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5 things to know about 2014 governor’s races

By WTOP Staff

BRIAN BAKST
Associated Press

Thirty-six states choose governors in the November elections. Winning one of these races can take years of paying political dues and a grueling nomination battle.

Incumbents are tough to beat, particularly when the economy is on the upswing as it is this year.

Most of the 28 incumbents trying for another term will get it with little trouble; a few others have reason to sweat. Seven states have open races where the person in charge, but not necessarily the ruling party, will change. And one governor, Hawaii’s Neil Abercrombie, fell in a Democratic primary.

Five things to know about governors’ races:

1. PARTY POWER

It’s more than just party bragging rights on the line. Governors flex considerable muscle when it comes to raising or cutting taxes, strengthening or weakening labor unions and extending or easing restrictions on abortion, gay marriage and guns.

Twenty-two states run by Republicans have governors’ offices at stake; in 14 others, a Democrat is now at the helm.

The GOP can sleepwalk to victory in state such as Alabama and Wyoming, where heavily Republican voter bases provide a huge advantage. Democrats have slam-dunk territory, too, mainly along the coasts.

National interest group money is flooding into competitive states, with the Republican Governors Association and Democratic Governors Association primed to spend tens of millions of dollars each to tip races.

Expect the contest in Florida to be the most costly. Republican Gov. Rick Scott and former Gov. Charlie Crist, a Democrat who once led the state as a Republican, have already drawn more than $60 million in combined campaign cash.

2. TROUBLE WATCH

Gov. Tom Corbett, R-Pa., is on the shakiest ground because of an uproar over cuts to education spending and several verbal gaffes. He has trailed Democratic businessman Tom Wolf throughout.

In Illinois, Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn is being pushed hard by businessman Bruce Rauner in a race where voter mood’s been soured by high unemployment and the aftertaste of corruption during Democratic rule.

In Kansas, some in Gov. Sam Brownback’s Republican Party are uneasy over his aggressive tax slashing. Several notable GOP moderates back Democratic rival Paul Davis, a veteran legislator.

In Maine, blunt-talking Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s combative style is an issue in his race against Democratic Rep. Mike Michaud, who made national headlines himself by disclosing he’s gay.

3. FIRST THIS, THEN … ?

For several governors, a November win means more than one more term in the executive mansion. Any hope of trading up to the White House depends on it.

Republicans Nikki Haley of South Carolina, John Kasich of Ohio, Susan Martinez of New Mexico, Rick Snyder of Michigan and Scott Walker of Wisconsin could forget any shot at the presidency or vice presidency if they lose. The same goes for New York’s Andrew Cuomo and Colorado’s John Hickenlooper for the Democrats.

Walker faces the stiffest challenge. He is in a tight contest with business executive Mary Burke in his third statewide race in four years after a failed recall effort.

Even though New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie isn’t on the ballot, the prospective presidential candidate has a big stake in the fall outcome. As chairman of the Republican Governors Association, Christie could be judged on how his party fares.

4. BIG-STATE BLOWOUTS?

Barring dramatic late-season turns, the governors of the nation’s two most populous states could be headed for walkovers. California’s Jerry Brown and New York’s Cuomo, both Democrats, look to be in command of races for new terms. While Texas Gov. Rick Perry is stepping away, his Republican Party is well-positioned to keep a mansion it has held for two decades with the GOP nominee, Attorney General Greg Abbott, well ahead.

5. MILESTONE MEN

Iowa Republican Terry Branstad, already the nation’s longest-tenured governor, would add to his longevity with an unprecedented sixth four-year term.

At 67, Branstad is also among a crew of retirement-age incumbents giving it another run. Brown (76), Idaho’s Butch Otter (72), Georgia’s Nathan Deal (72), Alabama’s Robert Bentley (71), Minnesota’s Mark Dayton (67) and Oregon’s John Kitzhaber (67) are either the oldest-ever governor in their states or nearing the mark.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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