A bitter gubernatorial race that focused on legislation allowing same-sex unions for gay couples ended in a narrow election victory yesterday for Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, a Democrat who signed the measure into law.
Vermont was one of 11 states to pick governors in yesterday’s elections – and Dean’s victory reflected a national trend to put Democrats in charge of state houses.
Democrats easily won in North Carolina and Indiana. In Delaware, Ruth Ann Minner was elected the state’s first woman governor, with 59 percent of the vote.
New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, won a 49-45 percent vote over former Sen. Gordon Humphrey. Shaheen’s victory ends the Granite State’s 28-year tradition of electing governors who pledge to veto any state income or sales tax.
Republicans were sure of victory only in Utah, where Gov. Mike Leavitt looked good to win a third term over former Democratic congressman Bill Orton.
GOPer Cecil Underwood of West Virginia – at 78, the nation’s oldest governor – was in a tight race against Democratic challenger Bob Wise, a nine-term congressman.
Heidi Heitkamp, North Dakota’s Democratic attorney general, lost the gubernatorial race after suspending her campaign to fight breast cancer. She was defeated 55-45 percent by Republican banker John Hoeven, who won his first run for office.
Governor’s offices were also up for grabs in Montana and Washington.
In Vermont, Dean’s GOP challenger, Ruth Dwyer, ran on the slogan “Take Back Vermont” – a swipe at newcomers to the state who back civil unions and, in Dwyer’s view, favor bigger state government.
Independent candidates muddled the results. But Dean, a doctor from Burlington, was expected to win the 50 percent he needed to avoid throwing the election to the state legislature.
Even after yesterday’s gains, Democratic governors are still outnumbered by Republicans. Going into the voting, Republicans held 30 governor’s offices, Democrats 18, and independents two.