Here’s what happened in the top 10 races we watched in November 2019, including races for state executive and legislative offices, municipal elections, and statewide ballot measures.
Governors:
- Kentucky: Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear (D) defeated Gov. Matt Bevin (R) and John Hicks (L) in Kentucky’s gubernatorial election. Beshear’s victory meant that Kentucky transitioned from a Republican state government trifecta to divided government.
- Louisiana: Incumbent Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) defeated businessman Eddie Rispone (R) in the general election for governor of Louisiana. Edwards’ win meant the state would remain under divided government. A win from Rispone would have made Louisiana a Republican trifecta.
- Mississippi: Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves (R) defeated state Attorney General Jim Hood (D), Bob Hickingbottom (Constitution), and David Singletary (I) in the election for governor of Mississippi. Incumbent Phil Bryant (R) was term-limited. Reeves’ win and Republican victories in the state House and Senate preserved the state’s Republican trifecta.
State legislatures:
- Virginia House of Delegates: Democrats gained control of the Virginia House of Delegates, winning a 55-45 majority. Heading into the election, Republicans held a 51-49 majority.
- Virginia State Senate: Democrats gained control of the Virginia State Senate, winning a 21-19 majority. Heading into the election, Republicans held a 20-19 majority with one vacancy in a seat previously held by a Republican. By winning both chambers of the legislature, Democrats gained a state government trifecta.
Municipal:
- Mayor of Houston: Incumbent Mayor Sylvester Turner and former Texas A&M Board of Regents member Tony Buzbee will participate in a December 14 runoff election for mayor of Houston, Texas after advancing from the general election.
- Seattle City Council: The city of Seattle, Washington, held nonpartisan general elections for seven city council districts on November 5, 2019. Four races were open, and three incumbents won re-election. The 2019 races saw a record-breaking $4.2 million in satellite spending through November 5.
Ballot measures:
- Colorado Proposition CC: Colorado Proposition CC, the Allow State to Retain Revenue for Transportation and Education Measure, was on the ballot in Colorado as a legislatively referred state statute. It was defeated. Colorado Proposition CC would have allowed the state to retain revenue it was, at the time of the election, required to refund under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR).
- Pennsylvania Marsy’s Law Amendment: The Pennsylvania Marsy’s Law Crime Victims Rights Amendment was on the ballot in Pennsylvania as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. This was a measure to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to guarantee victims of crimes 15 specific rights. A majority of electors voted to approve the ballot measure. However, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court enjoined Acting Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar from certifying election results, pending a court ruling on whether the amendment violated the state constitution’s requirement that separate amendments receive separate votes.
- Texas Proposition 4: Texas Proposition 4, the Prohibit State Income Tax on Individuals Amendment, was on the ballot in Texas as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. The measure was approved. Texas Proposition 4 was a measure to amend the Texas Constitution to prohibit the state from levying an income tax.