One of the nation's top political analysts, Stuart Rothenberg, dissects politics at the congressional and statewide levels.

Governors overview

By Stuart Rothenberg/CNN

With only 11 gubernatorial contests scheduled for 2000, the states will take a back seat to Washington.

Democrats hold seven of the 11 governorships up this year. In four of those states, sitting governors can't seek re-election. Not surprisingly, all four -- three held by Democrats (Delaware, Missouri and North Carolina) and one by a Republican (Montana) -- are competitive. Democrats also hope to knock off Republican Gov. Cecil Underwood in normally Democratic West Virginia.

But this year's gubernatorial contests aren't likely to get a lot of media attention. Four of the 11 states with races have small populations, reflected by the fact that they have just a single at-large U.S. Representative.

Three members of Congress are running for governor: David McIntosh, R-Indiana, Jim Talent, R-Missouri, and Bob Wise, D-West Virginia.

Like the federal government, most states are on solid footing financially, and voters seem generally content. That should help the six incumbents seeking re-election, but it could have less impact on the five states where sitting governors aren't on the ballot for another term.