Lieutenant gubernatorial elections, 2021
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There were two lieutenant gubernatorial offices on the ballot in 2021. These elections were in New Jersey (on the gubernatorial ballot) and Virginia.
In 45 states, the lieutenant governor is the second-highest executive office, behind the governor. Although the powers and duties of the lieutenant governor vary from state to state, lieutenant governors are responsible for filling vacancies in the office of governor. In many states, lieutenant governors often sit on boards or commissions, and they are often involved in the proceedings of the state Senate.
Partisan breakdown
The following chart displays the number of lieutenant governors' offices held by each party as of the 2021 elections and immediately after the elections took place.
| U.S. Lieutenant Governors Partisan Breakdown | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 2021 | After the 2021 elections | |
| Democratic Party | 20 | 19 | |
| Republican Party | 25 | 26 | |
| Total | 45 | 45 | |
Election results
| State | Selection method | Incumbent | Incumbent ran? | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | Joint ticket |  |
Yes | |
| Virginia | Separate election |  |
No |
Offices that changed partisan control
Two states, New Jersey and Virginia, held elections for lieutenant governor in 2021, and both had Democratic incumbents. The lieutenant governorship changed partisan control from Democrat to Republican in Virginia but did not change in New Jersey, which remained under Democratic control.
| Lieutenant gubernatorial offices that changed party control, 2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Pre-election control | Post-election control | |||
| New Jersey | |||||
| Virginia | |||||
Incumbents not seeking reelection
Across the two lieutenant gubernatorial elections which took place in 2021, one incumbent, Virginia Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax (D), was not running for reelection. Fairfax ran for governor instead.
Historical control
In 1977, the Democratic Party held a total of 34 lieutenant governorships to the Republican Party's 10. The Democratic lead in lieutenant governorships would be maintained until the midterm elections of 1994, which gave the Republican Party control of 23 lieutenant governorships to the Democrats' 21. The midterm elections of 2006 led to the Democratic Party regaining its lead in lieutenant governorships, with 23 to the Republicans' 21. However, the Republican Party regained its lead in the 2008 elections. After that election, lieutenant governorships trended Republican until the 2018 elections, with the party reaching a high of 32 lieutenant governorships to Democrats' 13 in 2015 and 2016. In 2018, Democrats and Republicans each won 15 of the 30 seats up for election, narrowing the gap in seats but keeping the Republican lead in place. In 2019, Democrats gained Kentucky's lieutenant governorship, giving Democrats 21 seats to Republicans' 24.
Important dates and deadlines
New Jersey
- Filing deadline: April 5, 2021
- Democratic and Republican Primaries: June 8, 2021
- General: November 2, 2021
Virginia
- Filing deadline: March 25, 2021
- Republican convention: May 8, 2021
- Democratic primary: June 8, 2021
- General election: November 2, 2021
About the office
Selection process
In 26 states, the lieutenant governor is selected on a ticket with the governor, meaning that lieutenant gubernatorial candidates serve as running mates to gubernatorial candidates, with the winning gubernatorial candidate's running mate becoming lieutenant governor. In eight of these states, there are separate primaries for governor and lieutenant governor, with the winning candidate in each primary appearing on the general election ticket. In the remaining 18 states, gubernatorial candidates may pick their own running mates in a similar fashion to presidential candidates. In 17 states, the lieutenant governor is elected separately from the governor. In Tennessee and West Virginia, the title of lieutenant governor is given to the president of the state Senate.[1]
- Lt. gov. nominated in separate primary and elected in separate general election (17): Alabama, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington
- Lt. gov. nominated in separate primary but runs on a single ticket with gubernatorial nominee in general election (7): Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin
- Lt. gov. chosen by gubernatorial candidate before primary and runs on a single ticket with gubernatorial candidate in both the primary and general election (9): Alaska, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Utah
- Lt. gov. chosen by gubernatorial nominee after primary and runs on a single ticket with gubernatorial nominee in the general election (10): Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, South Carolina, South Dakota
- Lt. gov. is a member of the legislature (2): Tennessee, West Virginia
- Lt. gov. office does not exist in state (5): Arizona, Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, Wyoming
Partisan affiliation
At the time of the 2021 elections, there were 25 Republican lieutenant governors and 19 Democratic lieutenant governors. The lieutenant governorship of Nevada was vacant and last held by a Democrat.
Compensation
According to compensation figures for 2017 compiled by the Council of State Governments in the Book of the States, the highest salary for a lieutenant governor is $162,673 in Pennsylvania while the lowest is $9,612 in Texas. To view the compensation of a specific lieutenant governor, hover your mouse over the state.[2]
Legislative powers
In 27 states, the lieutenant governor is involved with the legislative process as the presiding officer of the state Senate. In 24 of those states, the lieutenant governor also has the power to cast a tiebreaking vote in the Senate, although some states limit this ability to votes on specific issues.[3]
Gubernatorial delegation
In 24 states, the governor may formally transfer a portion of their power to the lieutenant governor.[3]
Acting governor
In 29 states, the lieutenant governor serves as acting governor while the governor is out of the state; three of these states place limits on this role.[3]
Term limits
To view term limits for a particular state, hover your mouse over that state.
Analysis of state elections, 2021
In 2021, six states held elections for executive, legislative, or judicial seats, including elections for three of the nation's 99 state legislative chambers, 15 appellate court seats, and two gubernatorial offices.
See also
- State executive official elections, 2021
- Lieutenant gubernatorial elections, 2020
- State executive official elections, 2020
Footnotes
- ↑ National Lieutenant Governors Association, "Methods of Election," accessed February 22, 2019
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2017 - Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed October 22, 2017
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2017 - Lieutenant Governors: Powers and Duties," accessed December 3, 2017
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