Acting Governor

An acting governor is a constitutional position created in some U.S. states when the governor dies in office or resigns. In some states, the governor may also be declared to be incapacitated and unable to function for various reasons including, illness and absence from the state for more than a specified period.

In these instances, the state constitution will declare which official is to serve as governor and whether this person will have all of the powers of the office or only specified ones. In many states, the person succeeding to the governorship or becoming acting governor is the lieutenant governor; however, not all states have such a position. If the state constitution provides for an acting governor in the event of the governor's disability, it will also provide for a method by which the governor can be declared to be no longer disabled.

In New Jersey, a state which now has an office of lieutenant governor, in the event of a vacancy in the office of governor, the Lieutenant Governor becomes governor. In case of the inability of the current governor to fulfill the gubernatorial duties through injury, the Lieutenant Governor serves as the acting governor. The acting governor performs powers and duties until the governor recovers from the injuries. If the governor's death/resignation occurs less than 16 months before end of the term, the new governor serves until the end of the term, otherwise a special election (which the new governor may participate in) is held.

Richard Codey served as acting governor of New Jersey from November 2004 until January 2006 following the resignation of Jim McGreevey. Following the resignation of Christine Todd Whitman in 2001 to become EPA Administrator, Donald DiFrancesco assumed the acting governor's post, serving until January 2002. The position of Lieutenant Governor was created in the 2005 state election effective with the 2009 election. The Current Lieutenant Governor is Kim Guadagno.

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