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© St. Petersburg Times, published November 6, 2002
Alabama
SENATE: First-term conservative Republican Jeff Sessions beat Democratic state auditor Susan Parker.
GOVERNOR: Undecideds loomed large in tight, nasty race between Democratic incumbent Don Siegelman and Republican Rep. Bob Riley.
HOUSE: Third District turned into national battleground, as Democrats sought to gain seat for Joe Turnham in close race with GOP state Rep. Mike Rogers.
PROPOSITIONS: Create rainy day fund for state budget.
SENATE: Republican Ted Stevens faced four underfunded challengers, including Democrat Frank Vondersaar -- who has no telephone and a grudge against the five-term incumbent.
GOVERNOR: Republican Sen. Frank Murkowski in close race with Democratic Lt. Gov. Fran Ulmer to replace Democrat Tony Knowles.
HOUSE: Little opposition for incumbent Don Young.
PROPOSITIONS: Move Legislature from Juneau to lower central Alaska.
GOVERNOR: GOP stronghold a surprise battleground for Democratic Attorney General Janet Napolitano, Republican Matt Salmon.
HOUSE: Visits by President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney and 2-to-1 fundraising advantage gave Republican Rick Renzi edge over Democrat George Cordova in new 1st District.
PROPOSITIONS: Three propositions sought to expand casino gambling.
SENATE: Democrat Mark Pryor, son of a longtime U.S. senator, defeated Tim Hutchinson, state's first GOP senator since Reconstruction.
GOVERNOR: Former Baptist minister Mike Huckabee in unexpectedly tough race with 22-year state treasurer Jimmie Lou Fisher.
HOUSE: Rematch for Democratic Rep. Mike Ross and the Republican he beat two years ago, Jay Dickey.
PROPOSITIONS: Amend Constitution to ban sales taxes on food and medicine, make animal cruelty a felony.
GOVERNOR: Democratic Gov. Gray Davis raised more than $60-million to take on Republican businessman Bill Simon.
HOUSE: Most contested race: Democratic Assemblyman Dennis Cardoza vs. Republican state Sen. Richard Monteith to fill seat vacated by Rep. Gary Condit.
PROPOSITIONS: Let the state sell $13-billion in bonds for new schools.
SENATE: Republican incumbent Wayne Allard beat Democrat Tom Strickland in rematch.
GOVERNOR: Republican Bill Owens re-elected, defeating Democrat Rollie Heath.
HOUSE: Unaffiliated voters -- 34 percent of new 7th Congressional District -- play key role in deciding between Democrat Mike Feeley and Republican Bob Beauprez.
PROPOSITIONS: Measure to join California and Arizona in replacing bilingual education with intensive English-immersion program.
GOVERNOR: Republican John G. Rowland won third term against Democrat Bill Curry, who lost to him in 1994 and then worked in the Clinton White House.
HOUSE: Rep. Nancy Johnson, a Republican, defeated fellow incumbent Rep. Jim Maloney, a Democrat, for the new 5th District.
SENATE: Democrat Joseph Biden won state-record sixth term in rematch with Republican Ray Clatworthy.
HOUSE: Michael Castle coasts to a sixth term, beating Democrat Mike Miller.
MAYOR: Democrat Anthony A. Williams overcame ethics and petition problems to grab a second term in rematch against Republican Carol Schwartz.
HOUSE: Eleanor Holmes Norton a cinch for re-election as city's congressional delegate.
SENATE: Republican Rep. Saxby Chambliss denied Max Cleland a second term in the Senate after a campaign in which he painted the triple amputee Vietnam veteran as being too soft on homeland security.
GOVERNOR: Republican Sonny Perdue won against Democratic Gov. Roy Barnes. Democrats have held centurylong stranglehold on governor's mansion.
HOUSE: Democrats hoped to take 7-6 lead, including five blacks -- most by any state ever.
PROPOSITIONS: Amend Constitution to create program for voluntary sterilization of cats and dogs, funded by license plate fees.
GOVERNOR: With Republican Linda Lingle and Democrat Mazie Hirono, Hawaiians knew they might elect their first Republican since 1959, but they surely would get their first female governor.
HOUSE: Republican Bob McDermott was the only living major-party candidate in the 2nd District, but Patsy Mink, on the ballot even though she died Sept. 28, was favored to win.
PROPOSITIONS: Amend Constitution to allow prosecutors to submit documents directly to a judge to determine if there is sufficient evidence for trial, instead of going through preliminary proceeding or grand jury.
SENATE: Republican Larry Craig won third term over Democrat Alan Blinken, former Wall Street investment banker.
GOVERNOR: Republican Gov. Dirk Kempthorne defeats Democratic newspaper publisher Jerry Brady.
HOUSE: Freshman incumbent Republican Butch Otter fending off strong effort by former Democratic U.S. Attorney Betty Richardson.
PROPOSITIONS: First-in-the-nation repeal of statewide term limits.
SENATE: First-term Democrat Dick Durbin defeated underfunded, little-known, similarly named Republican Jim Durkin.
GOVERNOR: Three-term Rep. Rod Blagojevich became the first Democratic governor in 25 years, beating Republican Attorney General Jim Ryan. Scandal-plagued Gov. George Ryan, no relation to Jim Ryan, did not seek election.
HOUSE: Redistricting set up one hot race between incumbents: Republican John Shimkus vs. Democrat David Phelps.
HOUSE: Republican Chris Chocola defeated former U.S. Rep. Jill Long Thompson in 2nd District in a pinstripes-vs.-populist contest saturated with attack ads.
SENATE: Democrat Tom Harkin, chairman of Senate Agriculture Committee, swatted down challenge by Rep. Greg Ganske.
GOVERNOR: Tom Vilsack won second term over moneyed Republican lawyer Doug Gross.
HOUSE: Rep. Jim Leach, a moderate first elected 26 years ago, encountered unexpectedly strong support for Democratic opponent Julie Thomas, a Cedar Rapids pediatrician campaigning on social issues.
PROPOSITIONS: Eleven counties voted on reauthorizing casino gambling.
SENATE: Republican Pat Roberts won second term against token, third-party opposition.
GOVERNOR: Democrats grabbed the governor's mansion in the predominantly Republican state. Kathleen Sebelius beat Republican Tim Shallenburger to replace GOP Gov. Bill Graves.
HOUSE: Top contest pitted Democrat incumbent Dennis Moore against Republican newcomer Adam Taff in GOP-dominated 3rd District.
SENATE: Mitch McConnell trounced Democrat newcomer Lois Combs Weinberg, becoming the first Kentucky Republican elected to four consecutive terms.
HOUSE: Republican Anne Northup won a fourth term in her majority Democrat district with campaign help from GOP bigwigs, including President Bush (twice) and House Speaker Dennis Hastert.
PROPOSITIONS: Constitutional amendment approved to ratify creation of Family Courts to exclusively handle domestic legal matters.
SENATE: Democrat Mary Landrieu faces Dec. 7 runoff because she failed to get 50 percent in race that included three Republicans.
HOUSE: Fifth District seat, vacant because of Republican John Cooksey's run for Senate, drew large field and seemed destined for runoff.
PROPOSITIONS: Amend constitution to swap "temporary" sales taxes for restructured income tax.
SENATE: Moderate Republican freshman incumbent Susan Collins fended off challenge by state Sen. Chellie Pingree, a liberal Democrat.
GOVERNOR: Democrat John Baldacci wins four-way contest to replace independent Angus King.
HOUSE: Tight race in 2nd District, where Republican Kevin Raye, longtime aide to Sen. Olympia Snowe, faced Democrat Mike Michaud, veteran state legislator.
PROPOSITIONS: Amend Constitution to give state Transportation Department more flexibility in borrowing.
GOVERNOR: Republican Rep. Robert Ehrlich defeated Democrat Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, who hoped to be first member of Kennedy family elected governor.
HOUSE: Democratic state Sen. Christopher Van Hollen defeated liberal Republican incumbent Constance Morella.
SENATE: No surprise: Victory for Democrat John Kerry, the first incumbent Massachusetts senator in 80 years with no major-party opposition.
GOVERNOR: Olympics guru Mitt Romney, a Republican, took five-way race to replace Republican acting Gov. Jane Swift.
HOUSE: Democrats kept all seats, with incumbents winning all four contested races.
PROPOSITIONS: Eliminate state income tax.
SENATE: Democrat Carl Levin breezed to a fifth term against Republican state Rep. Andrew Rocky Raczkowski, who was unable to raise enough money to run a single TV ad.
GOVERNOR: Democratic Attorney General Jennifer Granholm defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus to become state's first female governor.
HOUSE: GOP-controlled redistricting and one less seat expected to give Republicans 9-6 edge.
PROPOSITIONS: Require 90 percent of state tobacco settlement go to hospitals, nursing homes and antismoking programs, rather than college scholarship program and general fund budget.
SENATE: Former Vice President Walter Mondale a last-minute Democratic sub for the late Paul Wellstone in crucial battle against former St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman.
GOVERNOR: Three-way match to replace independent Jesse Ventura: Democrat Roger Moe vs. Republican Tim Pawlenty vs. independent Tim Penny.
HOUSE: Embattled incumbent Democrat Bill Luther plagued by disclosure that his staff backed a bogus candidate to sap support from Republican John Kline.
SENATE: Republican Thad Cochran won fifth term over lone opponent, independent Shawn O'Hara.
HOUSE: GOP Rep. Chip Pickering beat Democratic Rep. Ronnie Shows in a battle of incumbents caused by redistricting.
PROPOSITIONS: Voters rejected amending Constitution to increase term of trial judges to six years.
SENATE: Democrat Jean Carnahan, appointed to the seat won posthumously by her late husband, Mel Carnahan, in real battle against Republican Jim Talent, a former congressman.
HOUSE: Redistricting believed to have favored most incumbents, especially House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt of St. Louis.
PROPOSITIONS: Proposal to increase cigarette tax to 72 cents a pack from 17 cents and increase other tobacco taxes by 20 percent, with the revenues to go largely to health care.
SENATE: Four-term Democratic incumbent Max Baucus defeated Republican challenger Mike Taylor, who abandoned campaign for two weeks over Democratic ad that he said made him look like a gay hairdresser.
HOUSE: Republican Denny Rehberg won second term as state's lone congressman over little-known Democratic challenger Steve Kelly.
SENATE: Republican star Chuck Hagel cruised to win in bid for second term against unemployed Democrat Charlie Matulka.
GOVERNOR: Republican Gov. Mike Johanns, who raised more than $1-million despite state budget crisis, trounced challenger Stormy Dean, who got only pennies from Democratic donors.
HOUSE: GOP held all three seats. Democrats fielded a candidate in only one race -- Internet millionaire Jim Simon, who lost to two-term Republican Lee Terry.
PROPOSITIONS: Early returns showed voters rejecting amendment to strike archaic language ordering private schools to teach only in English.
GOVERNOR: Popular Republican incumbent Kenny Guinn easily beat state Sen. Joe Neal.
HOUSE: Ethics issues plagued Democrat Dario Herrera in race against Republican Jon Porter for new 3rd District House seat.
PROPOSITIONS: Voters approved constitutional amendment barring gay marriages, rejected one allowing possession of up to 3 ounces of marijuana.
SENATE: Republican Rep. John E. Sununu defeated Democratic Gov. Jeanne Shaheen to take this cliffhanger. Sununu had ousted conservative Sen. Bob Smith in primary.
GOVERNOR: Republican Craig Benson beats Democrat Mark Fernald. Fernald's proposed income tax for schools contrasted with the antitax campaign by entrepreneur Benson.
HOUSE: Moderate Republican Jeb Bradley beat a flock of conservatives in primary for Sununu's seat, then went on to beat Democrat Martha Fuller Clark.
PROPOSITIONS: Assert legislative supremacy over court rules.
SENATE: Former Sen. Frank Lautenberg, enlisted to run after Sen. Robert Torricelli dropped out, holds on to the seat for Democrats against Republican businessman Douglas Forrester.
HOUSE: In a race to succeed retiring moderate Rep. Marge Roukema, conservative state lawmaker Scott Garrett beat "Roukema Republican" turned Democrat Anne Sumers.
SENATE: Republican Pete Domenici coasted to sixth term against Democrat Gloria Tristani, a former Clinton appointee to the Federal Communications Commission.
GOVERNOR: Democrat Bill Richardson, Clinton's energy secretary, beat Republican John Sanchez.
HOUSE: Democrat John Arthur Smith and Republican Steve Pearce in super-close race for open seat in southern New Mexico's 69,000 square-mile district.
PROPOSITIONS: Amend constitution to create state holiday honoring Cesar Chavez.
GOVERNOR: In record $115-million race, Republican Gov. George Pataki won third term, beating Democrat H. Carl McCall and billionaire Independence candidate B. Thomas Golisano.
HOUSE: Republican Rep. Felix Grucci, Long Island fireworks magnate, accused Democrat Timothy Bishop of being lax on rape accusations as college provost.
SENATE: Former GOP Cabinet secretary Elizabeth Dole outran another Washington insider, former Clinton chief of staff Erskine Bowles, to replace 30-year Senate veteran Jesse Helms.
HOUSE: Incumbent Republican Robin Hayes beat Democrat Chris Kouri after facing questions about his support for bill giving President Bush authority to negotiate fast-track trade agreements.
HOUSE: Democrat Earl Pomeroy sought sixth term in state's sole seat against Republican challenger Rick Clayburgh, state tax commissioner.
PROPOSITIONS: Make a multistate lottery legal; give income tax and student loan breaks to residents younger than 30.
GOVERNOR: Gov. Bob Taft, great-grandson of President William Howard Taft, uses a big name and big money to beat Democrat Tim Hagan.
HOUSE: Democrat Tim Ryan soared past Republican Ann Womer Benjamin and former Rep. James Traficant, who ran from prison as an independent.
PROPOSITIONS: Agreeing with Taft, voters rejected constitutional requirement that judges order treatment instead of prison for nonviolent first- and second-time drug offenders who request it.
SENATE: Republican Jim Inhofe handily won a second term, beating former Gov. David Walters, a Democrat, and James Germalic, an independent, by double-digit margins.
GOVERNOR: Democrat Brad Henry beat Republican former congressman and former football star Steve Largent and independent Gary Richardson to succeed Republican Frank Keating.
HOUSE: Republican Tom Cole beat Democrat Darryl Roberts in battle to replace Republican J.C. Watts, fourth-ranking member of the House.
PROPOSITIONS: Voters banned cockfighting, leaving only two states where the blood sport is allowed.
SENATE: Republican Gordon Smith, frozen food tycoon seeking second term, won after raising almost four times as much as Democrat Bill Bradbury.
GOVERNOR: Veteran Democratic officeholder Ted Kulongoski and former Republican lawmaker Kevin Mannix in surprisingly close contest to replace Gov. John Kitzhaber.
HOUSE: Incumbents faced marginal opponents.
PROPOSITIONS: Require labeling of genetically modified foods and provide health insurance for every man, woman and child in the state.
GOVERNOR: Democrat Ed Rendell became first Philadelphian elected governor since 1914, a fact that underscores historical tension between Pennsylvania's largest city and rest of mostly rural state.
HOUSE: Redistricting pitted incumbents Tim Holden and George Gekas against each other.
PROPOSITIONS: Borrow up to $100-million to buy equipment for volunteer fire and ambulance companies.
SENATE: Incumbent Jack Reed elected to second term, an easy winner over Republican casino pit boss Bob Tingle.
GOVERNOR: Republican political newcomer Don Carcieri defeated three-time Democratic candidate Myrth York in close race to succeed Republican Gov. Lincoln Almond.
HOUSE: Incumbent Democrat Patrick Kennedy earned a fifth term despite challenges to his accountability from former Navy SEAL Dave Rogers.
PROPOSITIONS: Measure to balance power between state's executive and legislative branches.
SENATE: After 48 years, Strom Thurmond is vacating his seat. Republican Rep. Lindsey Graham beat Democrat Alex Sanders, former president of the College of Charleston, to fill it.
GOVERNOR: Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford, who promised to improve economy, defeated one-term Democratic Gov. Jim Hodges.
HOUSE: Incumbents safe in five districts; Republican Gresham Barrett won Graham's seat.
PROPOSITIONS: Amend constitution to allow treasurer to invest part of the state retirement fund in non-U.S. companies traded on foreign stock exchanges.
SENATE: Freshman Democrat Tim Johnson and Republican U.S. Rep. John Thune in tough battle, serving as proxies for White House and Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle.
GOVERNOR: Mike Rounds, surprise winner of nasty GOP primary, defeated university president Jim Abbott, a Democrat.
HOUSE: At-large seat vacated by Thune. Four-term Republican Gov. Bill Janklow in surprisingly close race against Democratic newcomer Stephanie Herseth.
PROPOSITIONS: Voters defeated measure that would have let criminal defendants argue juries should ignore the laws under which they are charged.
SENATE: Lamar Alexander, former governor and perennial presidential candidate, beat Rep. Bob Clement to help GOP keep retiring Fred Thompson's seat.
GOVERNOR: Democrat and former Nashville Mayor Phil Bredesen, who talked up management skills, beat Republican Rep. Van Hilleary, who talked down an income tax.
HOUSE: Democrat state Sen. Lincoln Davis tipped the balance of power by beating Republican Janice Bowling for Hilleary's 4th District seat.
PROPOSITIONS: Constitutional amendment approved to create state lottery to fund college scholarships.
SENATE: Republican state Attorney General John Cornyn beat Democrat Ron Kirk to replace Phil Gramm.
GOVERNOR: Gov. Rick Perry fought off big-spending banker Tony Sanchez, a Hispanic Democrat, to keep office in Republican hands.
HOUSE: Popular Dallas disc jockey Ron Chapman endorsed Republican Jeb Hensarling, whose opponent also happens to be named Ron Chapman. Hensarling won.
PROPOSITIONS: Amend Constitution to allow counties to shut down constable positions that have been vacant for seven years.
HOUSE: Late in race, Republicans poured big money into campaign against state's most vulnerable incumbent, 2nd District Democrat Jim Matheson.
PROPOSITIONS: Raise taxes on the nuclear waste industry to pay for school textbooks and computers and help the homeless and impoverished.
GOVERNOR: Legislature would pick governor in January if no candidate took 50 percent of vote in 10-way race to replace retiring Democratic Gov. Howard Dean.
HOUSE: Rep. Bernie Sanders won a seventh term.
PROPOSITIONS: Amend Constitution to remove mandatory retirement for judges at age 70.
SENATE: Republican John Warner took his fifth six-year term without Democratic opponent -- party decided against an expensive and probably futile run.
HOUSE: Democrat James Moran sailed past Republican challenger Scott Tate despite accusations that Moran twice accepted loans from groups that had an interest in legislation before Congress.
PROPOSITIONS: Defying their governor, voters refused new sales taxes of 1 cent in southeastern Virginia and a half-cent in northern Virginia to pay for highway and transit projects.
HOUSE: Freshman Democrat Rick Larsen trying to ward off scrappy challenge from Republican Norma Smith, whose commercials cite Larsen's opposition to President Bush's Iraq resolution and amendment to ban flag-burning.
PROPOSITIONS: Raise state gasoline tax 9 cents to pay for massive slate of highway improvements, mostly in the Seattle area.
SENATE: Democrat Jay Rockefeller easily won fourth term over little-known Republican opponent Jay Wolfe.
HOUSE: Republican Shelley Moore Capito won a bruising rematch with Democrat Jim Humphreys, the millionaire lawyer she beat in 2000.
PROPOSITIONS: Amend Constitution to allow local governments to pay for economic development with bonds backed by property tax increases.
GOVERNOR: Democrat Jim Doyle beat Republican Gov. Scott McCallum and Libertarian Ed Thompson.
HOUSE: In state's most heated race, Democrat Tammy Baldwin, who is openly homosexual, won re-election over Republican Ron Greer, a Madison minister who blasted what he called her "radical pro-gay agenda."
SENATE: Conservative Republican Mike Enzi triumphed over Democrat Joyce Jansa Corcoran, ensuring GOP hold on both Wyoming's Senate seats.
GOVERNOR: In race to replace Republican Gov. Jim Geringer, Republican Eli Bebout emphasized his experience as a former state legislator, and former federal prosecutor Dave Freudenthal de-emphasized his Democratic Party affiliation.
HOUSE: GOP incumbent Barbara Cubin earned a fifth term as Wyoming's lone representative, facing underfinanced Democrat Ron Akin, a career Air Force man and former Republican.
PROPOSITIONS: Amend Constitition to allow Legislature to decide disputed presidential elections.