By
Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* While Donald Trump narrowly won North Carolina, Democrats nevertheless appear to have scored some notable victories in the Tar Heel State, winning the races for governor, lieutenant governor, state attorney general, and state superintendent of public instruction. Democrats have apparently even won enough legislative seats to break the Republicans’ veto-proof majority in the North Carolina General Assembly.
* In the nation’s most competitive gubernatorial race, former Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte prevailed over former Democratic Mayor Joyce Craig in New Hampshire, 53% to 45%, with nearly all of the precincts reporting.
* Voters in Delaware easily elected Democrat Sarah McBride to the state’s U.S. House seat, making her the first openly transgender person ever elected to Congress.
* On a related note, Delaware voters also easily elected Democrat Lisa Blunt Rochester to the U.S. Senate. With Democrat Angela Alsobrooks also winning her Senate race in Maryland, the chamber will now have two Black women serving simultaneously for the first time in American history.
* In New Jersey, Democratic Andy Kim will replace outgoing Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez in the U.S. Senate, becoming the Garden State’s first Asian American senator. Kim defeated Republican Curtis Bashaw, 53% to 45%.
* And I was curious to see whether Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar would win re-election in Texas, despite being under federal criminal indictment. As it turns out, the incumbent, who’s been charged with bribery and money laundering, prevailed by about five points.