The table below contains a list of all candidates for lieutenant governor in 2026. The table is fully searchable bycandidate, party andcandidacy status. Depending on the size of your screen, you'll either see a menu to the left of the table or an arrow at the top right corner, which you can use to select a state.
In the United States, the office oflieutenant governor is the second-highest executive office in a state and is nominally subordinate to the governor. In the U.S., the main duty of the lieutenant governor is to act asgovernor should the governor be temporarily absent from the office. In addition, the lieutenant governor generally succeeds a governor who dies, resigns or is removed in trial by the legislative branch. In most states, the lieutenant governor then becomes governor, with the title and its associated salary, office, and privileges. In a few states, likeMassachusetts, the lieutenant governor instead becomes "acting governor" until the next election.
Other than this primary constitutional duty, most state constitutions do not prescribe the duties of the lieutenant governor in detail.
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.[2]
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
According to compensation figures for 2023 compiled by the Council of State Governments in theBook of the States, the highest salary for a lieutenant governor was $210,000 inNew York while the lowest was $7,200 inTexas. To view the compensation of a specific lieutenant governor, hover your mouse over the state.
In 26 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]
In 24 states, the governor may formally transfer a portion of their power to the lieutenant governor.[3]
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]
To view term limits for a particular state, hover your mouse over that state.
Election coverage by office
Click the tiles below to navigate to 2026 election coverage:
↑Arizona is holding its first election for lieutenant governor in 2026 after voters created the office by approvingArizona Proposition 131 in 2022. The officeholder elected in2026 is scheduled to take office on January 4, 2027. Until that date, the office is empty.
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