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Lieutenant Governor of Indiana
Constitutional office in the US State of Indiana.

The lieutenant governor of Indiana is a constitutional office in the US state of Indiana. Republican Micah Beckwith, who assumed office January 13, 2025, is the incumbent. The office holder's constitutional roles are to serve as the president of the Indiana Senate, become acting governor during the incapacity of the governor, and become governor should the incumbent governor resign, die in office, or be impeached and removed from office. Lieutenant governors have succeeded ten governors following their deaths or resignations. The lieutenant governor holds statutory positions, serving as the head of the state agricultural and rural affairs bureaus, and as the chairman of several state committees.

The lieutenant governor is elected on the same election ticket as the governor in a statewide election held every four years, concurrent with United States presidential elections. Should a lieutenant governor die while in office, resign, or succeed to the governorship, the constitution specifies no mechanism by which to fill vacancies in the lieutenant governor's office. Historically, the position has generally remained vacant during such events. The last attempt to fill such a vacancy in 1887 led to the outbreak of violence in the state legislature known as the Black Day of the General Assembly. However, in recent years the governor has appointed a lieutenant governor if a vacancy arises.

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Requirements

The position of lieutenant governor was created with the adoption of the first Constitution of Indiana in August 1816. The position was filled by an October election. The position was retained and the current requirements established in the state's second and current constitution adopted in 1851.1

To become lieutenant governor, a candidate must have been a United States citizen and lived within Indiana for the period of five consecutive years before the election. The candidate must also be at least thirty years old when sworn into office. The lieutenant governor may not hold any federal office during his term, and must resign from any such position before being eligible to be sworn in as lieutenant governor. Before taking the office, the candidate must swear an oath of office administered by the chief justice of the Indiana Supreme Court, promising to uphold the constitution and laws of Indiana.2

Succession

The lieutenant governor serves as acting governor when the governor becomes incapacitated. In the state's early history, lieutenant governors would serve as acting governor while the governor was away from the capital. Christopher Harrison was the first lieutenant governor to serve as acting governor while Jonathan Jennings negotiated treaties far from the capital.3

If the governor dies in office, becomes permanently incapacitated, resigns, or is impeached, the lieutenant governor becomes governor.4 In total, ten lieutenant governors become governor by succession.5 The first occurrence was when Jonathan Jennings resigned to become a congressman and was succeeded by Ratliff Boon.6

In the event that both the governorship and lieutenant-governorship are vacant, the constitution stipulates that the Senate president pro tempore becomes governor.7 Historically, governors appointed the pro tempore to serve as acting lieutenant governor as a formality. This practice ended in the early twentieth century.8 Although the constitution did not specify a method to fill a vacancy in the lieutenant governorship, an attempt to fill a vacancy occurred in 1887. When the winner of the election attempted to be seated, the Senate erupted into violence known as the Black Day of the General Assembly; the lieutenant governor-elect was sworn in but never seated.9

Should the lieutenant governorship become vacant for any reason, including death, resignation, or succession, the governor may nominate a replacement who must be approved by both houses of the General Assembly.10

Authority

Constitutional

The lieutenant governor has two constitutional functions. The primary function is to serve as the president of the Indiana Senate. In the Senate the lieutenant governor is permitted to debate on legislation, introduce legislation, and vote on matters to break ties. As presiding officer in the Senate, lieutenant governors also have partial control over what legislation will be considered, and influence on the legislative calendar. Unless a special session is called by the governor, the Senate meets for no more than 91 days in any two years period, leaving the lieutenant governor free from his or her senatorial duties in the remainder of the year.11

The secondary function is to serve as a successor to the governorship should it become vacant, or act as governor if necessary. If a lieutenant governor should succeed to the governorship, the office of lieutenant governor and president of the Senate become vacant; the duties are taken over by the Senate president pro tempore.12

Statutory

The majority of the powers exercised by the lieutenant governor are statutory and have been assigned by the Indiana General Assembly. The first additional powers granted to the lieutenant governor were added in 1932 when the office holder was made the head of the state's agricultural commission. The office's powers have since expanded to include the chairmanship of the Office of Community and Rural Affairs, the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, Office of Energy and Defense Development, and the Office of Tourism Development.13 As head of the various office and committees, the lieutenant governor controls many patronage positions and is permitted to fill them by appointment. Important positions filled by the lieutenant governor include the members of the Corn Marketing Council, the Main Street Council, Steel Advisory Commission, and the Indiana Film Commission.14

In addition to the chairmanship of the committees, the lieutenant governor is also a participating member of the Natural Resources Committee, State Office Building Commission, Air Pollution Control Board, Water Pollution Control Board, and Solid Waste Management Board.15

The annual salary of the lieutenant governor is set by the Indiana General Assembly and was $76,000 in 2007.1617

List of lieutenant governors of Indiana

There have been forty-nine lieutenant governors of Indiana since Indiana became a state in 1816.

  Democratic-Republican (3)   Democratic (22)   Whig (3)   Republican (26)   Union (1)   Independent (1)

# ImageLt. GovernorTook officeLeft officePartyGovernorNotes
1 Christopher HarrisonNovember 7, 1816December 17, 1818Democratic-RepublicanJonathan Jennings181920
2 Ratliff BoonDecember 8, 1819September 12, 18222122
3 Ratliff BoonDecember 5, 1822January 30, 1824William Hendricks2324
4 John H. ThompsonDecember 7, 182525December 3, 1828Jacksonian26
5 Milton StappDecember 3, 1828December 7, 1831IndependentJames B. Ray
6 David WallaceDecember 7, 1831December 6, 1837WhigNoah Noble
7 David HillisDecember 6, 1837December 9, 1840David Wallace
8 Samuel HallDecember 9, 1840December 6, 1843Samuel Bigger
9 Jesse D. BrightDecember 6, 1843March 4, 1845DemocraticJames Whitcomb272829
10 Paris C. DunningDecember 9, 1846December 26, 18483031
11 Jim LaneDecember 5, 1849January 10, 1853Joseph A. Wright
12 Ashbel P. WillardJanuary 10, 1853January 12, 1857
13 Abram A. HammondJanuary 12, 1857October 3, 1860Ashbel P. Willard3233
14 Oliver P. MortonJanuary 14, 1861January 16, 1861RepublicanHenry S. Lane34
— John R. CravensJanuary 16, 1861October 9, 1863RepublicanOliver P. Mortonacting3536
— Paris C. DunningOctober 9, 1863January 9, 1865Democratic
15 Conrad BakerJanuary 9, 1865January 23, 1867Union3738
16 William CumbackJanuary 23, 1867March 27, 1871RepublicanConrad Baker3940
— George W. FriedleyNovember 13, 1872January 13, 187341
17 Leonidas SextonJanuary 13, 1873January 13, 1877Thomas A. Hendricks
18 Isaac P. GrayJanuary 13, 1877November 2, 1880DemocraticJames D. Williams42
— Fredrick ViecheNovember 20, 1880January 8, 1881Isaac P. Grayacting43
19 Thomas HannaJanuary 10, 1881January 12, 1885RepublicanAlbert G. Porter
20 Mahlon Dickerson MansonJanuary 12, 1885August 3, 1886DemocraticIsaac P. Gray44
21 Robert S. RobertsonJanuary 10, 1887January 13, 1889Republican
– Alonzo G. SmithNovember 8, 1886January 14, 1889Democraticacting45464748
22 Ira Joy ChaseJanuary 14, 1889November 24, 1891RepublicanAlvin Peterson Hovey
— Francis M. GriffithNovember 23, 1891January 9, 1893Ira Joy Chase
23 Mortimer NyeJanuary 9, 1893January 11, 1897DemocraticClaude Matthews
24 William S. HaggardJanuary 11, 1897January 14, 1901RepublicanJames A. Mount
25 Newton W. GilbertJanuary 14, 1901January 9, 1905Winfield T. Durbin
26 Hugh Thomas MillerJanuary 9, 1905January 11, 1909Frank Hanly
27 Frank J. HallJanuary 11, 1909January 13, 1913DemocraticThomas R. Marshall
28 William P. O'NeillJanuary 13, 1913January 8, 1917Samuel M. Ralston
29 Edgar D. BushJanuary 8, 1917January 10, 1921RepublicanJames P. Goodrich
30 Emmett Forrest BranchJanuary 10, 1921April 30, 1924Warren T. McCray49
— James J. NejdlApril 30, 1924January 12, 1925acting50
31 F. Harold Van OrmanJanuary 12, 1925January 14, 1929Edward L. Jackson
32 Edgar D. BushJanuary 14, 1929January 9, 1933Harry G. Leslie
33 M. Clifford TownsendJanuary 9, 1933January 11, 1937DemocraticPaul V. McNutt
34 Henry F. SchrickerJanuary 11, 1937January 13, 1941M. Clifford Townsend
35 Charles M. DawsonJanuary 13, 1941January 8, 1945Henry F. Schricker
36 Richard T. JamesJanuary 8, 1945January 10, 1948RepublicanRalph F. Gates
37 Rue J. AlexanderApril 14, 1948January 2, 1949Henry F. Schricker51
38 John A. WatkinsJanuary 10, 1949January 12, 1953Democratic
39 Harold W. HandleyJanuary 12, 1953January 14, 1957RepublicanGeorge N. Craig
40 Crawford F. ParkerJanuary 14, 1957January 9, 1961Harold W. Handley
41 Richard O. RistineJanuary 9, 1961January 11, 1965Matthew E. Welsh
42 Robert L. RockJanuary 11, 1965January 13, 1969DemocraticRoger D. Branigin
43 Richard E. FolzJanuary 13, 1969January 8, 1973RepublicanEdgar Whitcomb
44 Robert D. OrrJanuary 8, 1973January 12, 1981Otis R. Bowen
45 John MutzJanuary 12, 1981January 9, 1989Robert D. Orr
46 Frank O'BannonJanuary 9, 1989January 13, 1997DemocraticEvan Bayh
47 Joe KernanJanuary 13, 1997September 13, 2003Frank O'Bannon5253
48 Kathy DavisOctober 20, 2003January 10, 2005Joe Kernan
49 Becky SkillmanJanuary 10, 2005January 14, 2013RepublicanMitch Daniels
50Sue EllspermannJanuary 14, 2013March 2, 2016Mike Pence54
51Eric HolcombMarch 3, 2016January 9, 2017
52Suzanne CrouchJanuary 9, 2017January 13, 2025Eric Holcomb
53Micah BeckwithJanuary 13, 2025Mike Braun

Notes

Bibliography

References

  1. Gugin, p. 10 ↩

  2. Constitution of Indiana, 5-7 /wiki/Constitution_of_Indiana ↩

  3. Gugin, p. 47 ↩

  4. Constitution of Indiana, 5-10(b) /wiki/Constitution_of_Indiana ↩

  5. Gugin, p. 12 ↩

  6. Gugin, p. 49 ↩

  7. Constitution of Indiana, 5-10(c) /wiki/Constitution_of_Indiana ↩

  8. Gugin, p. 14 ↩

  9. Gugin, pp. 176–177 ↩

  10. Constitution of Indiana, 5-10(c) /wiki/Constitution_of_Indiana ↩

  11. Indiana Chamber, p. 13 ↩

  12. Indiana Chamber, p. 13 ↩

  13. Indiana Chamber, p. 13 ↩

  14. Indiana Chamber, p. 14 ↩

  15. Indiana Chamber, p. 14 ↩

  16. Indiana Chamber, p. 12 ↩

  17. "Information Maintained by the Office of Code Revision Indiana Legislative Services Agency". State of Indiana. November 22, 2008. Retrieved November 23, 2008. http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title4/ar2/ch1.html ↩

  18. Was acting governor. ↩

  19. Resigned from office. ↩

  20. James Beggs was elected Senate President pro tempore by the Senate to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Christopher Harrison. He held the position until the election of Ratliff Boon (Funk, p. 206). ↩

  21. Resigned from office. ↩

  22. Was elevated to the governorship during his term. ↩

  23. Resigned from office. ↩

  24. Was elevated to the governorship during his term. ↩

  25. "Lt. Governor: Previous Lt. Governors". In.gov. Retrieved December 11, 2016. http://www.in.gov/lg/2334.htm ↩

  26. Served two terms. ↩

  27. Resigned from office. ↩

  28. Became a United States senator. /wiki/United_States_senator ↩

  29. Godlove S. Orth, a Whig, was elected Senate President pro tempore by the Senate to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Jesse B. Bright. He held the position until the election of Paris C. Dunning (Funk, p. 206). /wiki/Godlove_S._Orth ↩

  30. Was elevated to the governorship during his term. ↩

  31. James G. Read was elected Senate President pro tempore by the Senate to fill the vacancy created by the elevation of Paris C. Dunning to the governorship. He held the position until the election of Jim Lane (Funk, p. 206). ↩

  32. Was elevated to the governorship during his term. ↩

  33. The Senate did not elect a Senate president pro tempore following Hammond's succession as governor and the position remained vacant until the election of Oliver Morton (Funk, p. 206). ↩

  34. Was elevated to the governorship during his term. ↩

  35. After Morton's elevation to the governorship, John R. Cravens served as acting lieutenant governor from 1861 to 1863 (Funk, p. 206). ↩

  36. After the resignation of John R. Cravens, Paris C. Dunning served as acting lieutenant governor from 1863 to 1865 (Funk, p. 206). ↩

  37. Was elevated to the governorship during his term. ↩

  38. Was acting governor. ↩

  39. Resigned from office. ↩

  40. After Conrad Baker's elevation to the governorship, William Cumback served as acting lieutenant governor for the remainder of Baker's term; he was subsequently elected to a full term which began on January 11, 1869. ↩

  41. Following Cumback's resignation, the office of lieutenant governor was vacant until January 13, 1873 (Funk, 209). There was no president pro tempore of the Senate until November 13, 1872 (Indianapolis Journal, Feb. 22, 1872), when Friedley was elected (Journal of the Indiana State Senate, 6). https://newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=d&d=IJ18720202.1.4 ↩

  42. Was elevated to the governorship during his term. ↩

  43. Fredrick Vieche served as acting lieutenant governor following the elevation of Isaac Gray to the governorship until the election of Thomas Hanna. ↩

  44. Resigned from office. ↩

  45. At the general election in November 1886 both parties entered candidates to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Mahlon Manson. Robert S. Robertston, Republican, was elected and sworn into office on January 10, 1886. The Democrat-controlled Senate refused to seat him, declaring that the seat was not vacant and the election was invalid. The Senate then elected Alonzo G. Smith to serve as acting lieutenant governor until the election of Ira Chase. The Indiana Supreme Court ordered the senate to seat Robertson, but violence broke out when he attempted to enter the chamber, preventing him from ever taking office (Funk, p. 204). /wiki/Indiana_Supreme_Court ↩

  46. Was elevated to the governorship during his term. ↩

  47. Francis M. Griffin served as acting lieutenant governor following the elevation of Ira Chase to the governorship. He served until the election of Mortimer Nye. ↩

  48. Francis M. Griffin served as acting lieutenant governor following the elevation of Ira Chase to the governorship. He served until the election of Mortimer Nye (Funk, p. 204). ↩

  49. Was elevated to the governorship during his term. ↩

  50. James J. Nejdl served as acting lieutenant governor following the elevation of Emmett Branch to the governorship until the election of Harold Van Orman. ↩

  51. Resigned from office. ↩

  52. Was acting governor. ↩

  53. Was elevated to the governorship during his term. ↩

  54. Sue Ellspermann resigned to become president of Ivy Tech Community College. ↩