An exciting election resulted in a split decision at the national level -- while Republicans lost control of the House for the first time in eight years, they gained a net of two Senate seats, which will give them a leg up with future presidential appointments -- especially in the Judiciary.
At the state level, Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy identified six gubernatorial races last week to keep an eye on: Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
He based it on the fact that each of those states were instrumental in sending President Donald Trump to the White House -- albeit by a narrow margin.
Florida, having 29 electoral votes was the biggest prize, and former Republican Congressman Ron DeSantis took that one over Democrat Andrew Gillum, despite disappointing poll results throughout the campaign.
In Georgia, Republican Secretary of State Brian Kemp snatched 50.5 percent of the vote to Democrat Stacey Stacey Abrams’ 48.6 percent. As of this report, the race is considered too close to call and Abrams refuses to conceded the race. Whatever the result, Kemp needs to retain at least 50 percent to be declared a victor. Georgia has 16 electoral votes.
Iowa was another win -- and a squeaker -- with incumbent Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds picking up 50.4 percent of the vote to Democratic challenger Fred Hubbell’s 47.4. Like Florida’s DeSantis, Reynolds struggled in the polls but managed to win the only poll that counted -- the election. Trump took Iowa’s six electoral votes 51-48 in 2016.
Michigan was a disappointment for Republicans Tuesday night. Although Bill Schuette managed to win the votes in a majority of the counties, he wasn’t able to overcome Democrat Gretchen Whitmer’s command in the large population areas in and around Detroit, Flint, and Lansing. She took 53.2 percent to Schuette’s 44. In 2016, Trump won Michigan’s 16 electoral votes by a razor-thin 0.23 percent margin.
Ohio was another big win for Republicans and for Trump. Republican Mike DeWine captured 50.7 percent to to defeat Democrat Richard Cordray, who took 46.4. The president did a bit better in the Buckeye State when he picked up its 18 electoral votes 52-44.
Wisconsin was another disappointment of the evening for the GOP. Incumbent Republican Gov. Scott Walker lost his reelection bid to Tony Evers, 49.6 to 48.4. In addition to Evers, Walker fought off four third-party candidates in his attempt to win a third term. In 2016, Trump banked the Badger State's 10 electoral votes by a narrow 0.77 percent.
In addition to the six, Alaska, Kansas, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, and South Dakota could have gone either way, according to polling data. Of those, Republicans took two: Alaska and South Dakota.
In 2016, Trump won Alaska, Kansas, and South Dakota.
Overall, 36 states had gubernatorial races Tuesday. Of the 36, Democrats managed to gain seven seats.