Lieutenant gubernatorial elections, 2018
Last updated: February 2022
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Twenty states selected a lieutenant governor as part of theirgubernatorial elections in 2018, while anotherten states held separate lieutenant gubernatorial elections, meaning that30 lieutenant gubernatorial seats were contested in 2018.
Democrats andRepublicans each won 15 of the 30 lieutenant gubernatorial seats up for election. Democrats gained control of seven previouslyRepublican seats inIllinois,Kansas,Michigan,Minnesota,Nevada,New Mexico, andWisconsin. Meanwhile,Republicans gained control ofAlabama's lieutenant gubernatorial office, which had been vacant, andAlaska's independent-held seat.
Heading into the 2018 elections, there were 13Democratic lieutenant governors, 30Republican lieutenant governors, one independent lieutenant governor, and one vacancy.
Of the 30 states that held elections for lieutenant governor in 2018, incumbents ran in 14 states, while 15 incumbents did not seek re-election or were prohibited from doing so by term limits.
Of the 13 lieutenant gubernatorial offices held byDemocratic incumbents, nine were up for election in 2018, while 20 of the 30Republican-held seats were contested.
List of lieutenant gubernatorial elections
In 45 states, thelieutenant governor is the second-highest executive office, behind thegovernor. Although the powers and duties of the lieutenant governor vary from state to state, lieutenant governors are responsible for filling vacancies in the office of governor. In many states, lieutenant governors often sit on boards or commissions, and they are often involved in the proceedings of the state Senate. The process for selecting a lieutenant governor varies from state to state. InTennessee andWest Virginia, the member of the state Senate chosen to serve as its president becomes the lieutenant governor. In the other 43 states with lieutenant governors, the officeholder is elected - this election is separate from the gubernatorial election in 17 states and is held on a joint ticket in the other 26.
Historical elections
In 1977, theDemocratic Party held a total of 34 lieutenant governorships to theRepublican Party's 10. The Democratic lead in lieutenant governorships would be maintained until the midterm elections of 1994, which gave the Republican Party control of 23 lieutenant governorships to the Democrats' 21. The midterm elections of 2006 led to the Democratic Party regaining its lead in lieutenant governorships, with 23 to the Republicans' 21. However, the Republican Party regained its lead in the 2008 elections. After that election, lieutenant governorships trended Republican, with the party reaching a high of 32 lieutenant governorships to Democrats' 13 in 2015 and 2016.
About the office
Selection process
In 27 states, the lieutenant governor is selected on a ticket with the governor, meaning that lieutenant gubernatorial candidates serve as running mates to gubernatorial candidates, with the winning gubernatorial candidate's running mate becoming lieutenant governor. In six of these states, there are separate primaries for governor and lieutenant governor, with the winning candidate in each primary appearing on the general election ticket. In the remaining 21 states, gubernatorial candidates may pick their own running mates in a similar fashion to presidential candidates. In 17 states, the lieutenant governor is elected separately from the governor. InTennessee andWest Virginia, the title of lieutenant governor is given to the president of the state Senate.[1]
- Lt. gov. nominated in separate primary and elected in separate general election (17): Alabama, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington
- Lt. gov. nominated in separate primary but runs on a single ticket with gubernatorial nominee in general election (6): Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin
- Lt. gov. chosen by gubernatorial candidate before primary and runs on a single ticket with gubernatorial candidate in both the primary and general election (10): Alaska, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Utah
- Lt. gov. chosen by gubernatorial nominee after primary and runs on a single ticket with gubernatorial nominee in the general election (11): Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, South Carolina, South Dakota
- Lt. gov. is a member of the legislature (2): Tennessee, West Virginia
- Lt. gov. office does not exist in state (4): Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, Wyoming
Partisan affiliation
There are currently a total of 30Republican lieutenant governors and 14Democratic lieutenant governors, includingDavid Zuckerman ofVermont, whose primary affiliation is with theVermont Progressive Party. The position oflieutenant governor of Alabama is vacant followingKay Ivey's (R) promotion to the governorship in April 2017.
Compensation
According to compensation figures for 2017 compiled by the Council of State Governments in theBook of the States, the highest salary for a lieutenant governor is $162,673 inPennsylvania while the lowest is $9,612 inTexas. To view the compensation of a specific lieutenant governor, hover your mouse over the state.[2]
Legislative powers
In 27 states, the lieutenant governor is involved with the legislative process as the presiding officer of the state Senate. In 24 of those states, the lieutenant governor also has the power to cast a tiebreaking vote in the Senate, although some states limit this ability to votes on specific issues.[3]
Gubernatorial delegation
In 24 states, the governor may formally transfer a portion of their power to the lieutenant governor.[3]
Acting governor
In 29 states, the lieutenant governor serves as acting governor while the governor is out of the state; three of these states place limits on this role.[3]
Term limits
To view term limits for a particular state, hover your mouse over that state.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑National Lieutenant Governors Association, "Methods of Election," accessed August 27, 2025
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2017 - Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed October 22, 2017
- ↑3.03.13.2Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2017 - Lieutenant Governors: Powers and Duties," accessed December 3, 2017
