The Mountain States
Colorado, 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
120.0%
100.0%
80.0%
60.0%
40.0%
20.0%
0.0%
59
19
61
19
63 9 65
19
1
67 9 69
19
1
71 9 73
19
1
75
19
77 9 79
19
1
81 9 83
19
1
85 9 87
19
1
89
19
91 9 93
19
1
% of Senate, Assembly and Governor Controlled by Democratic Party
95 9 97
19
1
99
19
Montana
Percentage of State Assembly, Senate, and Governorship that were under
Democratic Party Control in MT 1952-2004
120.0%
100.0%
80.0%
60.0%
40.0%
20.0%
19
59
19
61
19
63
19
65
19
67
19
69
19
71
19
73
19
75
19
77
19
79
19
81
19
83
19
85
19
87
19
89
19
91
19
93
19
95
19
97
19
99
0.0%
% of Senate, Assembly and Governor Controlled by Democratic Party
Nevada
Percentage of State Assembly, Senate, and Governorship that were under
Democratic Party Control in NV 1952-2004
120.0%
100.0%
80.0%
60.0%
40.0%
20.0%
19
59
19
61
19
63
19
65
19
67
19
69
19
71
19
73
19
75
19
77
19
79
19
81
19
83
19
85
19
87
19
89
19
91
19
93
19
95
19
97
19
99
0.0%
% of Senate, Assembly and Governor Controlled by Democratic Party
Utah
Percentage of State Assembly, Senate, and Governorship that were under
Democratic Party Control in UT 1952-2004
120.0%
100.0%
80.0%
60.0%
40.0%
20.0%
% of Senate, Assembly and Governor Controlled by Democratic Party
19
99
19
89
19
91
19
93
19
95
19
97
19
77
19
79
19
81
19
83
19
85
19
87
19
67
19
69
19
71
19
73
19
75
19
59
19
61
19
63
19
65
0.0%
Democratic Control of
State Assembly
Colorado
Percentage of the CO Assembly Controlled by Democrats since 1959 to
the Present
80.00
70.00
60.00
50.00
40.00
30.00
20.00
10.00
% Senate Democrat
% Assembly Democrat
99
19
97
19
95
19
93
19
91
19
89
19
87
19
85
19
83
19
81
19
79
19
77
19
75
19
73
19
71
19
69
19
67
19
65
19
63
19
61
19
19
59
.00
Montana
Percentage of the MT Assembly Controlled by Democrats from 1952 to the Present
160.00
140.00
120.00
100.00
80.00
60.00
40.00
20.00
19
59
19
61
19
63
19
65
19
67
19
69
19
71
19
73
19
75
19
77
19
79
19
81
19
83
19
85
19
87
19
89
19
91
19
93
19
95
19
97
19
99
.00
% Senate Democrat
% Assembly Democrat
Nevada
Percentage of the NV Assembly Controlled by Democrats from 1959 to the Present
100.00
90.00
80.00
70.00
60.00
50.00
40.00
30.00
20.00
10.00
% Senate Democrat
% Assembly Democrat
19
99
19
97
19
95
19
93
19
91
19
89
19
87
19
85
19
83
19
81
19
79
19
77
19
75
19
73
19
71
19
69
19
67
19
65
19
63
19
61
19
59
.00
Utah
Percentage of the UT Assembly Controlled by Democrats from 1959 to the Present
70.00
60.00
50.00
40.00
30.00
20.00
10.00
% Senate Democrat
% Assembly Democrat
19
97
19
99
19
93
19
95
19
89
19
91
19
85
19
87
19
81
19
83
19
77
19
79
19
73
19
75
19
69
19
71
19
67
19
63
19
65
19
59
19
61
.00
National Partisan
Trends
Colorado
Percentage of Voters in Colorado that Supported the Democratic
Presidential Canidate 1952-2004
80.0%
60.0%
40.0%
20.0%
0.0%
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
80.0%
60.0%
40.0%
20.0%
0.0%
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
% Dem Pres.Vote
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
Nevada
Percentage of Voters in Nevada that Supported the Democratic
Presidential Canidate 1952-2004
80.0%
60.0%
40.0%
20.0%
0.0%
1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976
1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004
% Dem Pres.Vote
Utah
Percentage of Voters from Utah that Voted for the Democratic
Presidential Canidate 1952-2004
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
% Dem Pres.Vote
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
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
Red = Democrats
Blue = Republican
This comparison illustrates the rise of the
Republican Party within the counties.
Nevada Comparison
1960
2004
Red = Democrats
Blue = Republican
This comparison illustrates the significant shift and
dominance of the Republican Party that has occurred
within the counties.
Utah Comparison
1960
2004
Red = Democrats
Blue = Republican
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
120.0
100.0
80.0
60.0
40.0
20.0
State Government Liberalism
Citizen Liberalism
20
02
20
00
19
98
19
96
19
94
19
92
19
90
19
88
19
86
19
84
19
82
19
80
19
78
19
76
19
74
19
72
19
70
19
68
19
66
19
64
19
62
19
60
0.0
Montana
Percentage of State Government Liberalism and Citizen Liberalism in MT
90.0
80.0
70.0
60.0
50.0
40.0
30.0
20.0
10.0
0.0
60
19
62
19
64
19
66
19
68
19
70
19
72
19
74
19
76
19
78
19
80
19
82
19
State Government Liberalism
84
19
86
19
88
19
90
19
Citizen Liberalism
92
19
94
19
96
19
98
19
00
20
02
20
Nevada
Percentage of State Government Liberalism and Citizen Liberalism in NV
90.0
80.0
70.0
60.0
50.0
40.0
30.0
20.0
10.0
State Government Liberalism
Citizen Liberalism
20
02
20
00
19
98
19
96
19
94
19
92
19
90
19
88
19
86
19
84
19
82
19
80
19
78
19
76
19
74
19
72
19
70
19
68
19
66
19
64
19
62
19
60
0.0
Utah
Percentage of State Government Liberalism and Citizen Liberalism in UT
80.0
70.0
60.0
50.0
40.0
30.0
20.0
10.0
0.0
60
19
62
19
64
19
66
19
68
19
70
19
72
19
74
19
76
19
78
19
80
19
82
19
State Government Liberalism
84
19
86
19
88
19
90
19
Citizen Liberalism
92
19
94
19
96
19
98
19
00
20
02
20
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.