Analysis of Gubernatorial Elections 2014 - Admission/Application Essay Example

Analysis of Gubernatorial Elections al Affiliation) Incumbent candi s status Candi Party affiliated Incumbent Lost or won Alabama Re-elected Robert Bentley Republican won Alaska Sean Parnell Republican lost Arizona Jan Brewer Republican lost Arkansas Mike Beebe Democratic lost California Re-elected Jerry Brown Democratic won Colorado Re-elected John Hicklenlooper Democratic won Connecticut Re-elected Dan Malloy Democratic won Florida Re-elected Rick Scott Republican won Georgia Re-eleted Nathan Deal Republican won Hawaii Neil Abercrombie Democratic lost Idaho Re-elected Butch Otter Republican won Illinios Pat Quinn Democratic lost Iowa Re-elected Terry Branstad Republican won Kansas Re-elected Sam Brownback Republican won Maine Re-elected Paul LePage Republican won Maryland Martin O Malley Democratic lost Massachusetts Deval Patrick Democratic won Michigan Re-elected Rick Snyder Republican won Minnesota Re-elected Mark Dayton Democratic won Nebraska Incumbent candidates Dave Heineman Republican Nevada Re-elected Brian Sandoval Republican won New Hampshire Re-elected Maggie Hassan Democratic won New Mexico Re-elected Susana Martinez Republican won New York Re-elected Andrew Cuomo Democratic won Ohio Re-elected John Kasich Republican won Oklahoma Re-elected Mary Fallin Republican won Oregon Re-elected John Kitzhaber Democratic won Pennslyvania Tom Corbett Republican lost Rhode Island Lincoln Chafee Democratic lost South Carolina Re-elected Nikki Havey Republican won South Dakota Re-elected Dennis Daugaard Republican won Tennesse Re-elected Bill Haslam Republican won Texas Greg Abbott Republican lost Vermont Re-elected Peter Shumlin Democratic won Wisconinn Re-elected Scott Walker Republican won Wyoming Re-elected Matt Mead Republican won Source: http://www.go4lists.com/239/usa/list-of-governors-of-50-us-states/ List of governors who ran for the State of Georgia Nathan Deal Incumbent Governor (Republican) Jason Carter (Democrat) David Pennington John Barge Andrew Hunt Introduction There are many factors that affect the results of any elections. The result of a general election depends on the choice of most of the voters ( Koppelman & Goodhart 2011). Voters play an important role in the outcome of a general election. The factors affecting the result of an election may start with a simple ideological idea to specific policies. The background of most voters affects the outcome of gubernatorial elections in the United States of America. Most individuals in the United States have a passion for politics. It means that they follow politics closely and have a major influence on the outcome of the results. Studies show that Americans do not follow their politics contrary to what to the results of the gubernatorial race indicate. Most Americans individuals are identified by the two major parties, namely the Democrats and the Republicans. Party identification and the individual view on the incumbents past performance affects the result of gubernatorial elections. Many voters choose their leaders based on their political parties. Party identification enables voters to look at the issues that the candidates have to offer. It indicates that voters want to be identified with the political parties they are affiliated with. Party identification helps in analysis of the candidates in a particular party. The society judges an incumbent candidate based on the state of the national economy. An economy driven by development strategies and goals will attract voters. A poorly driven economy may not attract the support of many individuals (Aldrich 2011). Public issues are one of the policies that affect the decision making of most individuals when they are going to cast their vote. Policies affecting the public show how the government is willing to help solve the problems that affects the common individuals. Individuals may choose a candidate based on the manner that he looks at the public policies. The background of voters plays a crucial factor in the outcomes of gubernatorial elections (Leon 2012). Background of a voter is the identity that individuals have with the society. This identity includes the factors that affect the well being of the society. Economic views, ethnicity, gender and religious views are some of the factors affecting the development of the society. Individuals vote for the candidate that will work around the clock to ensure that the development targets are met. The records of previous administrations help the voter to choose their next candidate. Actual performance of candidates helps voters to easily choose the most suitable administration. The personal characteristics of a candidate affect the outcome of most election results. Inspiring candidates get more vote from their supporters because they give their supporters hope. Inspiring candidates promise to accomplish great things that will. There are many factors that influence the decision making of individuals. Factors affecting the decision of voters in 2014 The results of the November 4th gubernatorial race indicates that are many factors affecting the decision making of voters. Democratic leaders are entitled to 21 out of 36 of the seats available in the senate. The economy is one of the crucial factors that affected the gubernatorial race of November 4th 2014. The economy is a major concern when Americans go for elections. The performance of the economy affected the gubernatorial elections of November 4th 2014. A strong economy translates to a dominant dollar, which affects most of the things in the financial market (Koppelman & Goodhart 2011). The education issue had an impact on the results of the 2014 gubernatorial elections in the Us. Education is a sensitive matter that needs to be addressed well by the candidates. Education systems in the country need a major boost from the government for them to realize their development goals. Funding to schools was a campaigning slogan for most gubernatorial candidates. Jason Carter, Democratic candidate for the state of Georgia, wanted a separate budget for education. The idea brought forward by the governor included over half of the state budget spending. Jason Carter was suggesting an additional billion dollars to be injected towards the education system in Georgia. There was a proposal by governor Deal about how the QBE funding can be adjusted to reflect the new methods of teaching. Governor Deal is known for his support for charter schools and the push for charter schools gives less attention to traditional schools. Education issues directly affect the decision of most of the voters in the Us. It shows that education has a direct effect on the outcome of most of the recent gubernatorial elections. Education affects the future of our children and most individuals want to secure the future of their children (Koppelman & Goodhart 2011). Education is a backbone to many economies in the world, including the Us. In the modern world, everyone has a right to get a quality education. Economies that provide education systems for easy education are better in terms of development. Education provides employment opportunities to its citizens. These facts clearly show that education issues and policies influenced the November 4th 2014 elections. Income and gender equality The quality of a democracy is measured by the participation of men and women in the society. The culture of democracy is reflected by the equal participation of men and women in the society. Democratic candidates support widely the issue of gender equality ad income. Income and gender equality applies to the majority of the Us population. Gender relations have greatly changed in the recent decades and improvements have been made to support the issue of gender equality. Most democratic governors are hoping to reduce the gender wage gap when they take into the office. They used this issue as a campaigning strategy in the just concluded November 4th gubernatorial elections. Men and women need to have the initiatives which will enable the reduction of pay gap between men and women. The republicans are pushing for the Paycheck Fairness Act, it is a bill that focuses on reducing he pay gap. Women have to work extra hard to achieve what men achieve in the workplaces. Women often take career interruptions to take care of their families. These interruptions have a long term effect on the earnings of women in the society. It shows that men will earn more in workplaces because women have taken breaks to take care of their families. According to research, men rarely career breaks for the sake of their families. Democrats are pushing for a system where they make it possible to have a balanced equality in workplaces ( Koppelman & Goodhart 2011).. Modern women have increased their numbers in high paying jobs dominated by men. Their presence in the fields dominated by men illustrates the effort they have to put to have he same rights as men. Democratic governors focus their attention to gender equality because development involves everyone. In a democratic the development process has to involve each and every individual in the society. Women have the right to involved in development programs in the country (Leon 2012). Democrats are encouraging young women to vote for them in exchange for increased chances to participate in the development of the country. They are promising to increase the wage bill of the country so that they improve the lifestyle of individuals. Income and gender equality is a sensitive topic for the Us citizens. Human development is driven by the equal opportunities granted to the citizens. Income and gender equality is a main factor in the determination of November 4th 2014 gubernatorial elections. The topic affects most of American citizens and it had a direct influence on the result of the polls. Healthcare Healthcare in the Us better known as Obamacare is branded the most expensive in the world. Healthcare is a basic issue that greatly affects the results of most of the voters in the Us. It was a main concern for the re- election of many Democratic governors in the elections. Recent research indicates that health care is the top concern for voter in the Us. Affordable and easily accessible health care affected the results of the gubernatorial elections. In Massachusetts, there was a high turnout for the elections and it was driven by the health care proposal by Deval Patrick. Health care in the USA is a top issue that affects the elections. It affected the 2012 elections as Obama had victory over Mitt Romney. The citizens always give a thumbs up when it comes to health care. Health care bills and proposals had a great influence on the results of the November 2014 elections. The premiums of health care rise every year, but the democrats support the health care. It is an important aspect to the final decision made by most voters. In conclusion health care affected the results of the concluded election in November 4th 2014. It affected the results because most of the citizens want to have better health care. References Leon, G. (2012). On Voting, Violence, and Health: Essays on Political Economics and Development. Top of Form Bottom of Form Koppelman, K., & Goodhart, R. (2011).Understanding human differences: Multicultural education for a diverse America (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon. Top of Form Bottom of Form Aldrich, J. (2011). Improving public opinion surveys interdisciplinary innovation and the American national election studies. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press. Read More