DENVER — All eyes were on Barack Obama's historic win in Tuesday's presidential election , but a number of significant ballot initiatives and gubernatorial races took dramatic turns as well.
A pair of ballot initiatives that would have curtailed abortion were soundly defeated, while bans on gay marriage won or were headed for passage. And voters in 11 states chose governors -- with most incumbents winning reelection.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Friday, November 07, 2008 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 59 words Type of Material: Correction
Missouri election: An article in Wednesday's Section A on the results of ballot initiatives and gubernatorial races said that in Missouri, the GOP lost a governorship as Atty. Gen. Jay Nixon won the contest to succeed retiring GOP Gov. Roy Blunt. Roy Blunt is a Missouri congressman who retained his seat. The retiring governor is his son, Matt Blunt.
The most prominent initiative was a measure put on the ballot in South Dakota to outlaw most abortions in hope of triggering a Supreme Court showdown over the landmark 1973 case Roe vs. Wade. Measure 11 lost by a lopsided margin.
It was a revised version of a high-profile proposed abortion ban -- even in cases of rape and incest -- that South Dakota voters had rejected by a 10-point margin in 2006. Proponents hoped that they could secure passage this year by providing exceptions for rape and incest.
But opponents argued the exceptions were still too narrow -- abortions were only permissible if the woman identified her assailant and proved paternity through DNA testing, or if a doctor found the mother faced possible organ failure if the pregnancy came to term.
"South Dakotans have affirmed by their votes tonight that no vague law can account for every individual circumstance. And that is precisely why women and families, not the government, should make these personal healthcare decisions," said Sarah Stoesz, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota.
Proponents vowed to try again to outlaw abortion in the 2010 election. "We're coming back," said Leslee Unruh, an anti-abortion activist and prime proponent of the ban. "We're not going away. . . . Third time's the charm."
Another hot-button abortion initiative, Measure 48 in Colorado, was roundly defeated Tuesday night. The initiative would have defined a fertilized egg as a legal human being, which opponents and some proponents said could ban abortion and other activities such as in vitro fertilization and certain forms of birth control.
California's Proposition 8 overshadowed other gay marriage bans on the ballot in Florida and Arizona, where gay rights activists complained they were having difficulty raising money.
Prop. 8 appeared headed for victory, and in Florida a proposed amendment to the state constitution banning gay marriage was approved.
