the mountain states colorado, montana, nevada, and utah ashley crane, adam cupples, and josh lauren
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The Mountain StatesColorado, Montana, Nevada, and Utah
Ashley Crane, Adam Cupples, and Josh Lauren
Democratic Control of State Government
Colorado
Percentage of State Assembly, Senate, and Governorship that were under Democratic Party Control in CO 1952-2004
0.0%
20.0%
40.0%
60.0%
80.0%
100.0%
120.0%
1959
1961
1963
1965
1967
1969
1971
1973
1975
1977
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
% of Senate, Assembly and Governor Controlled by Democratic Party
Montana
Percentage of State Assembly, Senate, and Governorship that were under Democratic Party Control in MT 1952-2004
0.0%
20.0%
40.0%
60.0%
80.0%
100.0%
120.0%
1959
1961
1963
1965
1967
1969
1971
1973
1975
1977
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
% of Senate, Assembly and Governor Controlled by Democratic Party
Nevada
Percentage of State Assembly, Senate, and Governorship that were under Democratic Party Control in NV 1952-2004
0.0%
20.0%
40.0%
60.0%
80.0%
100.0%
120.0%
1959
1961
1963
1965
1967
1969
1971
1973
1975
1977
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
% of Senate, Assembly and Governor Controlled by Democratic Party
Utah
Percentage of State Assembly, Senate, and Governorship that were under Democratic Party Control in UT 1952-2004
0.0%
20.0%
40.0%
60.0%
80.0%
100.0%
120.0%
% of Senate, Assembly and Governor Controlled by Democratic Party
Democratic Control of State Assembly
Colorado
Percentage of the CO Assembly Controlled by Democrats since 1959 to the Present
.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
80.00
1959
1961
1963
1965
1967
1969
1971
1973
1975
1977
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
% Senate Democrat % Assembly Democrat
Montana
Percentage of the MT Assembly Controlled by Democrats from 1952 to the Present
.00
20.00
40.00
60.00
80.00
100.00
120.00
140.00
160.00
% Senate Democrat % Assembly Democrat
Nevada
Percentage of the NV Assembly Controlled by Democrats from 1959 to the Present
.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
80.00
90.00
100.00
% Senate Democrat % Assembly Democrat
Utah
Percentage of the UT Assembly Controlled by Democrats from 1959 to the Present
.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
% Senate Democrat % Assembly Democrat
National Partisan Trends
Colorado
Percentage of Voters in Colorado that Supported the Democratic Presidential Canidate 1952-2004
0.0%
20.0%
40.0%
60.0%
80.0%
1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004
% Dem Pres.Vote
Montana
Percentage of Voters in Montana that Supported the Democratic Presidential Canidate 1952-2004
0.0%
20.0%
40.0%
60.0%
80.0%
1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004
% Dem Pres.Vote
Nevada
Percentage of Voters in Nevada that Supported the Democratic Presidential Canidate 1952-2004
0.0%
20.0%
40.0%
60.0%
80.0%
1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004
% Dem Pres.Vote
Utah
Percentage of Voters from Utah that Voted for the Democratic Presidential Canidate 1952-2004
0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%
1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004
% Dem Pres.Vote
State Comparison Maps
Colorado Comparison
1960 2004
Red = Democrats Blue = Republican
This comparison illustrates the increase in competitive partisan trends within
the counties
Montana Comparison
1960 2004
Red = Democrats Blue = Republican
This comparison illustrates the rise of the Republican Party within the
counties.
Nevada Comparison
1960 2004
Red = Democrats Blue = Republican
This comparison illustrates the significant shift and dominance of the Republican
Party that has occurred within the counties.
Utah Comparison
1960 2004
Red = Democrats Blue = Republican
This comparison illustrates the absolute Republican presence within
the counties.
Percentage of State Government
Liberalism and Citizen Liberalism
Colorado
Percentage of State Government Liberalism and Citizen Liberalism in CO
0.0
20.0
40.0
60.0
80.0
100.0
120.0
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
State Government Liberalism Citizen Liberalism
Montana
Percentage of State Government Liberalism and Citizen Liberalism in MT
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
State Government Liberalism Citizen Liberalism
Nevada
Percentage of State Government Liberalism and Citizen Liberalism in NV
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
State Government Liberalism Citizen Liberalism
Utah
Percentage of State Government Liberalism and Citizen Liberalism in UT
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
State Government Liberalism Citizen Liberalism
Qualitative Research
Colorado
• Colorado is a Republican state, but the Democrats often win important state elections.
• The Republican Party has a strong grip on the state’s legislature.• From 1960 to 1996 Republicans controlled both houses of the
Colorado General Assembly.• Political party organization is distinguished by the large role that
rank and file party members play in nominating party candidates for political office.
• Both the Republican and Democratic Parties are governed by a state central committee.
• It appears that the Republicans are better organized than the Democrats on the state level.
Montana• Montana has a party system characterized by a high level of
competition.• Both parties tend to have weak organizational infrastructure.• An indicator of the high level of electoral competition is found at
the state legislative level.• From 1974 to 1992, 29% of state house seats and 33% of senate
seats were won with less than 55% of the popular vote.• Montana may be evolving towards a less competitive future; the
Republicans have controlled the Governorship since 1988.• Montana is one of a small number of states that has an “open”
primary election.• State parties have been seriously undermined by the primary
nomination device. Today, state parties are unable to formally control who may run as a candidate and in the case of open primaries, unable to condition who may vote.
Nevada• For the most part, Nevada has produced traditional two party
electoral outcomes.• Socioeconomic, demographic, and personality factors, in addition
to natural resources such as silver have had a major impact on the state political parties. An example of this would be the Populist Party, which was labeled the Silver Party.
• The Republican Party has grown substantially since 1972. Nevada has always been a conservative and highly individualistic state.
• Nevada is the fastest growing state in the United States.• Both Republican and Democratic Parties use a three tier system of
organization: precinct, county, and state.• Regional concerns effect nearly aspect of Nevada Politics. Both
parties must balance northern and southern regional interests.
Utah• Political Parties in Utah are a product of a unique mixture of
religious, economic, and political factors.• The Mormon church has a significant presence within the political
culture of Utah.• The two most important developments affecting the parties’
organizational capacity have been changes in the state statutes controlling the parties and innovations in campaign fund raising and strategy that have filtered down from the national level.
• The open primary system has helped the Republican Party gain control in state politics.
• Both Republican and Democratic Parties are strongly influenced by factions and outside groups.
• Both the Republican and Democratic Parties within the state have good working relationships with their national parties. For example, the national Republican Party provided expertise for fundraisers and telemarketing campaigns for the Utah State Republican Party.