The Note's Must-Reads are a round-up of today's political headlines and stories from ABC News and the top U.S. newspapers. Posted Monday through Friday right here at www.abcnews.com

Compiled by ABC News' Jayce Henderson, Amanda VanAllen, Will Cantine and Carrie Halperin

**ELECTIONS***

VIRGINIA ABC News' Gary Langer: " Exit Poll Results Tell A Tale Of Two Republicans" Broad personal and professional appeal lifted Chris Christie to easy re-election in New Jersey, yet without the clear home state endorsement for the presidency he might have wanted. His fellow Republican, Ken Cuccinelli, lost a far closer contest in Virginia, done in by a mismatch on ideology in general and abortion in particular. LINK

The Wall Street Journal's Patrick O'Connor, Neil King Jr. and Heather Haddon: " Christie, McAuliffe Win Governor's Races" Republican Gov. Chris Christie coasted to re-election in New Jersey and Democrat Terry McAuliffe won an unexpectedly close contest for governor in Virginia Tuesday, a split decision that sent mixed messages to both parties about their political strengths. No publicly released poll since July had shown Mr. McAuliffe losing the Virginia race, and many showed him leading by double digits. LINK

The Hill's Cameron Joseph: " McAuliffe Wins VA Governor's Race" Democrat Terry McAuliffe will be Virginia's next governor after defeating Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R) Tuesday. McAuliffe led Cuccinelli by 48 percent to 46 percent with 97 percent of precincts reporting. The Associated Press has called the race. The win gives Democrats control of a governor's mansion in a key swing state, and marks the first time in four decades that the party in control of the White House won Virginia's gubernatorial race. LINK

The Washington Times' David Sherfinski: " Terry McAuliffe Narrowly Wins Virginia Governor's Race" Terry McAuliffe narrowly edged Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II in the surprisingly close race for Virginia governor Tuesday, delivering a Democratic victory and a repudiation of Republicans who just four years ago swept the top three statewide races. The nail-biter race was called for Mr. McAuliffe by NBC, CNN and Fox News around 10 p.m. Many polls heading into Election Day projected McAuliffe comfortably ahead. LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Evan Halper: " 'Battle Is Not Over' After A Close Virginia Governor's Race" Virginia Democrats spent much of Tuesday night biting their nails with the governor's race too close to call - despite recent polls showing their nominee with a commanding lead. It was nearly 11 p.m. when Terry McAuliffe took the podium to deliver his victory speech. With 99% of precincts reporting, McAuliffe had captured 47.4% of the vote. His challenger, Republican Atty. Gen. Ken Cuccinelli, a tea party favorite, won 45.5% of the vote. LINK

The New York Daily News' Daniel Beekman: " Terry McAuliffe Wins Bitter Virginia Governor Race" The bitter brawl for Virginia governor wrapped up Tuesday night as Clinton-linked Democrat Terry McAuliffe appeared to hold off Republican rival Ken Cuccinelli. The Associated Press and several networks projected McAuliffe would win by a Virginia slim margin of just 1% - or roughly 30,000 votes out of more than two million cast. If the victory holds up when every vote is counted, McAuliffe won the battle after a rancorous campaign marked by negative ads and angry finger-pointing. LINK

Politico's James Hohmann: " Why Terry McAuliffe Barely Won" How the heck did that happen? Most public polls leading up to Election Day had Terry McAuliffe coasting to victory, some by double digits, in the Virginia governor's race. Instead he squeaked by, beating Republican Ken Cuccinelli by less than 3 percentage points. The much-closer-than-expected outcome blunts the narrative that this was a clean win for Democrats going into 2014 and guarantees an intense blame game among Republicans about what might have put Cuccinelli over the top. LINK

Bloomberg's Mark Niquette: " Christie, De Blasio Win As McAuliffe Prevails In Virginia" New Jersey Governor Chris Christie bolstered his standing as a potential Republican presidential candidate in 2016 by cruising to re-election, while Democrat Terry McAuliffe won the Virginia governor's race after tying his opponent to the Tea Party movement. LINK

NEW YORK The New York Times' Michael Barbado and David W. Chen: " De Blasio Is Elected New York City Mayor" Bill de Blasio, who transformed himself from a little-known occupant of an obscure office into the fiery voice of New York's disillusionment with a new gilded age, was elected the city's 109th mayor on Tuesday. His landslide victory, stretching from the working-class precincts of central Brooklyn to the suburban streets of southeast Queens, amounted to a forceful rejection of the hard-nosed, business-minded style of governance that reigned at City Hall for the past two decades and a sharp leftward turn for the nation's largest metropolis. LINK

The New York Daily News' Jennifer Fermino, Annie Karni and Corky Siemaszko: " Bill de Blasio Elected Mayor Of New York City" Riding a ravenous hunger for change, Bill de Blasio crushed Republican Joe Lhota in a landslide Tuesday to become New York City's 109th mayor and the first Democrat to hold the office in 20 years. De Blasio was propelled into power by what was shaping up to be one of the largest margins of victory in any mayoral race city history. LINK

The Washington Post's Philip Rucker: " Bill de Blasio Wins Mayor's Race In New York, Ushering In New Era Of Liberal Governance" Bill de Blasio overwhelmingly was elected mayor Tuesday, becoming the first Democrat to lead New York in 20 years and ushering in an era of activist liberal governance in the nation's largest city. With 84 percent of precincts reporting results, de Blasio was trouncing Republican Joe Lhota, a protégé of former mayor Rudy Giuliani, by 73 percent to 24 percent early Wednesday. LINK

BOSTON The Boston Globe's Andrew Ryan: " Walsh Claims Victory In First Open Mayoral Race In Generation" Martin J. Walsh, a legislator and long-time labor leader, ground out a narrow victory over City Councilor John R. Connolly tonight to become Boston's 48th mayor, propelled by a diverse coalition that transcended geography, race, and ideology. Walsh rode a wave of support that spanned Boston, from his Savin Hill neighbors to African-Americans in Roxbury, liberal activists in Jamaica Plain to Latinos in Hyde Park. His campaign - fueled by unprecedented spending by organized labor from across the country - swelled beyond his base in Dorchester, where Walsh, the son of Irish immigrants, grew up in a tripledecker. LINK

The New York Times' Katherine Q. Seelye, Steven Yaccino and Manny Fernandez: " State Lawmaker Picked As New Mayor Of Boston" Martin J. Walsh, who grew up as the son of Irish immigrants in a triple-decker in Dorchester, will be the next mayor of Boston. Buoyed by support from organized labor, Mr. Walsh, 46, a state representative, defeated City Councilman John R. Connolly, 40, on Tuesday in a hard-fought but relatively civil race that went down to the wire. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Mr. Walsh won 52 percent and Mr. Connolly 48 percent. LINK

ABC NEWS VIDEO " Election Day 2013 May Signal Referendum On Tea Party" LINK

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