Overview

The role of Lieutenant Governor in Florida is very limited. The office’s core constitutional duty is to become Governor if that office becomes vacant. See Fla. Const. Art. IV, § 3(a). **The office is sparsely mentioned in Florida’s constitution, which only assigns tasks delegated by the Governor and other “duties as may be prescribed by law.” Fla. Const. Art. IV, § 2.

Election-Related Duties

The Lieutenant Governor has no explicit election-related duties. If the Lieutenant Governor does have any election-related duties, they are simply ones that have been delegated to the office by the Governor. Fla. Const. Art. IV, § 2.

Selection and Vacancy Information

• Elected: The Lieutenant Governor is elected every even-numbered year in which a presidential election is not occurring. Fla. Const. Art. IV, § 5 (instructing the “state-wide general election [to occur] in each calendar year the number of which is even but not a multiple of four”).
• Term of Office: The Lieutenant Governor serves a four-year term. Fla. Const. Art. IV, § 5.**
• Next Election: The next election for Lieutenant Governor of Florida will take place in 2026.
• Qualifications and Restrictions:
  • An individual must be 30 years old by the time of the election. Fla. Const. Art. IV, § 5(b).
  • An individual must have been a resident of Florida for the preceding seven years by the time of the election. Fla. Const. Art. IV, § 5(b).
  • A candidate for Lieutenant Governor can run without a Governor for the primary election, but must run on a slate with a Governor for the general election. Fla. Const. Art. IV, § 5(a).
• Vacancy: The Governor appoints a successor to fill a vacancy in the office of Lieutenant Governor who will serve for the remainder of the term. Fla. Stat. § 14.055. However, if a vacancy then occurs in the office of Governor and 28 months remain in the term, an election to fill both offices is held at the next general election. The winners in that election will serve out the remainder of the original term. Fla. Stat. § 14.055.