What Looked Like Easy Governors’ Races May Not Be

vote democrat its easier than workingAccording to NewsMax, even Republicans were looking at New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, as a lock this fall to succeed retiring Gov. David Paterson and claim the seat long held by his famous father, Mario Cuomo. Once Republican Scott Brown showed that Democrats in Massachusetts couldn’t hold the late Edward M. Kennedy’s Senate seat, however, what seemed politically impossible in the 2010 elections has at least some plausibility. After courting Steve Levy, a county executive from populous Long Island, to switch his registration from Democrat to Republican and run for governor, the GOP’s new message to Cuomo is: Game on.

“This is just one of those really great stories, where you find a candidate who fits what’s needed by the state and has a record to prove it,” said New York GOP chairman Ed Cox.

Thirty-seven states are electing governors this year. To be sure, Cuomo is still favored to win in heavily Democratic New York. But Levy is among a handful of promising dark horse gubernatorial hopefuls across the country — challengers or open-seat candidates — who are well-regarded by party leaders and who, like Brown, could pull off an upset.

The group includes Republicans like Chris Dudley, a former NBA star who has vastly out-raised other GOP candidates vying for the open seat in Democratic-leaning Oregon, and Susana Martinez, a Hispanic district attorney hoping to succeed outgoing Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson in New Mexico.

Democratic Party leaders are optimistic about Scott Heidepriem, a state legislator running for the open governor’s seat in Republican-leaning South Dakota, and Peter Corroon, the mayor of Salt Lake County challenging incumbent Utah GOP Gov. Gary Herbert.

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April 10, 2010 · Filed Under 2010 Elections


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