http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/ en Copyright 2008 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:04:29 -0400 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.36 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss In a surprise announcement, Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling said he will not run for governor in 2009, a move that likely clears the Republican field for state Attorney General Bob McDonnell and offers an early preview of a race that will almost certainly be the most-watched contest in the country in 2009. Bolling and McDonnell had been positioning themselves for a primary fight ever since they were elected to their current posts in 2005. That jockeying had been further complicated by the stunning defeat of Sen. George Allen (R) in 2006 and the belief that he would like to return to the governor's mansion he occupied from 1993 to 1997. But, Allen took himself out of contention in January -- citing his desire to spend more time with his family and to continue working in the private sector. Bolling's announcement this week ensures that McDonnell will not face a http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/03/a_major_shakeup_in_virginia_go.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/03/a_major_shakeup_in_virginia_go.html Governors Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:04:29 -0400 New York Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned from office moments ago, just two days after revelations surfaced about his involvement in a prostitution ring. "I am deeply sorry I did not live up to what was expected of me," Spitzer said at a news conference at his Manhattan office. "For this reason I am resigning from the office of governor." Spitzer will be succeeded by Lt. Gov. David A. Paterson, a Harlem Democrat. Paterson, who is legally blind, will become New York's first African American governor. The transfer of power will take place next Monday, at Paterson's request. While Spitzer mulled his political and legal future with his family and trusted friends and aides at his Manhattan apartment on Fifth Avenue, his fate appeared sealed following a brief statement he made on Monday in which he acknowledged he had "acted in a way that violates my obligations to my family http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/03/spitzer_resigns.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/03/spitzer_resigns.html Governors Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:47:00 -0400 New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D) has remained mum about his political future following Monday's revelations that he has been involved in a prostitution ring. His silence, however, won't quiet speculation about what effect the scandal will have on the state and national scene. Let's start on the national end first, since it's the simpler question to answer. Sex scandals have roiled national politics for much of the past decade -- beginning with former president Bill Clinton and his relationship with Monica Lewinsky and running through former Rep. Bob Livingston (R-La.), former New Jersey governor Jim McGreevey (D), former Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) and Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho). (Heck, sex and Washington go back much further, of course -- Bob Packwood, Wilbur Mills ... .) Unfortunately for Republicans, the last several sex-related scandals have involved their own; Foley's inappropriate relations with House pages in the fall of 2006 made a http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/03/spitzer_scandal_what_does_it_m.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/03/spitzer_scandal_what_does_it_m.html Governors Tue, 11 Mar 2008 11:08:31 -0400 Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D-N.Y.) acknowledged in a very brief statement, Monday, that he had violated the obligations he had to his family and the public, though he offered no specific comments about a report that he was involved in a prostitution ring. "I am disappointed that I failed to live up to the standard I set for myself," Spitzer said. "I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family." Gov. Eliot Spitzer and his wife Silda Wall Spitzer at Monday's press conference. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Even though Spitzer did not address the idea of resigning, talk of him vacating the post ran rampant. "The Governor of New York should immediately resign from office and allow the people of New York to pursue honest leadership. The American people are tired of corrupt and hypocritical politicians," said Republican Governors Association executive director Nick Ayers. "The Governor of New http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/03/spitzer_admits_involvement_in.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/03/spitzer_admits_involvement_in.html Governors Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:08:52 -0400 The surprise retirement of Gov. Matt Blunt (Mo.) has set off a free for all in Missouri as scads of Republican elected officials, members of Congress and leaders in the state legislature eye a chance to move up to the top of the political heap in the Show Me State. Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt's decision to step down after one term has resulted in a scramble in the state to find a Republican gubernatorial candidate. (AP) The Fix chatted with a number of Republican operatives this morning in an effort to sort through the scrum. Each warned that Blunt's announcement genuinely stunned the political class in Missouri and that there would be a series of meetings starting today aimed at sorting out the field. And, while most of the focus is on the Republican side, the name of Secretary of State Robin Carnahan -- daughter of former governor Mel and http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/01/blunts_retirement_creates_scra.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/01/blunts_retirement_creates_scra.html Governors Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:54:16 -0400 Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt (R) is not running for a second term as the Show Me State's chief executive this year, setting off a scramble to succeed him. Matt Blunt, right, outlines his health care plan during a Jan. 17 stop at A.T. Still University in Kirksville, Mo. (AP PHoto) The decision, according to those close to him, was not driven by political considerations but rather by a desire to spend more time with his family and a belief that he had accomplished much in his first term. Blunt is the son or Rep. Roy Blunt, the second-ranking Republican in the House. Blunt, however, did face serious political peril. He had struggled to beat back a number of problems -- including allegations of the improper dismissal of a former aide. Polling -- both public and private -- showed Blunt trailing state Attorney General Jay Nixon (D), and he was widely http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/01/matt_blunt_is_retiring.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/01/matt_blunt_is_retiring.html Governors Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:17:12 -0400 With the 2007 elections behind us, the gubernatorial landscape for 2008 is decidedly sparse. There are just 11 races on the slate for next November, and only four of those -- Indiana, Missouri, Washington and North Carolina -- are expected to be truly competitive. Thus, The Fix's eye has already started to wander to 2010, when 36 states will hold governors races. Due to term limits, nearly half of those (17) will be open seats. The governors' landscape is all the more important when you consider that the winners in 2010 will exert considerable influence over the decennial redistricting process that will reshape the lines of congressional and legislative districts across the country. Given the redistricting factor, fast-growing states like Arizona (where Democrat Janet Napolitano can't run again in 2010) and Georgia (where Republican Sonny Perdue is likewise term limited) will likely be crucial in determining the fate of the http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/11/the_line_high_stakes_in_2010_g.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/11/the_line_high_stakes_in_2010_g.html The Line Fri, 09 Nov 2007 05:00:12 -0400 The Fix is already past his self-imposed bed time but wanted to update tonight's happenings one more time before hitting the sack. Kentucky: The biggest news of the night was in the Bluegrass State where former Lt. Gov. Steve Beshear (D) crushed Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R) 59 percent to 41 percent. Fletcher had long been seen as a dead man walking politically; ethics problems in his first four years in office had badly hamstrung his reelection chances. Beshear restores Democratic control to the Kentucky governorship, an office that the party has held for all but four years since 1967. Elsewhere on the ballot, state Auditor Crit Luallen (D) was reelected with 59 percent, a margin sure to stoke speculation of a challenge to Sen. Mitch McConnell (R) in 2008. Virginia: Republicans appear to have lost control of the state Senate, as at least three Republican incumbents and a GOP-held open http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/11/the_results_are_still_coming_i.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/11/the_results_are_still_coming_i.html Governors Tue, 06 Nov 2007 23:48:45 -0400 Sure, it's an off-year election, but whenever voters vote, The Fix gets excited. We'll be monitoring some of the key races on the ballot tonight that could well have implications for 2008. Feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below. Kentucky: Former Lt. Gov. Steve Beshear (D) handily defeated Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R), 59-41 with results still coming in. That party switch offsets Democrats' loss in the Louisiana governor's race last month. Elsewhere on the ballot, state Auditor Crit Luallen (D) cruised to reelection, a win that could well serve as a springboard for a challenge to Sen. Mitch McConnell (R) in 2008 (more on that tomorrow). Jack Conway, who narrowly lost to then Rep. Anne Northup (R) in the 3rd District in 2002, will be Kentucky's next attorney general. Ohio: A bruising special election primary in Ohio's 5th District between state Rep. Bob Latta (R) and http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/11/the_results_are_coming_in.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/11/the_results_are_coming_in.html Governors Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:55:47 -0400 Rep. Bobby Jindal's outright victory in yesterday's Louisiana gubernatorial primary was the first piece of good electoral news for the Republican Party in months, prompting talk that the GOP is rebounding from the 2006 debacle. Rep. Bobby Jindal celebrates Saturday with his wife Supriya Jindal and his son Shaan Jindal in Baton Rouge, La., after winning the primary election for governor. Jindal will be the nation's youngest governor and the first non-white to hold the state's post since Reconstruction. (AP) Phil Musser, a former executive director at the Republican Governors Association, called Jindal's win a "crucial shot in the arm for the Republican Party at a critical time." Musser compared Jindal's win to 1993 victories by Rudy Giuliani and Richard Riordan -- as mayors of New York City and Los Angeles, respectively -- and to Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's (Texas) special-election win earlier that year. Calling those victories "harbingers of http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/10/lagov_what_it_means.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/10/lagov_what_it_means.html Governors Sun, 21 Oct 2007 17:44:29 -0400 From today's Post: "Rep. Bobby Jindal (R) became the nation's first Indian American governor Saturday, outpolling 11 rivals in Louisiana and drawing enough votes to avoid a runoff election next month. "With about 90 percent of the state's nearly 4,000 precincts reporting, Jindal had 53 percent of the vote. His nearest competitor, state Sen. Walter J. Boasso (D), had 18 percent." Full story. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/10/jindal_coasts_to_louisiana_gov.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/10/jindal_coasts_to_louisiana_gov.html Governors Sun, 21 Oct 2007 10:29:29 -0400 Note: Please upgrade your Flash plug-in to view our enhanced content. var thisObj = "flashobj101907_4v"; var so = new SWFObject("http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/mmedia/player/wpniplayer_blog.swf", thisObj, "454", "305", "8", "#ffffff"); so.addParam("allowScriptAccess", "always"); so.addParam("swfliveconnect", true); so.addVariable("thisObj", thisObj); so.addVariable("vid","101907-4v_title"); so.addVariable("playads", "yes"); so.addVariable("adserv",""); so.addVariable("autoStart", "no"); so.write("flashcontent101907_4v"); Tomorrow marks the first vote of the 2007-2008 cycle. It takes place down in Louisana where Rep. Bobby Jindal is trying to erase the memory of his narrow gubernatorial loss in 2003 by winning the seat outright in tomorrow's primary. To do that, Jindal must win more than 50 percent of the vote against a field that includes two free spenders -- state Sen. Walter Boasso (D) and businessman John Georges (I) -- as well as Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell (D). All sides acknowledge Jindal is very close to winning without a runoff. The outcome hinges on who decides to turn out tomorrow. One x-factor in the turnout equation: The http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/10/fixcam_betting_on_the_bayou.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/10/fixcam_betting_on_the_bayou.html Governors Fri, 19 Oct 2007 17:57:06 -0400 Note: Please upgrade your Flash plug-in to view our enhanced content. var thisObj = "flashobj091307_22v"; var so = new SWFObject("http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/mmedia/player/wpniplayer_blog.swf", thisObj, "454", "305", "8", "#ffffff"); so.addParam("allowScriptAccess", "always"); so.addParam("swfliveconnect", true); so.addVariable("thisObj", thisObj); so.addVariable("vid","091307-22v_title"); so.addVariable("playads", "yes"); so.addVariable("adserv",""); so.addVariable("autoStart", "no"); so.write("flashcontent091307_22v"); A quick look at the 14 governors races on the ballot in 2007 and 2008 reveals two tiers of races -- the Top Three ... and everyone else. The Top Three -- gubernatorial contests in Louisiana (2007), Kentucky (2007) and Missouri (2008) -- are real party-switching possibilities. The other 11 races simply aren't developed enough to be considered real turnover chances, although a handful (Indiana, North Carolina and Washington) are likely to move in that direction in the coming months. For now, there is a HUGE fall-off in terms of takeover potential between the Top Three and the other two races on the list below. That doesn't mean Nos. 4 and http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/09/the_line_3_governors_races_to.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/09/the_line_3_governors_races_to.html The Line Fri, 14 Sep 2007 07:14:21 -0400 Guest blogger Ed O'Keefe offers this item from the Hispanic journalists conference in San Jose, Calif.: SAN JOSE, CALIF. -- Donning a grey suit, green tie, and matching green snakeskin boots, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Calif.) Wednesday night criticized Washington's actions on global warming, suggesting "the federal government is asleep" on the issue of global climate change. The governor also said he has questions about the now-tabled Senate immigration reform package, but says it's important to come to an agreement on the issue this year. Schwarzenegger held a wide-ranging Q&A session at the opening of this year's National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) conference, affording him an audience with journalists and media types from across the country. He touched a nerve among some in the crowd by suggesting recent Latin American immigrants struggling to learn English "have got to turn off the Spanish television set," and should instead make use of http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/06/the_governator_on_immigration.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/06/the_governator_on_immigration.html Governors Thu, 14 Jun 2007 14:55:47 -0400 Democrats got exactly what they wanted last night in the Kentucky governor's race. Embattled Gov. Ernie Fletcher won the Republican primary while former Lt. Gov. Steve Beshear narrowly avoided a runoff on the Democratic side. Fletcher took the first step in what would be a remarkable political comeback by taking 50 percent of the vote in his three-way race against former Rep. Anne Northup and businessman Billy Harper. Northup, who held the Louisville-area 3rd district from 1996 until 2006, received 36.5 percent and Harper took 13 percent. As we wrote yesterday, the results make clear that there was a significant anti-Fletcher vote (Northup and Harper combined won roughly 50 percent of the total votes cast). But by splitting that segment of the electorate Northup and Harper nearly ensured a Fletcher victory. Beshear's outright win was more surprising. Given the six-candidate field it seemed more likely that Beshear and 2003 candidate http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/05/post_2.html http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/05/post_2.html Governors Wed, 23 May 2007 12:47:00 -0400