GOP loses Missouri, but four other incumbents hang on
— -- Republicans lost one governorship Tuesday as a Democrat took control in Missouri, while a down-to-the-wire contest in Washington state gave the GOP a chance for payback.
Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon won the race to replace Republican Gov. Matt Blunt, who did not seek re-election.
But all four other Republican incumbents won, providing a bright spot in an otherwise dismal Election Day for the GOP overall.
"Considering this environment for Republicans, that's an achievement," said Nick Ayers of the Republican Governors Association.
With only 11 governors' races across the country, neither party could gain a decisive advantage. "There's not going to be a wild swing," said Nathan Daschle of the Democratic Governors Association.
Democrats hoped to increase their 28-22 edge over the GOP by one. Washington's race, between Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire and Republican businessman Dino Rossi, will determine whether her party can add to its margin.
The fundraising associations for governors in both parties are focusing on gaining as many seats as possible by 2010 in an effort to influence the once-a-decade redrawing of U.S. House districts. The districts are redrawn by state legislatures.
Both associations set fundraising records this year. The national Republican and Democratic groups poured more than $4 million each into races in North Carolina and Washington, where pre-election polls showed governors' contests too close to call.
Democratic Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue became North Carolina's first female governor, eking out a narrow victory over Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, a Republican. Democratic Gov. Mike Easley was barred from re-election by term limits.
Washington's contest was a rematch of the 2004 race between Gregoire and Rossi. The race four years ago was decided by only 133 votes after a protracted recount, and officials from both parties said they expected a similarly close race this time.
Results aren't likely for several days, because mail-in ballots in Washington need only be postmarked by midnight of Election Day.
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