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New York: In-Fighting Divides Democrats Over Nominee

State Capital Strategies
Friday, June 5, 1998

Democrats remain divided on choosing a gubernatorial nominee. The state convention process gave two candidates out of a field of five the nod to face Gov. George Pataki (R). New York City Council Speaker Peter Vallone led the convention delegate count, but fell short of the 50.1 percent majority necessary to receive the "party designee" title.

Brooklyn District Attorney Charles "Joe" Hynes followed Vallone. Former state Transportation Commissioner Jim Larocca fell just short of garnering the 25 percent needed for automatic inclusion in the primary, but is likely to try to get on the ballot via petition drive.

Lt. Gov. Betsy McCaughey Ross also plans a petition drive. She did not attempt to get on the ballot through the convention process, as she only joined the Democratic Party in September 1997. But sources report her supporters were working at the convention. She allegedly asked delegates committed to her to vote for either Larocca or Hynes in the balloting, to keep Vallone from receiving the title of "party designee".

Urban Development Corp. chief Richard Kahan withdrew from the race before the first balloting, citing lack of financial resources.

Alabama: GOP Growth Reflected in Primary Turnout

The June 2 GOP primary for governor drew a record number of voters – more than 300,000 Republicans went to the polls, thrashing the 1996 turnout record of 215,000. In addition, Republican voters outnumbered Democrats for the first time in Alabama primary history, though Democrats fielded few hotly contested primaries.

Incumbent Gov. Fob James will face moderate businessman Winton Blount in a June 30 GOP runoff, despite his support from prominent national conservatives. Blount must rally his supporters for a second election in one month, and James must face a new factor: Democrats can vote in the GOP runoff.

State Sen. Steve Windom (R) will face Senate President Pro Tem DeWayne Freeman (D) in the lieutenant governor's race. Windom defeated state Sen. John Amari (R) in a contentious primary in which the two struggled to differentiate themselves. Both held leadership roles on the Senate Insurance Committee, both are attorneys and both switched from the Democratic Party – Amari switched in 1986, Windom 11 months ago. The Alabama Business Council strongly supported Windom for his leadership on tort reform and other business issues. Tort reform advocates see this as a key race, hoping new leadership in the state Senate will introduce a tort reform bill. Recent legislative efforts have stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee, where the bill has gone without a public vote for two years.

Secretary of State Jim Bennett (R) is defending his seat against Nancy Worley (D), president of the Alabama Education Association. Bennett defeated former state GOP political director Danny Patterson in the primary. This is the first race Bennett has sought as a Republican; he switched parties in January 1997.

Voters chose nominees for all 35 state senate districts and 105 state house districts on June 2. Legislative races are important this year, as those who are elected to the four-year terms in 1998 will be present for redistricting following the 2000 census.

Alaska: Primary Races are Set

Slates are set for the Aug. 25 primaries for governor and lieutenant governor. Incumbent Gov. Tony Knowles faces token Democratic primary challenges from Nels Anderson, Brad Snowden and Don Wright. Snowden initially filed as a Republican, but later withdrew and re-filed as a Democrat.

Three candidates have filed to run for the GOP nomination, for which millionaire John Lindauer and Senate Majority Leader Robin Taylor are considered the front-runners. Three Alaskan Independence candidates filed as well.

In the lieutenant governor's race, Lt. Gov. Fran Ulmer (D) is seeking reelection. Her field of Republican challengers: Virginia Collins, Doyle Holmes, Don Smith and state Sen. Jerry Ward, who is vice chair of the Senate State Affairs Committee.

Arkansas: Governor Mending Fences with Conservatives

Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) reportedly is attempting to quell an insurrection by right-wing Republicans who complain that his actions as governor are not conservative enough.

Huckabee has challenged the argument, citing accomplishments for conservatives during his term. During Huckabee's tenure, churches became eligible for welfare reform grants without any obligation to the government, and he appointed a home school advocate to the state education board. Huckabee also assured conservatives that if he is elected, his education director will work to repeal liberal education laws in 1999.

Colorado: GOP Primaries Reflect Party Extremes