Lieutenant Governor of Florida
| Florida Lieutenant Governor | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $135,516 |
| Term limits: | 2 consecutive terms |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | Florida Constitution, Article IV, Section 2 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Lieutenant Governor of Florida
Jay Collins | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 3, 2026 |
| Last election: | November 8, 2022 |
| Other Florida Executive Offices | |
| Governor•Lieutenant Governor•Secretary of State•Attorney General•Chief Financial Officer•Commissioner of Education•Agriculture Commissioner•Insurance Commissioner•Environmental Protection Secretary•Economic Opportunity Secretary•Public Service Commission | |
The Lieutenant Governor of the State of Florida is an elected constitutional officer, the second-ranking officer of the executive branch, and the first officer in line to succeed the Governor of Florida. The lieutenant governor is elected on a joint ticket with the governor every four years and may serve a maximum of two terms in a row.
History
The 1865 Florida Constitution first established the position of lieutenant governor. It was later made into an elected office in 1868.[1] During this period, the lieutenant governor was next in the line of succession, served as the Senate president, and cast tie-breaking votes.[2] The position was abolished in 1885 when revisions to the state constitution eliminated it. The last lieutenant governor, Milton Mabry (D), served out his term, leaving office in 1889.[1]
After the position's abolishment, the state Senate president was next in the line of succession. In 1953, Gov. Daniel McCarty (D) died in office, and Senate President Charley Johns (D) served as acting governor until the next gubernatorial election.[3][4] The office was re-established in 1968 when the state's constitution re-established the position.[3] This time, the lieutenant governor was elected alongside the governor on the same ticket rather than independently.[2]
While the lieutenant governor's main job is to succeed the governor if the governor cannot serve, some lieutenant governors have served in other capacities. WUSF Radio's Stephanie Colombini wrote that Buddy McKay oversaw projects, including "recovery efforts from the catastrophic Hurricane Andrew in 1992. MacKay also helped respond to a financial crisis in Miami and he was tasked with leading what was then called the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services following a scandal."[5] Additionally, the Tallahassee Democrat's Bill Cottrell wrote, "A running mate’s primary job is to help the governor get elected. Some governors appointed their partners to head the old Department of Commerce... There’s plenty of other work for them, though.[6]
Two lieutenant governors have ascended to the governorship to replace a governor. In 1987, Wayne Mixson (D) became governor for three days to serve the balance of Bob Graham's (D) term after Graham resigned to become a U.S. Senator.[7] In 1998, after losing the election for governor, Buddy McKay (D) became governor after Lawton Chiles (D) died in office.[8]
In 2025, after the resignation of Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez (R), Sen. Randy Fine (R) introduced a bill that would have abolished the office. Fine expressed that the office lacked a specific function and said, "The job of the lieutenant governor today … is literally to not die, that is the extent of the job."[3] Lawmakers suggested replacing the bill with a new cabinet position called the Commissioner of Government Efficiency.[9] Miami Herald Columnist Mary Anna Mancuso was critical of the bill and wrote, "Replacing the lieutenant governor with another cabinet member under the ambiguous title “commissioner of government efficiency” is a political gimmick disguised as fiscal conservatism. Spending money to create a new position and abolish an old one doesn’t make fiscal sense."[10] The Senate withdrew the amendment from further consideration on April 7, 2025.[11]
Current officeholder
- See also: Current Lieutenant Governors
The current Lieutenant Governor of Florida is Jay Collins (R). Collins assumed office in 2025.
Authority
The Florida Constitution establishes the office of the lieutenant governor in Article IV, the Executive Department.
Florida Constitution, Article IV, Section 2
|
There shall be a lieutenant governor, who shall perform such duties pertaining to the office of governor as shall be assigned by the governor... |
Qualifications
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| Current Governors |
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| 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 |
Per Article IV, Section 5 of the state constitution, the lieutenant governor must be at least 30 years old and have been a resident and registered voter of Florida for at least seven years on the day of the election.
Duties
Per Article IV, Section 2 of the Florida constitution, the lieutenant governor's duty is to replace the governor in the case of death, resignation, or inability to exercise office. The governor and legislature may assign additional duties to the lieutenant governor.
In addition to the duties in the state constitution, lieutenant governors have also occasionally been assigned other roles. The Tallahassee Democrat's Bill Cottrell wrote, "Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp chaired the board of Space Florida and oversaw the Office of Drug Control and Office of Adoption and Child Protection during the four years he served with Gov. Charlie Crist. Frank Brogan and Toni Jennings, serving with Gov. Jeb Bush, also chaired Space Florida. Lt. Gov. Bobby Brantley headed the panel that set up the Florida Lottery under Gov. Bob Martinez. Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll, who was Gov. Rick Scott’s 2010 running mate, said she was able to bring a focus on smaller, rural counties behind the scenes.[6]
Elections
- See also: Gubernatorial election cycles by state
- See also: Election of lieutenant governors
In accordance with Florida Constitution, Article IV, Section 5, Florida elects lieutenant governors in federal midterm election years (e.g., 2018, 2022, 2026, 2030, etc.). The lieutenant gubernatorial inauguration is always set for the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January following an election.
Although gubernatorial candidates are not required to have a running mate for the primaries, the state constitution requires a joint candidacy for the general election.
Term limits
Term limits for the lieutenant governor of Florida are laid out in Article VI, Section 4 of the Florida Constitution, which prohibits lieutenant governors from serving more than two consecutive terms.
Florida Constitution, Article VI, Section 4b:
| No person may appear on the ballot for re-election to any of the following offices: (1) Florida representative, |
2022
General election
General election for Lieutenant Governor of Florida
Incumbent Jeanette Nuñez defeated Karla Hernandez, Kyle Gibson, and Jerry Rorabaugh in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of Florida on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Jeanette Nuñez (R) | 59.4 | 4,614,210 |
 | Karla Hernandez (D) | 40.0 | 3,106,313 | |
 | Kyle Gibson (No Party Affiliation) | 0.4 | 31,577 | |
 | Jerry Rorabaugh (L)  | 0.2 | 19,299 | |
| Total votes: 7,771,399 | |||
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Past elections
Vacancies
The manner for filling a vacancy in the lieutenant governor's chair is set out in statute. In the case of a vacancy, the governor appoints a replacement to serve the remainder of the former officeholder's term.
However, if, after the appointment of a replacement lieutenant governor, a vacancy then occurs in the office of governor with more than 28 months remaining in the term, voters must choose a governor and lieutenant governor to serve out the remainder of the terms at the next general election.[13]
Florida Statutes, 14.055
|
Upon vacancy in the office of Lieutenant Governor, the Governor shall appoint a successor who shall serve for the remainder of the term, provided that if after the appointment a vacancy occurs in the office of Governor with more than 28 months remaining in the term, at the next statewide general election the electors shall choose a Governor and Lieutenant Governor to fill the remainder of the term... |
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 Florida 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.
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers and Comparison of lieutenant gubernatorial salaries
The salaries of elected executive officials in Florida are determined by state law as mandated in the Florida Constitution. Article II, Section 5 of the state constitution states that compensation of state officers is determined by the Florida State Legislature.[14]
| Text of Section 5:
Public Officers (a) No person holding any office of emolument under any foreign government, or civil office of emolument under the United States or any other state, shall hold any office of honor or of emolument under the government of this state. No person shall hold at the same time more than one office under the government of the state and the counties and municipalities therein, except that a notary public or military officer may hold another office, and any officer may be a member of a constitution revision commission, taxation and budget reform commission, constitutional convention, or statutory body having only advisory powers. (b) Each state and county officer, before entering upon the duties of the office, shall give bond as required by law, and shall swear or affirm: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, protect, and defend the Constitution and Government of the United States and of the State of Florida; that I am duly qualified to hold office under the Constitution of the state; and that I will well and faithfully perform the duties of (title of office) on which I am now about to enter. So help me God." And thereafter shall devote personal attention to the duties of the office, and continue in office until a successor qualifies. (c) The powers, duties, compensation and method of payment of state and county officers shall be fixed by law. |
2025
In 2023, the officer's salary was $135,516, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $135,515, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $128,597, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2021
In 2021, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $128,597, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2020
In 2020, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $124,851 according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
2019
In 2019, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $124,851 according to the Council of State Governments.[19]
2018
In 2018, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $124,851 according to the Council of State Governments.[20]
2017
In 2017, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $124,851 according to the Council of State Governments.[21]
2016
In 2016, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $124,851 according to the Council of State Governments.[22]
2015
In 2015, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $124,851 according to the Council of State Governments.[23]
2014
In 2014, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $124,851 according to the Council of State Governments.[24]
2013
In 2013, the lieutenant governor was paid an estimated $124,851. This figure comes from the Council of State Governments.[25]
2010
In 2010, the lieutenant governor was paid $124,851 a year, the ninth highest lieutenant gubernatorial salary in America.
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Lieutenant Governor of Florida has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Florida Lieutenant Governor. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the state official websites that provide contact information, including mailing address and phone number, for a state executive office. That information for the Lieutenant Governor of Florida 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.
See also
| Florida | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Florida Memory, "A Guide to Florida Governors and the Florida Cabinet," accessed April 10, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Politifact, "Jennifer Carroll could make history if elected lieutenant governor," September 13, 2010
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Politico, "‘The job is literally not to die’: Florida Legislature ponders nixing lieutenant governor position amid DOGE debate," March 26, 2025
- ↑ Florida Department of State, "Charley Eugene Johns," accessed April 11, 2025
- ↑ WUSF, "Buddy MacKay remembered as one of Florida's most influential lieutenant governors," January 3, 2025
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Tallahassee Democrat, "Bill Cotterell: Leave Florida’s lieutenant governor post alone," March 30, 2025
- ↑ Florida Governor's Mansion, "John Wayne Mixson, accessed April 10, 2025
- ↑ Florida Governor's Mansion, "Kenneth Hood "Buddy" MacKay, Jr.," accessed April 10, 2025
- ↑ WFSU, "'Government Efficiency' commissioner role could replace Florida’s Lt. Governor," March 11, 2025
- ↑ Miami Herald, "Florida needs the lieutenant governor, not a DOGE commissioner," March 12, 2025
- ↑ Florida Senate, "SB 1756," accessed April 10, 2025
- ↑ ABC News, "Florida Lt. Gov. Quits Amid $300M Charity Scam Probe," accessed July 10, 2014
- ↑ Florida Statutes, "14.055," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research, "Salaries of Elected County Constitutional Officers and School District Officials for Fiscal Year 2013-14," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Brevard County Board of Elections, "State Government Officials," accessed August 17, 2025 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "BotS2023" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 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
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