Dems Pick Up One Governor Seat

Of 11 Governorships Up For Grabs, Only Missouri Changes Party Control

(CBS/ AP)  Governorships in 11 states - from New Hampshire to Washington - were at stake this Election Day, with voters for the most part keeping the incumbent party in office. Democrats scored one upset, winning the governorship in Missouri.

In all, eight incumbents faced challenges, and all of them won. Three of the races filled open seats.

Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon won the gubernatorial race, defeating GOP Congressman Kenny Hulshof.

The Missouri governorship is currently held by Republican Gov. Matt Blunt, who decided not to run for re-election after serving one term.

Nixon ran on a dual platform of experience and change, referring to his record 16 years of service as attorney general and to his party's out-of-power status for the past four years.

Nixon and Hulshof both focused their campaigns on the economy, education and health care, while casting each other as big spenders incapable of changing Missouri's Capitol.

One of the more closely watched races was Washington's gubernatorial contest, with Gov. Christine Gregoire projected to win her race against her Republican challenger, businessman Dino Rossi.

Their face-off was a repeat performance: in 2004, Rossi was certified twice as the winner of the election, but Gregoire paid for a hand recount, which declared her the winner by a mere 133 votes out of a total vote of 2.8 million.

This time around, Rossi blamed Gregoire for a projected budget deficit and said he's the best one to trim state spending. Gregoire blamed the Bush administration for the economic slowdown and said she has a record of helping children and improving education.

"This vote of support, when there's been so much doubt in the past, means she's solidly entrenched in the office. It's a clear endorsement from the people of Washington state," said CBS News consultant Mark Mellman, who's also a Democratic strategist.

Another closely watched race was the North Carolina face-off between Lt. Gov. Bev Purdue, a Democrat, and Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory.

Purdue won the race, becoming the state's first female governor.

"I haven't run simply because I'm the first woman candidate running, but I hear it everywhere I go," she said Tuesday. "Little girls and little boys, just say 'Wow, is it possible?' So, yeah, it's exciting, mighty exciting."

Polls in the campaign's final weeks showed the race too close to be called. Purdue's win fills one of the three open gubernatorial seats, as she will succeed two-term Governor Mike Easley.

In Utah's, Gov. John Huntsman defeated his Democratic challenger, businessman Bob Springmeyer.

Montana's incumbent Gov. Brian Schweitzer was projected to defeat his GOP challenger, businessman Roy Brown.

North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven defeated his Democratic opponent, State Senator Tim Mathern.

And in Delaware, State Treasurer Jack Markell defeated Republican challenger Bill Lee. "What a great night to be a Delawarean!" Markell told a cheering crowd of supporters at a hotel in downtown Wilmington as his family looked on.

"I cannot be more blessed," he said.

This was also an open seat, as Gov. Ruth Ann Minner, a Democrat, is barred from seeking a third term.

In New Hampshire, incumbent Gov. John Lynch was projected to beat Republican State Senator Joseph Kenney. Kenney failed to convince voters that spending under Lynch has been so out of control that frugal New Hampshire is becoming too much like its neighbors. Lynch blamed the state's fiscal problems on the worsening economy.

In Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels won re-election in his race against Democrat Jill Long Thompson. According to the White House, President Bush called Daniels to congratulate him on the win.

West Virginia's Gov. Joe Manchin, a Democrat, won his re-election bid against former Republican State Senator Russ Weeks.

Vermont's Gov. Jim Douglas, a Republican, won his re-election bid against Democratic State Representative Gaye Symington.

All Gubernatorial Election Results At A Glance

[skeezix06]

Matt Blunt decided not to run because he would have been crushed at the ballot box if he had. Let''s not try to pretty it up. He took extreme republican positions, put them into a policy, and did a real number on the people in Missouri. He basically turned the state into lab rats for the republican party. Hulshof made it clear he intended to continue more of the same.

I don''t call the Missouri race an upset. It was a long expected and anticipated outcome.

Governor Nixon sounds great to me.

[cmbiava]

Nixon''s win is not an upset--he was totally predicted to win. He has huge name recognition here in Missouri--he''s been running for governor for years now, just waiting for his chance. It came and he won.

[simplemind2]

"Another closely watched race was the North Carolina face-off between Lt. Gov. Bev Purdue, a Democrat, and Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory."

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory''s commercial stated "The difference is leadership".

Right there - his fate is doomed for loss already. It can only remind the great folks living in NC that he''s nothing but another GWB.

He forgot that self-proclaimed "Leader" is just like after Bushit professed that himself is the "Sole Decider" - what a joke!

Go Gov. Bev Purdue.