Politics

A Wee Bit Of Election Excitement

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

November 30, 1998 / 12:05 PM EST / CBS

The pundits are still digesting the surprising results of the November election, but it's not too soon to look ahead to 1999. There will be a handful of important elections next year. Here's a look at the top races:

Newt Gingrich's House seat: The deposed House speaker intends to exit Congress at the end of the year. That means his seat will be filled in a special election. That might seem to create an opportunity for the Democrats, but Gingrich's conservative Georgia district will almost certainly remain in the Republican column.

Mississippi governor: Popular GOP Gov. Kirk Fordice can't run again because of term limits. Mississippi is now a staunchly Republican state, but the Democrats proved in November that they can still win in the deep South by capturing governorships in South Carolina and Alabama.

Kentucky governor: Democratic Gov. Paul Patton is expected to seek re-election.

Lousiana governor: Republican Gov. Michael Foster is expected to seek re-election.

Mayoral elections: Two well known big city mayors, Richard Daley of Chicago and Willie Brown of San Francisco, are up for re-election in 1999. Daley is a popular incumbent, but voter unhappiness with Brown makes him vulnerable.