Governor 2006:
Our survey of next year's governor races reviews two GOP-held seats.
Colorado:
Term-limited Gov. Bill Owens (R.), once believed to be a rising star in his party, will step out of politics next year, perhaps for good. Meanwhile, both parties will line up for the chance to govern one of the nation's most closely divided states.
1) Republicans, having just recently lost both houses of the state legislature, cannot afford to lose the governorship. Owens and others are putting tremendous pressure on conservative Rep. Bob Beauprez (R.) to enter the race. This comes as a disappointment to national Republicans, who fear they may lose their grip on his evenly divided 7th District seat.
2) Former Rep. Scott McInnis (R.) could also mount a credible run, although his decision to become a lobbyist this year after leaving Congress could hurt him.
3) Also among possible GOP candidates is University of Denver President Marc Holtzman, the former state technology secretary. His fund-raising ability will outclass all comers from either party, but he has the liability that he's never held elected office before.
4) State Treasurer Mike Coffman (R.) has a strong grassroots political organization in the state, and his deputies have a reputation for ruthlessness. But Coffman is disliked by Owens, and he must live down the budget disaster that occurred on his watch.
5) Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper (D.) would be a formidable candidate should he choose to run. The owner of several businesses, Hickenlooper managed to balance the city's budget within six months of taking office, whereas his predecessor, Wellington Webb (D.), couldn't do it over eight years in office.
6) House Speaker Andrew Romanoff is a Democratic "rock star." He could choose to run for governor if this year's legislative session goes well for Democrats. He could jump into the race this summer if Democrats fail to put up a top-tier candidate by then. In a similar position is state Senate President Joan Fitzgerald (D.).
7) Rep. Mark Udall (D.) has put himself out of this race. He promises to run for the Senate in 2008, when Sen. Wayne Allard's (R.) seat comes up.
8) Former Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter (D.) could enter the governor's race, although he could just as easily run for attorney general. But some Democrats would find him too conservative, because he is pro-life on the abortion issue.
9) Rutt Bridges (D.), a venture capitalist who serves as a perennial backup candidate, has also expressed interest, but if he ends up as the candidate, it's only because the better candidates have lost interest.
Rhode Island:
Thanks to Democratic maneuvering over this year's Senate race, Gov. Don Carcieri (R.) will probably not face a top-tier opponent next year.
1) Rumors that Carcieri will not run again are just that. He is almost certain to run again, and his re-elect numbers are very strong for a conservative Republican in Rhode Island.
2) Now that U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin (D.) appears likely to run for Senate against Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R.), a chain of vacancies has opened. The man perceived as Carcieri's most likely opponent, Lt. Gov. Charles Fogarty (D.), looks more likely to run for Langevin's House seat. Carcieri's next-most-likely opponent, former Atty. Gen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D.), now appears almost certain to run for lieutenant governor.
3) With so many Democrats opting for other races-including Secretary of State Matthew Brown, who committed to the Senate race-there are no major names left on the list of strong Democratic candidates for governor.
