A look at top races in the 50 states

[Ron Burgundy]

AP - A look at top races in the 50 states

By The Associated PressSat Nov 4, 11:34 AM ET

On Nov. 7, voters will choose a new Congress, governors in 36 states and decide whether to approve various ballot initiatives. Here is a state-by-state look:

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_Alabama: Republican Gov. Bob Riley sailing toward re-election.

_Alaska: Republican Sarah Palin ousted Gov. Frank Murkowski in a primary, now hoping to spoil comeback bid by former Democratic Gov. Tony Knowles.

_Arizona: Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano coasting to a second term. Republican Sen. Jon Kyl (news, bio, voting record) seeking third term with Democrats hoping Jim Pederson can spring an upset. Republicans expect to lose House seat vacated by retiring Rep. Jim Kolbe (news, bio, voting record), but hope Rep. J.D. Hayworth (news, bio, voting record) can weather a tough challenge. Voters decide whether to ban same-sex marriages.

_Arkansas: Democratic Attorney General Mike Beebe favored over Republican Asa Hutchinson in gubernatorial race, but GOP strategists pin their hopes on a last-minute visit by President Bush.

_California: Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger coasting to a new term, and Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein (news, bio, voting record) winning with ease. Democrats mount strong challenges to Reps. John Doolittle and Richard Pombo. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record) of San Francisco poised to become first woman speaker of the House in history if Democrats gain control.

_Colorado: Democrat Bill Ritter favored to defeat Rep. Bob Beauprez (news, bio, voting record) for governor as Bill Owens steps down after two Republican terms. Democrats heavily favored to pick up Beauprez' House seat and challenging Reps. Marilyn Musgrave in a tighter-than-expected race in nearby district. Voters decide on a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would ban same-sex marriage and a measure to raise the minimum wage.

_Connecticut: Republican Gov. Jodi Rell running strongly for a full term after gaining office when scandal-scarred John Rowland resigned. Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman, who lost a primary, now running strongly as an independent against anti-war Democrat Ned Lamont. Republican Reps. Chris Shays, Nancy Johnson and Rob Simmons all face strong Democratic challengers.

_Delaware: First-term Democratic Sen. Tom Carper coasting to a new term, as is Republican Rep. Mike Castle.

_Florida: Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson (news, bio, voting record) winning re-election with ease over Republican Rep. Katherine Harris (news, bio, voting record). Republican Charlie Crist in a tough race with Democratic Rep. Jim Davis (news, bio, voting record) to succeed outgoing Gov. Jeb Bush. Republican Rep. E. Clay Shaw (news, bio, voting record) struggling to fend off a challenge from Ron Klein, a state lawmaker. Republicans spending millions to hold Harris' House seat in the Sarasota area, as well as the district that former Rep. Mark Foley (news, bio, voting record) vacated in an Internet sex scandal.

_Georgia: Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue on way to easy re-election. Democratic Reps. Jim Marshall and John Barrow struggling for new terms in districts that were redrawn to make them more Republican.

_Hawaii: Democratic Sen. Daniel Akaka (news, bio, voting record)'s re-election assured. Ditto GOP Gov. Linda Lingle.

_Idaho: Rep. C.L. "Butch" Otter is favored to keep the governor's office in Republican hands. A fierce fight has broken out for his House seat between Bill Sali, a state lawmaker, and Democratic businessman Larry Grant. A proposed amendment to the state constitution would ban same-sex marriage.

_Illinois: Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich's lead has been shrinking in the pre-election polls against GOP state Treasurer Jody Baar Topinka. Democrat Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran who lost both legs, faces Republican state Sen. Peter Roskam for the seat long held by retiring GOP Rep. Henry Hyde (news, bio, voting record). Republican hopes of ousting first-term Rep. Melissa Bean fading.

_Indiana: Seven-term Republican Sen. Richard Lugar (news, bio, voting record) has no Democratic opponent. Republican Rep. John Hostettler (news, bio, voting record) appears headed for defeat, and fellow Republican Reps. Chris Chocola and Mike Sodrel are in tough races.

_Iowa: Chet Culver, Democratic secretary of state, vs. Republican Rep. Jim Nussle (news, bio, voting record) in close race for governor. Democrat Bruce Braley favored to win Nussle's House seat. Democratic Rep. Leonard Boswell (news, bio, voting record) likely weathering a tough challenge.

_Kansas: Democrat Gov. Kathleen Sebelius cruising to a second term. Republican Rep. Jim Ryun (news, bio, voting record) hopes late visit by President Bush will help him survive an unexpectedly tough challenge from Nancy Boyda.

_Kentucky: Democrats take aim at three House Republicans, Reps. Geoff Davis, Ron Lewis and — as the campaign nears an end — Anne Northup. Ironically, Lewis' first election in the summer of 1994 was a harbinger of the wave that swept Republicans into power six months later.

_Louisiana: Eight-term Rep. William Jefferson (news, bio, voting record), under investigation for bribery, appears headed for December runoff with fellow Democrat Karen Carter.

_Maine: Democratic Gov. John Baldacci likely winner for a second term despite early campaign jitters. Third term assured for Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe (news, bio, voting record).

_Maryland: Gov. Robert Ehrlich, first Republican elected in three decades, struggling to fend off re-election challenge from Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley. Rep. Ben Cardin favored for an open Senate seat against Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, hoping to become the Senate's only black Republican. Cardin's House seat going to John Sarbanes, the son of retiring Democratic Sen. Paul Sarbanes (news, bio, voting record). Rep. Steny Hoyer (news, bio, voting record) cruising to re-election and running for House Majority leader if Democrats take power.

_Massachusetts: Deval Patrick favored to become the state's first black governor and end 16 years of Republican control of the statehouse corner office. After 44 years in Senate, liberal Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (news, bio, voting record) will win six more.

_Michigan: Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm hampered by poor state economy in bid for second term against millionaire Republican Dick DeVos. Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow (news, bio, voting record) leading for new term despite late push by Republican Party for Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard.

_Minnesota: Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty in tight race for re-election, challenged by Democratic Attorney General Mike Hatch. Third-party candidate Peter Hutchinson a complicating factor. Democrat Amy Klobuchar cruising to victory over Rep. Mark Kennedy (news, bio, voting record) for Senate seat vacated by Democrat Mark Dayton. Competitive battle for Kennedy's House seat between Republican Michele Bachmann and Democrat Patty Wetterling. Tim Walz hopes Democratic tide carries him past GOP Rep. Gil Gutknecht (news, bio, voting record) in state's southern tier.

_Mississippi: Sen. Trent Lott (news, bio, voting record) cruising to a fourth term and likely bid for a return to Senate leadership.

_Missouri: Republican Sen. Jim Talent (news, bio, voting record) vs. Claire McCaskill, state auditor, in one of country's tightest Senate races. Voters decide whether to raise the state minimum wage and allow expanded embryonic stem-cell research, which Talent opposes and McCaskill favors.

_Montana: Third-term Republican Sen. Conrad Burns (news, bio, voting record) trying to shed taint from Jack Abramoff scandal and come from behind to defeat Democratic challenger Jon Tester.

_Nebraska: Republican Gov. Dave Heineman cruising to re-election. Same for Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson (news, bio, voting record). Republicans fear loss of House seat held by retiring Rep. Tom Osborne (news, bio, voting record), a district that last went Democratic nearly 50 years ago.

_Nevada: Republican Rep. Jim Gibbons appeared headed for easy win over state Sen. Dina Titus in governor's race until cocktail waitress accused him of assaulting her after a night of drinking. He denies any wrongdoing. Republican Sen. John Ensign (news, bio, voting record) favored for new term over Jack Carter, son of the former president. Race to replace Gibbons surprisingly competitive between Republican Dean Heller and Democrat Jill Derby. GOP Rep. Jon Porter (news, bio, voting record) in unexpectedly close race for new term against Tessa Hafen.

_New Hampshire: Democratic Gov. Jim Lynch rolling toward a new term. Not so Republican Rep. Charles Bass (news, bio, voting record), in big trouble in race with Democrat Paul Hodes.

_New Jersey: Republicans pour millions into attempt to elect state Sen. Tom Kean Jr., son of former governor. Appointed Sen. Bob Menendez slight favorite despite multiple attacks on his ethics.

_New Mexico: Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson coasting to re-election in advance of possible 2008 presidential bid. Democratic Sen. Jeff Bingaman (news, bio, voting record) winning with ease. Republican Rep. Heather Wilson (news, bio, voting record) in very tight race for new term against Patricia Madrid, the Democratic state attorney general.

_New York: Landslide likely won't begin to describe Democrat Eliot Spitzer's margin in governor's race. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton coasting to re-election in advance of possible presidential bid. Democrats favored to pick up seat of retiring Republican Rep. Sherwood Boelhert; also targeting Republican Reps. Tom Reynolds, Jim Walsh, Randy Kuhl and John Sweeney.

_North Carolina: Former NFL quarterback Heath Shuler gunning for Rep. Charles Taylor (news, bio, voting record) in western part of the state. Despite substantial party spending, Shuler refuses to say he'd support Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi for House speaker.

_North Dakota: Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad (news, bio, voting record) winning handily after conspicuous 2005 Republican recruiting failure.

_Ohio: Big time red to blue — Democratic Rep. Ted Strickland (news, bio, voting record) romping to gubernatorial win and Rep. Sherrod Brown (news, bio, voting record) strongly favored to topple Sen. Mike DeWine (news, bio, voting record). Democrats will win seat vacated by convicted former Rep. Bob Ney (news, bio, voting record); also running strong challenges against Reps. Deborah Pryce, Steve Chabot and Jean Schmidt.

_Oklahoma: Democratic Gov. Brad Henry favored to defeat Republican Rep. Ernest Istook (news, bio, voting record) for new term.

_Oregon: Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski struggling to hold off Republican Ron Saxton and win new term.

_Pennsylvania: Big Democratic night — Gov. Ed Rendell winning new term with ease; Democrat Bob Casey strongly favored to defeat Sen. Rick Santorum (news, bio, voting record), third-ranking member of the leadership. Republican Rep. Curt Weldon (news, bio, voting record) likely to lose after involvement in corruption investigation. GOP Rep. Don Sherwood (news, bio, voting record) struggling after admitting an extramarital affair with a young woman who says he choked her. Republican Reps. Jim Gerlach, Mike Fitzpatrick and Melissa Hart all scandal-free, but in tough races anyway.

_Rhode Island: GOP Gov. Donald Carcieri faces a strong challenge from Democratic Lt. Gov. Charles Fogarty. Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee (news, bio, voting record) facing likely defeat from Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse, former attorney general.

_South Carolina: Republican Gov. Mark Sanford coasting to new term. Voters decide on proposed state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.

_South Dakota: Republican Gov. Mike Rounds winning re-election with ease. Voters decide whether to impose strictest abortion ban in the country.

_Tennessee: Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen easing toward second term. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's retirement set up national marquee race. Rep. Harold Ford (news, bio, voting record) Jr., hoping to become the first southern black senator in more than a century, vs. former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker.

_Texas: GOP Gov. Rick Perry will win new term. Likewise Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (news, bio, voting record). National Republicans mount costly campaign to retain once-safe seat vacated by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

_Utah: Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch (news, bio, voting record) one of country's safest re-election bets.

_Vermont: Gov. James Douglas, a Republican, favored for third term. Rep. Bernard Sanders (news, bio, voting record), an independent, winning open Senate seat. Democrat Peter Welch favored to defeat Republican Martha Rainville for Sanders' spot in the House.

_Virginia: Republican Sen. George Allen (news, bio, voting record) hopes to stave off monumental collapse and secure second term in race with Democrat Jim Webb. GOP Rep. Thelma Drake in trouble, challenged by Democrat Phil Kellam. State constitutional ban on same-sex marriage on the ballot.

_Washington: Sen. Maria Cantwell (news, bio, voting record), first-term Democrat, strong favorite for new term. Republican Rep. Dave Reichert faces tough challenge from Democrat Darcy Burner in bid for second term.

_West Virginia: Just like clockwork: every six years Democratic Sen. Robert Byrd (news, bio, voting record) wins a new term.

_Wisconsin: Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle in a tight race with Republican challenger, Rep. Mark Green (news, bio, voting record), a Republican. Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl coasting to re-election. Competitive race to replace Green in the House between Democrat Steven Kagen and Republican John Gard.

_Wyoming: Democratic Gov. Dave Freudenthal on track for a second term. Republican Sen. Craig Thomas (news, bio, voting record) marching to a third. Rep. Barbara Cubin (news, bio, voting record) hoping to survive fallout from her abrasive confrontation with wheelchair-bound third-party challenger.