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Mixed results in US state polls | |
(about 19 hours later) | |
The governor of the US state of Mississippi has been re-elected, apparently as a result of his handling of the Hurricane Katrina crisis. | |
Haley Barbour, a Republican, beat Democrat John Eaves in a campaign which stressed job growth and rebuilding. | Haley Barbour, a Republican, beat Democrat John Eaves in a campaign which stressed job growth and rebuilding. |
Meanwhile Kentucky's scandal-hit governor Ernie Fletcher lost badly to Democratic rival Steve Beshear. | Meanwhile Kentucky's scandal-hit governor Ernie Fletcher lost badly to Democratic rival Steve Beshear. |
In New Jersey, voters rejected a state plan to borrow $450m over 10 years to fund controversial stem cell research. | |
The measure was heavily backed by the state's Democratic Governor Jon Corzine, who argued it would help find cures for conditions such as Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis. | |
The plan was opposed by anti-abortion activists and the Roman Catholic Church, who said the money would be used for research that destroys human embryos. | |
Voters' choices | |
Voters in Utah rejected a ballot initiative on whether the state should provide assistance - in the form of school vouchers - to students going to private schools. | |
Analysts had predicted that had the measure, the nation's first such state-wide programme, passed in Utah, other states, including Texas, Arizona and Louisiana, would follow suit. | |
In other ballot initiatives: | |
| |
In Baltimore, voters elected Democratic Mayor Sheila Dixon to the post she had held on an interim basis since January, making her the city's first elected woman mayor. | |
Meanwhile Democrat Michael Nutter - who ran on a promise of reducing gun violence - won a convincing victory to become Philadelphia's mayor. | |
The cities of Houston, San Francisco and Pittsburgh all re-elected their mayors. | |
The gubernatorial and mayoral elections come in a year when much of the nation's attention is focused on the 2008 presidential race. | The gubernatorial and mayoral elections come in a year when much of the nation's attention is focused on the 2008 presidential race. |
Ernie Fletcher lost his seat after a first term dogged by scandal | |
The handling of the Hurricane Katrina crisis and the reconstruction efforts since in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast continue to have an impact on the region's politics. | The handling of the Hurricane Katrina crisis and the reconstruction efforts since in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast continue to have an impact on the region's politics. |
Mr Barbour's Mississippi re-election campaign focused on his successful management of recovery efforts and his attempts to rebuild and bring new jobs to the Gulf Coast area. | Mr Barbour's Mississippi re-election campaign focused on his successful management of recovery efforts and his attempts to rebuild and bring new jobs to the Gulf Coast area. |
Louisiana's Democratic Governor Kathleen Blanco chose not to stand for re-election in last month's state ballot, following wide criticism of her leadership over Katrina. | Louisiana's Democratic Governor Kathleen Blanco chose not to stand for re-election in last month's state ballot, following wide criticism of her leadership over Katrina. |
The post went to Republican Bobby Jindal, who became the first Indian-American to head a state. | |
In Kentucky, Mr Fletcher's re-election chances were hit by accusations during his first term that he illegally awarded protected state jobs to political allies. | In Kentucky, Mr Fletcher's re-election chances were hit by accusations during his first term that he illegally awarded protected state jobs to political allies. |
He was indicted but the charges were eventually dismissed in a deal with prosecutors. | He was indicted but the charges were eventually dismissed in a deal with prosecutors. |