TYSONS CORNER, Va. (AP) - Democrat Terry McAuliffe has been elected Virginia's next governor, defeating Republican Ken Cuccinelli after pledging to expand the state's Medicaid rolls and portraying his rival as someone who would turn back years of progress.
Turnout for Tuesday's election was low, and both candidates worked through Election Day to reach as many potential voters as possible.
McAuliffe, who once led the Democratic National Committee and is a confidant of former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton, said he would expand Medicaid to provide health coverage for 400,000 people under the federal health care law. By contrast, Cuccinelli, the current attorney general, vehemently opposed the law and was the first to challenge it in court.
(See election results: http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/2013/results)
Virginia Lt. Gov.'s Race
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Democratic state Sen. Ralph Northam defeated Republican E.W. Jackson in a race sharply defined by social issues.
Northam beat Jackson on Tuesday following a campaign that centered on Northam's defense of abortion rights and Jackson's Christian-based anti-abortion platform. Jackson also opposes gay marriage, while Northam supports it.
Northam succeeds Republican Bill Bolling. A Democrat hasn't occupied the office since U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine was lieutenant governor in 2006.
The lieutenant governor presides over the state Senate and casts a ballot on tie votes.
MD Gubernatorial Candidates On Environment
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Democratic and Republican candidates for governor in Maryland are outlining some of their accomplishments and plans for a cleaner environment.
Five of the six declared candidates in the primary race spoke Tuesday at a forum co-sponsored by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and 1,000 Friends of Maryland.
Each candidate was allotted eight minutes to speak.
Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, who is seeking the Democratic nomination, had running mate Ken Ulman appear on his behalf, because Brown was out of town to visit his father in the hospital.
Republicans David Craig, who is the Harford County Executive, Charles Lollar and Del. Ron George all noted the importance the Chesapeake Bay would play in their administrations. Democratic Del. Heather Mizeur and Attorney General Doug Gansler also spoke about their records on environmental issues
