2007 Update: A Good Night For Dems in 2 States

The Fix is already past his self-imposed bed time but wanted to update tonight's happenings one more time before hitting the sack.

Kentucky: The biggest news of the night was in the Bluegrass State where former Lt. Gov. Steve Beshear (D) crushed Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R) 59 percent to 41 percent. Fletcher had long been seen as a dead man walking politically; ethics problems in his first four years in office had badly hamstrung his reelection chances. Beshear restores Democratic control to the Kentucky governorship, an office that the party has held for all but four years since 1967. Elsewhere on the ballot, state Auditor Crit Luallen (D) was reelected with 59 percent, a margin sure to stoke speculation of a challenge to Sen. Mitch McConnell (R) in 2008.

Virginia: Republicans appear to have lost control of the state Senate, as at least three Republican incumbents and a GOP-held open seat have gone to Democrats. The race we were watching most closely -- the 34th district battle between state Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis (R) and Chap Peterson (D) -- turned into a rout, with the Democrat unseating the incumbent 56 percent to 44 percent. Democrats' gains are yet more evidence of the rapidly shifting demographics in the Commonwealth. Sen. Mark Warner (D) anyone? (Full Va. results.)

Ohio: The 5th District special election is going down to the wire on the Republican side. With roughly half of the vote counted, state Rep. Bob Latta (R) leads state Sen. Steve Buehrer (R) by 1,400 votes. Robin Weirach will be the Democratic nominee.

Mississippi: No surprises. Gov. Haley Barbour (R) easily won reelection.

By Chris Cillizza  |  November 6, 2007; 11:48 PM ET
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