Wrong-party governors?

[NHPolitico]

htmldon - isn't Utah completely in the domain of the Republicans?

More interesting than "wrong party" governors would be wrong party senators, since the party ID of senators are actually important in the national balance of power. Obviously local politics is going on here as well-- but given a gap in ideology between the parties, do you see this breed as especially vulnerable in the long run?

Republican - 13

Plains - 6
Conrad, Kent (D) - North Dakota
Dorgan, Byron L. (D) - North Dakota
Johnson, Tim (D) - South Dakota
Daschle, Tom (D) - South Dakota
Baucus, Max (D) - Montana
Nelson, Ben (D) - Nebraska

South - 6
Edwards, John (D) - North Carolina
Hollings, Fritz (D) - South Carolina
Breaux, John (D) - Louisiana
Landrieu, Mary L. (D) - Louisiana
Lincoln, Blanche (D) - Arkansas
Miller, Zell (D) - Georgia

Midwest - 1
Bayh, Evan (D) - Indiana

Democrat - 10

Northeast - 6
Collins, Susan (R) - Maine
Snowe, Olympia J. (R) - Maine
Jeffords, Jim (I) - Vermont
Chafee, Lincoln D. (R) - Rhode Island
Santorum, Rick (R) - Pennsylvania
Specter, Arlen (R) - Pennsylvania

Midwest - 2
Coleman, Norm (R) - Minnesota
Fitzgerald, Peter (R) - Illinois

West - 2
Domenici, Pete V. (R) - New Mexico
Smith, Gordon H. (R) - Oregon

What do you mean by vulnerable?  If politicians adapt, they can last a while.  Zell Miller is a great at it.  You make the race about you. You get the voters to ignore the party label. You have to have a great political ear.

I object to putting Coleman on this list. I am of the belief that MN is really heading toward a realignment.

[NHPolitico]

And John Ashcroft in Missouri, after losing his Senate race in 2000.
Yeah, it is kind of ironic in a way that losing an election can actually make you more powerful. Bush probably wouldn't have chosen Ashcroft or Abraham for his cabinet if they had won reelection, especially Ashcroft since Missouri has a Dem governor so he would've been handing the seat to the Dems. Likewise Clinton probably wouldn't have appointed Moseley-Braun since with a GOP governor he'd be giving away a Senate seat as well.

Ashcroft wanted to be the only Missouri politician to serve two terms as state AG, two terms as governor and two terms as senator.  I guess it's possible he could still do it, but he's said that he's done with elected office now.

My guess is that Bush would have chosen Racicot even though the right wasn't crazy about him. Hatch or Hyde would have been another two options, I guess.

Abraham wouldn't have been in the Cabinet either. The state needed a GOP figure like him to act as a foundation should they lose the governorship, which they did.

[NHPolitico]

I object to putting Coleman on this list. I am of the belief that MN is really heading toward a realignment.

I'm not disagreeing with you in asking this question, but how did socialist MN go over to the Republicans?

In addition to what's been said, The MNGOP also picked up the state auditor's office in addition to the 15 legislature seats. And, MN had the highest voter turnout of the states last year-- 60.65%-- so these results are likely more similar to how the state will vote in a high-turnout presidential race. Last year, 78% of independent Twin City suburban voters voted GOP. Dem strength in the state senate has fallen 7 seats since 1998.  Also, these Republicans are much more conservative as a group than the ones from the 90s (more pro-life, more anti-tax).