An Election Night Guide

David Weigel | November 4, 2008

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Local races: Republicans have a shot at taking the Washington governor’s office for the first time in a generation in a rematch between Democratic incumbent Christine Gregoire and Republican Dino Rossi (who is trying to mitigate anger at his party by appearing on the ballot a “GOP”). Democrats are attacking Idaho-01 (the northwest of the state, Butch Otter’s old district), the Seattle burbs of Washington-04, and California-04, a rural district that opened up when disgraced Rep. John Doolittle retired. Libertarian-leaning Republican Tom McClintock is making what could be his final bid for major office here, and he’s been buffeted by attacks on his residency on the other side of the state.

Down the ballot: California’s the state to watch. Proposition Five would reduce marijuana possession from a misdemeanor to an infraction. Proposition Eight would rewrite the Constitution to eliminate gay marriage. A San Francisco measure would decriminalize prostitution. Washington voters will decide on I-895, a measure to build more HOV lanes and concentrate on reducing congestion.

1:00AM: Alaska

Horse race: I’m going to hazard a guess that McCain will win.

Local races: Two of the worst Republicans in Washington, Sen. Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young, will probably go down to defeat. But the totals for Alaska Independence Party Senate candidate Bob Bird will be worth watching.