UNDATED (AP) — Virginia and New Jersey have elected Republican governors. Conservative Republican Bob McDonnell won big in Virginia over Democrat Creigh Deeds and moderate Republican Chris Christie trumped unpopular New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine. Some see it as a troubling sign for the president and his party heading into an important midterm election year.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A special election in New York that became a fight over the identity of the Republican Party has gone to the Democrat. Bill Owens has been elected to a House seat from the 23rd district, defeating Conservative Doug Hoffman in the heavily Republican district. Republican Dierdre Scozzafava (skoh-zuh-FAH'-vuh) abruptly withdrew Saturday and supported Owens.

UNDATED (AP) — A state law that would have allowed same-sex marriages in Maine is being wiped off the books in a referendum -- a heartbreaking defeat for the gay rights movement. But across the country, voters are narrowly approving Washington state's new "everything but marriage" domestic partnership law.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Gambling supporters have won approval for casinos in Ohio after four previous failures. Ohio residents have been hit hard by the economic downturn, with unemployment topping 10 percent. Voters approved casinos 53 percent to 47 percent.

NEW YORK (AP) — A key data service says U.S. retail sales figures are mostly rebounding from their dismal levels last year but are still below October 2007. SpendingPulse, a service of MasterCard Advisors, reports that categories including jewelry and apparel posted gains and discounting, which depresses total sales figures, wasn't as deep this October as last.