The lieutenant governor of Louisiana is the second highest state office in Louisiana. The current lieutenant governor is Billy Nungesser, a Republican. The lieutenant governor is also the commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism. Paul J. Hardy, who served from 1988 to 1992, was the first Republican to be elected to the position since the Reconstruction Era.

History

The office was established by the Louisiana Constitution of 1845. Prior to that, the successor to the governor in the event of his death or resignation was the President of the Louisiana State Senate. A number of state senate presidents succeeded governors before the 1845 Constitution was adopted, including Henry S. Thibodaux, Armand Beauvais and Jacques Dupre. The lieutenant governor presided over the Louisiana Senate from 1845 until the adoption of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974. Under the new constitution, the lieutenant governor was—effective in 1976—primarily tasked with serving as acting governor in the governor's absence from the state and succeeding to gubernatorial office in the event it became vacant. The document also allowed the governor and the Louisiana State Legislature to delegate responsibilities upon the lieutenant governor at their discretion. In 1986, the legislature placed the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism under the lieutenant governor's purview, enabling them to appoint the department's leaders.

Selection

Only qualified voters in Louisiana are eligible to be elected lieutenant governor. Any potential lieutenant governor must be at least 25 years of age and have resided in the state for the five previous years. The lieutenant governor is elected on their own ticket separate from the governor. In the event the lieutenant governor's office becomes vacant, the governor is empowered to nominate a new incumbent subject to the approval of both houses of the legislature.

Duties and responsibilities

The constitution directs the lieutenant governor to assume the office of governor if the previous incumbent vacates the office. If the incumbent governor is unable to act as governor, or is temporarily absent from the state, the lieutenant governor assumes the governor's powers and duties as acting governor. The constitution also designates the lieutenant governor an ex officio member of each committee, board, and commission on which the governor serves. Aside from these duties, the lieutenant governor can exercise powers delegated to them by the governor or as provided by law. Accordingly, state law designates the lieutenant governor as the commissioner of the Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism. In this capacity they appoint the department's secretary and several other leading officers, subject to the confirmation of the State Senate.

List of lieutenant governors

1846–1860

Civil War era

Lieutenant governors of Confederate Louisiana

Lieutenant governors of Union-held territory in Louisiana

Resumption of U.S. statehood