Whats At Stake In Tuesdays Elections
GOVERNORS:
Voters in two states, New Jersey and Virginia, are electing governors.
-The New Jersey race has centered on the economy and the states highest-in-the-nation taxes. Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine, the billionaire former Wall Street executive, is fighting to earn a second term. His opponents are Republican former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie and an independent candidate, former state environmental official Chris Daggett.
-In Virginia, where Democrats last year handed the GOP its first presidential defeat in 44 years, the GOP is trying to stage a comeback. Republican Bob McDonnell and Democrat R. Creigh Deeds, a state senator who narrowly lost the attorney generals race to McDonnell four years ago, are running to replace the term-limited Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine.
MAYORS:
Mayors are being elected in several major cities.
-In Atlanta, six candidates are seeking to succeed term-limited Mayor Shirley Franklin in an election that is expected to lead to a December runoff. The top contenders include City Councilwoman Mary Norwood, who was trying to become the citys first white mayor in a generation.
-In New York, billionaire Mayor Michael Bloomberg is expected to spend more than $100 million of his fortune in a bid for a third term, the most expensive self-financed campaign in American history.
-In Houston, four candidates were competing to succeed three-term Mayor Bill White, including city Controller Annise Parker, who would be the citys first openly gay mayor.
-The mayors of Boston, Detroit and Pittsburgh are up for re-election.
U.S. HOUSE:
Two special elections, one in northern California and one in upstate New York, wont change the balance of power of the 435-member House, where Democrats hold 256 seats. Both seats were vacated when the incumbent took a job in the Obama administration.
-Democratic Lt. Gov. John Garamendi faced off with Republican attorney Dave Harmer for a Northern California congressional seat.
BALLOT MEASURES:
-Voters in Maine have the opportunity to make it the first state to approve gay marriage at the ballot box with a referendum on whether to accept or reject a same-sex marriage law approved by legislators in May.
-In Washington, voters will be deciding whether to keep a Legislature-approved “everything but marriage” domestic partnerships law, which grants registered partners the same legal rights as married couples.
-Ohio voters will decide whether to bring casinos to the state.