News from across the USA
ALABAMA
Former Alabama Supreme Court chief justice RoyMoore (R) won back his job by defeating circuit judge Bob Vance (D). Moore became known as the “Ten Commandments Judge” after he refused a federal order to remove a 2-ton stone monument depicting the Biblical laws from the state court building in Montgomery, The Montgomery Advertiser reported. A judicial panel removed him from office in 2003.
ALASKA
U.S. Rep. Don Young (R) overwhelmingly won a 21st term over Sharon Cissna (D). Voters also gave Republicans control of both houses of the Legislature. The measure to call a constitutional convention failed by a wide margin. Alaskans favored issuing $453 million in bonds for transportation projects, including $50 million to expand the troubled Port of Anchorage.
ARIZONA
Rep. Jeff Flake (R) edged former surgeon general Richard Carmona (D) for the open U.S. Senate seat. Republicans held both state legislative chambers, though their majorities decreased. Rep. Ron Barber (D), an aide to former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, appeared to lose by a razor-thin margin in the 2nd District. Voters rejected a permanent one-cent sales tax increase dedicated to education and a top-2 primary election system.
ARKANSAS
Republicans swept the state’s U.S. House seats and wrested control of the state Senate, with a 21-14 advantage. GOP U.S. Reps. Tim Griffin, Rick Crawford and Steve Womack won re-election, while Tom Cotton (R) won the seat vacated by Rep. Mike Ross (D). In the state House, Republicans held a 49-48-1 edge over Democrats and the Green Party, with two races to be decided.
CALIFORNIA
Voters decided several high-profile ballot initiatives, approving a tax hike backed by Gov. Jerry Brown (D) and a proposal to temper the state’s three strikes law. They rejected proposals to label genetically modified foods and to repeal the death penalty. Redistricting and the state’s new primary system had many House incumbents fighting for survival. Veteran Reps. Pete Stark (D) and Howard Berman (D) lost their seats to fellow Democrats after a combined 68 years in Congress.
COLORADO
Voters handily supported legalization of marijuana without a doctor’s recommendation, but with regulation and taxes, with the first $40 million going to school construction. Democrats regained control of the stateHouse, with at least 36 seats out of 65, and now hold a 20-15 advantage in the state Senate. Voters returned all seven congressmen, four Republicans and three Democrats.
CONNECTICUT
Despite spending nearly $42 million of her own money on the open U.S. Senate race, professional wrestling magnate LindaMcMahon (R) lost to Rep. Chris Murphy (D). Five Democrats, including four incumbents, wonHouse seats. Democrats held on to majorities in both chambers of the state Legislature.
DELAWARE
Gov. Jack Markell (D) easily won re-election, saying voters understood the economic turmoil he inherited, The News Journal reported. Democratic incumbents U.S. Sen. TomCarper and U.S. Rep. John Carney also won handily. In the General Assembly, Republicans picked up one seat in the Senate but lost one in the House, and Democrats remained in control of both chambers.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
PhilMendelson (D), a former at-large Council member , defeated Calvin Gurley (D) 72% to 28% for the chairmanship of the Council, the second most powerful position in D.C. after the mayor.
FLORIDA
Voters elected nine Democrats and 17 Republicans to the U.S. House, and returned U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D), who defeated popular Rep. Connie Mack (R), to win a third term. Control of the state Legislature, previously dominated by the GOP, is contested. Presidential results remain undecided, partly because counting has yet to be finished in several counties. About 20,000 absentee ballots need to be counted.
GEORGIA
Voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing a new state board to issue charters for private operators to run independent public schools. U.S. Reps. Paul Broun (R), LynnWestmoreland (R) and Austin Scott (R) each won re-election after running unopposed. In Clayton County, former sheriff Victor Hill (D) reclaimed the office despite having been indicted on 32 felony charges stemming from his first term.
HAWAII
Democrats added to their majority in the stateHouse after two Republican incumbents were defeated. Democrats also maintained their overwelming majority in the state Senate at 24-1. On the national level, the state made history by electing Rep. Mazie Hirono (D), who will be the first Asian-American woman in the U.S. Senate, and Tulsi Gabbard (D), who will be the first Hindu American in theHouse.
IDAHO
Voters agreed to amend the state constitution to protect forever the right to hunt, fish and trap. Republicans easily kept the state’s two U.S. House seats with the re-election of Reps. Mike Simpson, who defeated Nicole LeFavour (D), and Raul Labrador, who beat ex-NFL player Jimmy Farris (D). Voters also rejected public schools chief TomLuna’s proposal to spend $180 million to lease laptops for high school students and create online-class mandates.
ILLINOIS
Democrats benefited from redistricting, picking up four congressional seats. IraqWar veteran Tammy Duckworth, who lost both legs in combat, beat freshman Rep. JoeWalsh (R), a Tea Party favorite, in a race that drew national attention. Democrats retained control of both General Assembly houses. State Rep. Derrick Smith (D) won back his seat after being expelled for federal bribery charges that are pending.
INDIANA
The GOP held on to control of the state’s top office with a gubernatorial victory by Mike Pence (R). Glenda Ritz (D) upset incumbent state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett, a first-term Republican. RichardMourdock (R), hurt in the polls by a gaffe about rape and abortion, lost to Joe Donnelly (D), giving Democrats control of the U.S. Senate seat for the first time in three decades.
IOWA
The Legislature remained closely divided, with Democrats retaining a 26-23 edge in the Senate. In theHouse, which was 60-40 majority Republican heading into Election Day, results were incomplete. Former state first lady Christie Vilsack (D) lost her bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Steve King (R) and become the state’s first woman in Congress. Despite newly drawn congressional districts, incumbent Reps. Bruce Braley (D), Dave Loebsack (D) and TomLatham (R) won re-election.
KANSAS
Voters overwhelmingly favored Republicans in all races, including re-electing its four members of Congress. Voters repealed anti-discrimination ordinances approved earlier this year that would have protected people from discrimination based on sexual orientation.
KENTUCKY
While incumbent John Yarmuth (D) easily won re-election for the 3rd Congressional District, Ben Chandler (D) was unseated in the 6th District. Chandler was defeated by Andy Barr (R) in the state’s most competitive race. The state House retained its Democratic majority, while the state Senate remained under GOP control. Voters approved a measure making hunting and fishing a constitutional right.
LOUISIANA
U.S. Reps. Charles Boustany (R) and Jeff Landry (R) will face each other in a December runoff after being forced into the same 3rd District when the state lost a congressional seat after the 2010 Census. The other incumbent congressmen — four Republicans and one Democrat— kept their seats. The contest for a vacant state Supreme Court seat representing the Baton Rouge area will be decided Dec. 8.
MAINE
Voters made history by becoming the first state to approve same-sex marriage by popular vote, leading gay-rights activists to call it an important step forward, the Press Herald reported. Independent former governor Angus King won the U.S. Senate race, weathering a storm of negative ads from out-of-state groups trying to elect a Republican majority to the Senate.
MARYLAND
Voters approved samesex marriage, expanded gambling, in-state tuition rates for illegal immigrants who meet certain conditions, and the state’s congressional redistricting map. Incumbent U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D) defeated Daniel Bongino (R) and independent Rob Sobhani, who spent millions of his own money on his campaign. In the U.S. House races, all but one of the eight incumbents were re-elected.
MASSACHUSETTS
ElizabethWarren (D) ousted Scott Brown (R) in a closely watched and expensive U.S. Senate race. Joseph Kennedy III (D) will replace the retiring Barney Frank (D), completing a Democratic sweep of theHouse races. Voters approved a measure legalizing medical marijuana, while a measure permitting assisted suicide narrowly lost. Democrats won all but three state Senate races and retained their majority in the stateHouse.
MICHIGAN
Debbie Stabenow (D) easily won a third term as U.S. senator, defeating challenger PeteHoekstra (R), who served in the U.S. House for 16 years. Voters rejected proposed constitutional amendments that would have enhanced collective bargaining rights for unions and required additional renewable energy generation, a legislative supermajority to increase taxes and a statewide vote before a new bridge to Canada could be built.
MINNESOTA
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R) narrowly earned her fourth term, edging out Jim Graves (D) in the 6th District in a tight race. Republicans lost the state congressional majority and voters rejected constitutional amendments that would have banned gay marriage and required voters to show a photo ID.
MISSISSIPPI
Incumbents in both parties were re-elected by wide margins. Sen. Roger Wicker (R), who defeated Albert Gore Jr. (D), a retired minister, will focus on overspending by the federal government in his second term, The Clarion-Ledger reported. In U.S. House races, Republican Reps. Alan Nunnelee, Gregg Harper and Steven Palazzo each won, as did Rep. Bennie Thompson, the state’s lone congressional Democrat.
MISSOURI
U.S. Sen. ClaireMcCaskill (D) and Gov. Jay Nixon (D) won re-election, while a proposal to increase the state’s lowest-in-thenation tobacco tax lost for a third time. Voters approved a measure to prohibit the governor from initiating a health insurance exchange without legislative approval.
MONTANA
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D) survived a strong challenge from six-term Rep. Dennis Rehberg (R) in one of the tightest and most closely watched Senate races in the nation. In the governor’s contest, Steve Bullock (D) beat Rick Hill (R), keeping the office in Democratic hands. Voters approved measures to require parental notification of abortions for minors and to restrict state services to illegal immigrants.
NEBRASKA
The GOP won big. Deb Fischer’s defeat of ex-governor and senator Bob Kerrey (D) for an open U.S. Senate seat means Republicans will hold every statewide office for the first time since 1971. All three GOP congressmen won re-election, and Republicans maintained control of the Legislature. Voters approved an amendment establishing a constitutional right to hunt and fish.
NEVADA
Voters agreed to amend the state constitution and grant the Legislature power to convene special sessions, a responsibility that previously rested solely with the governor. Supporters argued more flexibility is necessary to allow lawmakers to react to unexpected situations or emergencies, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal. DeanHeller (R) won his first full term after his appointment to the U.S. Senate last year following John Ensign’s resignation.
NEWHAMPSHIRE Women
Women swept statewide elections, sending an entirely female delegation to Congress. Maggie Hassan (D) won the governor’s race handily, while Carol SheaPorter (D) and AnnMcLane Kuster (D) won U.S. House seats to join Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D) and Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) inWashington. Voters rejected an amendment to prohibit a state income tax.
NEWJERSEY
The traditionally blue state broke even in the U.S. House elections with six seats each going to Democrats and Republicans. Favored incumbent BobMenendez (D) won the U.S. Senate seat against Joseph Kyrillos (R). A close race in the 3rd District ended with incumbent Jon Runyan (R) retaining his seat against Shelley Adler (D). Voters passed a ballot measure calling for a bond to improve private and public universities.
NEWMEXICO
Rep. MartinHeinrich (D) soundly defeated five-term former congresswoman Heather Wilson (R) to win retiring Jeff Bingaman’s (D) U.S. Senate seat. Reps. Ben Ray Lujan (D) and Steve Pearce (R) cruised to re-election, while Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) wonHeinrich’s openHouse seat. Republicans made gains in the state Legislature, but Democrats appeared poised to narrowly maintain control.
NEWYORK
Democrats and Republicans both claim control of the state Senate as likely legal challenges begin. Three of New York’s seats in Congress switched parties, with Democrats taking two from Republicans and the GOP taking one from Democrats. U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D) won her first full term.
NORTH CAROLINA
Republicans maintained control of the General Assembly and took the governor’s mansion for the first time in 20 years with former Charlottemayor Pat McCrory easily defeatingWalter Dalton (D). GOP-led redistricting in the state helped secure Republican wins in the 11th and 8th districts, where Richard Hudson unseated incumbent Larry Kissell (D), the Asheville Citizen-Times reported. In a close race, MikeMcIntyre (D) held onto his seat in the 7th District.
NORTHDAKOTA
The closely watched U.S. Senate race between former state attorney generalHeidi Heitkamp (D) and Rep. Rick Berg (R) ended when Berg conceded. Economic growth from an oil boom fueled the re-election of Gov. Jack Dalrymple (R). Public Service Commissioner Kevin Cramer (R) was elected to replace Berg in the state’s onlyHouse seat. Voters passed an initiative to expand the state’s smoking ban to bars and public places.
OHIO
Voters split the ticket in Ohio, paving the way for President Obama’s win and returning Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) to office, but also electing Republicans to the U.S. House and Legislature. The GOP maintained its majority in the state Senate but didn’t gain any seats after state Sen. Lou Gentile (D) fended off a tough challenge from Shane Thompson (R). Voters rejected a measure to establish a commission to draw state and congressional districts.
OKLAHOMA
Republicans strengthened their hold on the General Assembly, winning 72 of 101 state House seats and 19 of 24 state Senate seats up for election. All 5 U.S. congressional districts went red, including the 2nd District race between Markwayne Mullin (R) and RobWallace (D). Voters passed a ballot measure prohibiting affirmative action in state employment, education and contracting except when federal funds require it.
OREGON
The state did not legalize recreational marijuana use. Voters also rejected measures to eliminate the estate tax and allow private casinos, the Statesman Journal reported. All five U.S. House incumbents won re-election, and Democrats strengthened their control of the Legislature.
PENNSYLVANIA
It was a big night for Democrats. U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D) won a second term against political newcomer TomSmith (R). Democrats also swept the elections for state attorney general, state treasurer and auditor general. The Democrats chipped away at the Republican majority in the state Senate, but both chambers of theLegislature remain under GOP control.
RHODE ISLAND
Democrats prevailed in the state’s top races, sending incumbents U.S. Sen. Scott Whitehouse and Reps. David Cicilline and JimLangevin back toWashington. Voters approved table games at Twin River and Newport Grand casinos, but the Newport referendum did not get the needed local approval.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Voters re-elected all five GOP members of Congress and picked a sixth Republican to represent the new district in the Myrtle Beach area, The Greenville News reported. The lone Democrat in the state’s congressional delegation, JimClyburn, won an 11th term. Voters also approved a referendum that will allow gubernatorial candidates to choose a running mate rather than having the lieutenant governor elected separately.
SOUTHDAKOTA
Voters re-elected U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R) to the state’s one at-large seat for a second term. Voters soundly rejected a onecent sales tax increase that would have been split between K-12 education andMedicaid providers. Republicans in state legislative races maintained their two-thirds majorities in both the stateHouse and Senate, the Argus Leader reported.
TENNESSEE
U. S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R) was re-elected despite controversy about an affair with a patient whom he urged to get an abortion. DesJarlais was a physician before being elected to Congress, and he opposes abortion rights. All nine congressional members kept their seats. Bob Corker (R) won an easy race for his second U.S. Senate term.
TEXASHouston
voters approved $2.7 billion in bond packages to improve parks, schools, fire stations and upgrade job training, while Tea Partyfavorite Ted Cruz won his U.S. Senate race. Republicans retained control of the Legislature but lost their supermajority in the stateHouse. The Democrats’ slight gain could be important when negotiating public education funding in 2013.
UTAH
Republicans triumphed in this heavily red state. U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R) was re-elected to a seventh term and Gov. GaryHerbert (R) was re-elected by a large margin. The U.S. House race between Rep. Jim Matheson (D), the state’s only Democratic representative inWashington, and Saratoga Springs Mayor Mia Love (R) came down to the wire, with Matheson being re-elected by 3,000 votes.
VERMONT
It was a near-sweep for the state’s Democrats, who won seven of eight statewide offices up for grabs on Tuesday. The one exception was Phil Scott (R), who was re-elected as lieutenant governor. Left-leaning independent U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, U.S. Rep. PeterWelch (D) and Gov. Peter Shumlin (D) cruised to re-election.
VIRGINIA
Former governor Tim Kaine (D) won the hotly contested U.S. Senate race against another ex-governor, George Allen (R). All 11 U.S. House members— eight Republicans and three Democrats— won. Voters supported a constitutional amendment that prohibits local governments from seizing private property for economic development.
WASHINGTON
Voters legalized recreational use of marijuana, allowing possession of up to an ounce beginning Dec. 6, but sales at statelicensed stores are a year away. Votes were still being counted on a measure to legalize same-sex marriage. U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D) clinched re-election. In the state’smost hotly contested congressional race, Suzan DelBene (D) defeated John Koster (R) to win the open 1st District seat.
WEST VIRGINIA
In a state that went 2-1 for Mitt Romney, Republicans failed to oust the Democratic governor, Earl Ray Tomblin, or Democratic U.S. Sen. JoeManchin or break the Democrats’ hold of the state Legislature. In the competitive 3rd District, incumbent Nick Rahall (D) beat Rick Snuffer (R).
WISCONSIN
GOP vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan defeated Rob Zerban (D) to keep his congressional seat. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D) will become the nation’s first openly gay U.S. senator, defeating former governor Tommy Thompson (R). Republicans took control of the Legislature, retaining the Assembly and regaining control of the Senate that they had lost in a recall election this year, Gannett WisconsinMedia reported.
WYOMING
Voters approved an amendment to the constitution prohibiting mandatory participation in any health care system, but the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the federal Affordable Care Act supersedes the provision. A measure establishing a constitutional right to hunt, fish and trap was overwhelming approved, while the GOP added to its dominance in the Legislature and swept the national races.