Republicans Win Key Governor Votes in US Elections

Republicans have scored victories in two key US elections for governor, a year after Barack Obama was voted in as president.

In Virginia, Republican candidate Bob McDonnell won by a comfortable margin, while another, Chris Christie, ousted the Democrat governor in New Jersey, the BBC reported.

In New York, independent Mayor Michael Bloomberg narrowly won a third term over Democrat challenger Bill Thompson.

Congressional seats are also up for grabs in New York and California.

While local issues have been paramount in these races, analysts say a win could boost party morale ahead of 2010 mid-term ballots.

Meanwhile in Maine, voters in a referendum rejected a same-sex marriage law passed by state lawmakers earlier this year.

The law was put on hold when conservatives launched a petition to repeal it in a referendum.