State-by-State Midwest

Illinois

Overcoming the stain of scandal, Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich muscled past Republican challenger Judy Baar Topinka to win a second term.

Democratic newcomer Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran who lost both of her legs in combat, lost her bid to win the House seat being vacated by Rep. Henry Hyde, a 32-year House veteran.

Indiana

Radically conservative Rep. John Hostettler – who once linked abortion to breast cancer – lost his re-election bid to Democrat Brad Ellsworth, a popular sheriff. In the Senate race, there were no surprises: Incumbent Republican Richard Lugar had no Democratic opponent.

Iowa

Democratic Secretary of State Chet Culver won the governorship over Rep. Jim Nussle, after a late poll found both candidates viewed favorably by half or more of voters. Maybe it was the homespun touches, like an ad in which Culver’s wife asked Iowans to support “the big lug.”

Kansas

Nasty campaign tactics did not avail incumbent Attorney General Phill Kline – a Republican who made national news by seeking abortion patients’ medical records. He lost after running an ad resurrecting unproven, 15-year-old sexual harassment allegations against opponent Paul Morrison, a county DA.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat in a GOP-leaning state, easily won a second term, something her father, former Ohio Gov. John J. Gilligan, couldn’t do. Republican Rep. Jim Ryun – the track great who once held the world record in the mile – had his hands full with Democrat Nancy Boyda.

Michigan

Democrat Jennifer Granholm, who has overseen one of the nation’s worst economies, staved off Amway heir Dick DeVos, who spent at least $35 million of his own cash. Granholm fought back with savvy debate appearances and tough ads.

Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow easily defeated Detroit-area Sheriff Michael Bouchard despite a $1 million injection of cash from the National Republican Senatorial Committee .

Minnesota

Democratic prosecutor Amy Klobuchar, daughter of a newspaper columnist, wrote a happy ending to her quest to defeat Rep. Mark Kennedy, keeping the state’s open Senate seat in Democratic hands.

Democrat Keith Ellison became the first Muslim ever elected to Congress.

Missouri

Missourians considered a ballot measure to protect stem cell research in the state – and that question pervaded the tight race for Senate. Democrat state auditor Claire McCaskill supported the initiative, and featured actor and Parkinson’s patient Michael J. Fox in a controversial campaign ad; GOP incumbent Jim Talent opposed it.

Nebraska

Republican Pete Ricketts burned some $12 million of his Ameritrade fortune in a failed battle against Sen. Ben Nelson – one of President Bush’s favorite Democrats.

North Dakota

Bush won here with 63 percent of the vote, but Democrats Sen. Kent Conrad and Rep. Earl Pomeroy have Washington clout and big campaign war chests. Each trounced the farmer Republicans had put up against him.

Ohio

Rare coins. Free trips. Free golf. Scandals gave Democrats amazing fodder against ruling Republicans.

Democrat Ted Strickland took the governor’s office despite a nasty campaign of character-bashing by Republican Ken Blackwell, backed by a national network of Christian conservatives. Republican Sen. Mike DeWine tried unsuccessfully to pry himself from President Bush, but went down to defeat to Democrat Sherrod Brown.

Oklahoma

Crafty centrist Brad Henry, an incumbent Democratic governor with tax-cutting credentials, knocked off conservative Republican Rep. Ernest Istook. Three-term GOP Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin, running for Istook’s seat, became the first Oklahoma woman elected to Congress since 1920.

South Dakota

Republican Gov. Mike Rounds handily won a second four-year term, beating a retired orthopedic surgeon. Democrat Stephanie Herseth kept her House seat.

Voters also rejected a ballot measure that would have banned nearly all abortions in the state.

Wisconsin

Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle pitched support for stem cell research early and often in his successful bid for a second term against Republican Rep. Mark Green, a self-described “bleeding heart conservative.” The millionaire owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl, cruised to a fourth term over Republican and Green Party opponents.

Associated Press