List of lieutenant governors of Colorado

Lieutenant Governor of Colorado
Lieutenant Governor of Colorado
	Official seal
	Incumbent; Dianne Primavera; since 8 January 2019
	Government of Colorado
Style	The Honorable
Term length	Four years, renewable once
Inaugural holder	Lafayette Head
Formation	1877
Salary	$93,360 per year
Website	[1]

The lieutenant governor of Colorado is the second-highest-ranking member of the executive department of the Government of Colorado, United States, below the governor of Colorado. The lieutenant governor of Colorado, who acts as governor of Colorado in the absence of the officeholder and succeeds to the governorship in case of vacancy, is elected on a partisan ticket.

After the 1966 general election, the Constitution of Colorado was amended to require the joint election of governor and lieutenant governor — candidates running as a ticket.^[1] Prior to this amendment, the lieutenant governor candidate was elected separately from the governor during the same election—sometimes resulting in a governor and a lieutenant governor from different political parties.

The current lieutenant governor is Dianne Primavera, a Democrat, who took office 8 January 2019.

Lieutenant governors

Lieutenant governors of the State of Colorado
No.	Lieutenant Governor		Term in office	Party	Election
1		Lafayette Head (1825–1897)	August 1, 1876 – January 14, 1879 (did not run)	Republican	1876	John Long Routt
2		Horace Tabor (1830–1899)	January 14, 1879 – January 9, 1881 (did not run)	Republican	1878	Frederick Walker Pitkin
—		George B. Robinson (d. 1880)	Died before taking office	Republican	1880^[b]
2		Horace Tabor (1830–1899)	January 9, 1881 – January 9, 1883 (did not run)	Republican	1880^[b]
3		William H. Meyer (1847–1923)	January 9, 1883 – January 13, 1885 (did not run)	Republican	1882	James Benton Grant^[c]
4		Peter W. Breene (1846–1926)	January 13, 1885 – January 11, 1887 (did not run)^[d]	Republican	1884	Benjamin Harrison Eaton
5		Norman H. Meldrum (1841–1920)	January 11, 1887 – January 8, 1889 (did not run)	Democratic	1886	Alva Adams
6		William Grover Smith (1857–1921)	January 8, 1889 – January 13, 1891 (did not run)	Republican	1888	Job Adams Cooper
7		William Story (1843–1921)	January 13, 1891 – January 10, 1893 (did not run)	Republican	1890	John Long Routt
8		David H. Nichols (1826–1900)	January 10, 1893 – January 8, 1895 (did not run)	Populist	1892	Davis Hanson Waite
9		Jared L. Brush (1835–1913)	January 8, 1895 – January 10, 1899 (did not run)	Republican	1894	Albert McIntire
9		Jared L. Brush (1835–1913)	January 8, 1895 – January 10, 1899 (did not run)	Republican	1896	Alva Adams^[c]
10		Francis Patrick Carney (1846–1902)	January 10, 1899 – January 8, 1901 (did not run)	Populist	1898	Charles Spalding Thomas^[c]
11		David C. Coates (1868–1933)	January 8, 1901 – January 13, 1903 (did not run)	Democratic	1900	James Bradley Orman
12		Warren A. Haggott (1864–1958)	January 13, 1903 – January 10, 1905 (did not run)	Republican	1902	James Hamilton Peabody
13		Arthur Cornforth (1861–1938)	January 10, 1905 – March 17, 1905 (declared loser in election)^[e]	Democratic	1904^[e]	Alva Adams
14		Jesse Fuller McDonald (1858–1942)	March 17, 1905 – March 17, 1905 (succeeded to governor)^[e]	Republican	1904^[e]	James Hamilton Peabody (resigned March 17, 1905)
13		Arthur Cornforth (1861–1938)	March 17, 1905 – July 5, 1905 (removed July 5, 1905)	Democratic	Succeeded from president of the Senate^[e]	Jesse Fuller McDonald^[f]
15		Fred W. Parks (1871–1941)	July 5, 1905 – January 8, 1907 (did not run)	Republican	Succeeded from president of the Senate^[e]	Jesse Fuller McDonald^[f]
16		Erastus Harper (1854–1927)	January 8, 1907 – January 12, 1909 (did not run)	Republican	1906	Henry Augustus Buchtel
17		Stephen R. Fitzgarrald (1854–1926)	January 12, 1909 – January 14, 1913 (did not run)	Democratic	1908	John F. Shafroth
17		Stephen R. Fitzgarrald (1854–1926)	January 12, 1909 – January 14, 1913 (did not run)	Democratic	1910	John F. Shafroth
18		Benjamin F. Montgomery (1834–1912)	January 14, 1913 – January 12, 1915 (did not run)	Democratic	1912	Elias M. Ammons
19		Moses E. Lewis (1854–1951)	January 12, 1915 – January 9, 1917 (lost election)	Republican	1914	George Alfred Carlson
20		James Pulliam (1863–1934)	January 9, 1917 – January 14, 1919 (did not run)	Democratic	1916	Julius Caldeen Gunter
21		George Stephan (1862–1944)	January 14, 1919 – January 11, 1921 (did not run)	Republican	1918	Oliver Henry Shoup
22		Earl Cooley (1880–1940)	January 11, 1921 – January 9, 1923 (did not run)^[g]	Republican	1920	Oliver Henry Shoup
23		Robert F. Rockwell (1886–1950)	January 9, 1923 – January 13, 1925 (did not run)^[h]	Republican	1922	William Ellery Sweet^[c]
24		Sterling Byrd Lacy (1882–1957)	January 13, 1925 – January 11, 1927 (did not run)	Democratic	1924	Clarence Morley^[f]
25		George Milton Corlett (1884–1955)	January 11, 1927 – January 13, 1931 (did not run)	Republican	1926	Billy Adams^[c]
25		George Milton Corlett (1884–1955)	January 11, 1927 – January 13, 1931 (did not run)	Republican	1928
26		Edwin C. Johnson (1884–1970)	January 13, 1931 – January 10, 1933 (elected governor)	Democratic	1930
27		Ray Herbert Talbot (1896–1955)	January 10, 1933 – January 1, 1937 (succeeded to governor)	Democratic	1932	Edwin C. Johnson (resigned January 2, 1937)
27		Ray Herbert Talbot (1896–1955)	January 10, 1933 – January 1, 1937 (succeeded to governor)	Democratic	1934	Edwin C. Johnson (resigned January 2, 1937)
—	Vacant		January 1, 1937 – January 12, 1937	Office vacated by succession to governor		Ray Herbert Talbot
28		Frank Hayes (1882–1948)	January 12, 1937 – January 10, 1939 (lost election)	Democratic	1936	Teller Ammons
29		John Charles Vivian (1887–1964)	January 10, 1939 – January 12, 1943 (elected governor)	Republican	1938	Ralph Lawrence Carr
29		John Charles Vivian (1887–1964)	January 10, 1939 – January 12, 1943 (elected governor)	Republican	1940	Ralph Lawrence Carr
30		William Eugene Higby (1884–1967)	January 12, 1943 – January 14, 1947 (did not run)	Republican	1942	John Charles Vivian
30		William Eugene Higby (1884–1967)	January 12, 1943 – January 14, 1947 (did not run)	Republican	1944	John Charles Vivian
31		Homer L. Pearson (1900–1985)	January 14, 1947 – January 11, 1949 (lost election)	Democratic	1946	William Lee Knous (resigned April 15, 1950)
32		Walter Walford Johnson (1904–1987)	January 11, 1949 – April 15, 1950 (succeeded to governor)	Democratic	1948	William Lee Knous (resigned April 15, 1950)
33		Charles P. Murphy (1882–1953)	April 15, 1950 – January 9, 1951 (did not run)	Republican	Succeeded from president of the Senate	Walter Walford Johnson
34		Gordon Allott (1907–1989)	January 9, 1951 – January 11, 1955 (did not run)^[i]	Republican	1950	Daniel I. J. Thornton
34		Gordon Allott (1907–1989)	January 9, 1951 – January 11, 1955 (did not run)^[i]	Republican	1952	Daniel I. J. Thornton
35		Stephen McNichols (1914–1997)	January 11, 1955 – January 8, 1957 (elected governor)	Democratic	1954	Edwin C. Johnson
36		Frank L. Hays (1922–2003)	January 8, 1957 – January 13, 1959 (lost election)	Republican	1956	Stephen McNichols
37		Robert Lee Knous (1917–2000)	January 13, 1959 – January 10, 1967 (did not run)^[j]	Democratic	1958	Stephen McNichols
37		Robert Lee Knous (1917–2000)	January 13, 1959 – January 10, 1967 (did not run)^[j]	Democratic	1962	John Arthur Love^[f] (resigned July 16, 1973)
38		Mark Anthony Hogan (1931–2017)	January 10, 1967 – January 12, 1971 (did not run)^[k]	Democratic	1966
39		John D. Vanderhoof (1922–2013)	January 12, 1971 – July 16, 1973 (succeeded to governor)	Republican	1970
40		Ted L. Strickland (1932–2012)	July 16, 1973 – January 14, 1975 (lost election)	Republican	Succeeded from president of the Senate	John D. Vanderhoof
41		George L. Brown (1926–2006)	January 14, 1975 – January 10, 1979 (did not run)	Democratic	1974	Richard Lamm
42		Nancy E. Dick (b. 1930)	January 10, 1979 – January 13, 1987 (did not run)	Democratic	1978
42		Nancy E. Dick (b. 1930)	January 10, 1979 – January 13, 1987 (did not run)	Democratic	1982
43		Mike Callihan (b. 1947)	January 13, 1987 – May 10, 1994 (resigned)	Democratic	1986	Roy Romer
43		Mike Callihan (b. 1947)	January 13, 1987 – May 10, 1994 (resigned)	Democratic	1990
—	Vacant		May 10, 1994 – May 11, 1994	Office vacated by succession to governor
44		Samuel H. Cassidy (b. 1950)	May 11, 1994 – January 3, 1995 (did not run)	Democratic	Appointed by governor
45		Gail Schoettler (b. 1943)	January 3, 1995 – January 12, 1999 (did not run)^[l]	Democratic	1994
46		Joe Rogers (1964–2013)	January 12, 1999 – January 14, 2003 (did not run)^[m]	Republican	1998	Bill Owens
47		Jane E. Norton (b. 1954)	January 14, 2003 – January 9, 2007 (did not run)	Republican	2002	Bill Owens
48		Barbara O'Brien (b. 1950)	January 9, 2007 – January 11, 2011 (did not run)	Democratic	2006	Bill Ritter
49		Joseph Garcia (b. 1957)	January 11, 2011 – May 12, 2016 (resigned)^[n]	Democratic	2010	John Hickenlooper
49		Joseph Garcia (b. 1957)	January 11, 2011 – May 12, 2016 (resigned)^[n]	Democratic	2014
50		Donna Lynne (b. 1953)	May 12, 2016 – January 8, 2019 (did not run)^[o]	Democratic	Appointed by governor
51		Dianne Primavera (b. 1950)	January 8, 2019 – Incumbent^[p]	Democratic	2018	Jared Polis
51		Dianne Primavera (b. 1950)	January 8, 2019 – Incumbent^[p]	Democratic	2022	Jared Polis

Notes

^ Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
^ Robinson was elected in the 1880 election, but died before taking office; the sitting lieutenant governor, Tabor, claimed the office and held it for the term.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Represented the Democratic Party.
^ Breene instead ran successfully for Colorado State Treasurer.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e The 1904 gubernatorial election was rife with fraud and controversy. Adams and Cornforth won election, but soon after Adams took office the Republican legislature declared Peabody to be the actual winner, on the condition that Peabody immediately tender his resignation, postdated to the next day. Peabody's lieutenant governor, McDonald, then succeeded to the governorship. Cornforth, as president pro tempore of the senate, acted as lieutenant governor until the Colorado Supreme Court declared that Parks, who had been elected president pro tempore of the senate on April 3, 1905, was the rightful acting lieutenant governor.^[2]
^ ^a ^b ^c Represented the Republican Party
^ Cooley instead ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for governor.
^ Rockwell instead ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for governor.
^ Allott instead ran successfully for the United States Senate.
^ Knous instead ran unsuccessfully for governor.
^ Hogan instead ran unsuccessfully for governor.
^ Schoettler instead ran unsuccessfully for governor.
^ Rogers instead ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for the United States House of Representatives.
^ Garcia resigned to be President of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education.
^ Lynne instead ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for governor.
^ Primavera's second term began on January 10, 2023, and will expire on January 12, 2027; she will be term-limited.

References

General

Mauer, Mike; Otto, Molly; Roesch, Gay (2013). "Presidents and Speakers of the Colorado General Assembly" (PDF). Colorado Legislative Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-12. Retrieved 2015-08-15.

Constitutions

"Constitution of the State of Colorado, as amended, annotated". Michie's Legal Resources. 1876. Archived from the original on May 5, 2012. Retrieved October 22, 2008.
"Constitution of the State of Colorado" (PDF). Colorado State Archives. 1876. Retrieved October 22, 2008.

Specific

^ Oesterle, Dale A.; Collins, Richard B. (2011). The Colorado State Constitution. Oxford University Press. p. 102. ISBN 9780199778843.
^ "Cornforth is Deposed, Parks Lieutenant Governor". New Castle, Colorado: New Castle Nonpareil. July 8, 1905. Retrieved November 28, 2018.

External links

State of Colorado website
- Office of the Lieutenant Governor of the State of Colorado
  - Biographies of the Lieutenant Governors of the State of Colorado from the Colorado State Archives

38°59′50″N 105°32′52″W / 38.9972°N 105.5478°W / 38.9972; -105.5478 (State of Colorado)

[2] Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.

[3] Robinson was elected in the 1880 election, but died before taking office; the sitting lieutenant governor, Tabor, claimed the office and held it for the term.

[gov-dem-4] Represented the Democratic Party.

[5] Breene instead ran successfully for Colorado State Treasurer.

[elect-1904-6] The 1904 gubernatorial election was rife with fraud and controversy. Adams and Cornforth won election, but soon after Adams took office the Republican legislature declared Peabody to be the actual winner, on the condition that Peabody immediately tender his resignation, postdated to the next day. Peabody's lieutenant governor, McDonald, then succeeded to the governorship. Cornforth, as president pro tempore of the senate, acted as lieutenant governor until the Colorado Supreme Court declared that Parks, who had been elected president pro tempore of the senate on April 3, 1905, was the rightful acting lieutenant governor.^[2]

[gov-rep-8] Represented the Republican Party

[9] Cooley instead ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for governor.

[10] Rockwell instead ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for governor.

[11] Allott instead ran successfully for the United States Senate.

[12] Knous instead ran unsuccessfully for governor.

[13] Hogan instead ran unsuccessfully for governor.

[14] Schoettler instead ran unsuccessfully for governor.

[15] Rogers instead ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for the United States House of Representatives.

[16] Garcia resigned to be President of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education.

[17] Lynne instead ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for governor.

[18] Primavera's second term began on January 10, 2023, and will expire on January 12, 2027; she will be term-limited.

[1] Oesterle, Dale A.; Collins, Richard B. (2011). The Colorado State Constitution. Oxford University Press. p. 102. ISBN 9780199778843.

[7] "Cornforth is Deposed, Parks Lieutenant Governor". New Castle, Colorado: New Castle Nonpareil. July 8, 1905. Retrieved November 28, 2018.

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v t e Lieutenant governors in the United States
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Italics indicate next-in-line of succession for states and territories without a directly elected lieutenant governor or whose lieutenant governor office is vacant: 1. Secretary of State 2. President of the Senate 3. Council Chair 4. State Treasurer Political party affiliation ▌Republican: 26 (26 states) ▌Democratic: 26 (22 states, 3 territories, 1 district) ▌Vermont Progressive: 1 (1 state) ▌New Progressive: 1 (1 territory) ▌Independent: 1 (1 territory) ▌Vacant: 1 (1 state)

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Lieutenant governors

Notes

References

See also

External links