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Big Night For McCaskill, Nixon & Enyart

Frank Morris
/
KCUR

Claire McCaskill is heading back the U.S. Senate. The Democratic incumbent won re-election over Republican challenger Todd Akin in Tuesday night's election that saw Democrats win statewide eletions, but President Barack Obama fall short behind Mitt Romney.

It was a stunning turn of events for McCaskill, who at one time was deemed the most vulnerable Democratic Senator up for re-election.

At the McCaskill watch party in St. Louis, McCaskill called back to those early days of the campaign before Akin made his now-infamous ‘legitimate rape’ comment.

"There is no way Claire McCaskill can survive. Well you know what happened? You proved them wrong," McCaskill told her crowd of happy supporters. 

McCaskill picked up 54.7% of the vote, compared to Akin's 39.2%. Libertarian candidate Jonathon Dine gathered 6.1%. McCaskill told supporters that her landslide win does not mean she will only represent the interests of Democrats.

“I will continue to be a senator that works across the aisle in a bipartisan way to find the compromises, to solve problems for every Missouri family, not just the families of those that voted for me,” McCaskill said.

At Akin’s watch party in Chesterfield, supporters offered loud rounds of applause as Akin graciously began his concession speech.

"Things don't always turn out the way you think they're going to. I just called Claire McCaskill and gave her congratulations because the way the numbers are looking, we've lost this race," Akin said.

Statewide Races
It was a good night for Missouri incumbents.
 
Governor Jay Nixon (D), Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder (R), Attorney General Chris Koster (D) and Treasurer Clint Zweifel (D) all won re-election. Jo Ann Emerson (R) also won re-election to the U.S. House by 47 percentage points.

Nixon handily beat Republican challenger Dave Spence. 
 
Nixon, along with his wife Georgeanne and two sons, gave his victory speech to a crowd of hundreds ofsupporters and colleagues at the Pageant in St. Louis.

"Together we must unlock a new age of discovery and innovation. To meet the challenges of an increasingly complex world, where science, technology and education will be the pathways to seizing the future," Nixon said.

In his concession speech, Spence urged Missourians to keep up the fight.
 
"It's time for leadership to step in, just like I was willing to do, and fight the fight, and have the passion, and get Missouri proud again," Spence said.

The closest race in Missouri last night was for Secretary of State. Democrat Jason Kander narrowly edged out Republican Shane Schoeller by about 33,000 votes.
 
Kander will replace retiring Secretary of State Robin Carnahan.

Missouri House and Senate
Republicans won open seats in the Missouri Senate. Gary Romine, a Farmington Republican, beat Ste. Genevieve Democrat Joseph Fallet to win the Missouri Senate’s 3rd District.

In the 25th District, Poplar Bluff Republican Doug Libla beat Caruthersville Democrat Terry Swinger.

 
Southeast Missouri Republicans took all but one Missouri House seats.

Holly Rehder won over Bart Ziegenhorn in the 148th District.

Dennis Fowler emerged victorious over Ryan Holder in the 151st District.

Democratic incumbent Steve Hodges, from East Prairie, defeated challenger Neal Boyd in the 149th.
 
Kathy Swan will represent Cape Girardeau in the House. She is currently a City Council member, and she will take Wayne Wallingford’s place in the House. Wallingford ran unopposed for the Senate.

Swan says Tuesday's voter turnout was based on economic conditions.

“Small business owners particularly have had a difficult time, the middle class worker had difficult time,” Swan said. “I think we all really want the hope and change that was touted four years ago.”

Swan ran unopposed in the general election and the primary.

Republicans now hold 2/3 of the seats in the Missouri House.

Enyart Wins Illinois' 12th Congressional District
Major General Bill Enyart declared victory in Illinois’ 12 Congressional District. This is the southern Illinois district that was represented by Jerry Costello, who announced his retirement last year. Enyart’s victory means Democrats will continue their hold on that seat.
 
Enyart’s Republican opponent Jason Plummer says he will not concede until every vote is counted.

In a written statement, Enyart thanked Plummer and Green Party challenger Paula Bradshaw for a 'spirited campaign.'

“We have big challenges ahead of us, but Southern Illinois has been blessed with a talented workforce and natural resources to make our middle class strong for future generations. Together, we can create good jobs, strengthen our middle class, and protect the values we share that bind us together as Southern Illinoisans,” Enyart wrote.

Propositions and Amendments
Voters firmly rejected a proposed amendment to the Missouri constitution that would change the judge selection process.

Missouri voters approved a proposition to give St. Louis control of its police force, but narrowly voted down a proposition to increase the state’s tax on tobacco.

And Missourian voters agreed to Proposition E, which prohibits the creation of a health insurance exchange unless created by the legislature or an initiative.

With reporting from St. Louis Public Radio's Bill Raack and Tim Lloyd, and MDN's Alexander Mallin and Christine Roto.