Republican Mitch Daniels, a former Bush Office of Management and Budget director, ended the Democrat's 16-year lock on the Indiana governor's office.

In Utah, Jon Huntsman, Jr., defeated Democrat Scott Matheson, Jr, in the Utah governor's race. Huntsman was a diplomat and trade negotiator in the Bush administration.

There were still close races in Missouri, New Hampshire and Washington state late Tuesday night, but the other six races appeared to be decided by the voters.

Democrat Brian Schweitzer won the Montana governorship, succeeding Republican Gov. Judy Martz. In North Dakota, Republican Gov. John Hoeven won a second term.

In the South, Democratic Secretary of State Joe Manchin will succeed Democrat Gov. Bob Wise in West Virginia, and in North Carolina Democrat Gov. Mike Easily was re-elected.

In the northeast, two Republican governors were also re-elected, Ruth Ann Minner in Delaware and Jim Douglas in Vermont.

Copyright 2004 by United Press International