But the lack of big-money support for conservative Republicans is a trend also apparent in other elections across the US on Tuesday, as leading business groups favour party moderates or Democrats over those conservatives driving confrontation in Washington.





New York ends Bloomberg era, elects liberal de Blasio as mayor



"We need to make very serious progressive change and move away from Bloomberg-era policies and I'm ready to do it and I need the support of New Yorkers to get it done."



State Lawmaker Picked as New Mayor of Boston



In addition to his union support, Mr. Walsh benefited from the vocal endorsements of three prominent black and Latino candidates who were among those who lost in the preliminary election for mayor in September.



Byrne Wins Republican Runoff in Alabama House Race



It took a flood of campaign donations from the business community and the backing of a large part of the Republican establishment, but Bradley Byrne, a lawyer and former state senator, successfully fought off a Tea Party-supported rival on Tuesday to become the Republican candidate for a House special election here in coastal Alabama.



“Now listen, I know that if we can do this in Trenton New Jersey, maybe the folks in Washington, D.C. should tune in,” he said. “When we fight, we fight for those things that really matter in peoples’ lives.”"We need to make very serious progressive change and move away from Bloomberg-era policies and I'm ready to do it and I need the support of New Yorkers to get it done."In addition to his union support, Mr. Walsh benefited from the vocal endorsements of three prominent black and Latino candidates who were among those who lost in the preliminary election for mayor in September.It took a flood of campaign donations from the business community and the backing of a large part of the Republican establishment, but Bradley Byrne, a lawyer and former state senator, successfully fought off a Tea Party-supported rival on Tuesday to become the Republican candidate for a House special election here in coastal Alabama.

"Painful Lessons From a Bloody Battlefield"



Colorado pot tax & secession



Voters approved a 25% tax on newly legal recreational marijuana to fund school construction. Opponents argued the tax rate would benefit black market sales.

Voters approved a 25% tax on newly legal recreational marijuana to fund school construction. Opponents argued the tax rate would benefit black market sales.





Washington state rejects GMO labels



Washington state voters rejected 55% to 45% an initiative that would have required foods containing genetically engineered ingredients to be labeled.



OBAMA CAMPAIGN BUNDLER HELPING FUND LIBERTARIAN IN TIGHT VA. GUBERNATORIAL RACE



A major Democratic Party benefactor and Obama campaign bundler helped pay for professional petition circulators responsible for getting Virginia Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Robert C. Sarvis on the ballot — a move that could split conservative votes in a tight race.

Campaign finance records show the Libertarian Booster PAC has made the largest independent contribution to Sarvis’ campaign, helping to pay for professional petition circulators who collected signatures necessary to get Sarvis’ name on Tuesday’s statewide ballot. Voters in at least six of 11 affected rural Colorado counties voted down a proposal night to secede from the state. Results were still being tallied.Washington state voters rejected 55% to 45% an initiative that would have required foods containing genetically engineered ingredients to be labeled.

A clutch of disparate local elections on Tuesday were threatening to turn conventions on their heads across the US and force a revaluation of a Republican national strategy that has alienated big business.Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II performed poorly compared to his Republican counterpart in 2009 among nearly every group, including his base: white men and women and Republicans. He also failed to get the same level of support among independents, almost a third of the electorate, with the Libertarian candidate, Robert Sarvis, picking up 16 percent of respondents.