JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Republicans, who already control a solid majority of governorships, sought to add to their ranks Tuesday as voters picked chief executives in a dozen states.
The governors’ contests are part of a battle for statehouse supremacy that also includes nearly 6,000 state legislative elections. Heading into Tuesday, Republicans controlled more than two-thirds of the nation’s legislative chambers, as well as 31 of the 50 governors’ offices. Eight of the 12 governorships up for election are currently held by Democrats.
In Delaware, Democratic U.S. Rep. John Carney Jr. was elected to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Jack Markell. But races were close in numerous other places, including North Carolina, Missouri and Indiana, where voters were picking a successor for Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence.
Kentucky House Speaker Greg Stumbo lost to Republican Larry Brown, a major setback for Democrats trying to retain their last legislative chamber in the South.
The states in play Tuesday include: