On November 7, 2023, Election Day took place in at least 37 states across the United States, covering a range of positions from governorships to local referenda. The election results favored Democrats and their allies, with several key victories. According to ABC News projections, Democratic Governor Andy Beshear was reelected in Kentucky, and Ohio voters passed Issue 1, which codifies abortion rights in the state constitution. The Associated Press (AP) also projected that Democrats secured victories in both chambers of the Virginia legislature and an open seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. However, Republicans had their own success, with ABC News projecting that Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves defeated a strong challenge from Democrat Brandon Presley.
In Ohio, with 92% of the ballots counted, the "yes" votes for the abortion access ballot measure led "no" votes by a significant margin, indicating strong support for enshrining abortion rights in the state's Constitution. In Kentucky, Governor Andy Beshear maintained a lead of about 66,000 votes over Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron, with 91% of the votes counted, securing his reelection.
In Virginia, Democrats took control of the House of Delegates and retained their majority in the state Senate, reported by The Associated Press. This outcome was a setback for Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, who had hoped to flip the state Senate away from Democrats. The Democratic majority in the legislature will limit Youngkin's ability to implement his conservative agenda.
In Mississippi, CBS News projected that Governor Tate Reeves won reelection, marking a victory for Republicans.
These
election results had significant implications, with Democrats celebrating key
wins, including the codification of abortion rights in Ohio and the re-election
of Governor Beshear in Kentucky, while Republicans secured success in
Mississippi. The outcomes in Virginia also had implications for the balance of
power in the state legislature, impacting Governor Youngkin's ability to
advance his policy agenda.
