View source for Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma

{{Short description|Second-highest executive official of the state government of Oklahoma}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2018}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox official post
| post                    = Lieutenant Governor
| body                    = the State of Oklahoma
| insignia                = Seal of Oklahoma.svg
| insigniasize            = 125px
| insigniacaption         = Great Seal of Oklahoma
| flag                    = Flag of Oklahoma.svg
| flagsize                = 125px
| flagcaption             = The flag of the State of Oklahoma
| image                   = Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma Matt Pinnell.jpg
| incumbent               = [[Matt Pinnell]]
| acting                  = 
| incumbentsince          = {{start date|2019|01|14}}
| department              = 
| status                  = 
| abbreviation            = Lt. Gov.
| member_of               = 
| reports_to              = [[Governor of Oklahoma]]
| residence               = [[Oklahoma City]]
| appointer               = [[Mid-term election]]
| termlength              = Four years, limited to two terms
| constituting_instrument = [[Constitution of Oklahoma]]
| inaugural               = [[George W. Bellamy]]
| formation               = {{start date|1907|11|16}}
| succession              = [[Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Oklahoma|First]]
| website                 = [http://www.ok.gov/ltgovernor/ Lieutenant Governor's Website]
}}
{{OKGovernment}}

The '''lieutenant governor of Oklahoma''' is the second-highest executive official of the state [[government of Oklahoma]]. As first in the gubernatorial [[line of succession]], the lieutenant governor becomes the new [[governor of Oklahoma]] upon the death, resignation, or removal of the governor. The lieutenant governor also serves as the president of the [[Oklahoma Senate]], and may cast a vote to break ties in that chamber.

The office of the lieutenant governor was created upon the adoption of the state constitution in 1907 and was preceded by a Secretary of Oklahoma Territory office. The 17th lieutenant governor of Oklahoma is Republican [[Matt Pinnell]]. His first term began on January 14, 2019.

==History==
Although there was no lieutenant governor in [[Oklahoma Territory]] prior to the creation of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Oklahoma]], a territorial secretary served as the immediate successor to the [[Governor of Oklahoma Territory|governorship of Oklahoma Territory]] if the position became vacant.<ref name="OKHist">{{cite web |title=Oklahoma Territory |url=https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=OK085 |website=The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture |publisher=Oklahoma Historical Society |access-date=14 April 2024 |language=en-us}}</ref> Two territorial secretaries succeeded territorial governors. Secretary [[Robert Martin (Oklahoma governor)|Robert Martin]] became acting governor of the territory after Governor [[George Washington Steele]]'s resignation in 1890 and Secretary [[William C. Grimes]] served as acting governor of the territory in 1901.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~okbits/governors.html |title=Governors Of Oklahoma |access-date=October 3, 2013 |publisher=Rootsweb}}</ref>

When the [[Oklahoma Constitution]] was adopted in 1907, it authorized the office of the Oklahoma lieutenant governor.<ref>{{cite web |title=Constitutional Convention |url=https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=CO047 |website=The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture |publisher=Oklahoma Historical Society |access-date=14 April 2024 |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Oklahoma Constitution, Section VI-1 |url=https://oklegal.onenet.net/okcon/VI-1.html |website=oklegal.onenet.net |access-date=14 April 2024}}</ref> The office, like that of other state lieutenant governors, was modeled after the office of the [[vice president of the United States]]. The authors of the Oklahoma Constitution placed the lieutenant governor as the [[ex officio]] president of the [[Oklahoma Senate]], giving the office limited [[legislative power]] that included a tie-breaking vote.<ref name="OKCon-VI15">[http://oklegal.onenet.net/okcon/VI-15.html Article VI, Section 15], Oklahoma Constitution. (accessed October 3, 2013)</ref> [[George W. Bellamy]], a pharmacist, served as the first lieutenant governor.

The [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]-dominated [[Oklahoma House of Representatives]] brought impeachment charges against Oklahoma's third lieutenant governor, but the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]-dominated [[Oklahoma Senate]] did not sustain the charges.<ref>O'Dell, Larry. "[http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/R/RO006.html Robertson, James Brooks Ayers (1871-1938)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005080133/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/R/RO006.html |date=2013-10-05 }}," ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture''. (accessed October 3, 2013)</ref> Lieutenant Governor [[Martin E. Trapp]] went on to succeed Governor [[Jack C. Walton]], who was suspended on October 23, 1923, and convicted of impeachment charges and removed from office on November 19, 1923.<ref>O'Dell, Larry. "[http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/W/WA014.html Walton, John Calloway (1881-1949)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216062212/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/w/wa014.html |date=2014-12-16 }}," ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture''. (accessed October 3, 2013)</ref>

In 1929, [[impeachment]] charges were brought against the governor, leading to Lieutenant Governor [[William J. Holloway]] to become acting governor and later governor when the impeachment charges led to a conviction.<ref>"[http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/J/JO015.html Johnston, Henry Simpson] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005001510/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/J/JO015.html |date=2013-10-05 }}," ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture''. (accessed October 3, 2013)</ref>

[[George Nigh]], Oklahoma's eighth lieutenant governor was the youngest lieutenant governor in the United States when he took office on January 12, 1959 at the age of 31.<ref>[http://www.okcareertech.org/about/foundation/hall-of-fame/inductees/governor-george-nigh George Nigh CareerTech Hall of Fame Bio] (accessed October 3, 2013)</ref>

Today, the lieutenant governor presides over the first day of the legislative session, has a tie-breaking vote, and serves as a chief aid to the governor.

==Elections==
The lieutenant governor is elected directly by the people of Oklahoma every four years on the same day as the election of the governor. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected on separate ballots and are not [[running mates]]. This presents a chance that they may represent different political parties, as was the case from 2003 to 2007 when [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] governor [[Brad Henry]] and [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] lieutenant governor [[Mary Fallin]] were in office. The election of Democratic lieutenant governor [[Leo Winters]] and Republican governor [[Henry Bellmon]] in the 1960s was the first instance of this occurrence. It also occurred in 1967 with Republican governor [[Dewey F. Bartlett]] and Democratic lieutenant governor [[George Nigh]] and in 1987 with Republican governor [[Henry Bellmon]] and Democratic lieutenant governor [[Robert S. Kerr III]].

To hold the office, the lieutenant governor must satisfy the same constitutional qualifications as the governor. The lieutenant governor must be a citizen of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Oklahoma]], at least thirty-one years of age and a resident of the [[United States]] for ten years.<ref>[http://oklegal.onenet.net/okcon/VI-3.html Article VI, Section 3], Oklahoma Constitution. (accessed October 3, 2013)</ref>

The lieutenant governor's term lasts for four years and runs coequal with the term of the governor, beginning on the first Monday in January following their election. As originally written, the [[Oklahoma Constitution]] placed no limits on the number of terms an individual could serve as lieutenant governor. Following the results of the [[Oklahoma state elections, 2010|2010 state elections]], the state constitution was amended to limit the lieutenant governor to no more than two terms, consecutive or not.

[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] lieutenant governor [[James E. Berry]] holds the record for the most terms served in the office, having served for five consecutive terms from 1935 to 1955. [[George Nigh]] also held the lieutenant governorship from 1959 to 1963 and again from 1967 to 1979, and [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Mary Fallin]] held the lieutenant governorship for 12 years from 1995 to 2007 with strict lifetime term limits limiting statewide officeholders to two four-year terms, it's unlikely that anyone will surpass these records barring a change in the state constitution.

===Oath of office===
"I, . . . . . . . , do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, obey, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Oklahoma, and that I will not, knowingly, receive, directly or indirectly, any money or other valuable thing, for the performance or nonperformance of any act or duty pertaining to my office, other than the compensation allowed by law; I further swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully discharge my duties as Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma to the best of my ability."

==Powers and duties==
{{Infobox government agency
| agency_name = Office of the Lieutenant Governor
| nativename_a = 
| nativename_r = 
| logo = 
| logo_width = 
| logo_caption = 
| seal = Seal of Oklahoma.svg
| seal_width = 125 px
| seal_caption = Great Seal of the State of Oklahoma
| formed = 1907
| preceding1 = [[Oklahoma Territory|Office of the Territorial Secretary]]
| dissolved = 
| superseding = 
| jurisdiction = 
| employees = 16 unclassified
| budget = $700,000
| headquarters = [[Oklahoma State Capitol]]<br>[[Oklahoma City, Oklahoma]]
| minister1_name = [[Matt Pinnell]]
| minister1_pfo = Lieutenant Governor
| minister2_name = 
| minister2_pfo = 
| chief1_name = 
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| website = [http://www.ok.gov/ltgovernor/ Office of the Lieutenant Governor]
}}

The lieutenant governor is the ''ex officio'' president of the [[Oklahoma Senate]]. As state senate president, the lieutenant governor oversees procedural matters and may cast a vote in the event of a tie.<ref name="OKCon-VI15"/> The lieutenant governor also receives a vote during a joint-session of both the [[Oklahoma House of Representatives]] and [[Oklahoma Senate]]. By tradition, the lieutenant governor presides less frequently than the [[President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate]].

The lieutenant governor serves as the immediate successor to the governorship in the event of a vacancy.<ref name="OKCon-VI15"/> In case of impeachment of the governor, death, failure to qualify, or resignation, the governorship, with its compensation and responsibilities, devolves upon the lieutenant governor for the remainder of the gubernatorial term.<ref name="OKCon-VI16">[http://oklegal.onenet.net/okcon/VI-16.html Article VI, Section 16], Oklahoma Constitution. (accessed October 3, 2013)</ref> In the event of the governor's absences from [[Oklahoma]], or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the office, the lieutenant governor becomes the "acting governor" until the governor returns to the state or the disability is removed.

The lieutenant governor presides over or is a member of ten state boards and commissions as per state statute and the [[Oklahoma Constitution]].

{| class="wikitable"
! Commission !! Position
|-
|[[Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission|Tourism and Recreation Commission]] || Chair
|-
|Film Office Advisory Commission || Chair
|-
|[[Oklahoma State Board of Equalization]] || Vice-Chair
|-
|School Land Commission || Vice-Chair
|-
|Oklahoma Linked Deposit Board || Vice-Chair
|-
|State Insurance Fund || Member
|-
|Archives and Records || Member
|-
|Oklahoma Capitol Complex Centennial Commission || Member
|-
|Capital Improvement Authority || Member
|-
|Native American Cultural & Education Authority || Member
|}

===Relationship with governor===
When a governor and lieutenant governor are of the same party, the governor often uses the lieutenant governor as the head of board, agency, or commission. This can be seen when Governor [[Frank Keating]] appointed [[Mary Fallin]] to serve as his Small Business Advocate within his [[Oklahoma State Cabinet|Cabinet]]. However, when the governor and lieutenant governor are of different parties, the role of the lieutenant governor is minimal.

The lieutenant governor can serve as the [[acting governor]]. When acting as the governor, the [[Oklahoma Constitution]] provides the lieutenant governor with the full powers of the governor, including the power to sign or [[veto]] legislation, make political appointments, call out the [[Oklahoma National Guard]], or grant [[pardons]]. The need for the lieutenant governor to act as the governor may come about due to the governor's absences from Oklahoma, or his or her inability to discharge the powers and duties of the office. The lieutenant governor holds the powers of the governor until the governor returns to the state or the period of disability ends.

==List of lieutenant governors==
;Parties
{{legend2|#B0CEFF|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] (14)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|#FFB6B6|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] (3)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{| class="wikitable"
! # !! Image !! Lt. Governor !! Term !! Party !! Governor(s) served under
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| 1
| [[File:George W. Bellamy (cropped).png|60px]]
| [[George W. Bellamy]]
| 1907–1911
| [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[Charles N. Haskell]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| 2
| [[File:James Jackson McAlester MC003A.jpg|60px]]
| [[J. J. McAlester]]
| 1911–1915
| Democratic
| [[Lee Cruce]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| 3
| [[File:MartinETrapp.jpg|60px]]
| [[Martin E. Trapp]]
| 1915–1923
| Democratic
| [[Robert L. Williams]] <br> [[James B. A. Robertson]] <br> [[John C. Walton]]
|- 
|
| 
| vacant
| 1923–1927
|
| {{party shading/Democratic}}| [[Martin E. Trapp]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| 4
| [[File:Governor William Holloway.jpg|60px]]
| [[William J. Holloway]]
| 1927–1929
| Democratic
| [[Henry S. Johnston]]
|- 
|
| 
| vacant
| 1929–1931
|
| {{party shading/Democratic}}| [[William J. Holloway]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| 5
| 
| [[Robert Burns (Oklahoma politician)|Robert Burns]]
| 1931–1935
| Democratic
| [[William H. Murray]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| 6
| [[File:Oklahoma and Indiana bosses meet at Governors' luncheon. Washington, D.C. Governor James Berry of Oklahoma, (left) and Paul V. McNutt, former Governor of Indiana, meet at the housing LCCN2016871160 (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| [[James E. Berry]]
| 1935–1955
| Democratic
| [[E. W. Marland]] <br> [[Leon C. Phillips]] <br> [[Robert S. Kerr]] <br> [[Roy J. Turner]] <br> [[Johnston Murray]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| 7
| [[File:Cowboy Pink Williams.jpg|60px]]
| [[Cowboy Pink Williams]]
| 1955–1959
| [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[Raymond D. Gary]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| 8
| [[File:George Nigh 1972.jpg|60px]]
| [[George Nigh]]
| 1959–1963
| Democratic
| [[J. Howard Edmondson]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| 9
| 
| [[Leo Winters]]
| 1963–1967
| Democratic
| {{party shading/Republican}}| [[Henry Bellmon]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| rowspan="2"| 10
| rowspan="2"| [[File:George Nigh 1972.jpg|60px]]
| rowspan="2"| [[George Nigh]]
| rowspan="2"| 1967–1979
| rowspan="2"| [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| {{party shading/Republican}}| [[Dewey F. Bartlett]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| [[David Hall (Oklahoma governor)|David Hall]] <br> [[David Boren]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| 11
| [[File:Spencer Bernard.jpg|60px]]
| [[Spencer Bernard (politician)|Spencer Bernard]]
| 1979–1987
| Democratic
| [[George Nigh]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| 12
| [[File:Robert S. Kerr III.jpg|60px]]
| [[Robert S. Kerr III]]
| 1987–1991
| [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| {{party shading/Republican}}| [[Henry Bellmon]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| 13
| [[File:Jack Mildren.jpg|60px]]
| [[Jack Mildren]]
| 1991–1995
| Democratic
| [[David Walters]]
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| rowspan="2"| 14
| rowspan="2"| [[File:Mary Fallin official 110th Congress photo.jpg|60px]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Mary Fallin]]
| rowspan="2"| 1995–2007
| rowspan="2"| [[United States Republican Party|Republican]]
| {{party shading/Republican}}| [[Frank Keating]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| [[Brad Henry]]
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| 15
| [[File:Jari Askins cropped.jpg|60px]]
| [[Jari Askins]]
| 2007–2011
| [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]]
| [[Brad Henry]]
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| 16
| [[File:Todd Lamb.jpg|60px]]
| [[Todd Lamb (politician)|Todd Lamb]]
| 2011–2019
| [[United States Republican Party|Republican]]
| [[Mary Fallin]]
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| 17
| [[File:Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma Matt Pinnell.jpg|60px]]
| [[Matt Pinnell]]
| 2019–present
| [[United States Republican Party|Republican]]
| [[Kevin Stitt]]
|}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060426212448/http://www.ltgov.state.ok.us/ Official Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma home page]

{{Oklahoma}}
{{Oklahoma Executive offices}}
{{OKLtGovernors}}
{{Current U.S. Lieutenant Governors}}
{{Lists of lieutenant governors by U.S. state}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lieutenant Governor Of Oklahoma}}
[[Category:Lieutenant governors of Oklahoma| ]]
[[Category:Lists of state lieutenant governors of the United States|Ok]]