Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lieutenant Governor ofNew Jersey |
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| Style |
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| Term length | Four years, renewable once consecutively |
| Constituting instrument | New Jersey Constitution of 1947 (as amended, effective January 17, 2006) |
| Inaugural holder | Kim Guadagno (2010) |
| Formation | January 19, 2010 |
| Succession | First |
| Salary | $175,000 (per year) |
The lieutenant governor of New Jersey is an important elected official in the state government of New Jersey. This person is the second highest-ranking official in the state. They are chosen at the same time as the governor for a four-year term.
The lieutenant governor's main job is to be ready to take over if the governor's office becomes empty. The state constitution also says the lieutenant governor must lead a major department or agency within the governor's team. However, they cannot be the Attorney General.
Before 2010, New Jersey did not have a lieutenant governor. If the governor's office was empty, the president of the State Senate would step in as acting governor. This system had been in place for most of New Jersey's history.
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Why New Jersey Created the Lieutenant Governor Role
For many years, New Jersey was one of the few states without a lieutenant governor. This meant that if the governor left office, the leader of the State Senate would become the acting governor. This person was not elected by all the state's voters.
When Acting Governors Stepped In
New Jersey had a few times when governors left office early. This caused several people to become "acting governor" in a short period. For example, Governor Christine Todd Whitman resigned in 2001. Later, Governor James E. McGreevey resigned in 2004.
These events made people realize that the state needed a better plan for who would take over. The public and news media pushed for a permanent solution. They wanted a clear line of succession.
The Vote for Change
Because of these issues, a special vote was held in 2005. People voted on whether to change the state's constitution. This change would create the job of lieutenant governor.
The voters approved the change. This meant that New Jersey would elect its first lieutenant governor in the 2009 governor's election.
New Jersey's First Lieutenant Governors
Republican Kim Guadagno became the first modern lieutenant governor. Governor Chris Christie chose her as his running mate in the 2009 election. She had been the sheriff in Monmouth County before this.
In 2017, Democratic Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver was elected. She ran with Governor Phil Murphy. Sheila Oliver was sworn in on January 16, 2018. She served until her death on August 1, 2023.
After Sheila Oliver's death, Tahesha Way was appointed lieutenant governor. She was the Secretary of State before this appointment on September 8, 2023.
What the Constitution Says About the Lieutenant Governor
The state constitution sets the rules for the lieutenant governor. These rules were updated in 2006.
Who Can Be Lieutenant Governor?
To be lieutenant governor, a person must meet the same rules as the governor. They must be at least 30 years old. They also need to have been a U.S. citizen for 20 years. Plus, they must have lived in New Jersey for at least seven years.
The candidate for governor chooses their running mate for lieutenant governor. This must happen within 30 days after the primary election results are official. Both the governor and lieutenant governor must belong to the same political party. They run together and serve the same four-year term.
The lieutenant governor must also lead a cabinet-level department or agency. However, they cannot be the state's Attorney General.
Who Takes Over if the Governor Leaves Office?
The constitution clearly states the order of succession if the governor's office becomes empty:
- If the governor dies, resigns, or is removed, the lieutenant governor becomes governor.
- If both the governor and lieutenant governor offices are empty at the same time, the President of the Senate becomes governor.
- If the Senate President cannot take the role, the Speaker of the General Assembly becomes governor.
- If none of these officials can serve, other officers will take over as provided by law.
What if the Lieutenant Governor's Office is Empty?
If the lieutenant governor's office becomes empty, the governor must appoint a new one. This must happen within 45 days. The new lieutenant governor serves for the rest of the term.
If the lieutenant governor becomes governor, or if both offices are empty, a special election might be held. This election would fill the rest of the terms for both offices.
Lieutenant Governors in Colonial Times (1702–1776)
New Jersey had a lieutenant governor position even during its time as a British colony. This role was created by the British monarch. It existed for two short periods.
For most of the colonial era, if the royal governor was absent or died, the president of the Provincial Council would act as governor. This was usually the oldest member of the council.
- Richard Ingoldesby (1702–1710) was the first colonial lieutenant governor. He served under two royal governors. He briefly acted as governor himself.
- Thomas Pownall (1755–1757) was the second colonial lieutenant governor. He served under Governor Jonathan Belcher. Pownall later became the Royal Governor of Massachusetts.
After Pownall left, New Jersey went back to the system where the president of the Governor's Council would act as governor when needed.
List of Lieutenant Governors
Colonial period
| Portrait | Lieutenant Governor | In office | Appointed by | Royal governor |
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| — | Richard Ingoldesby (d. 1719) |
1702–1710 | Queen Anne |
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Thomas Pownall (1722–1805) |
1755–1757 | King George II |
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Modern era (2010–present)
Democrat (2) Republican (1)
| # | Picture | Lieutenant Governor | Party | In office | Governor | Position in Cabinet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | .jpg) |
Kim Guadagno (b. 1959) |
Republican | January 19, 2010 – January 16, 2018 | Chris Christie | Secretary of State |
| 2 |  |
Sheila Oliver (1952–2023) |
Democratic | January 16, 2018 – August 1, 2023 | Phil Murphy | Commissioner of Community Affairs |
| Office vacant from August 1–September 8, 2023 | N/A | |||||
| 3 |  |
Tahesha Way (b. 1971 or 1972) |
Democratic | September 8, 2023 – present | Secretary of State | |
See also
Images for kids
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New Jersey's third constitution was drafted at a convention held at College Avenue Gymnasium at Rutgers University.
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New Jersey State Senator Richard Codey served as the state's acting governor on two occasions.
