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Democrats keep two governorships

Californians reject Schwarzenegger initiatives

Tim Kaine, a Democrat, celebrates his election as Virginia governor at a Richmond party.

Gallery: Scenes from Election Day

• Schwarzenegger suffers defeat

• TIME.com: How the Dems won Virginia

• Bush campaigns in Virginia

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(CNN) -- Democrats scored big in Tuesday's off-year elections, keeping their grip on the governorships of Virginia and New Jersey, while Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's ballot proposals were soundly rejected in California.

However, New York's Republican mayor, Michael Bloomberg, easily secured a second term in the Democratic-dominated Big Apple.

Also Tuesday, two states voted on gay rights ballot measures, to mixed results. In Texas, a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage was overwhelmingly approved. But in Maine, a measure that would have repealed a state law outlawing discrimination against gays and lesbians was defeated.

In Virginia, Democratic Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine won the governor's race, defeating Republican Jerry Kilgore, a former state attorney general, despite a late-minute appearance on Kilgore's behalf Monday by President Bush. (Watch Democrats revel in their governorship wins -- 1:39)

"We did it," Kaine told supporters at a rally in Richmond. "Tonight, the people of Virginia have sent a message loud and clear that they like the path that we chose, and they want to keep Virginia moving forward."

Though Virginia leans Republican, Kaine appeared to benefit from the popularity of Democratic Gov. Mark Warner, a possible 2008 presidential candidate. State law didn't allow Warner to seek re-election to another term.

In New Jersey, Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine defeated Republican businessman Douglas Forrester for the governorship, culminating a nasty, personal contest that was the most expensive race in Garden State history, costing more than $70 million.

"It's a Democratic victory tonight," Corzine said in his victory speech to cheering supporters in East Brunswick. "I want to thank the people of New Jersey for rejecting the Bush-Rove tactics that we see in politics."

Corzine was referring to Karl Rove, the president's top political adviser.

Corzine's win also will create a vacancy in the Senate, which he will be able to fill himself once he becomes governor. The new senator will have to run for re-election next year.

Though New Jersey is solidly Democratic, the party had been damaged by a messy scandal last year when former Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned after admitting to an extramarital affair with a male aide and acknowledging he was gay.

Forrester tried to tie Corzine to the Democrats' problems in Trenton, while the senator tried to link his GOP opponent to Bush, who lost New Jersey by nearly 250,000 votes last year.

Bad news for Schwarzenegger

Schwarzenegger -- who was swept into office two years ago in a recall election that ousted Democratic Gov. Gray Davis -- called a special election in June to push his initiatives, making good on his vow to go over the heads of Democratic legislators and take his agenda straight to the people.

But in the months since, the bodybuilder-turned-actor-turned-politician has seen his approval numbers sink as Californians questioned the necessity and $50 million price tag of the special election.

Schwarzenegger had insisted his four initiatives were necessary to reform state government. The statewide special election also was seen as a political gamble with implications for Schwarzenegger's re-election bid next year.

Voters on Tuesday didn't buy Schwarzenegger's proposals. (Full Story)

With more 95 percent of precincts reporting, all four of the governor's ballot measures were losing: capping spending, removing legislators' redistricting powers, making teachers work five years instead of two before acquiring permanent status and prohibiting public employee unions from using dues for political activities without the permission of their members.

Schwarzenegger was undeterred late Tuesday, pledging to fight on no matter what the election results.

"Whether we win, lose or draw, whatever the outcome is, there is one thing we will do: We are going to continue to make California a better place for our citizens here and for our people of this great, great state," he said.

Many political observers in the Golden State had said a string of defeats in Tuesday's ballot initiatives could portend ill for Schwarzenegger's re-election prospects in 2006. He announced in September that he would seek a full term next year.

California voters on Tuesday also rejected an initiative that would have required minors to notify their parents when they sought an abortion, according to The Associated Press.

Bloomberg wins easily

In New York City, where Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than 5-to-1, Bloomberg easily defeated his Democratic opponent, Fernando Ferrer, a former Bronx borough president who was never able to gain any traction against the popular incumbent.

"Tonight we celebrate. Tomorrow, we go back to work," Bloomberg said at his election night rally. "I can't wait. I have the greatest job in the world."

Bloomberg, a billionaire media mogul, was a political novice when he was elected two months after the 9/11 attacks, with the support of then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani. As he did four years ago, Bloomberg dipped into his vast personal fortune to finance his campaign.

"Four years ago, you took a chance on me, and I want you to know I have worked every single day since then to prove that you made the right choice," he said.

Other races

In Ohio, voters rejected a measure to shift redistricting to a nonpartisan commission, part of a package of election-related initiatives put on the ballot after complaints about the 2004 election in the Buckeye State.

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick -- dubbed the "hip-hop" mayor after his election four years ago when he was 31 -- was re-elected despite a first term dogged by a series of missteps. The AP reported that Kilpatrick defeated challenger Freman Hendrix, a former deputy mayor, by a margin of 53 percent to 47 percent.

In the San Diego mayor's race, Republican Jerry Sanders, a former police chief, defeated surf shop owner Donna Frye, a Democratic city councilwoman who was denied the office last year after a court battle over a disputed election. Sanders will be San Diego's fourth mayor in the past year amid a wave of political turmoil that has swept the nation's seventh-largest city.

CNN's Candy Crowley, Chris Huntington, Kimberly Osias, Bill Schneider and Robert Yoon contributed to this report.