State races...How'd it go?

Not much has been reported about the state legislative races, as can be expected with the bug news from Washington.

So let's put it all together here as a report on what went on below the radar of a national Democratic wave...

Was there any backwash?

From Michigan:

Governor Granholm absolutely demolished Amway guy it what has to be the most expensive ass spanking in the history of the country...

Result: Granholm 56% DeVos 42%

The Secretary of State and Attorney General were held by the Republicans, with the AG race being semi close. Our Attorney General was embroiled in a scandal involving an affair...but the Dems couldn't close the deal...might have something to do with the way we pick our candidates (at the convention in August).

Result:

SOS: Land (R) 56% Sabaugh (D) 42%

AG: Cox (R)54% Williams (D) 44%

Dems may have swept the races for our University boards of Trustees and State board of education...adding two Dems to each.

Dems took control of the state House after a very very long time being out of control.

New Michigan House results: From four Down to Two up.

The state Senate (under Repug control) may be in the hands of the Democrats or tied by the end of the day, two races are too close to call. With a tie, we control as our Lt. Gov will cast the ballot for Dems.

Can anyone say redistrict?

New Michigan Senate results: From three down to two down with two pending, very close...

As for the referendums...very disappointing.

The anti-Affirmative action amendment passed overwhelmingly 58% to 42%...but hey, at least they won`t be hunting Doves...

sigh...

Mandatory funding of education went down hard (62%) and eminent domain restrictions passed overwhelmingly (80%)...

What went on in your neck of the woods?

•  State legislatures

  were interesting. It looks like we've picked up:

  • the Arizona House
  • the Indiana House
  • both Iowa chambers
  • the Michigan House
  • the Minnesota House
  • both New Hampshire chambers
  • the Pennsylvania House
  • the Wisconsin Senate

  The only good state legislature news for the GOP is that they tied the Oklahoma Senate, previously with a bare Dem majority. That was due to term limits anyway.

  by Nathaniel Ament Stone on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 05:42:02 AM PDT

  •  All THREE New Hampshire chambers

    New Hampshire has a five-member Executive Council which must confirm nominations that the Governor makes to the courts or to high-level state positions, and must approve state contracts over $5000.

    It was 5 GOP two years ago; 4-1 GOP since 2004. It is now 3-2 Dem.

    by Elwood Dowd on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 05:50:37 AM PDT

  •  Arizona House

    Did we pick it up, or did we simply pick up seats? We were down like 2-1 and a lot of those seats were not going to switch.

    by brittain33 on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:10:17 AM PDT

  •  Wisconsin Assembly, too

    we didn't take it, but we did pick up a coupla seats.

    We also lost the gay marriage ban and the death penalty advisory referendum, though re-electing Jim Doyle pretty much ensures that we won't have the death penalty for at least four more years.

    by leftilicious on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:20:22 AM PDT

•  Tricky Dick Pombo

  is my personal bitch.

  by HeavyJ on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 05:45:35 AM PDT

  •  Too Bad For You

    You won't have Dick Pombo to kick around any more.  What a disappointment.

    by Cal4Clark on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 05:57:17 AM PDT

•  Ohio

  Big wins for Dems in Ohio.  All the state offices will now be held by Democrats except for state auditor.  There were substantial pickups in the state legislature but the Rethugs still hold majorities.

  By the way, these offices are very important.  They affect peoples lives in very direct ways (education, environment, etc.) and they control redistricting and run the elections.

  Thanks for this thread.

  by Eric Blair on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:08:10 AM PDT

•  Looks like Ohio is turning BLUE!

  Governor Ted Strickland-D
  Senator Sherrod Brown-D
  Attorney General Marc Dann-D
  and perhaps most important for 2008-
  Secretary of state Jennifer Brunner-D

  (insert my version of Dean Scream here)

  by Jesus was a Liberal on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:09:21 AM PDT

  •  Jennifer Brunner

    My God, does she have a pile of sh!t to clean up after. Did Blackwell do a single constructive thing while in office to help Ohio voters?

    by brittain33 on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:11:02 AM PDT

    •  I think he was too busy trying to disenfranchise

      Ohio Democratic voters.  All the new Democratic officeholders in Ohio have massive piles to clean up.  Marc Dann as attorney general might now be able to find out just how far Tom Noe's tentacles reached to corrupt Republican officials.  Buh-bye, Betty! (Montgomery, outgoing Auditor and AG candidate).

      by Jesus was a Liberal on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 11:48:21 AM PDT

•  Maryland Dems did great

  We increased our majority in both houses. No gains for the GOP. O'Malley will have a very friendly General Assembly.

  One party rule in blue Maryland!

  by Naturegal on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:11:05 AM PDT

•  Granholm has a Democratic State House!

  That alone should cause a whole lot of crap to be uncrapped around here.

  by other72384 on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:29:08 AM PDT

•  Florida -- milestone results

  Although Florida Dems (again) didn't do so well at the statewide level other than Sen Nelson relection (Dems lost governor and won only 1 of 4 statewide cabinet offices), Florida Dems picked up seven state house seats. (My number might be wrong.) A knowledgeable person told me that Dems haven't turned over a Rep-held state seat in 24 years.

  In my own area (moderate Pinellas County in Tampa Bay area) which is heavily gerrymandered, local Dem candidates mostly did very well and weathered massive negative advertising by Republicans. Massive. Lots of money spent on losing races.

  Especially two of the most competitive and visible seats in the state were won here:  Charlie Justice to the state senate and Bill Heller to the state house.  These were open seats but had been held by Reps for years and years.  Victory is very sweet here.

  by sawgrass727 on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 06:48:58 AM PDT