Lieutenant Governor of California
The lieutenant governor of California is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the U.S. state of California. It is the second highest-ranking official in the state government. The lieutenant governor ranks first in the gubernatorial line of succession and is also the officer of the legislative branch, president of the Senate and the presiding officer of the Senate.
| Lieutenant Governor of California | |
|---|---|
 Seal of the State of California | |
 Flag of State of California | |
| California State Senate Government of California | |
| Style | Madam Lieutenant Governor (Informal) The Honorable (Formal) Madam President (When presiding over California Senate) |
| Residence | None official |
| Seat | Sacramento, California California State Capitol |
| Appointer | Popular vote |
| Term length | Four years, renewable once |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of California |
| Inaugural holder | John McDougal 1849 |
| Succession | First (gubernatorial line of succession) |
| Salary | $130,490 |
| Website | Official website |
Eleni Kounalakis is the 50th and current lieutenant governor of California, in office since January 2019.
Constitutional roles and duties
The lieutenant governor presides as the president of the California State Senate and has all the powers of the governor to perform when the governor is out of the state.
The lieutenant governor often signing or vetoing legislation, or making political appointments, whenever the governor leaves the state.[1] The lieutenant governor only presides over the Senate when needed by the president pro tempore or in order to cast a tie-breaking vote.
The lieutenant governor also is in charge of duties such as higher education, natural resources, economic development.
Eligibility and requirements
Section 5 of the state's constitution states for a person to serve as governor must:
- be at least eighteen years old.
- be a permanent resident in California and the United States for at least five years.
Election process
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 as their running mate. The gubernatorial candidate or incumbent governor must have the majority of the popular vote in order to win the election.
Line of succession
The lieutenant governor is first in the line of succession to become governor if the governor dies resigns, or is impeached from office.
List of lieutenant governors
| No. | Lieutenant Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Governor[a] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
|
John McDougal
(1818–1866) |
December 20, 1849[b] – January 9, 1851 (succeeded to governor) |
Democratic | 1849 | Peter Hardeman Burnett
(resigned January 9, 1851) | ||
| 2 | 
|
David C. Broderick
(1820–1859) |
January 9, 1851
– January 8, 1852 (did not run) |
Democratic | Succeeded from president of the Senate |
John McDougal | ||
| 3 | 
|
Samuel Purdy
(1819–1882) |
January 8, 1852
– January 9, 1856 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1851 | John Bigler | ||
| 1853 | ||||||||
| 4 | 
|
Robert M. Anderson
(1824–1878) |
January 9, 1856
– January 8, 1858 (did not run) |
American | 1855 | J. Neely Johnson | ||
| 5 | .jpg)
|
Joseph Walkup
(1819–1873) |
January 8, 1858
– January 9, 1860 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1857 | John B. Weller | ||
| 6 | 
|
John G. Downey
(1827–1894) |
January 9, 1860
– January 20, 1860 (succeeded to governor) |
Democratic | 1859 | Milton Latham | ||
| 7 |
|
Isaac N. Quinn
(acting) (1795–1865) |
January 20, 1860
– January 7, 1861 (presidency expired) |
Democratic | Succeeded from president of the Senate |
John G. Downey | ||
| 8 | 
|
Pablo de la Guerra
(acting) (1819–1874) |
January 7, 1861
– January 10, 1862 (did not run) |
Democratic | Succeeded from president of the Senate | |||
| 9 |
|
John F. Chellis
(1792–1883) |
January 10, 1862
– December 10, 1863 (did not run) |
Republican | 1861 | Leland Stanford | ||
| 10 |
|
Tim N. Machin
(1822–1905) |
December 10, 1863
– December 5, 1867 (did not run) |
Republican | 1863 | Frederick Low | ||
| 11 | .jpg)
|
William Holden
(1824–1884) |
December 5, 1867
– December 8, 1871 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1867 | Henry Huntly Haight | ||
| 12 | 
|
Romualdo Pacheco
(1831–1899) |
December 8, 1871
– February 27, 1875 (succeeded to governor) |
Republican | 1871 | Newton Booth | ||
| 13 | 
|
William Irwin
(acting) (1827–1886) |
February 27, 1875
– December 9, 1875 (elected governor) |
Democratic | Succeeded from president of the Senate |
Romualdo Pacheco[c] | ||
| 14 | .jpg)
|
James A. Johnson
(1829–1896) |
December 9, 1875
– January 8, 1880 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1875 | William Irwin | ||
| 15 | .jpg)
|
John Mansfield
(1822–1896) |
January 8, 1880
– January 10, 1883 (did not run) |
Republican | 1879 | George C. Perkins | ||
| 16 | .jpg)
|
John Daggett
(1833–1919) |
January 10, 1883
– January 8, 1887 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1882 | George Stoneman | ||
| 17 | 
|
Robert Waterman
(1826–1891) |
January 8, 1887
– September 13, 1887 (succeeded to governor) |
Republican | 1886 | Washington Bartlett[d] (died September 12, 1887) | ||
| 18 | .JPG)
|
Stephen M. White
(acting) (1853–1901) |
September 13, 1887
– January 8, 1891 (did not run) |
Democratic | Succeeded from president of the Senate |
Robert Waterman[c] | ||
| 19 | .jpg)
|
John B. Reddick
(1845–1895) |
January 8, 1891
– January 11, 1895 (did not run) |
Republican | 1890 | Henry Markham | ||
| 20 | .jpg)
|
Spencer G. Millard
(1856–1895) |
January 11, 1895
– October 24, 1895 (died in office) |
Republican | 1894 | James Budd[d] | ||
| — | Vacant | October 24, 1895
– October 26, 1895 |
Office vacated by death | |||||
| 21 | .jpg)
|
William T. Jeter
(1850–1930) |
October 26, 1895[3] – January 3, 1899 (did not run) |
Democratic | Appointed by governor | |||
| 22 | 
|
Jacob H. Neff
(1830–1909) |
January 3, 1899
– January 6, 1903 (did not run) |
Republican | 1898 | Henry T. Gage | ||
| 23 | 
|
Alden Anderson
(1867–1944) |
January 6, 1903
– January 8, 1907 (did not run) |
Republican | 1902 | George Pardee | ||
| 24 | 
|
Warren R. Porter
(1861–1927) |
January 8, 1907
– January 3, 1911 (did not run) |
Republican | 1906 | James Gillett | ||
| 25 | .png)
|
Albert Joseph Wallace
(1853–1939) |
January 3, 1911
– January 5, 1915 (did not run) |
Republican | 1910 | Hiram Johnson[e] (resigned March 15, 1917) | ||
| 26 | 
|
John Morton Eshleman
(1876–1916) |
January 5, 1915
– February 28, 1916 (died in office) |
Progressive | 1914 | |||
| — | Vacant | February 28, 1916
— July 22, 1916 |
Office vacated by death | |||||
| 27 | 
|
William Stephens
(1859–1944) |
July 22, 1916
– March 15, 1917 (succeeded to governor) |
Republican | Appointed by governor | |||
| — | Vacant | March 15, 1917
— January 6, 1919 |
Office vacated by succession to governor |
William Stephens | ||||
| 28 | 
|
C. C. Young
(1869–1947) |
January 7, 1919
– January 4, 1927 (elected governor) |
Republican | 1918 | |||
| 1922 | Friend Richardson | |||||||
| 29 | .jpg)
|
Buron Fitts
(1895–1973) |
January 4, 1927
– November 30, 1928 (resigned)[f] |
Republican | 1926 | C. C. Young | ||
| — | Vacant | November 30, 1928
— December 4, 1928 |
Office vacated by resignation | |||||
| 30 | 
|
Herschel L. Carnahan
(1879–1941) |
December 4, 1928
– January 6, 1931 (did not run) |
Republican | Appointed by governor | |||
| 31 | 
|
Frank Merriam
(1865–1955) |
January 5, 1931
– June 2, 1934 (succeeded to governor) |
Republican | 1930 | James Rolph
(died June 2, 1934) | ||
| — | Vacant | June 2, 1934
— January 7, 1935 |
Office vacated by succession to governor |
Frank Merriam | ||||
| 32 | 
|
George J. Hatfield
(1887–1953) |
January 8, 1935
– January 2, 1939 (did not run)[g] |
Republican | 1934 | |||
| 33 | .jpg)
|
Ellis E. Patterson
(1897–1985) |
January 2, 1939
– January 4, 1943 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1938 | Culbert Olson | ||
| 34 | 
|
Frederick F. Houser
(1904–1989) |
January 4, 1943
– January 6, 1947 (did not run)[h] |
Republican | 1942 | Earl Warren
(resigned October 4, 1953) | ||
| 35 | .jpg)
|
Goodwin Knight
(1896–1970) |
January 6, 1947
– October 4, 1953 (succeeded to governor) |
Republican | 1946 | |||
| 1950 | ||||||||
| 36 | 
|
Harold J. Powers
(1900–1996) |
October 5, 1953
– January 5, 1959 (lost election) |
Republican | Succeeded from president of the Senate |
Goodwin Knight | ||
| 1954 | ||||||||
| 37 | 
|
Glenn M. Anderson
(1913–1994) |
January 5, 1959
– January 2, 1967 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1958 | Pat Brown | ||
| 1962 | ||||||||
| 38 | 
|
Robert Finch
(1925–1995) |
January 2, 1967
– January 8, 1969 (resigned)[i] |
Republican | 1966 | Ronald Reagan | ||
| 39 | 
|
Edwin Reinecke
(1924–2016) |
January 8, 1969
– October 2, 1974 (resigned)[j] |
Republican | Appointed by governor | |||
| 1970 | ||||||||
| 40 | 
|
John L. Harmer
(1934–2019) |
October 2, 1974
– January 6, 1975 (lost election) |
Republican | Appointed by governor | |||
| 41 | 
|
Mervyn Dymally
(1926–2012) |
January 6, 1975
– January 8, 1979 (lost election) |
Democratic | 1974 | Jerry Brown[d] | ||
| 42 | .JPG)
|
Mike Curb
(b. 1944) |
January 8, 1979
– January 3, 1983 (did not run)[k] |
Republican | 1978 | |||
| 43 | 
|
Leo T. McCarthy
(1930–2007) |
January 3, 1983
– January 3, 1995 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1982 | George Deukmejian[c] | ||
| 1986 | ||||||||
| 1990 | Pete Wilson[c] | |||||||
| 44 | 
|
Gray Davis
(b. 1942) |
January 3, 1995
– January 4, 1999 (elected governor) |
Democratic | 1994 | |||
| 45 | .jpg)
|
Cruz Bustamante
(b. 1953) |
January 4, 1999
– January 7, 2007 (term-limited) |
Democratic | 1998 | Gray Davis
(recalled November 17, 2003) | ||
| 2002 | ||||||||
| Arnold Schwarzenegger[c] | ||||||||
| 46 | .jpg)
|
John Garamendi
(b. 1945) |
January 7, 2007
– November 3, 2009 (resigned)[l] |
Democratic | 2006 | |||
| 47 | 
|
Mona Pasquil
(acting) (b. 1962) |
November 3, 2009
– April 27, 2010 (successor took office) |
Democratic | Appointed by governor[m] | |||
| 48 | 
|
Abel Maldonado
(b. 1967) |
April 27, 2010
– January 10, 2011 (lost election) |
Republican | Appointed by governor | |||
| 2010 | Jerry Brown[d] | |||||||
| 49 | .jpg)
|
Gavin Newsom
(b. 1967) |
January 10, 2011
– January 7, 2019 (elected governor) |
Democratic | ||||
| 2014 | ||||||||
| 50 | _(1).jpg)
|
Eleni Kounalakis
(b. 1966) |
January 7, 2019
– Incumbent[o] |
Democratic | 2018 | Gavin Newsom | ||
| 2022 | ||||||||
Notes
- ↑ Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
- ↑ A civilian government was formed in late 1849 prior to official statehood, and operated as the state government for ten months before official statehood was granted.[2]
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Represented the Republican Party
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Represented the Democratic Party
- ↑ Represented the Progressive Party starting from the 1914 election
- ↑ Fitts resigned to serve as a special prosecutor.
- ↑ Hatfield instead ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for governor.
- ↑ Houser instead ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate.
- ↑ Finch resigned to be United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare.
- ↑ Reineke was forced to resign when convicted and sentenced for perjury; it was later overturned on appeal.
- ↑ Curb instead ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for governor.
- ↑ Garamendi resigned, having been elected to the United States House of Representatives.
- ↑ Pasquil was appointed acting lieutenant governor until the nominated replacement, Abel Maldonado, could be confirmed.
- ↑ Newsom delayed his swearing in as lieutenant governor until January 10, 2011, to remain mayor of San Francisco; Maldonado stayed on as lieutenant governor until then.[4]
- ↑ Kounalakis' second term began on January 2, 2023.
References
- ↑ "About the Office of Lt. Governor". California Office of the Lieutenant Governor. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
- ↑ "Peter Hardeman Burnett". National Governors Association. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
- ↑ "Governor Budd's Powers". Los Angeles Herald: 1. 1895-10-27. https://www.newspapers.com/article/los-angeles-herald-governor-budds-power/136626564/. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
- ↑ Upton Oot, John (January 7, 2011). "Newsom's Dual Role Raises Legal Quandary". The Bay Citizen. Archived from the original on April 19, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2015.