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Chapter 2, State Executive Branch

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Chapter 2, State Executive Branch CHAPTER TWO STATE EXECUTIVE BRANCH THE GOVERNORS, 1990-91 By Thad L. Beyle The past two years have been tumultuous most volatile contests of the period, Roemer for the governors of the 50 states. There were fell behind former Democratic Gov. Edwin elections in 39 of the states, and most juris­ Edwards and Republican state Sen. David dictions were suffering through some of the Duke in Louisiana's unique open primary. In­ worst budgetary problems in modern memory. cumbents who lost in the general elections The budget decisions they faced included both were first-term Govs. Bob Martinez (R-Flori­ raising taxes and cutting services because of da), Mike Hayden (D-Kansas), Ray Mabus the recession's impact on state revenues. As (D-Mississippi), and Kay Orr (R-Nebraska); a result, governors who won at the polls in two-term Gov. James Blanchard (D-Michi­ November typically found themselves losing gan); and multi-term Govs. Rudy Perpich in the public opinion polls by the end of their (DFL-Minnesota) and Edward DiPrete (R­ first year in office. Some governors, whose Rhode Island). popularity ratings were low, took themselves In the 312 gubernatorial elections held be­ out of politics by deciding not to seek re­ tween 1970 and 1991, incumbents were eligi­ election. Several others were beaten in their ble to seek another term in 243 (or 78 percent) attempts to seek another term. of the contests; 180 eligible incumbents sought re-election (74 percent) and 131 of them suc­ Gubernatorial Elections ceeded (73 percent). But there was still con­ siderable turnover in the governorships over Thirty-nine governorships were contested the period as 181 of the 312 incumbents (58 and decided by the elections of 1990 and 1991. percent) did not receive another term: 69 were In 35 states, incumbents were eligible to seek constitutionally ineligible for re-election (38 re-election, and of those 25 incumbents or 71 percent), 63 decided not to seek another term percent did run. Seventeen were successful (68 (35 percent), and 49 were defeated in their percent). The winning incumbents, all in 1990, bids for another term (27 percent).l were Guy Hunt (R-Alabama), Bill Clinton (D­ Breaking these elections into blocks of four Arkansas), Roy Romer (D-Colorado), John beginning with the 1972 elections, we find Waihee (D-Hawaii), Cecil Andrus (D-Idaho), only slight variations in these figures and per­ Terry Branstad (R-Iowa), John McKernan, Jr. centages, largely because several states have (R-Maine), William Donald Schaefer (D-Mary­ their gubernatorial term limits expire in the land), Bob Miller (D-Nevada), Judd Gregg same election year. Comparing the 1990-1991 (R-New Hampshire), Mario Cuomo (D-New elections with those conducted between 1970 York), Robert Casey (D-Pennsylvania), Car­ and 1989, we find that more incumbents than roll Campbell (R-South Carolina), George ever were eligible for re-election (90 percent Mickelson (R-South Dakota), Ned McWherter vs. 76 percent); however, incumbents seeking (D-Tennessee), Tommy Thompson (R-Wiscon­ another term were slightly less successful (68 sin), and Mike Sullivan (D-Wyoming). percent vs. 74 percent).2 Of the eight unsuccessful incumbents seek­ But there is another measure of determin­ ing re-election, all but one lost their bid in the ing just how many governors have served in general election. The one incumbent losing in a primary was Buddy Roemer, Democrat Thad L. Beyle is a professor of political science, turned Republican of Louisiana. In one of the The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 30 The Book of the States 1992-93 GOVERNORS the states. By looking at the number of new elected as an Independent in 1974. Both previ­ governors taking office over a decade, we find ously had run statewide and had served in of­ there has been a gradual decline. In the 1800- fice, Hickel as governor (1966-1969) and 1809 decade, there was an average of 3.3 new Weicker as U.S. Senator (1971-1989), and both governors in the then-17 states; by the 1870s, were former Republicans turned Independent the average had reached 4.2 new governors for to win the governorship. While Hickel essen­ the 37 states. By the 1950s, this average had tially retained his Republican ties in staffing dropped to 2.3 new governors in the 48 states; his administration, Weicker took a bipartisan by the decade of the 1970s, it was 1.9; and in approach to his. 5 the 1980s, it had dropped to a low of 1.1 new Several trends are apparent in the route governors per state over the decade. 3 these new governors took to the office. The The impact of changing term limit restric­ most consistent pattern is that of individuals tions is clear. While adopted to allow more who had previously run statewide and held stability and continuity in the governor's office. Among the 15 who had such political office, the changes have actually reduced the experience (68 percent) were four former number of people who become governor. governors, including Hickel, Edwin Edwards Since the 1950s, the number of states allow­ (D) of Louisiana, Bruce King (D) of New ing unlimited terms has dropped from 29 to Mexico, and Richard Snelling (R) of Ver­ 21; however, the number of states providing mont; and three former or current U.S. sena­ their governors with four-year terms has risen tors, Weicker, Pete Wilson (R) in California, from 27 to 47. Clearly, longer terms for gover­ and Lawton Chiles (D) in Florida. nors is having an effect on the number of in­ Others who had statewide electoral experi­ 4 dividuals who can serve as governors. ence included two lieutenant governors - In 1990-1991,21 incumbent governors left Brereton Jones (D) of Kentucky and Zell Miller office with a combined total of 136 years of (D) of Georgia; two secretaries of state - service to the states. Among them were James James Edgar (R) of Illinois and Barbara Rob­ Thompson (R-Illinois, 1977-1991) who, with erts (D) of Oregon; two state treasurers - 14 years of service, was the dean of the incum­ Joan Finney (D) of Kansas and Ann Richards bent governors; Michael Dukakis (D-Massa­ (D) of Texas; one state auditor - Arne Carl­ chusetts, 1975-1979, 1983-1991), with 12 years; son (R) of Minnesota; and one former state and William O'Neill (D-Connecticut, 1980- insurance commissioner - Ben Nelson (D) 1991) with 11. Six other governors had served of Nebraska. Another new governor, Bruce for eight years, two had served for six, and Sundlun (D) of Rhode Island, after twice try­ nine had served only a single four-year term. ing to win the governorship, finally unseated Rose Mofford (D-Arizona, 1988-1991) served the incumbent in the 1990 election. out the remaining portion of impeached Gov. Another pattern is that ofthe outsider can­ Evan Mecham's term, and then some, as the didate who starts at the top of the ticket and state needed a February 1991 runoff general wins. Included in this category are Sundlun, election to select her successor - no candi­ Fife Symington (R) of Arizona, David Walters date had received over 50 percent of the vote (D) of Oklahoma, and Kirk Fordice (R) of in the November 1990 election. Mississippi. The three remaining "last step" positions varied considerably from former The New Governors U.S. Attorney William Weld (R) of Massachu­ The partisan division among the 22 newly­ setts, to state Sen. John Engler (R) of Michi­ elected governors was close, with 11 Demo­ gan, to Cleveland Mayor George Voinovich crats and nine Republicans among them. Two (R) of Ohio. Independent party candidates were elected: Looking at the most recent four-year cycle Walter Hickel in Alaska and Lowell Weicker of gubernatorial elections (1988-1991) and in Connecticut, the first elected to the office where the new governors came from reveals since James Longley (I-Maine, 1975-1979) was a much more constricted path to the office The Council of State Governments 31 GOVERNORS than was true in the past. Of the 28 new gover­ The overall partisan affiliation of the 1990- nors elected over the four-year period, 13 1991 gubernatorial election winners was 21 came from statewide elective positions (46 Democrats, 16 RepUblicans, and two Indepen­ percent) or federal elective positions (18 per­ dents. This changed the partisan alignment in cent) or had no prior public office experience governors' chairs to 26 Democrats, 22 Repub­ and were outsiders seeking to start at the top licans and two Independents, thus continuing (21 percent). Only two came out of the state the trend of slightly rising Republican strength legislature (7 percent) and one from a local and slightly declining Democratic strength elective position (4 percent). In this day of among the governors. However, governors of media politics, old state career ladder patterns 30 of these states face legislatures with one or are shifting toward those who have already both houses controlled by the opposite party. commanded media attention or toward those Split ticket voting continues to be alive and who can pay to gain media attention.6 well in the states. One incumbent governor, Richard Snelling There are now 47 males and three females of Vermont, died in office in 1991. Snelling, in the 50 state gubernatorial chairs. Their self­ who had been re-elected to his fifth two-year designated professions include 28 lawyers; term in 1990, had served as Vermont's gover­ eight from business; four "public officials"; nor between 1977 and 1985 and had served as three educators; three farmer-ranchers; one the 1981-1982 chairman of the National Gov­ journalist/broadcaster; one physician; one ernors' Association (NGA), where his focus engineer; and an economist.
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