The lieutenant governor of Minnesota is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of the U.S. state of Minnesota. Fifty individuals have held the office of lieutenant governor since statehood. The incumbent is Peggy Flanagan, a DFLer and the first Native American elected to a statewide executive office in Minnesota's history.

Powers and duties The lieutenant governor assists the governor in carrying out the functions of the executive branch, as well as serving in the governor's place in the event of his or her absence or disability. The governor, as prescribed by law, may file a written order with the secretary of state to delegate to the lieutenant governor any powers, duties, responsibilities, or functions otherwise performed by the governor. As a key member of the governor's cabinet, the lieutenant governor is consulted on all major policy and budgetary decisions. Moreover, the lieutenant governor is a statutory member of the Executive Council and chairs the Advisory Committee on Capitol Area Security, the Capitol Area Architectural Planning Board, and the State Capitol Preservation Commission.

History In 1886, elections were moved from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years. Beginning with the 1962 election, the term of the lieutenant governor increased from two to four years. Prior to the 1974 election, governors and lieutenant governors were elected on separate ballots, with the lieutenant governor having independent legislative authority as president of the senate. Since 1974, the lieutenant governor has been relieved of the duty to preside over the state senate and is elected on a joint ticket with the governor. Marlene Johnson, elected in 1982 as the running mate of Rudy Perpich, was the first female lieutenant governor of Minnesota. All nine of her successors in that office have also been women.

List Parties

No.ImageLieutenant GovernorTermPartyElectionGovernor1William HolcombeMay 24, 1858–January 2, 1860Democratic1857Henry Sibley2Ignatius DonnellyJanuary 2, 1860–March 4, 1863Republican18591861Alexander Ramsey3Henry Adoniram SwiftMarch 4, 1863–July 10, 1863RepublicanOffice vacant from July 10, 1863 – January 11, 18644Charles D. SherwoodJanuary 11, 1864–January 8, 1866Republican1863Stephen Miller5Thomas H. ArmstrongJanuary 8, 1866–January 7, 1870Republican18651867William R. Marshall6William H. YaleJanuary 7, 1870–January 9, 1874Republican18691871Horace Austin7Alphonso BartoJanuary 9, 1874–January 7, 1876Republican1873Cushman K. Davis8James WakefieldJanuary 7, 1876–January 10, 1880Republican18751877John S. PillsburyLucius F. Hubbard9Charles A. GilmanJanuary 10, 1880–January 4, 1887Republican187918811883John S. PillsburyLucius F. Hubbard10Albert E. RiceJanuary 4, 1887–January 5, 1891Republican18861888Andrew R. McGillWilliam R. Merriam11Gideon S. IvesJanuary 5, 1891–January 3, 1893Republican1890William R. MerriamKnute Nelson12David Marston CloughJanuary 3, 1893–January 31, 1895Republican18921894Knute Nelson13Frank A. DayJanuary 31, 1895–January 5, 1897RepublicanDavid Marston Clough14John L. GibbsJanuary 5, 1897–January 3, 1899Republican189615Lyndon A. SmithJanuary 3, 1899–January 5, 1903Republican18981900John LindSamuel R. Van Sant16Ray W. JonesJanuary 5, 1903–January 7, 1907 Republican19021904Samuel R. Van SantJohn A. Johnson17Adolph Olson EberhartJanuary 7, 1907–September 21, 1909Republican19061908John A. Johnson18Edward Everett SmithSeptember 25, 1909–January 3, 1911RepublicanAdolph Olson Eberhart19Samuel Y. GordonJanuary 3, 1911–January 7, 1913Republican191020Joseph A. A. BurnquistJanuary 7, 1913–December 30, 1915Republican19121914Adolph Olson EberhartWinfield S. HammondOffice vacant from December 30, 1915 – October 28, 191621George H. SullivanOctober 28, 1916–January 2, 1917RepublicanJoseph A. A. Burnquist22Thomas FranksonJanuary 2, 1917–January 4, 1921Republican1916191823Louis L. CollinsJanuary 4, 1921–January 6, 1925Republican19201922J. A. O. Preus24William I. NolanJanuary 6, 1925–June 25, 1929Republican19241926Theodore Christianson25Charles Edward AdamsJune 25, 1929–January 6, 1931Republican192826Henry M. ArensJanuary 6, 1931–January 3, 1933Farmer-Labor1930Floyd B. Olson27Konrad K. SolbergJanuary 3, 1933–January 8, 1935Farmer-Labor193228Hjalmar PetersenJanuary 8, 1935–August 24, 1936Farmer-Labor1934 --William B. Richardson1August 24, 1936–January 1, 1937RepublicanHjalmar Petersen29Gottfrid LindstenJanuary 5, 1937–January 2, 1939Farmer-Labor1936Elmer Benson30C. Elmer AndersonJanuary 2, 1939–January 4, 1943Republican19381940Harold Stassen31Edward John ThyeJanuary 4, 1943–April 27, 1943Republican194233Archie H. MillerMay 6, 1943–January 2, 1945RepublicanEdward John Thye33C. Elmer AndersonJanuary 2, 1945–September 27, 1951Republican1944194619481950Edward John ThyeLuther YoungdahlOffice vacant from September 27, 1951 – January 5, 195334Ancher NelsenJanuary 5, 1953–May 1, 1953Republican1952C. Elmer AndersonOffice vacant from May 1, 1953 – September 3, 195435Donald O. Wright2September 3, 1954–January 3, 1955RepublicanC. Elmer Anderson36Karl RolvaagJanuary 3, 1955–January 8, 1963Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL)1954195619581960Orville FreemanElmer L. Andersen37Alexander M. KeithJanuary 8, 1963–January 2, 1967DFL1962Karl Rolvaag38James B. GoetzJanuary 2, 1967–January 4, 1971Republican1966Harold LeVander39Rudy PerpichJanuary 4, 1971–December 29, 1976DFL19701974Wendell Anderson40Alec G. Olson3December 29, 1976–January 4, 1979DFLRudy Perpich41Lou WangbergJanuary 4, 1979–January 3, 1983Independent-Republican1978Al Quie42Marlene JohnsonJanuary 3, 1983–January 7, 1991DFL19821986Rudy Perpich43Joanell DyrstadJanuary 7, 1991–January 3, 1995Independent-Republican1990Arne Carlson44Joanne BensonJanuary 3, 1995–January 4, 1999Republican199445Mae SchunkJanuary 4, 1999–January 6, 2003Reform/Independence1998Jesse Ventura46Carol MolnauJanuary 6, 2003–January 3, 2011Republican20022006Tim Pawlenty47Yvonne Prettner SolonJanuary 3, 2011–January 5, 2015DFL2010Mark Dayton48Tina SmithJanuary 5, 2015–January 2, 2018DFL201449Michelle Fischbach4January 2, 2018–January 7, 2019Republican50Peggy FlanaganJanuary 7, 2019–IncumbentDFL20182022Tim Walz

1 Richardson was actually president pro tem of the Minnesota Senate; became acting lieutenant governor when lieutenant governor Hjalmar Petersen became governor on the death of Floyd B. Olson, but Richardson was never sworn in.

2 Wright was president pro tem of the Minnesota Senate and assumed the office of lieutenant governor in 1954 after Lieutenant Governor Ancher Nelsen resigned to become administrator of the Rural Electric Administration.

3 As president of the Minnesota Senate, Olson assumed office of lieutenant governor when Rudy Perpich, then lieutenant governor, became governor on the resignation of Wendell Anderson; Anderson arranged with Perpich to be appointed to the United States Senate after the resignation of Walter Mondale, who had been elected vice president.

4 As president of the Minnesota Senate, Fischbach became lieutenant governor following the resignation of Tina Smith. Smith was appointed by Governor Mark Dayton to fill the United States Senate seat vacated by Al Franken. Fischbach resigned from the state Senate and took the oath of office for lieutenant governor on May 25, 2018.

Note on Minnesota political parties names Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party: On April 15, 1944, the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party merged and created the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL). It is affiliated with the national Democratic Party. Republican Party of Minnesota: From November 15, 1975, to September 23, 1995, the name of the state Republican party was the Independent Republican party (IR). The party has always been affiliated with the national Republican Party. Independence Party of Minnesota: The party was founded under this name in 1992. In 1995 the IPM affiliated with the national Reform Party and renamed itself the Reform Party of Minnesota. In 2000 the Reform Party of Minnesota disaffiliated with the national Reform party and returned to the name Independence party.

See also Governor of Minnesota List of governors of Minnesota

References

Minnesota Lieutenant Governors 1858- Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. MHS.org's list