With Governor at the Helm
The governor is the highest elected state official and the most powerful officeholder in the state. Gubernatorial authority is confined to state matters only; a governor does not have any federal powers. Historically, the statehouse has been a wonderful launching pad for national office — twenty-three governors have gone on to serve as president or vice president. In some states, such as New York, California, and Texas, the office of governor is considered more prestigious than that of U.S. senator. In smaller states, however, the position is not as highly coveted.
A Brief History
During the colonial era, governors were appointed by the king of England. The position was considered largely symbolic, because governors were vested with little real power. The elected state legislatures distrusted the governors's ties to the king, and as a result the legislatures and the governors rarely cooperated on anything. Following the Declaration of Independence, the initial state constitutions called for appointed (not elected) governors to serve one-year terms, which left the governors virtually powerless.
After the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1789, states began rewriting their constitutions to reflect a stronger executive branch. Governorship became an elected position (most states adopted two- and four-year terms) with enumerated powers. Just about every state modeled the new position after the presidency, and as the nation grew more comfortable with executive power at the national level, so too did it begin to accept the governors.
In 1925, Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming edged out Miriam Ferguson of Texas by a mere fifteen days to become the first female governor. In 1989, Douglas Wilder of Virginia became the first and only African-American to date to serve as governor. By 2002, there were six women and one Asian-American but no African-Americans serving as governor.
Throughout the nineteenth century, state governors began to assume more and greater powers. By the end of the nineteenth century, governors were some of the most influential officeholders in the country. They lorded over their political parties, controlled statewide patronage positions, administered state funds, wrote state budgets, and convened special sessions of the legislature. To this day, the governors remain at the epicenter of the political process across the states.
Governors Today
Most governors come to the statehouse with prior political experience in the state legislature or at the county level. Over the past two decades, an increasing number have come from the ranks of wealthy businessmen. Gubernatorial salaries vary greatly, with California the most generous at $131,000 and Arkansas the lowest at $60,000. In just about half the states, the governor is limited to two terms. Virginia is the only state with a one-term limit.
In the larger states such as New York, California, and Florida, the cost of running for governor can easily exceed $20 million per candidate. In 2002, California governor Gray Davis spent a staggering $60 million on his re-election effort, narrowly defeating his underfunded opponent. Less than eighteen months later, a recall petition against Davis forced a special election — the first successful recall petition in the state's history — and Davis was replaced by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Only twelve states have the option to recall — a procedure by which voters can remove the governor by way of a special election. In 1921, Lynn Frazier of North Dakota became the first governor to be ousted from office through a recall petition. The voters of North Dakota didn't remain upset for too long, however; shortly after his removal, he was elected to the U.S. Senate.
The statehouse is by far the most popular route to the presidency. Four of the last five presidents — George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, and Jimmy Carter — were governors. Governors tend to make better presidential candidates because they have a wealth of executive experience, understand how to delegate authority and responsibility, and can point to a specific record of accomplishments and successes. Moreover, they usually remain untainted by the partisanship and “inside the Beltway” bickering that saddle senators and congressmen who seek national office.
