Governors The governor is the most visible person

Governors • The governor is the most visible person in state government • Chief executive officer • Chief policymaker • institutional and informal powers

Gubernatorial Elections • 48 states hold gubernatorial elections every four years – usually at ‘midterm’ • Some elect the governor at the same time as the president – WA, MT, UT, ND, MO, IN, WV, NC, VT, NH (VT & NH every 2 years)

Gubernatorial Elections • Voting for governor – Governors are more visible than other state elected officials – They raise money more easily – Huge incumbency advantage – Held accountable for state’s economy – Voters use party as shortcut – National level forces

Gubernatorial Elections • Gubernatorial campaign costs – Skyrocketed in recent years • WA 2008 $40 m (candidates + others); down in 2012 • Arnold spent $75 m on re-election in CA – More expensive in larger states • in highly contested races. . . $129 m in CA 2006 – States vary in campaign finance regulation • some have public funds (MN. . . ) – Charles Barkley – When asked if he was serious, the former Philadelphia 76 er said, “I am, I can’t screw up Alabama. ”

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

Gubernatorial Elections • Why such stakes? – Nationalization of state politics – Future presidential candidates • Christie NJ, Bush FL, Perry TX, Walker WI, Kasich, OH, Cuomo NY, O’Malley, MD – Future vice presidents • S. Martinez NM, Nikki Haley SC – Future presidential elections • swing states Gov can be an assist (CO, FL, IA)

Gubernatorial Elections • Election outcomes – Candidate from dominant party is likely to win (duh) – 74% of incumbents were reelected from 1970 to 2005 – But this is more vulnerable than other offices • 96% of US House reps re-elected

Gubernatorial Elections • Gregoire vs. Rossi I (Nov 2004) – Gregoire (D) v. Rossi (R) • open seat – Results. . . • First count – Rossi up by 261 votes, declared winner Nov 29 • Ds pay for hand recount Dec 12 – – – King Co. ‘finds’ 560 ballots, 12 more, then 160 more (rejected ballots) Recount put Gregoire up by 8 Court says count most uncounted ballots Dec 23 • Final count – 1, 373, 361 to 1, 373, 232 – 48. 8730 D 48. 8685 R 129 votes • Rossi calls for revote Dec 29

Gubernatorial Elections • Gregoire vs. Rossi I (Nov 2004) – Gregoire (D) v. Rossi (R) • Dec 22 State Supremes ruled counties could make corrections – ballots found after initial counts • Hand recount • Gregoire declared Gov Dec 30 (by Sam Reed, R) – Legal motions (Chelan Co. ) through February, Trial in May • Should all ballots count • Ballots counted after initial counts • Ballots cast by ineligible voters – 1678 cast illegally, some for Rossi

Gubernatorial Elections • Gregoire vs. Rossi II (Nov 2008) – Incumbent election • popularity, scandal, MONEY. . . – Party • national mood, national candidates – Economy (Rossi’s best hope. . . ) – Polls & Results. . . • • Nov 2008 Sept 2008 Feb 2008 Oct 2007 Rossi 47%; Gregoire 53% Rossi 48%; Gregoire 47% Rossi 42%, Gregoire 54% Rossi 42%, Gregoire 47%

Gubernatorial Elections • Mc. Kenna v. Inslee; 2012 – Winter, spring polls had Mc. Kenna +3% – Result 51. 5% Inslee; 48. 5% Mc. Kenna Inslee Mc. Kenna Puget Sound 54% 41% Eastern WA 31% 57% Male 46% 47% Independent 33% 53% Under 30 43% Over 65 50% 43% Female 49% 44%

Today’s Governors—Who Are They? • No longer good-time Charlies • Today’s governors are younger and better educated • Career path – Other elected offices, Lt. governor, attorneys general, law enforcement, prosecutors; some from a business background

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.

Today’s Governors • Also “outsider” gubernatorial candidates • Some outside jobs may have a conflict of interest – AZ Mecham, Symington. . . • Many go into the private sector after they leave office • Some continue to do public service – Federal cabinet, non-profits – Prison (3)

Today’s Governors • Several become president (17) – Bush II (01 - 09), Clinton I (93 -01), Reagan (8189), Carter (77 - 81). . . Jefferson, Jackson • Women now more successful than in the past • First woman president likely thus in ranks of current or ex elected governors? – Haley (R SC), Martinez (R NM), Palin?

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 Gina Raimondo RI D D 20132015 -

Women as Governors • Exponential growth • Perdue 2008 • Brewer, Fallin, Haley, Martinez 2010 • LOTS of elections 2014, only one woman

The Powers of the Governor • Governors have three basic jobs 1. 2. 3. Help set public policy Direct state bureaucracy Deal with intergovernmental relations • Gubernatorial powers are both institutional and informal

The Powers of the Governor • Governors have many other jobs 1. 2. 3. Party leader Legislative leader Chief executive

Institutional Powers • • • Great variation across the states Constitutional and statutory Budget making authority (most important) • • Unified executive? Governors write budget proposals Governor’s powers similar to US President w/ OMB unless legislature dedicates revenues to specific agencies and tasks (earmarked) • Most of Govs budgets are adopted

Institutional Powers • Veto – The governor can sign a law or veto it – The legislature can override the veto by supermajority vote – All governors have full veto – 43 governors have a line-item veto over appropriations bills

Institutional Powers • Veto – Other vetoes: – Reduction veto—reduce spending amounts – Vanna White veto – Amendatory veto—veto & send back to legislature and request specific changes – Veto threats are important

Institutional Powers • Appointment power – Varies in two ways: • • Are top executive-level officials separately elected? How far does civil service system reach into managerial positions in the bureaucracy? – Governors used to hand out patronage jobs • WA Governor has rather limited number of policy jobs to fill • More unpaid positions on state boards and commissions • Court vacancies

Institutional Powers • Tenure potential – Varies by term length and term limits – Term limits make a governor lame duck • Gubernatorial staff – Solely responsible to the governor – Much larger today • Instruments to set legislative agenda – State of the state address – Ability to call special session

Institutional Powers • Executive orders – Have force of law – To reorganize control over bureaucracy – To call out the National Guard – Set up study commissions – To respond to federal rules, regulations, and initiatives

Institutional Powers • Formal powers—comparing the states – All governors are stronger today than in the past – But variation in institutional powers – Southern states tend to have weaker governors stemming from Reconstruction – Stronger governors • Larger states • States with liberal citizens

Informal Powers • Skills, circumstances of the office, charisma, intelligence • Political capital—perceived political power • Symbolic head of state • Public opinion • Mass media attention

The ‘Three Jobs’ of the Governors 1. Chief Policymaker—Charting the Course • Setting policy agenda, budget • Governor Schwarzenegger wanted to reform budgeting, legislative redistricting & other issues • Proposition 77 and others ultimately failed

The Three Jobs of the Governors 2. Chief Administrator—managing the bureaucracy • • The governor is the head of the executive branch How can a single executive direct / change course of state bureaucracy? Administrators write administrative rules Even street-level bureaucrats set policy

The Three Jobs of the Governors 2. Chief Administrator—managing the bureaucracy • In Washington, Executive Branch = 9 separate positions • • • Attorney General, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Lands Commissioner, Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, Auditor, SPI Imagine if POTUS had a ‘cabinet’ with independent electoral base Dept of Ecology (Inslee); DNR (Goldmark)

The Three Jobs of the Governors 2. Chief Administrator—managing the bureaucracy • In Washington • 100 s of Board and Commission appointments • • Ecology, Transportation, CTED, Fish and Wildlife, Forest Practices, GMHB, Health, HEC, Labor and Industry, Liquor Control, State Patrol, Seed Potato Commission Judicial appointments

The Three Jobs of the Governors 3. Intergovernmental Relations Manager —Working well with others • With other states, tribes, the national government, and foreign governments • Coordination of financial relationships • Negotiates competing interests • Governor Napolitano and border security • (She was president of the National Governors Conference)

Summary • Today’s governors are more powerful than those 50 years ago • Powers are both institutional and informal