Associated Press

Kentucky elects Republican governor

Kentucky voters have elected just the second Republican in four decades to hold the governor’s office, in a race that hinged largely on President Barack Obama’s signature legislation, the Affordable Care Act.

The result was a potentially troubling sign for Democrats ahead of next year’s presidential election and represented a big win for the GOP as it continues to consolidate political power across the South. Democrats also were rebuffed in Virginia, where they made a costly push to win a majority in one chamber of the state Legislature.

The governor’s race in Kentucky was the highest profile contest in Tuesday’s off-year elections. The only other gubernatorial campaign was in Mississippi, where Republican Gov. Phil Bryant easily won re-election.

Ohio defeat legal marijuana

Ohio voters rejected a ballot proposal Tuesday that would have legalized both recreational and medical marijuana in a single stroke — a vote-getting strategy that was being watched as a potential test case for the nation.

Failure of the proposed state constitutional amendment followed an expensive campaign, a legal fight over its ballot wording, an investigation into petition signatures — and, predominantly, a counter campaign against a network of 10 exclusive growing sites it would have created. It was the only marijuana legalization question on the 2015 statewide ballots.

About 65 percent of voters opposed the measure, compared to 35 percent in favor.

Issue 3 would have allowed adults 21 and older to use, purchase or grow certain amounts of marijuana and allowed others to use it as medicine. The growing facilities were to be controlled by private investors, leading opponents to label it a “marijuana monopoly.”

That featured heavily in opposition campaigns and a separate ballot question to prevent monopolies from being inserted into Ohio’s constitution for the economic benefits of a few.

Campaign director Ian James assured supporters at a downtown Columbus gathering that the fight was not over, calling Tuesday’s defeat “a bump in the road.”

Democrats fail to take control of Virginia Senate

In Virginia, a swing state, Democrats failed in an expensive bid to take control of the state Senate and empower Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe in negotiations with Republicans who control the state House. With the losses in Virginia and Kentucky, it was a rough Election Day for Democrats.

“I don’t think you can point to one singular issue as to why these defeats happened tonight, but it’s an opportunity for Democrats to recalibrate and continue to develop a plan and a strategy to win in 2016,” said Tharon Johnson, who led Obama’s 2012 re-election effort in the South and helps oversee finances for the Democratic National Committee.

Mississippi defeats constitutional amendment

The governor’s race in Mississippi was overshadowed by a fight over a constitutional amendment that would allow people to sue the state to increase funding for public schools. Voters defeated the proposed amendment.

Critics say it would have taken budget decisions away from Mississippi lawmakers and given the courts too much power.

Salt Lake City leaning toward openly gay mayor

In Salt Lake City, former state lawmaker Jackie Biskupski had a narrow lead in her challenge to two-term incumbent Mayor Ralph Becker. But thousands of mail-in ballots that were dropped off at polling places Tuesday remain to be counted. If elected, Biskupski would be the city’s first openly gay mayor.

Pennsylvania Democrats triumph in Supreme Court

State judicial elections in recent years have become a focal point for political parties and interest groups seeking to influence the courts. Tuesday’s election to fill three open seats on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court was the latest judicial contest to attract heavy attention and spending.Campaign contributors poured at least $11.5 million into the race, which saw Democrats win all the seats.

Colorado marijuana money stays with state

Colorado voters decided to let the state keep $66 million in tax revenue generated from the sale of recreational marijuana. An existing state law requires excess tax revenue to be returned to taxpayers, but on Tuesday voters agreed to make an exception with the marijuana revenue and direct it instead toward public education and drug-prevention programs.

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