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| Election Day 2019: Key Votes in Virginia, Kentucky, Mississippi | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| In Virginia, Democrats have taken control of both the Senate and the House, where Republicans had held slim majorities. It is the first time in a generation that Virginia state government will be under full Democratic control. | In Virginia, Democrats have taken control of both the Senate and the House, where Republicans had held slim majorities. It is the first time in a generation that Virginia state government will be under full Democratic control. |
| In the Kentucky governor’s race, the Democratic challenger, Attorney General Andy Beshear, holds a slight lead over the Republican incumbent, Matt Bevin, but the race was too close to call. | In the Kentucky governor’s race, the Democratic challenger, Attorney General Andy Beshear, holds a slight lead over the Republican incumbent, Matt Bevin, but the race was too close to call. |
| Results are still coming in for the Mississippi governor’s race, where Democrats are looking for an upset victory. | Results are still coming in for the Mississippi governor’s race, where Democrats are looking for an upset victory. |
| There were also political offices and referendums on the ballot in Maine, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Colorado on Tuesday. | There were also political offices and referendums on the ballot in Maine, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Colorado on Tuesday. |
| Follow our results pages for the Virginia legislature and for the governor’s races in Kentucky and Mississippi, with continuous updates through Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. | Follow our results pages for the Virginia legislature and for the governor’s races in Kentucky and Mississippi, with continuous updates through Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. |
| Tuesday’s election results offer insights on two crucial political dynamics heading into the 2020 campaign: the depth of President Trump’s appeal with Republicans and how fully suburban voters have swung to the Democrats. | Tuesday’s election results offer insights on two crucial political dynamics heading into the 2020 campaign: the depth of President Trump’s appeal with Republicans and how fully suburban voters have swung to the Democrats. |
| The Republican candidates for governor in Kentucky and Mississippi have aggressively linked themselves to Mr. Trump and sought to tie their rivals to the national Democrats pursuing the impeachment inquiry against the president. Mr. Trump, who comfortably carried both states in 2016, has put his political capital on the line: He rallied voters in Mississippi on Friday and was in Kentucky on Monday night. | The Republican candidates for governor in Kentucky and Mississippi have aggressively linked themselves to Mr. Trump and sought to tie their rivals to the national Democrats pursuing the impeachment inquiry against the president. Mr. Trump, who comfortably carried both states in 2016, has put his political capital on the line: He rallied voters in Mississippi on Friday and was in Kentucky on Monday night. |
| The president has not appeared on the campaign trail in Virginia, where Democrats had hoped that Mr. Trump’s deep unpopularity in the suburbs would be enough for them to flip control of both chambers of the state legislature. They succeeded on Tuesday. Virginia is the only Southern state the president lost in 2016, and Republicans faced a series of difficult races in metropolitan districts. | The president has not appeared on the campaign trail in Virginia, where Democrats had hoped that Mr. Trump’s deep unpopularity in the suburbs would be enough for them to flip control of both chambers of the state legislature. They succeeded on Tuesday. Virginia is the only Southern state the president lost in 2016, and Republicans faced a series of difficult races in metropolitan districts. |
| The 2019 election season does not end Tuesday, however. On Saturday, Nov. 16, Louisiana voters will choose between Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, and his challenger, the businessman Eddie Rispone. It’s another race where the Republicans are trying to harness Mr. Trump’s standing with conservative voters and their dismay over his looming impeachment to nationalize a state election. Mr. Trump, who has already been to Louisiana once for Republicans this fall, is headed back there later this week to stump for Mr. Rispone. | The 2019 election season does not end Tuesday, however. On Saturday, Nov. 16, Louisiana voters will choose between Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, and his challenger, the businessman Eddie Rispone. It’s another race where the Republicans are trying to harness Mr. Trump’s standing with conservative voters and their dismay over his looming impeachment to nationalize a state election. Mr. Trump, who has already been to Louisiana once for Republicans this fall, is headed back there later this week to stump for Mr. Rispone. |
| Voters in Kentucky faced a difficult choice on Tuesday, between an unpopular governor and an unpopular party. If elected, Matt Bevin would be the first Republican governor in the state’s history to win a second term. The partisan gravity, in a red state that is still quite fond of Mr. Trump, would seem to favor him heavily. | Voters in Kentucky faced a difficult choice on Tuesday, between an unpopular governor and an unpopular party. If elected, Matt Bevin would be the first Republican governor in the state’s history to win a second term. The partisan gravity, in a red state that is still quite fond of Mr. Trump, would seem to favor him heavily. |
| But Mr. Bevin’s broad personal unpopularity has made this a tossup, with the race ending on Tuesday night with results too close to call. | But Mr. Bevin’s broad personal unpopularity has made this a tossup, with the race ending on Tuesday night with results too close to call. |
| Drawing support from schoolteachers and others who have felt insulted or bullied by the governor, Andy Beshear, the Democratic state attorney general and the son of Mr. Bevin’s immediate predecessor, entered the general election with a lead. But a summer of ads drawing attention to Mr. Beshear’s (or his party’s) positions on abortion, immigration and the president steadily dragged down that early edge. | Drawing support from schoolteachers and others who have felt insulted or bullied by the governor, Andy Beshear, the Democratic state attorney general and the son of Mr. Bevin’s immediate predecessor, entered the general election with a lead. But a summer of ads drawing attention to Mr. Beshear’s (or his party’s) positions on abortion, immigration and the president steadily dragged down that early edge. |
| The impeachment inquiry against Mr. Trump is energizing Republicans while Mr. Beshear has sought to focus on local issues. The question is whether an aversion to a particular politician, Mr. Bevin, is greater than an aversion to a particular political party, i.e., the Democrats. | The impeachment inquiry against Mr. Trump is energizing Republicans while Mr. Beshear has sought to focus on local issues. The question is whether an aversion to a particular politician, Mr. Bevin, is greater than an aversion to a particular political party, i.e., the Democrats. |
| Woodford County, just outside of Lexington, is one of the city’s growing suburban communities and a destination for bourbon tourists. In the 2011 governor’s race, Woodford voted for the Democrat, Steve Beshear, by a more than 2-to-1 margin. In 2015, the county narrowly elected Mr. Bevin. | Woodford County, just outside of Lexington, is one of the city’s growing suburban communities and a destination for bourbon tourists. In the 2011 governor’s race, Woodford voted for the Democrat, Steve Beshear, by a more than 2-to-1 margin. In 2015, the county narrowly elected Mr. Bevin. |
| Welby Southerland, who was getting into his car on Tuesday after voting downstairs at the county courthouse, isn’t sure that was a good decision. | Welby Southerland, who was getting into his car on Tuesday after voting downstairs at the county courthouse, isn’t sure that was a good decision. |
| “I want a new governor,” said Mr. Southerland, 76, who spent his life working on farms and in feed mills. “The one we have lies quite a bit.” | “I want a new governor,” said Mr. Southerland, 76, who spent his life working on farms and in feed mills. “The one we have lies quite a bit.” |
| His thoughts were echoed by Missy Rogers, 67, who could not understand the way Mr. Bevin has treated teachers. Ms. Rogers is not a teacher herself — she manages stores in the Lexington area that sell homemade dollhouses. But she was furious about the governor’s treatment of them, even baffled by it. “It’s just insane to hurt teachers,” she said. And so she voted straight-ticket Democrat to send Mr. Bevin a message. | His thoughts were echoed by Missy Rogers, 67, who could not understand the way Mr. Bevin has treated teachers. Ms. Rogers is not a teacher herself — she manages stores in the Lexington area that sell homemade dollhouses. But she was furious about the governor’s treatment of them, even baffled by it. “It’s just insane to hurt teachers,” she said. And so she voted straight-ticket Democrat to send Mr. Bevin a message. |
| Well, Mr. Bevin and someone else. | Well, Mr. Bevin and someone else. |
| “I just think Trump is evil,” she said. “He just wants to hurt so many people.” | “I just think Trump is evil,” she said. “He just wants to hurt so many people.” |
| A vote against Mr. Bevin was, for her, also a vote against Mr. Trump. That was the calculus. Mr. Beshear’s name hardly came up. | A vote against Mr. Bevin was, for her, also a vote against Mr. Trump. That was the calculus. Mr. Beshear’s name hardly came up. |
| Murphy Smith, 64, walking out of the courthouse shortly after Ms. Rogers, saw the same sort of connection. “He’s like Trump,” Mr. Smith said of Mr. Bevin. But for him this worked in the opposite direction. “And I’m a Trump man,” he said. | Murphy Smith, 64, walking out of the courthouse shortly after Ms. Rogers, saw the same sort of connection. “He’s like Trump,” Mr. Smith said of Mr. Bevin. But for him this worked in the opposite direction. “And I’m a Trump man,” he said. |
| At a Knights of Columbus gathering on the banks of the Ohio River, many said they had voted for Mr. Beshear, the Democratic challenger, driven by their dissatisfaction with Mr. Bevin. | At a Knights of Columbus gathering on the banks of the Ohio River, many said they had voted for Mr. Beshear, the Democratic challenger, driven by their dissatisfaction with Mr. Bevin. |
| “I’m a lifelong Republican,” John Whitt, a retired physician, said just after voting on Tuesday afternoon. But, he added, that he has two daughters who are teachers. “I think education is the biggest thing,” Dr. Whitt, 72, said, “the preservation of public schools.” | “I’m a lifelong Republican,” John Whitt, a retired physician, said just after voting on Tuesday afternoon. But, he added, that he has two daughters who are teachers. “I think education is the biggest thing,” Dr. Whitt, 72, said, “the preservation of public schools.” |
| Arthur Blanford and his wife, Nancy, agreed. Dr. Blanford, a physician, said his vote was about “treating teachers well, and without disparagement.” He supported better pay for educators. And, as a doctor, he wanted more resources channeled toward handling the opioid crisis ravaging Kentucky, like much of the country, and opposed Mr. Bevin’s push to curb the Medicaid expansion pursued by his predecessor. | Arthur Blanford and his wife, Nancy, agreed. Dr. Blanford, a physician, said his vote was about “treating teachers well, and without disparagement.” He supported better pay for educators. And, as a doctor, he wanted more resources channeled toward handling the opioid crisis ravaging Kentucky, like much of the country, and opposed Mr. Bevin’s push to curb the Medicaid expansion pursued by his predecessor. |
| “We’ve voted Democrat for a long time,” he said of he and his wife, adding that they also voted for Amy McGrath, a Democrat challenging the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell. “We’re ditching Moscow Mitch,” he said, referring to a nickname detractors have given the Republican senator. | “We’ve voted Democrat for a long time,” he said of he and his wife, adding that they also voted for Amy McGrath, a Democrat challenging the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell. “We’re ditching Moscow Mitch,” he said, referring to a nickname detractors have given the Republican senator. |
| The Blanfords, like others who voted for Andy Beshear, the state’s attorney general, said they were not so enthusiastic about the candidate; more so, they were outraged with Mr. Bevin, turned off by his personality as much as his stance on issues. | The Blanfords, like others who voted for Andy Beshear, the state’s attorney general, said they were not so enthusiastic about the candidate; more so, they were outraged with Mr. Bevin, turned off by his personality as much as his stance on issues. |
| “He’s imperious,” Dr. Blanford said. | “He’s imperious,” Dr. Blanford said. |
| “And meanspirited,” Ms. Blanford, a retired classical flutist, added. | “And meanspirited,” Ms. Blanford, a retired classical flutist, added. |
| John Brown, who has worked in heating and air-conditioning for more than 30 years, said that he has wavered between parties over the years. This time, he also voted for Mr. Beshear. “I watch the news, and that’s how I vote, | John Brown, who has worked in heating and air-conditioning for more than 30 years, said that he has wavered between parties over the years. This time, he also voted for Mr. Beshear. “I watch the news, and that’s how I vote, |
| “He has poor manners,” Mr. Brown, 62, said, adding that he does not care for his hotheaded temperament, which was apparent in seeing him talk. “You can tell his blood pressure is rising.” | “He has poor manners,” Mr. Brown, 62, said, adding that he does not care for his hotheaded temperament, which was apparent in seeing him talk. “You can tell his blood pressure is rising.” |
| Virginians decided to hand power to Democrats for the first time in a generation. Major policy issues like gun safety were at stake, as well as control over drawing new voting districts in 2021. All 140 seats in both chambers were on the ballot. Republicans had held slim majorities of 20-19 in the Senate and 51-48 in the House of Delegates, with one vacancy in each. | Virginians decided to hand power to Democrats for the first time in a generation. Major policy issues like gun safety were at stake, as well as control over drawing new voting districts in 2021. All 140 seats in both chambers were on the ballot. Republicans had held slim majorities of 20-19 in the Senate and 51-48 in the House of Delegates, with one vacancy in each. |
| A strongly Republican state, Mississippi elected as governor Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, a Republican who has been endorsed by the outgoing Republican governor, over Attorney General Jim Hood, an anti-abortion, pro-gun Democrat. | |
| The race was competitive, but Mississippi is an uphill climb for any Democrat. | |
| Election Day began smoothly for the most part, with scattered reports of problems at polling places but no evidence of any systemic disruption of voting. Some polls opened late in Texas, and in Pennsylvania, where voting machines are particularly antiquated, some breakdowns were reported, according to poll monitors and callers to a hotline run by Election Protection, a consortium of groups promoting voting rights. Pennsylvanians at polls with broken machines cast their votes on paper ballots. | Election Day began smoothly for the most part, with scattered reports of problems at polling places but no evidence of any systemic disruption of voting. Some polls opened late in Texas, and in Pennsylvania, where voting machines are particularly antiquated, some breakdowns were reported, according to poll monitors and callers to a hotline run by Election Protection, a consortium of groups promoting voting rights. Pennsylvanians at polls with broken machines cast their votes on paper ballots. |
| In Revere, near Philadelphia, a Democratic candidate for mayor complained online that his supporters were being challenged as they sought to vote, but the report could not be immediately verified. | In Revere, near Philadelphia, a Democratic candidate for mayor complained online that his supporters were being challenged as they sought to vote, but the report could not be immediately verified. |
| In North Carolina, a state website that helps voters find their polling place was briefly out of commission at midmorning. And in Richmond, Va., one precinct was reported to have run out of ballots by 8 a.m. | In North Carolina, a state website that helps voters find their polling place was briefly out of commission at midmorning. And in Richmond, Va., one precinct was reported to have run out of ballots by 8 a.m. |
| In Georgia, electronic voter-registration books were out of commission part of Tuesday morning in at least five Georgia counties, including Paulding County in suburban Atlanta. Election Protection officials said a number of voters in two Georgia counties were not listed in registration records, an issue that led to a lawsuit in 2018. | In Georgia, electronic voter-registration books were out of commission part of Tuesday morning in at least five Georgia counties, including Paulding County in suburban Atlanta. Election Protection officials said a number of voters in two Georgia counties were not listed in registration records, an issue that led to a lawsuit in 2018. |
| Some Houston polls reported long lines in areas with hotly contested city races. And in Louisville, voting hours were extended at one poll in an elementary school after reports of an armed person near the school led to a lockdown that lasted roughly an hour. Police officers later arrested a suspect. | Some Houston polls reported long lines in areas with hotly contested city races. And in Louisville, voting hours were extended at one poll in an elementary school after reports of an armed person near the school led to a lockdown that lasted roughly an hour. Police officers later arrested a suspect. |
| And in Marion, Ohio, a Republican Party official and a candidate for city auditor were arrested on Tuesday on charges of distributing campaign fliers crafted to look like sample ballots. Ohio law bars distributing phony sample ballots, and offenders can be fined up to $1,000 and jailed for up to six months. | And in Marion, Ohio, a Republican Party official and a candidate for city auditor were arrested on Tuesday on charges of distributing campaign fliers crafted to look like sample ballots. Ohio law bars distributing phony sample ballots, and offenders can be fined up to $1,000 and jailed for up to six months. |
| Erroneous voting instructions and other disinformation began popping up on a handful of Twitter accounts on Monday, including one post encouraging Kentucky supporters of Mr. Bevin to vote on Wednesday. | Erroneous voting instructions and other disinformation began popping up on a handful of Twitter accounts on Monday, including one post encouraging Kentucky supporters of Mr. Bevin to vote on Wednesday. |
| That and other posts were removed and some accounts were closed after being reported, according to David Vance, a spokesman for Common Cause, a member of the Election Protection alliance. None appeared to have spread widely. | That and other posts were removed and some accounts were closed after being reported, according to David Vance, a spokesman for Common Cause, a member of the Election Protection alliance. None appeared to have spread widely. |
| In New York State, voters were able to cast ballots for a week prior to Election Day under a newly implemented early voting process. | In New York State, voters were able to cast ballots for a week prior to Election Day under a newly implemented early voting process. |
| In Democratic-heavy New York City, two Democrats easily defeated their Republican opposition: Jumaane Williams, of Brooklyn, won re-election for public advocate. Melinda Katz, the Queens borough president, won the district attorney race. | In Democratic-heavy New York City, two Democrats easily defeated their Republican opposition: Jumaane Williams, of Brooklyn, won re-election for public advocate. Melinda Katz, the Queens borough president, won the district attorney race. |
| City voters also faced five ballot questions, including whether to create ranked-choice in future elections (the next mayor’s race is in 2021). To fit all the questions in English and Spanish on one ballot sheet, election officials used tiny seven-point font. | City voters also faced five ballot questions, including whether to create ranked-choice in future elections (the next mayor’s race is in 2021). To fit all the questions in English and Spanish on one ballot sheet, election officials used tiny seven-point font. |
| L. Joy Williams, the president of the Brooklyn chapter of the N.A.A.C.P., voted Tuesday morning in Bushwick, Brooklyn. She said she voted against ranked-choice voting because supporters had not shown how it would work in a crowded election season. “What does the ballot look like?” she asked. | L. Joy Williams, the president of the Brooklyn chapter of the N.A.A.C.P., voted Tuesday morning in Bushwick, Brooklyn. She said she voted against ranked-choice voting because supporters had not shown how it would work in a crowded election season. “What does the ballot look like?” she asked. |
| Voting was quick. “I double parked and had my flashes on in front of a school,” Ms. Williams recalled. “It was maybe less than 5 minutes.” Christina Greer, an associate professor of political science at Fordham University voted on Thursday in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. “It was not busy at all, but it was disorganized,” she said. | Voting was quick. “I double parked and had my flashes on in front of a school,” Ms. Williams recalled. “It was maybe less than 5 minutes.” Christina Greer, an associate professor of political science at Fordham University voted on Thursday in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. “It was not busy at all, but it was disorganized,” she said. |
| In Monroe County, which includes Rochester, George Soros, the billionaire philanthropist, spent more than $800,000 to support Shani Curry Mitchell, a Democratic candidate challenging the incumbent Republican. Despite the attention that caused, turnout was on par with prior elections, according to Colleen Anderson, the Democratic Commissioner of the Monroe County Board of Elections. | In Monroe County, which includes Rochester, George Soros, the billionaire philanthropist, spent more than $800,000 to support Shani Curry Mitchell, a Democratic candidate challenging the incumbent Republican. Despite the attention that caused, turnout was on par with prior elections, according to Colleen Anderson, the Democratic Commissioner of the Monroe County Board of Elections. |
| Democrats remain in firm control of the State Assembly in New Jersey and only a handful of races are competitive this year, but an existential threat looms for the Republican Party in New Jersey, one year after being nearly wiped off the map in the 2018 congressional elections. | Democrats remain in firm control of the State Assembly in New Jersey and only a handful of races are competitive this year, but an existential threat looms for the Republican Party in New Jersey, one year after being nearly wiped off the map in the 2018 congressional elections. |
| In District 21, Jon Bramnick, the Republican leader in the assembly who has been a fixture in Trenton for nearly two decades and a staunch ally of Chris Christie, the former governor, is in the fight of his political life. The state district, which largely resides in the congressional district that Representative Tom Malinowski flipped from red to blue last year, is part of the recent prototypical Jersey suburban revolt: abandoning the Republican Party in droves in response to the Trump era (and, to a potentially equal extent, the loss of the state and local tax deduction in the Trump tax cuts). | In District 21, Jon Bramnick, the Republican leader in the assembly who has been a fixture in Trenton for nearly two decades and a staunch ally of Chris Christie, the former governor, is in the fight of his political life. The state district, which largely resides in the congressional district that Representative Tom Malinowski flipped from red to blue last year, is part of the recent prototypical Jersey suburban revolt: abandoning the Republican Party in droves in response to the Trump era (and, to a potentially equal extent, the loss of the state and local tax deduction in the Trump tax cuts). |
| Mr. Bramnick, however, has maintained the traditional Jersey moderate Republican course that appealed to the once reliably Republican suburbs. He is highly critical of Mr. Trump, but is also staunchly opposing the liberal policies of Gov. Philip D. Murphy, a Democrat, depicting him as a socialist, tax-and-spend liberal. | Mr. Bramnick, however, has maintained the traditional Jersey moderate Republican course that appealed to the once reliably Republican suburbs. He is highly critical of Mr. Trump, but is also staunchly opposing the liberal policies of Gov. Philip D. Murphy, a Democrat, depicting him as a socialist, tax-and-spend liberal. |
| Should Mr. Bramnick lose, it will damage more than just the morale of a struggling state party. Conservatives could attribute his loss to his criticism of Mr. Trump, and push for a more hard-line state party. But aligning with a deeply unpopular president in the state could only further doom the dwindling Republican presence in Trenton. | Should Mr. Bramnick lose, it will damage more than just the morale of a struggling state party. Conservatives could attribute his loss to his criticism of Mr. Trump, and push for a more hard-line state party. But aligning with a deeply unpopular president in the state could only further doom the dwindling Republican presence in Trenton. |
| Reporting was contributed by Nick Corasaniti, Richard Fausset, Trip Gabriel, Azi Paybarah, Campbell Robertson, Rick Rojas and Michael Wines. | Reporting was contributed by Nick Corasaniti, Richard Fausset, Trip Gabriel, Azi Paybarah, Campbell Robertson, Rick Rojas and Michael Wines. |