The lieutenant governor of Idaho is a constitutional statewide elected office in the U.S. state of Idaho. According to the Idaho Constitution, the officeholder is elected to a four-year term.

The current lieutenant governor of Idaho is Republican Scott Bedke, who took office January 2, 2023.

Powers and duties

The power of the lieutenant governor of Idaho derives from Article IV, Sections 12 and 13 of the Idaho Constitution, which provides that the office is first in line of succession to the governor of Idaho.

It also dictates that the lieutenant governor serves as the presiding officer of the Idaho Senate. The lieutenant governorship has been a constitutional office in Idaho since statehood in 1890. Prior to 1946 the office was elected to two-year terms.

Idaho has had 43 lieutenant governors since 1890. Five people have served twice as Idaho Lieutenant Governor: O. E. Hailey (1927–1929; 1929–1931), G. P. Mix (1931–1933; 1935–1937), Charles C. Gossett (1937–1939; 1941–1943), Donald S. Whitehead (1939–1941; 1947–1951) and Jim Risch (2003–2006; 2007–2009).

List of lieutenant governors of Idaho # Image Name Term of service Political party1N. B. WilleyOctober 1890December 1890Republican2John S. Gray (acting)December 1890September 12, 1891RepublicanOffice vacant: September 12, 1891January 2, 18933F. B. WillisJanuary 2, 1893January 7, 1895Republican4F. J. MillsJanuary 7, 1895January 4, 1897Republican5George F. MooreJanuary 4, 1897January 2, 1899Democratic, Populist6J. H. HutchinsonJanuary 2, 1899January 7, 1901Silver Republican, Democratic7Thomas F. TerrellJanuary 7, 1901January 5, 1903Democratic8James M. StevensJanuary 5, 1903January 2, 1905Republican9Burpee L. SteevesJanuary 2, 1905January 7, 1907Republican10Ezra A. BurrellJanuary 7, 1907January 4, 1909Republican11Lewis H. SweetserJanuary 4, 1909January 6, 1913Republican12Herman H. TaylorJanuary 6, 1913January 1, 1917Republican13Ernest L. ParkerJanuary 1, 1917January 6, 1919Democratic14Charles C. Moore January 6, 1919January 1, 1923Republican15H. C. BaldridgeJanuary 1, 1923January 3, 1927Republican16O. E. HaileyJanuary 3, 1927January 7, 1929Republican17W. B. KinneJanuary 7, 1929September 30, 1929RepublicanOffice vacant: September 30October 25, 192918O. E. HaileyOctober 25, 1929January 5, 1931Republican19G. P. MixJanuary 5, 1931January 2, 1933Democratic20George E. HillJanuary 2, 1933January 7, 1935Democratic21G. P. MixJanuary 7, 1935January 4, 1937Democratic22Charles C. GossettJanuary 4, 1937January 2, 1939Democratic23Donald S. WhiteheadJanuary 2, 1939January 6, 1941Republican24Charles C. GossettJanuary 6, 1941January 4, 1943Democratic25Edwin NelsonJanuary 4, 1943January 1, 1945Republican26Arnold WilliamsJanuary 1, 1945November 17, 1945DemocraticOffice vacant: November 17, 1945March 20, 194627A. R. McCabeMarch 20, 1946January 6, 1947Democratic28Donald S. WhiteheadJanuary 6, 1947January 1, 1951Republican29Edson DealJanuary 1, 1951January 3, 1955Republicans30J. Berkeley LarsenJanuary 3, 1955January 5, 1959Republican31William DrevlowJanuary 5, 1959January 2, 1967Democratic32Jack M. MurphyJanuary 2, 1967January 6, 1975Republican33John EvansJanuary 6, 1975January 24, 1977DemocraticOffice vacant: January 24–28, 197734William J. MurphyJanuary 28, 1977January 1, 1979Democratic35Phil BattJanuary 1, 1979January 3, 1983Republican36David LeroyJanuary 3, 1983January 5, 1987Republican37Butch OtterJanuary 5, 1987January 3, 2001RepublicanOffice vacant: January 3–30, 200138Jack Riggs January 30, 2001January 6, 2003Republican39Jim RischJanuary 6, 2003May 26, 2006RepublicanOffice vacant: May 26 – June 15, 200640Mark RicksJune 15, 2006January 1, 2007Republican41Jim RischJanuary 1, 2007January 3, 2009RepublicanOffice vacant: January 3–6, 200942Brad LittleJanuary 6, 2009January 7, 2019Republican43Janice McGeachinJanuary 7, 2019January 2, 2023Republican44Scott BedkeJanuary 2, 2023presentRepublican

Passages

IncumbentReason for vacancyAppointed successorDate of appointmentElected successorDate of electionN. B. WilleySucceeded as Governor December 1890John S. GrayDecember 1890F. B. WillisNovember 8, 1892W. B. KinneDied September 30, 1929O. E. HaileyOctober 25, 1929G. P. MixNovember 4, 1930Arnold WilliamsSucceeded as Governor November 17, 1945A. R. McCabeMarch 20, 1946Donald S. WhiteheadNovember 5, 1946John EvansSucceeded as Governor January 24, 1977William J. MurphyJanuary 28, 1977Phil BattNovember 7, 1978Butch OtterResigned January 3, 2001Jack RiggsJanuary 30, 2001Jim RischNovember 5, 2002Jim RischSucceeded as Governor May 26, 2006Mark RicksJune 15, 2006Jim RischNovember 7, 2006Jim RischSworn into the United States Senate January 6, 2009Brad LittleJanuary 6, 2009Brad LittleNovember 2, 2010

See also

Idaho gubernatorial elections List of governors of Idaho

References

Idaho Statewide Elected Officers Historical Roster