Posts by Dr. Eric Ostermeier
Feast or Famine
With Attorney General Lori Swanson and state Representative Erin Murphy losing to Tim Walz in Minnesota’s 2018 Democratic gubernatorial primary, Minnesota will continue its streak of never nominating a woman to the office of governor from a major party in state history. Meanwhile, with state Representative Peggy Flanagan and former U.S. Marine Corps intelligence officer…
Read MoreHow Often Do Seats Flip in Rematches of US House Special Elections?
Over the last 50 years, 41 losing nominees in special elections landed a rematch in the subsequent general election – only six were victorious and just two since 1981.
Read MoreKobach vs. Colyer Nail-Biter Is Closest Gubernatorial Primary in Kansas History
The less than 0.1-point lead currently held by Kobach over Colyer ranks as the closest race among the 88 major party gubernatorial primaries in state history.
Read MoreDefinitely Not Fred Rogers
Between 1986 and 2014, Kansas Democratic gubernatorial nominees were opposed in just three of eight cycles. One candidate ran in all three of these primaries: controversial founder of the Westboro Baptist Church Fred Phelps. Phelps came in last in each race, winning 6.7 percent in 1990’s primary won by Treasurer Joan Finney, 3.4 percent in…
Read MoreDiane Black Loses Big, But Sets GOP Record
The U.S. Representative now owns the mark for the best showing by a Republican woman running for governor of Tennessee – although her competition is sparse.
Read MoreA Unified Democratic Front
Former Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen rolled to victory as expected in the three-candidate race for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination on Thursday – and tied a party record in doing so. Bredesen won 91.5 percent of the vote against perennial candidate Gary Davis (running in his sixth consecutive primary for the office) and attorney John…
Read MoreWisconsin’s 2018 Gubernatorial Primary By the Numbers
A record number of candidates on the Democratic ballot will likely result in the party producing a nominee with the second lowest support heading into the general election.
Read MoreA Brief History of Georgia Women US House Nominees
In 2018, as many women were nominated for the U.S. House in Georgia by major parties as in each of the last five cycles combined.
Read MoreBrian Kemp Records Biggest Gubernatorial Primary Runoff Surge in Georgia History
Kemp enjoyed the largest increase in support from the initial primary election among the 26 Democratic and Republican candidates to participate in a runoff for the office in state history.
Read MoreA Brief History of Georgia Gubernatorial Primary Runoff Collapses
Every first-place finisher who won more than 38 percent of the initial Georgia gubernatorial primary has been victorious in the runoff.
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