State-by-State South

Alabama

Republican Gov. Bob Riley, gaining local buzz as a possible 2008 vice presidential pick, took care of first things first, comfortably winning a second term over Democratic Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley, whose “I Love Lucy” theme fared poorly. Riley touted record low unemployment, a tax cut and a fat budget surplus.

Arkansas

In a race that pitted Friend of Bill against Foe of Bill, Clinton ally Mike Beebe defeated Republican Asa Hutchinson, an ex-congressman who helped prosecute Clinton’s impeachment case. The two sides raised more than $9.6 million, making this the most expensive governor’s race in state history.

Florida

Republican Charlie Crist fended off Democratic Rep. Jim Davis for the governorship with his Jeb Bush-lite approach: conservative on some issues, but not a Bushlike opposition of abortion and civil unions for gays.

Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson triumphed over Katherine Harris, the former secretary of state at the center of the 2000 recount that put President Bush in the White House.

Democrat Tim Mahoney won in Mark Foley’s old district; the Republican congressman’s name was still on the ballot even though he resigned in disgrace over salacious e-mails to congressional pages.

Georgia

Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue was just too big for the “Big Guy” – aka Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor, the Democrat who plays up his nearly 300-pound frame in ads by calling himself “the big guy looking out for the lil’ guy.” Taylor was woefully outspent and outpolled by Perdue, who recently shed about 30 pounds himself but still has more to lose.

Kentucky

U.S. Rep. Ron Lewis – a Baptist preacher who was a poster boy for the Republican takeover of Congress 12 years ago – survived his toughest challenge yet, defeating retired Army Col. Mike Weaver. In hard-fought races involving two other GOP incumbents, John Yarmuth, a liberal former newspaper columnist, downed Bush loyalist Anne Northup, and freshman GOP Rep. Geoff Davis denied former Rep. Ken Lucas’ bid to regain his old seat.

Louisiana

Eight Democrats, three Republicans and one Libertarian lined up against eight-term incumbent Democratic Rep. William Jefferson, focus of a federal bribery investigation (authorities reportedly found $90,000 in his freezer). If no one won a majority, the runoff would be Dec. 9.

Mississippi

No contest: Republican Sen. Trent Lott won his fourth term with only a token challenge, and the rest of the state’s congressmen coasted to victory.

North Carolina

Former college and NFL quarterback Heath Shuler used his football fame to knock off veteran GOP Rep. Charles Taylor, a banker and timber baron who is among the wealthiest members of Congress. Shuler’s game plan? Moderation. He opposes abortion and supports gun rights.

South Carolina

As expected, Republican Gov. Mark Sanford beat out Democratic state Sen. Tommy Moore, even though the incumbent’s libertarian leanings have peeved many party regulars who refused to help his campaign.

Tennessee

Democrat Harold Ford Jr. – charismatic, handsome and conservative on many issues – would’ve been the first black elected senator in the South since the 1870s. But his bid was foiled by the former Chattanooga mayor, Republican Bob Corker.

Governors in Tennessee are nearly invincible, and Democrat Phil Bredesen was no exception. He turned aside a little-known GOP challenger.

Texas

Republican Gov. Rick Perry won re-election, with voters weeding through a crowded ballot that included the likes of independent Kinky Friedman, a comedian/singer/writer. (His slogan: “Why the hell not?”)

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison’s close ties to President Bush didn’t hurt her in his home state; she sailed past an underfunded Democrat.

Virginia

Republican Sen. George Allen went from presidential hopeful to hope-to-keep-my-job after hurling an obscure racial slur at a volunteer of Indian descent working for Democrat Jim Webb. Allen – son of the Pro Football Hall of Fame coach of the same name – went on the offensive, criticizing sexually explicit passages in author Webb’s novels as demeaning to women.

West Virginia

Robert C. Byrd, the Senate’s longest-serving member, won a record ninth term less than two weeks before his 89th birthday.

Associated Press