Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky

The office of lieutenant governor of Kentucky has existed under the last three of Kentucky's four constitutions, beginning in 1797. The lieutenant governor serves as governor of Kentucky under circumstances similar to the vice president of the United States assuming the powers of the presidency. Prior to a 1992 amendment to the Kentucky constitution the lieutenant governor became acting governor at any time that the governor was outside of the state. The lieutenant governor of Kentucky presides over the Kentucky state senate, casting a vote only in the event of a tie.

Related Topics:
1797 - Governor of Kentucky - Vice president of the United States - 1992

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Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor in Kentucky run together on party slates. This is the result of a 1992 constitutional amendment; prior to that the candidates for both offices ran separately and, as a result, sometimes the two elected to those offices were not allies and did not work together. This was famously highlighted when then-Lt. Gov. A. B. "Happy" Chandler I in 1935 and then-Lt. Gov. Thelma Stovall in 1978 called the Kentucky General Assembly into session to enact legislation that was not advocated by the governors at the time (Ruby Laffoon and Julian Carroll, respectively). In 1967 a Republican, Louie Nunn, was elected governor and a Democrat, Wendell H. Ford, was elected lieutanant governor; they served together in that way for four years.

Related Topics:
A. B. "Happy" Chandler I - 1935 - Thelma Stovall - 1978 - Ruby Laffoon - Julian Carroll - 1967 - Republican - Louie Nunn - Democrat - Wendell H. Ford

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