The 1879 California lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on September 3, 1879, in order to elect the lieutenant governor of California. Republican nominee John Mansfield defeated Workingmen's Party of California nominee Washburne R. Andrus, Democratic nominee Levi Chase, New Constitution nominee Daniel C. Reed and Prohibition nominee George Bramall.
On election day, September 3, 1879, Republican nominee John Mansfield won the election by a margin of 24,879 votes against his foremost opponent Workingmen's Party of California nominee Washburne R. Andrus, thereby gaining Republican control over the office of lieutenant governor. Mansfield was sworn in as the 15th lieutenant governor of California on January 8, 1880.