Chapter 2, State Executive Branch
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CHAPTER TWO STATE EXECUTIVE BRANCH The Council of State Governments 49 THE GOVERNORS, 1988·89 By Thad L. Beyle The two-year period was marked by relative ing these elections down into the three most calm for Ihe governors after a few years of recent blocks of four elections each, begin turmoil on several levels. First, there was less ning with the 1978 elections. 'we see there was political activity with only 12 races in 1988 some variation in these percentages. For ex and two in 1989. However, in 1988, [he unsuc· amplt; in the fast election block of 1978-1981 , cessful Democratic candidate for president 76 percent of the.54 incumbents were eligible was a governor, and in 1989 much attention to seek another term, 83 percent of them did, focused on the election of a black governor and 68 percent were successful. In the second in Virginia. Second, the series of investiga grouping, 1982-1985,80 percent of the .54 in tions inlo gubernatorial actions and charac cumbents were eligible to seek another term. ter which had generated so much negative 74 percent did, and 75 percent won. In the publicity in the mid-1980s had passed, and no most recent elections of 1986-1989, 66 percent new major problems surfaced. The action was of the .53 incumbents were eligible to seek re mOfe policy related as governors grappled election. 77 percent did. and over 81 percent with increasing demands for slate services and were successful. funds while state revenues weakened. Thus, while the number of incumbent gov ernors eligible to seek re-election varied be Gubernatorial Elections tween 80 and 66 percent over the period, and their rate of seeking re-election also varied be Fourteen governorships were decided by tween 74 and 83 percent, their success rate elections in 1988-89. In nine of these contests steadil y climbed from 68 to 7.5 to 81 percent. the incumbent stood for an additional term, Incumbency is obviously growing as a major with eight winning re-election. The winning factor in electoral success for governors, incumbe nts were Michael Castle (R-Dela much as it is for other elected officials in the ware), John Ashcroft (R-Missouri), James federal system. I For example, over the four Martin (R-North Carolina), George Sinner congressional elections in the 1980s, incum (D-North Dakota), Edward DiPrete (R-Rhode bent return rates rose from slightly over 90 Island), Norman Bangerter (R-Utah), Mad percent to over 98 percent.2 eleine Kunin (D-Vermont) and Booth Gard The six newly elected governors display ner (D-Washington). The one incumbent who some of the diversity that exists in the routes was defeated in the general election was Arch taken to the governor's chair. TWo moved Moore (R-West Virginia). He had served as directly up from other statewide elected po Governor of West Virginia for 12 years, from sitions to become governor, Evan Bayh (D-In 1969-1977 and from 198.5-1989. diana) from secretary of state and Douglas Looking at the 163 gubernalOriai elections Wilder (D-Virginia) from lieutenant governor. in the 13-year period, 1977-1989, incumbents Tho moved directly from congressional seats, were eligible to seek another term in 74 per Judd Gregg (R-New Hampshire) and James cent of the contests. Eligible incumbenl5 did seek re-election 78 percent of the time and Thad L. BeyJe is Professor of Political Science at had a 74 percent success rate. However, break- the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 50 The Book of the States 1990-91 GOVERNORS Florio (D·New Jersey). The two others, Stan have cost more, ranging from only three per Stephens (R-Montana) and Gasper Caperton cent between 1984-1988 to 134 percent be (D-West Virginia), moved from the private tween 1985-1989. The latter figure demon sector, although Stephens had served sixteen strates how expensive contests for open seats years in the state legislature, many of these as can be. as both the New Jersey and Virginia a legislative leader. Lieutenant Governor Ro incumbent governors were constitutionally bert J. Miller (D-Nevada) succeeded to the prohi bited from seeking another term in 1989. governor's chair in January 1989 when in These were the most expensive races ever cumbent Governor Richard Bryan, who won recorded in either state. the U.S. Senate race in 1988, was sworn into Over the 1977-1989 period, during which office. campaign expenditure data is avai lable in Among those who sought the governorship most states, the ten most expensive governors' unsuccessfully were two lieutenant governors, chairs (in 1987 dollars) have been: Texas (an John Mutz (R- Indiana) and Robert Jordan average of $26.8 million), Louisiana ($21.7 (D-North Carolina), two congressmen, Jim million), New York ($20.7 million). Califor Courter (R-New Jersey) and Stan Parris nia (S20.S million), Ke ntucky (S I8.4 million), (R-Vi rginia), a U.S. senator, Paul Trible (R Florida ($ 14 million), New Jersey (SI3.8 mil Virgi nia), a former governor, Thomas Judge lion), Tennessee ($11.7 million), Virginia ($10.6 (D-Montana) and a former governor's wi fe million) and Pennsylvania (SIO million). All and state legislator, Beny Hearnes (D-Mis are eit her among the nine largest states in souri). Many other legislators and legislati ve population or are southern states. Three leaders, mayors and former mayors unsuc states still have gubernatorial campaigns cessfully sought governorships. which have averaged less than one million The partisan affiliation of the winners in dollars in total expenditures over the period: 1988-89 was evenly split as Democrats and Vermont ($0.8 million), Delaware (SO.7 mi l Republicans each won seven races. However, lion), and North Dakota ($0.6 million). since there were more open seats previously The most expensive individual gubernator held by Democrats, the Republicans were able ial campaigns in the two-year period were in to close the gap in the statehouses to 29 Virginia, with losing candidate Marshall Cole Democrats and 2l Republicans. However, man (R) spending S9.4 million and winner governors in 30 of the states will face legisla Wilder (D) spending S6.9 million, in New Jer tures with o ne or both houses controlled by sey, with winner Florio (D) and loser Court the opposite party. Split ticket voting is alive er (R)each spending over S7.7 million and in and well in the states. North Carolina, with incumbent winner Mar tin (R) spending over S6.3 million. In each of Cost of Gu bernatorial Elections these cases, they were the most expensive in The costs of gubernatorial elections con dividual gubernatorial campa igns eve r tinue to escalate wit h the most expensive elec recorded for the state. tions generall y associated with highly contest There was a ve ry high correlation between cd primaries, especially when there is an open spending the most money and win ning the scat, or with efforts to unseat an incumbent. election in these 14 races. In 12 of the races, and when someone with considerable mon the winner spent the most money, and eight ey of their own wants to becomegovemor. Ta of them wert the incumbent governors. In ble A indicates the cost of the most recent cumbency still breeds funds for a re-election gubernatorial campaigns for each of the campaign. In the Virginia race. the winner, states in actual dollars for the year involved. Wilder (D), did outspend his rival, Coleman Table B presents the total cost of guber (R), in the general election, but Coleman had nalOrial elections by year, normalized to 1987 to fund an expensive three-way Republican dol lars. In nine of the 12 years for which there nomination fight. I In Indiana. the losing is earlier comparable data, these elections candidate. Mutz (R), outspent winner Bayh The Council of State Governments 51 GOVERNORS_. COSTS Of' GUIDt,"i,o\TUlU,\L CA..<w r"IGl'o"S, M OST Ri:CL"oT nr.cnos 1lII1f "'IOOIP .',".... m .... II) ....... w.. _ -.. ..... COOl (}) .... n · w. ,....01 .. SI ••• ,~ W "a............ - -, ,- ......... ,,.. o· S9.9!lO.m ....... J... O D" 6,)11.219 I..JIO.I~ -- 114.26 " " N .... ,""... .. 6.922,216 1.16&,I'l " " 'M N_ D' l)tT,l6J " "~ '.n -CJ1ir.... '''',... ,. l2.-t6oI.921"'~'" U,nWl " HI " 1.91 ,... .. " 1.1'91.109 "N e_"'"""" D' ...... 2.!I"""l7 .. " ,.. ~ ,""... O' ''''"'''W.11' U..,U " ,... ...... .. n ........ 4.nUIl " " ,.. "" .. ...... 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" D' 7.917.19. 4.197.271 " 7." ....... ",... .. 3.156.2" 1,lJ4,9044 " " U1 S.0t9.211 ......", " ,... " .. 16,16I,IlO " .... ,..... 7,:111.1" ........ loIMd ..O' " " ,..