I always asked myself whether a lieutenant governor of Virginia who becomes governor during an ongoing term could run for reelection after the "half" term is completed or not? Usually governors can only be elected once to consecutive terms, but does that also apply top half-termers? If so, what had happened to Ralph Northam if Terry McAuliffe just stepped down a few days before this election?
It is important to note that I looked into the list of governors under the 1830 constitution for precedents, and there wasn't a single lt. gov. succeeding to office. The Virginia constitution also gives no specific answer in Article V, Sections 1, 2 and 16 (
link). Only Article 1 states that:
The elected may be the keyword here. Because a governor by succession is not elected as such. If so, Lt.Gov-elect Justin Fairfax could be inaugurated as governor next year if something happens to Northam and then run in 2021.
Any ideas?