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Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
Flag of Wisconsin.svg
Privy Seal of Wisconsin.svg
Privy Seal of the State of Wisconsin
Sara Rodriguez, 2022.jpg
Incumbent
Sara Rodriguez

since January 3, 2023
Government of Wisconsin
Style
  • Mr. or Madam Lieutenant Governor
    (informal)
  • The Honorable
    (formal)
Term length Four years, no term limit
Constituting instrument Wisconsin Constitution, Article V
Inaugural holder John Edwin Holmes
Formation June 7, 1848
(176 years ago)
 (June 7, 1848)
Succession First
Salary $80,684
Website Official page: https://evers.wi.gov/ltgov/Pages/default.aspx

The lieutenant governor of Wisconsin is the first person in the line of succession of Wisconsin's executive branch, thus serving as governor in the event of the death, resignation, removal, impeachment, absence from the state, or incapacity due to illness of the governor of Wisconsin. Forty-one individuals have held the office of lieutenant governor since Wisconsin's admission to the Union in 1848, two of whom—Warren Knowles and Jack Olson—have served for non-consecutive terms. The first lieutenant governor was John Holmes, who took office on June 7, 1848. The current lieutenant governor is Sara Rodriguez, who took office on January 3, 2023.

Succession to the governorship

Until 1979, the Wisconsin Constitution merely stated that in the event of the governor's death, resignation, removal from office, impeachment, absence from the state or incapacity due to illness, "the powers and duties of the office [of Governor of Wisconsin] shall devolve upon the lieutenant governor". Lieutenant governors who served as governor during this period are referred to as "acting governors". In 1979, the constitution was amended to make this more specific: in the event of the governor's death, resignation, or removal from office, the lieutenant governor becomes governor; in the event of the governor's impeachment, absence, or incapacity, the lieutenant governor becomes acting governor until the governor is again able to serve.

Lieutenant gubernatorial elections and term of office

Under the original terms of the state constitution, the lieutenant governor was elected for a two-year term on a separate ticket from the governor; because of this, the governor and lieutenant governor of Wisconsin have not always been of the same party. After a 1967 amendment, however, the two have been nominated, and voted upon, as a single ticket. The 1967 amendment also increased the terms of both the governor and lieutenant governor to four years. There is no limit to the number of terms a lieutenant governor may hold.

Vacancy

The original constitution made no provision for a vacancy in the office of the lieutenant governor; in the event of the lieutenant governor's death, resignation, or service as acting governor, the lieutenant governorship usually remained vacant until the end of the term. In 1938, following the resignation of lieutenant governor Henry Gunderson, Governor Philip La Follette appointed Herman Ekern lieutenant governor to fill the vacancy. This appointment was challenged in court, and ruled valid in the case State ex rel. Martin v. Ekern. In 1979 the constitution was amended to explicitly allow this: in the event of a vacancy in the office of the lieutenant governor, the governor nominates a candidate who becomes lieutenant governor for the remainder of the term upon his approval by the Wisconsin Assembly and Wisconsin State Senate.

Removal

A lieutenant governor may be removed from office through an impeachment trial or a recall. They may also choose to resign from office. No lieutenant governor has ever been impeached; two have resigned. Rebecca Kleefisch is the only lieutenant governor in the history of any state to face recall election in 2012. She faced Democrat Mahlon Mitchell and won the election with a six percent majority.

Lieutenant gubernatorial powers

If the governor appoints the lieutenant governor to a statutory board, committee or commission on which he is entitled membership as his representative, the lieutenant governor has all the authority in that position that would be granted the governor.

Originally, the lieutenant governor also presided over the state senate and cast a vote in the event of a tie; however, after an amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution in 1979, the senate chooses a senator to be presiding officer.

List of lieutenant governors

Number of lieutenant governors of Wisconsin by party affiliation
Party Lt. governors
Republican 29
Democratic 16
Progressive 2

From 1836, until 1848, what is now Wisconsin was part of Wisconsin Territory. There was no position of "Territorial Lieutenant Governor"; however, the territory had a Secretary who was similar in that one of his functions was to assume the powers and duties of the territorial governor if he were unable to carry them out. For the secretaries from the territorial period, see the List of secretaries of Wisconsin Territory.

Wisconsin was admitted to the Union on May 29, 1848. Since then, it has had 41 lieutenant governors, two of whom have served non-consecutive terms.

Parties

      Democratic (16)       Whig (0)       Republican (27)       Progressive (2)

# Image Lt. Governor Party Took office Left office Governor Term(s)
1 John E. Holmes.png John E. Holmes Democratic June 7, 1848 January 7, 1850 Nelson Dewey 1
2 Samuel W. Beall Democratic January 7, 1850 January 5, 1852 Nelson Dewey 1
3 Timothy Burns Democratic January 5, 1852 September 21, 1853 Leonard Farwell 12
vacant September 21, 1853 January 2, 1854 Leonard Farwell 12
4 James T. Lewis Cropped.jpg James T. Lewis Democratic January 2, 1854 January 7, 1856 William Barstow 1
5 Arthur macarthur sr.png Arthur MacArthur Sr. Democratic January 7, 1856 March 21, 1856 William Barstow 13
MacArthur acting as governor March 21, 1856 March 25, 1856 Arthur MacArthur Sr. 13
Arthur MacArthur Sr. Democratic March 25, 1856 January 4, 1858 Coles Bashford 13
6 ED Campbell.jpg Erasmus D. Campbell Democratic January 4, 1858 January 2, 1860 Alexander Randall 1
7 Butler G. Noble Republican January 2, 1860 January 6, 1862 Alexander Randall 1
8 Wisconsin Governor Edward Salomon.jpg Edward Salomon Republican January 6, 1862 April 19, 1862 Louis Harvey 12
Salomon acting as governor April 19, 1862 January 4, 1864 Edward Salomon 12
vacant January 4, 1864 by January 13, 1864 James Lewis 12
9 Wyman Spooner.png Wyman Spooner Republican by January 13, 1864 January 3, 1870 James Lewis 212
Lucius Fairchild
10 Thaddeus C. Pound - Brady-Handy.jpg Thaddeus C. Pound Republican January 3, 1870 January 1, 1872 Lucius Fairchild 1
11 Milton H. Pettit.png Milton H. Pettit Republican January 1, 1872 March 23, 1873 Cadwallader Washburn 12
vacant March 23, 1873 January 5, 1874 Cadwallader Washburn 12
12 Charles D. Parker Democratic January 5, 1874 January 7, 1878 William Taylor 2
Harrison Ludington
13 James M. Bingham Republican January 7, 1878 January 2, 1882 William Smith 2
14 Samuel Fifield.png Sam S. Fifield Republican January 2, 1882 January 3, 1887 Jeremiah Rusk 2
15 George W Ryland.png George W. Ryland Republican January 3, 1887 January 5, 1891 Jeremiah Rusk 2
William Hoard
16 Jan Vilímek - Karel Jonáš HL.jpg Charles Jonas Democratic January 5, 1891 April 4, 1894 George Peck 112
vacant April 4, 1894 January 7, 1895 George Peck 12
17 Emil Baensch (June 12, 1857 – August 17, 1939) circa 1915.jpg Emil Baensch Republican January 7, 1895 January 2, 1899 William Upham 2
Edward Scofield
18 Jesse Stone (Wisconsin politician).gif Jesse Stone Republican January 2, 1899 May 11, 1902 Edward Scofield 112
Robert La Follette Sr.
vacant May 11, 1902 January 5, 1903 Robert La Follette Sr. 12
19 James Ole Davidson (Wisconsin Governor).png James O. Davidson Republican January 5, 1903 January 1, 1906 Robert La Follette Sr. 112
Davidson acting as governor January 1, 1906 January 7, 1907 James Davidson 12
20 William D. Connor Republican January 7, 1907 January 4, 1909 James Davidson 1
21 Wisconsin lieutenant governor John Strange.png John Strange Republican January 4, 1909 January 2, 1911 James Davidson 1
22 Wisconsin politician Thomas Morris.png Thomas Morris Republican January 2, 1911 January 4, 1915 Francis McGovern 2
23 Edward Dithmar.png Edward F. Dithmar Republican January 4, 1915 January 3, 1921 Emanuel Philipp 3
24 George F. Comings Republican January 3, 1921 January 5, 1925 John Blaine 2
25 Henry Alan Huber.jpg Henry A. Huber Republican January 5, 1925 January 2, 1933 John Blaine 4
Fred R. Zimmerman
Walter Kohler Sr.
Philip La Follette
26 Thomas J. O'Malley Democratic January 2, 1933 May 27, 1936 Albert Schmedeman 112
Philip La Follette
vacant May 27, 1936 January 4, 1937 Philip La Follette 12
27 Henry Gunderson (WI).png Henry A. Gunderson Progressive January 4, 1937 October 16, 1937 Philip La Follette 13
vacant October 16, 1937 May 16, 1938 Philip La Follette 13
28 Herman Ekern (WI).jpg Herman L. Ekern Progressive May 16, 1938 January 2, 1939 Philip La Follette 13
29 Walter Samuel Goodland.jpg Walter S. Goodland Republican January 2, 1939 January 4, 1943 Julius Heil 2
Goodland acting as governor January 4, 1943 January 1, 1945 Walter Goodland 1
30 Rennebohm Governor.jpg Oscar Rennebohm Republican January 1, 1945 March 12, 1947 Walter Goodland 112
Rennebohm acting as governor March 12, 1947 January 3, 1949 Oscar Rennebohm 12
31 George M. Smith Republican January 3, 1949 January 3, 1955 Oscar Rennebohm 3
Walter Kohler Jr.
32 WarrenPKnowles.jpg Warren P. Knowles Republican January 3, 1955 January 5, 1959 Walter Kohler Jr. 2
Vernon Thomson
33 Photograph of White House aide Philleo Nash with a fish he caught during President Truman's vacation at Key West... - NARA - 200538 (cropped).jpg Philleo Nash Democratic January 5, 1959 January 2, 1961 Gaylord Nelson 1
34 WarrenPKnowles.jpg Warren P. Knowles Republican January 2, 1961 January 7, 1963 Gaylord Nelson 1
35 Jack B. Olson.png Jack B. Olson Republican January 7, 1963 January 4, 1965 John Reynolds 1
36 Patrick Lucey.png Patrick J. Lucey Democratic January 4, 1965 January 2, 1967 Warren Knowles 1
37 Jack B. Olson.png Jack B. Olson Republican January 2, 1967 January 4, 1971 Warren Knowles 2
38 Martin J. Schreiber (1977).png Martin J. Schreiber Democratic January 4, 1971 July 6, 1977 Patrick Lucey 112
Schreiber acting as governor July 6, 1977 January 3, 1979 Martin Schreiber 12
39 Russell A. Olson Republican January 3, 1979 January 3, 1983 Lee Dreyfus 1
40 James Flynn (WI).png James Flynn Democratic January 3, 1983 January 5, 1987 Anthony Earl 1
41 Governor Scott McCallum 2001 (cropped).jpg Scott McCallum Republican January 5, 1987 February 1, 2001 Tommy Thompson 313
vacant February 1, 2001 May 9, 2001 Scott McCallum 13
42 Margaret A. Farrow Republican May 9, 2001 January 6, 2003 Scott McCallum 13
43 Lawton barbara official.jpg Barbara Lawton Democratic January 6, 2003 January 3, 2011 Jim Doyle 2
44 Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch (cropped).jpg Rebecca Kleefisch Republican January 3, 2011 January 7, 2019 Scott Walker 2
45 Mandela Barnes Headshot (1).jpg Mandela Barnes Democratic January 7, 2019 January 3, 2023 Tony Evers 1
46 Sara Rodriguez, 2022.jpg Sara Rodriguez Democratic January 3, 2023 Incumbent 1
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