. Hart
6Noble A. HullJanuary 2, 1877March 3, 1879DemocraticGeorge Franklin DrewResigned to become a U.S. Representative
7Livingston W. BethelJanuary 4, 1881January 7, 1885DemocraticWilliam D. Bloxham
8Milton H. MabryJanuary 7, 1885January 8, 1889DemocraticEdward A. PerryPosition abolished
9Ray C. OsborneJanuary 7, 1969January 5, 1971RepublicanClaude R. Kirk, Jr.Position recreated
10Tom AdamsJanuary 5, 1971January 7, 1975DemocraticReubin O'Donovan Askew
11Jim WilliamsJanuary 7, 1975January 2, 1979DemocraticReubin O'Donovan Askew
12Wayne MixsonJanuary 2, 1979January 3, 1987DemocraticBob GrahamBecame governor upon the resignation of Bob Graham
13Bobby BrantleyJanuary 6, 1987January 8, 1991RepublicanBob Martinez
14Buddy MacKayJanuary 8, 1991December 12, 1998DemocraticLawton ChilesBecame governor upon the death of Lawton Chiles
15Frank BroganJanuary 5, 1999March 3, 2003Republican Jeb BushResigned to become President of Florida Atlantic University-
16Toni JenningsMarch 3, 2003January 2, 2007RepublicanAppointed to replace Brogan-
17Jeff KottkampJanuary 2, 2007January 4, 2011RepublicanCharlie Crist
18Jennifer CarrollJanuary 4, 2011March 12, 2013Republican Rick ScottResigned-
19Carlos Lopez-CanteraFebruary 3, 2014January 7, 2019RepublicanAppointed to replace Carroll-
20Jeanette NúñezJanuary 8, 2019presentRepublicanRon DeSantis

List of acting

;Parties
#acting Lt. governorImageTook officeLeft officePartyappointed served undernote
Milton H. Mabry8 January 18898 January 1893DemocraticGovernor of Florida
Milton Albert Watson8 January 18934 January 1925DemocraticGovernor of Florida
1Marcellus Mikeson4 January 192518 March 1925No PartieGovernor of Florida
2N.A. Hull4 January 19253 March 1927DemocraticGovernor of Florida
3Livingston W. Beth4 January 19257 January 1929DemocraticGovernor of Florida
4Milton H.Haris7 January 19298 January 1933DemocraticPresident of United States
5A.J.Thompson8 January 19337 January 1945No PartiePresident of United States
6Nathan Mayo8 January 19337 January 1945DemocraticPresident of United States
7Nathan Thompson7 January 19457 January 1961DemocraticPresident of United States
8Lee Thompson7 January 19617 January 1967No PartiePresident of United States
9Ray C. Osborne7 January 19677 January 1969RepublicanPresident of United StatesPosition abolished

Living former lieutenant governors of Florida

, there are seven former lieutenant governors of Florida who are currently living, the oldest being Buddy MacKay. The most recent death of a former lieutenant governor was that of Wayne Mixson, on July 8, 2020.
Lt. GovernorLt. Gubernatorial termDate of birth
Bobby Brantley1987–1991
Buddy MacKay1991–1998
Frank Brogan1999–2003
Toni Jennings2003–2007
Jeff Kottkamp2007–2011
Jennifer Carroll2011–2013
Carlos Lopez-Cantera2014–2019