Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma

The Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma is the second-highest executive official of the state government of Oklahoma. As first in the gubernatorial line of succession, the Lieutenant Governor becomes the new Governor of Oklahoma upon the death, resignation, or removal of the Governor. The Lieutenant Governor also serves as the President of the Oklahoma Senate, and may cast the tie breaking votes in that chamber.

The 16th Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma is Todd Lamb. His first term began on January 10, 2011, replacing Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins.

History

The Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma traces its history back to the pre-state era of Oklahoma Territory. Though there was no office title the “Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma Territory,” there was a Secretary of Oklahoma Territory which served as the immediate successor should the Governorship of Oklahoma Territory become vacant. This power was exercised twice in the Territory’s history: when Secretary Robert Martin replaced Governor George Washington Steele, and again when Secretary William C. Grimes replaced Governor William Miller Jenkins. Aside from its succession function, the Secretary would serve as a chief aid to the Governor.

When the Oklahoma Constitution was adopted in 1907, the office of Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma was created. Though based on the idea of the Territorial Secretary, the Lieutenant Governor followed suit of the other state Lieutenant Governors and was modeled after the Vice President of the......
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