Lieutenant Governor of Virginia Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia
Seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia
Incumbent Winsome Earle Sears since January 15, 2022
Style	The Honorable
Term length	Four years, no term limits
Inaugural holder	Shelton Leake
Formation	1852
Website	www.ltgov.virginia.gov/

The lieutenant governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia is an important elected official in the state of Virginia. This person is chosen by voters every four years. They are elected at the same time as the governor and the attorney general.

Currently, Winsome Earle Sears holds this position. She was elected in 2021. She is the first woman of color to ever serve as Virginia's lieutenant governor. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected separately. This means they can belong to different political parties. The lieutenant governor leads the Senate of Virginia meetings. They are also next in line to become governor. If the governor leaves office for any reason, the lieutenant governor steps in. In Virginia, a governor cannot serve two terms in a row. However, the lieutenant governor can serve as many terms as they are elected for.

History of the Lieutenant Governor
How the Lieutenant Governor is Elected
What the Lieutenant Governor Does
Images for kids
See also

History of the Lieutenant Governor

The idea of a lieutenant governor in Virginia started a long time ago. Back in the 1630s, the British King or Queen would appoint helpers for the governors of the Colony of Virginia. These helpers were part of a group called the Governor's Council. One person on this council was chosen to be the governor's deputy. This deputy would act as governor when the main governor was away.

The modern job of lieutenant governor began in 1851. This was when Virginia adopted a new state constitution. This constitution said that the people would vote for the lieutenant governor. It also made the lieutenant governor the leader of the Virginia Senate. Before this, the Senate chose its own leader.

During the American Civil War, Virginia had two different governments. Each government had its own lieutenant governors. After the war, from 1865 to 1870, military generals appointed the lieutenant governors. In 1870, Virginia rejoined the United States. From then on, the people voted for their lieutenant governor again. A new constitution was also adopted that year. It gave the lieutenant governor the power to break ties when the Senate voted.

Virginia has had some important "firsts" in this role. Douglas Wilder became Virginia's first Black lieutenant governor in 1986. Winsome Sears made history on January 15, 2022. She became the first woman to hold the office.

How the Lieutenant Governor is Elected

The lieutenant governor is one of three top officials elected by the people in Virginia. The other two are the governor and the attorney general. Voters choose the lieutenant governor on their own ballot. This means they don't run as a team with the governor. There is no limit to how many terms a lieutenant governor can serve. If the person elected as governor cannot take office, the lieutenant governor-elect becomes governor instead.

What the Lieutenant Governor Does

The Virginia Constitution says the lieutenant governor is the leader of the Senate. If the lieutenant governor is not there, another senator called the president pro tempore leads the meeting. The lieutenant governor can only vote in the Senate to break a tie. This power usually applies to most laws. However, there have been questions about whether they can break ties on things like changing the constitution. These questions have not yet been decided in court.

The constitution also states that the lieutenant governor takes over as governor. This happens if the governor dies, resigns, or is removed from office. State laws also allow the lieutenant governor to serve on various state boards and groups. The Virginia General Assembly can remove the lieutenant governor from office. This would happen through a process called impeachment.

The lieutenant governor's office is in the Oliver Hill Building in Richmond, Virginia. Their pay is decided by law. It cannot be changed during their term in office. As of 2021, the yearly salary was $36,321. This job is considered part-time. So, most lieutenant governors also have other jobs or are retired.