What happens when one party controls a state's government?

Over the last two decades, the U.S. has seen a majority of state governments completely lean in one political direction or the other, with 40 states in 2024 having one-party control of the governorship and both legislative bodies. In an opinion piece for The Washington Post, former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels argues that the structural forces of this kind of government lead to bad lawmaking. Daniels joins CBS News to explain.

[supremeexecutivechairman]

I don't know why we didn't listen to George Washington saying avoid a two tier party system

[CyborgZeta]

One party control means no one to check the ruling party's worst impulses.

[DanH-uf]

Politicians in one party districts become lazy or corrupt and undemocratic. California, Texas, Florida, NY and Illinois are all single party states for either party.

[moonman]

Being open-primary helps, I think.
As an independent voter in Colorado, I can (and have) choose whether to vote in the Republican primary or the Democratic primary.

[Forge]

A mixed government helps insure reasonable compromise and more people’s interests are met. More Americans identify as independent anyways.

[vids]

Mitch Daniels is the reason why that culture is in place

[deadlyta]

For one thing it removes equel representation for all

The 2 party system leads to a system where our repersentives represent party over anything else

[Lupintherd.]

The problem comes down to the time dishonorable American political tradition of gerrymandering. Lots of states regardless if red or blue are gerrymandered at the state house and congressional level. The big problem is that the state houses decide the district lines so some legislatures can shop for their own voters every so often after the federal census. This is why you need both term limits and independent commissions that decide on the legislative district boundary lines.

[mistercohaagen]

I drove through Indiana once. Not a fun experience. Indianapolis seemed normal, but the rural areas south of there got scary. The town we stopped in for gas and lunch looked worse than where I came from... which was Detroit. The rest stop was something out of a horror movie. I felt bad for everybody stuck there. Now I feel bad for everybody stuck in this entire country. Oh well.

[SkyMogul]

Daniels conveniently sidesteps the real issue: rabid partisan gerrymandering has made most legislative seats safe, meaning that only primaries matter, meaning that only the most partisan partisans are really controlling who gets elected to the legislature. Indiana Democrats would have to win north of 70% of the popular vote to get a simple legislative majority. The solution he (and the few other remaining centrist guard of the IN GOP like Todd Young) have proposed of eliminating primaries isn't real. Drawing competitive districts would go a long way. Ranked choice would definitely be good too, he is right about that.

[emerymyers]

What happens is many citizen taxpayers don’t get what they pay in for!!!

[gregweatherup]

One party rule theoretically can work if that party is responsible and fair minded and always being considerate of non party constituents. That basically never happens.

Two party system has worked, more of less, across our history as long as the parties were sane and d willing to compromise. That’s no longer the case.

The parties are no longer sane enough for a 2 party system, and are certainly not responsible enough for a 1 party system, so the only other options would either be a truely multiparty (ie 3+) system, which our system doesn’t allow for, or somehow a zero party system (which no one has ever articulated how that would actually work).

[penguin]

Governor Daniels' reaction cracks me up. He basically said "1-party rule is fine, as long as I agree with the party."

[bjdon]

With the death of local reporting and the closing of the state house bureau for most surviving newspapers there is very little to report on how these states are operating, especially the many states when the state capital is some small town away from the big cities of the state.

[centredoorplugsthornton]

So which party controlled the Indiana legislature when he was governor?
Did that party shut out the other party?

[Throughthelurkingglass]

Stuttering old men think they can do whatever they want without consequences☹️

[Mr.HondaMoto]

As an Indiana native, our government is very irresponsible...except when it comes to gambling and abortion....😮‍💨
...and the gerrymandering is insane.

[JXY]

Why did they show a picture of Mike Braun when they said Mitch Daniels.

[SRMkay]

I think probably the biggest cause is the fact that people rarely split-ticket vote anymore. Instead of voting for the candidate they like best or whose ideas sound most reasonable, people will vote their party allegiance without much critical examination of either their party's candidates or the opposition.

[lueagle]

The same people stay in charge. If term limits aren’t implemented down the system, some people with the same old views keep change from occurring.