Governor's Races 2004

[mndemocrat_29]

Even if we win all of the races in 2003, we'll still only have a tie for the majority of the governor's races. Therefore, if we want to have the majority of seats, we must take a few wins in 2004 (On the other hand, in 2006, Minnesota needs to lose Tim Pawlenty. If we'd only elected Roger Moe!)

Here's a Rundown

Delaware-Repukes aren't putting up any strong candidates here, and Gov. Ruth Ann Minner will easily be reelected.

Indiana-The obvious frontrunner here remains Mitch Daniels. However, the only people who know who Daniels are are hardcore Inside Politics viewers. Therefore, Gov. Frank O'Bannon's endorsement and Sen. Evan Bayh's reelection could help push Joe Andrew, a former DNC Chairman, into Indianapolis. Also, David McKintosh could run against Daniels in a primary.

Missouri-Whether you like Bob Holden or Claire McCaskill (my candidate), you have to agree that keeping Roy Blunt's offspring out of Jefferson City is a necessity. McCaskill remains the best shot here, and would be a national player if she won.

Montana-Sec. of State Bob Brown, who is pretty popular here, will be a tough candidate. However, Brian Schweitzer has buckets of money and great name recognition. Linking Brown to unpopular Gov. Judy Martz, who may still run, will be a good campaign point.

New Hampshire-Gov. Craig Benson will be hard to beat, unless For. Rep. Dick Swett or For. Gov. Jeanne Shaheen step in.

North Carolina-Gov. Mike Easley will face a slew of challengers, but he isn't very unpopular, so North Carolinians may choose to keep him around for a while longer.

North Dakota-Gov. John Hoeven may face a primary challenger from the far right, though none have come forward thus far. Do we have any candidates currently?

Utah-Gov. Michael Leavitt could retire or face a primary challenge, and Democrats have the best candidate they could possibly receive in Utah, Scott Matheson, Jr., waiting in the wings. Utah could join Wyoming, Oklahoma, and Kansas as the conservative states with Democratic governors.

Vermont-We should win this seat. Rep. Bernard Sanders, Aud. Elizabeth M. Ready, or For. Lt. Gov. Doug Racine could all run, but Gov. Jim Douglas should be ousted. Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, Rhode Island, Maryland, and Hawaii all of Republican governors, yet are some of the most liberal states in the nation. We need to rectify this over the next four years. Here would be the perfect place to start.

Washington-Gov. Gary Locke is retiring (don't you see him in someone's cabinet someday?) Atty. Gen. Christine Gregoire, Ron Sims, or Rep. Jay Inslee would all make fine candidates. Republicans are scraping the bottom of the barrel as we speak, trying to find some fifth tier candidate.

West Virginia-A primary challenge is needed to Gov. Bob Wise. We should all side with Sec. of State Joe Manchin and easily win this seat.

Now all we have to do is try to pick up Louisiana, try to hang on to Kentucky, California, and Mississippi, then plow into 2004, maybe taking Utah, Vermont, and/or Montana. It's a daunting task, but well worth the work.

What does everyone else think? What do you think are our best shots at regaining the majority of the gubernatorial seats. I think it's vitally important to have more Democratic governors. I know anyone who currently has a Republican governor will agree with me.

[jiacinto]

1. Does the Sec of State in MT face a primary

Martz is extremely unpopular in MT. I have a feeling that if the Dems play their hands right, as they did in IL in 2002, they could sweep every office.

[Ediacara]

2. Montana race

The wording was a little confusing in the original post. Sec of State Brown is one of I think 4 or so serious primary challengers to Martz. Martz hasn't decided if she's running for a second term though. I think that with a crowded field, she just might win the primary, although I think Brown has a fair shot at taking her out.

Schweitzer will win against Martz hands down, but against Brown, the race will be much closer, but I still think he may win.

[mndemocrat_29]

7. Martz and Brown

A crowded primary could bring out that 20 percent of the Montana electorate who still supports Martz. This could be the best thing that ever happened to Democrats. I think that Schweitzer will be a terrific governor and could oversee a swift Democratic shift for the state.

[Ediacara]

3. Gregoire will win in Washington

She has high name recognition, and has been elected to statewide office before. Although Inslee and Simms (the King County Executive) are both fine candidates, I don't think they would win the primary. Simms I think has very poor chances simply because the current governor (Locke) was elected as the King County Executive, and east-side-of-staters may be extremely resentful of all the pull Seattle has in the state.

Not that they're not already extremely resentful... just even more so :-)

As you said, the Republicans are scraping the bottom of the barrell. They are actually being idiots, which is good :-) Jennifer Dunn could possibly win the governor's race. She's relatively moderate, pro-choice, and a good speaker. Dunn has also gone as far as she can go nationally with the RNC because she's moderate and pro-choice.

ALSO, I think her seat may switch hands within 4-8 years. Although she gets reelected, the district is trending Democrat, and voted for Gore in 2000, and I suspect voted for Clinton in 1996.

If the state Republican Party and/or Dunn had any brains, they'd urge Dunn to run for the governor's mansion, but neither have the brains, so we can breathe with a sigh of relief.

Anyway, I suspect that Gregoire will be a big face nationally.

MARK MY WORDS, CHRISTINE GREGOIRE WILL BE THE FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

Well maybe...

[ButterflyBlood]

4. it's kind of a stretch to call Dunn pro-choice

When NARAL gave her a 15 last year and Right To Life gives her a lifetime of 85. I think Planned Parenthood has her in the anti-choice class as well. She's not really moderate either when she has a lifetime of 90 from the ACU and of 4 from ADA, apparentely she just pretends to be in her campaigning, and the people fall for it. bleh. Either way though, she'd still be the best candidate they could come up with. Best case scenario is she runs, loses and we pick up her seat.

[Ediacara]

5. true

Her constant oponent, Heidi Berrends-Bennedict refers to Dunn as an "elephant in donkey clothing." Whether or not Dunn actually is moderate, she's viewed as a moderate, which is really what counts unfortunately...

[Sean Reynolds]

6. Utah race will be close.

Even though Leavitt is popular (ratings around 70%) majority of Utahns don't want him to run again for a FOURTH term. If in fact he does run, he may not even get out of the primary - which he almost didn't 3 years ago. Leavitt is actually a pretty moderate Republican, but I still don't like the punk.

IF the Dems elect Matheson Jr, son of popular governor Scott Matheson, we could see a cat fight. His brother won re-election, even after the Republicans re-drew his district to capture the Repub vote.

Having both names on the election card will really help.

[mndemocrat_29]

8. Matheson Power

I do think that both of the Mathesons will draw out electorate for themselves. Jim Matheson could use more votes and I think Scott Matheson, Jr. could witness a "let's try something different wave."