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THE RACES

Visit Stateline.org’s Election Central page for a list of the major state races and ballot issues from this election. This printable guide includes results, candidate information and will be continually updated as more results are known.Click here to see all the races and updated results

THE STORIES

What Obama could do for states
By Stephen C. Fehr, Stateline.org Staff Writer

State officials are looking to President-elect Obama for help as the nation faces its worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.
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Election Day mostly smooth
By Pauline Vu, Stateline.org Staff Writer

Six years after being ordered to overhaul their voting systems, states showed they were largely prepared for 2008’s historic election and near-record voter turnout.
Read More

THE GUIDE

THE GOVERNORS

Of the 11 gubernatorial races in 2008, open seats in three races — two held by Democrats and one by a Republican — guaranteed new governors would be leading their states. Here are bios of the new faces heading to the governors’ mansions.

Delaware: Jack Markell (D)

New governor profile: Jack Markell (D)

Term expires: January 2013

Born: November 26, 1960

Family: Married, two children

Religion: Jewish

Education: B.A., Brown University; M.B.A., University of Chicago

Occupation: State treasurer

Experience: State treasurer, 1998-present

Military: None

Missouri: Jay Nixon (D)

New governor profile: Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon (D)

Term expires: January 2013

Born: February 13, 1956

Family: Married, two children

Religion: United Methodist

Education: B.S. and J.D., University of Missouri

Occupation: State attorney general

Experience: State attorney general, 1993-present

Military: None

	North Carolina: Beverly Perdue (D)
New governor profile: Beverly Perdue (D) Term expires: January 2013 Born: January 14, 1947 Family: Married, two children Religion: Episcopalian Education: B.A., University of Kentucky; M.A. and Ph.D., University of Florida Occupation: Lieutenant governor Experience: State representative, 1987-1990; state senator, 1990-2000; lieutenant governor, 2000-present Military: None

THE RANKINGS

"Out There" ranks the 2008 races

Stateline.org columnist Louis Jacobson's has been ranking and re-ranking this year's elections for months, read his most recent calls below:

THE PRESIDENT

McCain vs. Obama: The difference for states

Click here for a printable PDF looking at both presidential candidates' positions on issues affecting the states.

What's @ stake

Previous Stateline.org stories

Ballot measures

More gambling on states' ballots Nov. 4 (Oct. 31)
Ballot items may bring more budget woes (Oct. 29)
Colorado voters to test ballot reform (Oct. 28)
Gay marriage on the ballot in 4 states (Oct. 22)
Voters could relax marijuana penalties (Oct. 14)
Stem-cell science an election issue in 3 states (Oct. 9)
Three states weigh calls for new charters (Sept. 25)
Health care reform goes to voters (Sept. 17)
Measures could bring youth to state races (Aug. 18)
Three states reconsider affirmative action (Aug. 8)
Anti-tax activists watch Colorado (Aug. 6)
Watch your (official) language (Aug. 5)
Social issues crowd state ballots (July 24)
Voters may decide fate of payday loans (June 18)
Florida launches 2008 ballot question season (Jan. 29)

Election administration

States warned to prep for election glitches (Oct. 17)
Voter surge will challenge states (July 28)
Are states ready for the 2008 election? (commentary, Jan. 29)

Governor races

GOP gaining in gov races, too (commentary, Sept. 18)
Missouri primary is a free-for-all (Aug. 4)
At-risk gubernatorial seats increase (commentary, May 8)
Presidential calendar boosts '08 govs' races (March 12)
States share national spotlight in 2008 (Jan. 10)
Govs races kick it up a notch (commentary, Jan. 3)

Legislative races

Legislative races tilting Dems' way in '08 (commentary, Oct. 15)
Parties battle for control of statehouses (Sept. 12)
'Don't forget us,' PA candidates tell voters (April 21)
Will Democrats grow legislative edge in '08? (commentary, March 20)

Lieutenant governor races

Who will be the next David Paterson? (March 27)

Attorney general races

Several AG contests still tight (commentary, Oct. 1)
Indiana AG race mirrors Obama-Clinton (May 30)
AG contests attract serious attention (commentary, Jan. 17)

Secretary of state races

Oregon's primary unlike any other (May 19)

ELECTION 2008

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Read the latest news, analysis and research on the economic crisis in the states in Stateline.org's new Recession and Recovery special section.

The Stimulus and the
States
Follow how states are managing the stimulus money and which programs are receiving funding as part of the recovery effort using Stateline.org's stimulus special section.

Click here to read summaries of action in all 50 states and major trends of the 2009 legislative session.

Read the full 2008 Legislative Review or state-by-state summaries

Read the full 2007 Legislative Review or state-by-state summaries

Read the full 2006 Legislative Review

Stateline.org has compiled an extensive list of state issue political blogs to make it convenient for you to follow state government.

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Blogs organized by Issue

Blogs organized by State

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Go to the state public policy resources page

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