Lieutenant Governor of Virginia

{{Infobox Political post

| post = Lieutenant Governor

| body = the Commonwealth of Virginia

| insignia = Seal of Virginia.svg

| insigniasize = 100px

| insigniacaption = Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia

| style = The Honorable

| image = Winsome Sears portrait, 2022 (cropped).jpg

| incumbent = Winsome Earle-Sears

| incumbentsince = January 15, 2022

| termlength = Four years, no term limits

| formation = 1852

| inaugural = Shelton Leake

| website = [http://www.ltgov.virginia.gov/ www.ltgov.virginia.gov/]

}}

The lieutenant governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia is a constitutional officer of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The lieutenant governor is elected every four years along with the governor and attorney general.

The office is currently held by Winsome Earle Sears, who was elected in 2021 and is the first woman of color to hold this position. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected separately and thus may be of different political parties. The lieutenant governor serves as the president of the Senate of Virginia and is first in the line of succession to the governorship; if the governor dies, resigns, or otherwise leaves office, the lieutenant governor becomes governor. In Virginia, the governor is not permitted to serve consecutive terms, but the lieutenant governor may do so, and has no term limit.

History

Beginning in the 1630s, the British Crown appointed several officials to aide the governors of the Colony of Virginia in the execution of their duties, collectively known as the Governor's Council or the Council of State. One member of this body was designated as the governor's deputy, or lieutenant governor, and exercised the governor's authority when they were absent. The Virginia Constitution of 1776 abolished the council.{{cite web| url = https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/governors-council-the/| title = Governor's Council, The| last = Tarter| first = Brent| date = December 7, 2020| website = Encyclopedia Virginia| publisher = Virginia Humanities| access-date = June 29, 2023}}

The Virginia Constitution of 1851 created the modern office of the lieutenant governor.{{cite web| url = https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/lieutenant-governors-of-virginia/| title = Lieutenant Governors of Virginia| date = June 8, 2022| website = Encyclopedia Virginia| publisher = Virginia Humanities| access-date = June 29, 2023}} It provided for the popular election of the officer and designated them ex officio president of the Virginia Senate.{{sfn|Dinan|2014|p=142}} In this capacity they replaced the Speaker of the Senate, which had been chosen by the body's own members as their presiding officer from 1776 until 1852. During the American Civil War, Virginia had two different governments and accordingly different sets of lieutenant governors. From 1865 until 1870, the lieutenant governors were appointed by the commanding general of the First Military District. In 1870, Virginia was readmitted to the federal union and, from then on, the officers were chosen by popular election. That year, the state adopted a new constitution which gave the lieutenant governor the power to cast tie-breaking votes in the Senate.{{sfn|Dinan|2014|p=142}}

Douglas Wilder, sworn-in in 1986, was Virginia's first black lieutenant governor.{{cite news| last = Elsman| first = Dale| title = Baliles, Wilder, Ms. Terry sworn in, say state 'leading the nation again'| newspaper = Richmond Times-Dispatch| pages = 1, 12| date = January 12, 1986| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch/127292548/}} Winsome Sears, sworn in on January 15, 2022,{{cite news| last = Lenor| first = Mel| title = Inauguration Day : Youngkin Sworn in as Governor| newspaper = Richmond Times-Dispatch| pages = A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch/127348706/ A15]| date = January 16, 2022| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch/127348683/}} is the first woman to have held the office.{{cite news| last = Rankin| first = Sarah| title = First female lieutenant governor takes her seat in the Senate| newspaper = Eastern Shore News| page = 2A| agency = Associated Press | date = January 22, 2022| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-eastern-shore-news/127348649/}}

Election

Along with the governor and attorney general, the lieutenant governor is one of three popularly elected executive offices in the state of Virginia.{{cite web| url = https://www.wsls.com/news/politics/2021/10/30/virginia-governor-attorney-general-and-lieutenant-governor-2021-election-results/| title = Virginia governor, attorney general and lieutenant governor 2021 election results| last = Williamson| first = Jeff| date = October 31, 2021| website = WSLS| publisher = Graham Media Group| access-date = June 28, 2023}} The lieutenant governor is elected on their own ticket separate from the governor. They serve without term limits. If the governor-elect does not assume their office, the lieutenant governor-elect becomes governor.{{sfn|Dinan|2014|p=160}}

Powers, duties, and structure

Article V of the Constitution of Virginia designates the lieutenant governor as the president of the Senate. If absent, its president pro tempore serves as its presiding officer.{{sfn|Dinan|2014|p=121}} The lieutenant governor is allowed to vote in the Senate only to break ties.{{sfn|Dinan|2014|p=142}} While this power has been interpreted to apply to most generic legislation, it has been disputed by state officials as to whether the tie-breaking power applies to votes on matters such as constitutional amendments or on the Senate's concurrence with an executive appointment. Such questions are yet to be resolved by litigation in state courts.{{sfn|Dinan|2014|pp=143–144}} The constitution additionally stipulates that the lieutenant governor succeeds the governor in their office should it become vacant due to death, disqualification, or resignation. State law empowers the lieutenant governor to serve on several state boards and commissions.{{cite web| url = https://www.ltgov.virginia.gov/the-lieutenant-governor/history-of-the-office/| title = History of the Office| publisher = Lieutenant Governor of Virginia| access-date = June 27, 2023}} The lieutenant governor can be impeached and removed from office by the Virginia General Assembly.{{sfn|Dinan|2014|p=138}}

The lieutenant governor's office is located in the Oliver Hill Building in Richmond, Virginia.{{cite news| last = Schapiro| first = Jeff E.| title = Cuccinelli comes a'courting – Bolling| newspaper = Richmond Times-Dispatch| pages = B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch/127233182/ B12] | date = February 3, 2013| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch/127233187/}}{{cite web| url = https://liaison.lis.virginia.gov/agency/Office-of-the-Lieutenant-Governor/| title = State Agencies : Office of the Lieutenant Governor| website = Legislative Liaisons| publisher = Commonwealth of Virginia| date = 2021| access-date= June 28, 2023}} Their salary is set by legislation and cannot be altered during a given term to which they were elected.{{sfn|Dinan|2014|p=142}} As of 2021, the annual salary is $36,321.{{cite news| last = Wilson| first = Patrick| title = Here's a pre-convention glance at the six GOP candidates for lieutenant governor| newspaper = Richmond Times-Dispatch|date = May 6, 2021| url = https://richmond.com/news/state-and-regional/heres-a-pre-convention-glance-at-the-six-gop-candidates-for-lieutenant-governor/article_954175ed-823a-5020-99d4-4bdd742a4ed2.html| access-date = June 28, 2023}} As the role is a part-time position, most incumbents—unless already wealthy or retired by the time of their tenure—have held additional occupations.{{cite news| last = Vozzella| first = Laura| title = Like part-timers before him, Virginia's lieutenant governor gets a gig on the side| newspaper = The Washington Post| date = September 4, 2018| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/like-part-timers-before-him-virginias-lt-governor-gets-a-gig-on-the-side/2018/09/04/c0dcefa8-b066-11e8-a20b-5f4f84429666_story.html| access-date = June 28, 2023}}

List of elected lieutenant governors of Virginia

; Parties

{{legend2|{{party color|Conservative Party (Virginia, 1867)}}|Conservative (1 lieutenant governor)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|Democrat (31 lieutenant governors)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|{{party color|Independent politician (United States)}}|Independent (1 lieutenant governor)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}|Republican (7 lieutenant governors)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|{{party color|Unionist politician (American Civil War)}}|Union (2 lieutenant governors)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

class="wikitable"
# !Image !Name !Party !Term !Governor !Notes !Source
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|1 \| \|Shelton Leake \|Democratic \|1852–1856 \|Joseph Johnson \| \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|2 \| \|Elisha W. McComas \|Democratic \|1856–1857 \|Henry A. Wise \| \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|3 \|60px \|William Lowther Jackson \|Democratic \|1857–1860 \|Henry A. Wise \| \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|4 \| \|Robert Latane Montague \|Democratic \|1860–1864 \|John Letcher \|Richmond (Confederate) Government \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|5 \|60px \|Samuel Price \|Democratic \|1864–1865 \|William Smith \|Richmond (Confederate) Government \|
{{Party shading/Unionist}} \|6 \|60px \|Daniel Polsley \|Union \|1861–1863 \|John Letcher \|Restored (Unionist) Government \|
{{Party shading/Unionist}} \|7 \|rowspan=2\| \|rowspan=2\|Leopold Copeland Parker Cowper \|rowspan=2\|Union \|1863–1865 \|John Letcher \|Restored (Unionist) Government \|
{{Party shading/Unionist}} \|8 \|1865–1869 \|William Smith Francis Harrison Pierpont Henry H. Wells Gilbert Carlton Walker \| \|
{{Party shading/Republican}} \|9 \|60px \|John F. Lewis \|Republican \|1869–1870 \|Gilbert Carlton Walker \| \|
{{Party shading/Conservative}} \|10 \|60px \|John Lawrence Marye, Jr. \|Conservative \|1870–1874 \|Gilbert Carlton Walker \| \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|11 \|60px \|Robert E. Withers \|Democratic \|1874–1875 \|James L. Kemper \| \|
{{Party shading/Republican}} \|12 \|60px \|Henry Wirtz Thomas \|Republican \|1875–1878 \|James L. Kemper \| \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|13 \|60px \|James A. Walker \|Democratic \|1878–1882 \|Frederick W. M. Holliday \| \|
{{Party shading/Republican}} \|14 \|60px \|John F. Lewis \|Republican \|1882–1886 \|William E. Cameron \| \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|15 \|60px \|John E. Massey \|Democratic \|1886–1890 \|Fitzhugh Lee \| \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|16 \|60px \|James Hoge Tyler \|Democratic \|1890–1894 \|Philip W. McKinney \| \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|17 \|60px \|Robert Craig Kent \|Democratic \|1894–1898 \|Charles Triplett O'Ferrall \| \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|18 \|60px \|Edward Echols \|Democratic \|1898–1902 \|James H. Tyler \| \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|19 \|60px \|Joseph Edward Willard \|Democratic \|1902–1906 \|Andrew J. Montague \| \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|20 \|60px \|James Taylor Ellyson \|Democratic \|1906–1918 \|Claude A. Swanson William Hodges Mann Henry Carter Stuart \| \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|21 \|60px \|Benjamin Franklin Buchanan \|Democratic \|1918–1922 \|Westmoreland Davis \| \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|22 \|60px \|Junius Edgar West \|Democratic \|1922–1930 \|Elbert L. Trinkle Harry F. Byrd \| \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|23 \|60px \|James H. Price \|Democratic \|1930–1938 \|John Garland Pollard George C. Peery \| \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|24 \|60px \|Saxon Winston Holt \|Democratic \|1938–1940 \|James H. Price \| died in office \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|25 \|60px \|William M. Tuck \|Democratic \|1942–1946 \|Colgate Darden \| \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|26 \| \|Lewis Preston Collins II \|Democratic \|1946–1952 \|William M. Tuck \|died in office \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|27 \| \|Allie Edward Stokes Stephens \|Democratic \|1952–1962 \|John S. Battle \|filled Collins's term \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|28 \|60px \|Mills E. Godwin, Jr. \|Democratic \|1962–1966 \|Albertis Harrison \| \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|29 \|60px \|Fred G. Pollard \|Democratic \|1966–1970 \|Mills Godwin \| \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|30 \|60px \|J. Sargeant Reynolds \|Democratic \|1970–1971 \|Linwood Holton \|died in office \|
{{Party shading/Independent}} \|31 \|60px \|Henry Howell \|Independent \|1971–1974 \|Linwood Holton \|Completed Reynolds's term \|
{{Party shading/Republican}} \|32 \|60px \|John N. Dalton \|Republican \|1974–1978 \|Mills Godwin \| \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|33 \|60px \|Chuck Robb \|Democratic \|1978–1982 \|John N. Dalton \| \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|34 \|60px \|Dick Davis \|Democratic \|1982–1986 \|Chuck Robb \| \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|35 \|60px \|Douglas Wilder \|Democratic \|1986–1990 \|Gerald Baliles \| \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|36 \| 60px \|Don Beyer \|Democratic \|1990–1998 \|Douglas Wilder George Allen \| \|
{{Party shading/Republican}} \|37 \|60px \|John H. Hager \|Republican \|1998–2002 \|Jim Gilmore \| \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|38 \|60px \|Tim Kaine \|Democratic \|2002–2006 \|Mark Warner \| \|
{{Party shading/Republican}} \|39 \|60px \|Bill Bolling \|Republican \|2006–2014 \|Tim Kaine Bob McDonnell \| \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|40 \|60px \|Ralph Northam \|Democratic \|2014–2018 \|Terry McAuliffe \| \|
{{Party shading/Democratic}} \|41 \|60px \|Justin Fairfax \|Democratic \|2018–2022 \|Ralph Northam \| \|
{{Party shading/Republican}} \|42 \|60px \|Winsome Sears \|Republican \|2022–present \|Glenn Youngkin \| \|

class="wikitable"

!Image

!Name

!Party

!Term

!Governor

!Notes

!Source

|Shelton Leake

|Democratic

|1852–1856

|Joseph Johnson

|Elisha W. McComas

|Democratic

|1856–1857

Lieutenant Governor of Virginia

History

Election

Powers, duties, and structure

List of elected lieutenant governors of Virginia

Timeline

References

Works cited

External links