2010 Election Wrap: GOP Seizes Control of House, Dems Keep Senate

Wow, so quite a bloodbath last night. A red tide, shall we say.

It made new House Speaker John Boehner shed some tears (check, AFTER THE JUMP...)

Republicans picked up control of the House of Representatives, adding at least 60 seats as of this morning. They also picked up at least 6 seats in the Senate with three undecided, leaving the Democrats in control there.

In other races, lots of disappointment. Some tough losses.

DADT champion Rep. Patrick Murphy lost his seat in Pennsylvania. Senator Russ Feingold lost his Wisconsin seat. Alan Grayson lost his seat.

In Iowa, in what may turn out to be the most damaging news to LGBTs of the night, the religious right-wing successfully engaged enough with voters to oust three pro-equality judges from the state's Supreme Court — Chief Justice Marsha Ternus and justices David Baker and Michael Streit, as well as the state's pro-equality Governor Chet Culver.

In Hawaii, Democrat Neil Abercrombie won election as Governor.

Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank managed to hold on to his seat against the GOP's Sean Bielat, putting GOProud's anti-Dem cash to waste.

In LGBT news, the House now has four openly gay representatives, Frank, Tammy Baldwin, Jared Polis, who were all reelected, and now David Cicilline from Rhode Island, who won his bid last night.

In Kentucky, Teabagger Rand Paul won his senate election but the city of Lexington also elected an openly gay mayor, Jim Gray.

Martin O'Malley won reelection as Maryland's governor and Democrat Lincoln Chafee was elected governor of Rhode Island. Marriage equality hopes have risen significantly for Rhode Island.

In California's 45th, Mary Bono Mack was leading over gay challenger Steve Pougnet.

A few bright spots in California.

Jerry Brown beat Meg Whitman to be the state's next governor, and Barbara Boxer beat Carly Fiorina to retain her Senate seat.

In late returns, Democrat Kamala Harris had overtaken Republican Steve Cooley for the attorney general's race by a slim margin.

Some other good California news, from LGBT POV: "Most of the 'down-ticket' statewide races were also won by Democrats – at least as of 1:30am with 69% of the precincts reporting: San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom beat Abel Maldonado 49% to 40.6% after some back and forth; Debra Bowen handily won re-election as Secretary of State; John Chiang was re-elected as Controller; Bill Lockyer was re-elected as Treasurer; and in a particular triumph of talent over outside money, Assemblymember Dave Jones beat Mike Villines 49.5% to 38.8% for Insurance Commissioner after the insurance industry poured in millions to buy Villines the election. Tom Torlakson is the new Superintendent of Public Instruction...In other state races – the best news was the defeat of Protect Marriage attorney Andy Pugno by Richard Pan: with 100% of the precincts reporting for the Assembly District 5, Pan had 56,386 (49.1%) to Pugno’s 53,006 (46.1%). Also good news – openly gay Rich Gordon, Ricardo Lara and Toni Atkins joined Speaker John A. Perez, Mark Leno, Tom Ammiano, and Chris Keho in the California LGBT Caucus, the largest number of LGBTs in a state legislature in the nation."

Voters also rejected Proposition 19, the marijuana measure.

In New York, Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer retained their Senate seats. Andrew Cuomo was elected Governor over teabagger Carl Paladino, who hoisted a baseball bat at his concession speech.

Control of the NY State Senate was unsettled late into the night. Pro-equality Democrat Brian Foley was trailing his GOP challenger Lee Zeldin in late hours, but Frank Padavan of Queens, a Fight Back NY target, looked to be on his way out. More on the NY State Senate race here.

Teabagger Marco Rubio sent Democrat Kendrick Meek and Independent and 'fabulous' candidate Charlie Crist packing. What's next for Crist is anyone's guess. Come out of the closet, maybe?

Harry Reid, in one of the shockers of the night, pulled it out against Tea Party favorite Sharron Angle in Nevada.

In Alaska, Lisa Murkowski was ahead of Tea Party candidate Joe Miller in her write-in campaign early Wednesday.

David Vitter won reelection in Louisiana.

Teabagging anti-masturbation witch Christine O'Donnell went down early in Delaware, defeated by Chris Coons.

Deval Patrick was elected governor of Massachusetts.

Ike Skelton of Missouri was defeated by extreme homophobe Vicky Hartzler.

Governor John Lynch successfully overcame a campaign from NOM to retain his governorship in New Hampshire, however, the legislature may have been regained by the GOP.

Ricky Perry was reelected governor in Texas.

Thanks to everyone who joined our live blog last night. Though the news was largely frightening, we had a good time.

Watch Boehner shed some tears because he won't have time to tan or golf during the week anymore, AFTER THE JUMP...

Continue reading "2010 Election Wrap: GOP Seizes Control of House, Dems Keep Senate"

Late Night Election Results Open Thread

Thanks to everyone who joined our live blog tonight. A few key race results here. For those of you still up late night, feel free to use this as an open thread. I'll be back up in the morning (perhaps a little later start than usual).

Gay Politics: Election Results 2010

2010 Election Results — Key Called Races

UPDATE: My more complete wrap-up HERE.

I'll be posting key races and races of interest to LGBT people here. Not all currently called races are posted. Tune in to our live blog HERE.

Refresh this page for updates...

Republicans have gained control of the House of Representatives. Democrats have retained control of the Senate.

ARIZONA

John McCain (R) retains seat in Senate.

CALIFORNIA

Jerry Brown (D) defeats Meg Whitman (R) in governor race.

Barbara Boxer (D) defeats Carly Fiorina (R) in Senate race.

COLORADO

John Hickenlooper (D) defeats Tom Tancredo (R) in Governor's race.

DELAWARE

Chris Coons (D) defeats Christine O'Donnell — Senate

John Carney (D) defeats Glen Urquhart (R) — House (Dem pick-up)

FLORIDA

Marco Rubio (R) defeats Kendrick Meek (D) and Charlie Crist — Senate

Daniel Webster (R) defeats Alan Grayson (D) — House

ILLINOIS

Mark Kirk (R) defeats Alexi Giannoulias (D)to take Obama's old Senate seat in IL.

INDIANA

Dan Coats (R) defeats Brad Ellsworth (D) — Senate

IOWA

Terry Branstad (R) defeats Chet Culver (D) in Governor race.

Pro-Equality Iowa Supreme Court Judges Ternus, Baker and Streit look likely to be ousted, after a hideous right-wing campaign against them.

KENTUCKY

Rand Paul (R) defeats Jim Conway (D) — Senate

Openly gay candidate Jim Gray elected mayor of Lexington.

LOUISIANA

David Vitter (R) defeats Charlie Melancon (D) — Senate

MARYLAND

Martin O'Malley (D) wins Maryland governor race.

MASSACHUSETTS

Barney Frank (D) defeats Sean Bielat (R).

Deval Patrick (D) wins governor race.

MISSOURI

Ike Skelton (D) defeated by Vicky Hartzler in House race.

NEVADA

Harry Reid (D) defeats Sharron Angle (R) to retain Senate seat.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Governor John Lynch (D) defeats challenger John Stephen (R).

NEW YORK

Kirsten Gillibrand (D) defeats Joe DioGuardi (R) — Senate

Chuck Schumer defeats (D) Jay Townsend (R) — Senate

Andrew Cuomo (D) defeats Carl Paladino (R) — Governor

NORTH CAROLINA

Richard Burr (R) defeats Elaine Marshall (D) — Senate

Marcus Brandon, a Black gay candidate, wins election to the NC House.

NORTH DAKOTA

John Hoeven (R) defeats Tracy Potter (D) — Senate

OHIO

Rob Portman (R) defeats Lee Fisher (D) — Senate

PENNSYLVANIA

DADT champion Patrick Murphy (D) defeated by Michael Fitzpatrick (R) in House race.

Pay Toomey (R) defeats Joe Sestak (D) — Senate

RHODE ISLAND

Gay Providence mayor David Cicilline wins House race

TEXAS

Rick Perry (R) reelected as Governor.

WEST VIRGINIA

Joe Manchin (D) defeats John Raese (R) — Senate

WISCONSIN

Russ Feingold (D) defeated in Senate race.

Tammy Baldwin (D) reelected to House.

MUSIC NEWS: Mariah Carey, David Campbell, Lauren Pritchard, Adele, Amy Winehouse, Human Life, Lea Michele, Diplo, Imogen Heap, Men

MODERN TONIC

Modern Tonic — a free daily email delivering gay-approved pop culture gems before they get co-opted by everyone else — presents a weekly music update here on Towleroad.

FEATURED NEW RELEASES:
 
With Halloween over, another holiday season is fast upon us. Which kinda makes us dread the onslaught of hoary holiday chestnuts that have roasted too long on an open fire. To the rescue today: Mimi Claus — that’s Mariah Carey to you — who drops Merry Christmas II You, her second holiday album, and it’s every bit as colorful, curvaceous and inviting as her hip-hugging red-velvet Santa suit on the cover. She does the chestnuts proud — whether medley-ing "O Come All Ye Faithful / Hallelujah Chorus" into gospel soul or turning "Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) / Housetop Celebration" into a funk jam with a bass line that’s like Grandmaster Flash booty-whomping Rudolph into shape. But the standouts are the originals. "One Child," written with Marc Shaiman, is a quivering ballad with a children’s choir. And "Oh Santa!" (see the new video here) — a finger-snapping, new-fangled chestnut — is borderline crazy; when a dimly Celtic melody swoops into the stratosphere towards the close, we couldn’t tell if it was a pennywhistle or Mimi Claus herself.

The overture that opens Australian singer and stage performer David Campbell’s On Broadway is such a disarming throwback to the days when going to the theatah, dahling was for sophisticates in evening gowns and tuxedos. And we wouldn’t mind a bit of that glamour sprucing up the Broadway sidewalks. Campbell — the youngest performer to headline New York’s Rainbow & Stars room — has a strikingly pure high tenor that careens about the orchestrated arrangements like a bee to honey. From the soft-shoe shuffle of Chicago's "All I Care About" to Les Misérables’ "Bring Him Home," he's an unabashed old-school crooner who can make you a weak-kneed swooner. Better yet, he has the brash exuberance of the young Hugh Jackman; he even tackles Jackman’s Tony-winning turn as Peter Allen by covering "When I Get My Name in Lights" from The Boy from Oz. When aggressive electric guitars announce "Goodbye" — a good song from the forthcoming Catch Me If You Can — it’s as if a boorish houseguest made an inappropriate comment amidst well-heeled diners. But that’s a small blip on an otherwise pristine accomplishment.
 
We guess that titling her debut Wasted in Jackson (out digitally now; on CD next year) has fooled everyone into thinking U.K.-based, Tennessee-born Lauren Pritchard is a country artist. She may be country by birth, but she’s a soul singer by nature, reminiscent of Dusty Springfield and her modern forbears (Duffy springs to mind). Pritchard is down-to-earth where a lot of R&B divas reach for the stratosphere; a lyric on opener "Stuck" calls her boyfriend "sweet like dinner." When she confronts a bad relationship, she concludes it’s "Not the Drinking" ("not the drugs, not the money," etc.). And she’s not above some cheap, glorious vindication. When lovers accuse each other of f**king around and it’s time to pay up, Pritchard sings — with righteous conviction — "I hope it’s you" on the song of the same name. Pritchard is still young — 22 — but she doesn’t glorify her pain, doesn’t overstate her case and notices the world outside of her head. Maybe that makes her a country singer after all.

Towleroad November 2, 2010 by moderntonic.com

MUSIC NEWS:

Sign up for news on Kylie Minogue's North American Aphrodite Les Folies 2011 Tour.

Grammy winner Adele has announced the follow up to her debut album 19, titled 21. The album drops February 22 and the lead single, "Rolling in the Deep," is out November 15.

London's White Lies, who made waves with their 2009 album To Lose My Life, have announced a January 18 release date for their follow-up album Ritual. Lead single "Bigger Than Us" debuts November 22.

Stream Cee Lo Green's new album The Lady Killer (out November 9) in its entirety.

Michael Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson, will discuss her son's death November 8 on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Australia's The Temper Trap, known for their hit single "Sweet Disposition," had some top remixers (such as Rollo & Sister Bliss and Penguin Prison) re-work their 2009 debut Conditions. Conditions Remixed can be heard in fuil here.

Was Amy Winehouse's first recorded vocal (listen here) in several years worth the wait? From Quincy Jones's Q: Soul Bossa Nova (out November 9), her cover of the 1963 classic "It's My Party" marks a reunion with Back in Black co-producer Mark Ronson.

The track listing for Nicki Minaj's debut album Pink Friday (out November 22) was released and, befitting for the artist who garnered attention guesting on other artists' tracks, Minaj has a slew of A-listers lending vocals on hers: Eminem, Drake, Rihanna, will.i.am. Kanye West and Natasha Bedingfield.

Duffy performs title track from her forthcoming album on The Tonight Show yesterday.

Last week we mentioned that Robert Smith, iconic front man for The Cure, put his vocals to "Not In Love," the new single from Crystal Castles. We got ahold of the track and are passing it along as a free download (in player above) for our readers. Hope you like it as much as we do.


MORE NEW RELEASES:
 
L.A. nu-dance trip Human Life explore the big, bouncy world of Italodisco on Wherever We Are, an extended play featuring two Goldfrapp-ian jams — the title tune (free download of Nightriders remix above) and the molto bene "Italo Crimewave" — and remixes galore.

The hills are still alive as The Sound of Music arrives on Blu-ray today. Extra bonus: On the Limited Collector’s Edition and the 45th Anniversary Edition Soundtrack, Glee’s Lea Michele gets gleeful on her version of "My Favorite Things" (stream above).

U.K. dance movement "dubstep" is still an underground concept here in the States, but Diplo is here to educate your ass (and ears) with Blow Your Head: Diplo Presents Dubstep.

Former Frou Frou frontwoman Imogen Heap releases Everything In-Between: The Story of Ellipse, a DVD docu-journey about the writing and recording of her Grammy-winning album Ellipse.

Also out today: Natalia Kills — Mirrors Remix EP, N.E.R.D. — Nothing; Various Artists — Music from and Inspired By the Original Motion Picture “For Colored Girls;” Huey Lewis and the News — Soulsville; Pet Shop Boys — Ultimate (import); Elvis Costello — National Ransom; Brian Eno — Small Craft on a Milk Sea; Black Dub — Black Dub

MUSIC VIDEOS:

MEN — "Off Our Backs"
Le Tigre’s JD Samson offers a playful synth chant and an even livelier clip — men and women in a tug of war that’s as sexual as it is metaphoric. Regardless of which side falls first, they’ll all be a sexy pileup of their own choosing. Free download of the Lemonade Remix in player above.

Nervo feat. Ollie James — "Irresistible"
Done in the style of cut-and-paste, this digital animation has precisely etched depth-of-field shadow, light sources that are visible, and a song — by Australian twins Nervo and their helpmate James — that’s an equal companion to Kelly Rowland’s "When Love Takes Over."

Starshell — "Superlova"
The first female artist signed to Mary J. Blige’s Matriarch label, Starshell’s tune sounds more like Minogue than Mama Blige, with an 80’s sci-fi homage to match.

Alexandra Burke — "The Silence"
This video from the U.K. season 5’s X-Factor winner is a black-and-white diva fashion shoot. Only thing better than the girl’s robust pipes? Those clothes, meow!

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #769

GIANTS WIN: San Francisco riots.

AFRICA: A planned highway would divide, and likely destroy Tanzania's Serengeti National Park.

THEODORE SORENSEN: The NYT looks at President John F. Kennedy's political strategist, confidant and his favorite speechwriter.

PRINCE POPPYCOCK: The Halloween interview.

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.