Elliot Spitzer

If, as expected, New York’s Lieutenant Gov. David Paterson succeeds scandal-plagued Gov. Elliot Spitzer, he would become the fourth African American governor in American history, also making it the first time two served simultaneously.

This would leave Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown (who is a New York native, by the way) as the only black lieutenant governor in the nation, like predecessor Republican Michael Steele during the final year of his tenure.

Prior to that, he served alongside Ohio Lt. Gov. Jeanette Bradley, another African American Republican.