Election '82: Fresh Faces in the Mansion

And most are Democrats, who now command 34 statehouses

They are the dukes of the American democracy, officials who possess broad powers in their states and, as a presidential year draws near, can exact tribute from the incumbent in the White House and those who want to oust him. All reason enough for the Reagan Administration to have put a high priority on maintaining at 23 the G.O.P.'s share of governorships. Another factor last week that made the gubernatorial races a bit more important to the President: his already unpopular New Federalism proposal to...