Some notable races and measures in Tuesday's election:
GOVERNORS:
—Democrat Jon Corzine, the billionaire former Wall Street executive, was fighting to earn a second term as New Jersey governor in a contest with Republican former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie and an independent candidate, former state environmental official Chris Daggett. The race centered on the economy and the state's highest-in-the-nation taxes.
—In Virginia, Republican Bob McDonnell beat Democrat R. Creigh Deeds to replace the term-limited Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine.
U.S. HOUSE:
—Democratic Lt. Gov. John Garamendi was facing Republican attorney Dave Harmer for a Northern California congressional seat vacated when the incumbent took a job in the Obama administration.
— A special election in New York's rural and strongly Republican 23rd Congressional District exposed tension between rival GOP factions. Some prominent Republicans, including former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, were backing Conservative Doug Hoffman. The hand-picked GOP candidate, state Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, withdrew from the race and threw her support to Democrat Bill Owens.
MAYORS:
—In Atlanta, six candidates were seeking to succeed term-limited Mayor Shirley Franklin, the city's first female mayor. The election was expected to lead to a December runoff. The top contenders include City Council President Lisa Borders, state Sen. Kasim Reed and City Councilwoman Mary Norwood, who was trying to become the city's first white mayor in a generation.
—Boston voters were expected to re-elect Democratic Mayor Thomas M. Menino to an unprecedented fifth consecutive four-year term.
—Detroit voters were putting the turmoil of the past year — the fall of ex-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and the federal conviction of a City Council member — behind them. Former NBA star Dave Bing, who is serving out the rest of Kilpatrick's term, was running for re-election.
—In Houston, four candidates were competing to succeed three-term Mayor Bill White. The candidates included city Controller Annise Parker, who would be the city's first openly gay mayor.
—New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, running against Democratic city Comptroller William Thompson Jr., was expected to spend more than $100 million of his fortune in a bid for a third term, the most expensive self-financed campaign in American history.
—Two political newcomers, cell phone executive Joe Mallahan and environmental activist Mike McGinn, were vying to become mayor of Seattle.
BALLOT MEASURES:
—The ski town of Breckenridge, Colo., was deciding whether to decriminalize marijuana possession for adults in a vote that supporters say could inch the whole state closer to full pot legalization.
—Maine voters had the opportunity to make Maine the first state to approve gay marriage at the ballot box. They were considering a referendum on whether to accept or reject a same-sex marriage law approved by legislators in May.
—Ohio voters were deciding whether to authorize casinos in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo, the latest in two decades' worth of efforts to bring nonlottery gambling to Ohio.
—In Washington, voters were deciding whether to keep a Legislature-approved "everything but marriage" domestic partnerships law, which grants registered partners the same legal rights as married couples.
