Lieutenant Governor of Florida

Lieutenant Governor of Florida
Seal of the State of Florida
Flag of the State of Florida
Incumbent
Jay Collins
since August 12, 2025
TypeSecond-highest executive state officer
Member ofFlorida Executive Branch
Florida Cabinet
ResidenceNo official residence
SeatTallahassee, Florida
Term lengthFour years, renewable once
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Florida
Inaugural holderWilliam W. J. Kelly
FormationDecember 20, 1865 (1865-12-20)
Salary$125,000 (annually)
Websitewww.flgov.com

The lieutenant governor of Florida is a constitutional statewide elected office in the executive branch of the state government 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. Official duties of the lieutenant governor are under the current Florida Constitution are to serve as the acting governor in the absence of the governor from the state or to become the governor in the event of the governor's death, resignation or impeachment.

Eligibility & requirements

Section 5 of the state's constitution states for a person to serve as lieutenant governor must:

  • be at least thirty years old.
  • be a permanent resident in Florida for at least seven years.

Election process and terms

The lieutenant governor is elected by the people through the popular election to a four-year term, along with the gubernatorial candidate or the incumbent governor of Florida as their running mate. The gubernatorial candidate or incumbent governor must have the majority of the popular vote in order to win the election.

Under Section 5 of the state's constitution forbids anyone from being elected lieutenant governor more than twice.

Inauguration

The lieutenant governor-elect, or incumbent lieutenant governor immediately began their four-year team on inauguration day every four years in the month of January, along with the incumbent governor and governor-elect.

Gubernatorial line of succession

If the governor dies, reigns, or is impeached, the lieutenant governor ranks first in the succession will assume the gubernatorial office and duties.

List of lieutenant governors

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[1]
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 February 16, 2025 Republican Ron DeSantis Resigned to become President of Florida International University
21 Jay Collins August 12, 2025 Incumbent Republican Appointed to replace Nuñez

List of living former lieutenant governors

References

  1. ↑ "The American Annual Cyclopædia and Register of Important Events of the Year 1871". New York: D. Appleton and Company. 1872. p. 308. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.