State-by-State West

Alaska

The governor’s race was a three-for-all – but Republican Sarah Palin ultimately beat out former Gov. Tony Knowles and independent Andrew Halcro.

Don Young, winning his 18th term as the state’s congressman, had barely acknowledged his opponent, Democrat Diane Benson.

Arizona

No high-profile Republican candidate for governor, so incumbent Democrat Gov. Janet Napolitano won her bid for a second term easily.

Republican U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl beat back stiff opposition from Democratic millionaire mall-builder Jim Pederson to win a third term.

Voters also approved four ballot measures on immigration, including expanding the list of government benefits denied to illegal immigrants, denying them bail when charged with a serious crime and establishing English as the state’s official language.

California

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger won his first full term in office by siphoning support from Democrat Phil Angelides with deals to cut greenhouse gas emissions, raise the minimum wage and reduce prescription drug costs.

Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein also coasted to another term, her third.

There were propositions – Robert Redford criticized a property rights initiative while Julia Roberts promoted a tax on oil companies to fund alternative fuel research – and there was the latest leg of Jerry Brown’s magical mystery trip through California politics, from secretary of state to governor to Oakland mayor, and now, with his win Tuesday, to state attorney general.

Colorado

Former Denver district attorney Bill Ritter pulled away to win the governor’s race over GOP Rep. Bob Beauprez, who had accused Ritter of being soft on illegal immigration. But Beauprez’ information allegedly came from a restricted federal database; the FBI came calling, and Ritter, an anti-abortion Democrat, surged in the polls.

Voters decisively approved a ban on same-sex marriages; another measure that would award legal benefits to gay partnerships was expected to fail.

Hawaii

Linda Lingle, the first Republican governor since statehood, rode a nearly 20-to-1 funding advantage to re-election.

Democratic Sen. Daniel Akaka, 82, defeated Republican state Rep. Cynthia Thielen to win his fourth term. His first opponent withdrew because of illness, and Theilen wasn’t picked as the replacement until late September.

Nevada

Conservative Republican Jim Gibbons beat liberal Democrat Dina Titus in the governor’s race despite a surprise speed bump in his campaign – 32-year-old cocktail waitress Chrissy Mazzeo’s accusation that he assaulted her in a parking garage.

Incumbent Republican Sen. John Ensign held off a long-shot challenge by Jack Carter, son of former President Jimmy Carter.

New Mexico

Republican challenger John Dendahl was not even a speed bump for Gov. Bill Richardson, whose eyes are focused on a run for president down the road.

A notably nasty campaign found GOP Rep. Heather Wilson desperately trying to secure a fifth term against Patricia Madrid, the state’s attorney general.

Sen. Jeff Bingaman secured another term in a race nearly as quiet as the bookish Bingaman himself.

Oregon

Low-key Democrat Gov. Ted Kulongoski turned back a well-financed challenge from Republican Ron Saxton, a lawyer who called Kulongoski a “no-show” governor. Kulongoski, for his part, touted Oregon’s economic recovery.

Utah

Utah’s songwriting senator, 72-year-old Republican Orrin Hatch, became the longest-serving senator in state history by winning a sixth term. He waltzed over lightly funded Democrat Pete Ashdown, an Internet entrepreneur making his first run at public office.

Wyoming

Could two Democrats win statewide elections in Wyoming, perhaps the nation’s most-Republican state? One down: Gov. Dave Freudenthal had already been a heavy favorite to win a second term.

And Rep. Barbara Cubin was in danger of losing the seat she has held for 12 years to Gary Trauner, a well-funded Democrat. Cubin drew attention when a Libertarian candidate in a wheelchair charged she approached him after a debate and said, “If you weren’t sitting in that chair, I’d slap you across the face.”

Wyoming was assured of at least one Republican office-holder, with the victory of Sen. Craig Thomas over Democrat Dale Groutage.

Associated Press