How Governors Win Where Their Party Loses: Case Studies in Minority Party Gubernatorial Success

Abstract

Winning governorships is the only realistic means of achieving divided state government in today’s polarized, nationalized electoral environment. Divided government performs an essential function in American democracy by providing constituents with a greater diversity of political perspectives than a unified and ideologically extreme government affords. Based on a collection of 25 original interviews with governors, senior staffers, top legislators, journalists, and interest group experts, this paper contends that the principles underlying successful campaigns and administrations of minority party governors are similar for Democrats and Republicans. The interviews support this hypothesis: authenticity, ideological and rhetorical moderation, keen instincts about when to run and which positions to fight for, and the ability to appeal to a diverse cross-section of voters are key in disparate state contexts. This paper primarily focuses on Republican governor Larry Hogan in deep-blue Maryland. Hogan’s success is then compared to that of other minority party governors. Similarities between their strategies provide a roadmap for restoring political diversity in state governments.