acting governor
Stand-in state leader
An acting governor is someone who temporarily assumes the powers and duties of a state governor when the elected governor is absent, incapacitated, or has left office before a successor takes over.
The lieutenant governor typically fills this role: The lieutenant governor became acting governor while the governor underwent surgery.
The position is interim by nature—the person holds authority but not the permanent title.
- interimProvisional in-between phase
- temporaryLimited in duration
- successorOne who replaces another
- line of successionSequence of potential heirs
- second in commandSubordinate who assumes leadership
lieutenant · appointed · caretaker · transition · takes office · sworn in · statehouse · oath · executive · executive order · replacement · deputy · vacancy · power vacuum · sworn · administration · mandate · authority
- governorsviceroy, proconsul, satrap, prefect, gubernatorial
- temporary rolestemp, temp worker, internship, substitute, interim
- provisional governmentsinterim president, interim leader, military junta, junta, regency
- temporary rulersregent, interim president, queen regent, interim leader