Election Wrap-Up

Although the outcomes of elections in New York, New Jersey and Virginia we followed ended according to plan, getting to the end did not go as expected.  New York's special election in the 23^rd district was definitely the biggest shocker: Republican Dede Scozzafava suspended her campaign just days before the election.  Realizing that she was down double-digits in the polls and didn't have the funds the other candidates had, she decided to step aside and let Conservative Doug Hoffman and Democrat Bill Owens battle it out.  The National Republican Congressional Committee and Republican National Committee immediately endorsed Doug Hoffman, but in an unexpected turn of events, Republican Scozzafava then endorsed Democrat Owens.  When the polls finally came to a close, Owens had earned 49 percent of the vote, with 46 percent going to Hoffman and Scozzafava still picking up a few votes.  While both parties claimed victory, in the end the Democrats picked up a seat that has been red for over a century. In New Jersey, the race was less eventful, but the outcome surprised many.  With the most recent pre-election polls showing the two candidates, incumbent Democratic Governor Jon Corzine and Republican Chris Christie, literally tied, most people thought the race wouldn't be called until the wee hours of the morning.  Surprisingly, Christie was declared the winner just about two hours after the polls closed (Corzine conceded around 10:45pm EST).  Although the win was far from an upset, people were shocked.  Several counties, such as Middlesex, that have long been Democratic strongholds voted for Christie, helping him receive 49 percent of the vote while Corzine could only earn 44 percent. The Virginia gubernatorial race went as expected.  Republican Bob McDonnell defeated Democrat Creigh Deeds handily, receiving 59 percent of the vote.  Although Deeds had support from the President and Vice President, most agree that his campaign was run poorly.  The election was called for McDonnell at 7:55pm by the Associated Press, less than an hour after the polls closed.  McDonnell's victory help clinch a Republican sweep in Virginia, as the voters also elected a Republican Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General.