Governors: Democrats took eight Republican-held governorships, winning back Massachusetts, Ohio and New York, and holding a vulnerable seat in Michigan, as elections for the top office in 36 states promised the biggest shake-up of state governments in years.
Massachusetts Democrat Deval Patrick was declared the winner in his state - he will be the first black governor of the state and the second elected black governor of any state.
In Ohio, Democrat Ted Strickland easily defeated Republican Ken Blackwell. New York, as expected, chose Democrat Eliot Spitzer, the attorney general who crusaded for Wall Street and corporate reform.
Massachusetts and Ohio have not elected a Democrat since 1986. New York last elected a Democrat in 1990. In Michigan, Democratic governor Jennifer Granholm, long targeted by Republicans, defeated millionaire Dick DeVos.
Democrats won a majority of governorships - 28 to 22 - for the first time since the Republican sweep of 1994. Although governors never enact national policy, they can organise state parties to rally around a White House race.
In a bit of good news for Republicans, the Florida contest to replace term-limited Republican Jeb Bush saw Republican Charlie Crist, the state attorney general, defeat Democrat Jim Davis.
In Illinois, Democrat Rod Blagojevich won re-election in a contest that Republicans had at one time hoped would go their way. Republican governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California won easily.
Sitting Republican governors Rick Perry of Texas and Jim Douglas of Vermont also won. In Texas the Independent singer and writer Kinky Friedman came in fourth out of four with 12 per cent.
Republicans began the year trying to hold eight open seats because of retirements, while Democrats had only one. - (AP)