Lieutenant Governor elections, 2011
Three states,Kentucky,Louisiana, andMississippi, had scheduled lieutenant gubernatorial elections in the 2011 electoral cycle.
Additionally,West Virginia held a special election following a court order. However, as the Lieutenant Governor of West Virginia is a title accorded to the legislator elected as Senate President, their 2011 election did not actually include a ballot line for the lieutenant governor.
Between the three states holding regularly scheduled 2011 elections, the administration procedure varies in the following ways:
- Kentucky elects her governor and lieutenant governor on a shared ticket in both the primary and general, meaning the two elections are one and the same.
- Louisiana holds separate primary elections but puts the winners of each primary election on a shared ticket in the general election. Because of Louisiana's singular jungle primary system and its very late primary date in 2011, the race for governor and lieutenant governor may be distinct campaigns for most of the year.
- Mississippi runs two entirely separate elections through both the primary and the general.
- See also:Gubernatorial elections, 2011
Kentucky
Because of the combined nature of gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial elections inKentucky, all candidates are attached to a gubernatorial candidate.
The state's lieutenant governor at the time of the 2011 election,Daniel Mongiardo, ran for and lost the Democratic primary for the Class III U.S. Senate seat held byRepublican Rand Paul.GovernorSteve Beshear chose as his running mate for 2011Jerry Abramson, a former Louisville mayor.
Beshear and Abramson defeated both theRepublican team ofstate Senate PresidentDavid Williams and outgoingAgriculture CommissionerRichie Farmer and an independent candidate, trial attorneyGatewood Galbraith, and his running mate,Dea Riley.
Louisiana
IncumbentRepublicanJay Dardenne captured more than 50% of the vote in theblanket primary, winning re-election outright.
Louisiana elects thegovernor and thelieutenant governor on a shared ticket in the general election only; the two offices have separate primary campaigns and elections. The state's current lieutenant governor,RepublicanJay Dardenne, was first elected in a special election in 2010 and defeated Plaquesmines Parish PresidentBilly Nungesser in the primary, winning election to a full four-year term.
Mississippi
TheMississippi lieutenant gubernatorial election of 2011 was held on Tuesday, November 8, 2011, following a primary held on August 2, 2011. It was an open election, as currentLieutenant GovernorPhil Bryant, aRepublican, ran successfully forGovernor. NoDemocrats officially entered the race, andstate treasurerTate Reeves defeatedReform Party candidateTracella Lou O'Hara Hill.
