In the recent Kentucky gubernatorial election, incumbent Gov. Matt Bevin (R) lost by fewer than 5,200 votes to Attorney Gen. Andy Beshear (D) in a state that President Donald Trump (R) carried by about 30 percentage points in 2016. Although the national parties tried their best to turn the race […] Read more »
The Governors: Party Control Now Near Parity
Key Points • Following the 2019 elections, Republicans retain a narrow 26-24 edge in governorships. • But that’s a big shift from mid-2017, when Democrats held just 15. • Gubernatorial races are likelier to defy federal partisanship than House and Senate races. CONT. Kyle Kondik, Sabato’s Crystal Ball Party control […] Read more »
Trump’s options for winning a second term are narrowing
The tumultuous impeachment hearings and the string of GOP election losses this fall underline the electoral risks Republicans are courting as they allow President Donald Trump to refashion the party in his combative image. In overlapping ways, the election results and the hearings — in particular Trump’s characteristically belligerent response […] Read more »
John Bel Edwards earned a remarkable win for reelection; here’s how he did it
Gov. John Bel Edwards had to check off three boxes to win re-election Saturday over businessman Eddie Rispone, after narrowly falling short in the primary. He needed to turn out dramatically more African-American voters, who form the core of the Democratic Party. He needed to win at least 10% of […] Read more »
What John Bel Edwards’s big Louisiana win says about Democrats — and Trump
John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, won reelection as governor of deep-red Louisiana on Saturday by a comfortable 40,000 votes — after President Trump had repeatedly campaigned for his Republican opponent. Worse for Trump, this came after he positively begged voters to support the Republican, casting it as a referendum on […] Read more »
President Trump Bet Big This Election Year. Here’s Why He Lost.
… “You got to give me a big win, please, O.K.,” the president pleaded with a red-hatted crowd last Thursday in Bossier City, La. But on Saturday night, Mr. Trump’s wager backfired in spectacular fashion. Not only did Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, win re-election by more than 40,000 […] Read more »