Lieutenant Governor of West Virginia
| West Virginia Lieutenant Governor | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $20,000 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Selection Method: | Elected by the State Senate |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
| Randy E. Smith | |
| Other West Virginia Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education• Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner• Natural Resources Commissioner • Secretary of Commerce • Commissioner of Labor • Public Service Commission | |
In the state of West Virginia, whoever is elected the President of the West Virginia State Senate is the de facto lieutenant governor.
The office of lieutenant governor does not exist in the state's constitution. Legislation in 2000 bestowed the title on the Senate president. In 2011, then Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin (D) submitted a constitutional amendment to the legislature that would have created a new elected state executive position of lieutenant governor. It did not make it to the ballot in 2012.[1]
Current officeholder
Randy E. Smith (R) was the state Senate president as of April 28, 2025.[2]
Authority
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that authorizes the creation of a state executive office. That information for the Lieutenant Governor of West Virginia has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Qualifications
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that establishes the requirements necessary to qualify for a state executive office. That information for the Lieutenant Governor of West Virginia has not yet been added. After extensive research, we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Vacancies
According to state statutes, the next person in line for office is the Speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates.[3]
Duties
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that outlines the key responsibilities of a state executive office; information for the Lieutenant Governor of West Virginia has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Compensation
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $20,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[4]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $20,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[5]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Lieutenant Governor of West Virginia has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Divisions
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the Lieutenant Governor of West Virginia has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms West Virginia Lieutenant Governor. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the state official websites that provide contact information, including mailing address and phone number, for a state executive office. That information for the Lieutenant Governor of West Virginia has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
See also
| West Virginia | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Register Herald, "Tomblin proposes lieutenant governor," February 22, 2011
- ↑ MetroNews, "New West Virginia Senate president fills out the leadership team," January 15, 2025
- ↑ NNDB "Lieutenant Governor" accessed January 21, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
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