Last November, Democratic volunteers and Democratic voters across the Commonwealth of Virginia successfully defended our friends and neighbors from the hard right and brought an excellent successor to Mark Warner into the GovernorGs Mansion in Richmond (Tim Kaine). Currently, only 22 Democrats grace the GovernorGs Mansions across the United States. That could all change dramatically in November. While the Democrats are fighting a hard battle to take back the House, and an even tighter battle to take back the Senate, the prospect of taking back the majority of the GovernorGs seats is not only possible, it is quite probable.
The main reason Democrats may fare so well in GovernorGs races this year may not be the fact that BushGs poll numbers are low. The main reason might be more likely due to the sheer number of races where incumbent Republicans are facing re-election and the number of open seats once held by Republicans. There is one Democratic open seat race and 13 Democratic incumbents facing re-election. However, there are 8 Republican open seats this November, and 14 Republican incumbents facing re-election. Altogether there are a grand total of 36 GovernorGs races this November, and each one will have an impact on how our country moves forward. LetGs go over the list and see just how many Democrats might be telling the Bush Administration to stick it once they get a hold of the GovernorGs Mansion in 2007 if we can get them there.
Republicans almost certainly doomed
Arkansas G open race G Beebe looks like he should take this race.
Colorado G open race G Ritter is looking like he is pulling away easily. However, will a decisive Ritter victory help the competitive House races throughout the State?
Massachusetts G open race Deval Patrick has the inside track for now. Not a surprise that weGd get Massachusetts back in the Democrats corner.
New York G open race G Spitzer has this thing in the bag for now
Ohio G open race G Sure, Blackwell may cheat on his OWN election, but can even his chicanery make up the 20-30 point lead of his opponent?
Highly vulnerable Republican Holdings
Maryland G Ehrlich Ehrlich faces a strong challenge in OGMalley, almost as well-known as himself. He could probably beat a bargain-basement Democrat with ease, but facing a big name almost makes this race incumbent vs. incumbent. Ehrlich is attacking OGMalleyGs record with Baltimore, but is it making a difference at all?
Minnesota G Pawlenty G This race looked like the Republicans had it in hand, but the tables have turned and Hatch has made this a dead heat. The question is will the Democrats come out or will the Republicans stay home. LetGs hope all the Republicans go ice fishing instead.
Vulnerable Republican Holdings
Rhode Island G Carcieri G This race still looks very close. If Chaffee is in trouble, shouldnGt Carcieri be as well?
Potentially vulnerable Republican Holdings
Alaska G open race G This race isnGt over yet. But the window of opportunity is closing.
California G Schwarzenegger G This race is slipping fast for the Democrats. This is probably because Arnold is actually doing some progressive things and hasnGt embarrassed the state like he could have. There isnGt enough dirt to knock him out. However, you never know in California just what these voters are thinking sometimes.
Florida G open race G Davis needs a big break to catch up in this race.
Nevada G open race G So far, Titus hasnGt made the race the Democrats would have hoped. Like Davis in Florida, she needs a break to beat Gibbons. Gibbons is just another incumbent House Republican who has kept his mouth shut long enough to stay out of trouble. However, Nevada is changing, and a surprise could still be on the horizon.
South Carolina G Sanford G A recent poll had this at 4 points, but it will still take a big break for the Democrats to pull this out.
Highly vulnerable Democrat Holdings
Iowa G open seat This race remains a dead-heat. But Iowa seems to be leaning Democratic overall, now with two house races the Democrats can take from Republicans in November.
Michigan G Granholm G Granholm seems to be holding off DeVos for now. He surged last month to make this more competitive, but over the last week or so, the race has gone back in GranholmGs favor. Once again, it comes down to turnout.
Oregon G Kulongoski G This is now the most competitive GovernorGs seat for an incumbent Democrat. The Republicans are going full out to win this one. KulongoskiGs polling very poorly, with some polls showing him in the 30s; with lots of undecided voters.
Vulnerable Democrat Holdings
Illinois G Blagojevich G It looks like even a low approval rating wonGt knock off this Democrat in a blue state. Voters seem to be asking themselves G what is the alternative?
Maine G Baldacci G This race is still close, but will Baldacci really lose to a guy named Woodcock?
Wisconsin G Doyle Doyle still has his work cut out for him.
Potentially Vulnerable Democrats Holdings
Kansas G Sebelius G Re-election looks assured, but in Kansas, it is still a challenge every time a Democrat runs for anything statewide.
Pennsylvania G Rendell G Rendell is pulling away and will likely have this race in hand by election day. Just keep in mind that he is kind of a firebrand, which could hurt him.
The Democrats look like they will comfortably take back 5 or 6 GovernorGs seats. At best, they could take back 8, and hold 30 seats, or 60% of the U.S. states next January! At worst, the Democrats should still have a slim majority of 26 to 24. It is unlikely that any Democrat will lose in this environment, although 1 or 2 losses is certainly possible. However, regardless of the outcomes, when elected, Democratic GovernorGs can continue to lead the way on environmental, energy, health, and other key issues to breed success in their respective states. Many Democrats now hold the GovernorGs seat in Red States, so the local elections are really important in these states as well to get progressive policies passed.
SOURCES
Democratic GovernorGs Association
National Journal
Race Ratings
Rasmussen Reports
Politics1
Federal officials are probing scathing allegations that the Romney administration falsely claimed to conduct safety inspections in the Big Dig tunnel that collapsed and killed a woman in July.The Securities and Exchange Commission is zeroing in on state financial documents from 2005 - cited in a new report by state Inspector General Gregory Sullivan - indicating that Gov. Mitt Romney was reviewing the safety of the Big Dig, when in fact the administration was only checking leaks in the Interstate 93 tunnel.
“Despite repeated assurances to bondholders, (MassHighway and Romney’s Executive Office of Transportation) . . . did not inspect the I-90 connector tunnel section where the July 10, 2006, collapse occurred,” Sullivan’s report states. “It is clear that casual disregard for the truth was grossly inappropriate.”
The federal probe threatens to undercut Romney’s efforts to portray himself as a white knight for taxpayers on the problem-plagued $15 billion project as he lays the groundwork for a presidential run.
The SEC drafted a letter to several state agencies Aug. 23 requesting documents pertaining to safety reviews allegedly conducted in Big Dig tunnels between 2004 and the present. Sullivan’s report said Romney administration officials repeatedly declined requests from the state’s bond counsel to change language in financial documents about the Big Dig inspections. Romney finally said he would change the language in late July, after the fatal collapse and before the SEC probe.