Buzz
Even if you don’t recall who became president after John F. Kennedy's assassination in 1963, you likely know that his vice president was Lyndon B. Johnson. And it’s likely that you know the next person in line for the presidency is the Speaker of the House.
The gubernatorial line of succession is not as widely recognized, in part because it varies from state to state. However, in most cases, the person who takes over when a governor steps down is the lieutenant governor, a position found in 45 states, according to Ballotpedia. In all those states, the lieutenant governor is the first in the line of succession.
This role is not the only similarity the lieutenant governor shares with the vice president. In several states, as explained by HowStuffWorks, the lieutenant governor is tasked with overseeing the state senate. Aside from that, their responsibilities are often shaped by what the governor assigns and their own initiative. If this sounds like a position largely defined by ceremonial duties, you’re not alone. As SFGATE reported in 2011, politicians often joke about the role saying, 'Get up, read the paper, check if the governor is dead, and if not, go back to sleep.'
Five states have chosen not to have a lieutenant governor, seemingly agreeing that the position isn’t necessary. In Arizona, Oregon, and Wyoming, the secretary of state steps in if the governor leaves office before completing their term. Maine and New Hampshire, however, have the president of the senate assume the role instead.
The line of succession becomes a bit more varied when considering the next in line. Fourteen states' constitutions state that the president of the senate or president pro tempore of the senate should take over; seven states name the secretary of state as next; and three opt for the attorney general. Oregon skips ahead to the state treasurer. Seven other states—Alaska, California, Kentucky, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Wyoming—leave the matter unresolved in their constitutions, with no second-in-line successor explicitly mentioned.
In conclusion, the gubernatorial line of succession highlights the United States' ongoing tendency to leave such matters to individual states to decide, for better or worse.
