Expert: Dennis - 8/23/2004

Question
Hello:

When someone runs for govenor in the US, what is the usual background or experience that they might have?

You see, I am writing a story in which a person is running for govenor of my state and wondered about a past background. Also, what does he do to get his campaign together? How do you run for office?

Answer
There is no real pre-requirement to be a Governor. You need either money, notoriety, or organization.

Arnold "the Governator" of California had all three, but he had no political or administrative experience. Same with Ronald Reagan, although he was active in the Republican Party before he ran for office.

During the 1960s a chicken shack owner refused to serve chicken to Blacks. Lester Maddox was sued, arrested, etc., but he then ran for Governor of Georgia based on his "standing up" to the Feds, and he and won twice.

In Illinois a fellow by the name of Dan Walker campaigned on the promise to "clean up" the state - and the fact that he was an "outsider" with no political connections. He walked the entire length of the state of Illinois during his campaign, and he won.

Most Governors work their way through the political landscape; first city council, then state senator, then Congress, or Governor.  When someone does that , they generally have the backing of the state political party. You can also be the son, daugther, wife, or brother of the current or former Governor - that always helps.

So, you can have money, and/or, notoriety, and/or party backing, but if you have none of those, you won't get elected.

Which is more important? I lean toward money. You can buy the other two if you have a lot of money.

To answer the second part of your question, the candidate would build a statewide organization, and recruit (and pay) staff to develop workers, volunteers, donations, etc.

When he/she has that in place, he files his petitions with the 4 or 5,000 signatures, depending on your state(I think Arnold needed 500 signatures), and run a campaign.

Hope this helps.