Democrats failed to take the governorship of the state of Florida, despite a concerted campaign against the incumbent, President George Bush's brother Jeb. The Republican easily defeated challenger Bill McBride despite allegations of his role in the botched vote count in the presidential elections in 2000, rumours of an extra-marital affair and his daughter's alleged drug abuse.

The daughter of Robert Kennedy lost her bid to become governor of Maryland in a contest with Republican Congressman Robert Erlich. She is the first Kennedy woman to hold elective office, and victory would have made her the first governor from the Kennedy clan.

The former Democrat vice-president was narrowly beaten in Minnnesota by Republican Norm Coleman. Vice-President Mondale agreed to run for the seat after Senator Paul Wellstone was killed in a plane crash.

The California governor fought off a challenge from Republican Bill Simon, who failed to capitalise on budget problems and popular irritation over the handling of the state's energy crisis.

Republican Saxby Chambliss defeated the incumbent Democrat senator, a disabled Vietnam War veteran whom he attacked on national security in a bitter campaign.

The Florida secretary of state who was at the centre of the vote-counting furore in November 2000 easily won a House seat in the Sarasota area.

Victory by Republican Jim Talent gave the party 50 seats and control of the Senate. The Democrat incumbent made history two years ago when she took up the seat of her husband Mel, who was killed in a plane crash weeks before the election.

Incumbent Republican Senator Wayne Allard held off the dynamic lobbyist and former lawyer in one of the closest races of the campaign and a replay of their 1996 contest.

The Republican former transport secretary and the wife of failed presidential candidate Bob Dole defeated former Clinton aide Erskine Bowles for a Senate seat in North Carolina.

A rare victory for Senate Democrats in Arkansas, where incumbent Republican Senator Hutchinson was defeated by Democrat Mark Pryor. Senator Hutchinson, a former Baptist minister, alienated conservatives in his party by divorcing his wife of 28 years to marry a much younger staff member.