Governor News & Analysis

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…

New Jersey Governor: Christie Completes Next Chapter in Longer Book

October 25, 2013 · 2:56 PM EDT

By now, it’s no surprise that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is set to win a second term on November 5th. Immediately after his victory, all eyes will be on him to announce whether he’ll run for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

Christie was initially elected in 2009…

Virginia Governor: McAuliffe Set to Win Race to the Bottom

October 25, 2013 · 2:55 PM EDT

The race for Virginia governor between Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Ken Cuccinelli has played out as we expected. It has been a very negative race between two deeply flawed nominees that someone had to win. McAuliffe is the favorite on November 5.

Democrats focused on Cuccinelli’s conservative…

Democrats Look for Mini-Wave in Arkansas in 2014

by Nathan L. Gonzales October 23, 2013 · 9:44 AM EDT

Barack Obama received just 39 percent of the vote in Arkansas in the last presidential race, but that’s not stopping Democratic optimism in the Razorback State in 2014.

Even though next year’s midterm elections began as a referendum on the president, Democrats believe they can re-elect Democratic Sen.…

5 Things Winning Candidates Say

by Nathan L. Gonzales September 27, 2013 · 9:57 AM EDT

After the overwhelming response to “10 Things Losing Candidates Say," I decided to try to turn it around and point out some common themes from winning candidates.

Of course these phrases don’t guarantee success — a candidate’s party and the partisanship of the state or district will…

Family Politics: When Water Is Thicker Than Blood

by Nathan L. Gonzales September 25, 2013 · 10:36 AM EDT

The relationship between parents and children can be complicated, particularly when both are politicians.

On Monday, state Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger announced that he wouldn’t challenge Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan in North Carolina.

In an interview with Reid Wilson of The Washington Post

Is South Carolina’s Nikki Haley in Trouble?

by Stuart Rothenberg September 18, 2013 · 2:19 PM EDT

If you listen to South Carolina Democrats, you are pretty certain that Republican Gov. Nikki R. Haley is in deep trouble next year. Not so, says Haley’s top strategist, Jon Lerner, arguing she is very likely to win re-election. Both assessments can’t be correct, can they?

“Despite bringing…