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| Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota | |
|---|---|
| Post | Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota |
| Body | Minnesota |
| Incumbent | Peggy Flanagan |
| Incumbentsince | January 7, 2019 |
| Department | Executive branch of Minnesota |
| Style | The Honorable |
| Member of | Minnesota Executive Council |
| Reports to | Governor of Minnesota |
| Seat | Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| Appointer | Election |
| Termlength | Four years, renewable once consecutively |
| Formation | 1858 |
| Inaugural | William Holcombe |
Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota The lieutenant governor of Minnesota is the second-highest constitutional officer in Minnesota, serving alongside the Governor of Minnesota as part of the state's executive leadership. The officeholders have participated in state administration across administrations of Tim Pawlenty, Mark Dayton, Jesse Ventura, Arne Carlson, and Wendell Anderson, and have engaged with institutions such as the Minnesota Senate, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, University of Minnesota, and the Minnesota National Guard.
The lieutenant governor is a statewide elected official who serves on the Minnesota Executive Council and represents Minnesota at events hosted by entities like the National Governors Association, the Midwest Governors' Association, NGA Center for Best Practices, and regional bodies including the Great Lakes Commission and the Upper Midwest Governors' Conference. The office intersects with agencies such as the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Minnesota Department of Health, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency through ceremonial and policy roles. Historically the lieutenant governor has presided over the Minnesota Senate during sessions influenced by legislative leaders from the Minnesota House of Representatives and the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party.
Lieutenant governors are elected on a joint ticket with the Governor of Minnesota in statewide races subject to rules of the Minnesota Secretary of State. Campaigns have been contested by parties including the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, Republican Party of Minnesota, Independence Party of Minnesota, and third-party coalitions tied to figures like Jesse Ventura and Norm Coleman. Terms are four years following amendments to the Minnesota Constitution; prior to 1962, terms and electoral practices differed under earlier constitutional provisions shaped by legislators such as Ignatius Donnelly and governors like Henry Sibley. Election administration follows statutes codified by the Minnesota Legislature and overseen by the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board.
The constitution and statutes assign the lieutenant governor duties that include presiding duties historically in the Minnesota Senate, leadership on commissions like the Minnesota Arts Board and the Minnesota Historical Society, and representation in interstate compacts such as the Great Lakes Compact participants. Officeholders have led initiatives relating to public health partnerships with the Minnesota Department of Health and collaborated with higher education leaders at the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and the University of Minnesota Board of Regents. The role's functional powers have evolved through court decisions from venues such as the Minnesota Supreme Court and legislative reforms passed by the Minnesota Legislature.
Under the Minnesota Constitution, the lieutenant governor succeeds to the governorship in cases of death, resignation, or removal of the governor, a protocol relevant to successions involving governors like Rudy Perpich and Al Quie. The office also serves as acting governor when the governor is incapacitated, absent, or otherwise unable to perform duties, a mechanism that interfaces with executive orders issued by governors such as Arne Carlson and Mark Dayton. Succession proceedings align with federal interactions when Minnesota coordinates with agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Guard Bureau during emergencies.
Since statehood in 1858 the office has been held by figures including inaugural lieutenant governor William Holcombe, influential 19th-century politicians such as Henry Sibley associates, 20th-century leaders including Karl Rolvaag and Louise Erdrich-era contemporaries, and recent occupants like Rudy Perpich's lieutenant governors, Joan Anderson Growe-era officials, and contemporary leaders including Yvonne Prettner Solon and the incumbent Peggy Flanagan. Notable episodes include party realignments involving the Farmer–Labor Party fusion into the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, civil rights-era policy debates featuring Hubert Humphrey allies, and populist upsets such as the election of Jesse Ventura. Lieutenant governors have influenced policy during eras shaped by presidents like Franklin D. Roosevelt, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Ronald Reagan through state-federal collaborations.
Compensation for the lieutenant governor is set by state law and adjusted by recommendations from bodies including the Minnesota Management and Budget office and the Minnesota Legislature's compensation committees. Benefits and allowances parallel those of other statewide officers such as the Attorney General of Minnesota and the State Auditor of Minnesota. While Minnesota does not maintain an official executive mansion for the lieutenant governor akin to the Minnesota Governor's Residence reserved for governors, officeholders are provided office space in Saint Paul facilities and staff allocations administered through the Minnesota Department of Administration.
The lieutenant governor serves as the principal deputy to the Governor of Minnesota and often co-develops policy priorities with governors from parties including the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party and the Republican Party of Minnesota. Collaboration spans interactions with agency commissioners such as heads of the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota Department of Human Services, coordination with legislative leaders like the President of the Minnesota Senate and the Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, and engagement with civic institutions including the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and AFL–CIO affiliates in Minnesota.
Category:Politics of Minnesota Category:State constitutional officers of the United States