The procedure for becoming a lieutenant governor varies depending on the state in which you wish to run for office. As a result, you must be familiar with the process in the state where you wish to serve. In most cases, you’ll have to run for lieutenant governor in some form of election, though that election may not be statewide in all states. As a result, becoming a lieutenant governor may be slightly easier in some states than in others.
Regardless of which state you seek office in, the state will have some minimum requirements for the position. A residency requirement and a minimum age requirement are likely to be included. Some states may require a candidate to have lived in the state for a certain amount of time before being elected.
In the United States, the lieutenant governor runs on the same ticket as the governor in 26 states. As a result, a major party’s nominee must frequently choose a lieutenant governor candidate to serve as his or her “running mate.” This person often becomes an important part of the campaign, acting as a surrogate for the main candidate when he or she is out campaigning and attending important fundraisers. In most cases, the only real requirement for the lieutenant governor is that he or she has the qualifications to serve as governor if the situation arises.
You can become a lieutenant governor in 18 states by winning a separate election. In these cases, a split executive government with candidates from two opposing political parties in charge of the offices is possible. In this scenario, you will almost certainly need to present petitions requesting that your name be placed on the ballot. The required number of signatures varies by state, but it is typically a percentage of those who voted in the previous general, or gubernatorial, election.
Other elected officials fill the role of lieutenant governor in some states. The lieutenant governor, for example, may also be the Senate leader in that state’s legislature. In West Virginia, Tennessee, Maine, New Jersey, and New Hampshire, this is the case. In such cases, you may only need to be elected in one state district and have your Senate colleagues appoint you to a leadership position.
There are three states where the position of lieutenant governor does not exist at all. Oregon, Wyoming, and Arizona are the states in question. If you want to become a lieutenant governor and live in one of these states, you’ll need to relocate.