Governor News & Analysis

Kansas Governor: What’s the Matter with Brownback?

by Nathan L. Gonzales January 31, 2014 · 2:58 PM EST

Is Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback at risk of losing re-election in a state Mitt Romney carried with 60 percent? An automated poll showing the GOP governor behind, a Democratic challenger who raised a million dollars, and a group of moderate Republicans threatening to oppose Brownback have some people calling…

You Can’t Make This Stuff Up — and It’s Only January

by Stuart Rothenberg January 29, 2014 · 10:13 AM EST

Sometimes, it’s difficult to tell the difference between a real news story and something from The Onion.

Earlier reports that entertainer Clay Aiken was considering a run for the Democratic nomination in North Carolina’s 2nd District have been overtaken by new stories about the singer “putting together a…

Is Arkansas Really the Land of Opportunity for Democrats?

by Stuart Rothenberg December 18, 2013 · 3:33 PM EST

When we think of political battlegrounds, states like Ohio and Florida come to mind. But every so often, a small state becomes a partisan political battleground.

This cycle, that’s Arkansas — about as unlikely a state as you might imagine.

While Democrats see Arkansas as a place…

If Linda Lingle Could, Why Can’t Wendy Davis?

by Stuart Rothenberg December 3, 2013 · 9:36 AM EST

As longtime readers of this column know, voters in one-party states sometimes elect the nominee of the “wrong” party as governor. Today’s question is whether state Sen. Wendy Davis, a Democrat, has a fighting chance to win next year’s gubernatorial election in Texas, which remains a rock-solid Republican state.

Why Most Postmortems of Virginia’s Gubernatorial Race Are Wrong

by Stuart Rothenberg November 14, 2013 · 9:56 AM EST

The dust has settled (mostly) from last week’s elections, so I thought it time to present a very different assessment of what happened in Virginia than the snapshot I’ve seen from others.

For example, Democracy Corps and Women’s Voices, Women Vote Action Fund distributed a wholly self-serving…

Victory Is in the Eye of the Beholder in New Jersey, Virginia and Alabama

by Stuart Rothenberg November 8, 2013 · 9:51 AM EST

Tuesday’s election results offer something for everyone.

Democrats can look at Virginia and conclude that Republican “extremism” on social issues like abortion, contraception and guns, combined with the deep divisions that appeared in the Alabama 1st District GOP primary results, continue to offer them opportunities for 2014 and…

Republican Governors Run Against Democrats, Republicans in Washington

by Nathan L. Gonzales October 25, 2013 · 3:00 PM EDT

Republican governors across the country are running two campaigns: one against Democratic challengers in their states and a second against Republicans in Congress.

With the national GOP brand at historic lows and some Republicans in the House and Senate doing everything they can to drive the party’s negatives…

2014 Gubernatorial Overview (October 25, 2013) Alabama - Illinois

October 25, 2013 · 2:59 PM EDT

ALABAMA -- Robert Bentley (R), elected 2010 (58%). April 4 filing deadline, June 3 primary, July 15 runoff.
Former Morgan County Commissioner/state correctional officer Stacy George is challenging Bentley in the primary, but it doesn’t look like the governor has too much to worry about at this stage.…

2014 Gubernatorial Overview (October 25, 2013) Iowa - New Mexico

October 25, 2013 · 2:58 PM EDT

IOWA -- Terry Branstad (R), elected 2010 (53%); elected 1982 (53%), 1986 (52%), 1990 (61%) and 1994 (57%). March 14 filing deadline, June 3 primary.
Democrats believe Branstad is vulnerable, but this might not end being much of a race next year. State party chairman/state Rep. Tyler Olsen…

2014 Gubernatorial Overview (October 25, 2013) New York - Wyoming

October 25, 2013 · 2:57 PM EDT

NEW YORK -- Andrew Cuomo (D), elected 2010 (63%). April 24 filing deadline, June 24 primary.
Republicans don’t even have a warm body to run against Andrew Cuomo right now. But even if they did, it probably wouldn’t matter much. The governor can start his presidential run. Currently…