Republicans on Tuesday captured governorships that had been held by Democrats in at least 10 states, including some key presidential battlegrounds, and hoped for even more statehouse gains.
Lost in the Republican wave were governorships now held by Democrats in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Tennessee, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Wyoming.
In Ohio, a state viewed by both parties as crucial to the 2012 presidential election, former Rep. John Kasich defeated Gov. Ted Strickland. Republican Susana Martinez won the New Mexico governorship -- she is the first Hispanic woman to become chief executive of a state -- and will succeed Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson.
But there were a few bright spots for Democrats. In California, Democrat Jerry Brown coasted past former eBay CEO Meg Whitman to reclaim the governorship he held three decades ago. He will replace moderate Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for what was shaping up to be perhaps the only Democratic gain of the night of a Republican seat.
Democrats also held onto governorships in New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, Arkansas and Colorado.
The gubernatorial races were especially important this year. There are a record number of them on the ballot -- more than two-thirds of the states. Governors will play important roles in 2012 presidential politics, especially in swing states, and governors next year will participate in redistricting of congressional and legislative seats to reflect the 2010 census.
New York Democrat Andrew Cuomo surged past tea party Republican Carl Paladino to win the governor’s seat, the same post his father, Mario, had held two decades ago.
In Massachusetts, Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick won a second term, defeating Republican Charles Baker and two other candidates. Patrick and President Barack Obama share Chicago roots and Harvard Law degrees, and national Republicans tried hard to topple him.
Denver’s Democratic mayor, John Hickenlooper, was elected Colorado governor despite a challenge from both Republican challenger Dan Maes and immigration hard-liner Tom Tancredo, a former Republican House member. Hickenlooper replaces Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter, who did not run for re-election.
As Democratic gubernatorial and congressional casualties were piling up, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, head of the Republican Governors Association and a possible 2012 presidential contender, compared the Republican victories to 1994, when the party seized control of both House and Senate.
In Democratic—leaning Pennsylvania, Republican Tom Corbett defeated Democrat Dan Onorato to replace Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell, who was term limited.
Oklahoma and South Carolina elected their first female governors, both Republicans. In South Carolina, tea—party backed Republican state Rep. Nikki Haley will also become the nation’s second Indian—American governor when she replaces term-limited Gov. Mark Sanford. Louisiana’s Bobby Jindal also is Indian—American. She is the first American raised as a Sikh to hold the office of governor.
In a high—profile race into which both parties spent millions, Texas Republican Gov. Rick Perry, who has already served 10 years, defeated Democrat Bill White, a former mayor of Houston.
Arizona Republican Gov. Jan Brewer, who drew national attention when she signed a state law cracking down on illegal immigration, was elected to a full term, defeating Democratic Attorney General Terry Goddard.
Despite scattered victories, this Election Day was not one Democrats were savoring, with anti-incumbent fever rampant and unemployment stuck for months at near 10 percent.
Historically, the party holding the White House has lost around five governorships in the first midterm election after a new president takes office. Analysts in both parties expected Democratic casualties to be higher this year. Republicans anticipated a net pickup of at least six and possibly as many as 12. Democrats hoped losses could be held to the smaller number.
Republicans eyed potential gains of governorships now held by Democrats across a wide swath of the industrial Midwest and Great Lakes, from Iowa to Pennsylvania. Besides having some of the nation’s highest jobless rates, many of these rust-belt states have traditionally been presidential swing states.
The Republicans fought hard to increase their foothold in the north-eastern New England states, traditionally Democratic turf but this year very much in play.
In Rhode Island, former Sen. Lincoln Chafee, a one-time Republican turned independent, won the governorship over Democrat Frank Caprio and Republican John Robitaille.
The Republicans fought hard to increase their foothold in the northeastern New England states, traditionally Democratic turf but this year very much in play.
In Rhode Island, former Sen. Lincoln Chafee, a one-time Republican turned independent, won the governorship over Democrat Frank Caprio and Republican John Robitaille.
Some 37 governorships were on the line -- a combination of the usual rotation plus races to fill unexpired terms and some states changing their election cycles.
Of these races, 24 were for “open” seats, ones in which no incumbent was running. Some incumbents were term-limited; others decided not to run in such hard economic times.
In Florida, Republican-turned-independent Gov. Charlie Crist decided to run for the Senate, a contest he lost Tuesday.
Florida’s was among the hardest-fought races in the country, with both parties spending millions on the race between Republican businessman Rick Scott and Democrat Alex Sink, the state’s chief financial officer.
In California, Democrat Brown, currently the attorney general, engaged in a fierce battle with billionaire Republican Meg Whitman. The billionaire Republican poured more than $150 million of her own money into the campaign, making it the most expensive nonpresidential race in U.S. history.
There are currently 26 Democratic governors and 24 Republicans.
