The lieutenant governor is the second-highest-ranking government official in 45 of the 50 U.S. states and four of the five territories.
In those states and territories, the lieutenant governor is the first in the line of succession in case of a vacancy in the office of governor (Note: in Massachusetts and West Virginia, the lieutenant governor only assumes powers and duties as acting governor, not succeeding to the governorship), while in the remaining states and territories another office holds that status.
In these cases, the secretary of state or the president of the Senate is next in line for the governorship.
Maine House of Representatives One territory, Puerto Rico, places the secretary of state next in line for the governorship.
In the following states and territories, the designated successor to the governorship is of a different political party than the governor: Italics indicate next-in-line of succession for states and territories without a directly elected lieutenant governor or whose lieutenant governor office is vacant: