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Republican Party candidates won two key governorships Tuesday in U.S. state elections.
VOA reports that the elections were widely seen as a referendum on U.S. President Barack Obama's administration and its policies.
Statewide issues dominated campaigns in both Virginia and New Jersey, but political analysts said the vote in the two populous eastern states indicated a shift in voters' preferences, away from Democrats and toward Republican candidates. That would reverse the trend established in last year's presidential race and indicate trouble ahead for Democrats nationwide in 2010, when all seats in the House of Representatives will be on the ballot.
Independent voters were a key to Republican Bob McDonnell's victory in the Virginia governor's race. He won by a big margin over longtime Democratic rival Creigh Deeds and will become Virginia's first Republican governor in eight years. Last year the same bloc of independents heavily favored Mr. Obama in his presidential campaign against Arizona Senator John McCain.
In New Jersey, a Democratic Party stronghold, incumbent governor Jon Corzine apparently was unseated by Republican Chris Christie, who held a slight but steady lead after more than half the vote had been counted. Christie would be the first Republican elected to statewide office in New Jersey in 12 years.
Virginia and New Jersey were among a group of states where local elections were seen by some as a referendum on President Obama's policies.
Exit polls in several states found that the issue of greatest concern to voters was the economy - both the cost of the Obama administration's economic-recovery plans and the continuing high national unemployment rate.
In New York state, a closely watched special congressional election exposed tensions between moderates and conservatives within the Republican party. The Democratic candidate in that race is showing a slight lead.
In New York City, incumbent Mayor Michael Bloomberg has won a third term in office by a surprisingly narrow margin. The wealthy Bloomberg defeated Democrat William Thompson, the city's chief financial officer, by a margin of just over four percentage points, despite spending over $90 million of his personal fortune.
Bloomberg was initially limited by law to just two terms in office, but persuaded the New York City Council to amend the law to allow him to run for re-election.Surveys of those who voted indicated the winning Republican candidate, Bob McDonnell, won support from a majority of independent voters - the same electoral bloc that voted Democratic by a large margin in last year's presidential election.
McDonnell will be Virginia's first Republican governor in eight years. He defeated Democratic challenger Creigh Deeds.
No national offices were up for election Tuesday, but several hotly contested state elections were seen by some as a referendum on President Barack Obama's policies.
In New Jersey, normally a Democratic stronghold, initial results showed Democratic Governor Jon Corzine in a dead heat with Republican challenger Chris Christie.
Exit polls in several states found that the issue of greatest concern to voters was the economy - both the cost of the Obama administration's economic-resovery plans and the continuing high national unemployment rate.
Political analysts say Republican victories in both New Jersey and Virginia would energize the opposition party and set up a major battle for control of Congress in the 2010 midterm elections.
In New York state, a closely watched special congressional election exposed tensions between moderates and conservatives within the Republican party.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is expected to win a third term in office easily. Mayoral races also are on the ballot in the cities of Atlanta, Houston, Boston, Detroit and Pittsburgh. |
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