Something unusual I stumbled upon while researching who is the longest serving Lt. Governor of a state is that Washington has a string of bizarrely long-tenured occupants of the office, more so than any other state. The most recent is Brad Owen, who served from 1996-2016, and there was another 20 year tenure by Victor Aloysius Meyers from 1932-1952. But the one that really takes the cake is John Cherberg, who occupied the office of Lt. Governor for a puzzlingly long 32 years, having served between 1956-1988, spanning five different gubernatorial administrations! That must be the longest period of time anybody has served as Lt. Governor in American history.
What is it that has driven such long tenures for the office in Washington in particular?
I remember this was brought up in the past here, and a Washington poster explained it as that because the LG doesn't really do anything and is just a ceremonial office as long as the Governor doesn't resign/die, they can't really be attacked in a campaign and also lets someone keep an office with some prestige but no real responsibilities. Thus once someone gets in the LGship they can't really be dislodged and they have reason to want to sit around as long as possible.
