The Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi is the second-highest ranking officer in the executive branch of Mississippi’s state government, right below the governor. The office of lieutenant governor was established when Mississippi became a state, abolished for a few decades in the first half of the 19th century, and restored later in the century.

The Lieutenant Governor is president of the state Senate and presides over it, only voting to break a tie. Compared to the same office in other states, Mississippi’s lieutenant governor has much more power because of their role with the state Senate. The Lieutenant Governor has the sole ability to appoint members, vice-chairmen, and chairmen to the various Senate committees, regardless of which party has control of the chamber. Given that power, it is argued that the office is more powerful than the governorship.

The Republican candidates for lieutenant governor in 2019 are Delbert Hosemann and Shane Quick.

The Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor is Jay Hughes.


We want to hear from you!

Central to our mission at Mississippi Today is inspiring civic engagement. We think critically about how we can foster healthy dialogue between people who think differently about government and politics. We believe that conversation — raw, earnest talking and listening to better understand each other — is vital to the future of Mississippi. We encourage you to engage with us and each other on our social media accounts, email our reporters directly or leave a comment for our editor by clicking the button below.


Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.

Will Stribling covers healthcare and breaking news for Mississippi Today.