Election 2008: What’s At Stake?

Here’s a run-down of the races we were watching. In some, the immigration issue played a role—or failed to; in others, immigrant voters’ voices were heard. More details to come later on some of the major stories. (All results from NYTimes.com, unless linked elsewhere.)

• Texas 22: Republican Pete Olson beat Democratic incumbent Rep. Nick Lampson, 52% to 45%. Which way did South Asians swing?
• Pennsylvania 11: Democratic incumbent Rep. Paul Kanjorski beat Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta, 52% to 48% despite polls showing Barletta with a lead throughout the fall. Is immigration no longer an issue for economically struggling Pennsylvanians?
• Pennsylvania 10: Democrat Chris Carney beat Republican Chris Hackett, who was expected to benefit from Lou Barletta’s popularity. In the end, the race wasn’t even close—56% to 44%.
• Florida 21: Republican Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart won handily 58% to 42%, despite predictions that a new generation of Latinos would turn out for his opponent, Democrat Raul Martinez.
• Florida 25: Lincoln’s little brother Mario Diaz-Balart beat Democrat Joe Garcia, 53% to 47%.
• Virginia 11: Gerry Connolly (D) beat Keith Fimian (R) 53% to 45% in this D.C. suburb. How did Asian and Latino immigrants vote?
• North Carolina Senate: Once comfortable Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R) got crushed 52% to 44% by Democrat Kay Hagan. This state has attracted large numbers of immigrants since the last election, and it went narrowly to Obama in the presidential race.
• Arizona State Senate, District 18: State. Rep. Russell Pearce (R), beat Judah Nativio (D) in this mostly Republican senate district. Pearce, the hardest of immigration hardliners, is positioned to become the next Tom Tancredo.
• Arizona Proposition 202 failed, 41% to 59%. This initiative, which would have prohibited anonymous complaints against businesses that employed illegal immigrants, was deemed a trick by anti-immigration activists.
• Oregon Ballot Measure 58, to limit ESL classes, failed 45% to 55%.
• Missouri Constitutional Amendment 1, to make English the official language, passed overwhelmingly, 86% to 14%.