Voters head to polls in Virginia, New Jersey and New York Tuesday Nov 05,2013

Voters in the US are heading to the polls on Tuesday Nov 05,2013 in the first major round of elections since President Barack Obama won a second term in 2012
In New Jersey and Virginia, voters will elect governors.
New York City will choose a successor to three-term Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a Republican-turned-independent.
The vote is seen as an early test of the Republican and Democratic Parties' strengths ahead of next year's critical congressional elections

In New York City, Democratic Mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio has taken a commanding lead in opinion polls over Republican Joe Lhota, a former senior official in the mayoral administrations of Mr Bloomberg and his predecessor Rudolph Giuliani.

In New Jersey, incumbent Republican Governor Chris Christie is expected to win re-election over  Democratic challenger, State Senator Barbara Buono

In the Virginia Governor race,President Barack Obama and Vice-President Joseph Biden have campaigned for Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe

Republican Ken Cuccinelli, the Virginia attorney general, has received support from conservative stars Republican Senator Marco Rubio and former Congressman Ron Paul

Virginia, long a Republican stronghold, has seen a demographic shift in recent years. Mr Obama, a Democrat, won the state in the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections.

Democrats Win New York City and Virginia polls

 

Democrats have won key elections in New York City and the state of Virginia, in the first major round of polls since President Obama's re-election in 2012

With almost all votes counted, Bill de Blasio will succeed Mayor Michael Bloomberg to become the first Democrat leading New York City since 1993.With 99% of votes counted in New York, Mr de Blasio secured 73% of the vote, convincingly defeating his Republican rival Joe Lhota, who polled 24%.
New York City Mayor
Joseph Lhota (Republican): 24% Bill de Blasio (Democrat): 73%


In Virginia, Terry McAuliffe beat Republican Ken Cuccinelli in a very close race for the governor's seat.
Virginia Governor
Ken Cuccinelli (Republican): 45% Terry McAuliffe (Democrat): 47%


Republican Chris Christie was easily re-elected governor of New Jersey
New Jersey Governor
Chris Christie (Republican): 60.5% Barbara Buono (Democrat): 38%