Lieutenant Governor of Florida Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Lieutenant Governor of Florida
Flag of the State of Florida
Seal of the State of Florida
Incumbent Jeanette Nuñez since January 8, 2019
Government of Florida
Style	Madam Lieutenant Governor (informal) The Honorable (formal) Her Excellency (courtesy)
Member of	Florida Executive Branch Florida Cabinet
Residence	None official
Seat	Tallahassee, Florida
Appointer	Direct election
Term length	Four years, renewable once consecutively
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Florida
Inaugural holder	William W. J. Kelly
Formation	1865
Succession	First (gubernatorial line of succession)
Salary	$125,000 (per year)
Website	Lieutenant Governor Nuñez

The lieutenant governor of Florida is an important job in the Florida state government. This person is the second-highest leader in the state. They are chosen by voters along with the governor for a four-year term.

The main jobs of the lieutenant governor are set by the Florida Constitution. They step in as acting governor if the governor is away or unable to do their job. They also become governor if the current governor leaves office. This can happen if the governor dies, resigns, or is removed from office.

Jeanette Nuñez is the current lieutenant governor of Florida. She has been in office since January 2019. She serves alongside Governor Ron DeSantis.

Understanding the Role of Florida's Lieutenant Governor
- How the Lieutenant Governor is Chosen
- Key Responsibilities and Duties
A Look at Florida's Lieutenant Governor History
- The First Period: 1865 to 1889
- The Modern Era: From 1969 Onward
List of Florida's Lieutenant Governors
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Understanding the Role of Florida's Lieutenant Governor

The lieutenant governor helps the governor lead the state. They work within the executive branch of the Florida government. This means they are part of the team that carries out the state's laws.

How the Lieutenant Governor is Chosen

The lieutenant governor is elected by the people of Florida. They run for office as a "running mate" with the governor. This means voters choose both the governor and lieutenant governor together. Their term lasts for four years. A person can be elected lieutenant governor only two times.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

The lieutenant governor has several important duties. Their main role is to be ready to take over if the governor cannot serve. They also help the governor with different tasks. These tasks support the executive branch of the state government.

A Look at Florida's Lieutenant Governor History

The job of lieutenant governor has been part of Florida's government two different times. Understanding its history helps us see how the role has changed.

The First Period: 1865 to 1889

The first time Florida had a lieutenant governor was after the American Civil War. This was in 1865. During this period, the lieutenant governor was elected separately from the governor. This means people voted for them on their own.

Besides being next in line to the governor, the lieutenant governor had another big job. They were the president of the Florida Senate. This is like being the leader of one part of the state's law-making group. If there was a tie vote in the Senate, the lieutenant governor could cast the deciding vote.

William W. J. Kelly was the first person to hold this job. He became lieutenant governor after the 1865 Florida Constitution created the position. The job was later removed by a new constitution in 1885. The last lieutenant governor from this first period was Milton H. Mabry. He finished his term in 1889. After this, an elected member of the Senate became the president and was next in line for governor.

The Modern Era: From 1969 Onward

The current Florida Constitution, created in 1968, brought back the job of lieutenant governor. Now, the lieutenant governor is elected directly with the governor. They run together as a team.

The lieutenant governor is still the first person to take over if the governor cannot serve. However, the president of the Senate is still an elected senator. The lieutenant governor has specific duties and helps the governor manage the state's executive branch. Ray C. Osborne was the first lieutenant governor under this new system. He took office in 1969.

List of Florida's Lieutenant Governors

This table shows the people who have served as Florida's lieutenant governor.

Parties

No party Democratic (7) Republican (13)

No.	Name	Took office	Left office	Party	Governor	Notes
1	William W. J. Kelly	December 20, 1865	July 4, 1868	Republican	David S. Walker
2	William Henry Gleason	July 7, 1868	December 14, 1868	Republican	Harrison Reed
3	Edmund C. Weeks	January 24, 1870	December 27, 1870	Republican
4	Samuel T. Day	January 3, 1871	June 3, 1872	Republican
5	Marcellus Stearns	January 7, 1873	March 18, 1874	Republican	Ossian B. Hart	Became governor upon the death of O. B. Hart
6	Noble A. Hull	January 2, 1877	March 3, 1879	Democratic	George Franklin Drew	Resigned to become a U.S. Representative
7	Livingston W. Bethel	January 4, 1881	January 7, 1885	Democratic	William D. Bloxham
8	Milton H. Mabry	January 7, 1885	January 8, 1889	Democratic	Edward A. Perry
The position of Lieutenant Governor of Florida was abolished in 1889. It was brought back in 1969.
9	Ray C. Osborne	January 7, 1969	January 5, 1971	Republican	Claude R. Kirk, Jr.
10	Tom Adams	January 5, 1971	January 7, 1975	Democratic	Reubin O'Donovan Askew
11	Jim Williams	January 7, 1975	January 2, 1979	Democratic	Reubin O'Donovan Askew
12	Wayne Mixson	January 2, 1979	January 3, 1987	Democratic	Bob Graham	Became governor upon the resignation of Bob Graham
13	Bobby Brantley	January 6, 1987	January 8, 1991	Republican	Bob Martinez
14	Buddy MacKay	January 8, 1991	December 12, 1998	Democratic	Lawton Chiles	Became governor upon the death of Lawton Chiles
15	Frank Brogan	January 5, 1999	March 3, 2003	Republican	Jeb Bush	Resigned to become President of Florida Atlantic University
16	Toni Jennings	March 3, 2003	January 2, 2007	Republican	Jeb Bush	Appointed to replace Brogan
17	Jeff Kottkamp	January 2, 2007	January 4, 2011	Republican	Charlie Crist
18	Jennifer Carroll	January 4, 2011	March 12, 2013	Republican	Rick Scott	Resigned
19	Carlos Lopez-Cantera	February 3, 2014	January 7, 2019	Republican	Rick Scott	Appointed to replace Carroll
20	Jeanette Nuñez	January 8, 2019	present	Republican	Ron DeSantis