This book examines the Democratic and Republican Governors Associations from their creation in the 1960s through the 2020 elections. The author argues that the creation of these partisan organizations marked an important moment in the nationalization of American party politics. Governors created these Associations along with party elites in Washington because they recognized that decisions being made in Washington increasingly affected decision-making in the states. Governors sought to contribute to the development of national partisan electoral strategies and policy programs through these organizations to benefit their own electoral fortunes and the standing of the national parties to which they belonged. Through organization building, governors of both parties contributed to the development of more nationally focused and programmatic parties despite being state-level elected officials.
Anthony Sparacino is an assistant professor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences at the York College of the City University of New York.
"Partisanship and polarization have been the key drivers of modern American politics, touching all areas of public life. In this important study, Anthony Sparacino traces in detail the evolution of national governors' organizations as they became significant actors in American national politics. The Republicans led the way in the 1970s and 1980s, but as with any 'arms race, ' the Democrats reciprocated. While individual governors have long intervened in national campaigns, Sparacino demonstrates how these organizations emerged as potent new political forces on the national scene." --Andrew Polsky, Hunter College, City University of New York "Seldom viewed as consequential, Sparacino refutes the common wisdom to show how governors' national organizations shape and alter party competition. With careful attention to the incentives governors face to simultaneously nationalize political conflict and guard their state-level prerogatives, this is the definitive book on how governors have built the modern American party system and continue to shape it through today." --Nicholas Jacobs, Colby College "This book provides a rigorous an innovative account of how governors, acting together through associations, have impacted the nationalization of American political parties. The origin, tactics, and influence the RGA and DGA at the national level can only be fully explained through a developmental analysis. In this well researched study, Anthony Sparacino teaches us a great deal about the interplay of presidential politics and gubernatorial political and policy interests, differences between the parties, and the evolution of federalism amidst the integration of national and state-level party organizations." --Daniel Palazzolo, University of Richmond
