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Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin

Constitutional officer of Wisconsin

Constitutional officer of Wisconsin

FieldValue
postLieutenant Governor
bodyWisconsin
insigniaPrivy Seal of Wisconsin.svg
insigniacaptionPrivy Seal of the State of Wisconsin
flagFlag of Wisconsin.svg
flagsize150px
flagcaptionState flag
imagesize200px
incumbentSara Rodriguez
incumbentsinceJanuary 3, 2023
style
departmentGovernment of Wisconsin
inauguralJohn Edwin Holmes
formation
termlengthFour years, no term limit
salary$80,684
constituting_instrumentWisconsin Constitution, Article V
successionFirst
websiteOfficial page

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

PartyLt. governors
Republican29
Democratic16
Progressive2

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

#ImageLt. GovernorPartyTook officesworn in]].GovernorTerm(s)The fractional terms of some lieutenant governors are not to be understood absolutely literally; rather, they are meant to show single terms during which multiple lieutenant governors served, due to resignations, deaths, and delayed inaugurations.
1[[File:John E. Holmes.png60px]]John E. HolmesDemocraticlast=Andersonfirst=William J.editor=William A. Andersontitle=The Wisconsin blue book, 1929year=1929url=http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?type=header&id=WI.WIBlueBk1929&isize=Maccess-date=2008-01-27publisher=Democrat Printing Companylocation=Madison, Wisconsinpage=136archive-date=2011-06-04archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604150947/http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?type=header&id=WI.WIBlueBk1929&isize=Murl-status=live }}January 7, 1850Nelson Dewey1
2Samuel W. BeallDemocraticJanuary 7, 1850January 5, 1852Nelson Dewey1
3[[File:Timothy Burns (Wisconsin lieutenant governor).jpg60px]]Timothy BurnsDemocraticJanuary 5, 1852title=The History of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsinurl=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_GWxQBg7uyWQCaccess-date=2008-01-14year=1879publisher=Western Historical Companylocation=Racine County, Wisconsinpage=62}}Leonard FarwellDied in office.
vacantSeptember 21, 1853January 2, 1854Leonard FarwellVacant due to death of lieutenant governor.
4[[File:James T. Lewis Cropped.jpg60px]]James T. LewisDemocraticJanuary 2, 1854January 7, 1856William Barstow1
5[[File:Arthur macarthur sr.png60px]]Arthur MacArthur Sr.DemocraticJanuary 7, 1856March 21, 1856William BarstowMacArthur was elected lieutenant governor in the 1855 election; initially Barstow was declared the winner of the gubernatorial election, but when he resigned amid claims that he had won by fraudulent means, MacArthur began to act as governor. After five days, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that Bartow's opponent, Bashford, was the legitimate governor, at which point MacArthur returned to serving as lieutenant governor.
MacArthur acting as governorPeriods during which the lieutenant governor acted as governor are listed only if they would have caused the lieutenant governor to become governor had the 1979 amendment existed during that time; that is, those resulting from the death, resignation, or removal of the governor. Those resulting from the governor's temporary absence from the state, impeachment, or his inability to serve due to illness are not listed.March 21, 1856March 25, 1856Arthur MacArthur Sr.
Arthur MacArthur Sr.DemocraticMarch 25, 1856January 4, 1858Coles Bashford
6[[File:ED Campbell.jpg60px]]Erasmus D. CampbellDemocraticJanuary 4, 1858January 2, 1860Alexander Randall1
7Butler G. NobleRepublicanJanuary 2, 1860January 6, 1862Alexander Randall1
8[[File:Wisconsin Governor Edward Salomon.jpg60px]]Edward SalomonRepublicanJanuary 6, 1862April 19, 1862Louis Harvey
Salomon acting as governorApril 19, 1862January 4, 1864Edward Salomon
vacantJanuary 4, 1864by January 13, 1864James Lewis
9[[File:Wyman Spooner.png60px]]Wyman SpoonerRepublicanby January 13, 1864January 3, 1870James Lewis2
Lucius Fairchild
10[[File:Thaddeus C. Pound - Brady-Handy.jpg60px]]Thaddeus C. PoundRepublicanJanuary 3, 1870January 1, 1872Lucius Fairchild1
11[[File:Milton H. Pettit.png60px]]Milton H. PettitRepublicanJanuary 1, 1872March 23, 1873Cadwallader Washburn
vacantMarch 23, 1873January 5, 1874Cadwallader Washburn
12[[File:Charles D. Parker (Wisconsin lieutenant governor).jpg60px]]Charles D. ParkerDemocraticJanuary 5, 1874January 7, 1878William Taylor2
Harrison Ludington
13[[File:James M. Bingham (Wisconsin lieutenant governor).jpg60px]]James M. BinghamRepublicanJanuary 7, 1878January 2, 1882William Smith2
14[[File:Samuel Fifield.png60px]]Sam S. FifieldRepublicanJanuary 2, 1882January 3, 1887Jeremiah Rusk2During Fifield's first term, the Wisconsin Constitution was amended to say that all elections of state and county officers would henceforth take place in even-numbered years. By the provisions of the amendment, the terms of all officials who would have left office in 1884, including Fifield, were extended by one year.
15[[File:George W Ryland.png60px]]George W. RylandRepublicanJanuary 3, 1887January 5, 1891Jeremiah Rusk2
William Hoard
16[[File:Jan Vilímek - Karel Jonáš HL.jpg60px]]Charles JonasDemocraticJanuary 5, 1891April 4, 1894George Peck1Resigned from office.
vacantApril 4, 1894January 7, 1895George PeckVacant due to resignation of lieutenant governor.
17[[File:Emil Baensch (June 12, 1857 – August 17, 1939) circa 1915.jpg60px]]Emil BaenschRepublicanJanuary 7, 1895January 2, 1899William Upham2
Edward Scofield
18[[File:Jesse Stone (Wisconsin politician).gif60px]]Jesse StoneRepublicanJanuary 2, 1899May 11, 1902Edward Scofield1
Robert La Follette Sr.
vacantMay 11, 1902January 5, 1903Robert La Follette Sr.
19[[File:James Ole Davidson (Wisconsin Governor).png60px]]James O. DavidsonRepublicanJanuary 5, 1903January 1, 1906Robert La Follette Sr.1
Davidson acting as governorJanuary 1, 1906January 7, 1907James Davidson
20[[File:William D. Connor (American Lumbermen; vol. 3, 1906).png60px]]William D. ConnorRepublicanJanuary 7, 1907January 4, 1909James Davidson1
21[[File:Wisconsin lieutenant governor John Strange.png60px]]John StrangeRepublicanJanuary 4, 1909January 2, 1911James Davidson1
22[[File:Wisconsin politician Thomas Morris.png60px]]Thomas MorrisRepublicanJanuary 2, 1911January 4, 1915Francis McGovern2
23[[File:Edward Dithmar.png60px]]Edward F. DithmarRepublicanJanuary 4, 1915January 3, 1921Emanuel Philipp3
24[[File:George Comings (Wisconsin lieutenant governor).jpg60px]]George F. ComingsRepublicanJanuary 3, 1921January 5, 1925John Blaine2
25[[File:Henry Alan Huber.jpg60px]]Henry A. HuberRepublicanJanuary 5, 1925January 2, 1933John Blaine4
Fred R. Zimmerman
Walter Kohler Sr.
Philip La Follette
26[[File:Thomas J. O'Malley.jpg60px]]Thomas J. O'MalleyDemocraticJanuary 2, 1933May 27, 1936Albert Schmedeman1
Philip La Follette
vacantMay 27, 1936January 4, 1937Philip La Follette
27[[File:Henry Gunderson (WI).png60px]]Henry A. GundersonProgressivetitle=New Administrations Startedwork=The Oshkosh Northwesternpage=6date=January 4, 1937url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=7578853format=PDFaccess-date=2008-02-23 }}October 16, 1937Philip La Follette
vacantOctober 16, 1937May 16, 1938Philip La Follette
28[[File:Herman Ekern (WI).jpg60px]]Herman L. EkernProgressiveMay 16, 1938January 2, 1939Philip La FolletteAppointed to fill vacancy.
29[[File:Walter Samuel Goodland.jpg60px]]Walter S. GoodlandRepublicantitle=Mayor's Brother Is Lieutenant Governorwork=Appleton Post-Crescentdate=January 3, 1939url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=6439466format=PDFaccess-date=2008-02-23}}January 4, 1943Julius Heil2
Goodland acting as governorJanuary 4, 1943January 1, 1945Walter GoodlandOrland Loomis]] was elected governor. When Loomis died before taking office, Goodland acted as governor for the entire term, per a ruling of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
30[[File:Rennebohm Governor.jpg60px]]Oscar RennebohmRepublicantitle=Badger Officials Are Inauguratedwork=Ironwood Daily Globepage=2date=January 2, 1945url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=81405724format=PDFaccess-date=2008-02-23}}March 12, 1947Walter Goodland1
Rennebohm acting as governorMarch 12, 1947January 3, 1949Oscar Rennebohm
31[[File:George M. Smith (lieutenant governor of Wisconsin).jpg60px]]George M. SmithRepublicanJanuary 3, 1949January 3, 1955Oscar Rennebohm3
Walter Kohler Jr.
32[[File:Warren P. Knowles (Wisconsin governor).jpg60px]]Warren P. KnowlesRepublicanJanuary 3, 1955January 5, 1959Walter Kohler Jr.2
Vernon Thomson
33[[File:Photograph of White House aide Philleo Nash with a fish he caught during President Truman's vacation at Key West... - NARA - 200538 (cropped).jpg60px]]Philleo NashDemocratictitle=Gaylord Nelson Becomes State's 34th Governorwork=Stevens Point Daily Journalpage=1date=January 5, 1959url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=43361format=PDFaccess-date=2008-02-23 }}January 2, 1961Gaylord Nelson1
34[[File:Warren P. Knowles (Wisconsin governor).jpg60px]]Warren P. KnowlesRepublicantitle=Nelson Calls for Unitywork=Wisconsin State Journalpage=1date=January 3, 1961url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=100792297format=PDFaccess-date=2008-02-23}}January 7, 1963Gaylord Nelson1
35[[File:Jack B. Olson.png60px]]Jack B. OlsonRepublicantitle=Reynolds Calls for Unity At Inaugural Ceremonieswork=Oshkosh Daily Northwesternpage=1date=January 7, 1963url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=17738968format=PDFaccess-date=2008-02-23}}January 4, 1965John Reynolds1
36[[File:Patrick Lucey.png60px]]Patrick J. LuceyDemocratictitle=Knowles Seeks State's Aid in Move Forwardwork=Wisconsin State Journalpage=1date=January 5, 1965url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=103358189format=PDFaccess-date=2008-02-23 }}January 2, 1967Warren Knowles1
37[[File:Jack B. Olson.png60px]]Jack B. OlsonRepublicantitle=Knowles Is Sworn Inwork=The Holland Evening Sentinelpage=8date=January 3, 1967url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=10333775format=PDFaccess-date=2008-02-23}}January 4, 1971Warren Knowles2
38[[File:Martin J. Schreiber (1977).png60px]]Martin J. SchreiberDemocratictitle=Lucey Hopes to Bridge Troubled State Waterswork=Wisconsin State Journalpage=1date=January 5, 1971url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=103397121format=PDFaccess-date=2008-02-23}}July 6, 1977Patrick Lucey1As per a 1967 amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution, Schreiber's first term was the first lieutenant gubernatorial term to last for 4 years.
Schreiber acting as governorJuly 6, 1977January 3, 1979Martin Schreiber
39[[File:Russell A. Olson (Wisconsin lieutenant governor).jpg60px]]Russell A. OlsonRepublicantitle=Inaugural Caps Dreyfus Miracleurl=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=84315408format=PDFwork=Ironwood Daily Globelocation=Ironwood, Michiganpage=3date=January 4, 1979access-date=2008-01-27}}January 3, 1983Lee Dreyfus1
40[[File:James Flynn (WI).png60px]]James FlynnDemocratictitle=Earl discusses financial crunchurl=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=153619613format=PDFwork=Ironwood Daily Globelocation=Ironwood, Michiganpage=11date=January 4, 1983access-date=2010-04-21}}January 5, 1987Anthony Earl1
41[[File:Governor Scott McCallum 2001 (cropped).jpg60px]]Scott McCallumRepublicantitle=State needs new ideas, says Wisconsin governorurl=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=152332188format=PDFwork=Ironwood Daily Globelocation=Ironwood, Michiganpage=6date=January 5, 1987access-date=2008-01-27}}February 1, 2001Tommy Thompson3
vacantFebruary 1, 2001May 9, 2001Scott McCallumVacant due to lieutenant governor becoming governor for remainder of unexpired term.
42[[File:Margaret Farrow (Wisconsin lieutenant governor).jpg60px]]Margaret A. FarrowRepublicanMay 9, 2001January 6, 2003Scott McCallum
43[[File:Lawton barbara official.jpg60px]]Barbara LawtonDemocraticfirst=Stevenlast=Walterstitle=The guard changeswork=The Milwaukee Journal Sentinellocation=Milwaukee, Wisconsinpage=1Adate=January 7, 2003id= }}January 3, 2011Jim Doyle2
44[[File:Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch (cropped).jpg60px]]Rebecca KleefischRepublicanJanuary 3, 2011January 7, 2019Scott Walker2
45[[File:Mandela Barnes Headshot (1).jpg60px]]Mandela BarnesDemocraticJanuary 7, 2019January 3, 2023Tony Evers1
46[[File:Sara Rodriguez, 2022.jpg60px]]Sara RodriguezDemocraticJanuary 3, 2023Incumbent1

Notes

References

;General

;Specific

References

  1. (2019). "Salaries of Wisconsin State Elected Officials". Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau.
  2. (2007). "State of Wisconsin 2007–2008 Blue Book". Wisconsin Legislature Joint Committee on Legislative Organization.
  3. (2007). "State of Wisconsin 2007–2008 Blue Book". Wisconsin Legislature Joint Committee on Legislative Organization.
  4. (April 23, 2007). "Previous Lieutenant Governors". Office of the Lieutenant Governor.
  5. (2007). "State of Wisconsin 2007–2008 Blue Book". Wisconsin Legislature Joint Committee on Legislative Organization.
  6. (2007). "State of Wisconsin 2007–2008 Blue Book". Wisconsin Legislature Joint Committee on Legislative Organization.
  7. (2007-04-23). "History". Office of the Lieutenant Governor.
  8. "State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2007–2008".
  9. Tuttle, Charles Richard. (1875). "An Illustrated History of the State of Wisconsin". B. B. Russell.
  10. Anderson, William J.. (1929). "The Wisconsin blue book, 1929". Democrat Printing Company.
  11. (1879). "The History of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin". Western Historical Company.
  12. (January 5, 1864). "Inaugurated". The Waukesha Freeman.
  13. (January 13, 1864). "Wisconsin Legislature". Wisconsin State Journal.
  14. (January 15, 1864). "Wisconsin Legislature". Janesville Daily Gazette.
  15. (1866). "The legislative manual, of the state of Wisconsin; comprising Jefferson's manual, rules, forms, and laws, for the regulation of business; also, lists and tables for reference". Wm. J. Park, State Printer.
  16. (January 12, 1895). "UPHAM INAUGURATED". The Centralia Enterprise and Tribune.
  17. (May 12, 1902). "Lieut. Gov. Stone Dead". New York Times.
  18. (January 3, 1933). "Governor Takes Oath Amid Cheers of 5,000". Wisconsin State Journal.
  19. (May 27, 1936). "Lieutenant Governor O'Malley Dead". La Crosse Tribune and Leader-Press.
  20. (January 4, 1937). "New Administrations Started". The Oshkosh Northwestern.
  21. (January 3, 1939). "Mayor's Brother Is Lieutenant Governor". Appleton Post-Crescent.
  22. (January 2, 1945). "Badger Officials Are Inaugurated". Ironwood Daily Globe.
  23. (January 3, 1949). "Rennebohm Inaugurated for Own Term as Governor". Waukesha Daily Freeman.
  24. (January 3, 1955). "Gov. Kohler, Four State Officers Are Inaugurated". The Sheboygan Press.
  25. (January 5, 1959). "Gaylord Nelson Becomes State's 34th Governor". Stevens Point Daily Journal.
  26. (January 3, 1961). "Nelson Calls for Unity". Wisconsin State Journal.
  27. (January 7, 1963). "Reynolds Calls for Unity At Inaugural Ceremonies". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern.
  28. (January 5, 1965). "Knowles Seeks State's Aid in Move Forward". Wisconsin State Journal.
  29. (January 3, 1967). "Knowles Is Sworn In". The Holland Evening Sentinel.
  30. (January 5, 1971). "Lucey Hopes to Bridge Troubled State Waters". Wisconsin State Journal.
  31. (January 4, 1979). "Inaugural Caps Dreyfus Miracle". Ironwood Daily Globe.
  32. (January 4, 1983). "Earl discusses financial crunch". Ironwood Daily Globe.
  33. (January 5, 1987). "State needs new ideas, says Wisconsin governor". Ironwood Daily Globe.
  34. Walters, Steven. (January 7, 2003). "The guard changes". The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
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