Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
(AP) - Democrat Terry McAuliffe is the victor in the race to be Virginia governor. He has turned back a challenge from state Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, a tea party favorite.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie earlier sailed to a second term. He's a Republican credited with accomplishments in Democratic-leaning New Jersey.
The election's ballot initiatives in cities and states nationwide had little to gauge the national mood but the governor's races were a setback for the tea party.
Alabama's special congressional GOP runoff was the last such test of the night in the fight between pragmatists and ideologues.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
Republican Governor Chris Christie has won a second term in New Jersey.
In Virginia, Democrat Terry McAuliffe is battling Republican Ken Cuccinelli in a race that's still too close to call.
Across the country, voters also were choosing sides in a host of local elections and ballot initiatives. They include taxing legal marijuana in Colorado and the fate of a multimillion-dollar renovation of the shuttered Astrodome in Houston.
Taken together, the results in individual states and cities were expected to yield no broad judgments on how the American public feels about today's two biggest national political debates _ government spending and health care. Those are more likely to shape next fall's midterm elections.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
