Other Statewide Positions
In addition to governor and state legislature roles, most states have several other positions. Four in particular are most common: lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, and state treasurer.
Lieutenant Governor
In most states, the role of lieutenant governor is similar to that of vice president. The primary responsibility of the lieutenant governor is to be the second in command and to succeed the governor if he or she can no longer serve in office. In some states, such as New York and Massachusetts, the governor and lieutenant governor run together as a ticket; in others, such as Rhode Island and Texas, the two run separately. Only eight states do not have a lieutenant governor. In those states, the state senate president succeeds the governor.
Much like the office of vice president, most lieutenant governors have little institutional power. In many states, the lieutenant governor serves as acting governor when the governor is outside of the state. In states where the lieutenant governor is elected separately from the governor (and therefore could be from the opposite party), the governor usually avoids long absences from the state for this very reason.
The state of Texas has the most powerful lieutenant governor office in the nation (many believe it is actually more powerful than the governor of Texas). The lieutenant governor makes committee assignments in the lower chamber and sets the agenda for the upper chamber. As governor of Texas, George W. Bush had a very close working relationship with Democratic lieutenant governor Bob Bullock. Many attribute Bush's successful legislative agenda to this relationship.
Attorney General
Every state has an attorney general, who is the highest legal officer of the state. In most states, this is an elected position (a few, such as New Jersey, appoint their attorney general). Essentially, the attorney general represents the state in legal matters before the state courts. He or she also can interpret and enforce state laws.
In recent years, this office has become one the most powerful in the nation, as attorneys general have been successful in negotiating tobacco, asbestos, and other mass tort settlements. In New York, Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has spearheaded an effort to make Wall Street more accountable to public shareholders. The attorney general's office is a popular steppingstone to the statehouse, but seldom to the White House. Bill Clinton was the only twentieth-century president to serve as state attorney general.
Secretary of State
The secretary of state position is nothing like the one of federal secretary of state. The primary responsibility of the state position is certifying election results and maintaining official documents and records. In most states, this is an elected position. Only Alaska and Hawaii — the two youngest states — do not have a secretary of state. Perhaps the most famous secretary of state in recent times was Katherine Harris of Florida, who became a prominent national figure during the 2000 presidential recount. Harris later used her notoriety to win a seat in Congress.
State Treasurer
Sometimes referred to as comptroller, this officer is responsible for collecting and investing state money. The treasurer is also responsible for overseeing state agency spending and paying state bills.
