Accommodating "Black Lives Matter" Movement: Party Identity And The Governors' Reaction To Protests

Governors play a prominent role in the functioning of the political system of the United States. With several wide-ranging powers, they serve as the heads of the state executive branch and shape the reputation of their party in the eyes of citizens. As such, this study focuses on examining the influence of party affiliation on the actions of politicians and determining the effect that governors have on presidential elections. The correlation between affiliation with the Republican or Democratic Party and how Black Lives Matter rhetoric is used as a tool to influence the forthcoming presidential election is analyzed. The results of this paper are, first, a greater understanding of the characteristics of politics and discourse depending on a politician's party affiliation, and second, in making the case that governors are capable of influencing presidential elections, and that referring to social protests as periods of social crisis can act as an element of partisan struggle.