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ISSUES ON THE BALLOT IN 2008

Abortion

In California a measure would require doctors to notify a parent before an abortion on a minor.
In Colorado a measure would define a “person” to include “any human being from the moment of fertilization.”
In South Dakota a measure would ban abortions with exceptions for rape, incest and the mother’s health.

Affirmative action

Colorado a measure would end race and gender preferences in college admissions and government hiring.
In Nebraska a measure would end race and gender preferences in college admissions and government hiring.

Elections

In California a measure would allow a commission to redraw leigislative districts rather than the Legislature.
In Colorado a measure would lower the age to run for the General Assembly to 21.
In Hawaii a measure would lower the age to run for governor and lieutenant governeror to 25.
In South Dakota a measure would eliminate term limits.

Energy

In California a measure would require all utilites in the state to generate 20% of their electricity from renwable sources by 2010.
In Missouri a measure would require 15% of the state's electricity come from clean sources by 2021.

Gambling

In Arkansas a measure would create a state-run lottery.
In Colorado a measure would expand casino gambling.
In Maryland a measure would legalize slots.
In Ohio a measure would allow the state's first casino.

Health care

Arizona a measure would prohibit the state from mandating coverage.
In California a measure would generate nearly $1 billion in bonds for children's hospitals.
In Montana a measure would extend coverage to more children.

Immigration

In Arizona a measure would amend a law that cracks down on businesses that knowingly hire undocumented workers.
In Missouri a measure would make English the official language.
In Oregon a measure would prohibit teaching in languages other than English.

Marijuana

In California a measure would decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
In Massachusetts a measure would decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
In Michigan a measure would allow the medical use of marijuana.

Same-sex marriage

In Arizona a measure would define marriage as between a man and woman.
In Arkansas a measure would limit foster parents to married couples.
In California a measure would amend the constitution to ban same-sex marriages, overturning the recent state Supreme Court ruling.
In Florida a measure would define marriage as between a man and woman

Stem-cell research

In Michigan a measure would end a 30-year-old ban on stem-cell research.

Taxes

In Colorado a measure would significantly weaken the state's taxpayers' bill of rights.
In Maine a measure would eliminate a tax on beer, wine and soda funding health care.
In Massachusetts a measure would abolish the state income tax.
In Minnesota a measure would devote a portion of the sales tax to protect wetlands.
In North Dakota a measure would lower the state income tax.

Veterans

In California a measure would provide $1 billion for recently returned veterans to help buy homes.
In Oklahoma a measure would lower personal property taxes for injured veterans.
In New York a measure would give hiring preference to veterans appyling for public sector jobs.

Stateline.org's Election Central

(Updated 2:45 a.m. EST, Nov. 5, 2008)

Throughout the night on Nov. 4, Stateline.org will be updating this page as results become available. Races listed in gray are still awaiting results.

11 governors

Delaware: Open* State Treasurer Jack Markell (D) defeats Bill Lee (R), retired judge, The Associated Press reports

Indiana: Incumbent Mitch Daniels (R) defeats former U.S. Rep. Jill Long Thompson (D), The Indianapolis Star reports.

Missouri: Open* Attorney General Jay Nixon (D) defeats U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R), AP and CNN report

Montana: Incumbent Brian Schweitzer (D) defeats state Sen. Roy Brown (R), AP reports

New Hampshire: Incumbent John Lynch (D) defeats state Sen. Joe Kenney (R), AP reports

North Carolina: Open* Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue (D) defeats Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory (R), The Charlotte Observer reports

North Dakota: Incumbent John Hoeven (R) defeats state Sen. Tim Mathern (D), AP reports

Utah: Incumbent Jon Huntsman Jr. (R) defeats Bob Springmeyer (D), management consultant and environmentalist, AP reports.

Vermont: Incumbent Jim Douglas (R) defeats state House Speaker Gaye Symington (D) and Anthony Pollina (Ind.), The Burlington Free Press reports.

West Virginia: Incumbent Joe Manchin III (D) defeats Russ Weeks (R), former state senator, The Charleston Gazette reports.

Washington: Incumbent Christine Gregoire (D) defeats Dino Rossi (R), former state senator

*Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner (D) and North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley (D) are both term-limited, and Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt (R) is not running for re-election.

9 lieutenant governors**

Voters in New Hampshire and West Virginia will elect governors in 2008, but these states do not have the position of lieutenant governor.

Delaware: Open* State Insurance Commissioner Matt Denn (D) defeated state Senate Minority Leader Charlie Copland (R)

Missouri: Incumbent Peter Kinder (R) defeats state Rep. Sam Page (D)

North Carolina: Open* State Sen. Walter Dalton (D) defeated state Sen. Robert Pittenger (R)

Vermont: Incumbent Brian Dubie (R) defeats Thomas Costello (D), former state representative

Washington: Incumbent Brad Owen (D) defeats Marcia McCraw (R), attorney

*The incumbents in Delaware, John Carney (D), and North Carolina, Beverly Perdue (D), are both running for governor.
**In the following states, voters cast one ballot for both a governor and lieutenant governor who run together on the same ticket: Indiana, Montana, North Dakota, Utah.

11 attorneys general

Indiana:Open* Greg Zoeller (R), chief deputy to current attorney general defeats. Linda Pence (D), attorney

Missouri: Open* State Sen.Chris Koster (D) defeats Senate President Pro Tem Mike Gibbons (R)

Montana: Open*Steve Bullock (D), former attorney, defeats Tim Fox (R), attorney

North Carolina: Incumbent Roy Cooper (D) defeats Bob Crumley (R), attorney

Ohio: Open* State Treasurer Richard Cordray (D) defeats D. Michael Crites (R), former U.S. attorney, and Robert Owens (I), former state prosecutor, the AP reports

Oregon: Open* John Kroger (D), law professor, had no Republican opponent

Pennsylvania: Incumbent Tom Corbett (R) defeats John Morganelli (D), district attorney, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports

Utah:Incumbent Mark Shurtleff (R) defeats Jean Hill (D), attorney at the state Board of Education

Vermont: Incumbent Bill Sorrell (D) defeats Karin Kerin (R), attorney

Washington: Incumbent Rob McKenna (R) defeats John Ladenburg (D), county executive

West Virginia: Incumbent Darrell McGraw (D) defeats Dan Greear (R), former state representative

*Indiana AG Steve Carter (R) is retiring; Missouri AG Jay Nixon (D) is running for governor; Montana AG Mike McGrath (D) is running for Montana Supreme Court; Ohio AG Marc Dann (D) resigned from office; and Oregon AG Hardy Meyers (D) is retiring.

7 secretaries of state*

North Carolina: Incumbent Elaine F. Marshall (D) defeats Jack Sawyer (R), attorney

Vermont: Incumbent Deborah Markowitz (D) defeats Eugene Bifano (R), former mayor of Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.

Missouri: Incumbent Robin Carnahan (D) defeats Mitch Hubbard (R), attorney

West Virginia: Open** Natalie Tennant (D), former TV news anchor defeats Charles Minimah (R), businessman, the AP reports

Montana: Incumbent Brad Johnson (R) vs. Linda McCulloch (D), superintendent of public instruction and former state representative

Oregon: Open** State Senate Majority Leader Kate Brown (D) vs. Rick Dancer (R), former TV anchorman

Washington: Incumbent Sam Reed (R) defeats Jason Osgood (D), computer programmer

*In New Hampshire and Tennessee, the legislatures will elect new secretaries of state following this year's elections; the Utah lieutenant governor performs the duties normally associated with a secretary of state.
**Oregon SOS Bill Bradbury (D) is term-limited and West Virginia SOS Betty Ireland (R) is retiring.

Sources: State election offices, and Stateline.org reporting

25 legislative chambers in play

Arizona Senate: Republicans keep control
Arizona House: Republicans keep control

Colorado Senate: Democrats keep control
Delaware House: Republican lose control

Indiana House: Democrats keep control

Maine Senate: Democrats keep control

Michigan House: Democrats keep control

New Hampshire Senate: Democrats keep control

New Hampshire House: Democrats keep control

New York Senate: Republicans lose control

North Carolina Senate: Democrats keep control

North Dakota Senate: Republicans keep control

Oklahoma Senate: Republicans gain control of split chamber

Pennsylvania House: Democrats keep control

South Dakota Senate: Republicans keep control

Tennessee Senate: Republicans gain control of split chamber

Tennessee House: Democrats lose control

Texas House: Republicans keep control

Wisconsin Senate: Democrats keep control

Wisconsin Assembly: Republicans lose control

Alaska Senate: Republican-controlled

Montana Senate: Democratic-controlled

Montana House: Republican-controlled

Nevada Senate: Republicans lost control

Ohio House: Republican-controlled

Comment on this story in the space below by registering with Stateline.org.

COMMENTS (2)

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Most Recent Comments: Vermont
By Joshua Bell on Oct 30, 2008 10:07:02 PM

I just wanted to say that Anthony Pollina is an independent candidate for Governor of Vermont. He is polling at as much as 25% well ahead of Speaker Symington.

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Chief state school officers up for election
By Lucy Gettman on Jun 5, 2008 11:46:31 AM

There are five state, I believe, electing chief state school officers this November. This group would be a welcome addtion to the excellent list.

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