Federal Elections and State Elections:
Does the Public Follow Party Lines?
Jackie Phillips
Political Science, Post University
PSC 102 – State and Local Government: State Elections Reflection Assignment
Michael Ferguson
Due Date: 11:59 p.m. EST, Sunday of Unit 2
Overview: Federal politics and national issues are often what voters think most about. However, understanding issues in our states and localities are just as important. Candidates for state and local office often need to try and separate themselves from the shadow of national politics. The purpose of this assignment is to have you reflect on how state elections should be approached by voters.
Instructions:
You will read the article, Can You Separate Federal Issues from State Elections? by Alan Greenblatt. The article can be found in the Readings and Resources for Unit 2.
The article discusses the challenges state candidates have while campaigning due to the prominence of federal issues on voters’ minds. Although the article is from 2012, the points being made are still true today.
After reading the article, you are going to reflect on it by providing an overview and addressing the following questions:
* Identify the main point(s) that the author is making.
“The way people normally vote these days is by party. The electorate is highly polarized, particularly in a presidential year.” (Greenblatt, A., 2012)
I totally agree that people will generally stay with their party affiliation when voting and who they focus on for their open seats. I am one of those people. Plus during a Presidential election year, it is very important to put the right person in the white house.
The elections that happen that are not in the same year as the Presidential elections are also important because we all want the best people running our states, cities and counties.
* What are some strategies the author mentions to describe what state candidates do to set themselves apart from national politics? Determine if you think they are successful?
“Most legislators will tell you that they run independent campaigns, getting to know their constituents as neighbors by knocking on half the doors in their district. Long before running for the legislature, they have established themselves as leaders in their communities, as local elected officials or activists. They believe they have established their own identities and are able to make their own appeals to voters.” (Greenblatt, A., 2012)
I can see that it would make a huge difference for state and local candidates to be going door to door and letting people get to know them. It would also be important to set up local booths at city events and participate in parades so that local people can meet them face to face.
I went to a local event in San Francisco over the weekend and half the floats and booths were by local politicians letting people get to know them. I even was able to shake the hand of the new Mayor of San Francisco since he was walking in the parade and greeting people along the side lines. Behind him were also police officers to make sure he was safe, and I was glad to see that!
* Explain if there is ever an appropriate time for state candidates to embrace federal issues?
“We need to win the top of the ticket to win the bottom of the ticket,” says Matt McCoy, another Iowa Democratic senator. “We’re totally tied together. That’s why we’re embracing the president.” (Greenblatt, A., 2012)
I think it is always a great idea to connect yourself to who is in the White House if you are running for a local office since it is very important who is running the country, and this can affect your strengths and weaknesses in the future. During election time there are a lot of TV ads and people see them every day. This keeps the elections in everyone’s minds.
* Have you ever voted for candidates from different political parties for different races? If so, why did you do this? If not, would you consider doing so in the future?
No. I have never voted for a candidate who was not in my designated party. California is a heavily Democrat state and has been for a very long time. The Republicans keep whining and complaining but they get to live in a wonderful state!
* What predictions do you have about the author’s concern? Will this remain a problem, or do you see signs that it is changing?
I think that these concerns are ongoing for many reasons. First, due to the massive size of the United States and how different the states are to one another, this will always create different ideas on how to be more connected to either the state government or to the government in Washington DC.
Second, since Washington DC is so far away from the vast majority of the country, it is harder for these distant states to make a close connection. Citizens who are closer to the capital would have easier access and be able to make regular trips if they wanted. Living in California, it is extremely difficult to make a trip to Washington DC for any reason. Even after 61 years of age, I have personally never set foot in the capital, and I have no plans to make the trip.
Third, running busy lives, it is easier to just follow party lines and vote for the candidates in your own party. It is a great first step that we share the same party, so it is easier for me to make the decision to vote for them if I haven’t had all the time to explore each candidate thoroughly.
References
Greenblatt, A., 2012, Governing.com, Can You Separate Federal Issues from State Elections?, https://www.governing.com/archive/gov-state-elections-federal-issue-separation.html
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