US voters re-elected a Bush but rejected a Kennedy yesterday as 36 states picked governors, with incumbents going down to defeat in South Carolina, Georgiaand Wisconsin.
Democrats retained control of California, the most populous state and made inroads in the industrial North.
Going into the election, Republicans held 27 offices compared with 21 for the Democrats, with independents in Maineand Minnesota. Nine gubernatorial races involved women. Women have never held more than five governorships at one time.
The elections left the two parties with almost an even split of the 50 governorships. The Republicans controlled 25 statehouses, with the Democrats controlling 24 and leading in Oregon.
Republicans scored a big win in Floridawhere President George Bush's brother Mr Jeb Bush was easily re-elected to a second term over political newcomer Mr Bill McBride. In Maryland, a traditional Democratic stronghold, Democrat Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, daughter of the late Sen Robert Kennedy, lost to Republican Rep Robert Ehrlich.
Republicans also shook up the once solidly Democratic Old South. In South Carolina, Democratic Govenor Jim Hodges lost to Republican Mark Sanford. In Georgia, Mr Sonny Perdue, a former state senator, shocked Governor Roy Barnes, becoming the state's first Republican governor since 1872.
In Hawaii, Republican Ms Linda Lingle defeated Democratic opponent Ms Mazie Hirono to become the state's first female governor and the first Republican to hold the post in more than 40 years.
Republicans also maintained their grip on two of the biggest states - New Yorkand Texas- where incumbents Mr George Pataki and Mr Rick Perry, respectively, were returned to office.
But in California, the most populous state, Democrat Gray Davis was re-elected over Republican businessman Mr Bill Simon after a seesaw race.
Democrats swept to victory in three big industrial states, taking open seats back from Republicans in Pennsylvania, Michiganand Illinoisand ousting the incumbent governor in Wisconsin.
In Pennsylvania, Democrat Ed Rendell, a former mayor of Philadelphia, took an open seat previously held by a Republican, beating Mr Mike Fisher, the state's attorney general.
Democrats ended nearly 30 years of Republican control in Illinoiswhere voters chose three-term Rep. Rod Blagojevich over Mr Jim Ryan, the state's Republican attorney general. The Republican cause was damaged by a bribery scandal linked to incumbent Republican Governor George Ryan.
In Minnesota, Republican Norm Coleman faced Democrat Mr Walter Mondale (74) a former vice president, senator and presidential nominee who stepped into the race last week to replace Sen Paul Wellstone, who died in a plane crash just days earlier.
Republicans Mr Lamar Alexander in Tennessee, Ms Lindsey Graham in South Carolinaand Mr John Sununu in New Hampshirealso held Republican seats.
House incumbents who lost included Republican Rep Connie Morella in Marylandand Democratic Rep Karen Thurman of Florida. Democrats Mr James Maloney in Connecticutand Mr David Phelps in Illinoislost match-ups against incumbents caused by redistricting.
The Senate race in Louisianais heading for a run-off, as Democratic incumbent Ms Mary Landrieu did not gain the 50 per cent of the vote needed to force a December 7th run-off between the state's two top vote-getters.
Republican Mrs Elizabeth Dole, a two-time Cabinet member and wife of former Republican presidential candidate Mr Bob Dole, won a key victory in North Carolinaagainst Democrat Erskine Bowles, former White House chief of staff, for the Republican seat of retiring legend Sen Jesse Helms.
While most of the focus in the US midterm election was on the contest over which party controls Congress, the races for governor in 36 of the 50 states could be significant for the 2004 presidential election because governors can help White House candidates organize in the states.