May 14, 2015

How States Elect their Governors and Lieutenant Governors

OLR Report 2015-R-0021 outlines which states elect candidates for governor and lieutenant governor separately, and which elect them jointly.  For states that elect them jointly, it describes the procedures for nominating major party candidates for lieutenant governor.
 
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 18 states elect candidates for governor and lieutenant governor separately and 25, including Connecticut, elect them jointly.  Five of the seven remaining states do not have a lieutenant governor and two assign the position to the Senate president, whom the State Senate elects.
 
States holding joint elections use various procedures for nominating major party candidates for lieutenant governor.  Generally, the procedures involve:
  1. gubernatorial candidates selecting a running mate;
  2. candidates for lieutenant governor receiving their party’s nomination during the primary phase, independent of gubernatorial candidates; or
  3. political parties nominating their candidate for lieutenant governor at a state convention.
For more information, read the full report.
 
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