With Chris Rants joining Bob Vander Plaats as an officially announced
candidate, the 2010 primary season is beginning in earnest. Now is as
good a time as any to look at an aspect of the race that won't be on
the ballot: lieutenant governor. 2006 was unusual in that three
candidates named running mates before the primary. It was the first
time anyone had done that since 1990, the first time number one and
number two ran as a ticket. Iowa changed its system with a 1988
constitutional amendment. Before that, lieutenant governor was an
independently elected office with its own primary and general
election. The lieutenant governor had some clout as well, presiding
over the state senate. But that power went away with the amendment. No
longer an independent officer with a statewide constituency, the
lieutenant governor now has a constituency of one.