Lieutenant Governor of Idaho explained

Post:Lieutenant Governor
Body:Idaho
Insignia:Seal of Idaho.svg
Insigniasize:120px
Insigniacaption:Great Seal of the State of Idaho
Incumbent:Scott Bedke
Incumbentsince:January 2, 2023
Department:Government of Idaho
Style:The Honorable
Termlength:Four years
Inaugural:N. B. Willey
Website:lgo.idaho.gov

The lieutenant governor of Idaho is a constitutional statewide elected office in the U.S. state of Idaho. According to the Idaho Constitution, the officeholder is elected to a four-year term.

The current lieutenant governor of Idaho is Republican Scott Bedke, who took office January 2, 2023.

Powers and duties

The power of the lieutenant governor of Idaho derives from Article IV, Sections 12 and 13 of the Idaho Constitution, which provides that the office is first in line of succession to the governor of Idaho.[1]

It also dictates that the lieutenant governor serves as the presiding officer of the Idaho Senate. The lieutenant governorship has been a constitutional office in Idaho since statehood in 1890. Prior to 1946 the office was elected to two-year terms.

Idaho has had 43 lieutenant governors since 1890. Five people have served twice as Idaho Lieutenant Governor: O. E. Hailey (1927–1929; 1929–1931), G. P. Mix (1931–1933; 1935–1937), Charles C. Gossett (1937–1939; 1941–1943), Donald S. Whitehead (1939–1941; 1947–1951) and Jim Risch (2003–2006; 2007–2009).

List of lieutenant governors of Idaho

ImageNameTerm of servicePolitical party
1N. B. WilleyOctober 1890December 1890Republican
2John S. Gray (acting)December 1890September 12, 1891Republican
Office vacant: September 12, 1891January 2, 1893
3F. B. WillisJanuary 2, 1893January 7, 1895Republican
4F. J. MillsJanuary 7, 1895January 4, 1897Republican
5George F. MooreJanuary 4, 1897January 2, 1899Democratic, Populist
6J. H. HutchinsonJanuary 2, 1899January 7, 1901Silver Republican, Democratic
7Thomas F. TerrellJanuary 7, 1901January 5, 1903Democratic
8James M. StevensJanuary 5, 1903January 2, 1905Republican
9Burpee L. SteevesJanuary 2, 1905January 7, 1907Republican
10Ezra A. BurrellJanuary 7, 1907January 4, 1909Republican
11Lewis H. SweetserJanuary 4, 1909January 6, 1913Republican
12Herman H. TaylorJanuary 6, 1913January 1, 1917Republican
13Ernest L. ParkerJanuary 1, 1917January 6, 1919Democratic
14January 6, 1919January 1, 1923Republican
15H. C. BaldridgeJanuary 1, 1923January 3, 1927Republican
16O. E. HaileyJanuary 3, 1927January 7, 1929Republican
17W. B. KinneJanuary 7, 1929September 30, 1929Republican
Office vacant: September 30October 25, 1929
18O. E. HaileyOctober 25, 1929January 5, 1931Republican
19G. P. MixJanuary 5, 1931January 2, 1933Democratic
20George E. HillJanuary 2, 1933January 7, 1935Democratic
21G. P. MixJanuary 7, 1935January 4, 1937Democratic
22Charles C. GossettJanuary 4, 1937January 2, 1939Democratic
23Donald S. WhiteheadJanuary 2, 1939January 6, 1941Republican
24Charles C. GossettJanuary 6, 1941January 4, 1943Democratic
25Edwin NelsonJanuary 4, 1943January 1, 1945Republican
26Arnold WilliamsJanuary 1, 1945November 17, 1945Democratic
Office vacant: November 17, 1945March 20, 1946
27A. R. McCabeMarch 20, 1946January 6, 1947Democratic
28Donald S. WhiteheadJanuary 6, 1947January 1, 1951Republican
29Edson H. DealJanuary 1, 1951January 3, 1955Republicans
30J. Berkeley LarsenJanuary 3, 1955January 5, 1959Republican
31W. E. DrevlowJanuary 5, 1959January 2, 1967Democratic
32Jack M. MurphyJanuary 2, 1967January 6, 1975Republican
33John EvansJanuary 6, 1975January 24, 1977Democratic
Office vacant: January 24–28, 1977
34William J. MurphyJanuary 28, 1977January 1, 1979Democratic
35Phil BattJanuary 1, 1979January 3, 1983Republican
36David LeroyJanuary 3, 1983January 5, 1987Republican
37Butch OtterJanuary 5, 1987January 3, 2001Republican
Office vacant: January 3–30, 2001
38January 30, 2001January 6, 2003Republican
39Jim RischJanuary 6, 2003May 26, 2006Republican
Office vacant: May 26 – June 15, 2006
40Mark RicksJune 15, 2006January 1, 2007Republican
41Jim RischJanuary 1, 2007January 3, 2009Republican
Office vacant: January 3–6, 2009
42Brad LittleJanuary 6, 2009January 7, 2019Republican
43Janice McGeachinJanuary 7, 2019January 2, 2023Republican
44Scott BedkeJanuary 2, 2023presentRepublican

Passages

IncumbentReason for vacancyAppointed successorDate of appointmentElected successorDate of election
N. B. WilleySucceeded as Governor December 1890John S. GrayDecember 1890F. B. WillisNovember 8, 1892
W. B. KinneDied September 30, 1929O. E. HaileyOctober 25, 1929G. P. MixNovember 4, 1930
Arnold WilliamsSucceeded as Governor November 17, 1945A. R. McCabeMarch 20, 1946Donald S. WhiteheadNovember 5, 1946
John EvansSucceeded as Governor January 24, 1977William J. MurphyJanuary 28, 1977Phil BattNovember 7, 1978
Butch OtterResigned January 3, 2001Jack RiggsJanuary 30, 2001Jim RischNovember 5, 2002
Jim RischSucceeded as Governor May 26, 2006Mark RicksJune 15, 2006Jim RischNovember 7, 2006
Jim RischSworn into the United States Senate January 6, 2009Brad LittleJanuary 6, 2009Brad LittleNovember 2, 2010

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Constitution of the State of Idaho: Article IV — Executive Department. Secretary of State of Idaho. August 22, 2019.