Spitzer resigned on March 17, 2008, the office of lieutenant governor became vacant. The duties of lieutenant governor were then performed successively by Temporary Presidents of the State Senate Joseph Bruno, Dean Skelos, Malcolm Smith and, during the 2009 New York State Senate leadership crisis, Pedro Espada Jr. On July 8, 2009, before the recapture of senate control by the Democrats, Governor Paterson appointed Richard Ravitch to the position of lieutenant governor to resolve the month-long political stalemate in the state senate. However, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo warned Paterson before Ravitch's selection that such an appointment would be unconstitutional. Litigation concerning the appointment's constitutionality was filed in New York State's courts by the Republican Senate caucus on July 9. A preliminary ruling by Justice William R. LaMarca on July 21 upheld AG Cuomo. On August 20, a four-judge panel of the Appellate Division (2nd Dept.) rejected unanimously the appointment. However, on September 22, in a "stunning reversal," the New York Court of Appeals, ruled in a 4-3 decision that Paterson's appointment was constitutional. 2021 vacancy and appointment Upon the resignation of Governor Andrew Cuomo in August 2021, Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul succeeded him, with Andrea Stewart-Cousins becoming acting lieutenant governor. Hochul then picked State Senator Brian Benjamin for lieutenant governor, a position he filled on September 9, 2021. 2022 vacancy and appointment Upon the resignation of Lt. Governor Brian Benjamin on April 12, 2022 due to federal corruption charges, Andrea Stewart-Cousins became acting lieutenant governor for the second time. Governor Hochul later appointed Antonio Delgado to fill the vacancy and was sworn in on May 25, 2022. List of lieutenant governors See also Politics of New York (state) List of lieutenant governors of New York List of current United States lieutenant governors Second Spouses and Partners of New York New York gubernatorial elections (to see results for the elections of Lieutenant Governors of New York) Further reading Paterson, David "Black, Blind, & In Charge: A Story of Visionary Leadership and Overcoming Adversity." References External links Office of the Lieutenant Governor