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

100.0%

120.0%

% 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

100.0%

120.0%

Nevada

Percentage of State Assembly, Senate, and Governorship that were under Democratic Party Control in NV 1952-2004

100.0%

120.0%

Percentage of State Assembly, Senate, and Governorship that were under Democratic Party Control in UT 1952-2004

100.0%

120.0%

Democratic Control of State Assembly

Colorado

Percentage of the CO Assembly Controlled by Democrats since 1959 to the Present

% Senate Democrat % Assembly Democrat

Montana

Percentage of the MT Assembly Controlled by Democrats from 1952 to the Present

100.00

120.00

140.00

160.00

Nevada

Percentage of the NV Assembly Controlled by Democrats from 1959 to the Present

100.00

Percentage of the UT Assembly Controlled by Democrats from 1959 to the Present

National Partisan Trends

Colorado

Percentage of Voters in Colorado that Supported the Democratic Presidential Canidate 1952-2004

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

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

1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004

% Dem Pres.Vote

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

This comparison illustrates the rise of the Republican Party within the

counties.

Nevada Comparison

1960 2004

This comparison illustrates the significant shift and dominance of the Republican

Party that has occurred within the counties.

Utah Comparison

1960 2004

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

State Government Liberalism Citizen Liberalism

Montana

Percentage of State Government Liberalism and Citizen Liberalism in MT

Nevada

Percentage of State Government Liberalism and Citizen Liberalism in NV

Percentage of State Government Liberalism and Citizen Liberalism in UT

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.

The Mountain States Colorado, Montana, Nevada, and Utah Ashley Crane, Adam Cupples, and Josh Lauren.

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