Election 2024: gubernatorial campaign positions

Eleven states and two territories, including Puerto Rico, are holding gubernatorial elections this November, with voters in eight of those states (Delaware, Indiana, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Washington, and West Virginia) choosing a new governor to replace either a term-limited incumbent or governors who chose not to seek re-election. In Montana, Utah, and Vermont governors are seeking re-election.

Many of the candidates have announced their innovation and economic development initiatives. As we enter the final stretch of these gubernatorial races, the following are some of the candidates’ innovation- economic- or workforce-related policies, positions, and prior accomplishments.

Delaware

New Castle Executive Matt Meyer faces Delaware state Rep. Mike Ramone, the current GOP minority leader.

Matt Meyer (D)

Meyer Is a former teacher and small business owner. A Meyer administration proposes to build upon Gov. Carney’s green economy, jobs, and infrastructure initiatives, including offshore wind and climate goals, such as net-zero emissions by 2050 in Delaware.

Mike Ramone (R)

Building upon his experience as a small business owner, Ramone, the co-chair of the Small Business Caucus and minority leader in the State House, has developed a “unified plan” for Delaware that offers proposals to increase prosperity and opportunity for all Delawareans. As governor, Ramone proposes to expand state-funded research into alternative energy sources, such as solar and nuclear and make Delaware more economically competitive through greater investments in the state’s infrastructure, including broadband. A Ramone administration proposes to partner with and provide support for the Delaware Economic Development Company/Prosperity Partnership to make the state a leader in free market investment and environmental research; promote homegrown entrepreneurship by creating a joint public-private initiative to increase professional development and economic opportunities for disadvantaged or underserved communities, including the expansion of tax credits for minority entrepreneurs; and address the state’s housing crisis through accessibility and affordability measures.

Indiana 

First-term U.S. Senator Mike Braun faces former Republican State Superintendent of Schools Jennifer McCormick in Indiana.

Mike Braun (R)

Touting his experience in the private sector and growing a small business into a national company, Braun says his administration would build upon the America First economic agenda and work to forge partnerships with industries and businesses that are committed to growing jobs in the USA.

Jennifer McCormick (D)

McCormick has offered an economic development plan that seeks to foster small business innovation, attract business investment, create high-quality jobs, establish a highly skilled workforce, strengthen labor unions, and, ensure sustainability. As part of the plan, a McCormick administration would promote partnerships between educational institutions, labor unions, and employers to best align curriculum with industry demands; nurture a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem statewide by providing targeted support for small businesses and startups through access to capital, incubator programs, and mentorship networks; and fostering a conducive environment for entrepreneurship and innovation by creating innovation clusters in key sectors.

Missouri  

Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe faces state Minority Leader Crystal Quade in Missouri.

Mike Kehoe (R)

As lieutenant governor, Kehoe worked within the Parson administration to promote Missouri’s businesses and manufacturers, along with implementing strategies to grow jobs. A Kehoe administration would focus on providing every child with a world class education and expanding workforce development to help every Missourian prepare for and learn new job skills.

Crystal Quade (D)

Quade is the Missouri House of Representatives minority leader. Quade was the first in her immediate family to graduate from high school and college, and her platform draws on her life experiences growing-up in rural Missouri, focusing largely on a message of financial help for working families. She has made rural Missouri a campaign priority. 

Montana  

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) will face Democratic opponent Ryan Busse in the November 2024 General election.

Greg Gianforte (R)

Gov. Gianforte is running on his administration’s record in implementing  his first term’s business and jobs platform and tax policies. This platform includes increasing the state’s business equipment tax exemption from $100,000 to $1 million and creating  60,000 new businesses. His second term would continue to build upon those policies, including additional regulation reforms, creation of affordable housing and housing reforms, and furthering conservative fiscal proposals.

Ryan Busse (D)

Former firearms executive Ryan Busse has been critical of Gov. Gianforte’s policies and is running on a platform that embraces fair tax structures, better housing conditions, strong public and secondary education, reliable infrastructure, and access to public lands—all of which he says will contribute to a strong business environment. As part of his platform, Busse strongly believes in organized labor and opposes “right to work” legislation.

New Hampshire  

Former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) and former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig (D) face off in the New Hampshire election.

Kelly Ayotte (R)

Vowing to keep New Hampshire on the “Sununu path,” Ayotte is campaigning on fiscally conservative “prosperous and free” platform policies.  An Ayotte administration promises to continue reducing regulations and tax burdens for businesses by keeping the state free of income and sales taxes. She describes her proposed policy as “protecting the New Hampshire advantage.”

Joyce Craig (D)

Craig is campaigning on a platform that prioritizes lowering costs and supporting working families by promoting innovative industries, opposing “right-to-work” legislation, increasing the minimum wage, expanding access to quality affordable health care, and combating the housing crisis. She has developed an energy plan that seeks to diversify the state’s energy portfolio while expanding clean energy alternatives. As part of the plan, Craig has proposed to create the  state’s first cleantech innovation council, support cleantech startups, build a cleantech workforce and infrastructure and form partnerships with New Hampshire’s universities, community colleges, high schools, organized labor, and private sector to create workforce opportunities. 

North Carolina  

North Carolina’s Attorney General Josh Stein is running as the Democratic candidate for governor against Republican Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson.

Josh Stein (D)

Josh Stein, the state’s current Attorney General, is campaigning on a platform of priorities that includes building a strong workforce. A Stein administration promises to invest in the state’s workforce by supporting North Carolina’s community colleges and universities. It proposes keeping tuition affordable to no-cost community colleges for students training in high-demand industries. Stein also wants to increase access to high quality early childhood education and accessible and affordable childcare. He believes this access will help to attract businesses and create good-paying jobs. As Governor, Stein promises to ensure that entrepreneurs have opportunities to build wealth by reducing red tape, investing in innovative strategies for economic development, and increasing resources for technical assistance and mentorship programs.

Mark Robinson (R)

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson’s 10-point economic plan involves, in part, investing in North Carolina’s digital and physical infrastructure,  including rural broadband; tax cuts for businesses and North Carolinians; investing in rural communities, agriculture, and farmers; developing the state’s workforce and talent by expanding technical and apprenticeship programs in K-12 and providing access to the state’s higher education system. Robinson also seeks to position North Carolina as a national leader in cryptocurrency.

North Dakota  

U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong is running for governor on the Republican ticket; state Senator Merrill Piepkorn is running on the Democratic ticket in North Dakota.

Kelly Armstrong (R)

Armstrong is campaigning on a list of conservative priorities, but with little discussion on TBED-related policies.

Merrill Piepkorn (D)

Piepkorn is campaigning on a platform that addresses tax fairness, affordable childcare and stronger public education, and changes in energy technologies and production.

In a recent debate, both Piepkorn and Armstrong seemed to agree on most topics, including the need to attract more people to the state to fill workforce needs and affordable housing, doing more to address mental health, and funding  for child care needs.

Utah   

Gov. Spencer Cox (R) will face State Representative Brian King in Utah.

Spencer Cox (R)

Gov. Spencer Cox (R) is campaigning on his administration’s accomplishments during his first term, which his campaign says include securing an $850 million tax cut. He is also touting the passage of parental permission legislation involving tech companies and social media; changes in water law, water conservation, and infrastructure planning; universal school choice; and funding for affordable housing, early education, and workforce initiatives.

Brian King (D)

Former Utah House minority leader and eight-term state Rep. Brian King is campaigning on six priorities: education, economy, leadership, environment, housing, and healthcare. As part of his economic platform, King is advocating for creating a progressive tax system, investments in affordable early education and child care, providing small businesses the tools for growth, and creating economic development programs that reward innovation and bring good-paying jobs to communities all across Utah. King also seeks to repeal the state’s “right-to-work” laws, ensuring every worker has the right to form or join a union.

Vermont

In Vermont, Gov. Phil Scott (R) will face Democratic opponent Esther Charlestin, a small business owner, co-chair of the Vermont Commission on Women, and an educator.

Phil Scott (R)

As governor, Scott has consistently campaigned on a platform of low taxes and fiscal conservatism while generally taking liberal stances on social issues such as abortion rights and LGBTQ+ equality. His administration continues to seek collaboration between the Department of Labor and key workforce development partners to support training opportunities, which will assist Vermonters to gain new skills for advancement in or securing good-paying jobs and attract businesses and entrepreneurs to the state to grow the state’s population and economy.

Esther Charlestin (D)

As governor, Charlestin’s priorities would center around sustainable education systems and affordable childcare, affordable housing and livability, and climate resilience and a just energy transition that safeguards and prioritizes the state’s vulnerable populations, reaches net zero energy goals, and protects natural resources. Her administration will seek and support investments in sustainable development, renewable energy projects, public transit, energy efficiency, sustainable agriculture, and conservation.

Washington  

State Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D) faces former U.S. Rep. and King County Sheriff Dave Reichert (R).

Bob Ferguson (D)

Attorney General Bob Ferguson is campaigning on a plan to grow the state’s economy. As governor and as part of that economic plan, he has promised to

• direct state economic and workforce development agencies to focus resources on creating good-paying, secure jobs with benefits, particularly in rural areas and communities of color or underserved areas,
• foster entrepreneurship and innovation and enhance access to capital;
• enhance access to capital, such as by creating a state-level investment fund and expanding microloan programs,
• establish startup incubators and accelerators, and collaborate with private sector to create innovation hubs;
• collaborate with the private sector to create innovation hubs,
• facilitate knowledge sharing and networking opportunities,
• encourage research and development by investing in research institutions,
• foster collaboration between universities, industries, and government agencies,
• support STEM education,
• establish Washington as the nation’s premier Hydrogen Hub, aiming to create thousands of good-paying jobs and transform the state’s clean energy economy, and
• seek apprenticeships, job training, college, or work transition for high school students and the implementation of retraining initiatives for adults.

Dave Reichert (R)

Reichert is running on a law and order platform. As governor, he promises to “use his experience on the street and in the trenches to change” what he describes as rampant lawlessness and crime, as well as address the homeless crisis in Washington to make Washingtonians feel safe again. His five priorities, crime and safety, cost of living, jobs and the economy, parents and children, and accountability, are all centered around implementing his proposals for safety and homelessness.

West Virginia  

In West Virginia, Republican State Attorney General Patrick Morrisey faces Democratic Huntington Mayor Steve Williams.

Patrick Morrisey (R)

Morrisey is campaigning on two overarching goals for his administration: lift the standard of living for West Virginians and drive greater educational attainment. Identifying economic and workforce policies as key to accomplishing both, as governor Morrisey promises to continue cutting taxes to reach current Gov. Justice’s goal of eliminating the state’s income tax while seeking to attract businesses by removing relocation barriers to the state. He promises to improve the state’s workforce participation by increasing vocational-technical (vo-tech) education and vo-tech opportunities through partnerships with employers to develop apprenticeships and internships, creating a “feeder system” for employment after high school. His administration promises to prioritize broadband expansion as central to the state’s infrastructure, which he says will help West Virginia attract new residents and businesses. Morrisey pledges to continue to promote or advocate for economic development initiatives, regulatory reviews, and tax reforms that provide a favorable climate for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Steve Williams (D)

Using the lessons he learned as Huntington’s mayor and the partnerships he has developed as an investment banker, as governor, Williams says he will model and scale up the “Huntington successes” statewide.

This article was prepared by SSTI using Federal funds under award ED22HDQ3070129 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.