View source for Lieutenant Governor of Texas

{{Short description|Second-highest elected office in Texas}}
{{Infobox official post
|post            = Lieutenant Governor and President of the Senate
|insignia        = Seal of Lt. Governor of Texas.svg
|insigniasize    = 150px
|insigniacaption = [[Seals of governors of the U.S. states and territories|Seal of the lieutenant governor]]
|body            = [[Texas]]
|image           = Dan Patrick Texas (alt crop).jpg
|imagesize       = 
|incumbent       = [[Dan Patrick (politician)|Dan Patrick]]
|incumbentsince  = January 20, 2015
|style           = The Honorable
|termlength      = Four years, no term limits
|formation       = [[Texas Constitution]]
|inaugural       = [[Albert Clinton Horton]]<br/>1846
|website         = [http://www.ltgov.state.tx.us// Office of the Lieutenant Governor]
}}
The '''lieutenant governor of Texas''' is the second-highest [[State constitutional officer|constitutional officer]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Texas]]. It is the second-highest rank in the state government, behind only the [[Governor of Texas|governor]].

The lieutenant governor serves as the first person in the [[Governor of Texas#Line of succession|gubernatorial line of succession]], as an ''[[Ex officio member|ex officio]]'' member of several state boards, and as the president of the [[Texas Senate]]. Unlike most [[Lieutenant governor (United States)|lieutenant governors]] in the U.S., whose position in their respective state senates are largely ceremonial, the lieutenant governor of Texas plays an active role in running the chamber.

The lieutenant governor is elected every four years during the state's [[United States midterm election|midterm elections]]. It is elected separately from the governor and has no term limits. The current lieutenant governor is [[Dan Patrick (politician)|Dan Patrick]], who has served since January 20, 2015.

== Powers and duties ==
Under the provisions of the [[Constitution of Texas|Texas Constitution]], the lieutenant governor is president of the Texas Senate. Unlike with most other states' senates and the [[U.S. Senate]], the lieutenant governor regularly presides over the chamber rather than delegating this function to the [[president pro tempore]] or a [[majority leader]]. By the rules of the Senate, the lieutenant governor establishes all special and standing committees, appoints all chairpersons and members, and assigns all Senate legislation to the committee of his choice. The lieutenant governor decides all questions of [[parliamentary procedure]] in the Senate and has broad discretion in following Senate procedural rules.

The lieutenant governor is an ''[[ex officio]]'' member of several statutory bodies, including the Legislative Budget Board, the Legislative Council, and the Legislative Audit Committee, which have considerable sway over state programs, the budget and policy. The lieutenant governor is also a member of the Legislative Redistricting Board (together with the [[Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives|speaker of the House]], [[Attorney General of Texas|attorney general]], [[Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts|comptroller]], and [[Texas Land Commissioner|land commissioner]]), which is charged with adopting a redistricting plan for the Texas House of Representatives, Texas Senate, or [[U.S. House of Representatives]] after the decennial census if the Legislature fails to do so.

The lieutenant governor assumes the powers of the [[governor of Texas]] when the governor is out of the state or otherwise unable to discharge the office.

In the case of a vacancy in the lieutenant governor's office, the Senate elects one of its members to act as ''President of the Senate'' until the next statewide office election, in effect becoming the lieutenant governor. A senator elected as presiding officer in this way retains their district seat and the voting privileges entailed with his Senate election.

=== Comparison with other lieutenant governors ===
Texas is one of the few states that vests significant power in the office of lieutenant governor, making it among the most influential.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Méndez |first=María |date=September 15, 2022 |title=Comptroller, railroad commissioner, lieutenant governor: What do Texas state officials actually do? |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2022/09/15/texas-statewide-elected-officials-definition/ |access-date=November 10, 2024 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 16, 2014 |title=Why Is The Lieutenant Governor The Most Powerful Office In Texas? And Who Wants That Power? |url=https://www.kut.org/politics/2014-10-16/why-is-the-lieutenant-governor-the-most-powerful-office-in-texas-and-who-wants-that-power |access-date=November 10, 2024 |website=KUT Radio, Austin's NPR Station |language=en}}</ref> By contrast, the lieutenant governor position in other states has few (if any) legislative responsibilities, akin to the [[Vice President of the United States|vice president of the United States]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jacobson |first=Louis |date=January 27, 2022 |title=The Challenges of Electing Governors and Lieutenant Governors Separately |url=https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/challenges-of-electing-governors-and-lieutenant-governors-separately/ |access-date=November 10, 2024 |website=Sabato's Crystal Ball |language=en-US}}</ref>

== History ==
The position of the lieutenant governor was established in the [[Constitution of Texas|Constitution of 1845]] as a successor to the [[President of the Republic of Texas|Vice President of the Republic of Texas]]. The term of office was originally two years. In 1972, voters approved a constitutional amendment that changed the term of office for both the governor and lieutenant governor to four years, starting with the [[1974 Texas lieutenant gubernatorial election|1974 election]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=J. William |date=2021-07-21 |title=The Role and History of the Lieutenant Governor of Texas |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/lieutenant-governor |website=Handbook of Texas |publisher=[[Texas State Historical Association]]}}</ref>

=== Succession ===
The lieutenant governor becomes the governor if the elected governor resigns, dies, or is removed from office via [[impeachment]] and conviction. This has occurred seven times:

* In 1853, [[James W. Henderson]] briefly succeeded governor [[Peter Hansborough Bell]] when the latter resigned to serve in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]]. Henderson served the last 28 days of Bell's term.
* In 1861, [[Edward Clark (governor)|Edward Clark]] succeeded governor [[Sam Houston]] when the latter refused to swear an oath to the [[Confederate States of America|Confederacy]] and was removed from office.
* In 1876, [[Richard B. Hubbard]] succeeded governor [[Richard Coke]] when the latter resigned to serve in the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]].
* In 1917, [[William P. Hobby]] succeeded governor [[James E. Ferguson]] when the latter was impeached and removed from office.
* In 1941, [[Coke R. Stevenson]] succeeded governor [[W. Lee O'Daniel]] when the latter resigned to serve in the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]].
* In 1949, [[Allan Shivers]] succeeded governor [[Beauford H. Jester]] when the latter died in office.
* In 2000, [[Rick Perry]] succeeded governor [[George W. Bush]] when the latter resigned to serve as [[President of the United States|U.S. President]].

Additionally, in 1865, [[Fletcher Stockdale]] briefly served as acting governor after governor [[Pendleton Murrah]] fled to [[Mexico]] at the end of the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. He did not officially assume the governorship and was quickly succeeded by a U.S.-appointed provisional governor, [[Andrew Jackson Hamilton]].

Gubernatorial succession in the state has never extended beyond the lieutenant governor.<ref name=":0" />

=== Party affiliation ===
Historically, the position has been dominated by the [[Texas Democratic Party]]. The first [[Republican Party of Texas|Republican]] to be elected to the office was [[J. W. Flanagan]] in 1868, but he resigned the office before his inauguration to serve in the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]]. After his resignation, several Republicans served in the office ''ex officio'' until 1874, when Democrat [[Richard B. Hubbard]] was elected. The next Republican to hold the office was [[Rick Perry]], elected in 1998 and inaugurated in 1999. Since Perry's election, the office has been controlled by Republicans.

Because the lieutenant governor is elected separately from the governor, it is possible for the governor and lieutenant governor to be from different political parties. This has happened three times, all with a Democratic lieutenant governor alongside a Republican governor: twice during the lieutenant governorship of [[William P. Hobby Jr.|William P. Hobby, Jr]]. (1979–1983 and 1987–1991, both alongside governor [[Bill Clements]]) and during the lieutenant governorship of [[Bob Bullock]] (1995–1999 alongside governor [[George W. Bush]]).

== List of lieutenant governors of Texas ==

Legend:
{{legend2|#0000FF|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] (38)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|#FF0000|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] (4)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ List of lieutenant governors of Texas<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lieutenant Governors of Texas, 1846 - present |url=https://lrl.texas.gov/legeleaders/leadership/ltgovbrowse.cfm}}</ref>
!scope="col" data-sort-type="number"|{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!scope="col"|Image
!scope="col" colspan="2"|Lieutenant Governor
! scope="col" |Party
!scope="col"|Term in office
!scope="col" |[[Governor of Texas|Governor]]
|-
|1
|[[File:Albert Clinton Horton.jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
|[[Albert Clinton Horton]]{{efn|Horton served as Governor pro tempore during [[James Pinckney Henderson]]'s absence from May 19 to November 13, 1846.}}
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
||May 2, 1846<br>–<br>December 21, 1847
|[[James Pinckney Henderson]]
|-
| 2
| [[File:John Alexander Greer.JPG|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
|[[John Alexander Greer]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|December 21, 1847<br>–<br>December 22, 1851
| [[George Tyler Wood]]<br>[[Peter Hansborough Bell]]
|-
|3
|[[File:James w henderson.png|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
|[[James W. Henderson]]{{efn|Henderson vacated the office on November 23, 1853 to succeed [[Peter Hansborough Bell]] as Governor. Senate president pro tempore [[M. D. K. Taylor|Taylor]] filled the vacancy for roughly a month before Dickson was sworn into office.}}
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|December 22, 1851<br>–<br>November 23, 1853
|[[Peter Hansborough Bell]]
|-
|4
|[[File:David Catchings Dickson.jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
|[[David Catchings Dickson]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|December 21, 1853<br>–<br>December 21, 1855
|[[Elisha M. Pease]]
|-
| 5
| [[File:Hardin runnels.png|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
|[[Hardin Richard Runnels]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|December 21, 1855<br>–<br>December 21, 1857
|[[Elisha M. Pease]]
|-
|6
| [[File:Francis lubbock.jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
|[[Francis Lubbock]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|December 21, 1857<br>–<br>December 21, 1859
|[[Hardin Richard Runnels]]
|-
|7
|[[File:Edward clark.jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
|[[Edward Clark (governor)|Edward Clark]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|December 21, 1859<br>–<br>March 16, 1861
|[[Sam Houston]]
|-
| 8
| [[File:John McClannahan Crockett.jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
| [[John McClannahan Crockett]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|November 7, 1861<br>–<br>November 5, 1863
|[[Francis Lubbock]]
|-
|9
|[[File:FLETCHER STOCKDALE.PNG|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
|[[Fletcher Stockdale]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| November 5, 1863<br>–<br>June 17, 1865
| [[Pendleton Murrah]]
|-
|—
|colspan=4| ''Vacant''
|June 17, 1865<br>–<br>August 9, 1866
|[[Fletcher Stockdale]]<br>[[Andrew Jackson Hamilton]]
|-
| 10
| [[File:George Washington Jones (Texas Congressman).jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
| [[George Washington Jones (Texas politician)|George Washington Jones]]{{efn|Jones was removed by General [[Philip Sheridan]], commander of the [[Fifth Military District]] during [[Reconstruction era of the United States|Reconstruction]] and the office remained vacant until the 14th Legislature in 1874.}}
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| August 9, 1866<br>–<br>July 30, 1867
| [[James W. Throckmorton]]
|-
|—
|colspan=4| ''Vacant''
|July 30, 1867<br>–<br>January 8, 1870
|[[Elisha M. Pease]]
|-
|—
|[[File:James W. Flanagan - Brady-Handy (cropped).jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
|[[James W. Flanagan]]{{efn|Flanagan was elected lieutenant governor in 1869 but was not inaugurated. He presided over the Provisional session, but left office after being selected as an at-large representative to the U.S. Congress. Due to this, Flanagan is often omitted from some lists of Lieutenant Governors.}}
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|January 8, 1870<br>–<br>February 24, 1870
|[[Edmund J. Davis]]
|-
|—
|colspan=4| ''Vacant''{{efn|[[Donald Campbell (Texas politician)|Donald Campbell]], [[Webster Flanagan]], [[Albert Jennings Fountain]], and [[Edward Bradford Pickett]] all served as ex officio Lieutenant Governors between Flanagan's and Hubbard's terms.}}
|February 24, 1870<br>–<br>January 15, 1874
|[[Edmund J. Davis]]
|-
|11
|[[File:Richard hubbard.jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
|[[Richard B. Hubbard]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|January 15, 1874<br>–<br>December 1, 1876
|[[Richard Coke]]
|-
|—
|colspan=4| ''Vacant''{{efn|Senate president pro tempore Wells Thompson filled in for the vacancy.}}
|December 1, 1876<br>–<br>January 21, 1879
|[[Richard B. Hubbard]]
|-
|12
|[[File:GovJosephSayers.jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
|[[Joseph D. Sayers|Joseph Draper Sayers]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|January 21, 1879<br>–<br>January 18, 1881
|[[Oran Milo Roberts]]
|-
|13
|[[File:Leonidas Jefferson Storey.jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
|[[Leonidas Jefferson Storey]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| January 18, 1881<br>–<br>January 16, 1883
| [[Oran Milo Roberts]]
|-
| 14
| [[File:Francis Marion Martin.jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
| [[Francis Marion Martin]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|January 16, 1883<br>–<br>January 20, 1885
|[[John Ireland (politician)|John Ireland]]
|-
|15
|[[File:Barnett Gibbs.jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
|[[Barnett Gibbs]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| January 20, 1885<br>–<br>January 19, 1887
| [[John Ireland (politician)|John Ireland]]
|-
| 16
| [[File:Thomas Benton Wheeler.jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
| [[Thomas Benton Wheeler]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| January 19, 1887<br>–<br>January 21, 1891
|[[Lawrence Sullivan Ross]]
|-
| 17
| [[File:George Cassety Pendleton.jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
| [[George C. Pendleton]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| January 21, 1891<br>–<br>January 17, 1893
| [[Jim Hogg]]
|-
| 18
| [[File:Martin McNulty Crane.jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
| [[Martin McNulty Crane]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|January 17, 1893<br>–<br>January 15, 1895
| [[Jim Hogg]]
|-
| 19
| [[File:George Taylor Jester.jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
|[[George Taylor Jester]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|January 15, 1895<br>–<br>January 17, 1899
|[[Charles Allen Culberson]]
|-
| 20
|[[File:James Nathan Browning.jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
| [[James Browning (Texas politician)|James Browning]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|January 17, 1899<br>–<br>January 20, 1903
|[[Joseph D. Sayers]]
|-
| 21
| [[File:George_D._Neal.jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
| [[George D. Neal]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| January 20, 1903<br>–<br>January 15, 1907
| [[S. W. T. Lanham]]
|-
| 22
| [[File:Asbury Bascom Davidson.jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
| [[Asbury Bascom Davidson]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| January 15, 1907<br>–<br>January 21, 1913
| [[Thomas Mitchell Campbell]]<br>[[Oscar Branch Colquitt]]
|-
| 23
| [[File:Mayes William.jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
| [[William Harding Mayes]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| January 21, 1913<br>–<br>August 14, 1914
| [[Oscar Branch Colquitt]]
|-
|—
|colspan=4| ''Vacant''
|August 14, 1914<br>–<br>January 19, 1915
|[[Oscar Branch Colquitt]]
|-
| 24
| [[File:William hobby.jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
| [[William P. Hobby|William P. Hobby Sr.]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| January 19, 1915<br>–<br>August 25, 1917
| [[James E. Ferguson]]
|-
|—
|colspan=4| ''Vacant''
|August 25, 1917<br>–<br>January 21, 1919
|[[William P. Hobby]]
|-
| 25
| [[File:Willard Arnold Johnson.jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
| [[Willard Arnold Johnson]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| January 21, 1919<br>–<br>January 18, 1921
| [[William P. Hobby]]
|-
| 26
| [[File:Lynch Davidson.jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
| [[Lynch Davidson]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|January 18, 1921<br>–<br>January 16, 1923
| [[Pat Morris Neff]]
|-
| 27
| [[File:Seal of Lt. Governor of Texas.svg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
| [[Thomas Whitfield Davidson]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| January 16, 1923<br>–<br>January 20, 1925
| [[Pat Morris Neff]]
|-
| 28
| [[File:Barry Miller.jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
| [[Barry Miller (politician)|Barry Miller]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|January 20, 1925<br>–<br>January 20, 1931
|[[Miriam A. Ferguson]]<br>[[Dan Moody]]
|-
| 29
| [[File:Seal of Lt. Governor of Texas.svg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
|[[Edgar E. Witt]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| January 20, 1931<br>–<br>January 15, 1935
| [[Ross S. Sterling]]<br>[[Miriam A. Ferguson]]
|-
| 30
| [[File:Seal of Lt. Governor of Texas.svg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
| [[Walter Frank Woodul]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| January 15, 1935<br>–<br>January 17, 1939
| [[James V. Allred]]
|-
| 31
| [[File:Coke R. Stevenson.jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
| [[Coke R. Stevenson]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|January 17, 1939<br>–<br>August 4, 1941
|[[W. Lee O'Daniel]]
|-
|—
|colspan=4| ''Vacant''
|August 4, 1941<br>–<br>January 19, 1943
|[[Coke R. Stevenson]]
|-
| 32
| [[File:Seal of Lt. Governor of Texas.svg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
| [[John Lee Smith]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| January 19, 1943<br>–<br>January 21, 1947
|[[Coke R. Stevenson]]<br>[[Beauford H. Jester]]
|-
| 33
| [[File:Allan Shivers.jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
| [[Allan Shivers]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| January 21, 1947<br>–<br>July 11, 1949
| [[Beauford H. Jester]]
|-
|—
|colspan=4| ''Vacant''
|July 11, 1949<br>–<br>January 16, 1951
|[[Allan Shivers]]
|-
|34
| [[File:Seal of Lt. Governor of Texas.svg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
|[[Ben Ramsey (politician)|Ben Ramsey]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| January 16, 1951<br>–<br>September 18, 1961
| [[Allan Shivers]]<br>[[Price Daniel]]
|-
|—
|colspan=4| ''Vacant''
|September 18, 1961<br>–<br>January 15, 1963
|[[Price Daniel]]
|-
| 35
| [[File:Governor Preston Smith (cropped).jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
| [[Preston Smith (governor)|Preston Smith]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| January 15, 1963<br>–<br>January 21, 1969
| [[John Connally]]
|-
| 36
| [[File:Ben Barnes (cropped).jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
| [[Ben Barnes (Texas politician)|Ben Barnes]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| January 21, 1969<br>–<br>January 16, 1973
| [[Preston Smith (governor)|Preston Smith]]
|-
| 37
| [[File:William P. Hobby Jr..jpeg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
| [[William P. Hobby Jr.]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| January 16, 1973<br>–<br>January 15, 1991
| [[Dolph Briscoe]] (Democratic)<br>[[Bill Clements]] (Republican)<br>[[Mark White (Texas politician)|Mark White]] (Democratic)<br>[[Bill Clements]] (Republican)
|-
| 38
| [[File:Seal of Lt. Governor of Texas.svg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
| [[Bob Bullock]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| January 15, 1991<br>–<br>January 19, 1999
| [[Ann Richards]] (Democratic)<br>[[George W. Bush]] (Republican)
|-
| 39
| [[File:RickPerry2006 (1).jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
| [[Rick Perry]]{{efn|Perry vacated the office when he succeeded [[George W. Bush]] as Governor of Texas on December 21, 2000.}}
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| January 19, 1999<br>–<br>December 21, 2000
| [[George W. Bush]]
|-
| 40
| [[File:Seal of Lt. Governor of Texas.svg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
| [[Bill Ratliff]]{{efn|Ratliff was chosen by the Texas Senate to finish the unexpired term due to the vacancy of Rick Perry's succession to the Governorship. Ratliff served until [[David Dewhurst]] was elected in 2002 and inaugurated on January 21, 2003.}}
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|December 28, 2000<br>–<br>January 21, 2003
| [[Rick Perry]]
|-
| 41
|[[File:David Dewhurst head shot.jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
|[[David Dewhurst]]
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|January 21, 2003<br>–<br>January 20, 2015
|[[Rick Perry]]
|-
| 42
| [[File:Dan Patrick Texas (alt crop).jpg|60px]]
|style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};"|&nbsp;
| [[Dan Patrick (politician)|Dan Patrick]]
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| January 20, 2015<br>–<br>''Incumbent''{{efn|Patrick's third term began on January 17, 2023, and will expire January 19, 2027.}}
| [[Greg Abbott]]
|}

==Notes==

{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Texas}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040804104154/http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/legis/leaders/ltgovbio.html Legislative Reference Library of Texas]
* ''Presiding Officers of the Texas Legislature, 1846–1982'', Texas Legislative Council, Austin, Texas, August 1982.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040813064800/http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/LtGov/Duties.htm Duties and Powers of the lieutenant governor]
{{Governors of Texas}}
{{Lists of lieutenant governors by U.S. state}}
{{U.S. lieutenant governors}}
{{Texas statewide political officials}}

[[Category:Lieutenant governors of Texas| ]]
[[Category:Texas Senate]]