Lieutenant Governor of Florida


The lieutenant governor of Florida is a statewide constitutional office in the executive branch of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the second highest-ranking official in the state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four-year term.
Official duties dictated to the lieutenant governor under the present Florida Constitution are to serve as the acting governor in the absence of the governor from the state or the disability of the governor, or to become governor in the event of the governor's death, resignation or removal from office via impeachment.
Three lieutenant governors went on to serve as Governor of Florida: Marcellus Stearns, Wayne Mixson, and Buddy MacKay.
The office has been held by Jay Collins since his appointment by Governor Ron DeSantis on August 12, 2025, following predecessor Jeanette Nuñez's resignation to become interim president of Florida International University.

History

The position of lieutenant governor has been used in Florida's government twice in the state's history. The first period spanned from 1865, after the American Civil War, through 1889. During this time, the lieutenant governor was elected independently of the governor. In addition to being first in succession to the governor, the lieutenant governor was the ex officio president of the Florida Senate, and could cast a vote in the case of a tie. William W. J. Kelly was the first person elected lieutenant governor after the position was created by the 1865 Constitution of Florida. The position was officially abolished by the post-Reconstruction era of [the United States|Reconstruction] Constitution of 1885, with the last lieutenant governor, Milton H. Mabry, serving out his term until 1889. After this point the office of President of the Senate was given to an elected member of the Senate, who also served as first in line of succession to the governor.
The current Florida Constitution of 1968 recreated the office of lieutenant governor who is now elected directly along with the governor as a running mate. The lieutenant governor serves as first in the line of succession, but the office of President of the Senate remains with an elected senator. The lieutenant governor has a few prescribed duties and otherwise assists the governor with the duties of the executive branch. The first lieutenant governor under the current Constitution was Ray C. Osborne, who took office in 1969.
The state constitution also forbids anyone from being elected lieutenant governor more than twice.

List of lieutenant governors

;Parties

List of acting lieutenant governors

;Parties
No.acting Lt. governorImageTook officeLeft officePartyappointed served undernote
Milton H. Mabry8 January 18898 January 1893DemocraticGovernor of Florida
Milton Albert Watson8 January 18934 January 1925DemocraticGovernor of Florida
1Marcellus Mikeson4 January 192518 March 1925No PartyGovernor of Florida
2N.A. Hull4 January 19253 March 1927DemocraticGovernor of Florida
3Livingston W. Beth4 January 19257 January 1929DemocraticGovernor of Florida
4Milton H. Haris7 January 19298 January 1933DemocraticPresident of United States
5A.J. Thompson8 January 19337 January 1945No PartyPresident of United States
6Nathan Mayo8 January 19337 January 1945DemocraticPresident of United States
7Nathan Thompson7 January 19457 January 1961DemocraticPresident of United States
8Lee Thompson7 January 19617 January 1967No PartyPresident of United States
9Ray C. Osborne7 January 19677 January 1969RepublicanPresident of United StatesPosition abolished