WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Republicans had two more governorships on their side Wednesday after the GOP scored impressive victories in Mississippi and Kentucky.
Haley Barbour, a powerful Washington lobbyist and former chairman of the Republican National Committee, won in Mississippi, ousting Ronnie Musgrove, the only Democratic chief executive in a Deep South state. Barbour had 53 percent of the vote with 90 percent of the precincts counted, the Washington Post reported.
Ernie Fletcher won the Kentucky governor's race, ending 32 years of Democratic control in the Bluegrass State. Fletcher got 55 percent of the vote to defeat Attorney General A.B. "Ben" Chandler.
In a closely watched mayoral election in Philadelphia, Democratic incumbent John F. Street easily won reelection against Sam Katz, the Republican businessman he narrowly defeated four years ago. Mayor races in two other big cities, Houston and San Francisco, will be decided in runoff elections next month.
Maine voters rejected a $650 million casino resort sought by two Indian tribes.
