Republican Gov. Tate Reeves is projected to win reelection in Mississippi.
Nov. 7, 2023, was Election Day in at least 37 states, and Americans cast their votes on everything from governorships to local referenda. When the dust settled, it was a solid night for Democrats and their allies: According to ABC News projections, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear won reelection in Kentucky, and Ohio voters passed Issue 1 to codify abortion rights in the state constitution. The AP also projected that Democrats won both chambers of the Virginia legislature and an open seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. However, there were a few bright spots for Republicans: ABC News projected that Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves beat back a strong challenge from Democrat Brandon Presley.
As results came in, 538 analysts were breaking them down in real time with live updates, analysis and commentary. Read our full live blog below.
There was little to no suspense when it came to the Mississippi state House and Senate, as Democrats didn't even field candidates in a majority of races. But nevertheless, the AP has called both the state House and state Senate for Republicans. The only remaining question will be whether the GOP can pick up the seats they need to get a supermajority in the lower chamber.
—Jacob Rubashkin, Inside Elections
With around 60 percent of the expected vote reporting, results from the Pennsylvania state Supreme Court race show Democrat Dan McCaffery in the lead with around 56 percent of the vote. As expected given the high number of heavily Democratic mail-in votes counted early tonight, Carluccio has been steadily catching up to McCaffery’s early lead. Per the secretary of state, McCaffery has won nearly 80 percent of the mail-in votes, while Carluccio has won just under 60 percent of Election Day votes. That said, less than half the expected vote is reporting in Philadelphia and most of its suburbs, which will deliver a much higher percentage of Election Day votes for McCaffery.
There are also some promising signs for McCaffery in smaller counties with most of the expected vote reporting — for example, with over 95 percent of the vote reporting, he's leading by 18 points in Lackawanna county (home of Scranton), where Sen. John Fetterman won by 16 points in 2022.
—Tia Yang, 538
Allegheny County, home of Pittsburgh, PA, has had a journey in the election for District Attorney this year — the Democratic incumbent, Steve Zappala, was eliminated in the primary by Matt Dugan, a progressive challenger endorsed by the Allegheny County Democratic Party. However, Zappala won the Republican primary as a write-in, and the general election is a rematch of the Democratic primary, with a much different electorate. While Dugan led the early vote by 21 percentage points, that was the worst performance of any Democrat countywide, and Zappala is leading Election Day votes by 12 percentage points. With 70 percent of expected Election Day vote reported, the race stands at less than 1000 vote margin.
A similar dynamic is playing out in the hotly contested race for the County Executive. Progressive Democrat Sara Innamorato led the early vote by 35 percentage points, but moderate Republican Joe Rockey is leading the Election Day vote by 11 percentage points. However, given the stronger early vote performance, Innamorato looks to be in a more comfortable lead, and the AP has called the race for Innamorato.
—Mary Radcliffe, 538
In Mississippi's gubernatorial contest, Reeves leads by about 15 points, 57 percent to 42 percent, with 34 percent of the expected vote reporting. However, one of the most critical counties in the state will probably be late to report its vote. Hinds County, home to the state capital of Jackson and Democrats' biggest voter base, had ballot shortages, which led a state court to order that all precincts remain open another hour beyond the 8 p.m. Eastern poll closing time, and a handful of others until 9 p.m. The Mississippi Republican Party filed an emergency motion with the state supreme court to vacate the lower court's ruling regarding extended poll times. Hinds County's population is almost three-quarters Black.
—Geoffrey Skelley, 538
