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November 1, 2010
The Future of Redistricting and Rural America
Redistricting is not likely to be kind to the political clout of rural areas.
November 1, 2010
Philadelphia's Mixed Feelings on Legalized Gambling
In Philadelphia, the SugarHouse Casino's story reflects the mixed emotions about legalized gambling.
November 1, 2010
Reforming Sex Offender Laws
California's Chelsea's Law rethinks the way the state manages sex offenders who will return to society.
November 1, 2010
Cuyahoga County's Road to Recovery From Corruption
A lot has changed, and is still changing, in Cuyahoga County since the county was slammed with corruption charges.
November 1, 2010
Getting Teens to Register and Vote
A new effort is under way to encourage young adults to start voting and keep voting.
October 1, 2010
Thanks for Reading!
Josh Goodman says goodbye.
October 1, 2010
Goodbye Moderate Governors, Hello Partisans
From Vermont to Hawaii, moderate governors are leaving office after the fall elections. Will partisan purists soon be running state government?
October 1, 2010
Florida's Amendment 4 Puts Land-Use Issues on the Ballot
Is this the perfect year for Florida voters to constrain development?
October 1, 2010
Legislatures Tackle Concussions in School Athletics
Growing concerns about the risks associated with serious head injuries are catching the attention of state legislatures.
October 1, 2010
Smarter Parking in San Francisco
San Francisco's two-year pilot project will adjust parking prices based on time and location.
October 1, 2010
Oregon's Pension Puzzle
Oregon's public pension performance in the past decade has been stellar, but can they maintain it in years to come?
September 28, 2010
Florida Redistricting: Democrats' Structural Disadvantage
Democrats have a voter registration advantage in Florida, but a new study shows that Republicans would have an edge in a map with compact, contiguous legislative or congressional districts. That's because Democrats are concentrated in a few urban areas.
September 27, 2010
NY-GOV: Lazio's Decision Highlights Byzantine Judicial Nominations
Once you're on a ballot in New York, there are only three ways to get off of it: die, move out of state or be nominated for a judgeship. The third option is the choice of Rick Lazio, in a move that highlights the controversial way that New York picks judges.
September 24, 2010
Four Ballot Measures the Political Establishment Hates
Some ballot measures are nearly unanimously hated by their state's political establishment, but might pass anyway. Here are four of them.
September 23, 2010
California's Crucial Ballot Measures That Aren't About Pot
The national media and pollsters are obsessing about California's initiative to legalize recreational marijuana use. But, it would be a shame to ignore other ballot measures in California that might very well end up having more tangible significance.
September 22, 2010
Redistricting: Big Cities Show Resilience
Population growth in America's largest cities has come close to keeping up with population growth elsewhere over the last nine years. As a result, big cities will be able retain most of their clout after redistricting updates the nation's political lines.
September 21, 2010
Downballot Doom for Kansas Democrats?
Kansas' downballot statewide races this year present a test for the Democratic Party, as well as an interesting test of the power of incumbency. A new poll offers a preliminary answer.
September 17, 2010
GA-Governor: Nathan Deal and the Politics of Empathy
The Republican candidate for governor in Georgia has serious financial problems. He's trying to turn that into a political advantage.
September 16, 2010
HI-Governor: The Washington Post's Take
The Washington Post took a look this morning at Saturday's Democratic primary for governor in Hawaii. Besides being a good description of the race, the piece has some interesting trivia about candidates Neil Abercrombie and Mufi Hannemann.
September 15, 2010
Ballot Measures: Democrats Fail to Drive Turnout
In midterm elections, parties can use ballot measures to inspire their voters to come to the polls. Republicans are trying to do that this year. Democrats aren't.
September 15, 2010
CA-Governor: Clinton Endorses Brown
Even after he made a Monica Lewinsky reference the other day, Jerry Brown still won Bill Clinton's support in the California governor's race.
September 14, 2010
DE-State Senate: One More Primary Challenge from the Right
The story of today's Delaware primaries is a clash between establishment Republicans and conservative activists. Besides the prominent races for U.S. Senate and U.S. House, there's another case of that in Delaware's 19th Senate District.
September 13, 2010
New York Senate: Seven Toss-Ups
One of the best political reporters in New York predicts which races will determine control of the New York Senate.
September 10, 2010
GA-Governor: "Too Corrupt Even for Congress"
Democrat Roy Barnes probably can't win the Georgia governor's race on his own merits in the current political climate. But, Nathan Deal's ethical problems and the taint of Deal's tenure in Congress may be enough to win it for Barnes.
September 9, 2010
CA-Governor: Will Clinton Respond to Whitman's Ad?
Republican Meg Whitman's new ad in the California governor's race uses Bill Clinton's words against fellow Democrat Jerry Brown. Will Clinton come to the defense of his old rival?
September 9, 2010
AK-Senate: For Lisa Murkowski, No Stickers
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski's potential write-in campaign in Alaska highlights states' diverse rules for counting write-in votes. Some states even let write-in candidates distribute stickers with their names for voters to use on the ballot.
September 8, 2010
NM-Governor: Susana Martinez Campaigns Against "Richardson Denish"
Democratic candidates for governor are struggling in states with unpopular outgoing Democratic governors. A new ad from New Mexico Republican Susana Martinez is an illustration of how G.O.P. candidates are taking advantage.
September 8, 2010
Ohio Legislature: The Power of Redistricting
A single fact illustrates the significance of the once-a-decade redrawing of political lines.
September 7, 2010
Massachusetts Sales Tax: Do the Candidates' Views Matter?
Every candidate for governor in Massachusetts opposes a ballot measure that would cut the sales tax rate from 6.25 percent to 3 percent. But, voters might approve it anyway.
September 3, 2010
Random Thoughts on the 2010 Elections
Here are some notions that have been percolating in my brain as I think about the upcoming elections.
September 2, 2010
Implicit Referendums on Gay Marriage
For the first time in years, no state will vote on gay marriage this year. But, there are still a few elections around the country that will tell us how voters feel on the issue.
September 1, 2010
In Florida, the Perfect Time for a Populist Uprising on Development?
A ballot measure in Florida would create new obstacles to development. It's opposed by many business groups, unions, developers, planners, local governments and newspaper editorial boards. But, with the esteem of many of those groups at an all-time low, could it pass anyway?
September 1, 2010
Colorado Collects Popular Votes by Mail
Once open to choices, Colorado appears headed toward all-mail balloting.
September 1, 2010
Governor Parkinson Pins Successes on Lame Duck Status
Kansas' governor has taken the politics out of lawmaking -- and has had great success so far.
September 1, 2010
Building Demolition a Turning Point in Hartford
One of the first orders of business for the new Mayor Pedro Segarra: getting rid of the 'Butt Ugly' building.
September 1, 2010
State Estate Taxes at the Mercy of Congress
What is the future of the 'death tax'?
August 31, 2010
CO-Governor: In Search of Conservative Unity, ASAP
If there were one conservative candidate in the Colorado governor's race instead of two, he'd have a chance to win. But, if Don Maes and Tom Tancredo are going to join forces in Colorado, they'd be best off doing it this week.
August 27, 2010
Jim Douglas Reflects on Being a Moderate Governor
Vermont's centrist Republican governor considered it part of his job to check some of the impulses of his state's Democratic legislative majority. But, he's proudest of accomplishments that are decidedly non-ideological.
August 26, 2010
Arizona AG: An Inconclusive Verdict on Andrew Thomas
The Republican primary for governor in Arizona was, in part, a referendum on whether voters approve of former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas' aggressive prosecutions of other Maricopa County officials. We now have a verdict: maybe.
August 25, 2010
In Alaska, Proof that Ballot Measures Can Drive Turnout
People have debated for years whether controversial ballot measures can affect who shows up to vote. In Alaska yesterday, a measure did just that -- and may have ended the career of a U.S. senator.
August 24, 2010
AZ-Governor: Why Jan Brewer Is Winning
Everyone knows that Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer made a political comeback because she signed SB 1070, the state's controversial immigration bill. But Robert Robb, a columnist with the Arizona Republic, says that everyone is wrong.
August 23, 2010
VT-Governor: A Referendum on Single Payer?
In most states, single-payer health care is nothing more than something progressives dream about. In Vermont, it could become a reality, depending on who wins tomorrow's Democratic primary and who wins the general election.
August 20, 2010
Arizona AG: The Uniquely Controversial Andrew Thomas
Andrew Thomas has been at the center of the most surreal dispute in American local government in recent history. He is beloved by some Arizona conservatives, but regarded as a rogue prosecutor by his many critics, including many fellow Republicans. He could be Arizona's next attorney general.
August 19, 2010
CO-Governor: John Hickenlooper's Shower
The Democratic candidate for governor in Colorado has a quirky first ad.
August 18, 2010
VT-Governor: Will the Legislature Make the Decision?
Vermont is the only state where governors' races are thrown into the legislature if no candidate receives a majority of the vote. Will it happen this year?
August 18, 2010
When a Governor Won't Talk
Staff Writer Josh Goodman wrote a profile of Chris Christie for the August issue. But, Christie wouldn't talk to him for the story. Here's how Josh handled it.
August 17, 2010
Why Tennessee Holds Thursday Primaries
Most American elections are held, of course, on Tuesdays. In Tennessee, primaries are on Thursdays. Why? For no better reason than that the Tennessee Constitution says so.
August 16, 2010
Register of Wills: The Easiest Job in Government?
A reader makes the case that in Maryland registers of wills (an elected office that also exists in Delaware and Pennsylvania) are highly paid with few responsibilities. Would anyone notice if the job ceased to exist?
August 13, 2010
Governors: Democrats' Silver Lining?
We all know by now that, barring something dramatic happening, this will be a very good year for Republicans. But how good depends to a huge degree on the office you're talking about. In fact, when it comes to governorships Republicans might not gain at all -- if you define a gain like I do.
August 12, 2010
In Delaware, a Battle of Wills
Sussex County Delaware -- like other Delaware counties -- holds elections for Register of Wills. Couldn't an appointed or career official do the job better?
August 11, 2010
Lieutenant Governors: How Selection Rules Foster Diversity
Some states let candidates for governor pick their own running mates. It's no coincidence that those states tend to end up with lieutenant governors who aren't white men.
August 10, 2010
GA-Governor: A Job for a Legislator?
Supporters of Nathan Deal in the Republican runoff for governor in Georgia say that former legislators make good governors. There's some evidence that they're right.
August 7, 2010
Governors: The Next Generation of Moderates
Primaries in the last week make it more likely that, for better or for worse, there will be a new crop of centrist governors.
August 5, 2010
TN-Governor: Debating the Murfreesboro Mosque
A proposed mosque in Murfreesboro, Tennessee has stirred controversy. Here's what the candidates for governor have to say about it.
August 4, 2010
The Perils of Feral Pigs
Wild hogs, I've now learned, are a major problem in Texas.
August 4, 2010
Kansas House: Most Republican Moderates Survive
Kansas Republicans who voted for a sales tax increase this year faced challenges from the right yesterday. But, only one of the moderates appears to have lost.
August 3, 2010
In Republican Primaries, Control of the Kansas House at Stake
Today is primary day in Kansas, so, obviously, we don't have any races between Democrats and Republican. Yet today's elections still could determine who controls the Kansas House of Representatives next year. Will conservative Republicans have the majority or will moderates exercise power?
August 2, 2010
Rick Snyder: A Moderate Republican for Michigan?
Rick Snyder is running a mostly non-ideological campaign for governor, touting his competence, business acumen and outsider status. It's a very bad time to be a Republican moderate. But, Snyder might win the nomination tomorrow anyway.
July 30, 2010
How Close Was Texas to Redistricting Reform?
As State Senator Jeff Wentworth tells it, Texas would have placed a bipartisan commission in charge of congressional redistricting -- a move that could have been the difference between a Republican and Democratic House of Representatives after the 2012 elections -- if it weren't for the sense of legislative courtesy of a single state senator. It makes a great story, but is it true?
July 30, 2010
The 'Chris Christie' Way
New Jersey's new governor has a take-no-prisoners style, but there are signs he is learning the art of the deal.
July 30, 2010
Running in the Shadow of Spitzer, Cuomo
Will New York's next attorney general embrace his predecessors or blaze her own path?
July 30, 2010
American States That Might Have Been
The strange history of states that never were, and their arbitrary borders.
July 30, 2010
NYC Experiments with Bus Rapid Transit
The Big Apple needs some serious help to make city buses be a faster, more reliable method of transportation.
July 30, 2010
Rhode Island's Slots Subsidy
Some state officials insist financially helping the Twin River Casino would be a smart move.
July 29, 2010
Term Limits: "Freshmen and Lame Ducks"
Do term limits create lame-duck lawmakers who are disengaged from governing?
July 28, 2010
For Arizona Democrats, "Crazy" Times
With Republicans in complete control of the state, Arizona has become a focal point for conservative policy experimentation. How does it feel to be a disempowered Democrat?
July 28, 2010
Redistricting: Will Rural Interests in Texas Be Devastated?
Texas' suburbs and exurbs are some of the fastest growing places in the country. Many of its rural counties are shrinking. Does that mean rural interests will lose political clout when the lines are redrawn?
July 27, 2010
Sam Brownback's Difficult Decision on Medicaid Funding
So far, Kansas Senator Sam Brownback is opposing extended state aid for Medicaid, even though approving the money would make life easier for future Kansas Governor Sam Brownback.
July 27, 2010
Why Kansas Raised Taxes
Kansas is a conservative state with a Republican-controlled legislature. Nonetheless, this year lawmakers approved a temporary sales tax increase. Why did Kansas raise taxes? Senate President Steve Morris makes the case that his state didn't have any other choice.
July 27, 2010
Redistricting: Why States Won't Let the Public Draw Maps Online
Most states aren't likely to offer a Web-based system for members of the public to draw their own congressional and legislative maps. The reason isn't disinterest or fear of public involvement. It's money.
July 26, 2010
Redistricting: Should Computers Draw the Lines?
Traditionally, state legislators are in charge of congressional and legislative redistricting. Many reformers want people with less of a stake in the outcome to draw the lines. Could it be that both sides are wrong? Why have people do the hard work -- why not have computers do it?
July 23, 2010
Michigan Senate: The Term Limits Twist
In the 38-member Michigan Senate, at least 29 of the members will be freshmen in January as a result of term limits. What are the implications of that? Perhaps less than you might expect.
July 22, 2010
John Oxendine and the Failings of Republican Frontrunners
Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine was expected to be the Republican nominee for governor. He finished fourth in the primary. But, he can take a small measure of solace that it's been a rough year for Republican frontrunners in other states too.
July 21, 2010
FL-Governor: Alex Sink's Interesting Ancestry
The Democratic candidate for governor in Florida is a descendant of the world's most famous set of conjoined twins.
July 20, 2010
The Impending Return of Mark Sanford?
Scandal-plagued or not, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford reportedly isn't willing to concede that his political career is over.
July 19, 2010
GA-Governor: Republicans for Tax Increases
It's not at all clear who will win tomorrow's Republican primary for governor in Georgia. It might not even be clear tomorrow night. But, whoever wins, there's a good chance that he or she will support a tax increase.
July 16, 2010
Could "None of These" Reelect Harry Reid?
Voters in Nevada are the only ones in the country whose ballots offer them the choice of "None of These Candidates." Will that quirk help the Senate Majority Leader win another term?
July 15, 2010
With Mail Voting, Colorado Polling Places Suffer a Slow Death
Until recently, Colorado was happy to let votes choose between casting ballots at precincts or by mail. Now, the state appears headed toward Oregon-style all-mail balloting.
July 14, 2010
AL-Governor: Did Democrats Show Up for Bentley?
Robert Bentley won the Republican nomination for governor in Alabama yesterday after being backed by key officials in the Alabama Education Association, who also happen to be top officials in the state Democratic Party. Still, it doesn't look as though Bentley won a Republican primary with Democratic votes.
July 13, 2010
Schwarzenegger: From Action Hero to Tragic Hero?
As he leaves office, is California's governor unpopular because he fought the good fight against Democratic and Republican ideologues? Or was he really part of the problem?
July 12, 2010
AL-GOV: Bentley Squeezes Byrne from Both Sides
Bradley Byrne has a tough task in tomorrow's Alabama Republican runoff for governor. He has to defeat the candidate who is running to his right: Robert Bentley. He also has to defeat the candidate who is running to his left: Robert Bentley.
July 9, 2010
Why New York's Legislature Is Worse Than New Jersey's?
Both New Jersey and New York legislators have been involved in plenty of corruption scandals. But does Trenton's part-time political culture, or lack of culture, give it an edge?
July 8, 2010
Christie the Compromiser?
New Jersey's Chris Christie was a governor who wouldn't make a deal -- until he did.
July 6, 2010
CA-Governor: Jerry Brown's Troubled Campaign?
Despite tens of millions of dollars in spending by Meg Whitman, Jerry Brown still leads in the California governor's race. Yet Democrats keep worrying whether Brown has what it takes to win a modern campaign. Are the concerns justified?
July 2, 2010
Can Chris Christie Avoid Eliot Spitzer's Mistakes?
Eliot Spitzer took an aggressive prosecutorial style to the New York governor's office. It didn't work. Can the nation's new most famous prosecutor-turned-governor, New Jersey's Chris Christie, succeed where Spitzer failed?
July 1, 2010
Marijuana Legalization in California: A Toss Up
Two recent polls show that the vote on a much-watched ballot measure will be very close.
June 30, 2010
A Global Warming Cool Down?
More Republican gubernatorial candidates are skeptical of the science of climate change.
June 30, 2010
Shutting Down State Fairs
To cope with budget shortfalls, some states – like Michigan – are choosing to shut down their state fairs.
June 30, 2010
Tunnel Vision in Seattle
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn is proposing plans that focus less on roads and more on public transit.
June 30, 2010
Reviving Local, State and Federal Collaboration
NACo's Larry Naake is pushing for a commission of representatives from all forms of government.
June 30, 2010
Will Arizona's New Law Push Illegal Immigrants to Other States?
The Arizona Republic says that illegal immigrants are leaving Arizona after the state's crackdown. People said the same thing about Georgia when it passed a tough immigration law in 2006. But, it didn't end up happening.
June 29, 2010
GOP Presidential Calendar: Should States Go Early or Late?
Republicans plan to punish states that schedule their presidential primaries too early in 2012. Should states schedule them early anyway?
June 28, 2010
How Democrats Lost on Gun Control
Gun rights advocates have been on a roll lately. Is that because Democrats gave up the fight a decade ago?
June 25, 2010
California's Redistricting Battle on the Ballot
In 2008, California approved a ballot measure to redraw to place an independent commission in charge of legislative redistricting. Depending on what happens at the polls this fall, that commission could see its power expanded or it could be eliminated entirely.
June 24, 2010
CA-Senate: Special Republican Turnout
Democrats feared that the odd timing of a California State Senate special election would hurt their party's candidate. They may have been right.
June 23, 2010
SC-Governor: Nikki Haley and the Bass Pro Bill
A controversy over a fishing store reveals a lot about the Republican nominee for governor of South Carolina.
June 22, 2010
CA-Senate Special: Who Shows Up?
Today's special election for California's Senate will help determine the balance of power between Democrats and Republicans for purposes of writing the budget over the next couple of years. But, no one knows who will vote in this oddly timed race.
June 18, 2010
Kris Kobach: Kansas' Interstate Immigration Crusader
If he's elected Secretary of State of Kansas this fall, Republican Kris Kobach could make national waves. In fact, he already is.
June 17, 2010
Eliot Cutler: ME-Governor Frontrunner?
In Maine, the leading candidate might not be the Democratic or Republican nominee. It's Eliot Cutler.
June 16, 2010
New Jersey Democrats' Passive-Aggressive Approach to Chris Christie
New Jersey Democrats oppose Gov. Chris Christie's budget. But, they have a funny way of showing it.
June 15, 2010
California's Moderate Republican Party?
Supporters touted California's newly adopted top-two voting system as the only way for moderates to overcome the ideologues that dominate the Republican and Democratic parties. That argument would have more weight if it weren't for the curious case of Abel Maldonado.
June 14, 2010
The Michigan Senate's Term Limits Madness
What are the real effects of term limits? Come January, the Michigan Senate will be the place to find out.
June 11, 2010
An Immigration Crackdown in Massachusetts?
A state known for its immigrant friendly policies is thinking about changing course.
June 10, 2010
A Record Year for Rookie Governors?
If a few more incumbent governors lose, next year we could have the most new governors in American history. Will it happen?
June 9, 2010
Post-Primary Live Blog Transcript
GOVERNING staff answered your questions about Tuesday's primaries and any other election queries June 9.
June 9, 2010
ME-Governor: The Dickensian Story of Paul LePage
Paul LePage, the surprise Maine Republican nominee for governor, has the most compelling biography of any candidate I've encountered this cycle.
June 8, 2010
Election Day Reading -- and a Chat Tomorrow
Today probably will be the most compelling day of elections between now and November, so there's lots of news to share. Plus, tomorrow Governing Politics will be hosting a live chat!
June 7, 2010
Diana Taylor: The Bloomberg Household's Real Political Star?
New York Republicans would love to have Michael Bloomberg's girlfriend as a candidate.
June 4, 2010
SC-Governor: Revenge of the Sanfords
South Carolina State Sen. Jakey Knotts played a key role in the downfall of his arch nemesis, Gov. Mark Sanford. Now, Knotts' feud with Sanford -- and his own shocking words -- probably has cost him his own political career.
June 3, 2010
AL-Governor: Did the Voting Rights Act Doom Artur Davis?
Everyone is trying to figure out today how Artur Davis lost so badly yesterday in the Democratic primary for governor of Alabama. Could the explanation be the same civil rights law that has vastly expanded opportunities for Southern black politicians such as Davis?
June 3, 2010
Maine's Strange Tax Debate
Usually, Democrats and Republicans have predictable views on tax policy. When it comes to a ballot measure that will go before voters in Maine next week, those views have been turned upside down.
June 2, 2010
AZ-Governor: Terry Goddard's Immigration Balancing Act
As he runs for governor, Terry Goddard faces a dilemma. Most Arizonans support the state's new crackdown on illegal immigrants. But, as a Democrat in Arizona, many of the voters Goddard needs to win -- Hispanics -- don't. Can he strike a balance that will win him the votes of some supporters of the law without alienating its opponents?
June 1, 2010
Keeping Up With E-mail
Governing takes a look at governors' constituent service
June 1, 2010
Voting the Straight-Ticket Sweep
Will Republicans win big in states that make voting a straight ticket easy?
June 1, 2010
The Rise of Attorneys General
With a Democrat in the White House, conservative state attorneys general are mobilizing against federal power.
June 1, 2010
Leading the Census-Participation Pack
Livonia, Mich., had the highest census participation rate not because of what it did – but because of what it is.
June 1, 2010
Immigration Fizzle
Arizona's new immigration law seems potent right now, but will it fizzle like Georgia's?
June 1, 2010
Sacramento's Net Gain?
Ex NBA-player Mayor Kevin Johnson has an unorthodox plan to build a new basketball arena.
June 1, 2010
NM-Governor: Susana Martinez Versus Allen Weh
Just by watching a couple of campaign ads, you can get a decent understanding of today's race between Susana Martinez and Allen Weh for the Republican nomination for governor in New Mexico.
June 1, 2010
Alabama-AG: Troy King's Strange Political Demise?
As he seeks another term, Alabama Attorney General Troy King probably will lose in today's Republican primary. The biggest reason why is that he's gotten on the wrong side of Alabama Republican heavyweights on the number one issue in the state: electronic bingo.
May 28, 2010
CA-Governor: Brown Leads by Double Digits
In the California governor's race, Democrat Jerry Brown has opened his biggest lead on Republican Meg Whitman since September.
May 27, 2010
Rhode Island's Courageous Casino Bailout
Everyone knows that the American people hate bailouts right now. So, there's only one possible explanation for why Rhode Island lawmakers bailed out a casino and the big banks that own it: They believed it was the right thing to do.
May 26, 2010
Marco Rubio: A Creation of Term Limits
As the man who drove Charlie Crist out of the Republican Party, former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio is a rising star. He may very well be elected to the U.S. Senate in November. He could even be a future vice president or president. But, if Florida were like the 35 states that don't have legislative term limits, you'd never have heard of Marco Rubio.
May 25, 2010
CA-Governor: Whitman and Brown, Up and Down
First, Democrat Jerry Brown had a solid lead in the California governor's race. Then, Republican Meg Whitman surged into a tie. Now, Brown's back ahead. But, the ups and downs so far probably don't mean all that much
May 24, 2010
ID-Governor: Why Isn't the Tea Party Rejecting Butch Otter?
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter, a Republican, pushed a controversial gas tax increase last year. Idaho Republicans are big Tea Party supporters. So, why is Otter expected to easily prevail in the Republican primary for governor?
May 21, 2010
Illinois Redistricting: A Growing Swing Vote?
In Illinois, the places that are growing the fastest are also the ones that are up for grabs between Democrats and Republicans. Does this growth in Chicago's suburbs and exurbs mean that the state's politics will be more competitive after redistricting?
May 20, 2010
MN-Governor: Gay Marriage at Stake?
If there's one governor's race in the country where the result will determine the fate of a gay marriage bill, it's Minnesota's.
May 19, 2010
Arizona: Why Voters Wanted Higher Taxes
Arizona voters overwhelming opted to raise the state's sales tax yesterday. What's the lesson?
May 19, 2010
In Arkansas, Democrats Win by Default
With all of the action around the country yesterday, you'd be forgiven for not paying attention to the Republican primaries for state attorney general, state auditor and state treasurer in Arkansas. You'd be forgiven because there weren't any candidates. Why do Democrats still often win in conservative places in the South and in Appalachia?
May 18, 2010
Arizona's Sales Tax Vote: The Size of Government on the Ballot
The political world is focused today on U.S. Senate primaries in Pennsylvania, Arkansas and Kentucky. But, the best test of what voters are thinking actually is a ballot measure to temporarily raise the sales tax in Arizona. The question: Do voters want to see governments balance their budgets through a combination of tax increases and spending cuts or exclusively through deep spending cuts?
May 17, 2010
Les Otten: Maine's Renaissance Man?
Of all the people across the country who have a legitimate chance to be elected governor this year, none probably has as interesting a background as Les Otten. The Maine Republican is a former ski resort mogul, former part-owner of the Boston Red Sox and most recently founded a company that sells boilers powered by wood pellets. That eclectic background makes his conventional plans for office even more striking.
May 15, 2010
Dan Onorato: Who will be the PA Governor?
Get a glimpse of Dan Onorato, the Allegheny County Executive who will likely be the Democratic nominee for governor in Pennsylvania.
May 14, 2010
On Financial Reform, Obama and AGs Team Up
Conservative state attorneys general have gotten a lot of attention for battling the White House over health care reform and greenhouse gas regulations. But, on preemption issues in financial reform, President Obama is the best ally that AGs have.
May 13, 2010
In Florida, Growth Favors Republicans
As redistricting approaches, population trends in Florida favor Republicans. But, growth in the Orlando area is a silver lining for Democrats.
May 13, 2010
Do Straight-Ticket Options Hurt Independents?
There's a good case that independent candidates suffer in states that allow voters to support a full slate of Democrats or Republicans with a click of a single button.
May 12, 2010
New Hampshire Governor: Is John Lynch in Trouble?
Until quite recently, New Hampshire's Democratic governor appeared politically impregnable. But, he's taken some hits lately. Could a Republican oust him in the fall?
May 12, 2010
Election Results in Massachusetts, Georgia and Newark
Republicans won Scott Brown's old Massachusetts state Senate seat, but a new poll shows Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick in good shape. Plus, Jimmy Carter's grandson wins in Georgia and Newark, New Jersey mayor Cory Booker is reelected.
May 11, 2010
In a Georgia Special, a Famous Name
Jimmy Carter's grandson guns for a seat in the Georgia Senate today in a special election.
May 11, 2010
Massachusetts Senate Special: Symbolically Significant, Practically Irrelevant
No matter who wins today's special election for Massachusetts Senate, Democrats will continue to enjoy large majorities in the legislature. But, Democrats would love to pry away the seat previously held by Scott Brown, the state's new Republican U.S. senator.
May 10, 2010
In Newark, the Revenge of Sharpe James?
The former mayor isn't on the ballot for Tuesday's elections. But, loyalists to Sharpe James, including his son, are running for City Council. They could strike a blow against Cory Booker, Newark's ambitious young mayor who is James' one-time rival.
May 9, 2010
Will Straight-Ticket Voting Magnify Republican Gains?
This year, with the GOP expected to make gains, will Republicans' wins be biggest and broadest in the 15 or so states that allow straight-ticket voting?
May 7, 2010
Julián Castro: Your 2018 Frontrunner for Texas Governor?
The New York Times Magazine has a profile of San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro that is well worth reading in full. But, I can't resist sharing a couple of tidbits with you.
May 6, 2010
Frank Caprio: "I was a teenage father."
The Providence Journal tells us about an interesting moment at a Rhode Island gubernatorial debate earlier this week: "I believe abortion should be safe, legal ...
May 5, 2010
HI-Governor: Duke Aiona's Linda Lingle Liability
Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle has had a remarkable run for 7-plus years as the popular Republican governor of one of the nation's most Democratic ...
May 4, 2010
CA-Governor: Will High-Speed Rail Be an Issue?
In the May issue of Governing I wrote 3,000 words about high-speed rail in California, but I didn't answer what is, undoubtedly, the most important ...
May 4, 2010
The Director's Cut on High-Speed Rail in California
Some reporters write long. If an editor gives them 3,000 words, they'll take 4,000. Some reporters write short. Give them 3,000 words and they'll struggle to ...
May 3, 2010
Legislatures: Republicans Aim for Gains in Ohio, Indiana and North Carolina
In 2008, Indiana, North Carolina and Ohio had a great run as some of the most politically interesting states in the country. They wisely scheduled their ...
May 3, 2010
Meg Whitman Hedges on Global Warming
Since I wrote a post titled "Meg Whitman: Global Warming is Real, Man-Made" just a couple of weeks ago, I was surprised by ...
May 1, 2010
Fleet Dreams
If tomorrow's cars won't be fueled by gas, what will run them and who'll pick the winner?
May 1, 2010
Doubling Trouble: Minnesota's Gigantic Mall Has Growing Pains
The Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, welcomes 40 million annual visitors, spans 4.2 million square feet and houses 32 shoe stores alone. But the mall's managers want to double its size, and they want state and local governments to help pay for it--to the tune of more than $200 million in tax breaks.
May 1, 2010
Nevada's Comeback Kid?
Almost from the day he stepped into office, Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons has been widely unpopular. But somehow, he still has a chance to win...
May 1, 2010
Dues and Don'ts
As states engage in yet another round of budget cutting, Idaho Gov. Butch Otter has zeroed in on an unlikely target: the money his state...
May 1, 2010
Counting Down the School Days
Could shortening school years be a pain-free way for school districts to save money?
May 1, 2010
Small Bag Tax, Big Impact
The tax on disposable bags in the nation's capital has had a noteworthy impact.
May 1, 2010
High-Speed Rail: Transit Solution or Fiscal Disaster?
California is racing to build an ambitious high-speed rail system. Some cities think it should slow down.
April 30, 2010
MA-Governor: For Deval Patrick, a Win on Wind
To my mind, the three governor's races that have changed the most in the last couple of months are Maryland (where former Gov. Bob ...
April 30, 2010
CA-Governor: Poizner Says Whitman Equals Schwarzenegger
I've written a bit about the challenge Meg Whitman has in persuading California voters that she's not another Arnold Schwarzenegger. But, my thinking ...
April 29, 2010
Arizona Moves to Adopt Strange Lieutenant Governor Selection Rules
Say what you will about Arizona's new immigration law, but it's not nearly as mystifying as the decision the state's legislature made ...
April 28, 2010
D.C. Mayor: A Referendum on Michelle Rhee?
There are lots of big issues in the race in Washington, D.C. between Mayor Adrian Fenty and lead challenger Vincent Gray: -Crime (which has ...
April 27, 2010
Will Arizona's Immigration Law Fizzle Like Georgia's?
Arizona's new immigration law has become a huge source of controversy, but will its provisions actually do much of anything? That might seem like ...
April 26, 2010
In Tennessee, Remembering a Time When Redistricting Didn't Exist
In the process of redistricting next year, state lawmakers undoubtedly will draw some legislative and congressional maps that serve the interests of one political party, ...
April 23, 2010
The Lower Hudson Valley: New York's Fastest Growing Region?
The other day, I decided to play God. I invented a whole new region of New York. Here's what I said: I consider Rockland ...
April 22, 2010
Meg Whitman: Global Warming is Real, Man-Made
Meg Whitman is trying to distinguish herself from Arnold Schwarzenegger as she runs for governor of California. She's also trying to court conservatives in ...
April 21, 2010
In Arizona's Conservatism, Signs of What's to Come
One of the big themes I've been talking about for a long time is how the 2010 elections could move state government away from the ...
April 20, 2010
New York Redistricting: The Big Apple's Small But Notable Growth
When I was working on a story a couple of months ago about the role of local governments in the Census, I talked with a ...
April 20, 2010
In Alaska, a Vote on a Larger Legislature
Remember how rural Alaska legislators were worried that redistricting would make their absurdly large legislative districts even larger and were pushing to expand the size ...
April 19, 2010
MA-Governor: Cahill's Conservatism Burdens Baker
In his campaign for Massachusetts' governorship, Democrat-turned-independent Tim Cahill has been positioning himself as the most conservative candidate -- more conservative than newly minted Republican ...
April 16, 2010
Connecticut AG: Can Bysiewicz Win?
For people who have been following the story closely this may be old news, but it's becoming clearer and clearer to me that no ...
April 15, 2010
Clarification on Texas' Shrinking Counties
Commenter Wendell pointed out some fuzzy phrasing when I was talking about shrinking counties in my post on Texas and redistricting: Jefferson County is located ...
April 15, 2010
How Charlie Crist Could Prove He's Staying a Republican
Charlie Crist's campaign for U.S. Senate put out an unequivocal statement last week. He's running as a Republican: "To put these rumors ...
April 15, 2010
NV-Governor: Democrats Try to Save Jim Gibbons
Nevada Democrats are engaged in some funny business, intervening in the Republican primary for governor. From the Reno Gazette-Journal: A Democratic operative has launched a ...
April 14, 2010
In Texas, Somewhat-Less-Conservative Republicans Win
While they might cringe if you called them moderates, the less conservative candidates won two key Republican primaries in Texas yesterday for Supreme Court and ...
April 13, 2010
A Tax from Governing's Past
In my April feature story, I said that the question of why sales taxes generally apply to goods but not services is "one of ...
April 13, 2010
In Florida, Fighting Ballot Measures with Ballot Measures?
The Palm Beach Post has an interesting development in the debate over redistricting reform in Florida: Senate Reapportionment Chairman Mike Haridopolos directed staff to begin ...
April 13, 2010
In Texas' Runoffs, Two Races to Watch
Today is primary runoff day in Texas and, while we don't have the suspense of a gubernatorial contest (thanks to Kay Bailey Hutchison's ...
April 12, 2010
Texas Redistricting: The Effects of Exurbanization
Everyone agrees that Texas will be the big winner in reapportionment. Thanks to the state's rapid population growth, Texas is expected to gain 3 or 4 ...
April 9, 2010
Chris Kelly: Democrats' Own Wealthy California Candidate
Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger pummeled Democrat Phil Angelides in the 2006 California governor's race in large measure due to money. Schwarzenegger had lots of it. Angelides, ...
April 8, 2010
Will Redistricting Muddle Virginia's 2011 Legislative Elections?
Virginia is one of only a few states that holds regular state legislative elections in odd-numbered years. When it comes to redistricting, that's a ...
April 7, 2010
California Redistricting: Population Shifts Favor Republicans, for Now
We're still months away from having the results of the 2010 Census, but, in some ways, there isn't that much suspense. While it will ...
April 6, 2010
Pennsylvania's 8-Year Coincidence?
I'm not particularly good at math, but one of the mathematical insights I understand is that, given a large enough sample, the unlikely becomes ...
April 5, 2010
UT-Gov: Gary Herbert Steps Out of the Shadows
When I'm on a long car ride with my wife, I sometimes try to see how many of the nation's governors she can ...
April 5, 2010
Wyoming: Dave Freudenthal's Surprising Standing
As Dave Freudenthal spent months pondering whether he would try to win a third term as governor of Wyoming, whether he could win was every ...
April 2, 2010
Arizona's Semi-Closed Primary
Richard Winger corrects my post from yesterday: Terminology is important. Arizona does not have an open primary. It has a semi-closed primary. An open primary ...
April 2, 2010
Arizona AG: Joe Arpaio's Protégé Prepares to Run
I pride myself on being at least vaguely aware of what's going on politically in every state in the country. But, events in Maricopa ...
April 1, 2010
Taxing Services to Ease Budget Woes
Jim Wayne is getting an earful from Kentucky hot air balloon operators these days, and it's easy to understand why. Wayne, a Kentucky state representative,...
April 1, 2010
Sheila Simon: A Carbondale Resident Responds
I speculated last week on why Sheila Simon (who was picked as Illinois Democrats' new lieutenant governor nominee over the weekend) lost the 2007 race for ...
April 1, 2010
Arizona Senate: Is an Open Primary Good for McCain?
Read how Arizona's open senate primary may affect John McCain.
April 1, 2010
Texas Redistricting: Let's Make a Deal
One thing I find endearing about the congressional redistricting process in Texas is that no one pretends that it is anything other than political. So, ...
March 31, 2010
Kansas Democrats' Best Case Scenario
In a year when Republicans are expected to make gains, the best hopes for Kansas Democrats are two unlikely candidates: Though Dennis McKinney is the...
March 31, 2010
A Vote for Appointed Offices
For years, California cities have debated whether their city treasurers should be elected or appointed officials. Now a new paper provides empirical evidence as to...
March 31, 2010
Is 'Sexting' a Crime?
Sexting is a source of angst for parents and public schools. But should it be a crime? That's the question that, almost overnight, state after...
March 31, 2010
Axing the Taxman
Tax collectors might not be the most popular government officials, but as Arizona recently discovered, they might be the very worst to cut in a...
March 31, 2010
Governors: Democrats' Best Case Scenario
Yesterday, I used Rasmussen polls to find the worst case scenario for Democrats in gubernatorial races. Last night I was thinking, well, what's the ...
March 30, 2010
Governors: Democrats' Worst Case Scenario
Rasmussen Reports, this election cycle's most prolific pollster, tends to show results that are more favorable to Republicans than other survey firms. But, that ...
March 29, 2010
Meg Whitman: I'm Tougher than the Terminator
As Meg Whitman tries to make the transition from underdog to overdog, one of her big challenges is the last wealthy Republican outsider to run ...
March 26, 2010
NY-Governor: Cuomo Bounces Back
Since I commented on a poll that showed New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's approval rating dropping to 54% recently, it's worth noting that ...
March 26, 2010
Illinois: Why Sheila Simon Lost in Carbondale
It's easy to see why, coming off the Scott Lee Cohen debacle, Gov. Pat Quinn wants the Illinois Democratic Party to pick Sheila Simon ...
March 25, 2010
Health Care Tests the Independence of Attorneys General
In a day, an argument about health care has morphed into a case study over the relative power of governors and state attorneys general. Michigan ...
March 24, 2010
Which Attorneys General Will Sue Over Health Care Reform?
As you probably know by now, 13 Republicans attorneys general are suing to block the individual mandate in federal health care reform, claiming that it is ...
March 23, 2010
On Health Care, Patrick Stands Alone and Stands to Gain
In January in Massachusetts' U.S. Senate special election, Martha Coakley, a candidate who favored health care reform, took 47% of the vote. That was bad ...
March 22, 2010
With a Democrat in the White House, Republican AGs Rise
When George W. Bush was in the White House, Democratic state attorneys general attempted to check his administration's power. State attorneys general, for example, ...
March 19, 2010
Governors' Races Ratings: South Carolina-Wyoming
Here's the fifth and final installment of my gubernatorial ratings. South Carolina -- Leans Republican: One lesson I took from Scott Brown's victory ...
March 18, 2010
Governors' Races Ratings: Nevada-Rhode Island
Here's part four of my gubernatorial race ratings. The English majors out there will note that if I had been going in proper alphabetic ...
March 18, 2010
In Los Angeles, Avoiding the Risks of the Status Quo
I tend to think that one mistake people often make (in business, in government, in life in general) is to assume that maintaining the status ...
March 16, 2010
Governors' Races Ratings: Maine-New Mexico
Here's the third part of my gubernatorial race ratings: Maine -- Toss Up: Maine's 2006 governor's race was a robust four-way race. Gov. ...
March 16, 2010
Governors' Races Ratings: Florida-Kansas
Here is the second part of my governors' races ratings: Florida - Leans Republican: I tend to think that state party scandals and feuds don'...
March 15, 2010
Governors' Races Ratings: Alabama-Connecticut
I'm traveling this week, which means you get five days of gubernatorial ratings. Since, as Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "a foolish consistency is ...
March 12, 2010
MA-GOV: Is Charlie Baker's Health Insurance Background a Liability?
We're learning that it's a rough time to be a banker running for office. Republicans are targeting the banking backgrounds of Alexi Giannoulias ...
March 11, 2010
MI-Governor: Virg Bernero Banks on Populism
I definitely think I'm going to enjoy the gubernatorial campaign of Virg Bernero. Bernero, Lansing's mayor, is most famous for his impassioned defense ...
March 10, 2010
Cutzilla Attacks New York
Which would win in a fight, a demon sheep or Cutzilla? That's all I can think about after watching this ad from New York'...
March 10, 2010
IL-GOV: Peculiar Polls
If you pay a lot of attention to polling, you know that surveys by Rasmussen Reports have tended to show Republican candidates in a stronger ...
March 9, 2010
In North Dakota, a Vote for Speed Readers
First it was gubernatorial question time in Arizona. Now, another fad federal reform idea is coming to the states. The Associated Press has the news ...
March 9, 2010
The Long Way to Redistrict California
Say that you were entrusted with the task of redrawing California's legislative districts. One way to go through the process would be to consider ...
March 8, 2010
SC-Governor: Dwight Drake Returns to the Shadows
Democrat Dwight Drake's exit from the South Carolina governor's race means we won't get to watch an intriguing political conversion. Drake spent ...
March 5, 2010
In Texas, a Vote That Never Should Have Happened
Victor Carrillo, a member of the Texas Railroad Commission, offered a provocative explanation for his loss in a Republican primary on Tuesday. From the Dallas ...
March 4, 2010
California: Majority Budgeting Ballot Initiative Falters
Let's say you're a rich California Democrat or the leader of a rich interest group that supports Democrats. You could spend your money ...
March 3, 2010
After Texas, Are Members of Congress Flawed Candidates for Governor?
For a Tuesday in March, yesterday was quite an interesting day of elections. Rick Perry became his party's nominee without having to spend more ...
March 2, 2010
Will Rick Perry's Contrarian Education Views Catch On?
As we chew over election results in Texas, here's a policy question to contemplate: Will Perry's unorthodox views on education become the standard ...
March 2, 2010
Virginia House: A Small Test for McDonnell
If you're hungry for an election outside of Texas today, look no further than the race between Democrat Eileen Filler-Corn and Republican Kerry Bolognese ...
March 2, 2010
Undemocratic Towns and Doughnut Holes
Governing announced the winner of our state and local government journalism award, the Hal Hovey award, last month.
March 1, 2010
Local Governments Face Census Challenge
If you receive a water bill in Phoenix, you'll get a note about the census. If you spend time in a classroom, you're likely to...
March 1, 2010
The Price of Popularity
John Hoeven may be something close to the perfect candidate for the U.S. Senate. The Republican governor is North Dakota's most popular politician and,...
March 1, 2010
The Price of Moderate Politics
Bill Ritter became Colorado's governor in 2007, promising to be a pragmatic, pro-business Democrat. That political niche seemed like a good fit for a moderate state....
March 1, 2010
Growing Alaska's Legislature
When Alaska state Rep. Peggy Wilson wants to visit her constituents, she goes by boat. Wilson represents seven Alaska towns, most of which are on...
March 1, 2010
Philadelphians Withhold Billions in Taxes
Philadelphia residents owe the city a backlog of more than $1 billion in unpaid taxes. Now a city official has found a strange place to recover...
March 1, 2010
Governors: Uneasy Leads for Southern Republican Frontrunners
Poor Henry IV -- the guy really needed some Ambien. But, because he couldn't fall asleep, he uttered a famous phrase: "Uneasy lies ...
February 26, 2010
The Decision That Might Cost David Paterson His Job
Could one of New York Gov. David Paterson's best decisions be what costs him the governorship? Now that Paterson has announced he isn't ...
February 25, 2010
Texas Board of Education: More Drama Than the Governor's Race
Increasingly, the Texas Republican gubernatorial primary has all of the suspense of Groundhog Day (the day, not the movie). If Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, ...
February 25, 2010
Selling State Buildings: The Perfect Time for a Bad Idea?
Here's a wacky idea that seems to be spreading as states confront budget shortfalls: selling state buildings to private investors, then leasing them back ...
February 24, 2010
NV-Governor: Gibbons' Comeback Cut Short
I was all set to write a blog post that said, "Jim Gibbons still has a chance!" But, recent events haven't been ...
February 23, 2010
New York Senate: Helen Sears Is Out
Helen Sears, the Democrat who Republicans wanted to nominate for the special election in New York's 13th Senate District, has dropped her bid. Republicans ...
February 23, 2010
Question Time in Arizona?
The idea seems to have fizzled on the federal level, but leave it to the states to be laboratories of British-style democracy. Arizona is looking ...
February 22, 2010
A Ballot-Order Gambit from West Virginia Democrats
Ballot Access News has a fun little story out of West Virginia: West Virginia lists parties on the ballot in order of how well they ...
February 22, 2010
New York's Strange Senate Race
Following up on my post from Friday: It's looks as though New York will have a strange election for state senate next month, one ...
February 19, 2010
A Race to Control the New York Senate Next Month?
Liz Benjamin of the New York Daily News has some interesting news: A fascinating wrinkle has developed in the fight for Hiram Monserrate's Queens ...
February 19, 2010
D.C. Mayor: Will Snowstorms Freeze Out Fenty?
Washington, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty's reelection bid this year probably will be of national interest primarily as a referendum on Michelle Rhee. Fenty ...
February 18, 2010
California: 31,000 Aspiring Political Cartographers
Even though it's right there in the lede, I still think this article in the Sacramento Bee manages to bury the lede: Nearly 31,000 Californians ...
February 17, 2010
Legislatures: Republican Wins in Alabama and New Hampshire
Republicans shouldn't be enthused about winning legislative special elections in Alabama and New Hampshire yesterday. They should be enthused about how they won. In ...
February 16, 2010
Alabama House: Republicans Hope to Gain
As they look to win a majority in the Alabama House this fall, Republicans have a good pickup opportunity today in a special election in ...
February 16, 2010
New Hampshire Senate: Democrats Look to Solidify Majority
New Hampshire Democrats are showing a bit of friskiness as they compete today for the state senate seat that Republican Ted Gatsas gave up when ...
February 16, 2010
The Nevada Senate's Alluring Simplicity
In the spirit of Valentine's Day (and with apologies to my wife), I must confess my love for the Nevada Senate. I don't ...
February 12, 2010
New Faces for the G.O.P.?
At Governing's Outlook conference, Charlie Mahtesian of Politico made a good point: If a few governors' races break with right way for Republicans, the ...
February 11, 2010
Introducing America's Largest State Legislative District
A debate over expanding the Alaska legislature has brought to my attention the state's incredible Senate District C, America's largest state legislative district. ...
February 11, 2010
Lieutenant Governors: The Grass Is Always Greener...
New Jersey policymakers didn't like having the State Senate President -- someone who most voters never elected -- as second in the line of ...
February 10, 2010
NY-Assembly: For Republicans, Promising Gains in Westchester County
Republicans appear to have won three of the four special elections for the New York State Assembly yesterday, picking up two suburban seats previously held ...
February 9, 2010
New York: Four Legislative Specials
Today, we have four special elections for the New York Assembly. Democrats and the Weprin family are trying to hold a seat in Queens, as ...
February 9, 2010
In Kansas, Democrats Test the Power of Quasi-Incumbency
A list of the most interesting downballot elections of the year slowly is fermenting in my brain. High on that list are the Kansas races ...
February 9, 2010
Staff Snapshots from D.C.'s 'Snoverkill'
Editor's note: Reading this month's photo essay on Syracuse's snow plows stings just a little for Governing's D.C. staffers, who ...
February 8, 2010
New Orleans Mayor: Did the Saints Help Mitch Landrieu Win?
During the final weeks of the New Orleans mayoral race, everyone joked that the city was paying more attention to the Saints than the election. ...
February 8, 2010
Will Arizona Vote for Higher Taxes?
After nearly a year of debate -- and nearly a year of urging from Gov. Jan Brewer -- Arizona lawmakers finally have sent a sales ...
February 5, 2010
New Orleans Mayor: Landrieu's to Lose
The people of New Orleans are captivated by a contest this weekend. Plus, the city also is voting for a new mayor. The New York ...
February 5, 2010
Illinois: Peculiar Lieutenant Governor Rules Compound Democrats' Problems
To state the obvious, Democrats in Illinois didn't do themselves any favors in the ticket they picked on Tuesday. Gov. Pat Quinn, who was ...
February 4, 2010
Kentucky House: A Democrat's Surprise Win
You'd think that after the Scott Brown experience, I (and everyone else) would learn not to take election results for granted. But, I'm ...
February 4, 2010
Kay Ivey's Curious Cash-on-Hand (AL Governor)
Alabama State Treasurer Kay Ivey is considered a long shot for the Alabama Republican gubernatorial nomination, in large part because of financial troubles with the ...
February 3, 2010
Memphis Reporter Wins GOVERNING/Stateline.org Award
Marc Perrusquia, a reporter with the Memphis Commercial Appeal, is the recipient of the seventh annual Hal Hovey Award, presented by GOVERNING and Stateline.org....
February 3, 2010
Illinois Turnout: Good News for Republicans?
I was at a Governing conference today, so I didn't get to comment on the results from Illinois. I'll have more to say ...
February 2, 2010
Crist v. Rubio: Nine Months Later
If you'll forgive a little bit of self-indulgence, I got a kick out of rereading a post I wrote last April about the campaign ...
February 2, 2010
Final Thoughts on Illinois
I have just a few final things to say about today's Illinois primaries. -First of all, I'm more than a little ashamed that ...
February 1, 2010
Southeastern Water Wars
On June 10, 2009, state officials in Georgia declared that the severe three-year drought that parched metro Atlanta and much of the Southeast was finally over. But...
February 1, 2010
A Candidate Takes on Taxes
When Lincoln Chafee kicked off his campaign for governor of Rhode Island in January, he did something unconventional: He actually made news. Rather than stick...
February 1, 2010
Health Reform, Utah Style
Conservative Utah doesn't usually have a lot in common with liberal Massachusetts. But both states have embraced health exchanges - one of the big ideas...
February 1, 2010
Reaching for a Tuition Tax?
In cities from Boston to Baltimore to Birmingham, Ala., universities and hospitals have played key roles in revitalizing urban neighborhoods. But expansions of eds and...
February 1, 2010
Merging Historically Black Universities
Now that American higher education has been racially integrated for decades, what's the role of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs)? That's the question that...
February 1, 2010
Governors Races: Where Will Democrats Support Gay Marriage?
Pat Quinn and Dan Hynes have been arguing about so many different things that it would be easy to miss one of the areas of ...
January 28, 2010
Sanity on Sexting?
Here's a bill that caught my attention. A Pennsylvania state legislature has proposed a law to make sending sexually explicit text messages a misdemeanor, ...
January 27, 2010
Minnesota Senate: A Republican Hold
In a special election in Minnesota's 26th Senate District yesterday, a Republican blowout would have suggested that the G.O.P. is in line ...
January 27, 2010
Interpreting a Vote for Higher Taxes in Oregon
Oregon voters yesterday approved two ballot measures to affirm tax increases. One raised taxes on the rich. The other raised taxes on corporations. This morning ...
January 26, 2010
Minnesota Senate: An Interesting Special Election?
While Oregon's tax vote today is the big prize, there's also a not uninteresting state Senate special election in Minnesota's 26th District. &...
January 25, 2010
IL-Governor: Dan Hynes Closes on Pat Quinn
The Republican primary for governor of Texas was supposed to be a great race because it was going to be very unpredictable, very mean and ...
January 25, 2010
Why the Bushies Don't Like Rick Perry
The Texas Tribune has a good story looking at all of the possible reasons that most people from the Bush inner circle, including George H....
January 22, 2010
In Oregon, a Test of the Politics of Taxes
Voters are angry about government spending, worried about budgets, mistrustful of government in general and what they really want are...some tax increases? I wouldn'...
January 21, 2010
IL-Governor: Harold Washington Haunts the Democratic Primary
Yes, yes, we know that the dead have a reputation for involving themselves in Illinois elections. The tradition, though, is for them to show up ...
January 21, 2010
Ted Strickland Tries Populism
One lesson coming out of the Massachusetts Senate race is that, so far, Democrats have completely failed at populism. Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland is trying ...
January 20, 2010
What Would a G.O.P. Congressional Landslide Mean for Governor's Races?
Yesterday's Massachusetts Senate election confirmed what, really, everyone already knew. November 2, 2010 could be a tremendous night for Republicans and a terrible night for Democrats. ...
January 19, 2010
Mississippi University for Women -- for Men Too
When I go on a long car ride, I always end up with a long mental list of things to look up on Google or ...
January 15, 2010
MA-Senate: An Unusual Referendum on Health Care Reform
The entire political world wants to talk about the Massachusetts Senate race and who am I to resist? I don't think that enough people ...
January 14, 2010
In Virginia, Big Consequences for Small Electoral Victories
One thing that pretty much everyone does is over-interpret close election results. So, when Democrat Dave Marsden wins Virginia's 37th State Senate District by 327 ...
January 14, 2010
Marijuana: A Sleeper Political Issue?
New Jersey has just legalized medical marijuana. A California House Committee has approved marijuana for recreational use. New polling in Washington state shows a solid ...
January 13, 2010
Virginia Senate Special: a Democrat's Counterintuitive Win
I've been saying for months that Democrats are motivated and Republicans are complacent, so it comes as no surprise that Democrat Dave Marsden yesterday ...
January 12, 2010
CO-Governor: Was Ritter's Problem Moderation or Inconsistency?
Commenter Bob Stovall offered a good response to my post arguing that Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter's moderate approach doomed his governorship: It is not ...
January 12, 2010
Rhode Island Governor: Will Unions Back Chafee?
Following up on my speculation about whether independent Lincoln Chafee might turn out to be the most liberal candidate in the race for governor in ...
January 11, 2010
Virginia Senate Special: A Repeat of Deeds and McDonnell?
See if this election taking place tomorrow in Virginia sounds familiar. The Democratic candidate is running as a centrist and facing criticism for where he ...
January 8, 2010
North Dakota: John Hoeven's Major Weakness
Tom Jensen of Public Policy Polling had a good post the other day slicing and dicing gubernatorial approval numbers. He showed that right now governors ...
January 8, 2010
The Origins of the Vermont Yankee Controversy, Continued
David O'Brien, commissioner of the Vermont Department of Public Service, was kind enough to respond to my post on the Vermont Yankee nuclear power ...
January 7, 2010
Bill Ritter and the Burden of Moderates
The current political environment seems intent on proving once-and-for-all that being moderate and being electable aren't the same thing. In fact, with ideological passions ...
January 6, 2010
Ten Governors Who Might Help Their Parties by Not Running Again
Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter announced today that he isn't running for reelection this year, but the state's Democrats shouldn't be displeased by ...
January 5, 2010
RI-Governor: Lincoln Chafee Takes on Taxes
Lincoln Chafee has done something remarkable: He actually made news in a formal campaign announcement. The Providence Journal reports on the tax increase that the ...
January 5, 2010
Republican Governors Association Enjoys Fundraising Edge
As it turns out, Republicans owe Mark Sanford a big thank-you. Sanford was the head of the Republican Governors Association for the first half of ...
January 5, 2010
Vermont: How One Word Created Years of Political Controversy
For years, the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant has been one of the top topics of debate in Vermont politics. This year, Vermont's lone ...
January 4, 2010
Seven Elections to Watch in Early 2010
I know you're sick of end of the year and end of the decade lists (which invariably bog down in the question of whether ...
December 31, 2009
An "Ordinary Joe" Runs Indianapolis
The tenure of Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard is helping to answer an oft-posed question: What would happen if an "ordinary Joe" was in charge of...
December 31, 2009
Energy Program Comes Under Fire
Every state wants to create green jobs. Oregon actually has done it. But a political consensus has emerged that the state has done it the...
December 31, 2009
A Showdown Over Nuclear Power Wages in Vermont
State legislators in Vermont are the only ones in the country with authority to vote on whether a nuclear power plant can continue in operation....
December 31, 2009
States Weigh Pot Reform
While political power has been shifting to the federal level lately, there's a clear exception. When it comes to policies on marijuana for medicinal use,...
December 31, 2009
Following An Ethically-Challenged Governor
For better and for worse, it is Pat Quinn's fate to be the governor who followed Rod Blagojevich in Illinois. Quinn served as lieutenant governor...
December 31, 2009
Top 10 Legislative Issues to Watch 2010
The Great Recession may technically be over, but it continues to have a devastating effect on the ability of state legislators to craft new legislation...
December 30, 2009
Is Party Switching About to Decline?
Let me ask a question that might seem quite bizarre: Are we about to see party switching approach extinction? This question is somewhat bizarre because ...
December 29, 2009
MN-Governor: We Have Frontrunners!
Perhaps more than any race in the country, the contest to be th next governor of Minnesota has been a muddled mess. There are so ...
December 29, 2009
Jack Markell Facts
As a group, the political future of the nation's current governors doesn't look great. We have lots of governors who are unpopular do ...
December 28, 2009
MN-GOV: Mark Dayton and the Merits of Truth-Telling
In my rather limited knowledge of great literature, one of my favorite passages is in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn when Huck decides upon a truly ...
December 28, 2009
California: Give or Take 1.5 Million People
I'm looking forward to a year in which state and localities argue with the Census Bureau about their populations ahead of the all-important decennial ...
December 23, 2009
Gary Johnson for President?
I sighed as I read Politco's piece talking up the prospects of a Gary Johnson presidential candidacy -- not because it was a bad ...
December 22, 2009
Optimism in Detroit?
In the holiday season, it would be cruel to deny any place of its hopes for a better future. So, it's appropriate that even ...
December 21, 2009
The Sanfords: How Jenny Saved Mark
The State has a good reconstruction of how South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford avoided impeachment. I feel like I already knew this piece of the ...
December 21, 2009
Christine Gregoire and Mike McGinn: Documenting the Viaduct Divide
The Seattle Times has a fascinating article looking at how the staff of Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire responded to the possibility that Mike McGinn would ...
December 18, 2009
A Preview of the 2052 Presidential Election
Here's a chart of how various racial/ethnic groups voted in the 2008 presidential election, according to exit polling: (The numbers don't add to 100% ...
December 17, 2009
How Asian-Americans Vote
When I was writing about voting trends in Gwinnett County, Georgia the other day, I wrote the following: Plus, I'm not sure whether people ...
December 17, 2009
Carole Keeton Strayhorn: Frequent Candidate?
The cruelest insult in politics is "frequent candidate." If a reporter wants to send the message that a political aspirant has no chance ...
December 17, 2009
Arizona: No Deal on Sales Tax
That didn't last long. Following up on my post from yesterday, it's clear that the Arizona legislature isn't going to vote to ...
December 16, 2009
In Arizona, Searching for a Sales Tax Deal
We'll have some suspense tomorrow in Arizona, as Governor Jan Brewer continues to push for legislative approval of a ballot measure to increase the ...
December 15, 2009
California Likely to Vote on Marijuana Legalization
The Los Angeles Times tells us about a California ballot measure worth watching: California voters could decide whether to legalize marijuana in November after supporters ...
December 15, 2009
Which Issues to Watch?
In next month's issue, for the fourth time in my five years at Governing, I'll be writing our annual preview of state legislative ...
December 14, 2009
In Houston, an Election About Sexual Orientation
Allow me to make a provocative claim: The Houston mayoral election was ever bit as much about sexual orientation as the Atlanta mayoral election was ...
December 11, 2009
Will Immigration Turn Gwinnett County Blue?
Governing's December cover story is about how immigration is changing Gwinnett County, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. Here are the basics: In 1990, Gwinnett was 91 ...
December 10, 2009
Alaska: Sean Parnell Grapples with the Liberalism of Sarah Palin
Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell is faced with a question that, to those of us in the Lower 48, must seem strange: Were Sarah Palin's tax ...
December 9, 2009
Gay Marriage: Forgetting Arizona
Remember this? A blast from the past from Stateline: Arizona in 2006 became the first and only state so far to reject a ballot initiative to ...
December 9, 2009
Kentucky Senate: Key Win for the G.O.P.
Jimmy Higdon preserved the G.O.P.'s narrow edge in the Kentucky State Senate yesterday by winning a surprisingly comfortable 56%-44% victory in a ...
December 8, 2009
The Unintended Consequences of a California Divorce Ban
I enjoyed this response from commenter mmarty on my post on California's ballot measure to ban divorce: If divorce is banned in California, they ...
December 8, 2009
Kentucky Senate: State and National Politics Collide
Today, the political world receives a pre-Christmas, pre-Hanukkah gift in the form of a splendid special election for state senate in Kentucky. The race comes ...
December 7, 2009
Will Tim Pawlenty Support a State-Level Stimulus?
On the federal economic stimulus, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty was able to finesse his two roles as a state executive and as an aspiring Republican ...
December 4, 2009
How Democrats and Republicans Differ: Taxes
Remember the innocent days of 2000 when, during the uninspiring Bush v. Gore presidential campaign, people actually argued that there weren't major differences between the ...
December 4, 2009
TX-Governor: Bill White is Running, of Course
I have a bad habit: I believe politicians when they say things. For example, I believed that Houston Mayor Bill White was running for Senate ...
December 3, 2009
Creative Approaches in the Gay Marriage Debate
In case you haven't seen it, the Associated Press had a fun story about a tongue-in-cheek ballot measure in California: Til death do us ...
December 3, 2009
Glenn Richardson: The Latest Speaker in Trouble
Glenn Richardson, the speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives, seems likely to resign at any moment. Richardson's tragic tale involves a suicide attempt ...
December 2, 2009
Kidd and Kelsey Win Special Victories
Both of the legislative special elections I mentioned yesterday turned out to be snoozers. Independent Rusty Kidd won easily in Georgia, while Republican Brian Kelsey ...
December 2, 2009
Nassau County: Mangano Wins
I mentioned this earlier, but it deserves it's own post. A month after election day, Democrat Tom Suozzi, the County Executive in Nassau County, ...
December 2, 2009
Atlanta Mayor: Reed or Recount?
Kasim Reed and Mary Norwood have disagreed on a lot in their race for mayor of Atlanta, so it's fitting that they disagree on ...
December 1, 2009
Legislative Specials in Tennessee and Georgia
The big contest today is for mayor of Atlanta, but we also have a couple of legislative special elections I'm watching. First, in Tennessee, ...
December 1, 2009
Will Republicans Raise Taxes?
Here's a striking quote from Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer in the Arizona Republic: "We could cut every government service in the state of ...
November 30, 2009
Should Cities Be in the Mega-Hotel Business?
The campaigns of Tom Leppert and Anne Raymond spent millions of dollars this spring wooing Dallas voters. Leppert and Raymond debated on radio and television....
November 30, 2009
A Democratic Governor's GOP Employment Program
Steve Beshear, the Democratic governor of Kentucky, is appointing Republicans to key offices--and other Republicans don't like it. Beshear's display of bipartisanship, GOP leaders say,...
November 30, 2009
Why States Are Saying No to Nuclear Plants
As climate-change legislation began winding its way through the U.S. Senate this fall, the outlines of a possible bipartisan deal came into focus. Republicans...
November 30, 2009
Mike McGinn
In picking Mike McGinn as their next mayor, Seattle voters selected a little-known environmental activist over the incumbent and then over a wealthy and well-connected...
November 30, 2009
Atlanta Mayor: Who Is Playing the Race Card?
In tomorrow's tossup race for mayor of Atlanta, Mary Norwood has a fascinating final ad. Here it is: You can watch that ad and ...
November 30, 2009
Nassau County: Mangano Nears Victory
In Nassau County, New York, we have a different meaning of leftovers. From the New York Times: MINEOLA, N.Y. -- Nearly three weeks after ...
November 27, 2009
Kathy Cox's Game Show Grief
This isn't news, but it's news to me. Jim Galloway of the Atlanta-Journal Constitution has an interesting piece about the perceived vulnerability of ...
November 25, 2009
Believe It or Not, Turnout Was Up in Virginia
Virginia's governor's race earlier this month was a blowout election in which one party was supposedly deeply demoralized. But, based on the most ...
November 24, 2009
Nassau County: As Race Tightens, Suozzi Saga Continues
I have to believe that election officials in Nassau County, New York are making a point of dispelling stereotypes. The South, after all, has a ...
November 23, 2009
Democrats' Best Hope in Colorado Drops Out
One of the great questions heading into the 2010 elections is what Democrats can do to get their base motivated again. While there are several different ...
November 20, 2009
TX-Governor: Does Farouk Shami Have a Chance?
If Texas is feeling dull, dry, limp and lifeless, the state has just the candidate to give it new luster. Democrat Farouk Shami will have ...
November 19, 2009
Are Unicameral Legislature Proposals Coming into Style?
As you may have read by now, not only are there reports that Rudy Giuliani isn't running for governor next year, there are also ...
November 19, 2009
NY-Governor: Giuliani Reportedly Says No
According to the New York Times, "people who have been told of the decision" say that Rudy Giuliani won't be a candidate ...
November 19, 2009
New Jersey Democrats Divided on Gay Marriage
From my vantage point, it's looking less and less likely that the New Jersey legislature will push through a gay marriage bill before Republican ...
November 18, 2009
On the Ballot: Health Care Reform
To some degree, the elections across the country next year likely will be referendums on health care reform, but more so in Arizona than most ...
November 17, 2009
Nassau County: Suozzi Struggling
Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, a prominent New York Democrat, ended election night clinging to a narrow lead, but the situation has gotten worse for ...
November 17, 2009
Campaign Finance Free-for-All in the States?
USA Today notes the significance of the Supreme Court's campaign finance case for governor's races: If the Supreme Court opens the door to ...
November 16, 2009
Atlanta Mayor: Kasim Reed Leads Narrowly
When Atlantans went to the polls two weeks, 46% voted for Mary Norwood for mayor. Today, 46% of Atlantans support Mary Norwood for mayor according to a ...
November 12, 2009
G.O.P. Candidates Face a Question: Is Global Warming Man-Made?
I'm beginning to notice a theme. In September, Minnesota Public Radio ran this article: St. Paul, Minn. -- Nearly all of the Republicans running ...
November 11, 2009
Major Mayoral Endorsements in Atlanta and Houston
With runoffs ahead, we have two major endorsements by the third-place finishers in two big-city mayoral races. Let's start with Houston, where City Controller ...
November 11, 2009
RI-Governor: Lincoln Chafee Is Poll Rich, Cash Poor
To the extent that developments in the Rhode Island governor's race generate buzz, a poll showing independent Lincoln Chafee leading Democratic and Republican competition ...
November 10, 2009
Nassau County: Suozzi Falls Behind
With Mike McGinn victorious in Seattle, the only election on my radar from Tuesday that's still undecided is the race for county executive in ...
November 10, 2009
In Texas, Hopson's Choice Aids Republicans
The Republicans recently doubled their majority in the Texas House of Representatives. The Austin American-Statesman explains: State Rep. Chuck Hopson switched parties Friday and became ...
November 9, 2009
The Lottery That Elected Bob McDonnell
Republican Bob McDonnell won a smashing, 345,000-vote, 17-point victory in the Virginia governor's race last week -- and he wouldn't have won had ...
November 9, 2009
Gay Marriage in New Jersey: Now or Not for a While
In New Jersey last Tuesday, a candidate for governor who opposes gay marriage (Chris Christie) defeated a candidate who supports it (Jon Corzine). That's ...
November 9, 2009
Seattle Mayor: McGinn Close to Victory
In Seattle's mayoral election, underdog Mike McGinn is looking more and more like he will end up on top. From the Seattle Times: Mike ...
November 6, 2009
Why Turnout in Virginia Wasn't Quite as Bad as You Think
Part of the quickly congealing convention wisdom of Tuesday's election is that turnout was down dramatically in Virginia. Democrats lost because they didn't ...
November 5, 2009
New York City's Indepublican Mayor
I've been looking through exit poll data in Virginia, New Jersey and New York City. A couple of questions struck me in the Big ...
November 5, 2009
Charlie Crist on the Stimulus, Then and Now
Feeling heat from the right in his U.S. Senate bid, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist said on CNN today that he never endorsed the federal ...
November 5, 2009
The People Who Aren't Leading the Seattle Mayoral Race
The Seattle mayoral election is one of the few around the country that remains too close to call. What's striking, though, is who isn'...
November 4, 2009
Maine Voters Reject Gay Marriage
For the second time in as many years, gay-marriage supporters yesterday suffered a narrow -- but stinging -- defeat at the polls. By a margin...
November 3, 2009
Races I'm Still Watching (and Goodnight!)
There are a few legislative special elections I'll get to tomorrow, but other than that the only races I still have my eye one ...
November 3, 2009
Tomorrow's Story?
If you had to design tonight's results to cause painful soul-searching in both major parties, wouldn't you have had Republicans win the governorships ...
November 3, 2009
Nassau County: Suozzi Leads by 313 Votes
The barnburner of the night is in Nassau County, New York, where Democratic County Executive Tom Suozzi is clinging to the lead. From Newsday: With 98 ...
November 3, 2009
Gay Marriage in New Jersey?
With Jon Corzine losing in New Jersey and Maine looking more and more likely to overturn its gay marriage law, I have to wonder what ...
November 3, 2009
Republicans Win Majority on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Republican Joan Orie Melvin has won a seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, giving Republicans a 4-3 majority. I'll make sure to remember this ...
November 3, 2009
Democratic County Executives Trail in Suburban New York
Andrew Spano, the Democratic county executive in Westchester County, trails badly. Tom Suozzi, the county executive in Nassau County, trails narrowly. As Liz Benjamin points ...
November 3, 2009
St. Petersburg Mayor: Republican Bill Foster Wins
The Democratic-leaning voters of St. Petersburg, Florida stuck with Republican leadership, picking Bill Foster in an open-seat race. From the St. Petersburg Times: ST. PETERSBURG ...
November 3, 2009
Mayors: Bloomberg, Bing Win
Order is restored to the universe, as the AP calls the New York City mayoral race for Michael Bloomberg. Also, Dave Bing won a full-term ...
November 3, 2009
Maine Gay Marriage: A Repeat of California 2008?
Nate Silver tweets: Not sure it looks too good for gay marriage in Maine. Cumberland County, the most liberal in the state, is way overrepresented ...
November 3, 2009
Charlotte Mayor: Democrat Anthony Foxx Wins
If Democrats are seeking solace on a rough election night for the party, one place to look is Charlotte. From the Charlotte Observer: Anthony Foxx ...
November 3, 2009
NYC-Mayor: Bloomberg Doesn't Win?
Wow, things have gotten crazy in New York City, where an exit pollster has retracted its call that Mayor Michael Bloomerg has been reelected. The ...
November 3, 2009
NJ-Governor: Christie Wins
The Associated Press has called the New Jersey governor's race for Chris Christie. The Republican won in his Democratic-leaning state despite being badly outspent ...
November 3, 2009
Republicans Make Gains in Virginia House
Blogger Not Larry Sabato -- who is a more irreverent version of his namesake -- is compiling the results from the elections for the Virginia ...
November 3, 2009
NYC-Mayor: Bloomberg Wins
posted by Josh Goodman Well, there was no more or less suspense than anyone expected: Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been reelected in New York City. ...
November 3, 2009
Pennsylvania Supreme Court: Advantage Republicans?
posted by Josh Goodman Right now, Democrat Jack Panella has 51% of the vote in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court race that, in a convoluted way, could ...
November 3, 2009
Charlotte Mayor: Still Close, But Democrat Leads
Posted by Josh Goodman While there are about a million things going on at once right now, I'm somewhat transfixed by this mayoral race ...
November 3, 2009
NJ-GOV: Daggett Support Collapsing
You could see this coming from the final polls: Independent Chris Daggett is only winning about 5% of the vote right now. Daggett reached almost 20% in ...
November 3, 2009
Boston Mayor: Menino Leads Narrowly
I didn't think I was going out on a limb in expecting Boston Mayor Thomas Menino to win easily -- they do call him &...
November 3, 2009
Polls Close in New York
With polls closing in New York, I'm prepared to project that Democrat Bill Thompson will have spent less campaign cash per vote than incumbent ...
November 3, 2009
Charlotte Mayor: Tight Race
Republican John Lassiter is up by about a 1,000 votes with healthy chunk of votes counted in the Charlotte mayoral race. You can follow all of ...
November 3, 2009
The Next Big Election in Virginia
Republican Ken Cuccinell's victory in the race for attorney general sets up an election that could determine whether the G.O.P. takes complete ...
November 3, 2009
Virginia-AG: Cuccinelli Wins
The Republican sweep of statewide offices in Virginia is complete, as the Virginian-Pilot has called the attorney general's race for Ken Cuccinelli. Let the ...
November 3, 2009
VA-GOV: McDonnell Wins
The Virginian-Pilot, among others, has the word that Republican Bob McDonnell will be the next governor of Virginia. Bill Bolling, the Republican incumbent lieutenant governor, ...
November 3, 2009
Democrats Leads in Early Vote in Charlotte
From the Charlotte Observer: Democrat Anthony Foxx built an early lead over Republican John Lassiter on Tuesday night in the race to replace Pat McCrory ...
November 3, 2009
Polls Closing in Maine, New Jersey
Finally, polls close in Maine, New Jersey and a bunch of the states with lower-profile races I'm watching (Don't forget about the Supreme ...
November 3, 2009
Republican Momentum in Mayoral Races?
With polls closing in Charlotte, now's as good a time as any to pass along a point that my colleague Alan Greenblatt made today: ...
November 3, 2009
VA: Republican Statewide Ticket Keeping Up With McDonnell
In very early returns, the Republicans running for lieutenant governor and attorney general are keeping up with Bob McDonnell at the top of their ticket. ...
November 3, 2009
VA-Governor: A Non-Call Call
With polls closed, here's what the Washington Post says about the race for governor in Virginia: Republican Robert F. McDonnell is off to a ...
November 3, 2009
Exit Polls in NJ and VA: Obama Popular, But Not a Factor
From Marc Ambinder: First things first: even in a year when the composition of the electorate is dramatically different than the 2008 presidential election, President Obama'...
November 3, 2009
In Virginia, Will Turnout Be Up or Down?
With polls closing in an hour in Virginia, Republicans are expected to do well because Democrats weren't motivated, right? Or is it that Republicans ...
November 3, 2009
In Case You Didn't Realize New Jersey Was Close...
Intrade essentially is giving both Corzine and Christie a 50% chance to win. I'll begin live-blogging in earnest when polls close in Virginia in about ...
November 3, 2009
Counties to Watch in New Jersey and Maine
We have two races today that everyone expects to be close: New Jersey's governors race and Maine's vote on gay marriage. So, if ...
November 3, 2009
Turnout High in Maine
While I've never had the nerve to do it, I think that Election Day would be a great time to play golf. While the ...
November 3, 2009
Three More Local Races to Watch
Studious readers may have noticed that in my post listing the elections I'll be blogging about tonight I mentioned a few races I haven'...
November 2, 2009
Races I'm Watching (and Blogging)
We'll be live-blogging tomorrow night's election results here on Ballot Box, a fact that has necessitated actually compiling a list of all of ...
October 31, 2009
Can Higher Ed Control Its Costs?
At Virginia Tech, freshmen learn mathematics in a 60,000-square-foot box of a building that used to be Rose's discount department store. It's called the Math...
October 31, 2009
Albuquerque Voters' Republican Gamble
When Richard Berry won a surprise victory last month for mayor of Albuquerque, voters wondered whether they had chosen new policies or merely a new...
October 31, 2009
Tax Troubles in Arizona
Jan Brewer was Arizona's popular secretary of state early this year when her political career took a turn for the worse. She became governor. With...
October 30, 2009
Legislative Races to Watch Tuesday
While Virginia and New Jersey are the only states with regularly scheduled legislative elections on Tuesday, several states have irregularly scheduled legislative elections. If you'...
October 29, 2009
What to Watch in Virginia, Even as Republicans Sweep
Barring some dramatic turn of events, Republican Bob McDonnell will be elected governor of Virginia Tuesday. Polls show the Republicans running for lieutenant governor and ...
October 29, 2009
New Orleans Mayor: In Search of Candidates
The New York Times has a great story on the New Orleans mayoral election, which will take place early next year: Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu ...
October 29, 2009
Democrats Conceding Senate Seat in Michigan?
Republicans' narrow majority in the Michigan State Senate is the only thing that has blocked Democrats from having complete control of the state's government. ...
October 28, 2009
Pennsylvania's Hugely Significant Obscure Election
I thought I knew about all of the important votes that were taking place Tuesday, but clearly I was wrong. In Pennsylvania, a judicial election ...
October 28, 2009
In Detroit, a Comeback for the Ages?
There's a slight chance that one of the most remarkable come-from-behind victories in political history could take place in Detroit next week. Sound like ...
October 27, 2009
The Politics of an Opt-Out Public Option in the States
The new plan in the U.S. Senate is to include a public insurance option in the health care overhaul, but to allow states to ...
October 27, 2009
In Maine, Will the Polls on Gay Marriage Be Wrong Again?
As Maine's referendum on gay marriage approaches, the polls are giving supporters of same-sex nuptials reason to cheer. Most surveys indicate that the effort ...
October 23, 2009
Governor's Race Ratings: South Dakota-Wyoming
Here's the final installment of governor's race ratings: South Dakota - Likely Republican - While Democrats' top recruit, U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth ...
October 22, 2009
Governor's Race Ratings: New Hampshire-South Carolina
The governor's race ratings continue: New Hampshire - Very Likely Democratic - Democrat John Lynch has been a Teflon triangulator during his three terms ...
October 21, 2009
Governor's Race Ratings: Maryland-Nevada
The governor's race ratings continue: Maryland - Likely Democratic - Ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne illness that's native to the Southeastern United States and causes ...
October 20, 2009
Governor's Race Ratings: Georgia-Maine
The governor's race ratings continue: Georgia - Slight Lean Republican - When former Governor Roy Barnes declared in June that he was running for ...
October 19, 2009
Governor's Race Ratings: Alabama-Connecticut
I haven't updated my gubernatorial race ratings since May, so all this week I'll be bringing you new ratings for the 37 governor's ...
October 14, 2009
Is the Cameron Todd Willingham Case Hurting Rick Perry?
Texas Gov. Rick Perry's future increasingly looks imperiled by a subject that I never would have suspected would get him in political trouble: the ...
October 13, 2009
Is Your Governor Fat?
In the context of the discussion in New Jersey, Nate Silver has a list of which governors could stand to lose a few pounds. Silver'...
October 13, 2009
Big Stakes in a Little Tennessee House Election (Corrected)
If it's possible for an election that will take place in only one 99th of a state that has only one 49th of the ...
October 12, 2009
Can Virginia Democrats Salvage a Statewide Victory?
To state the obvious, Republican Bob McDonnell looks increasingly likely to be the next governor of Virginia. McDonnell leads by nine points over Democrat Creigh ...
October 9, 2009
NJ-Governor: The Weight Debate
Did Jon Corzine really call Chris Christie fat in a campaign ad? The New York Times says that the answer is obviously yes. Marc Ambinder ...
October 8, 2009
Will Maine Voters End School Consolidation?
A year ago, I wrote more than 2,000 words asking whether states can force local governments to consolidate. Next month, the people of Maine may offer ...
October 7, 2009
Republicans Win Big in Albuquerque
Not only was Republican Richard J. Berry elected mayor of Albuquerque yesterday, but the G.O.P. also took control of the Albuquerque City Council, ...
October 7, 2009
NYC Mayor: Does Bill Thompson Have a Chance?
All of the political prognosticators, including PolitickerNY's Steve Kornacki (and me too), have been skeptical that Democrat Bill Thompson can upset Michael Bloomberg in ...
October 6, 2009
In the Health Care Reform Debate, Governors Are Everywhere
Everywhere I turn in the federal health care debate, there's a governor. -Governors' concerns about the expansion of Medicaid are front-page news. -Twenty-one Democratic ...
October 6, 2009
Pyramid Schemes Central to Memphis Mayoral Race
What do you do with an iconic 20,000-seat arena that no one is using? That's one of the key questions that the candidates for ...
October 6, 2009
Mommy, Where Do Governing's Stories Come From?
The classic childhood question is "Where do babies come from?" Well, that's the classic question other than "Are we there yet?&...
October 5, 2009
VA-Governor: Bob McDonnell's Counterattack
One of most difficult decisions a political campaign has to make is how to respond to allegations of scandal. If you don't challenge the ...
October 5, 2009
Albuquerque Mayor: A False Frontrunner?
In tomorrow's Albuquerque mayoral race, the candidate in first place may very well be third most likely to win. That's a message I ...
October 1, 2009
How Advocates for Fire-Safe Cigarettes Beat Big Tobacco
As a member of Congress 25 years ago, Jim Shannon fought to put a self-extinguishing mechanism in all cigarettes that would make them less likely to...
October 1, 2009
Can a White Candidate Be Elected Mayor of Atlanta?
Hot of the presses off the October issue of Governing, here's a preview of the Atlanta mayor's race: The question in Atlanta's mayoral ...
September 30, 2009
Stimulus Results: Difficult to Pin Down
Suppose you're a state budget director and you started this year looking at a huge fiscal shortfall (as virtually all of them did). It seemed...
September 30, 2009
Can a White Candidate Be Elected Mayor of Atlanta?
The question in Atlanta's mayoral election this fall isn't just who will win, but what it may reflect about the demographics of the city. City...
September 30, 2009
Obama Steers Clear of New York City Mayoral Race
First, President Obama was causing controversy by involving himself in New York politics, asking Gov. David Paterson not to run again. Now he's causing ...
September 29, 2009
In Pennsylvania, a September State Senate Showdown
No one seems to be quite sure why Pennsylvania is holding an election today, just weeks before November, but, regardless, voters -- or at least ...
September 28, 2009
Kay Bailey Hutchison's Senate Career: A Blessing or a Curse?
Kay Bailey Hutchison has a chance to oust Rick Perry, the longest-serving governor in Texas history, because she is a U.S. senator. However, that ...
September 28, 2009
Detroit Mayor Dave Bing's Refreshing Pessimism
Can a politician win an election with brutal honesty instead of tantalizing promises? Detroit Mayor Dave Bing is going to try (and almost certainly succeed), ...
September 25, 2009
For King County Executive, a Partisan Victory in a Non-Partisan Election?
Last year, voters in King County, Washington decided to make local elections in their jurisdiction non-partisan. This year, the race for King County Executive is ...
September 24, 2009
Mayoral Storylines from New York City to Albuquerque
This week's Boston mayoral election was completely dull if you're only interested in partisan politics. All of the candidates were Democrats. But, if ...
September 23, 2009
Terry Goddard Leads for Governor in Arizona
Attorney General and likely party nominee Terry Goddard leads incumbent Republican Jan Brewer and two other potential GOP rivals.
September 23, 2009
After Preliminary Win, Boston's Menino Looks Safe
It says a lot that Boston Mayor Thomas Menino yesterday had the weakest electoral showing of his 16-year tenure -- and still looks as though ...
September 22, 2009
The Politician New Yorkers Like Less Than David Paterson
In a new poll from Siena University, New York Governor David Paterson gets clobbered in a Democratic primary matchup with Andrew Cuomo. He gets clobbered ...
September 22, 2009
In Boston, Tom Menino Faces His Toughest Test
Thomas Menino has been mayor of Boston for 16 years and has never had a close race. He's thrived even as he resembled a politician ...
September 21, 2009
VA-Governor: A Delayed Thesis Effect?
For anyone, such as myself, who spends countless hours reading about politics (for work and for pleasure), one of the easiest mistakes to make is ...
September 21, 2009
NY-Governor: Obama Pushing Paterson Aside?
The New York Times reports that the Obama administration is getting involved in the New York governor's race: Gov. David A. Paterson insisted on ...
September 18, 2009
Why Virginia Doesn't Elect Governors of the President's Party
In eight consecutive gubernatorial elections, Virginia has never elected a candidate from the president's political party. Larry Sabato looks at this phenomenon more closely (...
September 18, 2009
In Maine, a Gay Marriage Toss Up
Finally, at long last, we have some fresh polling on the Maine vote on gay marriage this fall. However, the DailyKos/Research 2000 poll doesn't ...
September 17, 2009
In Memphis, AC Wharton Favored in Out-of-this-World Election
When I catalogued this fall's big city mayoral elections the other day, I completely forgot about Memphis, where there is a special election October 15 ...
September 17, 2009
Florida Marlins Pitch a Miami Mayoral Candidate
Tomás Regalado and Joe Sanchez are the two candidates in the open Miami mayoral race. They're both members of City Council. They're ...
September 16, 2009
NJ-Governor: Does Chris Daggett Hurt Corzine or Christie?
I've speculated on whether independent Chris Daggett will take more votes from Democrat Jon Corzine or Republican Chris Christie in the New Jersey governor'...
September 16, 2009
Mayor's Races That Won't Be Close (I Think)
You may have noticed that I haven't written much about the New York mayoral race, in which Democrats nominated New York City Comptroller William ...
September 15, 2009
The Once and Future Governors?
The football world rolled its eyes when Brett Favre spent the summer contemplating another comeback. If Favre were a former governor, however, he'd fit ...
September 15, 2009
Story Behind the Story: A Quote Quota?
Currently, I'm reading Anthony Trollope's "Orley Farm." Or, at least I'm trying to read it. Don't get me wrong ...
September 14, 2009
Polling Arizona
Last week, I gave my pitch as to why Public Policy Polling should survey Arizona and, in particular, the Arizona governor's race. Now, Arizona ...
September 14, 2009
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown's First Reelection Chance
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown is in a competitive Democratic primary to keep his job tomorrow against Council member Michael Kearns. The only factor reducing the ...
September 11, 2009
Delaware Democrats Aim for Supermajority Status
Sunday Update: In a special election, Ruth Briggs King this weekend held a seat for the Republicans in the Delaware House of Representatives. My preview ...
September 11, 2009
A Vote to Poll Arizona
Public Policy Polling, a Democratic survey firm, is once again doing something that loyal readers will know is a favorite of mine. They're asking ...
September 10, 2009
Measuring the National Mood from Mayoral Elections?
The governor's races in Virginia and New Jersey this fall will be used to assess the national political climate. But, as Chris Cillizza of ...
September 9, 2009
In Vermont, Tom Salmon Goes Against the Flow
Often, party switches are motivated by crass political self-interest. You can't say that about Vermont State Auditor Tom Salmon, who just became a Republican ...
September 9, 2009
Watching Washington's Same-Sex Partnerships Vote
The legal machinations continue, but increasingly it sounds as though the state of Washington will vote this November on whether to overturn the "everything ...
September 8, 2009
In Nevada, a Reid Family Feud?
In Nevada, Democrats are trying to sort out the political implications of having two Reids on the ballot. It's messy, as the Las Vegas ...
September 8, 2009
Mark Sanford's Flight Fight
I guess we should take this as another sign that South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford won't be leaving quietly. From the Greenville News: COLUMBIA ...
September 8, 2009
Making the Stimulus Czar Calls
One of the first things GOVERNING's editors taught me when I started here four years ago is that when reporting a story you have to think long and hard about where you call.
September 7, 2009
VA-Governor: Explaining Bob McDonnell's Lead
We now have two polls (from Rasmussen and SurveyUSA) indicating that Virginia Republican Bob McDonnell has held his lead over Democrat Creigh Deeds in spite ...
September 4, 2009
Concierge Medicine and the States
Is it retainer medicine, concierge medicine or boutique medicine? When it comes to the practice of paying doctors a fixed fee for expanded primary care...
September 4, 2009
NJ-Governor: Jon Corzine, Stuck at 39%
Mark Blumenthal makes an observation about polling in the New Jersey governor's race between Democrat Jon Corzine and Republican Chris Christie: While the vote ...
September 4, 2009
Sam Adams Recall Sputters in Portland (Updated)
Remember Portland Mayor Sam Adams, who became embroiled in an especially damaging sex scandal just days after taking office? Increasingly, it looks as though he ...
September 3, 2009
In a Florida State Senate Race, a Choice for Republicans
Republicans clearly are mad at President Obama and Democrats in Congress. But, are they mad at their own party too? That, says Matt Towery, is ...
September 3, 2009
Massachusetts Election Law Brushes Back Curt Schilling
Curt Schilling is a World Series MVP, a six-time All-Star and a 216-game winner. One day, he'll be in the Hall of Fame. Still, ...
September 2, 2009
Interpreting the National Mood After an Iowa Win for Democrats
I promised an exciting election, so I'm relieved that the 90th District in the Iowa House of Representatives delivered. In a special election, Democrat ...
September 2, 2009
VT-Governor: Hope for Republicans?
It would be easy to think that Vermont Governor Jim Douglas is the last of a dying breed. Douglas, a Republican, announced recently that he ...
August 31, 2009
Primary Care Looks to States for a Booster Shot
Rhode Island doesn't have any retail health clinics. One major reason: toilets. Retail clinics are the facilities in drug stores or big-box stores where patients...
August 31, 2009
Disappearing Doctors
What accounts for the dramatic decline in the number of doctors opting to be primary-care physicians? Simple economics, mostly. "They're not dumb," says Candice Chen,...
August 31, 2009
Gay Marriage at a Crossroads
Other than the presidential election, no vote last November drew more attention than Proposition 8, California's ballot measure on gay marriage. The result, a 52 percent verdict...
August 31, 2009
The Governors' Big-State Blues
When Arnold Schwarzenegger's approval rating hit a new low of 28 percent in one poll this summer, it must have been only a small consolation that...
August 31, 2009
The Fight to Commercialize Rest Areas
Along I-95 in Maryland, rest stops come with fast-food restaurants and gas stations. Along I-95 in Virginia, they have orange barrels that block anyone from...
August 31, 2009
A Referendum on Gay Marriage in an Iowa Special Election?
It's a recipe worthy of Giada de Laurentiis: Combine a swing district, a hot-button issue and a ton of outside money and you're ...
August 31, 2009
Should Voter Registration Be Automatic?
A Washington Post editorial looks at bipartisan support for automatic voter registration: ONE WAS general counsel to John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign, the other held ...
August 28, 2009
In Louisiana, a State Senate Battle on the Bayou
Sunday update: Democrat Norby Chabert won the special election 54% to 46%. My preview post is below. Only in Louisiana does a state legislator resign to become ...
August 28, 2009
TX-Governor: Is Hank Gilbert the Right Candidate for Democrats?
The Republican candidates for governor of Texas, Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, appear set to go nuclear on one another ...
August 26, 2009
In Missouri, Mr. Smith Goes to Jail
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has the fascinating story of a corruption scandal besetting Democrats in Missouri: ST. LOUIS -- As in other political scandals, it ...
August 26, 2009
A Key Win for Kentucky Democrats
Democrats won a narrow victory in a hotly contested Kentucky State Senate special election yesterday, pulling themselves closer to controlling the upper house of the ...
August 25, 2009
In New Jersey, An Election and Then a Gay Marriage Vote
New Jersey has been a strange state in the gay marriage debate. The state allows same-sex civil unions, but not marriage. Governor Jon Corzine and ...
August 25, 2009
Lessons from Mayor Greg Nickels' Defeat in Seattle
For shame! I neglected to write about Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels' reelection bid leading up to the vote last week and nor have I said ...
August 24, 2009
In Kentucky, Beshear Bets on Special Election Victory
Since winning the governorship in 2007, Kentucky's Steve Beshear has promoted expanded gambling as a fiscal and economic balm for his state. But, he's ...
August 24, 2009
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett: "Urban Folk Hero"
As the Associated Press notes, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has gained some notoriety ahead of a potential bid for governor, but, for all of the ...
August 21, 2009
NJ-Governor: Will Ballot Design Hurt Chris Daggett?
I've talked up independent Chris Daggett's relevance in the New Jersey governor's race, as a spoiler if nothing else. PolitickerNJ takes a ...
August 20, 2009
Benign Birthers and Hawaiian Statehood
Two national polls have now indicated that large numbers of Americans believe the Birther conspiracy theory. But, is it possible that pollsters simply are asking ...
August 20, 2009
Mayoral Tossups in Atlanta and Charlotte
This fall we have an excellent slate of mayoral races, which I expect to be covering in more detail in the weeks ahead. Just this ...
August 19, 2009
TX-GOV: The Pot Versus the Kettle
By any reasonable standard, both Texas Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (his primary challenger) are career politicians. Hutchison has held ...
August 19, 2009
On NYC Ballots, a Candidate Goes Missing
From the people who brought you the Committee on Coversheet Review, the New York City Board of Elections has a twist on the meaning of &...
August 18, 2009
VA-GOV: Deeds Dominating Among Unlikely Voters
If you want to measure Democrats' motivation problem in Virginia, it's helpful to think about a little-discussed category in polling: the unlikely voter. Polls, ...
August 17, 2009
CA-GOV: More Democrats Besides Brown and Newsom?
California Democrats have Attorney General (and former governor) Jerry Brown and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom as gubernatorial candidates. The question, as the Contra Costa ...
August 17, 2009
You Know You've Been Reading Too Much Political News When...
...you read the headline "Bill Becomes Hurricane" and expect an article about health care legislation. (Yes, this really happened to me earlier today.) ...
August 17, 2009
Doyle Out, Otter In
Two governors made big announcements about their political futures over the last few days. Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, a two-term Democrat, announced he would not ...
August 14, 2009
The Mayor to Replace Willie Herenton...Willie Herenton?
After months of indecision, all we know is that Willie Herenton doesn't know whether he wants to be mayor of Memphis or not. Herenton ...
August 13, 2009
NJ-GOV: Chris Daggett, an Independent with Impact
A rule of American politics: The number of votes that third-party candidates receive usually reflects how much voters dislike the major-party candidates more than it ...
August 13, 2009
VA-GOV: Another Slow Start for Deeds
As Democrat Creigh Deeds has fallen behind in the Virginia governor's race, I've been wondering in the back of my mind whether he ...
August 12, 2009
NY-GOV: Why Giuliani Probably Won't Run
New York Democrats are increasingly nervous about running on the ballot with Gov. David Paterson, according to the New York Times. That's not surprising, ...
August 11, 2009
Will Mark Sanford Be Impeached?
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford is facing new allegations of travel improprieties, but Chris Good of the Atlantic explains some of the obstacles to impeachment: ...
August 11, 2009
Better News, or Not, for Jon Corzine
New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine's reelection campaign has shown faint signs of life in a couple of recent polls. Research 2000 showed him facing an 8...
August 11, 2009
Republican Governors as Health Care Messengers?
The American people aren't sure about Democratic plans for health care. The American people also don't regard Republicans in Congress as especially credible ...
August 10, 2009
Rod Blagojevich's "Message of Inspiration and Hope"
Rod Blagojevich has a new Web site, as the Associated Press noted. My favorite part: Public Speaking, Public Appearance Because of his dynamic presentation and ...
August 10, 2009
IL-GOV: Can Hynes Win on Taxes?
In general elections, it's usually good politics to criticize tax increases. But what about in a Democratic primary in a blue state? That isn'...
August 7, 2009
Does Obama Secretly Support Gay Marriage?
Writing in the Washington Post last weekend, James Kirchik pointed out a phenomenon about which I hadn't previously thought. He noted that many liberals ...
August 6, 2009
States' Peculiar Ways of Filling Legislative Vacancies
As Alan noted yesterday, legislative special elections are a helpful (if imperfect) way to judge which direction the political winds are blowing. One reason they'...
August 6, 2009
Charlie Baker's Ace in the Hole
Here's some very idle radio chatter: Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker won't rule out former Red Sox ace Curt Schilling as a running ...
August 4, 2009
VA-GOV: Democrats' Motivation Problem
We have another poll this morning highlighting Republicans' motivation advantage in the Virginia governor's race. Republican Bob McDonnell leads Democrat Creigh Deeds 51%-37% according ...
August 3, 2009
For Schwarzenegger, a Hollywood Ending?
What's Arnold Schwarzenegger going to be doing after his tenure as governor of California ends? The same thing he was doing before it started, ...
August 3, 2009
NJ-GOV: Does Corzine Have a Chance?
New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine's reelection campaign is just getting started, but Stuart Rothenberg suggests that his challenger, Republican Chris Christie, is nearly certain ...
August 3, 2009
MA-GOV: Republican Candidates for Gay Marriage
A few weeks ago, I wondered what Charlie Baker, a health care executive and much-touted Massachusetts Republican gubernatorial candidate, would say about gay marriage. Now ...
July 31, 2009
These days, Bettye Fine Collins doesn't talk like a power politician. "It's not easy being me," she complains. It's not hard to understand why. As...
July 31, 2009
Quittin' Time In Colorado
There's an employer in Colorado that is having serious problems retaining its workers: the state legislature. Five legislators have left office this year alone, including...
July 31, 2009
Beating the Spread
What happens in Vegas is coming to Delaware. In May, Delaware became the third state, along with Nevada and Montana, to allow betting on sporting...
July 31, 2009
Just How Strong Are Muni Bonds?
Vallejo, California's bankruptcy last year represented the largest municipal default in 14 years. For 16 months, Jefferson County, Alabama has been unable to pay debts on billions...
July 30, 2009
Bob McDonnell's Big Lead?
SurveyUSA has a new Virginia poll showing Republican gubernatorial nominee Bob McDonnell with a 15-point lead over Creigh Deeds, his Democratic opponent, among likely voters. ...
July 30, 2009
Dave Bing Scores Early Victory
When Ken Cockrel (the interim mayor) and Dave Bing (businessman and former basketball star) squared off in the Detroit mayoral race this spring, one of ...
July 29, 2009
CT-Senate: Will Blumenthal Be Bold?
For most of the last two decades, Connecticut's Richard Blumenthal has been a bold, activist attorney general and a cautious, deliberative politician. That combination ...
July 28, 2009
NYC's Troublesome Committee on Cover Sheet Review
I remember once having a high school English teacher who cautioned our class that college professors wouldn't give an A to any paper that ...
July 28, 2009
Gay Marriage Vote to Wait in California?
Another vote on gay marriage in California next year is looking less and less likely, as the New York Times reports: LOS ANGELES -- Discouraged ...
July 27, 2009
New Alaska Governor Faces Difficult Year
As Alaska's new governor, Sean Parnell simply needs to diffuse a politically poisonous atmosphere, mend a fractured Republican Party and guide one of the largest...
July 27, 2009
In Massachusetts, a Real Three-Way Race for Governor
Politics is just a little bit more exciting when more than two candidates have a chance to win. For that reason, I'm really looking ...
July 27, 2009
IL-GOV: Hynes Is In?
Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes has raised lots of money for something and that something increasingly looks like a campaign for governor against fellow Democrat Pat ...
July 24, 2009
In Michigan, Ballot Measures for Labor to Love?
The Detroit Free Press reports that Michigan Democrats are considering using the ballot measure process to push economic populism next year. The ideas: o Hiking ...
July 24, 2009
The Return of Terry Branstad?
Iowa Gov. Chet Culver appears to be in better shape than many governors who are up for reelection next year, which isn't saying too ...
July 23, 2009
Big State Governors Remain Unpopular
Public Policy Polling has a new survey that shows 55% of Louisiana voters approving of the job that Gov. Bobby Jindal is doing. At first glance, ...
July 22, 2009
In California, Deal or No Deal?
You'd be hard-pressed to find a more suspenseful, high-stakes legislative vote than the one coming up on the California budget deal. The Los Angeles ...
July 22, 2009
Hispanic Voter Surge Imperils Republicans
The Census Bureau yesterday released voting and voter registration statistics for last year's election. The nuggets of insight that can be found in these ...
July 21, 2009
In Money Chase, Pat Quinn Is No Rod Blagojevich
Who has raised the most money for the 2010 Illinois governor's race? The answer, believe it or not, is Rod Blagojevich. Blagojevich accumulated more than $4 ...
July 21, 2009
Sorry, the Election is Canceled
We all know that state and local governments are having financial problems. They're cutting workers, cutting services and, apparently, cutting elections. From the Birmingham ...
July 20, 2009
A New Mark Sanford?
I'll readily admit that I wasn't looking forward to reading another apology from South Carolina's governor. But, Mark Sanford's column in ...
July 20, 2009
Obama: Major Player in Gubernatorial Politics?
President Obama made the first gubernatorial campaign stop of his tenure last week, visiting New Jersey to support Jon Corzine. Expect many, many more in ...
July 17, 2009
Sean Parnell's Intraparty Problem
He hasn't even said his vows yet and already some Alaska Republicans are trying to bring Sean Parnell's political honeymoon to a premature ...
July 16, 2009
NJ-GOV: Christie Holds Steady Lead
We've had lots of polling in the New Jersey governor's race lately, but not much movement. Here's the latest pollster.com composite, ...
July 16, 2009
A Vulnerable Governors Guessing Game
A guessing game for you: Which incumbent Democratic governors does the executive director of the Republican Governors Association think are vulnerable in 2010? Here's what ...
July 16, 2009
A County's Contracts Go Missing
Jefferson County, Alabama, is likely the nation's most financially troubled large local government. Alabama's most populous county (home to Birmingham) could go bankrupt ...
July 15, 2009
In New Mexico, a New Face for the G.O.P.?
The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee has seven Republicans and all seven of them are white men. That's a good reminder of the demographic ...
July 15, 2009
Republican Wins in Alabama
Republican Phil Williams won the Alabama state House of Representatives race I mentioned yesterday. From the Huntsville Times: For the second time this summer the ...
July 14, 2009
Thanks Dad, Now I'll Never Get Elected
When Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced last week that she was running for reelection, a lot of people were puzzled. Madigan, based on most ...
July 14, 2009
For Alabama Republicans, a Special Opportunity (Updated)
Republicans appear to have a good chance of picking up a seat in the Alabama House of Representatives today, thanks to a Democratic scandal and ...
July 13, 2009
Why an Illinois Income Tax Hike Will Wait for Fall
It sounds like a non sequitur: Illinois has an early primary election date and that might mean an income tax increase. Illinois policymakers seem to ...
July 13, 2009
TX-GOV: Can Democrats Find a Winning Candidate?
The Democrats have their best chance in 16 years to win the Texas governorship next year. What they don't have is a candidate who looks ...
July 13, 2009
New Jersey Clings to School Districts Without Schools
posted by Josh Goodman I wrote 2,300 words last year about how even the smallest local governments are reluctant to merge with neighbors -- and how ...
July 10, 2009
MA-GOV: Will the G.O.P. Nominee Favor Gay Marriage?
To win statewide in New England, Republicans must nominate moderate candidates. In 2010 and beyond, does that mean we'll see Republicans who favor gay marriage? ...
July 9, 2009
Did Cuomo Tip His Hand?
As Alan noted earlier, the coup in the New York Senate appears to be over a month and day after it began. Sen. Pedro Espada ...
July 9, 2009
Was Paterson's Move Necessary?
New York Gov. David Paterson had to take the unprecedented, legally controversial step of appointing a new lieutenant governor because the New York Senate, tied 31...
July 9, 2009
In Florida, a Vote on Direct Democracy Itself
How powerful is Florida's "Hometown Democracy" ballot measure? It changed the state's constitution before it ever appeared on the ballot. The ...
July 8, 2009
David Paterson's Solution to the Senate Stalemate (Updated)
The New York Senate has been stymied for weeks because of two major problems. One is that the Senate is deadlocked between 31 senators who support ...
July 8, 2009
Madigan and Herseth Sandlin: Two Democratic Women Stay Put
Off years in politics are mostly spent waiting. We can't say much that's intelligent about an election until we know who is running. ...
July 7, 2009
VA-GOV: McDonnell and Fellow Republicans Lead
Public Policy Polling's latest shows strength for Bob McDonnell and the other Republicans on the ticket in Virginia, Bill Bolling and Ken Cuccinelli: Creigh ...
July 7, 2009
"Girlie Men" Arnold Returns
Dan Walters notes in the Sacramento Bee how Arnold Schwarzenegger has come full circle: Remember the Arnold Schwarzenegger who, exactly five years ago, denounced state ...
July 6, 2009
Will Palin Help or Hurt McDonnell and Christie? (Updated)
No one knows what Sarah Palin will do next. But, we do know what Michael Steele, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, wants her ...
July 6, 2009
Ted Stevens for Governor of Alaska?
Sarah Palin's resignation will give other youthful politicians a chance to shine in Alaska politics. People like, oh, Ted Stevens? From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer: ...
July 5, 2009
Can Sarah Palin Win by Running Against the Republican Party?
Sarah Palin's decision to resign as governor of Alaska was greeted with doubts, criticism and downright derision -- not just from Democrats or the ...
July 3, 2009
50 States, 50 Stories -- 2009 Edition
In celebration of the United STATES of America, here's a thought about politics in all 50 states. For a blast from the past, check out ...
July 2, 2009
In California's Budget Crisis, a Political Rorschach Test
As California drowns in a sea of red ink, its budget problems are serving as a political inkblot test. Why does California have a $26 billion ...
July 1, 2009
Albany's Latest Joke: A Senator Walks Into the Chamber...
Mark Sanford should resign as governor of South Carolina in exchange for an appointment to be president of the New York Senate. That way, everything ...
June 30, 2009
Franchise Frustration
The recent bankruptcies of Chrysler and General Motors are halting, for now, a furious burst of state legislative lobbying by the nation's car dealers. As...
June 30, 2009
Vive Le Roy?
When Roy Barnes lost his reelection bid as Georgia's Democratic governor in 2002, it was the surprise of the year. Now, the man his opponents once...
June 30, 2009
The Costliest Ride
In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a city of just over 150,000 people, almost half of the annual public transit budget doesn't go for buses, or trolleys,...
June 30, 2009
Democrat Holds State House Seat in Mississippi
In a special election, Democrat Wilber Jones easily won the Mississippi House of Representatives' District 82. The Meridian Star's twitter feed has the numbers: 100 percent ...
June 30, 2009
A Black Republican in the Mississippi House?
Democrats seem likely to hold a seat in the Mississippi House of Representatives in a special election today, but if the Republican does win, he'...
June 30, 2009
Where the Democrats' Gubernatorial Talent Went
I wrote a post last week arguing that the Democrats currently have far fewer governors who look like future presidential candidates than the Republicans. Commenter ...
June 29, 2009
The Origins of the New York Senate Stalemate
The New York Senate remains stymied, with Democrats and Republicans fighting over who controls the chamber. Who is to blame for the 31-31 tie that ...
June 29, 2009
Rhode Island's Name Game
Soon, Rhode Island may be named Rhode Island. The Providence Journal explains: PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Voters will consider in 2010 a proposal to drop "...
June 29, 2009
Bauer Benefits If Sanford Stays?
The conventional wisdom is that South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer's chances of being elected governor in 2010 will increase if Bauer becomes governor in 2009. ...
June 26, 2009
The Governors Most Likely to Be Elected President
In the wake of the Mark Sanford scandal, Ken Rudin of NPR had a fun idea: Rank all of the nation's Republican governors from ...
June 26, 2009
In Kansas, Governor Anonymous
Quick quiz: Who is the governor of Kansas? If you don't know, don't fret. Kansans don't know who Mark Parkinson is either, ...
June 25, 2009
The Case for Sanford Staying
Over at Governing's other blog (or is Ballot Box the other blog?), Alan Greenblatt lays out a thoughtful case for Mark Sanford remaining governor ...
June 25, 2009
Former Sanford Spokesman Calls for His Resignation
One of the websites I've been checking regularly over the last 24-plus hours is fitsnews.com. The site was founded by Will Folks, a ...
June 25, 2009
Sanford's Popularity Problem (Updated)
I say this after every scandal, but, since it's still true, I'll say it again: Whether a politician survives or not has as ...
June 24, 2009
Jakey Knotts Triumphs Over Mark Sanford
When Columbia, South Carolina's newspaper, the State, first broke the story that Gov. Mark Sanford was missing, they only had one on-the-record source: State ...
June 24, 2009
In South Carolina, Enter Governor Bauer?
This morning, some foolish people were still talking about South Carolina Mark Sanford as a presidential candidate. This afternoon, the question is whether he will ...
June 24, 2009
Sanford Admits Affair
Now you can write Mark Sanford's political obituary. Gosh, I wish he would have told me he was having an affair before I wrote 800 ...
June 24, 2009
Sanford: Additional Thoughts
I should note that this remains a fast-moving situation -- everything I wrote below is predicated on there not being additional damaging revelations about what ...
June 24, 2009
Mark Sanford's Premature Political Obituary
There is nothing better for a Republican presidential candidate than to appear to be persecuted by the media. Everyone seems to have forgotten that when ...
June 23, 2009
AL-GOV: What's Wrong With Davis and Sparks?
Leading Alabama Democrats are working feverishly to recruit a top-tier candidate to enter next year's governor's race. That wouldn't be especially noteworthy, ...
June 23, 2009
Democratic Optimism in Utah
You don't become a party leader by saying that your party is going to lose. In that context, I present a statement from the ...
June 22, 2009
Is Gay Marriage a Political Winner in New Jersey?
Going into this year, New Jersey and Vermont seemed to me to be alone as states that might legalize gay marriage legislatively. New Jersey had ...
June 22, 2009
All's Fair in Love, War and Redistricting
If you want to understand why state legislative districts end up so gerrymandered, this statement from a Tennessee legislator in the Chattanooga Times Free Press ...
June 19, 2009
Virginia Gets Some Competition
For anyone who likes competitive elections, we have a promising development in Virginia. The Richmond Times-Dispatch explains: The major political parties are competing for 58 House ...
June 19, 2009
GA-GOV: John Oxendine, Outsider and Frontrunner
The Republican primary for governor of Georgia wasn't making much sense to me, until I tried something that, according to the history books I'...
June 18, 2009
VA-GOV: Tie Game
I didn't quite trust the two recent polls that gave Democrat Creigh Deeds a lead over Republican Bob McDonnell in the Virginia governor's ...
June 18, 2009
In New York, One Senator, Two Votes?
The latest controversy in the battle for control of the New York State Senate seems orchestrated to dispel the notion that lieutenant governors don't ...
June 17, 2009
VA-GOV: Questionable Polling Gives Deeds the Edge
Last week, Rasmussen Reports achieved a feat that has never before been accomplished in the history of mankind: The survey research firm produced a poll ...
June 16, 2009
Doubts About a California Bailout
The Obama administration is skeptical of a California bailout, the Washington Post notes this morning in a front-page story: The Obama administration has turned back ...
June 16, 2009
Prop. 8, Hispanics and California's Next Gay Marriage Vote
The debate last fall over whether California should ban gay marriage was heated. After Prop. 8 passed in November, the debate over why California decided to ...
June 15, 2009
WI-GOV: Doyle Trails?
It looks like the pollsters will have to agree to disagree. Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle is in good shape for reelection says Research 2000. Not so, ...
June 15, 2009
WI-GOV: Doyle Leads, We Think
Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle has been in office for more than six years and for more than six years, it seems, he's stayed in ...
June 12, 2009
Is the New York Senate Worth Controlling?
While we wait for some clarity out of New York as to who will control the State Senate, here's a question: Is control of ...
June 11, 2009
The Absurdity in New York, Part 2
The situation in the New York Senate just keeps getting stranger. From the New York Times: ALBANY -- The coalition that joined two Democrats with 30 ...
June 11, 2009
The Absurdity in New York
If you're struggling to make sense of the Republican takeover of the New York Senate, I can help. The first thing to understand is ...
June 11, 2009
Creigh Deeds Gets "THE Call"
I'm finding Creigh Deeds' twitter feed oddly addictive. The latest: All you have to do is win a primary and the funniest things happen. ...
June 10, 2009
In Alabama, a Republican Win and a Preview of 2010
Republicans bounced back in Alabama with a big win last night for state Senate, as the Huntsville Times notes: First-time candidate Paul Sanford beat veteran ...
June 10, 2009
Miscellaneous Thoughts on the Virginia Governor's Race
I have a few more thoughts on last night's election and the one that's ahead in November in Virginia: -Besides being in a ...
June 9, 2009
VA-GOV: Slow and Steady Wins for Deeds
The Democratic primary for governor in Virginia ended up being the story of the tortoise and the hares. The hares were Terry McAuliffe and Brian ...
June 9, 2009
CA-Gov: Finessing a Fiscal Crisis
You're running for governor of California and your state faces a calamitous fiscal crisis. What do you say about it on the campaign trail? ...
June 9, 2009
Alabama Senate: Democrats Defend Their Turf Again
Another week, another competitive special election in Alabama. Last week, Democrats held an open seat on turf that leans Republican in presidential elections, but tends ...
June 8, 2009
Republicans Appear to Regain New York Senate
New York Democrats needed four decades to gain control of the New York Senate. The Republicans needed just five months to take it back. The ...
June 8, 2009
VA-Gov: Deeds Dominating?
Surprise, surprise: Public Policy Polling says that instead of a wide-open race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in Virginia, Creigh Deeds has opened a wide ...
June 5, 2009
The Reason Brian Schweitzer Endorsed Terry McAuliffe?
I try very hard not to assume that every action by every elected official is motivated by nothing more than cynical political self-interest. It's ...
June 4, 2009
The Return of Roy Barnes
Every election cycle seems to have at least one result that comes as a complete shock. In 2002, there wasn't really any question as to ...
June 4, 2009
VA-Gov: McAuliffe Leads?
SurveyUSA has an interesting new poll on next week's Democratic primary for governor of Virginia, but one that confuses as much as it clarifies: ...
June 3, 2009
In Alabama, a Surprisingly Expected Democratic Victory
Superficially, Alabama's 22nd Senate District has a distinct Republican lean. Just look at the presidential results from its eight Southwest Alabama counties. (Note: These ...
June 3, 2009
VA-GOV: Deeds Leads
Public Policy Polling has a new survey that shows Creigh Deeds surging ahead: With a week to go until the Democratic primary for Governor in ...
June 2, 2009
Legislative Specials in Alabama and New Hampshire
While the big election today is the Republican primary for governor of New Jersey, I'm also keeping my eye on special elections in Alabama ...
June 2, 2009
GA-GOV: Barnes' Decision Coming Tomorrow?
We could know very soon whether former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes, a Democrat, will attempt a comeback bid. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Jim Galloway has ...
June 2, 2009
Does Alabama Want Moore?
Roy Moore, a controversial conservative, is running for governor again, as the Birmingham News reports: MONTGOMERY -- Almost three years to the day after he ...
June 1, 2009
VA-Gov: Movement Toward Deeds?
Public Policy Polling's Tom Jensen loves to drop hints about his upcoming surveys. Here's what he wrote over the weekend about his firm'...
May 31, 2009
Mischief After Midnight
Last summer, just as the nation's credit markets were about to tighten, Gregory Schmidt received a loan from his bank under extraordinarily generous terms. His...
May 31, 2009
Past the Deadline
California, 2008 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger didn't sign the budget until 85 days after the 2009 fiscal year began, making it the latest in state history. Although state government...
May 31, 2009
Horrible Honeymoon
Sam Adams may be off to the worst start of any American politician since President William Henry Harrison. While Adams didn't catch a fatal case...
May 29, 2009
A Tougher Foe for Palin?
Eye on 2010 has the news of a new challenger for Alaska's governor: The Alaska Democrat who almost toppled Rep. Don Young last year is ...
May 28, 2009
Governor's Race Ratings: Ohio-Wyoming
Here's one final day of governor's race ratings. Ohio - Likely Democratic -- Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat, is more popular than your ...
May 27, 2009
Governor's Race Ratings: Iowa-New York
Yesterday I kicked off my latest gubernatorial ratings. Here's a second round of them. Iowa - Likely Democratic -- Remember when George W. Bush ...
May 26, 2009
Governor's Race Ratings: Alabama-Illinois
I haven't updated my gubernatorial race ratings for 2009-2010 since December (see here and here). That was so long ago that Rod Blagojevich, Janet ...
May 25, 2009
A Recall in Kansas City?
I've been more focused on the possible recall of Portland Mayor Sam Adams, but today is a key date in the attempt to recall ...
May 22, 2009
California and the All-Important B-Word
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger made one thing very clear earlier this week. From the Los Angeles Times: But Schwarzenegger acknowledged the federal government can only ...
May 21, 2009
A Slumber Party in the Nevada Senate
I'm adding Nevada to my list of states where political tensions have erupted over the budget. The Review-Journal has the details: CARSON CITY - ...
May 21, 2009
Misreading the Huntsman Pick
Lots of political analysts have described President Obama's selection of Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman as his ambassador to China as a political masterstroke -- ...
May 20, 2009
For the G.O.P., Sooner Strength
Oklahoma looks as though it really is going Republican. Public Policy Polling has numbers on the governor's race that look good for the G....
May 20, 2009
California's Misery Has Company
Scott Pattison, the executive director of the National Association of State Budget Officers, mentioned to me a few weeks ago that states have a harder ...
May 20, 2009
More of the Same in California
California voters took the therapeutic step of rejecting a series of ballot measures yesterday designed to raise taxes and control spending. In doing so, voters ...
May 19, 2009
Obama's "Finest Governors"
President Obama's taste in governors is a bit different than that of the people of California, Michigan and Massachusetts. NBC's Chuck Todd explains: ...
May 19, 2009
NV-GOV: Gibbons' Woes Continue
I think David Paterson and Jim Gibbons are having an unpopularity contest and forgot to tell anyone. Nevada's governor has staked his claim as ...
May 18, 2009
A Republican Hope in New York
Tom Golisano is out, Rudy Giuliani may be out too, so who are Republicans going to run for governor of New York next year? The ...
May 18, 2009
Unity Bounces in Virginia and New Jersey?
Here's a blast from the past: Remember, about this time last year, when we were all talking about the concept of a unity bounce? ...
May 15, 2009
Louisiana Legislature: A Job That Shouldn't Be Outsourced
The most basic job of state legislators is to vote on bills and resolutions, right? Not in Louisiana, as John Maginnis points out in his ...
May 15, 2009
In Mayoral Elections, the Status Quo Loses
You know, of course, that all politics is local. But there's a little-known corollary to that rule: All local politics is really local. If ...
May 14, 2009
Five Key Governor's Races for Congressional Redistricting
Out of one decision, we get two great elections. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist opted to run for U.S. Senate just a few days ago ...
May 13, 2009
Omaha Mayor: Suttle Victory
Democrat Jim Suttle won a small but clear victory over Republican Hal Daub, a former mayor, in the Omaha mayoral race last night. The Omaha ...
May 12, 2009
A Blast from Ballot Box's Past
Charlie Crist running for Senate? Yeah right!
May 11, 2009
Julián Castro in his Own Words
When I want to find out more about a politician, one of my favorite things to do is to watch him or her speak. Is ...
May 11, 2009
Leffingwell Surprises in Austin -- or Not
We've conclusively determined that Ballot Box commenters are better informed than the Associated Press. On Saturday, Lee Leffingwell took first place in the Austin ...
May 8, 2009
Are Unpopular Governors Doomed?
I'm not the only one who has noticed that numerous governors have seen their approval ratings plummet in recent months. Governor after governor seems ...
May 8, 2009
Schwarzenegger for a Democrat and Other Hypothetical Endorsements
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's has had a tense relationship with his fellow Republicans for years. In recent months, he's more or less been ...
May 6, 2009
Will Maine Overturn Gay Marriage at the Polls?
As the ink dries on Maine Gov. John Baldacci's signature legalizing gay marriage, it's not too soon to ask whether this law will ...
May 6, 2009
Bing and Sullivan Win
In mayoral races yesterday, Detroit opted for a businessman and basketball star who had never served in public office, while Anchorage went for a Republican ...
May 5, 2009
In California, a Prop. 8 Reprise?
California appears increasingly likely to vote again on gay marriage sooner rather than later, as ABC News reports: Same-sex marriage backers in California, anticipating a ...
May 5, 2009
In May, a Feast of Mayoral Elections
Big city mayors often are rising political stars, generally command powerful political machines and invariably make important policy decisions. The national media ignores them almost ...
May 4, 2009
Is Ted Strickland Vulnerable?
Economics recessions are bad for lots of reasons. Quite far down the list of reasons is this: They make it hard to tell which politicians ...
May 1, 2009
Poll Finds McAuliffe is Strong, But...
Just a few weeks ago, two polls in the Democratic primary for governor of Virginia showed a jumbled mess. The three candidates were tightly bunched ...
April 30, 2009
Shades of Greywater
Laura Allen is no one's idea of an unrepentant lawbreaker. But under California's state plumbing code, that's exactly what she is. Allen, a soft-spoken elementary...
April 30, 2009
Second Chance in San Antonio
For a few months in 2005, people in San Antonio were talking about Julián Castro as the Hispanic Barack Obama. The city councilman, educated at...
April 30, 2009
Three Tracks to Vegas
The federal stimulus package provides $8 billion for high-speed rail--and a lot of tough questions. As states fight for this pot of money, they'll have to...
April 30, 2009
The Power of Purple Pipes
You may have never thought about the color of your pipes. You might even think the topic is so mundane that no one could possibly...
April 30, 2009
Solace for Republicans
On Tuesday, as Arlen Specter left the Republican Party, the G.O.P. was gaining in the states. In a special election, Republicans won a ...
April 30, 2009
27,000 Reasons Arlen Specter Became a Democrat
It's pretty obvious to me why Arlen Specter left the Republican Party. He didn't stand a chance in a Republican primary against former ...
April 29, 2009
VA-Gov: Who is the Most Electable Democrat?
You'll be shocked to learn that all three Democrats who are running for governor of Virginia say they favor good jobs, public education and ...
April 28, 2009
Republican Infighting in Idaho
I had Idaho Gov. Butch Otter pigeonholed as a libertarian early in his term, but it might be more accurate to describe him as predictably ...
April 28, 2009
Where Are All the Party Switchers?
What's really striking to me, as Arlen Specter switches parties today, is how rare the occurrence has become. With Democrats gaining power in Congress ...
April 27, 2009
Charlie Crist: Soon to Become Wounded Waterfowl?
Chris Cillizza has the latest on whether Charlie Crist is looking to move to Washington: Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is expected to announce his decision ...
April 27, 2009
No Party for California Ballot Measures
Californians will vote on six ballot measures in May that many of the state's leaders say are essential to putting the state back on ...
April 27, 2009
What If Texas Were Five States?
Nate Silver has an alternative to secession that's a lot more fun.
April 24, 2009
A Blog to Keep Your Eye On
A new blog I really like: Congressional Quarterly's Eye on 2010. Yes, this is somewhat of a shameless plug of a corporate compatriot (Governing is ...
April 24, 2009
Is Gay Marriage Still a Wedge Issue?
In ways large and small, gay marriage proponents have had momentum on their side the last few weeks -- in fact, the most momentum their ...
April 23, 2009
Redistricting: Let the Speculation Begin
It's columns like this one from Steve Kornacki of PolitickerNY that get me really excited for redistricting: Every indicator suggests that, when all of ...
April 22, 2009
Why Marco Rubio Could Beat Charlie Crist
Gov. Charlie Crist is the most popular politician in Florida. The Republican appears increasingly intent on running for the state's open U.S. Senate ...
April 22, 2009
NH State Senate: Bradley Wins
The Concord Monitor reports on yesterday's special election: Former Republican congressman Jeb Bradley won election to the state Senate yesterday, bouncing back from two ...
April 21, 2009
Election Day in New Hampshire
A reminder: Today's the day of the New Hampshire state Senate special election, in which former Republican congressman Jeb Bradley tries to return to ...
April 21, 2009
My Vote Is for a Poll in Oklahoma
For a while now, Public Policy Polling has been doing something that I consider downright revolutionary for a pollster: Asking the public what races they ...
April 20, 2009
The Reason McCain Picked Palin Over Lieberman?
Is it possible that Sarah Palin was introduced to the world last fall only because of state laws in places thousands of miles from Alaska? ...
April 17, 2009
2.4 Million Texas Voters Favor Secession
You've probably heard by now that Texas Gov. Rick Perry made some controversial remarks about secession on Tax Day. Here's what he said, ...
April 17, 2009
A Winner in NY-20
After a super-close election, tense days of back-and-forth ballot counts and legal machinations, I'm prepared to declare a winner in the congressional race in ...
April 17, 2009
Are the Right Convicts Being Let Out of Jail Early?
State lawmakers from across the political spectrum are moving haltingly toward a consensus on corrections policy. Corrections costs have increased far more rapidly than the rate of inflation over the past couple of decades.
April 16, 2009
Counting the Votes for Gay Marriage in New York
Democrats hold only a 32-30 majority in the New York Senate. Four Democrats have said they won't vote to legalize gay marriage. So, the ...
April 16, 2009
In Idaho, a Small Step Toward Redistricting Reform
From the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho - The Senate voted 30-5 to require territory within Idaho's 35 legislative districts be linked by roads, when possible, ...
April 16, 2009
NH State Senate: Jeb Bradley Lowers His Sights
Another sign of the tough economic times: Jeb Bradley will be happy if he can get a job that pays a fraction of what his ...
April 15, 2009
Rod Blagojevich's New Reality
If you wanted to see Rod Blagojevich sent to a far-away jungle, your wish could soon come true. Reuters has the news: LOS ANGELES (Hollywood ...
April 15, 2009
CA-Gov: This Guy Has a Chance, I Guess
It's easy to make fun of celebrities who think they are politicians. Val Kilmer for governor of New Mexico? Holy structural budget deficit, Batman! ...
April 14, 2009
Republican Governors Back Down on the Stimulus -- or Do They?
Have Republican governors backed down in their fight against the stimulus? Politico says they have: The list of governors threatening to decline federal stimulus money ...
April 13, 2009
For Connecticut's Hamlet, to Run or Not to Run?
When it comes to running for higher office, Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut's popular five-term attorney general, often is described as being as indecisive as Hamlet. ...
April 10, 2009
Positives for Pawlenty in Senate Recount?
Politico called Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty's decision on whether to certify Al Franken as his state's newest senator a "a no-win predicament.&...
April 9, 2009
The Elections that Enabled Vermont's Veto Override
Since the Vermont legislature approved gay marriage on Tuesday, we've heard lots of discussion of whether lawmakers made the right decision. We've also ...
April 8, 2009
Omaha Mayor: Partisan Showdown Looms
Shame on me! Omaha, Nebraska held the first round of an interesting mayoral election yesterday and I haven't said a word about it until ...
April 8, 2009
Anchorage Mayor: Sullivan v. Croft
Dan Sullivan didn't quite make it past the critical 45% threshold in yesterday's Anchorage mayoral election. That means the Sarah Palin-backed Republican will have ...
April 8, 2009
For State Senate, Jindal Picks the Wrong Horse
If you were wondering whether Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is politically omnipotent in the Bayou state, we got the answer last weekend. From the Advocate: ...
April 7, 2009
Election Day in Wisconsin
If you're in the mood for some election watching this evening, but don't want to stay up for the midnight Eastern poll closing ...
April 7, 2009
Anchorage Mayor: Sullivan Strives for Forty-Five
Today, Anchorage elects a new mayor. Or, perhaps not. I sketched the general contours of the contest a few weeks ago. But, I didn't ...
April 6, 2009
Stimulus Politics Color Texas Governor's Race
The Texas governor's race already is testing what could be a key question in the 2010 elections: Just what do Republicans want to hear from ...
April 6, 2009
Tim Pawlenty's Certifiably Difficult Decision
I'd been meaning to write something about the dilemma Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is about to face with regard to his state's marathon ...
April 3, 2009
Gay Marriage in Vermont: The More We Learn, the Less We Know
The big news today is that the Iowa Supreme Court has ruled in favor of gay marriage. But, don't miss the important developments on ...
April 2, 2009
Republican Governors Split Ten Different Ways on the Stimulus
Republicans governors have been in an awkward spot for the past few months. Their states' economies are hurting and their budgets, for the most part, ...
April 2, 2009
GA-GOV: Baker Announces
The other day I wondered whether Thurbert Baker's success in Georgia elections bodes well for U.S. Rep. Artur Davis' bid for governor in ...
April 1, 2009
Doom and Gloom in California
There's something about the word "doomsday" that makes my ears perk up, even when we're just talking about fiscal doomsday, rather ...
April 1, 2009
VA-GOV: Anyone's Game
My political instincts have been telling me for a few weeks that Terry McAuliffe has been separating himself from the field in Virginia's Democratic ...
March 31, 2009
The Second Best Job in the State
Eliot Spitzer of New York styled himself a steamroller, an uncompromising politician who preferred intimidation over negotiation. Mike Beebe of Arkansas is a behind-the-scenes dealmaker...
March 31, 2009
Uneven Stimulus
The feds are dumping piles of stimulus dollars on all 50 states, but when you look behind the 11-digit numbers, some interesting disparities emerge. Through subtle...
March 31, 2009
Electoral College: Will the Popular Vote Plan Win a Majority?
The Wall Street Journal has an update on one of my favorite subjects: The ingenious and/or devious (depending on your perspective) plot by states ...
March 30, 2009
Jack Markell Versus the NFL
Politicians sometimes spend years trying to lure pro sports to their jurisidictions. Delaware Gov. Jack Markell needed only a couple of months to bring the ...
March 30, 2009
Revisited: Can Artur Davis Win White Voters?
I wrote more than a 1,000 words the other week about whether U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, an African-American Democrat, can win enough white votes to ...
March 27, 2009
Blagojevich Does Quinn a Favor
This has to be good for Pat Quinn, right? From the Daily Herald: WLS 890-AM turned its airwaves over to Rod Blagojevich for a couple ...
March 26, 2009
History Working Against Dems in 2010
Everyone knows that the president's party usually loses seats in Congress in midterm elections. But, I didn't know about the trend in gubernatorial ...
March 26, 2009
In Vermont, Clarity, or Not, on Gay Marriage
Lots has happened as Vermont lawmakers have debated gay marriage the last few days, but we still don't have much of a better idea ...
March 25, 2009
Sarah Palin's Complicated Relationship with the Stimulus
So is Sarah Palin rejecting stimulus money or not? The March 20 headline in the Anchorage Daily News seemed to make the answer pretty clear: "...
March 25, 2009
The South Targets Tobacco
State budgets always are at the heart of state politics, but even more so than usual during a recession, when legislators face vexing choices as ...
March 25, 2009
Special Win for Democrats in Connecticut
As expected, the Democrats retained the 15th District in the Connecticut House of Representatives in a special election yesterday, as the Hartford Courant reports.
March 24, 2009
WY-Gov: Dave Freudenthal's Newsworthy Indecision
When it comes to Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal, no news is news. The Democrat recently reiterated that he hasn't decided whether he'll seek ...
March 24, 2009
Special Election in Connecticut
If not for legislative special elections, I'd be suffering from a severe case of election deprivation. Today, voters in Connecticut's 15th House District ...
March 23, 2009
Spitzer: Governors Face a "Catastrophe"
Some guy named Eliot Spitzer has a Slate column arguing that it's a terrible time to be a governor: The numbers from the states ...
March 23, 2009
In Vermont, a Cloudy Forecast for a Gay Marriage Bill
The Vermont legislature began in earnest the debate over gay marriage on Friday, when a state Senate committee voted unanimously for a bill to allow ...
March 20, 2009
Palin Takes on the Stimulus
Thanks, but no thanks? Sarah Palin announced yesterday that she's rejecting a broad swath of stimulus money, as the Anchorage Daily News reports: JUNEAU ...
March 19, 2009
Artur Davis and the Reverse Bradley Effect
Most observers have concluded that the number one challenge that U.S. Rep. Artur Davis faces as he runs for governor next year is persuading ...
March 18, 2009
Slightly Good News for Jim Gibbons
Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons hasn't gotten much good news since he was elected in 2006, but he received a boost this week. Former state senator ...
March 17, 2009
Andrew Cuomo's Enviable Job
In the April issue of Governing, I'll have a story looking at attorneys general who run for governor -- whether AGs make good governors ...
March 17, 2009
Gay Marriage Debate Moves to Maine
In November I wrote more than 1,000 words about the states that might legalize gay marriage this year, but didn't even mention Maine. Whoops. Now, ...
March 16, 2009
Butch Otter's "Howl of Delight"
Never let it be said that governors don't know how to let loose. From the Washington Post: Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's decision to ...
March 16, 2009
Jon Huntsman's Centrist Strategy
The New York Times takes a look at the centrist views of Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman: In addition to leading the fight to change the ...
March 13, 2009
Jack Markell's Gamble
Earlier this week, I told you about Jan Brewer's gamble. She isn't the only new governor placing a risky bet. Delaware's Jack ...
March 13, 2009
In California, a Shriver May Strive for AG
If you thought we'd exhausted our supply of Kennedy family members to consider for elected office, think again. From the Sacramento Bee: Bobby Shriver, ...
March 13, 2009
The Curse of an Oklahoma State Senator
If you're like me, you've often wondered whether an Oklahoma state senator, Japanese baseball fans and Colonel Sanders are interconnected in some way. ...
March 12, 2009
Detroit Mayor: Cockrel, the Insider, Faces Bing, the Outsider
Detroiters face a classic choice on May 5, when they'll pick a new mayor to lead their troubled city. Do they choose the acting mayor, ...
March 11, 2009
On the Stimulus, Sanford Ups the Ante
Just as the kerfuffle had settled down over Republican governors rejecting stimulus money for unemployment benefits, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford broadened the debate. The ...
March 11, 2009
Watch Out, Nebraska
It's good to see that newspaper reporters still have a sense of humor. From the Denver Post: Lt. Gov. Barbara O'Brien's in ...
March 10, 2009
Surprise, Suprise: Californians Split on Gay Marriage
Sometimes a poll can be interesting even when its finding is completely predictable. The Sacramento Bee has latest on gay marriage in California: Four months ...
March 9, 2009
Jan Brewer's Gamble
Jan Brewer, a conservative Republican, took office as Arizona's governor a few weeks ago. The first thing she did: propose a tax increase, of ...
March 9, 2009
David Paterson's Poll Problem
posted by Josh Goodman New York Gov. David Paterson's approval rating has plummeted at an almost unbelievable pace. The development, though, says as much ...
March 6, 2009
NYC Mayor: Bloomberg Faces Early Tests
When New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg ran for reelection in 2005, the votes of nearly 1.3 million New Yorkers determined his fate. This year, five votes ...
March 5, 2009
Burlington's Thrilling Mayoral Election
You'd be hard-pressed to find a wackier election than this week's Burlington mayoral race that was conducted using instant-runoff voting. There were five ...
March 4, 2009
Democrats Face Quandary with Sebelius Not in Kansas Anymore
Strange but true: Soon, there will be four Democrats in Kansas holding statewide elected offices, but none of those people will have been elected to ...
March 4, 2009
Republican Wins Pennsylvania Special Election
The Republicans held the state Senate seat in Pennsylvania that I mentioned yesterday, as the Associated Press reports: HARRISBURG, Pa.--Republican state Rep. David Argall (...
March 3, 2009
Specials in Connecticut and Pennsylvania
More proof that it's always election day somewhere: The Republicans held on to a seat in the Connecticut House of Representatives yesterday (a Monday ...
March 2, 2009
Jon Huntsman: The G.O.P.'s New Voice of Moderation
Politico looks at the emergence of Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman as a leading moderate Republican: Largely under the radar of the national media and even ...
March 2, 2009
Anchorage Mayor: A Fifteen Candidate Free-for-All
Last year, the nation was fixated on the presidential race. Next year, Congress and 36 governorships will be up for grabs. This year, though, belongs to ...
February 28, 2009
Minneapolis Speedway
John Chiglo is looking up from the banks of the Mississippi River at a huge ivory monolith. It's the new I-35W bridge, built on...
February 27, 2009
Mapping the Gubernatorial Races
Highly recommended: Congressional Quarterly has a new interactive map that provides an overview of the 38 gubernatorial elections over the next two years. If you ever ...
February 26, 2009
TX-GOV: New Poll Shows Hutchinson Lead
Back in December, an internal poll for Kay Bailey Hutchison showed the U.S. senator ousting Texas Gov. Rick Perry 55%-31% in a 2010 Republican primary. ...
February 24, 2009
What a D.C. Vote in Congress Means for the Electoral College
Legislation to give the District of Columbia a voting representative in the U.S. House cleared a procedural hurdle in the Senate today, bringing D....
February 23, 2009
For Governors, the Era of Good Feelings Is Over
Are we sure the nation's governors, not Congress, gathered in Washington, D.C. this weekend? Ironically, the inception of the Obama administration has ushered ...
February 21, 2009
Schweitzer Jabs at Jindal
Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat, took a not-so-subtle shot at Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, a Republican, this morning at the National Governors Association winter ...
February 20, 2009
A Redeem Team for Texas Democrats?
Will Texas Democrats bring back the Dream Team? Back in 2002, Texas Democrats thought they had a great strategy. No, it wasn't to run Michael ...
February 19, 2009
Six Governors Consider Rejecting Stimulus Funds
The other day I mused about South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford rejecting money in the federal stimulus package. He's not alone, as the Associated ...
February 19, 2009
Indiana Rejects Local Government Consolidation
I wrote a story last fall that centered on the question of whether state governments can force local governments to consolidate. We're starting to get the answer -- and it isn't surprising
February 18, 2009
Crist for Senate Looks More Likely
I recently argued that Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is unlikely to run for the Senate in 2010. Given my record with predictions, it should come as ...
February 17, 2009
Will Freudenthal Pull a Bloomberg?
The Washington Post has the scoop on talk that Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal will seek to overturn his state's term limits law: It now ...
February 16, 2009
Should Mark Sanford Reject the Stimulus Money?
Paul Begala picks a fight with South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford on CNN.com: If Republican politicians are so deeply opposed to President Obama's ...
February 13, 2009
Are State Legislators to Blame for Washington's Partisanship?
After a fitful, month-long rise from the grave, bipartisanship in Washington has once again been pronounced dead (on Friday the 13th, no less). Democrats say ...
February 12, 2009
The G.O.P. Stimulus Divide
Congress includes 219 Republicans. To date, three of them have supported the stimulus. Perhaps that number will change when the House and Senate vote on the ...
February 11, 2009
Ernie Fletcher: Still Kentucky Dems' Secret Weapon?
Kentucky Republicans thought they were done with Ernie Fletcher when he was walloped in his 2007 reelection bid. But yesterday he may have cost the G....
February 10, 2009
MI-GOV: A Field of 25
I noted last week that everyone seems to want to run for governor. I was remiss not to mention Michigan. Congressional Quarterly looked at the ...
February 10, 2009
Renegade Speaker Booted from the Tennessee G.O.P.
Almost never does an election for a single legislative seat warrant a mention more than a year before the voting takes place. Almost never, though, ...
February 9, 2009
John Chiang: California's New Political Player
The California Democratic Party has a lot of power. What it doesn't have is a lot of youth. That's true of the state'...
February 9, 2009
TX-GOV: Palin Favors Perry
Sarah Palin sure knows how to make news, doesn't she? The Alaska governor created headlines again last week when she announced she's supporting ...
February 6, 2009
Governor Ramsey of Tennessee?
Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen is a rumored candidate for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. If Bredesen is picked, a Republican, Ron ...
February 6, 2009
Bill Richardson's Problems Hit Home
SurveyUSA has polled New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's approval rating on a monthly basis (with a couple of exceptions) since May 2005. Every month, more ...
February 5, 2009
VA-Gov: No Frontrunner for the Dems
By electing Barack Obama president, voters proved that they're willing to support a candidate with (as Obama put it himself) a funny name. Perhaps, ...
February 4, 2009
Crist for Senate?
The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza has some more details on the talk that Florida Gov. Charlie Crist may run for an open Senate seat ...
February 3, 2009
In Virginia, a Test of Democratic Gains
Democrats control the presidency, both houses of Congress, a majority of governorships, most state legislatures and, I'm guessing, most of the nation's offices ...
February 2, 2009
2010: A Great Time to Run for Governor?
Everyone, it seems, wants to run for governor. A few examples from the past few weeks: * Doug Racine, a Democratic state senator and former lieutenant ...
February 1, 2009
Radical Renewal
At the Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis, you can pick up a gyro from Holy Land Grocery or, if you prefer, sushi and bubble tea...
January 31, 2009
The Skyways: The Limit?
There's something odd about Camille's Sidewalk Café at 150 S. 5th Street in Minneapolis: It isn't anywhere near the sidewalk. Instead, Camille's is on the second...
January 30, 2009
Blagojevich: A Governor Who Wasn't Fit to Serve
Commenter Bob Stovall offers another thoughtful take on impeachment: This is an interesting debate about impeachment, and I think that most of the original piece ...
January 30, 2009
The RNC Race and Presidential Calendar
The Republican National Committee is voting on a new chairman as we speak (or, if you want to get technical, as I write). After three ...
January 30, 2009
The Truth About Impeachment
Commenter Dave Thomas offered this interesting response to my post on whether Governor Rod Blagojevich's trial was fair: Impeachment is the revolting process of ...
January 29, 2009
Was It Fair to Remove Blagojevich from Office?
It's the question no one really wants to dwell on too much: Did Rod Blagojevich get a raw deal? At this point, virtually everyone ...
January 29, 2009
Pat Quinn: A Gadfly Becomes Governor
Who is Pat Quinn? CBS in Chicago has this to say about Illinois' new governor: Quinn would have the most unusual political pedigree of any ...
January 29, 2009
An End Game for D.C. Representation in Congress
Richard Hasen makes an intriguing argument over at Slate. Congress should approve legislation to give Washington, D.C. congressional representation, even though it's probably ...
January 28, 2009
Arkansas Moves Toward Later Presidential Primary
Three cheers for the Arkansas House of Representatives! The Associated Press has the news: LITTLE ROCK (AP) -- The Arkansas House of Representatives voted unanimously ...
January 27, 2009
Blagojevich's Motives Revealed
The Onion has the scoop: "Blagojevich Claims Behavior Was Just Elaborate Plan To Surprise Patrick Fitzgerald With Senate Nomination On His Birthday."
January 27, 2009
Nebraska Sticks with Electoral Vote System, for Now
After Barack Obama won one of Nebraska's electoral votes despite losing the state 57%-42%, Republicans in Nebraska talked a lot about amending their system ...
January 26, 2009
Pessimism About Paterson
From listening to some of the coverage, you'd think that David Paterson had appointed Rod Blagojevich to the Senate. From the New York Daily ...
January 26, 2009
David Paterson's "Dizzy Mix of Ingratiation and Trickeration"
What really happened with that Senate appointment in New York? New York Magazine reconstructs the story -- or at least tries to: Yet in two ...
January 23, 2009
Will Pat Quinn be a Lame Duck?
As Rod Blagojevich's impeachment trial heads for what appears to be a predetermined conclusion, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn will soon be the governor of ...
January 23, 2009
The Sam Adams Scandal: What Is a Fireable Offense?
Mayor Sam Adams of Portland, Oregon, is having perhaps the worst first month in office of any American politician since William Henry Harrison. His sex ...
January 22, 2009
MD-Gov: Is Bob Ehrlich Running?
Former Maryland Gov. Bob Ehrlich has been mulling a rematch ever since Martin O'Malley thwarted his reelection bid in 2006. To win, he'll need ...
January 22, 2009
Charlie Crist for Senate and Other Unlikely Ideas
We're just at the beginning of a new political biennium, which is a wonderfully fanciful period in the election season. With November of 2010 a ...
January 21, 2009
For Nevada, Are Two Reids Too Many?
Fundraising figures indicate that there are two very serious Democratic candidates for governor of Nevada, as the Review-Journal reports: Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, ...
January 21, 2009
Paterson's Senate Choice
At long last, New York Governor David Paterson has announced his choice for U.S. Senate, as NBC reports: I have reached a decision. I ...
January 20, 2009
Arizona's New Governor
Janet Napolitano has been confirmed as secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. That means that Napolitano, a Democrat, will be replaced as ...
January 19, 2009
NJ-GOV: Two Takes on Corzine v. Christie
The polls in the New Jersey governor's race show incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine with, at best, a very narrow advantage over Chris Christie, his ...
January 16, 2009
The Return of Rick Lazio?
An old friend from elections of yesteryear may be making a run for the New York governorship in 2010. From the New York Times: Former Representative ...
January 16, 2009
The California Budget: Yikes
When it comes to California's budget situation, no matter how bad you think things are, they're probably worse. The Mercury News puts a $40 ...
January 15, 2009
Askins Declares in Oklahoma
Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Jari Askins is askin' to be the next governor of Oklahoma. Sorry, I couldn't resist. From the Norman Transcript: OKLAHOMA CITY ...
January 15, 2009
A Gas Tax Increase in Idaho?
I did a double take this morning: Butch Otter, Idaho's Republican governor, is proposing a gas tax increase. He's facing resistance in the ...
January 14, 2009
A Four-Year Term for New Hampshire Governors?
New Hampshire and Vermont are the two states that still only grant governors two-year terms. Will New Hampshire leave Vermont on its own? From Seacoast ...
January 14, 2009
Contrasting Takes on the Minnesota Recount
When it comes to the Minnesota Senate recount, it seems the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post are each entitled to their own set ...
January 13, 2009
Bloomberg to Run as a Republican?
Is America's leading political chameleon about to change colors again? From the New York Post: Mayor Bloomberg has begun reaching out to city Republican ...
January 12, 2009
Blagojevich and the Politics of Surviving a Scandal
Here's my theory of political scandals: How long a politician survives in office -- or even whether or not he or she survives at ...
January 9, 2009
Which Party Runs State Government?
With a pair of new governors coming to power and new state legislators across the country taking office, now seems like a good time to ...
January 8, 2009
Palin Has An Opponent
The nation's most famous hockey mom has a challenger, as the Anchorage Daily News reports: Bob Poe says he is running for governor as ...
January 7, 2009
Seattle Mayor: Is Greg Nickels in Trouble?
SurveyUSA has some ghastly approval numbers for Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels as he gears up for a run for a third term this year. Only 28% ...
January 6, 2009
Why Everyone Is Running for Governor of Tennessee
It looks like the Tennessee governor's race is about to get wild. Here's what the Memphis Commercial Appeal said in an editorial: Who ...
January 6, 2009
A Busy Week of Gubernatorial News
Loyal Ballot Box readers will agree that I can get a little long-winded. In fact, I wrote 2,270 words previewing the 2009-2010 governor's races just ...
January 5, 2009
Bill Ritter's Curious Choice
Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter's decision to appoint Michael Bennet, the superintendent of the Denver school system, to the U.S. Senate was met with ...
January 5, 2009
Recount: How Did Minnesota Do?
Today, the Minnesota Canvassing Board is expected to certify Al Franken as the winner of the state's marathon U.S. Senate recount. While legal ...
January 2, 2009
Card Check Fight Coming to the States
If you follow Congress, you probably know that the preeminent business-labor fault line right now is the rather obscure question of whether workers should be ...
December 31, 2008
Issues to Watch
The nation's political map has turned blue, but state budgets have gone decidedly into the red. The Democrats enjoy a more than 850-seat edge in...
December 31, 2008
Blagojevich's Survival Strategy
Dan Conley has an interesting theory about how Rod Blagojevich may be trying to use the appointment of Roland Burris to stave off impeachment: But ...
December 30, 2008
Why Did Burris Accept Blagojevich's Offer?
It's no mystery why Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich would want to appoint Roland Burris to Illinois' vacant Senate seat. By offering the job to ...
December 30, 2008
Can Blagojevich's Appointment Be Blocked?
Lots of people are mad that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, while under a cloud of scandal, would try to appoint Roland Burris to the U....
December 30, 2008
Blagojevich: Burris is "good and honest man"
If you just watched Rod Blagojevich's press conference to announce Roland Burris' appointment to the U.S. Senate, I'm sure you'll agree ...
December 30, 2008
Blagojevich Picks Burris for Senate
In the Christmas spirit, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has given a gift to political junkies everywhere. Blagojevich has named an appointment to the U.S. ...
December 26, 2008
Rendell Admits to Booing Santa Claus
I was in a restaurant in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport yesterday when who should appear on ESPN but Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell. State ...
December 24, 2008
McCain: Governors Are the G.O.P.'s Future
This is from a couple of weeks ago, but I thought it was so unimportant that I had to comment on it. John McCain declined ...
December 23, 2008
Rating the Governor's Races, Nebraska-Wyoming
I started on my 2009-2010 gubernatorial race ratings yesterday. Here are the second half of them. Nebraska - Likely Republican -- Without any national attention, ...
December 22, 2008
Rating the Governor's Races, Alabama-Minnesota
For Republicans still smarting from November's elections, I've got some good news: My projections indicate that after the 2010 elections the G.O.P ...
December 19, 2008
In 2010, a Repeat of the Wacky 2002 Elections?
Finally, with the presidential race behind us, it's time to start talking about the 2010 governor's races. The first question: Will the results be ...
December 18, 2008
The Case for Appointments Over Special Elections
I, among many others, wondered in light of the Blagojevich scandal why we don't simply use special elections to fill all U.S. Senate ...
December 17, 2008
The Bell Tolls for Chris Bell?
Republican Joan Huffman defeated Democrat Chris Bell in the Texas state Senate special election that I mentioned yesterday. Huffman's comfortable margin was a surprise (...
December 17, 2008
Minnesota Recount Fun
Let me be just the latest to say the live video of the Minnesota Canvassing Board judging challenges in the Coleman-Franken Senate race is amazingly ...
December 16, 2008
A Very Special Texas Election
For anyone out there suffering from election deprivation, we have a vote today in Texas. Republican Joan Huffman and Democrat Chris Bell will square off ...
December 16, 2008
GOP's Chances Brighten in Texas Governor's Race
Will any high-profile Democrat run for governor of Texas in 2010? First, former state comptroller John Sharp announced that he's running for U.S. Senate. ...
December 15, 2008
Jindal Says He's Not Running in 2012, But...
Big news in the 2012 presidential race last week: Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal isn't running for president. That reminds me of a similar pledge from ...
December 12, 2008
Silent Treatment Between Quinn and Blagojevich
I guess at this point I should no longer be surprised by anything related to Rod Blagojevich, but this line in this morning's Washington ...
December 11, 2008
Seeing Red in Oklahoma?
NPR ran a piece this weekend in which host Scott Simon called Oklahoma "the most Republican state in the Union" and then asked ...
December 10, 2008
Who Will Republicans Run for Governor of Illinois?
For months, there's been speculation about the 2010 Illinois governor's race, but almost all of it has been on the Democratic side. I made ...
December 10, 2008
The Blagojevich Front Pages
As a print journalist, I'm always looking for reasons to justify the existence of print journalism. One of the best, in my opinion, is ...
December 9, 2008
Greenblatt Chats on Blagojevich
For those of you who can't get enough Rod Blagojevich, Ballot Box's own Alan Greenblatt conducted a live chat on washingtonpost.com about ...
December 9, 2008
Blagojevich's Arrest and the 2010 Illinois Governor's Race
Even before today's events, the 2010 Illinois governor's race was already one of the most intriguing and uncertain in the country. That's still ...
December 9, 2008
Blagojevich Won't Get to Name a Senator After All?
Dick Durbin, for now Illinois' only U.S. senator, is floating the idea of holding a special election to fill Illinois' vacant Senate seat. The ...
December 9, 2008
If Blagojevich Was Selling a Senate Seat, Who Was Buying?
Federal prosecutors say that before Gov. Rod Blagojevich named a U.S. senator to President-Elect Barack Obama's now-vacant seat, he wanted to get something ...
December 9, 2008
Blagojevich: Now What?
Quick thoughts (and questions) on the arrest of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich: -Will anyone want to be named the new Illinois U.S. senator now? ...
December 8, 2008
Mitch Daniels Cautiously Optimistic About Obama
A number of times over the past eight years, governors have been broadly bipartisan (or even nearly unanimous) in their opposition to Bush administration policies. ...
December 8, 2008
Is Now the Time for Gas Tax Increases?
Only one state approved a gas tax increase this year. That was Minnesota, where the 35W bridge collapse created a special urgency around infrastructure spending ...
December 5, 2008
A Commentary on the Newspaper Industry?
I found this article in the New Hampshire Union Leader oddly amusing: A feud between state Republican Chairman Fergus Cullen and conservative activist and state ...
December 3, 2008
Richardson's Departure Is Democrats' Gain
The nomination of Gov. Janet Napolitano as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security was a blow to Arizona Democrats. But, when Gov. Bill Richardson ...
December 2, 2008
Arizona Mulls a Lieutenant Governorship
With Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano accepting Barack Obama's offer to become secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Secretary of State Jan Brewer will ...
December 1, 2008
Mark Sanford Leads the Stimulus Opposition
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford is proving once again that he deserves the title as America's most contrarian governor. From Stateline.org: Now, the ...
December 1, 2008
Granholm for Labor Secretary?
The Washington Post mentions Michigan's governor as a candidate to head the Department of Labor: What she offers: Granholm has grappled with many of ...
November 30, 2008
The Coverage Connection
Two years ago, when Massachusetts legislators began debating near-universal health insurance, a lot of smart people helped them craft the package. And all of these...
November 26, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!
Ballot Box will be enjoying a long weekend off. We'll be back on Monday.
November 26, 2008
Bobby Jindal's New Test
Conservatives are hailing Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal as a Republican Barack Obama -- their own brilliant, youthful star who will be ready for the national ...
November 25, 2008
As Utah Goes, So Goes Idaho
When I wrote a post last week identifying Iowa as the new bellwether state in presidential voting, a commenter asked what the worst bellwether state ...
November 24, 2008
Why Can't We Vote Online?
During the Democratic presidential primaries, I was reckless enough to suggest that Michigan and Florida consider conducting new votes online, to replace their unsanctioned primaries. ...
November 21, 2008
Why Janet Napolitano Might Leave Arizona
Janet Napolitano is the popular governor of Arizona. Why would she consider giving up such a sweet gig to head the U.S. Department of ...
November 21, 2008
The Joys of a Recount
Minnesota Public Radio has posted some of the disputed ballots from the recount of the spandex-tight U.S. Senate Race in Minnesota. These are great ...
November 20, 2008
The States that Could Legalize Gay Marriage in 2009
As a result of Prop. 8, California has, quite understandably, become the focal point of the gay marriage debate. But, while the legal drama unfolds in ...
November 19, 2008
Move Over Missouri, Iowa Is the New Bellwether State
There's some hand-wringing going on in Missouri right now. Unless Barack Obama improbably rallies to win the Show-Me State when provisional ballots are tallied, ...
November 18, 2008
Gavin Newsom for Governor: Over Before It Starts?
I'm sure I'm not the first person to point this out -- I'm probably not among the first hundred -- but doesn'...
November 17, 2008
Nebraska's Electoral Vote Split: One and Done?
By splitting its electoral votes for the first time this year, Nebraska made history. By 2012, the system that made the split possible could be history. ...
November 14, 2008
A Theme for the Republican Party
As the G.O.P. tries to figure out why it lost so much ground in 2006 and 2008, Republicans have pretty much narrowed it down to ...
November 13, 2008
Was Palin's Task Impossible?
Since the election, we've now had a few days of recriminations against Sarah Palin and a few days of Palin fighting back. Palin's ...
November 12, 2008
Republicans Hold the Texas House by 20 Votes
No, Republicans don't have a 20-seat majority in the Texas House of Representatives. Their majority is actually 76-74. Republicans have a 20-vote majority -- 20 ...
November 11, 2008
Sarah Palin's New Nemesis?
In late 2006 a "working group" of Democrats and Republicans formed a bipartisan majority in the Alaska Senate, selecting Republican Sen. Lyda Green as ...
November 10, 2008
Career Advice: Don't Become a State Legislator for the Pay
The salaries of state legislators in Arizona have stayed the same for a decade: $24,000 a year. A bipartisan commission placed a proposal on last Tuesday'...
November 7, 2008
The Fastest Growing Counties Stay Republican, But Does It Matter?
If there's one statistic I remember hearing over and over after the 2004 presidential election, it's this: Bush won 97 of the 100 fastest growing counties ...
November 6, 2008
Polling on the 2012 Presidential Race!
See here. Admit it, you cl icked on the link.
November 6, 2008
Colorado's Affirmative Action Surprise
If there were two ballot measures I felt completely sure would pass on Tuesday, they were the bans on public-sector affirmative action in Nebraska and ...
November 5, 2008
History in New Hampshire
The Thicket reports another historic first: The New Hampshire Senate has become the first legislative chamber ever to have a majority of women members. Thirteen ...
November 4, 2008
The Night in Ballot Measures (Updated)
Social issues may have taken a back seat in the presidential race this year, but not on state ballots -- where South Dakotans rejected a ...
November 4, 2008
Will California Approve Non-Partisan Legislative Redistricting?
So far, the proposal has a 53%-47% edge. This could really shake up the California legislature.
November 4, 2008
VT-GOV: Douglas Wins
Talk about a survivor: Jim Douglas, the Republican governor Vermont, has won reelection. Every two years, Douglas has to deal with an overwhelmingly Democratic electorate ...
November 4, 2008
MT-GOV: Schweitzer Wins
I think we missed this one in all of the hoopla. Democrat Brian Schweitzer has been reelected governor of Montana as expected. Schweitzer has become ...
November 4, 2008
South Dakota Abortion Ban Fails
CNN says the South Dakota abortion ban has failed. This is the second time in three years an abortion ban has failed in South Dakota (...
November 4, 2008
WA-GOV: Gregoire Leads
Surprisingly quick vote counting in Washington state: Gov. Christine Gregoire leads her Republican challenger, Dino Rossi, 52%-48% with 30% of precincts reporting.
November 4, 2008
New York State Senate: Democrats Seem Likely to Take Majority
The New York Senate, which has been in Republican hands for decades, appears to be going to the Democrats, according to the New York Times. ...
November 4, 2008
Arizona Votes to Ban Gay Marriage
Arizona became the first state to reject a gay marriage in 2006. This year, the story is different. A scaled-back version has passed, according to CNN (...
November 4, 2008
WA-GOV: Exit Polls Look Strong for Gregoire
Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire leads among men (49%-47%) and among women (54%-43%) in the exit poll, according to CNN. It would be a pretty big ...
November 4, 2008
South Dakota: Abortion Ban Trails
It doesn't look like the challenge to Roe v. Wade will happen in South Dakota. Right now, the ballot measure to ban abortion is ...
November 4, 2008
California Gay Marriage Trails Narrowly in Exit Polls
The exits are in on Prop. 8. The measure to ban gay marriage gets 48% of the vote from men and 47% of the vote from women. If ...
November 4, 2008
NC-GOV: Perdue Wins
Democrat Bev Perdue has won the North Carolina governor's race according to NBC. This is a really impressive win for Perdue, who is North ...
November 4, 2008
Waiting for 11:00
There's a pretty good chance Obama will be announced as the next president in 15 minutes. But, I'll also be interested in checking the ...
November 4, 2008
Massachusetts and Michigan: A Good Night for Marijuana
Wow, that's an alliterative headline! Massachusetts has voted to decriminalize possessing small amounts of marijuana. Michigan has voted for medical marijuana.
November 4, 2008
Florida: Gay Marriage Ban Narrowly Ahead
posted by Josh Goodman With two-thirds of precincts reporting, the gay marriage ban in Florida is getting 62% -- just more than the 60% it needs.
November 4, 2008
Maryland Gambling on Slots?
A ballot measure to legalize slot-machine gambling in Maryland is taking 59% with about a third of the vote in -- that matches the exit poll ...
November 4, 2008
NC-GOV: Perdue Looking Strong
Earlier in the night, Democrat Bev Perdue was running behind Barack Obama. No longer. She's now up 51-46% with 70% of precincts in. Obama is ...
November 4, 2008
Arkansas: Another Tight Gay Rights Vote
Arkansas is voting on a ballot measure that forbids unmarried couples, including gay couples, from adopting children or serving as foster parents. Arkansas is a ...
November 4, 2008
Why Turnout Won't Be Depressed on the West Coast
We can tell which way the presidential race is headed. Several of the networks, including CBS, NBC and CNN, have called Ohio for Barack Obama. ...
November 4, 2008
DE-GOV: Markell Wins
This was an open-seat race, but you wouldn't know it from the results. Democrat Jack Markell has been called by CNN as the winner ...
November 4, 2008
Massachusetts Rejects Income Tax Repeal
This could have been a huge deal had it passed. Massachusetts voted on a ballot measure to eliminate its state income tax. Massachusetts gets about 40% ...
November 4, 2008
NC-GOV: Perdue the Weakest Democratic Link?
So far, it's good news for all of the Democrats in North Carolina. Kay Hagen (just called the winner on CNN) has 54% in the ...
November 4, 2008
NH-GOV: Lynch Wins
posted Josh Goodman A major call in New Hampshire! No, no, not the presidential race. Gov. John Lynch has won reelection, as CNN reports. Lynch ...
November 4, 2008
FL Gay Marriage: Very, Very Close
While California has gotten most of the attention for its gay marriage ballot measure (with good reason), Florida has a really interesting vote too. The ...
November 4, 2008
WV-GOV: Manchin Wins
The Charleston Gazette reports that West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, a Democrat, has won reelection. Manchin is exactly the type of Democrat that wins in ...
November 4, 2008
Presidential: Intrade Has Obama at 92%
We're starting to get real numbers and Intrade, the political betting site, still has Barack Obama about where he was this morning: with a 92% ...
November 4, 2008
NC-GOV: Very Close
With polls closed in North Carolina, we have the official first exit poll (from CNN) for the governor's race. Democrat Bev Perdue leads 53%-43% ...
November 4, 2008
Indiana Gov: Daniels a National Political Figure?
To get a call this early, Mitch Daniels has clearly won a comfortable victory in what might be a tough night for Republicans (or might ...
November 4, 2008
VT-GOV: Will Douglas Hit 50?
I'm an opponent of early exit polls, but, once the polls close, I'm fully in favor of them. The results for the Vermont ...
November 4, 2008
Indiana Governor: Daniels Wins
Just saw it on the bottom of CNN: Mitch Daniels has been reelected. At one point, this was a real target for Democrats, but Daniels ...
November 4, 2008
VA-President: An Early Call?
A lot of people have talked about an early call for Obama in Virginia. I just don't see it (although I'm studiously avoiding ...
November 4, 2008
Indiana Governor: Really Early Numbers
Via CNN: With about 1% of precincts reporting, Obama has 55% of the vote and Jill Long Thompson has 48% in Indiana. That gap may be slightly smaller ...
November 4, 2008
Indiana: Down the Ballot
Pre-election polls have indicated close races for attorney general and superintendent of public instruction in Indiana. With so much else going on, we're going ...
November 4, 2008
Indiana: Daniels-Obama Voters?
Good evening and welcome! A first thought on Indiana: One of the big questions is how many voters will support Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels and ...
November 4, 2008
Big Ballot Measure Roundup
So many ballot measures, so little time! With only a few hours before votes start getting counted, I still haven't covered every ballot measure ...
November 4, 2008
Avoiding the Exit Polls
Nate Silver makes the case that we should ignore the exit polls. Mark Blumenthal of pollster.com makes a somewhat different argument: Ignore the exit ...
November 3, 2008
WA-GOV and NC-GOV: Final Ratings
I believe in going out on a limb -- even at the risk of plummeting to the ground and ending up with lump on my ...
November 3, 2008
Stem Cell Research: On the Ballot in One State Only
Peter Beinart argues in this morning's Washington Post that the culture wars are coming to a close. Some of the strongest evidence for his ...
November 3, 2008
Will the Golden State Go Green?
I've added a couple of environment-related initiatives in California to the ballot measure guide. Here's what I've added: Issue: Prop. 7, which (among ...
November 2, 2008
Counties to Watch Guide
Over the past week, I've been going over the counties to watch in the highest profile state races. Here are links to my five ...
November 1, 2008
Healthy Debates on the Ballot
As I covered a few weeks ago, Massachusetts is voting on whether to repeal the state income tax. What I didn't mention? The vote ...
October 31, 2008
Attempted Merger
Leon Duff retired as a Maine school superintendent in 2001, but not for good. In the seven years since, he's been called back into school administration...
October 31, 2008
Sign of the Apocalypse
You can now bet on the 2012 presidential election on Intrade.
October 31, 2008
Arizona Gay Marriage Ban: The Counties to Watch
I'll make this short and sweet. Arizona voted on a ballot measure to ban gay marriage in 2006. It failed (the first time that's ...
October 31, 2008
Correction of the Day
From Politico : CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story conflated two non-existent audio tapes of Michelle Obama.
October 31, 2008
California's Gay Marriage Ban: The Counties to Watch
As we get ready for California to vote on a closely watch ballot measure to prohibit gay marriage, it may be helpful to look back ...
October 30, 2008
Could Obama Kill the California Gay Marriage Ban?
Barack Obama opposes Proposition 8 in California, which would ban gay marriage. But, other than announce his opposition, he hasn't been actively involved in the ...
October 30, 2008
NC-GOV: The Counties to Watch
I've spent the last 24 hours pondering how I'll figure out which counties to watch on election night in the North Carolina governor's ...
October 30, 2008
Governors Galore!
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention all of the governors who showed up in Barack Obama's half-hour infomercial last night: Kansas' ...
October 29, 2008
Oregon's Education Showdowns
Oregon has a couple of interesting education-related measures on the ballot this year. Here are the details, which I've added to the ballot measure ...
October 29, 2008
South Dakota Votes on Term Limits
Since I know you love South Dakota ballot measures as much as I do, here's a quick addition to Governing's ballot measure guide: ...
October 29, 2008
South Dakota Abortion Ban: The Counties to Watch
When South Dakota voted on a ballot measure to ban abortion two years ago, it fell short, receiving 44.7% of the vote. This year, South Dakotans ...
October 29, 2008
The Texas House Tantalizes Democrats
If Democrats are looking for a cherry on their election night sundae, they may find it in Texas. The Republicans are clinging to a 79-71 ...
October 28, 2008
Voting by Mail in Action
SurveyUSA released a poll of Oregon yesterday that gave Obama a large lead (not very surprising) and Democratic Senate challenger Jeff Merkley a moderate-sized lead (...
October 28, 2008
WA-GOV: The Counties to Watch
You've probably been in this position before. It's election night and with 30%, 40%, 50% of precincts reporting, the race you're watching is close. But, ...
October 27, 2008
South Dakota Abortion Ban: A Dead Heat
New poll number one on South Dakota's ballot measure that would ban abortion in most cases: 44% in favor, 44% opposed. New poll number two on ...