Still Waiting in Washington, Montana Gubernatorial Races

By Sarah Mimms  //  November 7, 2012 | 3:38 a.m.

Republicans picked up at least one gubernatorial seat on Tuesday night, giving the party control over 30 of the country's state executive offices -- a significant majority compared to those in either chamber of Congress.

Coming off of a win in North Carolina, where former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory won the seat currently held by Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue, Republicans still have a chance to win two additional gubernatorial seats, as the Washington and Montana races remain too close to call.

Just after 3 a.m., Montana's Democratic Attorney General Steve Bullock led former Republican Rep. Rick Hill, 50 percent to 46 percent, according to the Associated Press. The two are battling it out to replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer. Hill, meanwhile, was hobbled by an October court decision that stopped him from spending a contested $500,000 donation from the state Republican party, forcing him to pull advertising and cancel events in the contest's critical final weeks.

Over in Washington state, former Democratic Rep. Jay Inslee led Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna, 51 percent to 49 percent, with 51 percent of precincts reporting just after 3 a.m., according to the AP. McKenna and Inslee are fighting to replace Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire, who is retiring. McKenna, a moderate, represents perhaps his party's best chance of taking control of Washington's gubernatorial seat -- one they haven't held since 1984. As state Republican Party Chairman Kirby Wilbur put it earlier this evening, according to the Seattle Times, "If we can't elect Rob McKenna, maybe it is time to move to Texas."

Secretary of State Sam Reed told reporters that Washington state's all-mail election could go on as long as Friday, according to the Olympian. Democrats were largely playing defense this cycle, and held on to at least five of the seats they were defending -- in Delaware, Missouri, New Hampshire, Vermont and West Virginia. Republicans, meanwhile, maintained control of seats in Indiana, North Dakota and Utah, in addition to the North Carolina pick-up.

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