The Fix: governors
Your RNC keynote speaker: Chris Christie’s best moments
What will Chris Christie say in his Republican National Committee convention keynote speech?
We don’t know (sorry). But the New Jersey governor is one of the most prolific politicians on YouTube. So we can look at some of his greatest rhetorical moments for some hints.
Most of Christie’s greatest hits (which his office often records and promotes) had to do with his state’s long fight against teachers’ unions — a topic that will likely come up at the RNC.
Second time’s a charm? Past losers give it another go in top governor’s races
The top governor’s races this year, almost without exception, come with a strong dose of deja vu.
Of the six races that have graced our list of the most competitive contests this year — the now-completed Wisconsin recall being the one no longer listed in our top five below — all but one feature a candidate who fell short in a previous campaign for governor.
Rick Perry on tax returns: ‘I’m all about transparency’
Rick Perry says transparency is best, Karl Rove wanted Rubio, a super PAC ad star isn’t voting, and Republicans claim Obama hates small business owners.
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Florida voter purge fight isn’t over
The federal government is letting Florida use a Department of Homeland Security database of noncitizens to help purge voters from the state’s rolls. But voting rights activists say the fight over Republican Gov. Rick Scott’s controversial purge is far from over.
Gov. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) listens during the 2011 Governors Summit of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on June 20 in Washington, D.C. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)The agreement, a victory for Republicans, comes after months of back-and-forth between Scott’s administration and the federal government over access to the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements database, which is designed to determine eligibility for benefits — not voting.
Chris Christie gets in shouting match on Jersey Shore
Ice cream doesn’t cool down Chris Christie, Mitt Romney says he’s got plenty of detail, an Ohio restaurant owner dies after serving Obama breakfast and Jon Huntsman is going to the convention.
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Scott Walker raised $7 million in final days of recall
Scott Walker brought in $7 million , Thad McCotter wrote a racy script, Artur Davis is out on the trail again and Brad Pitt’s mom is writing letters to the editor.
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How Medicaid expansion will play in 2016 (or 2020)
Right now, opposition to the Affordable Care Act is high, and Republicans are competing over who can criticize it the most. But how will the law play in a few years? The reaction of Republican governors who might run for president in 2016 (or 2020 if Mitt Romney wins this November) provides some clues.
While some Republican governors have declared their intention to reject the funds, others have been more cautious. The Medicaid expansion doesn’t go into affect until 2014. Not only will it offer states more money for the uninsured, the measure has signficant support from the hospital industry.
Nikki Haley won’t take funds to expand Medicaid.
(Steve Jessmore - AP)
The Supreme Court ruled that state governments can opt out of the law’s Medicaid expansion, which covers all people with incomes at 133 percent of the federal poverty level or less. The federal government will pay the difference between current state coverage and the new standard until 2020, when it will cover 90 percent.
Bobby Jindal: Tofu and hybrid cars could be next
Bobby Jindal is becoming the face of Obamacare opposition, Anthony Weiner is (sort of) back, Mitt Romney is hush-hush on fundraising with Donald Trump and John Roberts is joking about Malta.
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Mitt Romney camp: No issue with Rick Scott
Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign is denying that the former Massachusetts governor told Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) to downplay economic progress in the state, an allegation reported by Bloomberg on Wednesday night. 
Rick Scott speaks during a bill signing ceremony for House Bill 99, the Florida Safe Harbor Act and House Bill 7049, Human Trafficking, at the Kristi House in Miami.
(Joe Raedle - GETTY IMAGES)
Citing two unidentified sources, Bloomberg reported that a Romney adviser told Scott's team to tone down its positive economic message and emphasize that the state’s jobless rate could improve faster under Romney.
“Governor Romney frequently praises [governors] for their ability to overcome the job-stifling policies of the Obama administration,” said Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul. “Any statement to the contrary is not in line with Governor Romney’s thoughts or his message.”
No one in the Romney inner circle nor Romney himself had any contact with Scott on his messaging on the economy, according to a senior Romney campaign source. Sources close to Scott insist that the story is “completely false.”
“It’s nice to have even Democrats and President Obama’s campaign pushing a story acknowledging the good job Governor Scott is doing in Florida, but no Romney official has asked Governor Scott or staff to change our message,” said Scott spokeswoman Jackie Schutz.
Florida’s voter purge explained
Laws designed to clamp down on voter fraud have been causing controversy all over the country. But in Florida, an attempt sparked by Gov. Rick Scott (R) to remove non-citizens from the voter rolls has become particularly heated, devolving into dueling lawsuits, with officials refusing to carry out directives from the secretary of state.
Florida Governor Rick Scott mingles with people after signing bills in Miami on June 12. The governor is in a legal battle with the U.S. Justice Department over the state's effort to remove non-U.S. citizens from lists of registered voters ahead of this year's presidential election.
(Joe Raedle - GETTY IMAGES)
The Department of Justice is suing the state over the purge. Florida is suing the Department of Homeland Security. What happened?
Was the Wisconsin recall inevitable?
One of the most damning things about the labor movement’s failed attempt to recall Gov. Scott Walker (R) a week ago is that it was an unforced error. Unions came at the king and missed.
But did they have a choice? Some national labor officials say they tried to dissuade Wisconsin unions and activists from going ahead with the recall campaign and simply could not.
Effort to recall Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder dies
Rick Snyder recall effort dies, Rick Scott is getting more unpopular, Obama clarifies his comments on the economy and Elizabeth Warren says she won’t back down.
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Wisconsin recall=Wisconsin 2010
The analysis of why Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker beat back the Democratic-led attempt to oust him from office on Tuesday continues to fly back and forth across the political world. (We have our own theories, which we explain here.)
Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker waves at his victory party Tuesday, June 5, 2012, in Waukesha, Wis. Walker defeated Democratic challenger Tom Barrett in a special recall election. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)But, for all of the words spilled about the “why”, Walker’s win can be boiled down into a single sentence: The recall electorate looks almost exactly like the 2010 governor’s race electorate where Walker first beat Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.
Barney Frank: Wisconsin recall was ‘big mistake’
Barney Frank weighs in, environmental groups are going on the air in New Mexico, House Democrats are reserving more time and the Green Party has a candidate.
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AFL-CIO tries to downplay Wisconsin recall
The AFL-CIO was heavily involved in the recall campaign against Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R). But on the day after Walker soundly defeated Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D), the union’s president downplayed the results and distanced the national organization from the recall effort.
“We didn’t decide on this recall,” Richard Trumka told reporters on a conference call this afternoon. “It was the workers in Wisconsin and the voters in Wisconsin who did.”
Washington, DC - March, 1: AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka in his office which overlooks the White House on March, 01, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post)
Trumka also repeatedly argued that the recall results had little larger siginficance for the labor movement, calling it an “an off-year special election.”
Wisconsin recall: Winners and losers
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s (R) decisive victory against Democrats seeking to recall him on Tuesday amounts to a major moment in national politics due to the massive amounts of national money and attention the race garnered.
Any time there are such high stakes in an election, there are people who win big and people who lose big. And we at the Fix love nothing more than sifting through the results to go beyond the obvious “bests” and “worsts” of the night to find a few winners and losers you might not have thought of.
Wisconsin Democrat appears to win state Senate recall
While Democrats suffered a decisive defeat in Tuesday’s Wisconsin gubernatorial recall, they may have successfully taken control of the state Senate.
Former state Sen. John Lehman (D) has declared victory over state Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine). The AP has not called the race yet, but with all precincts reporting Lehman leads by 779 votes. Wanggaard has not conceded.
Wisconsin recall is over, but division remains
When supporters of Gov. Scott Walker (R) booed Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D) Tuesday night, he hushed them: “The election is over.”
But supporters on both sides appeared less conciliatory than their leaders, and the deep divisions this recall has left on Wisconsin politics won’t likely fade soon. 
Republican Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (C) celebrates his victory in the recall election against Democratic challenger and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in Waukesha, Wisconsin June 5, 2012.
(DARREN HAUCK - REUTERS)
One Barrett supporter slapped the mayor when he conceded, saying he should have waited until all the votes were in. When Barrett said both sides would have to “work together,” he was booed by both his crowd in Milwaukee and the Walker supporters in Waukesha.
Unions flex muscle in early Wisconsin recall exit polls
Early exit polling in the Wisconsin gubernatorial recall election suggests that union household comprise roughly a third of all voters, a share of the vote that is higher than either of the last two presidential or gubernatorial elections held in the state.
Voters in the recall also tilt positively toward public sector unions in general, but not by a huge margin. Voters split about evenly in their support for changes to state law that limited the collective bargaining ability of government unions, an issue at the heart of recall effort.
Drawing broad conclusions about the shape of the electorate remains difficult due to the fact that these early exit poll reflect only morning and afternoon voters and can (and likely will) shift before polls close at 9 p.m. eastern time.
Still the preliminary numbers hint at answers to some key questions.
Wisconsin recall: 5 things to watch in the exit polls
Wisconsin exit poll numbers will begin to be released in fewer than two hours, giving poll watchers a mountain of data with which to begin parsing the recall election for Gov. Scott Walker (R).
A woman with her children cast her ballot Tuesday, June 5, 2012, in Milwaukee. Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker is taking on Democratic challenger Tom Barrett in a recall election. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
While we all wait for the numbers, here are five key factors to keep an eye on in the exit poll data.
Wisconsin recall spotlight shines on Waukesha county clerk Kathy Nickolaus
GREEN BAY, Wisc. — The Waukesha county clerk who bungled vote counts in two recent Wisconsin elections has agreed to step aside in the counting of tonight’s gubernatorial recall results. But critics say there’s no guarantee that Kathy Nickolaus still won’t be involved in the race between Gov. Scott Walker and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.
Calling themselves the The Concerned Citizens of Waukesha County, a group of residents emailed County Executive Dan Vrakas Monday and requested that County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus be banned from Tuesday’s election.
That group says it is bipartisan, but in reality its mostly comprised of Democrats who have raised concern about Nickolaus. A spokesman for We Are Wisconsin, the labor-backed coalition supporting Barrett, called her “the most incompetent or corrupt election clerk in America”, adding: “All evidence suggests she’s fully in charge.” (Talk about not pulling your punches!)
Wisconsin recall: A Fix prediction contest
Voters are voting in Wisconsin. And you know what that means: It’s time for another Fix prediction contest.
CLINTON, WI - JUNE 05: Charles Lankford leaves a voting booth after casting a ballot in the Wisconsin recall election June 5, 2012 in Clinton, Wisconsin. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, a Democrat, is trying to unseat Republican Governor Scott Walker in the recall election. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)That’s right. This is your chance to prove once and for all that you are the preeminent political prognosticator in the country (or at least on this blog) by submitting your prediction on how the Wisconsin recall will turn out tonight.
At dueling Wisconsin rallies, it’s all about Scott Walker
KENOSHA, Wisc. — “This is not about the word ‘I,’ Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett told a United Auto Workers hall in Kenosha Monday night. It was his final rally before Tuesday’s recall election against Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R). “This is about the word ‘we.’”
A few hours later, Walker told a crowd at Milwaukee’s American Serb Hall the same thing — that it’s not about him.
But on both sides, it is about Walker. And that’s part of why Republicans are feeling a little more confident heading into today’s vote.
Wisconsin recall: An exit poll interactive!
Eager for a jump start on election night analysis? Use the interacitve below to see which Wisconsin voters have voted in state elections from 2004 to 2010, and how they’ve cast their ballots. Roll over any datapoint to see the percentage of the electorate in each category.
We’ll have the new Wisconsin exit poll data — and new tools — in this space starting around 6 p.m. eastern.
Note, the 2004 and 2008 data are from presidential elections; the 2006 and 2010 from gubernatorial contests.
Happy parsing.
Wisconsin recall: Two potential surprises
MADISON - Everyone who follows politics (which is everyone, right?) knows Gov. Scott Walker (R-Wis.) faces a recall election Tuesday night.
But regardless of what happens between Walker and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D), the results could be a split decision in a couple of ways.
The first and far more likely scenario: Democrats lose the governor’s race but win control of the state Senate.
The recall of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker explained
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) is fighting for his political life in Tuesday’s recall election in the Badger State.
But what’s up with the recall? And how does it work?
We explained it all last year when several Republican state senators faced similar recalls. Here’s an updated version for the Walker race:
Wisconsin recall: An un-civil war
Democrats and Republicans in Wisconsin can agree on one thing — their state is at war.
The recall campaign against Gov. Scott Walker (R) has divided friends, family members, even spouses. Whether Walker keeps his seat or loses to Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D) next Tuesday, the wounds created by this race will take a long time to heal.
Bill Clinton headed to Wisconsin for recall fight
Former president Bill Clinton is headed to Wisconsin to aid the Democratic cause in the final days of the recall election against Gov. Scott Walker (R).
Democratic National Committee Chairman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said Wednesday on a trip to the state that Clinton was “in the process of sorting out his schedule.” 
President Bill Clinton waves to the crowd after speaking during the West Texas A&M Distinguished Lecture Series Tuesday, April 24, 2012.
(Michael Norris / Amarillo Globe-News)
As first reported by the Plum Line, Clinton made up his mind on Thursday to wade into the contentious race.
“Folks in Wisconsin have been on the front lines of fighting for working, middle-class families across America for more than 16 months,” the former president said in a statement. “I'm coming to Wisconsin to help Tom and the extraordinary grassroots volunteers on the ground.”
Scott Walker leads by 7 in latest Wisconsin recall poll
Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker has widened his lead over Milwaukee Democratic Mayor Tom Barrett heading into next Tuesday’s recall election, according to a new Marquette University poll.
Among likely voters, Walker leads 52 to 45 percent in the June 5 race sparked by his collective bargaining reforms. In Marquette’s last survey, taken in mid-May, Walker led by six points.
Wisconsin recall: Scott Walker enters final week with edge
A week from today, Wisconsin voters will decide whether to recall Gov. Scott Walker (R) or not, an outcome that remains possible if not likely, according to sources closely following the race.
Many Democrats — led by organized labor — have cast the Wisconsin contest as a referendum on what they believe to be a drastic overreach of power by a Republican elected governor in 2010.
Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett satisfied Obama was born in United States
President Obama will be on the ballot in Arizona after all.
Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett (R), who earlier this month requested more information from Hawaii on President Obama’s birth certificate, has gotten the confirmation he needed. 
U.S. President Barack Obama's birth certificate that was released by the White House in Washington April 27, 2011. (REUTERS/The White House/Handout)
“Late yesterday, our office received the 'verification in-lieu of certified copy' from officials within the Hawaii Department of Health that we requested in March,” Bennett said in a statement released Wednesday afternoon. “They have officially confirmed that the information in the copy of the Certificate of Live Birth for the President matches the original record in their files.”
Internal Democratic polling shows dead heat in Wisconsin recall
Gov. Scott Walker (R) is not safe in next month’s recall election, Wisconsin Democrats say.
Walker has been pulling ahead of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D) in polls on the June 5 recall election sparked by the governor’s collective bargaining reforms. But internal polling from We Are Wisconsin, a labor-backed coalition supporting the recall, finds a dead heat.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel endorses Scott Walker
In a blow to Democrats hoping to unseat Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker in a June 5 recall election, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has endorsed the Republican governor over Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D).
The paper’s editorial board argued that while Walker did go too far last year in stripping most public employees of their collective bargaining rights, that policy was not enough to justify a recall.
DNC pushes back on Wisconsin recall criticism
The Democratic National Committee is aggressively pushing back against the idea that it is not doing enough to help the effort to recall Gov. Scott Walker in Wisconsin, insisting that the party is marshalling its considerable grassroots and turnout operation to aid Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.
The DNC has directed $1.4 million to Wisconsin so far in the 2012 cycle with $800,000 of that coming since November, according to figures provided to the Fix. Nearly a quarter million of those dollars have been directed to the state party.
Scott Walker leads in new Wisconsin recall poll
Gov. Scott Walker (R) is up six points over Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D) in a new Wisconsin gubernatorial recall poll from Marquette Law School.
Walker leads Barrett 50 to 44 among 600 likely voters in the school’s first survey since the May 8 Democratic primary. Their last poll, released May 2, showed a dead heat.
The recall, sparked by Walker’s elimination of collective bargaining rights for most* public employees in early 2011, is only a few weeks away.
Scott Walker said budget strategy in Wisconsin was ‘divide and conquer’
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) said early in 2011 that he was going to institute a “divide and conquer” strategy when it came to the state’s budgeting process, including stripping public employee unions of their collective bargaining rights, according to just-released documentary footage.
“We’re going to start in a couple weeks with our budget adjustment bill,” Walker said when a campaign donor asked him how he would turn the state red. “The first step is, we’re going to deal with collective bargaining for all public employee unions [and] use divide and conquer.”
Colorado governor calls special session to deal with civil unions
Civil unions might survive in Colorado, Ron Paul supporters face a backlash in Iowa, Mitt Romney is still against gay marriage and Sarah Palin endorses in the competitive Nebraska Senate primary.
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Tom Barrett wins Wisconsin recall primary
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has won the Democratic primary to face Gov. Scott Walker (R) in a recall election next month.
The recall will be a rematch. Barrett lost to Walker by five points in 2010. Since then, Walker has been under fire from unions for stripping public employees of their collective bargaining rights.
“Tonight, I am humbled by and grateful for the support of Wisconsinites across our great state,” Barrett said in a statement. “[W]e are united in knowing that we must work together to end Scott Walker’s ideological civil war.”
Barrett was not the preferred candidate of the public employee unions who sparked the recall. That was former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk. But Barrett benefited from higher name recognition and political establishment support.
North Carolina passes gay marriage ban Amendment One
North Carolina voters have passed a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage today via a statewide ballot measure, according the Associated Press.
North Carolina already had a statute banning gay marriage. Amendment One declares that “marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state” — vague language that opponents say could threaten domestic partnership protections for all couples while closing the door to any sort of same-sex unions. 
A sign displays a message opposed to gay marriage in front of the Devon Park United Methodist Church polling site on Tuesday, May 8, 2012, in Wilmington, N.C.
(Ken Blevins - AP)
Amendment One polls give edge to North Carolina gay marriage ban
The latest polling in North Carolina suggests the state’s voters will choose to ban same-sex unions via referendum today, even as popular opinion nationwide trends in support of gay marriage.
North Carolina already bans gay marriage by statute. Amendment One goes beyond confining marriage to heterosexual couples; it amends the constitution to also makes marriage between a man and a woman “the only domestic legal union” recognized in the state.
Opponents argue that the ban will endanger legal benefits for unmarried couples, gay and straight, as well as protections for victims of domestic violence. Retiring Gov. Bev Perdue (D) called the vote on Amendment One “our Rosa Parks moment” in an interview with NBC’s Chuck Todd on Tuesday.
Wisconsin recall primary: Tom Barrett headed for victory
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D) will likely be chosen today by Wisconsin Democrats to take on Gov. Scott Walker (R) in a June recall election.
Democrats launched the recall against Walker last fall, in response to the governor’s move to strip public employee unions of collective bargaining rights.
Recall campaigns last summer took down two Republican state senators. Because he did not take office until January of 2011, under Wisconsin law Walker himself was not eligible for recall until this year. Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch (R) and four more Republican state senators face recalls.
Polls show Barrett with a solid double-digit lead over former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk in the recall primary, with state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout and Secretary of State Doug La Folette far behind.
Planned Parenthood fight continues at state level
While the national fight over Planned Parenthood has died down for now, Republican governors and legislators in numerous states have fought to defund the group.
The use of federal funds for abortion services is already barred under the Hyde Amendment, but many states have cut off or attempted to cut funding for Planned Parenthood altogether.
Opponents of the group argue that any public money for the Planned Parenthood ultimately helps support abortion. But supporters of Planned Parenthood are using the cutting of family planning and women’s health care funds as part of the argument that Republicans have waged a “war on women.”
Wisconsin recall election: Poll shows dead heat
A new Marquette Law School poll finds the Wisconsin gubernatorial recall all tied up.
Among registered voters, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D) leads Gov. Scott Walker (R) 47 to 46 percent in the June 5 recall election. Among likely voters, Walker leads by one point, 48 to 47 percent.
A mid-April survey from Public Policy Polling found Walker with a narrow lead.
DGA-aligned group launches response ad in Montana governor’s race
The ad war in the Montana governor’s race is officially on, with a group affiliated with the Democratic Governors Association going up with an ad responding to Republican attacks.
A state GOP ad earlier this week, partially funded by the Republican Governors Association, hit state Attorney General and presumptive Democratic nominee Steve Bullock for not joining on to a lawsuit, filed by other state attorneys general, that seeks to overturn President Obama’s health care law.
In response, the Democrats’ ad, from the DGA-affiliated group Montana Jobs, Energy, and Technology (JET) PAC, says Bullock saved the state thousands of dollars by declining to take part in the suit.
Scott Walker leads Democratic rivals in new Wisconsin recall poll
A good poll for Scott Walker, a not-so-good poll for President Obama, a Republican Hispanic outreach effort and a penguin bite.
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Our top 10 most popular governors, revisited
The Fix loves feedback. (Really we do!)
And when we put together our (admittedly subjective) list of the top 10 most popular governors in the country on Wednesday, we got plenty of it — almost all of it devoted to the governors who were left off our list.
So, we decided to revisit the subject — taking into account some of the most cited snubs from our list. They’re below. Enjoy!
The nation’s 10 most popular governors — and why
It’s hard out there for a governor. (With apologies to the Three 6 Mafia.)
Tough economic times are rough on all politicians, but even more difficult for governors who have to find ways to balance their budgets. And, not surprisingly, most governors have paid a political price for the difficult budgeting decisions they have had to make.
Governors like Florida’s Rick Scott (R), Ohio’s John Kasich (R), Illinois’ Pat Quinn (D) and Connecticut’s Dan Malloy (D) struggled mightily in their first year-plus in office, and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) is even getting recalled this year.
But there are exceptions to every rule. And, some governors have remained strikingly popular in the midst of the economic turmoil sweeping the states. Below, we look at the 10 who have found ways to rise above the fray.
Tom Barrett out with first recall ad: ‘End the civil war in Wisconsin’
Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Kathleen Falk (D) came out with her first ad of the recall election Monday. Now her chief rival in the May 8 primary, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, has entered the fray.
Like Falk, Barrett argues that a state that prides itself on civility has been misled. Unlike Falk, Barrett names the man he holds responsible and hopes to unseat — Gov. Scott Walker (R).
Susana Martinez: I will not be vice president
Susana Martinez says no and means it, Santorum’s daughter should be out of the hospital soon, Mitch McConnell says there’s no “war on women” and Mark Pryor says he won’t campaign with Obama.
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Wisconsin recall election’s first Democratic ad up from Kathleen Falk
The first Democratic ad in the Wisconsin gubernatorial recall election is out.
Former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk doesn’t mention Gov. Scott Walker (R) in her first campaign spot, but she does say that “today our leaders have lost sight of” Wisconsin values.
“They made decisions in secret and shut the people out,” she said, an implicit reference to the collective bargaining legislation that sparked the recall. “They didn’t trust us with the truth.”
Public unions target Democrat in Wisconsin recall
Democrats want the Wisconsin recall election to be all about getting rid of Scott Walker, the polarizing governor who instituted controversial collective bargaining laws.
But right now, a number of prominent labor unions are training their fire not on Walker but on Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, one of the Democrats who hopes to replace him.
Tom Barrett running in Wisconsin recall election
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D) has made it official — he’s running against Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) in this summer’s recall election.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker addresses workers at Technical Metal Specialists Inc. in Milwaukee Friday, March 30, 2012, hours after a state elections board confirmed that a recall election against him will go forward. (AP Photo/Denish Ramde)The recall, triggered by Walker’s collective barganing policies, was certified today. A new NBC/Marist Poll found the race between Walker and a generic Democrat would be too close to call.
RGA goes to bat for Scott Walker in Wisconsin with new ad
The Republican Governors Association is out with its first ad supporting Gov. Scott Walker (R) in Wisconsin’s likely recall election.
The clever ad uses an elevator to attack two leading Democratic rivals to Walker, Milwaulkee Mayor Tom Barrett and former Dane County executive Kathleen Falk, as tax-raising job killers. (Barrett, who lost to Walker in 2010, has yet to decide on a bid.)
Rob McKenna’s chance to beat the odds in Washington state
For months, polls have shown Rep. Jay Inslee (D) trailing Attorney General Rob McKenna (R) in Washington state’s gubernatorial race.
While one recent survey shows a tie, we’re talking about a state that went for President Obama in 2008 by 17 points. While Obama likely won’t do as well this fall, no one on either side expects the president to have a tough race here. Washington hasn’t elected a Republican governor since 1981.
What North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue’s exit means
It’s a new race in North Carolina following Gov. Bev Perdue’s (D) decision not to run for reelection.
But is it any more competitive?
For an entire year, now, North Carolina has topped The Fix’s governor’s line, meaning it is the 2012 governor’s seat seen as most likely to switch parties.
President Obama points to manufactured parts used in commercial aircraft during his tour of the WestStar Precision Facility in Apex, N.C., in September. From left are employee Jodi Park, North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue (D), and owner Ervin Portman. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais — Associated Press)
Much of that, though was premised on Perdue’s vulnerabilities, which means Democrats’ chances, theoretically at least, could be better with her out of the race.
Whether that’s the case is up for debate.
Scott Walker leads in Wisconsin recall poll
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) is ahead in his likely recall election even as his campaign raises — and spends — millions of dollars in expectation of a tough race later this year.
According to a new Marquette Law School poll the governor leads Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, a likely candidate, 50 percent to 44 percent. He leads former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, the only declared Democratic candidate, 49 percent to 42 percent margin, former Rep. David Obey 49 percent to 43 percent and state Sen. Tim Cullen 50 percent to 40 percent.
Kathleen Falk first candidate in Wisconsin recall race
The recall election against Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) won’t be official for months, but one Democrat has already declared her candidacy. Former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk launched her bid Wednesday.
“Yesterday, the grassroots movement that began a year ago made history,” she said in a YouTube video sent to supporters. She says she “traveled around the state doing all I can to help the signature-counting” and that “together, we will continue to make history.”
2012 to be a trying year for DGA
Democratic Governors Association Chairman Martin O’Malley (Md.) was just re-eleected to his post after a pretty darn good 2011.
O’Malley’s committee held governorships in two tough states — West Virginia and Kentucky – 2012 figures to be a much tougher slate of races for the rising Democratic star (and potential 2016 presidential candidate).
Afternoon Fix: Maloney to run against Tomblin again
A rematch brewing in West Virginia, Romney’s campaign has revealed its Iowa strategy, trouble for Bev Perdue and an aplogy from Sam Brownback.
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Can anyone stop Ovide Lamontagne?
After three unsuccessful bids for office, the stars appeared to be aligning for Republican businessman Ovide Lamontagne to win the New Hampshire governorship in 2012.
He declared his gubernatorial bid back in September, just a few days before Gov. John Lynch (D) announced he would retire, a decision that reset the political calculus in the state. And, since Lamontagne lost a primary to Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) in 2010, he has emerged as something of a conservative kingmaker in the Granite State.
Scott Walker: The mechanics of a Wisconsin governor recall
At midnight Monday night, Wisconsin Democrats and labor activists kicked off their campaign to recall Gov. Scott Walker (R).
Petitions were also filed to recall the lieutenant governor, Rebecca Kleefisch (R), and three Republican state senators — Pam Galloway, Terry Moulton, and Van Wanggaard.
Depending on whether recall signatures that must be gathered by early January 2012 are deemed valid, the recall would be slated for March 27. If there are primaries on either side, the recall would be delayed to April 24. But delays because of legal challenges are likely and expected.
Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear wins reelection easily
Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear (D) won reelection easily on Tuesday, overcoming a tough economy in a conservative state to sail to a second term in office.
Election returns Tuesday night showed Beshear leading state Senate President David Williams (R) 57 percent to 32 percent with about half of the vote in. The AP has called he race in Beshear’s favor.
Live-blogging the 2011 election!
Voters are voting across in the country in the 2011 off-year elections!
A woman enters a polling place during election day at Midland School, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011 in Paramus, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)The focus will be on ballot measures in Ohio (on collective bargaining rights for public-sector unions) and Mississippi (on personhood for a fertilized egg) but there are a slew of other interesting races across the country including: battle for control of the state Senates in Virginia and Iowa, governors races in Kentucky and Mississippi and a special House election in Oregon’s 1st district.
The Fix posse — Fix original recipe, FixAaron and FixRachel — will be keeping an eye on all the results throughout the night via our handy, dandy live-blog. We’ll get started around 7 p.m.
Come and hang out! In the meantime, check our our look at the five big questions that voters will answer tonight.
Election 2011 Fix prediction contest
If it’s an election day that means it’s time for a Fix prediction contest. You guess the results in a handful of the most hotly-contested votes and we give the winner an official Fix t-shirt. It’s just that simple.
So, in the comments section below, offer your predictions — with percentages! — on the following races:
The Appalachian Bubble
Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear is a Democrat in a conservative state that is currently experiencing plenty of economic hardship. He’s been tied to an unpopular Democratic president and faced millions of dollars being spent against him.
Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear (D) greets supporter Ron Winkler at the kick-off of a bus tour at his campaign headquarters last month in Lexington. (AP Photo/ James Crisp)
And we would be shocked if he doesn’t win reelection by double digits on Tuesday.
It’s all part of an emerging trend that The Fix likes to call the Appalachian Bubble.
DCCC Chairman suggests Jan Brewer should be impeached
At a briefing with reporters Friday morning, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) responded to the unfolding redistricting war in Arizona by suggesting that residents attempt to impeach Gov. Jan Brewer (R).
“I think Arizonans should consider impeaching Jan Brewer,” Israel said today, adding that he knew the situation well because he has family in the state.
No good news for Obama in 2011 Virginia races
Virginia’s 2011 state Senate races have become a national battleground, with money pouring in from both sides for a fight that Republicans are hoping to turn into a referendum on President Obama.
Democrats currently control the state Senate by a tenuous 22 to 18 majority. If Republicans win three seats in the chamber on Nov. 8, they will control the governor’s mansion and both chambers of the key legislature in this all-important swing state. If they win two seats, Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling will have the tie-breaking vote in the state’s upper chamber.
Afternoon Fix: Romney attacked over Ohio silence
Mitt Romney is taking heat for his (lack of a) position on the Ohio union fight, Elizabeth Warren used to be a Republican, Newt Gingrich is Bruce Willis, and Rick Perry wishes people would stop asking him about that whole birth certificate thing.
Make sure to sign up to get “Afternoon Fix” in your e-mail inbox every day by 5 (ish) p.m.!
Ohio’s union fight: What you need to know
On Nov. 8, Ohio voters will go to the polls to decide a collective barganing issue. The fight is another chance for unions to show their clout in the Midwest.
At issue is Senate bill 5 (SB5), legislation passed by Republican lawmakers and signed in April by Gov. John Kasich (R) that limits collective bargaining rights for about 350,000 Ohio public workers.
Why Bobby Jindal (still) matters
Unless you are a huge political junkie, you likely missed the news on Saturday night that Louisiana Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal won a second term.
It was a marked changed from this time four years ago when Jindal’s victory — he was the first Indian American to win a governorship — drew national headlines and installed him as a major rising star within the GOP.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal wins reelection
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) was easily reelected to a second term on Saturday avoiding a November runoff.
Jindal was winning nearly 70 percent of the vote, according to the Associated Press, leading teacher Tara Hollis (D) among others. Jindal needed just 50 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff and win a second term in office.
GOP struggles to land top-tier talent in top-targeted Missouri
By all accounts, Missouri should be fertile territory for the Republican Party to win both a Senate seat and the governor’s mansion in 2012. After all, it was basically the only swing state President Obama lost in 2008, and his approval rating there is just plain awful at the moment.
The problem for Republicans has been finding someone — anyone — who is up to the task.
Rick Perry’s greatest Republican debate misses
Texas Gov. Rick Perry has become known in a few short weeks as a bad debater. As we get ready for tonight’s Washington Post/Bloomberg News debate, he has a chance to set things right — or to reinforce a narrative that he cannot hold his own on stage. Here are some of the lowlights of Perry’s debate performances so far.
Democrats face uphill climb in 2012 governors races
Democrats’ victory in the West Virginia governor’s race on Tuesday effectively brings to an end the 2011 gubernatorial season — or at least the competitive races.
But, never fear because the big governors races of 2012 are beginning to take shape. And it’s already clear that Democrats have their work cut out for them.
Sarah Palin not running for president
Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin announced Wednesday evening that she would not be running for president in 2012.
On the Mark Levin radio show Wednesday evening, Palin said she believed she would have more impact outside of the race. The decision ends over a year of speculation about the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee’s plans.
“Not being a candidate, really you are unshackled and you’re able to be even more active,” she told Levin. “I need to be able to say what I want to say.”
West Virginia governor’s race prediction contest: We have a winner!
Tuesday’s special election for governor of West Virginia was a big win for Democrats.
But it was also a big win for one loyal Fix reader. That’s because he (or she?) predicted the exact percentages that each candidate would get.
Our winner, “terry37,” correctly guessed that Acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin (D) would beat Republican Bill Maloney, 50 percent to 47 percent.
Due to that Nostradamus-like prediction, “terry37” has won the most coveted prize of all: an official Fix t-shirt. If you are “terry37,” make sure to send an email to chris.cillizza (at) wpost.com with a mailing address and a preferred size for your t-shirt.
And kudos to “charri68,” who was just one point off on Maloney’s final percentage.
Didn’t win? Never fear. There are lots of elections — and Fix prediction contests — to come!
Democrats hold on in West Virginia governor’s race
Acting West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin (D) won the state’s special election for governor Tuesday, avoiding what could have been an embarrassing loss for President Obama and his party.
The Associated Press affirmed Tomblin’s victory over Republican businessman Bill Maloney shortly after 9 p.m. eastern time.
Fix prediction contest: West Virginia governor’s race!
Voters are voting in West Virginia!
And that, of course, means a Fix prediction contest. The rules are pretty easy. Tell us the percentage of the vote (no decimals, math nerds) that Acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin (D) and Republican challenger Bill Maloney will get when all the results are tabulated.
Need a primer? Check out our posts on the race.
(HINT: There are three third-party candidates who are likely to take some of the vote, so the total of Tomblin and Maloney may not — and likely won’t — equal 100.)
Polls close in West Virginia at 7:30 p.m. — blessedly early! — so any predictions made after that time will be disqualified. And you must make your prediction in the comments section to be eligible for the much-coveted official Fix t-shirt.
The West Virginia governor’s race and the enthusiasm gap
For the second time in less than one month, voters in an unusual but heavily Democratic area are heading to the polls with the possibility of electing a Republican.
Operatives on both sides say Tuesday’s special election for governor of West Virginia will be close, and Republicans are ready to pounce on the results as proof that President Obama is dragging down Democrats across the country — just as he did three weeks ago in the special congressional election Democrats lost in New York’s 9th district.
Chris Christie to hold 1 p.m. press conference, will announce he’s not running
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) will hold a press conference at 1 p.m. today, a spokeswoman says. He is expected to announce that he is not running for president.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks during the Perspectives on Leadership Forum at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011. Gov. Christie warned Tuesday that America's promise is being menaced from within, as a troubled U.S. economy, shaky leadership and political gridlock diminish the nation's ability to solve its problems. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
(Jae C. Hong - AP)
After months of denying any interest in the presidency, even suggesting he would commit suicide to stop the 2012 rumors, Christie in recent days opened up to the idea.
With Texas Gov. Rick Perry flailing in debates and sinking in polls, many Republicans have begged Christie to jump in. At the same time, a new Washington Post-ABC News poll suggests that Christie’s impact on the race would not be as large as expected.
Thirty-four percent of Republicans and GOP leaners in the survey said they preferred that Christie not run in 2012, while another 24 percent either didn’t know or had no opinion on the prospect of a Christie presidential bid.
If he had decided to run, Christie would have had to mobilize quickly. The new primary calendar, which is likely to push the first contest up to early January or even 2011, has made it even more difficult for a late entrant to develop the organization needed in early states.
More on PostPolitics
Polling shows mixed support for Christie groundswell
Obama drags down Democrat in West Virginia governor’s race
President Obama’s unpopularity is threatening Democrats’ hold on the governor’s mansion in West Virginia.
Sources close to Tuesday’s special election for the remaining year on now-Sen. Joe Manchin’s (D-W.Va.) term as governor say the race continues to move in favor of Republican nominee Bill Maloney, who appears to be winning over the many undecided voters in the state. The race is now looking more and more like a toss-up, though Democrats remain confident they will pull it out in the end.
What was Bev Perdue thinking?
On Tuesday, during a Q & A at a rotary club meeting, North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue (D) made a very odd suggestion. Asked what she could do to turn around the economy, Perdue gave a rambling, two-minute answer that included this tidbit:
“I think we ought to suspend, perhaps, elections for Congress for two years and just tell them we won't hold it against them, whatever decisions they make, to just let them help this country recover. I really hope that someone can agree with me on that. You want people who don't worry about the next election.”
Is West Virginia the next New York 9th?
A culturally conservative but Democratic-leaning electorate goes to the polls in an off-year and delivers a big victory for Republicans and a big defeat for Obama.
It’s the story that just played out in New York’s 9th congressional district special election, but could it happen in the West Virginia governor’s race two and a half weeks from now?
New Hampshire governor won’t seek reelection
New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch (D) announced Thursday that he will not seek reelection in 2012, paving the way for what is expected to be a competitive open seat race.
Lynch, who in his fourth two-year term is already New Hampshire’s longest-serving governor, said the state needed to try somebody else.
Bobby Jindal to endorse Rick Perry
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal will endorse Rick Perry for president, becoming the second major GOP governor to offer a presidential endorsement Monday.
A source close to Jindal confirms the endorsement, which was first reported by CNN’s Mark Preston.
Jindal, who is often thought to be a potential future presidential candidate himself, has worked closely with Perry on hurricane-related issues and, as the governor of a neighboring Southern state, was a logical pick to back the Texas governor.
Earlier Monday, former presidential candidate and Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty endorsed Mitt Romney for president.
Both Pawlenty and Jindal are expected to serve as important surrogates in the 2012 race.
All eyes on New Hampshire in 2012 governors races
As Republican gubernatorial candidates in Kentucky and Missouri have utterly fizzled, the GOP’s attention has turned to other states like West Virginia and Washington looking for opportunities to grow their nationwide majority of governorships.
The latest potential Republican opportunity? New Hampshire with a big “if”. That “if”? If Democratic Gov. John Lynch (D) decides to retire.
If the popular Lynch runs for reelection, the GOP can probably forget any chance of picking up the seat. If he doesn’t, however, it’s likely to be a very competitive race.
So, will he or won’t he?
Chris Christie still not running for president (Part 52)
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has been elected vice chairman of the Republican Governors Association, the latest in a long line of indications that he won’t run for president in 2012.
President Barack Obama is greeted by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in Newark, N.J., as he travels to Paterson, N.J., to view flood damage caused by Hurricane Irene, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
The RGA announced the Christie move this morning. The organization also named Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker to an open slot on the the RGA’s executive committee.
“No governors better exemplify the type of leadership our country needs right now than Governors Chris Christie and Scott Walker,” RGA Chairman Bob McDonnell said in a statement.
Is Peter Kinder doomed?
Peter Kinder (left) is accused by TammyChapman (right) of behaving inappropriately at the strip club where she worked 17 years. ago.
(Kelley McCall/Jeff Roberson - AP Photos)
The likely campaign of Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder (R) has been marked by gaffes — even before a photograph of him with a former stripper at a bar that has “pantless parties” surfaced in a local alt-weekly. Now the Republican who hopes to take on Gov. Jay Nixon (D) next year has been forced to deny that he harassed the woman in a strip club 17 years ago.
Kinder, who is 57 and unmarried, says he just stopped in the bar in April to use the bathroom and have a glass of wine. Tammy Chapman recognized him and asked him to pose for a photograph. He did watch her dance at a strip club, he said, but it was decades ago and he never tried to touch her or pursue her.
Chapman says that back in the 1990s, Kinder was a frequent strip club customer who agressively courted her and touched her inappropriately during lap dances. When he came into the bar earlier this year, she said, he invited her to live in his condo.
But in rural Missouri (Nixon’s home territory) family values remain a major issue for many voters.
After days of near-silence on the woman’s accusations, Kinder awkwardly explained his “romantic attraction” to Chapman with the Dean Martin song “Let’s Be Friendly.”
Yet he has survived — for now — in part because of a strong Democratic governor and a weak field of other potential candidates. (Kinder has yet to formally announce his campaign but is expected to do so in September.)
Wisconsin recalls: Victory, not necessarily vindication, for Republicans
Georgene Voutila, left, and Judy Beehler find a seat on the floor as they wait for returns at Democrat Sandy Pasch's election night party in the Sheraton Hotel in Brown Deer, Wis., on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Benny Sieu)The Wisconsin recalls on Tuesday wound up being something short of the game-changing contests they were supposed to be.
In the end, Republicans notched an overall victory, but not necessarily a mandate for the policies that led to the recalls.
Democrats were able to unseat two Republicans – albeit one in a pretty Democratic district and another who had pretty serious personal liabilities – but fell short of winning the third seat they needed to retake the majority in the chamber.
As the New York Times’s Nate Silver points out, all but the district mentioned above are essentially swing districts. So the GOP won three of five swing districts.
As far as that goes, this was a win for Republicans. Democrats and organized labor banked on dissatisfaction with Gov. Scott Walker’s (R) budget and his move to strip public employee unions of collective bargaining rights. In the end, there was hardly the groundswell that the left was looking for.
But do Republicans come out of this smelling like roses? Not quite.
Bryant wins GOP Mississippi governor primary
Mississippi Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant has won the Republican nomination in the state’s open governor’s race, and will be the favorite to succeed Gov. Haley Barbour (R).
Bryant won the GOP primary going away and will avoid a primary runoff, according to the AP.
Whom he faces is still up in the air. Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny Dupree and businessman Bill Luckett are headed for an Aug. 23 runoff on the Democratic side. Dupree led Luckett 44 percent to 40 percent with 80 percent of precincts reporting.
Barbour is term-limited and cannot run for reelection.
The 5 most competitive governors races in the country
The debt ceiling debate is dominating the news out of Washington today. But it is Friday and that means the Fix Friday Line.
Our rankings of the five governors race considered most likely to change parties between now and November 2012 are after the jump.
Have thoughts on our rankings or have some of your own? The comments section awaits.
Blagojevich found guilty on 17 counts
Appearing to end a long but politically undamaging saga for the White House, former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich (D) was found guilty Monday on 17 counts of corruption, including for attempting to sell President Obama’s former Senate seat for personal gain.
Blagojevich, who survived a mistrial last year, wasn’t so lucky Monday, as the jury returned to find him guilty on all but three of 20 counts, not guilty on one count, and deadlocked on two others. He faces decades in jail.
Blagojevich was convicted of wire fraud, attempted extortion, bribery and conspiracy. He was found not guilty of soliciting a bribe from a construction executive. The jury deadlocked on whether he tried to extort now-Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel , who at the time was a member of Congress.
The verdict ends — apparently — a long saga that has hung over the Obama White House but never really cost it anything politically.
Andrew Cuomo, 2016 frontrunner?
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, center, hands pens to legislators after signing into law a bill legalizing same-sex marriage, at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y., on Friday, June 24, 2011. Behind Cuomo, from left, are Assemblyman Matthew Titone, Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell, Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy, Sen. Thomas Duane and Sen. James Alesi. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)The passage of a same-sex marriage bill late Friday night in New York drew considerable national coverage to the Empire State and was broadly touted as a major victory for first term Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
It’s also stoked talk that Cuomo is rapidly transforming himself into a first among equals when it comes to the jockeying for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination.
“It’s not just that he delivered on a major civil rights issue for the Democratic base in a huge state, it’s how he did it — winning bipartisan support and sticking with it when it seemed it might fail,” said Democratic consultant Jason Ralston. “Combine that with his name and his focus on the middle class and he is at the front of the pack for 2016.”
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