Proposal to remove Lieutenant Governor is one step closer to the ballot

Jeanette Núñez takes the top spot at the Republican Lieutenant Governors Association. Image via Colin Hackley.

Nobody is Florida’s Lieutenant Governor right now, and a Senate committee wants it to stay that way.

The Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee voted 6-2 Tuesday to put a constitutional amendment on the November 2026 ballot to eliminate the Lieutenant Governor by 2027 and create a fifth Cabinet member in charge of reporting on fraud, waste and abuse.

SJR 1756 sponsor Randy Fine said the proposal eliminates the Lieutenant Governor position, which has a salary but no defined responsibilities.

“The statutory job of the Lieutenant Governor is literally to not die,” the Palm Bay Republican said. “That is the extent of the job. The job of our Lieutenant Governor has no duties.”

The position became vacant after former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez was named interim president of Florida International University. She stepped down for her new job last month.

Fine pointed out that the gubernatorial candidate selects the Lieutenant Governor as a running mate and doesn’t serve on the Governor’s Cabinet. The position is more important in some states, like Texas, where the No. 2 is Senate President. In Florida, however, the Lieutenant Governor’s duties are under the Governor’s whim, Fine said.

He added his bill isn’t a knock on Nuñez, calling her a friend.

“She did a great job,” Fine said. “She had those duties because the Governor asked her to do those duties.”

Lawmakers asked about a succession plan in the event of a tragedy.

“What happens if we don’t have a Lieutenant Governor if something happens to our sitting Governor?” asked Sen. Tina Polsky.

“We don’t have a Lieutenant Governor right now. We haven’t had one for a couple of weeks,” Fine said. “If something — God forbid — were to happen to our Governor, the Attorney General would become Governor.”

Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, a fellow Republican, voted in favor of the bill down party lines. However, she said she wanted the Lieutenant Governor position to stay because she pointed out the position involves attending events, speaking in public, and ceremonial duties.

“We have a very large state. The Governor can’t be in all places at once, so the Lieutenant Governor is like a spokesperson for the Governor’s Office,” said Rodriguez, who was open to the idea of the Legislature picking a Lieutenant Governor.