AAQ: In a number of STATES, the Governor and Lt Gov/AG run on separate lines so we frequently have the AG refusing to defend the Governor’s legal position on a new law or executive order the AG of the other party deems “unconstitutional”. We also have the relatively new practice of state legislatures hiring outside counsel to defend previously enacted laws where the incoming governor or AG won’t defend. However, the Lt. Governor in most states is relatively powerless except under weird circumstances.
For example, in Idaho, there are two right-wing Republican crazies serving as Governor/Lt. Gov. When the Gov (the more “moderate” of the two) went out of town, the acting Governor (aka the Lt. Gov) issued emergency executive orders revoking the real Governor’s executive orders on stuff like masks, etc). When the real governor returned home, he “reversed the reversals”. After two or three rounds of this circus, he simply stopped telling the Ltl Governor when he was heading to the airport.
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