Governor's Races 2006 (One way we can win back the nation)

[mndemocrat_29]

First off, I'd like to apologize for the length of this post. If you have a particular interest in one of these seats, please feel free to skip down to that section. I'm posting this early because, to use a cliche "The early bird catches the worm." Predictionists have said that in 2006 and 2008, Democrats have a fair chance to gain a lasting majority in all branches of government. I know this may sound like a pipe dream, since we don't control any of the branches currently, but if you look at some of these races, I think you'll agree that Democrats could have one of our largest majorities in the governorships by 2007. The 2002 wins were a start, but we need to go much farther. I'm posting this now so that we can share information, opinions on the races, and overall raise each others spirits on the chances of these races. With an energized electorate, we will win over a dozen seats in 2006, and the nation will be on its way to recovery, after the beating its received under Bush, Hastert, Cheney, and all of the Republicans governors who are destroying our states. The time for action is now.

I think that in 2006, we have our best shot in years and years to take back the majority of the governorships. If we can hold onto three out of the four seats in 2003 up for election, then we've got a good shot at taking back the majority in 2004 (we've got chances in Vermont, Montana, and Utah). In 2005, we'll be defending both the seats we have up for election (New Jersey and Virginia), and both will be difficult to hang on to.

However, in 2006, we will have an almost unimaginable shot at regaining not just the majority, but having a majority so large that the Republicans won't be even poised upset it for a decade, maybe longer.

Some people out there will wonder why I'm posting this so soon, but I think that it should be obvious. If we can start to learn who the best candidates are as a whole for 2006, we can start to learn about these candidates, keep these candidates in the forefront of our minds and when these candidates do announce their candidacy, we'll all know about them and be able to campaign and contribute for/to them right away. If we can know the best candidates now, we can keep them in our minds and start preaching their praises in the next four years, and as the Republicans who currently hold the seats, we can urge inform what great candidates could be holding these seats.

Here is a list of seats (divided into categories) that I think will be in definite play in 2006. All of the seats are currently held by Republicans. Currently, I'm worried about recruiting candidates for races. I hope to post a thread on candidates who may face difficult reelection in 2005 and 2006 in a later thread.

Really Liberal States That Have Republican Governors:

(All of these states are far too liberal to have Republican governors and when we finally elect a Democrat, that individual will have no trouble winning elections here)

Connecticut-Gov. John Rowland, who won in 2002 because he faced a weak challenger, I believe can't run in 2006 (correct me if I'm wrong). Sen. Chris Dodd is considering a run in 2006. Though I'd much rather have Dodd in the Senate, he'd make a terrific governor. Another candidate from the Democrats could be Atty. Gen. Richard Blumenthal. Connecticut is overwhelming Democratic and would elect a Democrat to office, if we can put up a candidate of any caliber.

Hawaii-Probably the most liberal state in the Union (rivalling only Massachusetts, who ironically is also on this list), Hawaii elected a Republican in the wake of Ben Cayatano's unpopularity. I can see Ed Case or Matt Matsanuga running for this seat, though both will also consider Senate runs in 2006. For. Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono, who barely lost to Hirono in 2002 would also be a fair candidate, but she really needs to prove that she could beat her this time around. Hawaii deserves a Democratic governor. This should be an easy pickup if we run an even halfways plausible candidate.

Maryland-Archconservative Bob Erhlich is far too right for a state that's as liberal as Maryland. This state should embrace a Democrat in 2006, especially with Sarbanes or an open seat on the other half of the ticket. I'd really like to see Rep. Elijah Cummings run here. I don't think that Kathleen Kennedy Townsend should run against Ehrlich again. If she runs for anything, it should be for the Senate. Gov. Glendening brought down the ticket in 2002, and this should return to our column in 2006.

Massachusetts-All right. I'd like to know why one of the most liberal states in the country consistently is resided over by Republicans (William Weld, Paul Celucci, Jane Swift, and now Mitt Romney). Romney is a potential candidate for president in 2008, and if we defeat him now, we'd be rid of him as a candidate (Romney would in fact make a fairly good candidate, which is why eliminating him in 2006 would be so important). Ten Democrats sit in the House from Massachusetts. Which one should run here?

New York-Gov. Pataki won't run in 2006 (I'm betting he's either up to a presidential race in 2008 or planning on challenging Hillary). Either way, we need this seat. We hold the top spots in California, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. New York is the fifth of the five electoral rich, fairly liberal states that Democrats consistently need to rewin elections. Having a Democratic governor's going to help in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Illinois in 2004 and will help if Arianna Huffington or Dianne Feinstein are governor. Sen. Chuck Schumer, along with Atty. Gen. Eliot Spitzer are considering the race. This should be considered a must for Democrats in 2006. Considering its size and importance to our party, any popular Democratic governor of New York would automatically be shortlisted in a presidential race, so electing a Democrat here is important.

Rhode Island-I suspect that the best candidate in this race would be Atty. Gen. Patrick Lynch. Carcieri will be running for reelection, and I've heard he isn't doing too well with the liberal voting block in Rhode Island. If we could nominate Lynch for governor and Pat Kennedy for Senator, we'd have a good chance in 2006 of knocking the last two statewide Republicans out of Rhode Island.

In conclusion, I think that all of these races are incredibly winnable in 2006. I urge anyone who has any opinions or information about any of the above races (or the ones to be listed below) to post their information. It's vitally important that we constantly be learning about our chances and our candidates in these states. I will be severly disappointed if we don't take all of the above liberal states. The only Democrat serving as governor in New England is John Baldacci. We can win this region back.

Here are some of the states that Democrats can win. While these are all considered far more moderate than the above states (some went for Gore, some for Bush), they are all states in which there are currently situations that could lead us to a victory in 2006:

Arkansas-This state nearly went for Gore in 2000 (and we would do well to win it in 2004). It has two very popular U. S. Senators from our side, and the so-called "invincible" GOP Gov. Mike Huckabee nearly lost to Jimmie Lou Fisher in 20002. Huckabee won't run in 2006 (I believe he's term-limited). For. Rep. Asa Hutchsion has expressed interest in the race. Make no mistakes about it, Hutchison will be hard to beat. However, if we play a decent candidate, we'll win and rid Arkansas of its two top Republicans (Huckabee and Hutchison). Fisher would make a really good candidate. However, if he isn't on the 2004 ticket, I would beg all of the DU and all Democrats to plead with Gen. Wesley Clark to run in 2006 for governor. I really wished he would have won in 2002 (he'd have that one extra credential that would've launched him to the top tiers of the presidential race by now). Clark vs. Hutchison would be a marquee match that Clark would most likely win.

Florida-Gov. Jeb Bush won't run in 2006 (term-limited) and this seat is ours for the taking. Sec. Mel Martinez is currently the leading Republican, but Democrats like Rep. Robert Wexler would be poised to beat Martinez. Not having a Republican in 2006 could help the Democrats in 2008 (hopeful for a presidential reelection). Florida needs to have a Democrat by redistricting in 2010. This state is far more moderate than the House makeup makes it look like.

Georgia-Sonny Perdue, a racist who I believe cheated in 2002 to beat Gov. Barnes, has to be ousted. Atty. Gen. Thurbert Baker and Sec. of State Cathy Cox have both expresssed interest, and I believe either would win here. Having Andy Young as a senator would help a Democrat defeat Perdue in 2006, so I really hope Young will run.

Minnesota-Minnesotans are growing in their dislike for Tim Pawlenty. He didn't win by a majority in 2002 (we have a strong three-party movement in this state) and his corruption from within will not sit well with the non-Metro portions of Minnesota. For. Aud. Judi Dutcher is the best candidate that Minnesotans have to offer here and I think she'll run. Democrats can win here. Like Massachusetts, Minnesotan Democrats lack of power in the governor's seat remains a complete mystery. Dutcher could win this seat and she will with some support! REMOVE TIM PAWLENTY!

Ohio-OK, I know that it seems like this state is simply too Republican for words, but I have a theory that the Great Lakes states are slowly joining the Democratic safe column that New England has been in for years. Ohio and Indiana are the sticklers, and may need to be prodded by strong candidates who upset the establishment. If we elect Joe Andrew in 2004 and a Democrat in 2006 in Ohio, we will be speeding up the Democratization of these two states. A Democrat's best bet for winning would be to link the Republican with the corrupt and awful Gov. Bob Taft. A Democrat like Sherrod Brown or Ted Strickland, or even a liberal like Marcy Kaptur could really do some damage in this race. Additionally, a truly strong race here could be enough to edge Mike DeWine out of office, giving us another Great Lakes seat in the Senate.

The Other Seats:

I'm not going to delve to far into these seats, mainly because I don't know much about these races (IF ANYONE ELSE KNOWS OF ANY DEMOCRATS THAT ARE CONSIDERING THESE RACES, PLEASE TELL!!!!) However, I'm not going to dismiss them. In 2002, we won seats in traditionally Republican Oklahoma, Wyoming, and Kansas, and I'm still holding out that we'll win a seat in Utah in 2004. Therefore, any of the following could be considered a race in 2006, with the right candidate (I put candidates I know would have a lot of potential in parentheses behind the states):

Alabama
Alaska (Fran Ulmer)
Colorado (Ken Salazar, though I hold out hope for a Senate run)
Idaho
Nebraska
Nevada (This could be open, and therefore would be a free-for-all)
South Carolina (Inez Tenenbaum, though I'd much rather have her run for the Senate)
South Dakota
Texas

If we could pick up just one or two of these seats (especially Nevada or Colorado, the closest these states get to be being moderate), that would be a great acclompishment.

In conclusion, I thank any one who posts here. I know we are all interested in winning the majority of these seats listed here (something I TRULY believe we can do. This is not a wild goose chase, I think we can hold at least 35 governor's seats by the times the 2006 election seats are called), especially the people who live in the above seats. Thank you for your time.