Big offices, party trends at stake today

What's at stake in today's elections:

GOVERNORS:

Voters in two states, New Jersey and Virginia, are electing governors.

_The New Jersey race has centered on the economy and the state's highest-in-the-nation taxes. Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine, the billionaire former Wall Street executive, is fighting to win a second term. His opponents are Republican Chris Christie, a former U.S. attorney, and an independent candidate, former state environmental official Chris Daggett.

_ In Virginia, where Democrats last year handed the GOP its first presidential defeat in 44 years, the GOP is trying to stage a comeback. Republican Bob McDonnell and Democrat R. Creigh Deeds, a state senator who narrowly lost the attorney general's race to McDonnell four years ago, are running to replace the term-limited Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine.

MAYORS:

Mayors are being elected in several major cities.

_ In Atlanta, six candidates are seeking to succeed term-limited Mayor Shirley Franklin in an election that is expected to lead to a December runoff. The top contenders include City Councilwoman Mary Norwood, who was trying to become the city's first white mayor in a generation.

_ In New York, billionaire Mayor Michael Bloomberg is expected to spend more than $100 million of his fortune in a bid for a third term, the most expensive self-financed campaign in American history.

_ In Houston, four candidates were competing to succeed three-term Mayor Bill White, including city Controller Annise Parker, who would be the city's first openly gay mayor if elected.

_ The mayors of Boston, Detroit and Pittsburgh are up for re-election.

U.S. HOUSE:

Two special elections, one in northern California and one in upstate New York, won't change the balance of power of the 435-member House, where Democrats hold 256 seats. Both seats were vacated when the incumbent took a job in the Obama administration.

_ A special election in New York's rural and strongly Republican 23rd Congressional District highlighted divisions in the GOP when some prominent Republicans, including former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, backed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman. The defections led the GOP candidate, Dierdre Scozzafava, to bow out and support Democrat Bill Owens.

_ Democratic Lt. Gov. John Garamendi faced off with Republican attorney Dave Harmer for a Northern California congressional seat.

BALLOT MEASURES:

_ Voters in Maine have the opportunity to make it the first state to approve gay marriage at the ballot box with a referendum on whether to accept or reject a same-sex marriage law approved by legislators in May.

_ In Washington, voters will be deciding whether to keep a Legislature-approved "everything but marriage" domestic partnerships law, which grants registered partners the same legal rights as married couples.

_ Ohio voters will decide whether to bring casinos to the state.