Does New York have a Lt. Governor?

[question everything]

was thinking about it after SNL last night.

What happens when a Lt. Gov. steps into the governor's shoes?

[Jim Lane]

1. No, the position is vacant until the 2010 election

Some states have provision for filling a vacancy in the office of Lieutenant Governor but New York doesn't.

The next in line of succession to the governorship is the Majority Leader of the State Senate. Right now that's a Republican, but the new State Senate that takes office next month has a Democratic majority and will probably choose Malcolm Smith, a Democrat from Queens, as Majority Leader. (I say "probably" because some DINO's in the State Senate were threatening to bolt, but they've apparently been bought off with promises of leadership positions and a continued squelching of the bill to allow same-sex marriages.)

[question everything]

2. Thanks for the detailed explanation (nt)