Races for governor saw fierce battles
Whitmer, Kemp, Abbott reelected; Ariz. still tight
Incumbents in Florida, Texas, Michigan and more overcame challengers to retain the governor’s mansion on Election Day. The GOP faced unexpected headwinds in flipping the office in conservative Kansas, while Democrats were nervous about their prospects in Oregon, typically a liberal bastion.
Here is a look at some of the highestprofile races across the country:
⬤ Michigan: Democratic incumbent Gretchen Whitmer successfully fended off Republican Tudor Dixon.
The race, once seen as an easy win for Democrats in a major battleground state, tightened in the final weeks with a last-minute push by Dixon.
Dixon, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, denies the results of the 2020 election and has criticized Whitmer for her handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Whitmer emphasized abortion rights throughout the campaign and criticized Dixon for her no-exceptions stance on the procedure.
⬤ Georgia: Republican incumbent Brian Kemp defeated Democrat Stacey Abrams.
The two faced off once before in 2018, with Kemp narrowly claiming victory after a runoff election. This gubernatorial contest has been one of the most closely watched this midterm cycle as both candidates are major players in their parties.
The tightly fought race was expected to serve as a litmus test of just how strong the Democratic coalition in Georgia is and whether it can withstand an election largely viewed as a referendum on President Joe Biden, whose approval ratings have suffered throughout his second year.
⬤ Pennsylvania: State Attorney General Josh Shapiro bested Republican Doug Mastriano.
Shapiro is a former state representative who cast himself as someone willing to take the fight to the status quo. Shapiro defended the state’s presidential election results in 2020 against an onslaught of legal challenges.
Mastriano, a state senator and retired Army colonel, marched on the U.S. Capitol in the Jan. 6 attack and was endorsed by former President Donald Trump. Mastriano supported unfounded claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election and held a hearing hyping voting irregularities.
⬤ Florida: Republican incumbent Ron DeSantis defeated Democratic Rep. Charlie Crist.
During DeSantis’ victory speech, some supporters chanted “two more years! Two more years!” Others overrode that with counter-chants of “US-A! U-S-A!” He did not comment on any plans he may have for 2024.
Crist, a former Republican, served as governor from 2007 to 2011, registering as a Democrat after leaving office.
⬤ Arizona: The final outcome of a grueling 20-month race was too close to call as of Thursday.
Republican nominee Kari Lake, a former TV news anchor, and Democratic candidate Katie Hobbs, the secretary of state and a former lawmaker, were locked in a close battle that often focused on national political figures as well as their vastly different visions for Arizona.
And at least partially, the race offers a litmus test of whether Arizonans want to dwell on the 2020 election. Denying its legitimacy was a central part of Lake’s campaign; Hobbs rose to prominence defending it.