Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin

Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
Post	Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
Body	State of Wisconsin
Incumbent	Sara Rodriguez
Incumbentsince	January 3, 2023
Style	The Honorable
Status	Elected constitutional officer
Seat	Madison, Wisconsin
Appointer	Elected by popular vote
Termlength	Four years, no term limits
Formation	1848
Inaugural	John Edwin Holmes

Contents

Office and role
Powers and duties
Election and succession
History
Notable officeholders
Salary and residence
See also

Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin

The Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin is an elected constitutional officer in the State of Wisconsin who serves as the second-highest executive official under the Governor of Wisconsin. The office originated at statehood in 1848 and has been held by figures from the Republican Party, Democratic Party, Progressive Party, and independents. The lieutenant governor performs statewide duties, stands in for the governor and is embedded in the succession framework alongside officials such as the Secretary of State of Wisconsin and the Attorney General of Wisconsin.

Office and role

The lieutenant governor occupies a constitutionally created office defined by the Constitution of Wisconsin. The position is part of the executive branch alongside the Governor of Wisconsin, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, and Attorney General of Wisconsin. Historically, the lieutenant governor has presided over the Wisconsin Senate and represented the state at ceremonial events with counterparts like the Lieutenant Governor of New York, Lieutenant Governor of California, Lieutenant Governor of Texas, and Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. Officeholders have worked with federal officials including the President of the United States, United States Senator from Wisconsin, United States Representative from Wisconsin, and agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency during state emergencies.

Powers and duties

Statutory and constitutional duties assign the lieutenant governor a blend of legislative and executive functions. The lieutenant governor formerly served as presiding officer of the Wisconsin Senate and cast tie-breaking votes in manners akin to the Vice President of the United States in the United States Senate. Administrative responsibilities have included membership on state commissions and boards analogous to those populated by the Governor of California, Governor of New York, and Governor of Texas appointees. In practice, duties vary by administration: some lieutenant governors have led initiatives tied to policy areas championed by governors like Tony Evers, Scott Walker, Tommy Thompson, and Gaylord Nelson.

Election and succession

The lieutenant governor is elected on a joint ticket with the Governor of Wisconsin in statewide general elections held every four years, a system comparable to that used in Illinois, Maryland, and Minnesota. Primary contests within parties such as the Democratic Party and Republican Party determine gubernatorial nominees and running mates ahead of general elections that follow the United States presidential election cycle in some states but not in Wisconsin. Succession rules place the lieutenant governor first in line to succeed the governor in cases of death, resignation, or removal, followed by officials like the Secretary of State and Attorney General. Historical precedents of succession mirror events in other jurisdictions such as the California gubernatorial recall election, 2003 and the elevation of the Vice President of the United States under the 25th Amendment to the United States Constitution.

History

The office has evolved since Wisconsin's admission to the Union in 1848. Early lieutenant governors such as John Edwin Holmes operated under a 19th-century political framework shared with figures like Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson in defining state executive roles. The Progressive Era and mid-20th century saw influence from leaders including Robert M. La Follette Sr. and Gaylord Nelson, while the postwar period featured collaboration with federal officials such as Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman on New Deal and Cold War policies. Political realignments brought administrations under William Proxmire, Patrick Lucey, and Martin J. Schreiber, and more recent history includes partnerships with Tommy Thompson, Scott Walker, and Tony Evers. Institutional changes in legislative procedure and electoral law reflect reforms inspired by national developments including the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and state-level judicial decisions from the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Notable officeholders

Notable lieutenant governors include Martin J. Schreiber, who succeeded to the governorship; Russ Feingold—though primarily known as a United States Senator rather than lieutenant governor; Barbara Lawton, the first elected female lieutenant governor of Wisconsin; Barbara Lorman; and Rebecca Kleefisch, who later ran for governor. Others of historical note include Orland Steen Loomis, Walter J. Kohler Jr., and progressive figures associated with Robert M. La Follette Sr. Families and political machines involving actors such as Joseph McCarthy and organizations like the Progressive Party (United States, 1924–1946) have shaped the office's partisan contours.

Salary and residence

The lieutenant governor's compensation is set by state statute and periodically adjusted by commissions analogous to compensation boards that affect offices like the Governor of Wisconsin and Attorney General of Wisconsin. Salaries of state executives are often compared with peers in states such as Illinois, Michigan, and Minnesota. There is no official governor's mansion reserved specifically for the lieutenant governor in Madison, Wisconsin; lodging and travel expenses are administered through the Wisconsin Department of Administration and budgetary appropriations overseen by the Wisconsin Legislature.