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Lieutenant Governor of Iowa
| Iowa Lieutenant Governor | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $103,212 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $3,220,176 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | Iowa Constitution, Article IV, Section II |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Lieutenant Governor of Iowa
Chris Cournoyer | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 3, 2026 |
| Last election: | November 8, 2022 |
| Other Iowa Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Secretary of Agriculture • Director of Education • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Director • Labor Commissioner • Utilities Board | |
The Lieutenant Governor of Iowa is an elected constitutional officer, the second ranking officer of the executive branch and the first officer in line to succeed the Governor of Iowa. The lieutenant governor is popularly elected every four years by a plurality and has no term limit.
Current officeholder
- See also: Current Lieutenant Governors
The current Lieutenant Governor of Iowa is Chris Cournoyer (R). Cournoyer assumed office in 2024.
Authority
The Iowa Constitution establishes the office of the lieutenant governor in Article IV, the Executive Department.
Under Article IV, Section II:
|
The governor and the lieutenant governor shall be elected by the qualified electors at the time and place of voting for members of the general assembly... |
Qualifications
| State Executives |
|---|
 |
| Current Governors |
| Gubernatorial Elections |
| 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 |
| Current Lt. Governors |
| Lt. Governor Elections |
| 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 |
A candidate for lieutenant governor is required to be:
- at least 30 years old by the time of election
- a United States citizen
- a resident of Iowa for at least two years before the election
Under Article IV, Section 15, the lieutenant governor may not hold any other federal or state office while serving.
Elections
- See also: Gubernatorial election cycles by state
- See also: Election of lieutenant governors
Iowa elects lieutenant governors in the midterm elections, that is, even years that are not presidential election years (e.g. 2018, 2022, 2026, and 2030). Legally, the lieutenant gubernatorial inauguration is always set for the first Tuesday after the second Monday in the January following an election.
If two candidates are tied, the Iowa General Assembly casts ballots to choose the winner.
The governor and lieutenant governor run together on the same ticket. Prior to the 1990 election, the governor and the lieutenant governor ran separately.
2022
General election
General election for Lieutenant Governor of Iowa
Incumbent Adam Gregg defeated Eric Van Lancker and Marco Battaglia in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of Iowa on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Adam Gregg (R) | 58.0 | 709,198 |
 | Eric Van Lancker (D) | 39.5 | 482,950 | |
 | Marco Battaglia (L) | 2.4 | 28,998 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 718 | ||
| Total votes: 1,221,864 | |||
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Past elections
Vacancies
Details of vacancies are addressed under Article IV, Section 19.
In the event of a vacancy in the lieutenant governorship, power devolves first to the president pro tem of the Iowa State Senate and then to the Iowa House of Representatives. If those offices are also vacant, or if the officers are unable or unwilling to succeed, the Justices of the Iowa Supreme Court convene the legislature in order for the legislature to vote on a new president pro tem.
Duties
The lieutenant governor succeeds the governor in case of death, impeachment, resignation, removal from office, or other disability. The lieutenant governor's other duties are assigned by the governor.
As of January 19, 2021, the lieutenant governor served as Chair of the Governor’s FOCUS Committee on Criminal Justice Reform and Co-Chair of the Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Initiative.[1]
Divisions
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the Lieutenant Governor of Iowa has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
State budget
- See also: Iowa state budget and finances
The combined governor and lieutenant governor proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2025 was $3,220,176.[2]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers and Comparison of lieutenant gubernatorial salaries
The salaries of elected and appointed executives in Iowa are determined by the Iowa State Legislature.[3] Article IV, Section 15 of the Iowa Constitution states the following:
| Text of Section 15:
Terms--Compensation The official terms of the governor and lieutenant governor shall commence on the Tuesday after the second Monday of January next after their election and shall continue until their successors are elected and qualify. The governor and lieutenant governor shall be paid compensation and expenses as provided by law. The lieutenant governor, while acting as governor, shall be paid the compensation and expenses prescribed for the governor. |
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $103,212, according to the Council of State Governments.[4]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $103,212, according to the Council of State Governments.[5]
2021
In 2021, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $103,212, according to the Council of State Governments.[6]
2020
In 2020, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $103,212 according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2019
In 2019, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $103,212 according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2018
In 2018, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $103,212 according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2017
In 2017, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $103,212 according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2016
In 2016, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $103,212 according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2015
In 2015, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $103,212 according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2014
In 2014, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $103,212 according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2013
In 2013, the lieutenant governor was paid an estimated $103,212. This figure comes from the Council of State Governments.[14]
2010
As of 2010, the lieutenant governor is paid $103,212 a year, the 18th highest lieutenant gubernatorial salary in America.
Historical officeholders
There have been 47 lieutenant governors of Iowa since 1858. Of the 47 officeholders, 39 were Republican and eight were Democratic.[15]
| List of officeholders from 1858-Present | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Tenure | Party | ||
| 1 | Oran Faville | 1858-1860 |  Republican
| ||
| 2 | Nicholas J. Rusch | 1860-1862 | Republican
| ||
| 3 | John R. Needham | 1862-1864 | Republican
| ||
| 4 | Enoch W. Eastman | 1864-1866 | Republican
| ||
| 5 | Benjamin F. Gue | 1866-1868 | Republican
| ||
| 6 | John Scott | 1868-1870 | Republican
| ||
| 7 | Madison M. Walden | 1870-1871 | Republican
| ||
| 8 | Henry C. Bulis | 1871-1874 | Republican
| ||
| 9 | Joseph Dysart | 1874-1876 | Republican
| ||
| 10 | Joshua G. Newbold | 1876-1877 | Republican
| ||
| 11 | Frank T. Campbell | 1878-1882 | Republican
| ||
| 12 | Orlando H. Manning | 1882-1885 | Republican
| ||
| 13 | John A. T. Hull | 1886-1890 | Republican
| ||
| 14 | Alfred N. Poyneer | 1890-1892 | Republican
| ||
| 15 | Samuel L. Bestow | 1892-1894 | Republican
| ||
| 16 | Warren S. Dungan | 1894-1896 | Republican
| ||
| 17 | Matt Parrott | 1896-1898 | Republican
| ||
| 18 | James C. Milliman | 1898-1902 | Republican
| ||
| 19 | John Herriott | 1902-1907 | Republican
| ||
| 20 | Warren Garst | 1907-1908 | Republican
| ||
| 21 | George W. Clarke | 1909-1913 | Republican
| ||
| 22 | William L. Harding | 1913-1917 | Republican
| ||
| 23 | Ernest R. Moore | 1917-1921 | Republican
| ||
| 24 | John Hammill | 1921-1925 | Republican
| ||
| 25 | Clem C. Kimball | 1925-1928 | Republican
| ||
| 26 | Arch W. McFarlane | 1928-1933 | Republican
| ||
| 27 | Nelson G. Kraschel | 1933-1937 |  Democratic
| ||
| 28 | John K. Valentine | 1937-1939 | Democratic
| ||
| 29 | Bourke B. Hickenlooper | 1939-1943 | Republican
| ||
| 30 | Robert D. Blue | 1943-1945 | Republican
| ||
| 31 | Kenneth A. Evans | 1945-1951 | Republican
| ||
| 32 | William H. Nicholas | 1951-1953 | Republican
| ||
| 33 | Leo Elthon | 1953-1957 | Republican
| ||
| 34 | William H. Nicholas | 1957-1959 | Republican
| ||
| 35 | Edward J. McManus | 1959-1961 | Democratic
| ||
| 36 | W. L. Mooty | 1961-1965 | Republican
| ||
| 37 | Robert D. Fulton | 1965-1968 | Democratic
| ||
| 38 | Roger W. Jepsen | 1969-1972 | Republican
| ||
| 39 | Arthur A. Neu | 1973-1978 | Republican
| ||
| 40 | Terry E. Branstad | 1979-1983 | Republican
| ||
| 41 | Robert T. Anderson | 1983-1987 | Democratic
| ||
| 42 | Jo Ann Zimmerman | 1987-1991 | Democratic
| ||
| 43 | Joy Corning | 1991-1999 | Republican
| ||
| 44 | Sally Pederson | 1999-2007 | Democratic
| ||
| 45 | Patty Judge | 2007-2011 | Democratic
| ||
| 46 | Kim Reynolds | 2011-2017 | Republican
| ||
| 47 | Adam Gregg | 2017-2024 | Republican
| ||
| 48 | Chris Cournoyer | 2024-Present | Republican
| ||
Noteworthy events
Appointment of Adam Gregg as Lieutenant Governor of Iowa (2017)
Adam Gregg (R) was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Iowa by Gov. Kim Reynolds on May 25, 2017. Reynolds, the previous Lieutenant Governor, had recently become Governor following the resignation of Terry E. Branstad to serve as U.S. Ambassador to China.
Before Reynolds was sworn in, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller (D) issued a legal opinion stating that Reynolds would not have the ability to appoint her own lieutenant governor. In a press conference announcing the decision, Miller said, "There’s a clear historic practice that there is no replacement of a lieutenant governor or vice president absent a constitutional provision." Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate (R) disagreed, saying in a statement, “There is sufficient legal authority for Governor Reynolds to fill the vacancy of lieutenant governor.”[16]
Upon Gregg's appointment, a Des Moines Register report citing Reynolds' Deputy Chief of Staff Tim Albrecht said Gregg was appointed in such a way that he will "'operate' the office of lieutenant governor, but not actually 'hold' that office." Although Gregg held the title and carried out the responsibilities of the office, he took office while remaining outside of the gubernatorial line of succession. This meant that if Reynolds became unable to carry out the office of governor, the new governor would be the President of the Iowa Senate, who at the time was Jack Whitver (R).[17]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Iowa Lieutenant Governor. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
Office of The Governor and Lt. Governor
State Capitol
1007 East Grand Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone: (515) 281-5211
See also
| Iowa | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedabout - ↑ Iowa Budget Report, "FY2025," accessed January 17, 2025
- ↑ The Iowa Legislature, "Chapter 1219," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 15, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed November 14, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2013, Table 4.11," accessed January 31, 2014
- ↑ Iowa Official Register 2019-2021, "Chapter 7 - History and the Constitution," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ The Des Moines Register, "AG rules Reynolds can’t pick lieutenant governor," May 1, 2017
- ↑ The Des Moines Register, "Reynolds taps Adam Gregg as lieutenant governor, but there's a catch," May 25, 2017
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