The G.O.P.'s Silver Lining

Republicans close a huge gap in the Governors' races

The victory was impressive. The winning party picked up eight seats across the nation, making historic breakthroughs in the South that seemed to suggest a continuing realignment of regional political loyalties. This was not the smashing Democratic coup in Senate races; it was the Republicans' success in slashing the Democrats' domination of the nation's gubernatorial mansions from a count of 34 to 16 to just 26 to 24. In an otherwise cloudy Election Day for the G.O.P., Republican strategists justifiably flaunted this silver lining.

Republicans will now govern the Sunbelt's three largest states: California, Texas and Florida. For the first time...

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