Governor News & Analysis

Virginia Governor: Warts and All

by Jessica Taylor December 14, 2012 · 3:00 PM EST

After an election cycle that saw tens of thousands of television ads and millions of dollars of candidate spending in the Old Dominion, the worst may be yet to come for Virginia voters.

Off-year gubernatorial contests in the commonwealth have been nasty, brutish, and yes, short, in the…

New Jersey Governor: The Rising

by Nathan L. Gonzales December 14, 2012 · 2:59 PM EST

Four years ago, Chris Christie became the first Republican to get elected governor of the Garden State in a decade, but he failed to reach 49 percent against an unpopular incumbent. Next year, the governor could win re-election, but it might it be considered a wind-aided victory from Hurricane…

One-Page Election Night Guide

by Nathan L. Gonzales November 3, 2012 · 4:55 PM EDT

In order to ease your Election Night experience, we've put together a 1-page, downloadable Election Night Guide with our House, Senate, and Gubernatorial ratings. Just click here for the document. Keep in mind, these are our ratings as of Nov. 2, and check back over the weekend and…

Republicans Set to Take Ground in Gubernatorial Races (Gubernatorial Overview, November 2, 2012)

November 2, 2012 · 3:27 PM EDT

This cycle, just 11 states are voting for a chief executive and just three of those states (Montana, New Hampshire, and Washington) are coming down to the wire. Incumbent Democrats not seeking re-election in all three states.. 

Republicans are already poised to win North Carolina, where former Charlotte…

Gubernatorial Races Take Back Seat to Federal Contests (Gubernatorial Overview, September 28, 2012)

September 28, 2012 · 1:57 PM EDT

Gubernatorial contests are few (just 11 states will elect a governor in November) and remarkably static. Even though some of these races have been going for months, there hasn’t been a lot of fundamental movement.

Open seat contests in Montana and New Hampshire look like two of the…

Democrats Rejoice, But Tough Race Ahead for McCaskill

by Jessica Taylor August 8, 2012 · 10:13 AM EDT

Claire McCaskill (D) remains the Senate’s most endangered incumbent, but the Missouri Democrat’s prospects appear to have improved slightly on Tuesday after learning she’ll face Rep. Todd Akin (R) in the fall.

Akin’s come-from-behind win seemed unlikely only months ago, though Republicans never had a particularly strong field…

Gubernatorial Primaries: Four States Choose Nominees

May 9, 2012 · 12:57 PM EDT

Voters in all four states chose nominees for governor last night, but the most competitive general election will likely take place next month in Wisconsin.

Last night, Democrats in the Badger State chose Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett to be their nominee against Gov. Scott Walker (R) in the…

McKenna (R) Takes Issue with Santorum’s ‘Snob’ Remark

February 28, 2012 · 2:57 PM EST

In the middle of trying to win back Washington State’s governorship for the GOP for the first time in 30 years, state Attorney General Rob McKenna disagreed with former Sen. Rick Santorum’s recent criticism of President Obama and higher education.

“President Obama once said he wants everybody in…

Tar Heel Blues Continue For Democrats

by Jessica Taylor February 3, 2012 · 9:51 AM EST

It’s a rough time to be a North Carolina Democrat.

In the span of just a week, the party’s seen Gov. Bev Perdue choose retirement over a competitive reelection she was likely to lose, Rep. Brad Miller headed for the exits rather than face Rep. David Price in…

North Carolina Governor: Perdue Retirement Could Help Democrats

January 27, 2012 · 1:53 PM EST

Gov. Bev Perdue’s retirement actually improves Democratic chances of holding the governorship in the Tar Heel State. For over a year, the incumbent suffered from mediocre polling numbers and routinely trailed former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory (R) by double-digits.

State Rep. Bill Faison was preparing to challenge Perdue…