ELECTION NIGHT, FIFTH THREAD…. Where does the time go? It seems like just an hour ago, we were starting our fourth thread. Oh wait…
11:02: Some outlets are already prepared to call California’s gubernatorial race for Jerry Brown (D).
11:05: In the never-really-competitive category, everyone is calling Idaho’s Senate race for incumbent Mike Crapo (R) and Oregon’s Senate race for incumbent Ron Wyden (D). I’ve always liked Wyden, and it’s nice to see a progressive win without breaking a sweat.
11:08: Being the House Budget Committee chairman apparently didn’t help John Spratt (D) in South Carolina’s 5th — he lost.
11:12: CNN is noting that the Senate will be without a single African-American member next year. There’s only one now — Roland Burris of Illinois — and he didn’t run for a full term.
11:15: Tom Corbett (R) has won Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial election. Not a surprise, though the polls did show a tighter race in the campaign’s closing weeks.
11:19: The race was a real long-shot for Dems anyway, but I suppose it’s worth noting that Michele Bachmann (R) has won re-election in Minnesota’s 6th.
11:22: In New Mexico’s gubernatorial race, Susana Martinez (R) appears to have beaten Lt. Gov. Diane Denish (D). Rumor has it Martinez was recruited directly by Karl Rove.
11:25: Given the polls and the Senate race, this was entirely predictable, but Scott Walker (R) has won Wisconsin’s gubernatorial race.
11:27: I’m genuinely curious to see the price-per-vote ratio in California’s gubernatorial race. Whitman, the last time I checked, had spent 10 gajillion dollars — only to lose.
11:33: Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) appears to have won re-election in California. In case this wasn’t obvious before, Republicans aren’t taking back the Senate.
11:37: In Utah’s U.S. Senate race, Mike Lee (R), who seems a little too anxious to shut down the government next year, easily won.
11:39: About a week ago, the National Republican Senatorial Committee decided to invest a few million dollars in California, rather than other states that seemed more competitive. It seemed like a dumb move at the time, and it seems like a dumb move now.
11:48: More heartbreakers for House Dems — Etheridge loses in North Carolina, Pomeroy loses in North Dakota, Klein loses in Florida, and Space loses in Ohio.
11:55: Former Sen. Lincoln Chafee, the Republican-turned-independent, won Rhode Island’s gubernatorial race tonight. Democrat Frank Caprio, who looked well positioned as recently as September, probably wishes he could take back that “shove it” line.
