List of presidents pro tempore of the Idaho Senate

President pro tempore of the Idaho Senate
Incumbent
Chuck Winder
since 2020
Inaugural holderJohn S. Gray

This is a complete list of individuals who have served as president pro tempore of the Idaho Senate to the present. The president pro tempore, often abbreviated to "the pro tem", is a senator chosen from the majority party and elected by the entire Senate. The senator occupying this position will preside over the Senate in the absence of the lieutenant governor or will assign another senator to preside in his stead. When the pro tem or his designee presides over the Senate, they maintain their ability to vote on all matters before the Senate, whereas the lieutenant governor only has a vote in the case of tie.

The pro tem is also second in line in succession to the governor.[1] When both the governor and lieutenant governor are out of the state the pro tem serves temporarily as acting governor until their return. When a vacancy arises in the office of lieutenant governor the pro tem serves as acting lieutenant governor until governor appoints and the Senate confirms a successor. The pro tem is also the leader of the majority party. The office has both administrative and policy roles, though the bulk of work on the Senate floor is largely delegated to the majority leadership.

Name Party Term of service Home county Notes
1 John S. Gray Republican 1890–1891 Ada Served as the ex-officio 2nd lieutenant governor
2 Alexander E. Mayhew Democratic 1893–1894 Shoshone
3 Vic Bierbower Republican 1895–1896 Logan
4 Joseph C. Rich Populist 1897–1898 Bear Lake
5 Frank R. Gooding Republican 1899–1900 Lincoln† Served as the 7th governor and as U.S. senator
6 James W. Ballantine Populist 1901–1902 Blaine
7 John W. Brigham Republican 1903–1904 Latah
8 George E. Crum Republican 1905–1906 Nez Perce
9 C. H. Nugent Republican 1907–1908 Idaho
10 John W. Hart Republican 1909–1910 Madison
11 Fred W. Gooding Republican 1911–1912 Lincoln
12 John W. Hart Republican 1913–1916 Madison
13 Perry W. Mitchell Democratic 1917–1918 Nez Perce
14 E. W. Whitcomb Republican 1919–1922 Lemhi
15 Lorenzo R. Thomas Republican 1923–1924 Bingham
16 John McMurray Republican 1925–1930 Cassia
17 George W. Grebe Republican 1931–1932 Ada
18 E. G. Van Hoesen Democratic 1933–1934 Adams
19 Perry W. Mitchell Democratic 1935–1936 Lewis
20 James B. Newport Democratic 1937–1938 Canyon
21 Thomas Heath Republican 1939–1940 Franklin
22 Perry W. Mitchell Democratic 1941–1942 Lewis
23 C. A. Robins Republican 1943–1944 Benewah Served as the 22nd governor
24 J. E. Williams Republican 1945–1948 Bingham
25 O. E. Cannon Democratic 1949–1950 Elmore
26 E. J. Soelberg Republican 1951–1952 Butte
27 William C. Moore Republican – February 7, 1953 Latah Resigned from office
28 Carl Irwin Republican 1955–1956 Twin Falls
29 O. J. Buxton Democratic 1957–1960 Teton
30 A. W. Naegle Republican 1961–1962 Bonneville
31 Jack M. Murphy Republican 1963–1966 Lincoln Served as the 32nd lieutenant governor
32 R. H. Young Republican 1967–1978 Canyon Served previously as speaker of the House
33 James Ellsworth Republican 1969–1976 Lemhi
34 Phil Batt Republican 1976–1978 Canyon Served as the 35th lieutenant governor and the 29th governor
35 Reed Budge Republican 1978–1982 Caribou
36 Jim Risch Republican 1982–1988 Ada Served 39th and 41st lieutenant governor and as 31st governor; serves as U.S. senator
37 Mike Crapo Republican 1988–1992 Bonneville Currently serves as U.S. senator
38 Jerry Twiggs Republican 1992–2000 Bingham Died in office
39 Robert L. Geddes Republican 2000–2010 Caribou
40 Brent Hill Republican 2010–2020 Madison
41 Chuck Winder Republican 2020–present Ada Incumbent

† Frank R. Gooding was elected from and represented Lincoln County in the Idaho Senate although his residence was in present-day Gooding County, which was created in 1913 from Lincoln County, after his service as governor, and is his namesake.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Constitution of the State of Idaho: Article IV — Executive Department". Secretary of State of Idaho. Retrieved August 22, 2019.