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Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota facts for kids

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Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
Peggy Flanagan and Premier Kinew (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Peggy Flanagan

since January 8, 2019
Style
  • Mister or Madam Lieutenant Governor
    (informal)
  • The Honorable
    (formal)
Seat Minnesota State Capitol
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Appointer General election
Term length Four years, no term limits
Constituting instrument Minnesota Constitution of 1858, Article V
Inaugural holder William Holcombe
Formation May 11, 1858
(167 years ago)
 (May 11, 1858)
Succession First
Salary $82,959
Website Official page: https://mn.gov/governor/about/peggyflanagan/

The lieutenant governor of Minnesota is an important leader in the executive branch of the U.S. state of Minnesota. This person helps the governor run the state. Since Minnesota became a state, fifty different people have served as lieutenant governor. The current lieutenant governor is Peggy Flanagan. She is a member of the DFL Party and is the first Native American person to be elected to a statewide leadership role in Minnesota.

What Does the Lieutenant Governor Do?

The lieutenant governor helps the governor manage the state's government. If the governor is away or unable to do their job, the lieutenant governor steps in. The governor can also give the lieutenant governor specific tasks or responsibilities.

The lieutenant governor is a key member of the governor's team. They are involved in important decisions about state policies and how the state's money is spent. They also serve on the Executive Council and lead several important committees. These include groups that plan for security at the Capitol building and help preserve the State Capitol.

A Look at the History of the Office

Over time, the role of the lieutenant governor has changed. In 1886, elections for this office moved from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years. Starting with the 1962 election, the term of office increased from two years to four years.

Before the 1974 election, the governor and lieutenant governor were elected separately. The lieutenant governor also had a special role in the state's lawmaking body, the Senate. They used to lead the Senate meetings.

However, since 1974, the lieutenant governor is elected together with the governor as a team. They no longer lead the state Senate. Marlene Johnson, elected in 1982, was the first woman to become lieutenant governor of Minnesota. She ran alongside Rudy Perpich. Since her time, all eight people who have held the office after her have also been women.

Past Lieutenant Governors

Here is a list of some of the people who have served as Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota.

Parties

      Democratic       Democratic–Farmer–Labor       Farmer–Labor       Republican/Independent Republican       Reform/Independence

No. Image Lt. Governor Took office Left office Governor(s) served under Party
1 WilliamHolcombe1858.jpg William Holcombe May 24, 1858 January 2, 1860 Henry H. Sibley Democratic
2 Ignatius-Donnelly.jpg Ignatius L. Donnelly January 2, 1860 March 4, 1863 Alexander Ramsey Republican
3 HenrySwift.jpg Henry Adoniram Swift March 4, 1863 July 10, 1863 Alexander Ramsey Republican
Office vacant from July 10, 1863 – January 11, 1864
4 Charles D Sherwood.jpg Charles D. Sherwood January 11, 1864 January 8, 1866 Stephen Miller Republican
5 THArmstrong.jpg Thomas H. Armstrong January 8, 1866 January 7, 1870 William R. Marshall Republican
6 William Hall Yale.jpg William H. Yale January 7, 1870 January 9, 1874 Horace Austin Republican
7 Alphonso Barto.jpg Alphonso Barto January 9, 1874 January 7, 1876 Cushman K. Davis Republican
8 RepWakefield (cropped).jpg James Wakefield January 7, 1876 January 10, 1880 John S. Pillsbury Republican
9 Charles Andrew Gilman (1833-1927).jpg Charles A. Gilman January 10, 1880 January 4, 1887 John S. Pillsbury
Lucius F. Hubbard
Republican
10 AlE.Rice.jpg Albert E. Rice January 4, 1887 January 5, 1891 Andrew R. McGill
William R. Merriam
Republican
11 Gideon Sprague Ives.jpg Gideon S. Ives January 5, 1891 January 3, 1893 William R. Merriam
Knute Nelson
Republican
12 DavidClough.jpg David Marston Clough January 3, 1893 January 31, 1895 Knute Nelson Republican
13 Frank Arah Day.jpg Frank A. Day January 31, 1895 January 5, 1897 David M. Clough Republican
14 John LaPorte Gibbs.jpg John L. Gibbs January 5, 1897 January 3, 1899 David M. Clough Republican
15 LyndonAmbroseSmith.jpg Lyndon Ambrose Smith January 3, 1899 January 5, 1903 John Lind (Democratic)
Samuel R. Van Sant (Republican)
Republican
16 Ray W. Jones The Book of Minnesota (cropped).jpg Ray W. Jones January 5, 1903 January 7, 1907 Samuel R. Van Sant
John A. Johnson
Republican
17 AOEberhart-official.jpg Adolph Olson Eberhart January 7, 1907 September 21, 1909 John A. Johnson (Democratic) Republican
18 Edward Everett Smith.jpg Edward Everett Smith September 25, 1909 January 3, 1911 Adolph O. Eberhart Republican
19 Samuel Y Gordon.jpg Samuel Y. Gordon January 3, 1911 January 7, 1913 Adolph O. Eberhart Republican
20 JosephBurnquist.jpg Joseph A. A. Burnquist January 7, 1913 December 30, 1915 Adolph O. Eberhart
Winfield S. Hammond
Republican
Office vacant from December 30, 1915 – October 28, 1916
21 George Henry Sullivan.jpg George H. Sullivan October 28, 1916 January 2, 1917 J. A. A. Burnquist Republican
22 Thomas Frankson.jpg Thomas Frankson January 2, 1917 January 4, 1921 J. A. A. Burnquist Republican
23 Louis L. Collins LCCN2014716089.jpg Louis L. Collins January 4, 1921 January 6, 1925 J. A. O. Preus Republican
24 William Ignatius Nolan.jpg William I. Nolan January 6, 1925 June 1929 Theodore Christianson Republican
25 Charles Edward Adams.jpg Charles Edward Adams June 25, 1929 January 6, 1931 Theodore Christianson Republican
26 Henry Arens 1931 Oval Crop Edit.png Henry M. Arens January 6, 1931 January 3, 1933 Floyd B. Olson Farmer–Labor
27 K. K. Solberg 1933 Oval Crop.png Konrad K. Solberg January 3, 1933 January 8, 1935 Floyd B. Olson Farmer–Labor
28 Hjalmar Petersen 1935 Oval Crop Edit.png Hjalmar Petersen January 8, 1935 August 24, 1936 Floyd B. Olson Farmer–Labor
* WilliamBurdetteRichardson.jpg William B. Richardson1 August 24, 1936 January 1, 1937 Hjalmar Petersen Republican
29 Gottfrid Lindsten.jpg Gottfrid Lindsten January 5, 1937 January 2, 1939 Elmer A. Benson Farmer–Labor
30 C. Elmer Anderson.jpg C. Elmer Anderson January 2, 1939 January 4, 1943 Harold Stassen Republican
31 EdwardThye.jpg Edward John Thye January 4, 1943 April 27, 1943 Harold Stassen Republican
32 Archie H. Miller May 6, 1943 January 2, 1945 Edward John Thye Republican
33 C. Elmer Anderson.jpg C. Elmer Anderson January 2, 1945 September 27, 1951 Luther W. Youngdahl Republican
Office vacant from September 27, 1951 – January 5, 1953
34 AncherNelsen2.jpg Ancher Nelsen January 5, 1953 May 1, 1953 C. Elmer Anderson Republican
Office vacant from May 1, 1953 – September 3, 1954
35 Donald O. Wright2 September 3, 1954 January 3, 1955 C. Elmer Anderson Republican
36 Karl Rolvaag.jpg Karl Rolvaag January 3, 1955 January 8, 1963 Orville L. Freeman
Elmer L. Andersen
Democratic–Farmer–Labor
37 Sandy Keith.jpg Alexander M. Keith January 8, 1963 January 2, 1967 Elmer L. Andersen
Karl F. Rolvaag
Democratic–Farmer–Labor
38 James B. Goetz January 2, 1967 January 4, 1971 Harold LeVander Republican
39 Rudy Perpich.jpg Rudy Perpich January 4, 1971 December 29, 1976 Wendell R. Anderson Democratic–Farmer–Labor
40 Alec G. Olson-89th Congress (1965).jpeg Alec G. Olson3 December 29, 1976 January 4, 1979 Rudy Perpich Democratic–Farmer–Labor
41 Lou Wangberg.jpg Lou Wangberg January 4, 1979 January 3, 1983 Al Quie Independent Republican
42 Marlene Johnson.jpg Marlene Johnson January 3, 1983 January 7, 1991 Rudy Perpich Democratic–Farmer–Labor
43 Joanell Dyrstad January 7, 1991 January 3, 1995 Arne H. Carlson Independent Republican
44 Joanne Benson January 3, 1995 January 4, 1999 Arne H. Carlson IR/Republican
45 Mae Schunk January 4, 1999 January 6, 2003 Jesse Ventura Reform/Independence
46 Carol Molnau.jpg Carol Molnau January 6, 2003 January 3, 2011 Tim Pawlenty Republican
47 Yvonne Prettner Solon.jpg Yvonne Prettner Solon January 3, 2011 January 5, 2015 Mark Dayton Democratic–Farmer–Labor
48 Tina Smith 2015.jpg Tina Smith January 5, 2015 January 2, 2018 Democratic–Farmer–Labor
49 Lieutenant Governor Michelle Fischbach.jpg Michelle Fischbach4 January 2, 2018 January 7, 2019 Republican
50 Peggy Flanagan and Premier Kinew (cropped).jpg Peggy Flanagan January 7, 2019 Incumbent Tim Walz Democratic–Farmer–Labor

1 Richardson was actually president pro tem of the Minnesota Senate; became acting lieutenant governor when lieutenant governor Hjalmar Petersen became governor on the death of Floyd B. Olson, but Richardson was never sworn in.

2 Wright was president pro tem of the Minnesota Senate and assumed the office of lieutenant governor in 1954 after Lieutenant Governor Ancher Nelsen resigned to become administrator of the Rural Electric Administration.

3 As president of the Minnesota Senate, Olson assumed office of lieutenant governor when Rudy Perpich, then lieutenant governor, became governor on the resignation of Wendell Anderson; Anderson arranged with Perpich to be appointed to the United States Senate after the resignation of Walter Mondale, who had been elected vice president.

4 As president of the Minnesota Senate, Fischbach became lieutenant governor following the resignation of Tina Smith. Smith was appointed by Governor Mark Dayton to fill the United States Senate seat vacated by Al Franken. Fischbach resigned from the state Senate and took the oath of office for lieutenant governor on May 25, 2018.

Understanding Minnesota Political Parties

Political parties in Minnesota have changed their names over the years. Here's a quick guide:

  • Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL): This party was formed on April 15, 1944. It happened when the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party joined together. The DFL Party is connected to the national Democratic Party.
  • Republican Party of Minnesota: From November 15, 1975, to September 23, 1995, this party was called the Independent Republican party (IR). It has always been connected to the national Republican Party.
  • Independence Party of Minnesota: This party started in 1992. In 1995, it joined with the national Reform Party and changed its name to the Reform Party of Minnesota. In 2000, it separated from the national Reform party and went back to being called the Independence Party.

See Also

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