Although many places in the United States did not need to hold elections this year, the few places that did produced interesting and decisive outcomes, some expected, some unexpected. Either way, these results offer a look at the feelings of Americans about our country right now. One that occurred close to Stone Ridge was the race for Governor of Virginia. Republican Bob McDonnell beat Democrat Creigh Deeds, which is not surprising because McDonnell had led for many weeks prior to the election. Also, it usually happens that the Governor of Virginia is of a different party than the president in office. For example, Democrat Tim Kaine, the Virginia Governor whose term is ending, was in office at the same time as Republican President George Bush. In the race for Governor of New Jersey, incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine ran against Republican Chris Christie and Independent Chris Daggett, along with several candidates from other parties. Christie won the election by a fairly large margin. This was a significant election because, due to a constitutional amendment made the first day of Corzine’s term, it will be the first time New Jersey has a lieutenant governor. In 2001 and 2004, the governor of New Jersey stepped down to assume a different position. This prompted the New Jersey government to decide how the secession of governors would take place, which led to the decision on a lieutenant governor. The amendment outlines the new transition of power should the governor not finish his term. The lieutenant governor, Christie’s running mate, is Kim Guadagno.
    Two races with surprising outcomes both occurred in the state of New York. In New York City’s mayoral election, incumbent Mayor Michael Bloomberg came surprisingly close to losing. Bloomberg, who switched from the Republican Party to the Independent Party but ran on both tickets, gained 50.6% of the votes, while his opponent, Democrat Bill Thompson, won 46%. This does not bode well for Bloomberg. In New York’s race for representative of the 23rd Congressional District, a third party took the lead in the weeks before the election. Republican candidate Dierdre Scozzafava took different stances on some issues than conservative candidate Doug Hoffman, and these differences allowed Hoffman into the competition between Scozzafava and Democratic candidate Bill Owens. Eventually, his lead became so great that, on October 31st, Scozzafava decided to drop out of the race. In the few days before the election began, it seemed as though Hoffman would win, which would have meant that a new party would be influencing the decisions of the nation in the House of Representatives. All were stunned when Owens won the seat, because of how far behind he had been only days before.

    President Barack Obama has been in office for almost a year; could the outcomes of these elections have reflected our nation’s feelings towards the president? Polls have shown that in both Virginia and New Jersey, people voted for the Republican candidate out of protest against Obama. However, the White House is not recognizing this as a sign of its defeat. Although some believe that the outcomes of the elections show that the initial power the Democratic Party held after Obama’s inauguration has diminished, his administration does not see it this way. Others have chosen to use the Democratic victory in New York’s 23rd Congressional District as proof that Obama’s popularity has not faded, that even though more and more people are vocalizing their anger for Obama, there are still many who believe that what he is doing is right.