The governor is the most visible person in state governmentThe governor is the most visible person in state government Chief executive officerChief executive

• The governor is the most visible The governor is the most visible person in state governmentperson in state government

• Chief executive officerChief executive officer

• Chief policymakerChief policymaker

• institutional and informal powersinstitutional and informal powers

Governors

• 48 states hold gubernatorial elections 48 states hold gubernatorial elections every four yearsevery four years– usually at usually at ‘‘midtermmidterm’’

• Some elect the governor at the same Some elect the governor at the same time as the presidenttime as the president– WAWA, MT, UT, ND, MO, IN, WV, NC, VT, , MT, UT, ND, MO, IN, WV, NC, VT,

NH (VT & NH every 2 years)NH (VT & NH every 2 years)

Gubernatorial Elections

• Voting for governorVoting for governor– Governors are more visible than other Governors are more visible than other

state elected officialsstate elected officials– They raise money more easilyThey raise money more easily– Huge incumbency advantageHuge incumbency advantage– Held accountable for stateHeld accountable for state’’s economys economy– Voters use party as shortcutVoters use party as shortcut– National level forcesNational level forces


• Gubernatorial campaign costsGubernatorial campaign costs– Skyrocketed in recent yearsSkyrocketed in recent years

• WA 2008 $40mWA 2008 $40m (candidates + others); down in 2012 (candidates + others); down in 2012• Arnold spent Arnold spent $75m$75m on re-election in CA on re-election in CA

– More expensive in larger statesMore expensive in larger states• in highly contested races...in highly contested races...$129m$129m in CA 2006 in CA 2006

– States vary in States vary in campaign finance regulationcampaign finance regulation• some have public funds (MN...)some have public funds (MN...)

– Charles BarkleyCharles Barkley– When asked if he was serious, the former Philadelphia 76er said, “I

am, I can’t screw up Alabama.”


• Gubernatorial campaign costsGubernatorial campaign costs– 2014 IL: $74m2014 IL: $74m– 2014 NY: $49m2014 NY: $49m– 2014 FL: $33m2014 FL: $33m– 2014 WI: $24m2014 WI: $24m– 2014 OH: $25m2014 OH: $25m– 2014 MA: $21m2014 MA: $21m– 2014 MI: $18m2014 MI: $18m


• Why such stakes?Why such stakes?– Nationalization of state politicsNationalization of state politics– Future presidential candidatesFuture presidential candidates

• Christie NJ, Bush FL, Perry TX, Walker WI, Kasich, OH, Christie NJ, Bush FL, Perry TX, Walker WI, Kasich, OH, Cuomo NY, O’Malley, MDCuomo NY, O’Malley, MD

– Future vice presidentsFuture vice presidents• S. Martinez NM, Nikki Haley SCS. Martinez NM, Nikki Haley SC

– Future presidential electionsFuture presidential elections• swing states Gov can be an assist (CO, FL, IA)swing states Gov can be an assist (CO, FL, IA)


• Election outcomesElection outcomes– Candidate from dominant party is likely Candidate from dominant party is likely

to win (duh)to win (duh)– 74% of incumbents were reelected from 74% of incumbents were reelected from

1970 to 20051970 to 2005– But this is more vulnerable than other But this is more vulnerable than other

officesoffices• 96% of US House reps re-elected96% of US House reps re-elected


• Gregoire vs. Rossi I (Nov 2004)Gregoire vs. Rossi I (Nov 2004)– Gregoire (D) v. Rossi (R) Gregoire (D) v. Rossi (R)

• open seatopen seat

– Results...Results...• First countFirst count

– Rossi up by 261 votes, declared winner Nov 29Rossi up by 261 votes, declared winner Nov 29

• Ds pay for hand recount Dec 12Ds pay for hand recount Dec 12– King Co. King Co. ‘‘findsfinds’’ 560 ballots, 12 more, then 160 more (rejected ballots) 560 ballots, 12 more, then 160 more (rejected ballots)– Recount put Gregoire up by 8Recount put Gregoire up by 8– Court says count most uncounted ballots Dec 23Court says count most uncounted ballots Dec 23

• Final countFinal count– 1,373,361 to 1,373,2321,373,361 to 1,373,232– 48.8730 D 48.8685 R 129 votes48.8730 D 48.8685 R 129 votes

• Rossi calls for revote Dec 29Rossi calls for revote Dec 29


• Gregoire vs. Rossi I (Nov 2004)Gregoire vs. Rossi I (Nov 2004)– Gregoire (D) v. Rossi (R) Gregoire (D) v. Rossi (R)

• Dec 22 State Supremes ruled counties could make correctionsDec 22 State Supremes ruled counties could make corrections– ballots found after initial countsballots found after initial counts

• Hand recountHand recount• Gregoire declared Gov Dec 30 (by Sam Reed, R)Gregoire declared Gov Dec 30 (by Sam Reed, R)

– Legal motions (Chelan Co.) through February, Trial in MayLegal motions (Chelan Co.) through February, Trial in May

• Should all ballots countShould all ballots count• Ballots counted after initial countsBallots counted after initial counts• Ballots cast by ineligible votersBallots cast by ineligible voters

– 1678 cast illegally, some for Rossi1678 cast illegally, some for Rossi


• Gregoire vs. Rossi II (Nov 2008)Gregoire vs. Rossi II (Nov 2008)– Incumbent electionIncumbent election

• popularity, scandal, MONEY...popularity, scandal, MONEY...

– PartyParty• national mood, national candidatesnational mood, national candidates

– Economy (RossiEconomy (Rossi’’s best hope...)s best hope...)– Polls & Results...Polls & Results...

• Nov 2008 Rossi 47%; Gregoire 53%Nov 2008 Rossi 47%; Gregoire 53%• Sept 2008 Rossi 48%; Gregoire 47%Sept 2008 Rossi 48%; Gregoire 47%• Feb 2008 Rossi 42%, Gregoire 54%Feb 2008 Rossi 42%, Gregoire 54%• Oct 2007 Rossi 42%, Gregoire 47%Oct 2007 Rossi 42%, Gregoire 47%


• McKenna v. Inslee; 2012McKenna v. Inslee; 2012– Winter, spring polls had McKenna +3%Winter, spring polls had McKenna +3%– Result 51.5% Inslee; 48.5% McKenna Result 51.5% Inslee; 48.5% McKenna


Inslee McKenna

Puget Sound 54% 41%

Eastern WA 31% 57%

Male 46% 47%

Independent 33% 53%

Under 30 43% 43%

Over 65 50% 43%

Female 49% 44%

• No longer No longer good-time Charliesgood-time Charlies

• TodayToday’’s governors are younger and better s governors are younger and better educatededucated

• Career pathCareer path– Other elected offices, Lt. governor, Other elected offices, Lt. governor, attorneys attorneys

generalgeneral, law enforcement, prosecutors; some , law enforcement, prosecutors; some from a business backgroundfrom a business background

Today’s Governors—Who Are They?

Lt Gov 9

Atty Gen 7

Sec of State 1

Treas. 1

US House 7

US Senate 3

State leg. 4

Business 6

Local elected 5

Governors last jobs; Jan 2012…also 3 federal judges, 3 from universities.

• Also Also ““outsideroutsider”” gubernatorial candidates gubernatorial candidates

• Some outside jobs may have a Some outside jobs may have a conflict of conflict of interestinterest– AZ Mecham, Symington...AZ Mecham, Symington...

• Many go into the private sector after they Many go into the private sector after they leave officeleave office

• Some continue to do public serviceSome continue to do public service– Federal cabinet, non-profitsFederal cabinet, non-profits– Prison (3)Prison (3)

Today’s Governors

• Several become presidentSeveral become president (17) (17)– Bush II (01 - 09), Clinton I (93-01), Reagan (81-Bush II (01 - 09), Clinton I (93-01), Reagan (81-

89), Carter (77 - 81)...Jefferson, Jackson89), Carter (77 - 81)...Jefferson, Jackson

• Women now more successful than in the Women now more successful than in the pastpast

• First woman president likely thus in ranks of First woman president likely thus in ranks of current or ex elected governors?current or ex elected governors?– Haley (R SC), Martinez (R NM), Palin?Haley (R SC), Martinez (R NM), Palin?

Today’s Governors

Chris Gregoire

WA D 2005-13

Sarah Palin AK R 2007-09

Jan Brewer AZ R 2009-

Bev. Perdue NC D 2009-13

Mary Fallin OK R 2011-

Nikki Haley SC R 2011-

Susana Martinez

NM R 2011-

Maggie Hassan NH D 2013-Gina Raimondo RI D 2015-

Women as GovernorsWomen as Governors

• Exponential growth

• Perdue 2008• Brewer,Fallin, Haley,

Martinez 2010

• LOTS of elections 2014, only one woman

• Governors have three basic jobsGovernors have three basic jobs1.1. Help set public policyHelp set public policy

2.2. Direct state bureaucracyDirect state bureaucracy

3.3. Deal with intergovernmental relationsDeal with intergovernmental relations

• Gubernatorial powersGubernatorial powers are both are both institutional and informalinstitutional and informal

The Powers of the Governor

• Governors have many other jobsGovernors have many other jobs

1.1. Party leaderParty leader

2.2. Legislative leader Legislative leader

3.3. Chief executiveChief executive

The Powers of the Governor

• Great variation across the statesGreat variation across the states

• Constitutional and statutoryConstitutional and statutory

• Budget making Budget making authority (most important)authority (most important)• Unified executive?Unified executive?• Governors write budget proposalsGovernors write budget proposals• GovernorGovernor’’s powers similar to US President w/ OMBs powers similar to US President w/ OMB• unless legislature dedicates revenues to specific unless legislature dedicates revenues to specific

agencies and tasks (earmarked)agencies and tasks (earmarked)• Most of Govs budgets are adoptedMost of Govs budgets are adopted

Institutional Powers

• VetoVeto– The governor can sign a law or veto itThe governor can sign a law or veto it– The legislature can The legislature can overrideoverride the veto by the veto by

supermajoritysupermajority vote vote– All governors have All governors have full vetofull veto– 43 governors have a 43 governors have a line-item vetoline-item veto over over

appropriations billsappropriations bills


• VetoVeto– Other vetoes:Other vetoes:

– Reduction vetoReduction veto—reduce spending amounts—reduce spending amounts– Vanna White vetoVanna White veto– Amendatory vetoAmendatory veto—veto & send back to —veto & send back to

legislature and request specific changeslegislature and request specific changes

– Veto threats are importantVeto threats are important


• Appointment powerAppointment power– Varies in two ways:Varies in two ways:

• Are top executive-level officials separately elected?Are top executive-level officials separately elected?• How far does How far does civil service systemcivil service system reach into managerial reach into managerial

positions in the bureaucracy?positions in the bureaucracy?

– Governors used to hand out Governors used to hand out patronage jobspatronage jobs• WA Governor has rather limited number of policy jobs to WA Governor has rather limited number of policy jobs to

fillfill• More unpaid positions on state boards and More unpaid positions on state boards and

commissionscommissions• Court vacanciesCourt vacancies


• Tenure potentialTenure potential– Varies by term length and term limitsVaries by term length and term limits– Term limits make a governor Term limits make a governor lame ducklame duck

• Gubernatorial staffGubernatorial staff– Solely responsible to the governorSolely responsible to the governor– Much larger todayMuch larger today

• Instruments to set legislative agendaInstruments to set legislative agenda– State of the state addressState of the state address– Ability to call Ability to call special sessionspecial session


• Executive ordersExecutive orders– Have force of lawHave force of law

– To reorganize control over bureaucracyTo reorganize control over bureaucracy

– To call out the National GuardTo call out the National Guard

– Set up study commissionsSet up study commissions

– To respond to federal rules, regulations, To respond to federal rules, regulations, and initiativesand initiatives


• Formal powers—comparing the statesFormal powers—comparing the states– All governors are stronger today than in All governors are stronger today than in

the pastthe past– But variation in institutional powersBut variation in institutional powers– Southern states tend to have weaker Southern states tend to have weaker

governors stemming from governors stemming from ReconstructionReconstruction– Stronger governorsStronger governors

• Larger statesLarger states• States with liberal citizensStates with liberal citizens


• Skills, circumstances of the office, Skills, circumstances of the office, charisma, intelligencecharisma, intelligence

• Political capitalPolitical capital—perceived political —perceived political powerpower

• Symbolic head of stateSymbolic head of state

• Public opinionPublic opinion

• Mass media attentionMass media attention

Informal Powers

1.1. Chief Policymaker—Charting the Chief Policymaker—Charting the CourseCourse

• Setting Setting policy agenda, budgetpolicy agenda, budget

• Governor Schwarzenegger wanted to Governor Schwarzenegger wanted to reform budgeting, legislative redistricting reform budgeting, legislative redistricting & other issues& other issues

• Proposition 77 and others ultimately Proposition 77 and others ultimately failedfailed

The ‘Three Jobs’ of the Governors

2.2. Chief Administrator—managing the Chief Administrator—managing the bureaucracybureaucracy

• The governor is the head of the executive The governor is the head of the executive branchbranch

• How can a single executive direct / change How can a single executive direct / change course of state bureaucracy?course of state bureaucracy?

• Administrators write Administrators write administrative rulesadministrative rules• Even Even street-level bureaucratsstreet-level bureaucrats set policy set policy

The Three Jobs of the Governors


• In Washington, Executive Branch = 9 separate In Washington, Executive Branch = 9 separate positionspositions

• Attorney General, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Lands Commissioner, Treasurer, Insurance Lands Commissioner, Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, Auditor, SPICommissioner, Auditor, SPI

• Imagine if POTUS had a Imagine if POTUS had a ‘‘cabinetcabinet’’ with independent with independent electoral baseelectoral base

• Dept of Ecology (Inslee); DNR (Goldmark)Dept of Ecology (Inslee); DNR (Goldmark)



• In WashingtonIn Washington• 100s of Board and Commission appointments100s of Board and Commission appointments

• Ecology, Transportation, CTED, Fish and Wildlife, Forest Ecology, Transportation, CTED, Fish and Wildlife, Forest Practices, GMHB, Health, HEC, Labor and Industry, Liquor Practices, GMHB, Health, HEC, Labor and Industry, Liquor Control, State Patrol, Control, State Patrol, Seed Potato CommissionSeed Potato Commission

• Judicial appointmentsJudicial appointments


3.3. Intergovernmental Relations ManagerIntergovernmental Relations Manager—Working well with others—Working well with others

• With other states, With other states, tribestribes, the national , the national government, and foreign governmentsgovernment, and foreign governments

• Coordination of financial relationshipsCoordination of financial relationships• Negotiates competing interestsNegotiates competing interests• Governor Napolitano and border securityGovernor Napolitano and border security

• (She was president of the (She was president of the National National Governors Conference)Governors Conference)


• TodayToday’’s governors are more powerful s governors are more powerful than those 50 years agothan those 50 years ago

• Powers are both institutional and Powers are both institutional and informalinformal

Summary

Documents

The governor is the most visible person in state governmentThe governor is the most visible person in state government Chief executive officerChief executive