Election Update - Vote on Nov. 6
Louisiana
Louisiana voters elected the country’s first governor of Indian descent Saturday (Oct. 20) and gave the Republican Party control of yet another state executive suite in the South. Bobby Jindal also will become the youngest sitting governor at 36.
U.S. Rep. Jindal (R-La.) garnered 54% of the vote over his challengers during the state’s open gubernatorial primary, needing 51% to win outright under Louisiana law. Democratic state Sen. Walter Boasso, who was a Republican until recently, won 17% of the vote, followed by Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell (D), with 12%, and John Georges (Independent), with 14%.
With Jindal’s win, the GOP now stands to wield power in seven of the 11 southern governors’ mansions as Jindal succeeds Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, a Democrat, who narrowly beat Jindal in 2003.
Kentucky
Kentucky will hold a general election on Nov. 6. The offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General are among the offices up for election. No legislative offices or ballot initiatives will be considered.
Incumbent Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R) is trailing challenger Steve Beshear (D) by a significant margin in the polls.
Incumbent Lieutenant Governor Steve Pence (R) is not seeking reelection. Executive Cabinet Secretary Robbie Rudolph (R) is running on Gov. Fletcher's ticket. State Senator Dan Mongiardo (D) is running with Beshear.
Incumbent Attorney General Greg Stumbo (D) lost the primary for Lieutenant Gov. and will not be seeking reelection to his current post. The candidates for the open seat are former Deputy State Cabinet Secretary Jack Conway (D) and State House Minority Whip Stan Lee (R). The Lexington Herald-Leader poll shows Jack Conway (D) leading Stan Lee (R) 43% to 26% — with 31% still undecided.
Mississippi
Mississippi will hold a General Election Nov. 6 for major statewide constitutional offices and all seats of the State Legislature. In the Governor's race, challenger John Arthur Eaves Jr. (D) will face an uphill battle to unseat incumbent Gov. Haley Barbour (R).
Incumbent Lieutenant Gov. Amy Tuck (R) is retiring in 2007. Candidates for the open seat are State Auditor Phil Bryant (R) and State Representative Jamie Franks (D), both of whom won their primaries with little opposition. Incumbent Attorney General Jim Hood (D) faces Al Hopkins (R).
All seats in both chambers of the State Legislature (52 seats in the State Senate and 122 seats in the State House of Representatives) are up for election. The Democrats currently control the House by with a split of 76-46. The Senate is currently tied with 26 Republican seats and 26 Democratic seats, but the Republicans have a majority with the Republican Lieutenant Governor's tie-breaking vote.
The major issues that are shaping the gubernatorial and legislative elections are the grocery tax, cigarette tax, health care and the economy. The grocery tax and cigarette tax are hot button issues because Mississippi has the highest tax rate for basic food items.
New Jersey
New Jersey will hold a General Election Nov. 6. All 120 seats in the State Legislature, which includes 80 seats in the State Assembly and 40 seats in the State Senate, are up for election.
The Democratic Party holds the majority in both chambers, and though Republicans are not expected to secure the required additional 11 seats in the Assembly to alter the partisan balance, sources indicate that they may be able to pick up the three seats necessary to take the Senate.
Voters will also have the opportunity to vote on a ballot initiative that would dedicate all money generated from last year's 1% sales tax increase towards property tax relief.
Virginia
Virginia will hold a General Election Nov. 6. All 40 State Senators and 100 members of the House of Delegates are up for election. Republicans currently control both chambers of the General Assembly; however, strategists believe that Democrats have a good chance to overtake the Senate and to pick up at least three seats in the House of Delegates.
Democrats need to gain four seats to take the Senate and 11 to take the House.
Source: www.stateline.org
[
return to top ]
|
