View source for Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin

{{Short description|Constitutional officer of Wisconsin}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox official post
|post                     = Lieutenant Governor
|body                     = Wisconsin
|insignia                 = Privy Seal of Wisconsin.svg
|insigniasize             = 
|insigniacaption          = Privy Seal of the [[Wisconsin|State of Wisconsin]]
|insigniaalt              = 
|flag                     = Flag of Wisconsin.svg
|flagsize                 = 150px
|flagalt                  = 
|flagborder               = 
|flagcaption              = [[Flag of Wisconsin|State flag]]
|image                    =  Lt Gov Sara Rodriguez Official Photo.png
|imagesize                = 200px
|incumbent                = [[Sara Rodriguez]]
|incumbentsince           = January 3, 2023
|successor                = 
|style                    = {{ublist|Mr. or Madam {{nowrap|Lieutenant Governor}}<br>{{small|(informal)}}|[[The Honourable#United States of America|The Honorable]]<br>{{small|(formal)}}}}
|department               = [[Government of Wisconsin]]
|inaugural                = [[John Edwin Holmes]]
|formation                = {{start date and age|June 7, 1848|p=1|br=1}}
|termlength               = Four years, no term limit
|salary                   = $80,684<ref>{{cite report |url= https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/lrb_reports/lrb_reports_3_3.pdf |title= Salaries of Wisconsin State Elected Officials |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |access-date= April 3, 2020 |year= 2019 |page= 2 |archive-date= May 17, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200517191324/https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/lrb_reports/lrb_reports_3_3.pdf |url-status= live }}</ref>
|constituting_instrument  = [[Constitution of Wisconsin|Wisconsin Constitution]], {{nowrap|Article V}}
|succession               = First
|website                  = [https://evers.wi.gov/ltgov/Pages/default.aspx Official page]
<!-- <br />[https://twitter.com/LGMandelaBarnes Official twitter]-->
}}
The '''lieutenant governor of Wisconsin''' is the first person in the [[Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Wisconsin|line of succession]] of [[Wisconsin]]'s [[executive branch]], thus serving as governor in the event of the death, resignation, removal, [[Impeachment in Wisconsin|impeachment]], absence from the state, or incapacity due to illness of the [[governor of Wisconsin]].<ref name="article5">{{cite book |editor=Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |title=State of Wisconsin 2007&ndash;2008 Blue Book |location=Madison |publisher=Wisconsin Legislature Joint Committee on Legislative Organization |year=2007 |pages=213&ndash;215 |url=https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2007_2008 |format=PDF |access-date=December 22, 2017 |chapter=Chapter 3: Wisconsin Constitution (Article V) |chapter-url=https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2007_2008/400_constitution.pdf |archive-date=October 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017034001/https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2007_2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> 
Forty-one individuals have held the office of lieutenant governor since Wisconsin's admission to the [[United States|Union]] in 1848, two of whom&mdash;[[Warren P. Knowles|Warren Knowles]] and [[Jack B. Olson|Jack Olson]]&mdash;have served for non-consecutive terms.  The first lieutenant governor was [[John Edwin Holmes|John Holmes]], who took office on June 7, 1848.  The current lieutenant governor is [[Sara Rodriguez]], who took office on January 3, 2023.<ref name="bluebook" />

== Succession to the governorship ==
Until 1979, the [[Wisconsin Constitution]] merely stated that in the event of the governor's death, resignation, removal from office, [[Impeachment in Wisconsin|impeachment]], absence from the state or incapacity due to illness, "the powers and duties of the office [of Governor of Wisconsin] shall devolve upon the lieutenant governor".<ref name="article5" /> Lieutenant governors who served as governor during this period are referred to as "[[acting governor]]s".<ref name="bluebook">{{cite book |editor=Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |title=State of Wisconsin 2007&ndash;2008 Blue Book |location=Madison |publisher=Wisconsin Legislature Joint Committee on Legislative Organization |year=2007 |pages=720&ndash;723 |url=https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2007_2008 |format=PDF |access-date=December 22, 2017 |chapter=Chapter 8: Statistics |chapter-url=https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2007_2008/840_history.pdf |archive-date=October 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017034001/https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2007_2008 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="prevltgov">{{cite web |url=http://ltgov.wisconsin.gov/section_detail.asp?linkcatid=2042&linkid=1070&locid=126 |title=Previous Lieutenant Governors |access-date=February 24, 2008 |date=April 23, 2007 |publisher=Office of the Lieutenant Governor |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528073745/http://ltgov.wisconsin.gov/section_detail.asp?linkcatid=2042&linkid=1070&locid=126 |archive-date=May 28, 2010 }}</ref> In 1979, the constitution was [[Constitutional amendment|amended]] to make this more specific: in the event of the governor's death, resignation, or removal from office, the lieutenant governor becomes governor; in the event of the governor's impeachment, absence, or incapacity, the lieutenant governor becomes acting governor until the governor is again able to serve.<ref name="article5" />

== Lieutenant gubernatorial elections and term of office ==
Under the original terms of the state constitution, the lieutenant governor was elected for a two-year term on a separate [[ticket (election)|ticket]] from the governor;<ref name="article5" /> because of this, the governor and lieutenant governor of Wisconsin have not always been of the same [[political party|party]].  After a 1967 amendment, however, the two have been nominated, and voted upon, as a single ticket.  The 1967 amendment also increased the terms of both the governor and lieutenant governor to four years.  There is no [[term limit|limit]] to the number of terms a lieutenant governor may hold.<ref name="article5" />

=== Vacancy ===
The original constitution made no provision for a vacancy in the office of the lieutenant governor; in the event of the lieutenant governor's death, resignation, or service as acting governor, the lieutenant governorship usually remained vacant until the end of the term. In 1938, following the resignation of lieutenant governor [[Henry Gunderson]], Governor [[Philip La Follette]] appointed [[Herman Ekern]] lieutenant governor to fill the vacancy. This appointment was challenged in court, and ruled valid in the case ''State ex rel. Martin v. Ekern''.<ref name="prevltgov" /> In 1979 the constitution was amended to explicitly allow this: in the event of a vacancy in the office of the lieutenant governor, the governor nominates a candidate who becomes lieutenant governor for the remainder of the term upon his approval by the [[Wisconsin Assembly]] and [[Wisconsin State Senate]].<ref name="article13">{{cite book |editor=Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |title=State of Wisconsin 2007&ndash;2008 Blue Book |location=Madison |publisher=Wisconsin Legislature Joint Committee on Legislative Organization |year=2007 |page=236 |url=https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2007_2008 |chapter=Chapter 3: Wisconsin Constitution (Article XIII) |chapter-url=https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2007_2008/400_constitution.pdf |access-date=2017-12-23 |archive-date=2020-10-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017034001/https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2007_2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Removal ===
A lieutenant governor may be removed from office through an [[impeachment|impeachment trial]] or a recall.<ref name="article7">{{cite book |editor=Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |title=State of Wisconsin 2007&ndash;2008 Blue Book |location=Madison |publisher=Wisconsin Legislature Joint Committee on Legislative Organization |year=2007 |page=218 |url=https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2007_2008 |chapter=Chapter 3: Wisconsin Constitution (Article XIII) |chapter-url=https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2007_2008/400_constitution.pdf |access-date=2017-12-23 |archive-date=2020-10-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017034001/https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2007_2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> They may also choose to resign from office.  No lieutenant governor has ever been impeached; two have resigned.<ref name="bluebook" /> Rebecca Kleefisch is the only lieutenant governor in the history of any state to face [[2012 Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial recall election|recall election]] in 2012. She faced [[Democratic Party of Wisconsin|Democrat]] [[Mahlon Mitchell]] and won the election with a six percent majority.

== Lieutenant gubernatorial powers ==
If the governor appoints the lieutenant governor to a statutory board, committee or commission on which he is entitled membership as his representative, the lieutenant governor has all the authority in that position that would be granted the governor.<ref name="aboutltgov">{{cite web|url=http://ltgov.wisconsin.gov/section.asp?linkid=1070&locid=126 |title=History |access-date=2008-02-24 |date=2007-04-23 |work=Office of the Lieutenant Governor |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070918003042/http://ltgov.wisconsin.gov/section.asp?linkid=1070&locid=126 |archive-date=2007-09-18 }}</ref>

Originally, the lieutenant governor also presided over the [[Wisconsin State Senate|state senate]] and cast a vote in the event of a tie; however, after an amendment to the [[Wisconsin Constitution]] in 1979, the senate chooses a senator to be presiding officer.<ref name="aboutltgov" />

== List of lieutenant governors ==
{| class=wikitable style="float:right; margin:0 0 0.5em 1em;"
|+Number of lieutenant governors of Wisconsin by party affiliation
!Party
!Lt. governors
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|align=right|29
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|align=right|16
|- {{party shading/Progressive (Wisconsin)}}
|[[Progressive Party (United States, 1924)|Progressive]]
|align=right|2
|}
From 1836, until 1848, what is now Wisconsin was part of [[Wisconsin Territory]].<ref name="WIhist">{{cite book |chapter=Chapter 8: Statistical Information on Wisconsin |chapter-url=http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/bb/07bb/statistics.htm |access-date=2008-02-25 |chapter-format=PDF |title=State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2007–2008 |page=692 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928230332/http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/bb/07bb/statistics.htm |archive-date=2008-09-28 }}</ref>  There was no position of "Territorial Lieutenant Governor"; however, the territory had a Secretary who was similar in that one of his functions was to assume the powers and duties of the territorial governor if he were unable to carry them out.<ref name="illusthist">{{cite book |last=Tuttle |first=Charles Richard |title=An Illustrated History of the State of Wisconsin |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_jBCvxBTJQHYC |access-date=2008-02-24 |year=1875 |publisher=B. B. Russell |location=Boston, Massachusetts |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_jBCvxBTJQHYC/page/n188 189]}}</ref>  For the secretaries from the territorial period, see the [[List of secretaries of Wisconsin Territory]].

Wisconsin was admitted to the Union on May 29, 1848.  Since then, it has had 41 lieutenant governors, two of whom have served non-consecutive terms.<ref name="bluebook" />

;Parties
{{legend2|#B0CEFF|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] (16)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|#FFFFCC|[[Whig Party (United States)|Whig]] (0)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|#FFB6B6|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] (27)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|#CCFF99|[[Progressive Party (United States, 1924)|Progressive]] (2)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! #
! Image
! Lt. Governor
! Party
! Took office
! Left office<ref group="note">When there is no evidence to the contrary, it is assumed that lieutenant governors left office the same day their successors were [[oath of office|sworn in]].</ref>
! Governor
! Term(s)<ref group="note">The fractional terms of some lieutenant governors are not to be understood absolutely literally; rather, they are meant to show single terms during which multiple lieutenant governors served, due to resignations, deaths, and delayed inaugurations.</ref>
<!-- #####JOHN HOLMES -->
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 1
| [[File:John E. Holmes.png|60px]]
| [[John E. Holmes]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| June 7, 1848<ref name="bluebook1929">{{cite book |last=Anderson |first=William J. |editor=William A. Anderson |title=The Wisconsin blue book, 1929 |year=1929 |url=http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?type=header&id=WI.WIBlueBk1929&isize=M |access-date=2008-01-27 |publisher=Democrat Printing Company |location=Madison, Wisconsin |page=136 |archive-date=2011-06-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604150947/http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?type=header&id=WI.WIBlueBk1929&isize=M |url-status=live }}</ref>
| January 7, 1850
| [[Nelson Dewey]]
| 1
<!-- #####SAMUEL BEALL -->
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 2
| 
| [[Samuel W. Beall]]
| Democratic
| January 7, 1850<ref name="bluebook1929" />
| January 5, 1852
| Nelson Dewey
| 1
<!-- #####TIMOTHY BURNS -->
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 3
| 
| [[Timothy Burns (Wisconsin politician)|Timothy Burns]]
| Democratic
| January 5, 1852<ref name="bluebook1929" />
| September 21, 1853<ref name="hist">{{cite book |title=The History of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_GWxQBg7uyWQC |access-date=2008-01-14 |year=1879 |publisher=Western Historical Company |location=Racine County, Wisconsin |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_GWxQBg7uyWQC/page/n57 62]}}</ref>
|{{Party shading/Whig}}| [[Leonard Farwell]]
| <small>{{frac|2}}</small><ref group="note" name="died">Died in office.</ref>
<!-- #####VACANT -->
|-
|colspan="4"| ''vacant''
| September 21, 1853
| January 2, 1854
|{{Party shading/Whig}}| Leonard Farwell
| <small>{{frac|2}}</small><ref group="note" name="vacantdeath">Vacant due to death of lieutenant governor.</ref>
<!-- #####JAMES LEWIS -->
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}} <!-- Lewis didn't become a Republican until the Civil War -->
| 4
| [[File:James T. Lewis Cropped.jpg|60px]]
| [[James T. Lewis]]
| Democratic
| January 2, 1854<ref name="bluebook1929" />
| January 7, 1856
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}| [[William Barstow]]
| 1
<!-- #####ARTHUR MACARTHUR -->
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
|rowspan="3"| 5
|rowspan="3"| [[File:Arthur macarthur sr.png|60px]]
| [[Arthur MacArthur Sr.]]
| Democratic
| January 7, 1856<ref name="bluebook1929" />
| March 21, 1856<ref name="bluebook" />
| William Barstow
| <small>{{frac|3}}</small><ref group="note" name="macarthur">MacArthur was elected lieutenant governor in the 1855 election; initially Barstow was declared the winner of the gubernatorial election, but when he resigned amid claims that he had won by fraudulent means, MacArthur began to act as governor.  After five days, the [[Wisconsin Supreme Court]] ruled that Bartow's opponent, Bashford, was the legitimate governor, at which point MacArthur returned to serving as lieutenant governor.</ref>
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
|colspan="2"| ''MacArthur acting as governor''<ref group="note" name="acting">Periods during which the lieutenant governor acted as governor are listed only if they would have caused the lieutenant governor to become governor had the 1979 amendment existed during that time; that is, those resulting from the death, resignation, or removal of the governor.  Those resulting from the governor's temporary absence from the state, impeachment, or his inability to serve due to illness are not listed.</ref>
| March 21, 1856
| March 25, 1856
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}| [[Arthur MacArthur Sr.]]
| <small>{{frac|3}}</small>{{#tag:ref|Note that when lieutenant governors are acting as governors, they technically continue to be lieutenant governors.  However, in order to avoid confusion, they are here listed as governors only.  Some sources will include these periods in the lieutenant governors' terms of office.<ref name="bluebook" />|group="note"|name="vacantact"}}
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| Arthur MacArthur Sr.
| Democratic
| March 25, 1856<ref name="bluebook" />
| January 4, 1858
|{{Party shading/Republican}}| [[Coles Bashford]]
| <small>{{frac|3}}</small><ref group="note" name="macarthur" />
<!-- #####ERASMUS CAMPBELL -->
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 6
| [[File:ED Campbell.jpg|60px]]
| [[Erasmus D. Campbell]]
| Democratic
| January 4, 1858<ref name="bluebook1929" />
| January 2, 1860
|{{Party shading/Republican}}| [[Alexander Randall (Wisconsin politician)|Alexander Randall]]
| 1
<!-- #####BUTLER NOBLE -->
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| 7
| 
| [[Butler G. Noble]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| January 2, 1860<ref name="bluebook1929" />
| January 6, 1862
| Alexander Randall
| 1
<!--##### EDWARD SALOMON -->
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|rowspan="2"| 8
|rowspan="2"| [[File:Wisconsin Governor Edward Salomon.jpg|60px]]
| [[Edward Salomon]]
| Republican
| January 6, 1862<ref name="bluebook1929" />
| April 19, 1862<ref name="bluebook" />
| [[Louis Harvey]]<ref group="note" name="died" />
| <small>{{frac|2}}</small>
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|colspan="2"| ''Salomon acting as governor''<ref group="note" name="acting" />
| April 19, 1862
| January 4, 1864
|{{Party shading/Republican}}| [[Edward Salomon]]
| <small>{{frac|2}}</small><ref group="note" name="vacantact" />
<!-- #####VACANT -->
|-
|colspan="4"| ''vacant''
| January 4, 1864
| by January 13, 1864{{#tag:ref|Governor Lewis was sworn in on January 4,<ref name="bluebook" /> but Lieutenant Governor Spooner was not.<ref name="spoonerJan4">{{cite news |title=Inaugurated |work=The Waukesha Freeman |date=January 5, 1864 |location=Waukesha, Wisconsin |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=53118753 |format=PDF |access-date=2008-02-25 |page=2}}</ref>  Contemporary newspaper articles dated January 13 refer to him as "lieutenant governor",<ref name="statejournalJan13">{{cite news |title=Wisconsin Legislature |work=Wisconsin State Journal |date=January 13, 1864 |location=Madison, Wisconsin |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=53795023 |format=PDF |access-date=2008-02-25 |page=1}}</ref><ref name="janesvillegazetteJan13">{{cite news |title=Wisconsin Legislature |work=Janesville Daily Gazette |date=January 15, 1864 |location=Janesville, Wisconsin |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=53347805 |format=PDF |access-date=2008-02-25 |page=2}}</ref> suggesting that he was sworn in before that day.  However, the [[Wisconsin Blue Book]]s variously give his date of inauguration as January 1,<ref name="bluebook1866">{{cite book |editor-last=Stewart |editor-first=Frank M. |editor2=E. W. Young |title=The legislative manual, of the state of Wisconsin; comprising Jefferson's manual, rules, forms, and laws, for the regulation of business; also, lists and tables for reference |url=http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?type=header&id=WI.WIBlueBk1866&isize=M |location=Madison, Wisconsin |publisher=Wm. J. Park, State Printer |year=1866 |page=148 |access-date=2008-02-26 |archive-date=2011-06-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604152013/http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?type=header&id=WI.WIBlueBk1866&isize=M |url-status=live }}</ref> January 14,<ref name="bluebook1929" /> or list only the year, 1864.<ref name="bluebook" />|group="note"|name="spooner"}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}}| [[James T. Lewis|James Lewis]]
| <small>{{frac|2}}</small>
<!--#####WYMAN SPOONER -->
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|rowspan="2"| 9
|rowspan="2"| [[File:Wyman Spooner.png|60px]]
|rowspan="2"| [[Wyman Spooner]]
|rowspan="2"| Republican
|rowspan="2"| by January 13, 1864<ref group="note" name="spooner" />
|rowspan="2"| January 3, 1870
| James Lewis
|rowspan="2"| 2<small>{{frac|2}}</small>
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| [[Lucius Fairchild]]
<!-- #####THADDEUS POUND -->
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| 10
| [[File:Thaddeus C. Pound - Brady-Handy.jpg|60px]]
| [[Thaddeus C. Pound]]
| Republican
| January 3, 1870<ref name="bluebook1929" />
| January 1, 1872
| Lucius Fairchild
| 1
<!-- #####MILTON PETTIT -->
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| 11
| [[File:Milton H. Pettit.png|60px]]
| [[Milton H. Pettit]]
| Republican
| January 1, 1872<ref name="bluebook1929" />
| March 23, 1873<ref name="bluebook" />
|[[Cadwallader C. Washburn|Cadwallader Washburn]]
| <small>{{frac|2}}</small><ref group="note" name="died" />
<!-- #####VACANT -->
|-
|colspan="4"| ''vacant''
| March 23, 1873
| January 5, 1874
|{{Party shading/Republican}}| Cadwallader Washburn
| <small>{{frac|2}}</small><ref group="note" name="vacantdeath" />
<!-- #####CHARLES PARKER -->
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
|rowspan="2"| 12
|rowspan="2"| 
|rowspan="2"| [[Charles D. Parker]]
|rowspan="2"| Democratic
|rowspan="2"| January 5, 1874<ref name="bluebook1929" />
|rowspan="2"| January 7, 1878
| [[William Robert Taylor|William Taylor]]
|rowspan="2"| 2
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| [[Harrison Ludington]]
<!-- #####JAMES BINGHAM -->
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| 13
| 
| [[James M. Bingham]]
| Republican
| January 7, 1878<ref name="bluebook1929" />
| January 2, 1882
| [[William E. Smith (politician)|William Smith]]
| 2
<!-- #####SAM FIFIELD -->
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| 14
| [[File:Samuel Fifield.png|60px]]
| [[Sam S. Fifield]]
| Republican
| January 2, 1882<ref name="bluebook1929" />
| January 3, 1887
| [[Jeremiah Rusk]]
| 2<ref group="note">During Fifield's first term, the [[Wisconsin Constitution]] was amended to say that all elections of state and county officers would henceforth take place in even-numbered years.  By the provisions of the amendment, the terms of all officials who would have left office in 1884, including Fifield, were extended by one year.</ref>
<!-- #####GEORGE RYLAND -->
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|rowspan="2"| 15
|rowspan="2"| [[File:George W Ryland.png|60px]]
|rowspan="2"| [[George W. Ryland]]
|rowspan="2"| Republican
|rowspan="2"| January 3, 1887<ref name="bluebook1929" />
|rowspan="2"| January 5, 1891
| Jeremiah Rusk
|rowspan="2"| 2
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| [[William Hoard]]
<!-- #####CHARLES JONAS -->
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 16
| [[File:Jan Vilímek - Karel Jonáš HL.jpg|60px]]
| [[Charles Jonas (Wisconsin politician)|Charles Jonas]]
| Democratic
| January 5, 1891<ref name="bluebook1929" />
| April 4, 1894<ref name="bluebook1929" />
| [[George Wilbur Peck|George Peck]]
| 1<small>{{frac|2}}</small><ref group="note" name="resigned">Resigned from office.</ref>
<!-- #####VACANT -->
|-
|colspan="4"| ''vacant''
| April 4, 1894
| January 7, 1895
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}| George Peck
| <small>{{frac|2}}</small><ref group="note" name="vacantresign">Vacant due to resignation of lieutenant governor.</ref>
<!-- #####EMIL BAENSCH -->
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|rowspan="2"| 17
|rowspan="2"| [[File:Emil Baensch (June 12, 1857 – August 17, 1939) circa 1915.jpg|60px]]
|rowspan="2"| [[Emil Baensch]]
|rowspan="2"| Republican
|rowspan="2"| January 7, 1895{{#tag:ref|Governor Upham was sworn in on January 7.<ref name="bluebook" />  Contemporary newspaper accounts indicate that Lieutenant Governor Baensch was sworn in on the same day;<ref name="centraliaenterprise">{{cite news |title=UPHAM INAUGURATED |work=The Centralia Enterprise and Tribune |date=January 12, 1895 |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=94280928 |format=PDF |access-date=2008-02-25 |page=6}}</ref> however, the [[Wisconsin Blue Book]] states that he was inaugurated on January 8.<ref name="bluebook1929" />|group="note"}}
|rowspan="2"| January 2, 1899
| William Upham
|rowspan="2"| 2
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| [[Edward Scofield]]
<!-- #####JESSE STONE -->
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|rowspan="2"| 18
|rowspan="2"| [[File:Jesse Stone (Wisconsin politician).gif|60px]]
|rowspan="2"| [[Jesse Stone (Wisconsin politician)|Jesse Stone]]
|rowspan="2"| Republican
|rowspan="2"| January 2, 1899<ref name="bluebook1929" />
|rowspan="2"| May 11, 1902<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news |title=Lieut. Gov. Stone Dead |work=New York Times |page=9 |date=May 12, 1902 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1902/05/12/101951701.pdf |access-date=2008-01-23 |archive-date=2022-07-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707075743/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1902/05/12/101951701.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
| Edward Scofield
|rowspan="2"| 1<small>{{frac|2}}</small><ref group="note" name="died" />
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| [[Robert M. La Follette|Robert La Follette Sr.]]
<!-- #####VACANT -->
|-
|colspan="4"| ''vacant''
| May 11, 1902
| January 5, 1903
|{{Party shading/Republican}}| Robert La Follette Sr.
| <small>{{frac|2}}</small><ref group="note" name="vacantdeath" />
<!-- #####JAMES DAVIDSON -->
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|rowspan="2"| 19
|rowspan="2"| [[File:James Ole Davidson (Wisconsin Governor).png|60px]]
| [[James O. Davidson]]
| Republican
| January 5, 1903<ref name="bluebook" />
| January 1, 1906<ref name="bluebook" />
| Robert La Follette Sr.<ref group="note" name="resigned" />
| 1<small>{{frac|2}}</small>
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|colspan="2"| ''Davidson acting as governor''<ref group="note" name="acting" />
| January 1, 1906
| January 7, 1907
|{{Party shading/Republican}}| [[James O. Davidson|James Davidson]]
| <small>{{frac|2}}</small><ref group="note" name="vacantact" />
<!--##### WILLIAM CONNOR -->
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| 20
| 
| [[William D. Connor]]
| Republican
| January 7, 1907<ref name="bluebook1929" />
| January 4, 1909
| James Davidson
| 1
<!-- #####JOHN STRANGE -->
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| 21
| [[File:Wisconsin lieutenant governor John Strange.png|60px]]
| [[John Strange (Wisconsin politician)|John Strange]]
| Republican
| January 4, 1909<ref name="bluebook1929" />
| January 2, 1911
| James Davidson
| 1
<!-- #####THOMAS MORRIS -->
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| 22
| [[File:Wisconsin politician Thomas Morris.png|60px]]
| [[Thomas Morris (Wisconsin politician)|Thomas Morris]]
| Republican
| January 2, 1911<ref name="bluebook1929" />
| January 4, 1915
| [[Francis McGovern]]
| 2
<!-- #####EDWARD DITHMAR -->
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| 23
| [[File:Edward Dithmar.png|60px]]
| [[Edward F. Dithmar]]
| Republican
| January 4, 1915<ref name="bluebook1929" />
| January 3, 1921
| [[Emanuel Philipp]]
| 3
<!-- #####GEORGE COMINGS -->
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| 24
| 
| [[George F. Comings]]
| Republican
| January 3, 1921<ref name="bluebook1929" />
| January 5, 1925
| [[John J. Blaine|John Blaine]]
| 2
<!-- #####HENRY HUBER -->
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|rowspan="4"| 25
|rowspan="4"| [[File:Henry Alan Huber.jpg|60px]]
|rowspan="4"| [[Henry A. Huber]]
|rowspan="4"| Republican
|rowspan="4"| January 5, 1925<ref name="bluebook1929" />
|rowspan="4"| January 2, 1933
| John Blaine
|rowspan="4"| 4
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| [[Fred R. Zimmerman]]
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| [[Walter J. Kohler Sr.|Walter Kohler Sr.]]
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| [[Philip La Follette]]
<!-- #####THOMAS O'MALLEY -->
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
|rowspan="2"| 26
|rowspan="2"| [[File:Thomas J. O'Malley.jpg|60px]]
|rowspan="2"| [[Thomas J. O'Malley]]
|rowspan="2"| Democratic
|rowspan="2"| January 2, 1933<ref name="statejournalOmalley">{{cite news |title=Governor Takes Oath Amid Cheers of 5,000 |work=Wisconsin State Journal |page=1 |date=January 3, 1933 |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=99852035 |format=PDF |access-date=2008-02-23}}</ref>
|rowspan="2"| May 27, 1936<ref name="lacrossetrib">{{cite news |title=Lieutenant Governor O'Malley Dead |work=La Crosse Tribune and Leader-Press |page=1 |date=May 27, 1936 |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=61575646 |format=PDF |access-date=2008-01-23}}</ref>
| [[Albert Schmedeman]]
|rowspan="2"| 1<small>{{frac|2}}</small><ref group="note" name="died" />
|- {{Party shading/Progressive (Wisconsin)}}
| Philip La Follette
<!-- #####VACANT -->
|-
|colspan="4"| ''vacant''
| May 27, 1936
| January 4, 1937
|{{Party shading/Progressive (Wisconsin)}}| Philip La Follette
| <small>{{frac|2}}</small><ref group="note" name="vacantdeath" />
<!-- #####HENRY GUNDERSON -->
|- {{Party shading/Progressive (Wisconsin)}}
| 27
| [[File:Henry Gunderson (WI).png|60px]]
| [[Henry A. Gunderson]]
| [[Progressive Party (United States, 1924)|Progressive]]
| January 4, 1937<ref name="oshkoshnwGunderson">{{cite news |title=New Administrations Started |work=The Oshkosh Northwestern |page=6 |date=January 4, 1937 |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=7578853 |format=PDF |access-date=2008-02-23}}</ref>
| October 16, 1937<ref name="bluebook" />
| Philip La Follette
| <small>{{frac|3}}</small><ref group="note" name="resigned" />
<!-- #####VACANT -->
|-
|colspan="4"| ''vacant''
| October 16, 1937
| May 16, 1938
|{{Party shading/Progressive (Wisconsin)}}| Philip La Follette
| <small>{{frac|3}}</small><ref group="note" name="vacantresign" />
<!-- #####HEMRAN EKERN -->
|- {{Party shading/Progressive (Wisconsin)}}
| 28
| [[File:Herman Ekern (WI).jpg|60px]]
| [[Herman L. Ekern]]
| Progressive
| May 16, 1938<ref name="bluebook" />
| January 2, 1939
| Philip La Follette
| <small>{{frac|3}}</small><ref group="note" name="appointed">Appointed to fill vacancy.</ref>
<!-- #####WALTER GOODLAND -->
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|rowspan="2"| 29
|rowspan="2"| [[File:Walter Samuel Goodland.jpg|60px]]
| [[Walter S. Goodland]]
| Republican
| January 2, 1939<ref name="appletonpostcrescent">{{cite news |title=Mayor's Brother Is Lieutenant Governor |work=Appleton Post-Crescent |date=January 3, 1939 |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=6439466 |format=PDF |access-date=2008-02-23}}</ref>
| January 4, 1943<ref name="bluebook" />
| [[Julius Heil]]
| 2
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|colspan="2"| ''Goodland acting as governor''<ref group="note" name="acting" />
| January 4, 1943
| January 1, 1945
|{{Party shading/Republican}}| [[Walter Goodland]]
| 1<ref group="note">Goodland was re-elected lieutenant governor in the 1942 election, and [[Orland Steen Loomis|Orland Loomis]] was elected governor.  When Loomis died before taking office, Goodland acted as governor for the entire term, per a ruling of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.</ref>
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
<!-- #####OSCAR RENNEBOHM -->
|rowspan="2"| 30
|rowspan="2"| [[File:Rennebohm Governor.jpg|60px]]
| [[Oscar Rennebohm]]
| Republican
| January 1, 1945<ref name="dailyglobeRennebohm">{{cite news |title=Badger Officials Are Inaugurated |work=Ironwood Daily Globe |page=2 |date=January 2, 1945 |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=81405724 |format=PDF |access-date=2008-02-23}}</ref>
| March 12, 1947<ref name="bluebook" />
| Walter Goodland<ref group="note" name="died" />
| 1<small>{{frac|2}}</small>
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|colspan="2"| ''Rennebohm acting as governor''<ref group="note" name="acting" />
| March 12, 1947
| January 3, 1949
|{{Party shading/Republican}}| [[Oscar Rennebohm]]
| <small>{{frac|2}}</small><ref group="note" name="vacantact" />
<!-- #####GEORGE SMITH -->
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|rowspan="2"| 31
|rowspan="2"| 
|rowspan="2"| [[George M. Smith]]
|rowspan="2"| Republican
|rowspan="2"| January 3, 1949<ref name="waukeshafreeman">{{cite news |title=Rennebohm Inaugurated for Own Term as Governor |work=Waukesha Daily Freeman |page=2 |date=January 3, 1949 |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=6557289 |format=PDF |access-date=2008-02-23}}</ref>
|rowspan="2"| January 3, 1955
| Oscar Rennebohm
|rowspan="2"| 3
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| [[Walter J. Kohler Jr.|Walter Kohler Jr.]]
<!-- #####WARREN KNOWLES (1955 - 1959) -->
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|rowspan="2"| 32
|rowspan="2"| [[File:Warren P. Knowles (Wisconsin governor).jpg|60px]]
|rowspan="2"| [[Warren P. Knowles]]
|rowspan="2"| Republican
|rowspan="2"| January 3, 1955<ref name="sheboyganpress">{{cite news |title=Gov. Kohler, Four State Officers Are Inaugurated |work=The Sheboygan Press |page=1 |date=January 3, 1955 |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=7835111 |format=PDF |access-date=2008-02-23}}</ref>
|rowspan="2"| January 5, 1959
| Walter Kohler Jr.
|rowspan="2"| 2
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| [[Vernon Thomson]]
<!-- #####PHILLEO NASH -->
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 33
| [[File:Photograph of White House aide Philleo Nash with a fish he caught during President Truman's vacation at Key West... - NARA - 200538 (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| [[Philleo Nash]]
| Democratic
| January 5, 1959<ref name="steventspointjournal">{{cite news |title=Gaylord Nelson Becomes State's 34th Governor |work=Stevens Point Daily Journal |page=1 |date=January 5, 1959 |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=43361 |format=PDF |access-date=2008-02-23}}</ref>
| January 2, 1961
|[[Gaylord Nelson]]
| 1
<!-- #####WARREN KNOWLES (1961 - 1963) -->
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| 34
| [[File:Warren P. Knowles (Wisconsin governor).jpg|60px]]
| Warren P. Knowles
| Republican
| January 2, 1961<ref name="statejournalKnowles">{{cite news |title=Nelson Calls for Unity |work=Wisconsin State Journal |page=1 |date=January 3, 1961 |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=100792297 |format=PDF |access-date=2008-02-23}}</ref>
| January 7, 1963
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}| Gaylord Nelson
| 1
<!-- #####JACK OLSON (1963 - 1965)-->
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| 35
| [[File:Jack B. Olson.png|60px]]
| [[Jack B. Olson]]
| Republican
| January 7, 1963<ref name="oshkoshnwOlson">{{cite news |title=Reynolds Calls for Unity At Inaugural Ceremonies |work=Oshkosh Daily Northwestern |page=1 |date=January 7, 1963 |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=17738968 |format=PDF |access-date=2008-02-23}}</ref>
| January 4, 1965
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}| [[John W. Reynolds, Jr.|John Reynolds]]
| 1
<!-- #####PATRICK LUCEY -->
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 36
| [[File:Patrick Lucey.png|60px]]
| [[Patrick Joseph Lucey|Patrick J. Lucey]]
| Democratic
| January 4, 1965<ref name="statejournalLucey">{{cite news |title=Knowles Seeks State's Aid in Move Forward |work=Wisconsin State Journal |page=1 |date=January 5, 1965 |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=103358189 |format=PDF |access-date=2008-02-23}}</ref>
| January 2, 1967
|{{Party shading/Republican}}| [[Warren Knowles]]
| 1
<!-- #####JACK OLSON (1967 - 1971) -->
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| 37
| [[File:Jack B. Olson.png|60px]]
| Jack B. Olson
| Republican
| January 2, 1967<ref name="hollandsentinel">{{cite news |title=Knowles Is Sworn In |work=The Holland Evening Sentinel |page=8 |date=January 3, 1967 |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=10333775 |format=PDF |access-date=2008-02-23}}</ref>
| January 4, 1971
| Warren Knowles
| 2
<!-- #####MARTIN SCHREIBER -->
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
|rowspan="2"| 38
|rowspan="2"| [[File:Martin J. Schreiber (1977).png|60px]]
| [[Martin J. Schreiber]]
| Democratic
| January 4, 1971<ref name="statejournalSchreiber">{{cite news |title=Lucey Hopes to Bridge Troubled State Waters |work=Wisconsin State Journal |page=1 |date=January 5, 1971 |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=103397121 |format=PDF |access-date=2008-02-23}}</ref>
| July 6, 1977<ref name="bluebook" />
| [[Patrick Lucey]]<ref group="note" name="resigned" />
| 1<small>{{frac|2}}</small><ref group="note">As per a 1967 amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution, Schreiber's first term was the first lieutenant gubernatorial term to last for 4 years.</ref>
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
|colspan="2"| ''Schreiber acting as governor''<ref group="note" name="acting" />
| July 6, 1977
| January 3, 1979
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}| [[Martin J. Schreiber|Martin Schreiber]]
| <small>{{frac|2}}</small><ref group="note" name="vacantact" />
<!-- #####RUSSELL OLSON -->
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| 39
| 
| [[Russell A. Olson]]
| Republican
| January 3, 1979<ref name="dailyglobeOlson">{{cite news |title=Inaugural Caps Dreyfus Miracle |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=84315408 |format=PDF |work=Ironwood Daily Globe |location=Ironwood, Michigan |page=3 |date=January 4, 1979 |access-date=2008-01-27}}</ref>
| January 3, 1983
| [[Lee Dreyfus]]
| 1
<!-- #####JAMES FLYNN -->
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 40
| [[File:James Flynn (WI).png|60px]]
| [[James Flynn (politician)|James Flynn]]
| Democratic
| January 3, 1983<ref name="dailyglobeFlynn">{{cite news |title=Earl discusses financial crunch |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=153619613 |format=PDF |work=Ironwood Daily Globe |location=Ironwood, Michigan |page=11 |date=January 4, 1983 |access-date=2010-04-21}}</ref>
| January 5, 1987
| [[Anthony Earl]]
| 1
<!-- #####SCOTT MCCALLUM -->
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| 41
| [[File:Governor Scott McCallum 2001 (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| [[Scott McCallum]]
| Republican
| January 5, 1987<ref name="dailyglobeMccallum">{{cite news |title=State needs new ideas, says Wisconsin governor |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/Viewer.aspx?img=152332188 |format=PDF |work=Ironwood Daily Globe |location=Ironwood, Michigan |page=6 |date=January 5, 1987 |access-date=2008-01-27}}</ref>
| February 1, 2001<ref name="bluebook" />
| [[Tommy Thompson]]<ref group="note" name="resigned" />
| 3<small>{{frac|3}}</small>
<!-- #####VACANT -->
|-
|colspan="4"| ''vacant''
| February 1, 2001
| May 9, 2001
|{{Party shading/Republican}}| Scott McCallum
| <small>{{frac|3}}</small><ref group="note">Vacant due to lieutenant governor becoming governor for remainder of unexpired term.</ref>
<!-- #####MARGARET FARROW -->
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| 42
| 
| [[Margaret Farrow|Margaret A. Farrow]]
| Republican
| May 9, 2001<ref name="bluebook" />
| January 6, 2003
| [[Scott McCallum]]
| <small>{{frac|3}}</small><ref group="note" name="appointed" />
<!-- #####BARBARA LAWTON -->
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 43
| [[File:Lawton barbara official.jpg|60px]]
| [[Barbara Lawton]]
| Democratic
| January 6, 2003<ref name="journalsentinel">{{cite news |first=Steven |last=Walters |title=The guard changes |work=The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |location=Milwaukee, Wisconsin |page=1A |date=January 7, 2003 |id={{ProQuest|261710319}} }}</ref>
| January 3, 2011
| [[Jim Doyle]]
| 2
<!-- #####REBECCA KLEEFISCH-->
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| 44
| [[File:Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| [[Rebecca Kleefisch]]
| Republican
| January 3, 2011
| January 7, 2019
| [[Scott Walker (politician)|Scott Walker]]
|2
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 45
| [[File:Mandela Barnes Headshot (1).jpg|60px]]
| [[Mandela Barnes]]
| Democratic
| January 7, 2019
| January 3, 2023
| rowspan="2" | [[Tony Evers]]
|1
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 46
| [[File:Sara Rodriguez, 2022.jpg|60px]]
| [[Sara Rodriguez]]
| Democratic
| January 3, 2023
| Incumbent
|1
|}

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group="†"}}
{{reflist|group="note"|2}}

== References ==
;General
*{{cite book|editor-last=Barish |editor-first=Lawrence S.  |title=State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2007&ndash;2008 |url=http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/bb/07bb/ |format=PDF |year=2007 |location=Madison, Wisconsin |publisher=Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |isbn=978-0-9752820-2-1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811080930/http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/bb/07bb/ |archive-date=2011-08-11 }}

;Specific
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070918003152/http://ltgov.wisconsin.gov/index.asp?locid=126 Office of the Lieutenant Governor]
{{Wisconsin}}
{{Lists of lieutenant governors by U.S. state}}
{{Lieutenant Governors of Wisconsin}}
{{Current U.S. Lieutenant Governors}}
{{Wisconsin constitutional officers}}
{{featured list}}

[[Category:Lieutenant governors of Wisconsin| ]]
[[Category:Lists of state lieutenant governors of the United States|Wisconsin]]