Edition: U.S. / Global

Thursday, November 6, 2014

U.S.

Governor Jerry Brown in his office in Sacramento, Calif., on Wednesday.
Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press

Governor Jerry Brown in his office in Sacramento, Calif., on Wednesday.

Now, 40 years after he was first elected governor, the question will be what Jerry Brown, 76, intends to do with his power.

As Power Shifts in Washington, Some See Chance for Tax and Fiscal Deals

Tax reform, international trade and budget policy may offer common ground for Democrats and Republicans in President Obama’s final two years in office.

President Obama’s tone was upbeat despite election losses.
Doug Mills/The New York Times

President Obama’s tone was upbeat despite election losses.

After Election, Obama Vows to Work With, and Without, Congress

President Obama shook off an electoral drubbing and said he was eager to find common ground, but he also vowed to bypass Congress to change the immigration system.

Obama to Seek Congressional Backing for Military Campaign Against ISIS

The president opened the door to a lengthy, potentially contentious debate over the nature and extent of American engagement in Iraq and Syria.

Newly Empowered, Mitch McConnell Promises an End to ‘Gridlock’

After winning full control of Congress, Republicans plan to move quickly to show they can legislate, aware that they risk a backlash if they fail to deliver.

G.O.P. Leader’s New Role Could Take Strained White House Ties to Next Level

As the Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell has been a constant foil to the president’s agenda. Now he’s expected to be the majority leader. Can two political combatants function together without driving each other crazy?

Next Steps for Victorious Republicans

Congressional Republicans are likely to go for smaller, bipartisan measures before working on bigger goals like cutting taxes.

Maps of precinct-level results from some of the closest Senate races.

Mapping the Midterms

Full State-by-State Results

Contests that were expected to be close were not, and races expected to go Democratic broke narrowly for the Republicans.

In States Seen to Be Tilting Left, Voters Defy Democrats’ Forecast

A powerful lesson for both parties emerged Tuesday: Demographic shifts that are gradually reshaping the American electorate cannot overcome a difficult political environment and a weak message.

Outside Groups With Deep Pockets Lift G.O.P.

The election was a pivotal moment for the “super PACs” and political nonprofit groups that helped the party defeat Democrats across the country.

Wyatt Clark, 13, held an injured pheasant while family members released the birds they had raised as part of a Utah Division of Wildlife Resources program to promote hunting.
Kim Raff for The New York Times

Wyatt Clark, 13, held an injured pheasant while family members released the birds they had raised as part of a Utah Division of Wildlife Resources program to promote hunting.

Families, wildlife groups and others are raising day-old chicks that they will release into the wild as part of a Utah program to promote hunting.

Kuwaiti Released From Guantánamo Under New Review System

Fawzi al Odah is only the second low-level prisoner to be released this year, and is the first transfer under a new system of parole-board-like hearings to periodically review cases.

Soviet-Era Engine Is Blamed for Antares Rocket Explosion

The Orbital Sciences Corporation said that a preliminary analysis pointed to a failure of a turbopump for the Oct. 28 fireball in Virginia.

Fossil’s Unusual Size and Location Offer Clues in Evolution of Mammals

The skull fossil is from a newly discovered extinct species, Vintana, similar to groundhogs, that lived in the time of the dinosaurs, and is only the third mammal fossil found in the Southern Hemisphere.

Justices Consider Whether Tossing Out Fish Destroyed Records

Some appeared critical of the decision to prosecute John L. Yates, who faced a maximum of 20 years in prison for throwing back three undersize red grouper.

Obama Requests $6 Billion for Ebola

A White House official said most of the emergency funding would be for immediate response efforts.

Chief Quits as Mississippi Prisons Face Inquiry

Christopher Epps, the longtime commissioner of Mississippi’s Department of Corrections, resigned amid a federal investigation of conditions at state prisons.

Split Decision by Voters on Local Fracking Bans

The oil industry and fracking opponents split eight races, three in California, four in Ohio and one in Texas.

More Politics News
Mia Love will represent a suburban Salt Lake City district in the House.
Rick Bowmer/Associated Press

Mia Love will represent a suburban Salt Lake City district in the House.

Rising Stars in the Republican Party

The midterm election results that rolled in on Tuesday night were unremitting good news for Republicans.

Swamped in a Red Surge, Southern Democrats Contemplate Their Rebuilding Plans

After decades of decline from once-total control of the South, Democrats already had little left to lose before the election.

The Upshot

The Democrats’ Southern Problem Reaches a New Depth

The national Democratic party has been out of favor in the South for decades, and now the party has become a toxic brand for local politicians.

Texas Democrats Ponder How They Will Ever Win

After Wendy Davis’s lopsided defeat in the governor’s race, analysts agreed that the problems went beyond her campaign.

Business Leaders Cautiously Expect G.O.P. Win to Open Some Doors

Issues expected to get a new look include a corporate tax overhaul, environmental and financial regulation, trade deals and the Keystone oil pipeline.

Abortion-Rights Advocates Preparing for a New Surge of Federal and State Attacks

Republican gains are likely to add to state abortion restrictions, from two-day waiting periods to bans at 20 weeks after conception to costly building requirements.

Election Day Entailed Casting Votes for Soda Taxes and Food Issues Too

Food and biotech companies spent $60 million battling proposals dealing with what Americans can and cannot eat and drink.

G.O.P.’s Inroads With Latinos Hint at a Path for 2016

Latinos voted two to one for Democratic candidates in the midterm elections, but Republican gains in key races showed a possible tactic for cutting that lead in 2016.

With Statehouse Victories, Republicans Are Poised to Enact Changes

With the states acting as laboratories for legislation that cannot advance in Washington, Republican policy changes are likely on a variety of issues.

Women in Both Parties Are Disappointed by Their Modest Election Gains

While Republican women fared somewhat better than Democratic women, 2014 was hardly the year of the woman.

As Other Democrats Fall, Colorado Governor Goes From Angst to Relief

Gov. John W. Hickenlooper’s narrow victory over Bob Beauprez defied a wave of Republican victories in races for governor in usual Democratic strongholds like Maryland, Massachusetts and Illinois.

Texas Democrats Ponder How They Will Ever Win

After Wendy Davis’s lopsided defeat in the governor’s race, analysts agreed that the problems went beyond her campaign.

The Upshot

Turnout, a Scapegoat, Wasn’t Always the Difference This Time

Many Democrats would have won if turnout had resembled a presidential election year. But Democrats also lost in states where turnout surpassed that of 2010.

New England Delegation Acquires a Tinge of Red

The region’s all-Democratic House delegation will gain two Republican members, one from New Hampshire and one from Maine.

Kansas’ Advice to Republicans: Stay to the Right

After a comfortable, across-the-board victory Tuesday, state Republican leaders proudly affirmed their conservatism and said the party should follow suit.

Republican Voters Want to Get Things Done, but Differ on Priorities

Beyond a forceful repudiation of President Obama, there was little uniformity on just what Republican voters wanted from their party’s new Senate majority.

State Wage Initiatives Fare Better Than Democrats

If the ballot measures on Tuesday were any measure, the issue has become unmoored from partisan politics, drawing support from both sides.

New Marijuana Initiatives Loom as 3 Win Approval

Lessons for both sides of the issue are seen in votes in Alaska, Oregon and Washington, D.C.

The Upshot

The Strange Case of States’ Penchant for Casinos

Significant expansions of gambling passed in three states, but were rejected in two where in-state interests balked.

By Lending a Hand, Christie Gains Some Clout for 2016

For Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, the wave of Republican victories in statehouses on Tuesday is helping recast his image as a team player within his wary party.

Abortion-Rights Advocates Preparing for a New Surge of Federal and State Attacks

Republican gains are likely to add to state abortion restrictions, from two-day waiting periods to bans at 20 weeks after conception to costly building requirements.

Republican Takeover of New York Senate May Aid Cuomo’s Centrist Brand

A divided Legislature will put Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo in a powerful position, allowing him to play deal maker between Republicans and Democrats.

Dannel Malloy, in Repeat, Wins a Close Election for Connecticut Governor

On a day when Republicans snatched up governor’s seats in traditionally Democratic states, Dannel P. Malloy’s wobbly victory took on the tone of a much larger triumph, and might have opened a narrow path to national prominence.

Alaska Awaits Election Results for Senate and Governor

The race for Senate — between Dan Sullivan, a Republican, and the incumbent, Mark Begich, a Democrat — and the vote for governor were still undecided on Wednesday.

Mark Warner Hangs On to Slim Senate Lead in Virginia

Mr. Warner, a Democrat, claimed victory just after midnight Tuesday, but his Republican opponent, Ed Gillespie, may be able to request a recount.

Election 2016
Did Someone Say ‘2016’? Presidential Contenders Circle

Ready or not, the midterm elections signal the unofficial start of the next presidential campaign. Assessing the prospects of some likely candidates.

Retro Report
For Gray Wolves, a Success Story Not Without Detractors

The restoration of the gray wolf population in several Western states has put various factions at odds, each claiming to carry the banner of equity.

The Upshot

Where Might Obama and the G.O.P. Agree? Here Are Possibilities

There’s another factor at play: two sides of the G.O.P. that may work against each other.

The Upshot

New House Will Be More Conservative, and More Liberal

Deeper ideological divides could make compromise even harder to reach.

The Upshot

What the Forecasts Got Right, and Wrong

The elections are over. What have we learned about the efforts to analyze and predict the outcomes of various Senate races?

The Upshot

Midterm Political Ads That Worked, and Why

Successful ads are all about connecting with voters, but there is more than one way to do that, as a look at two campaigns makes clear.

The Upshot

Drop in Democratic Turnout Was the Difference in the Maryland Governor’s Race

It’s not easy for a Republican to become governor of Democratic-leaning Maryland, but here’s how Larry Hogan did it.

Education Life

Is the Affordable Care Act Working?

A year after it was fully in place, the Affordable Care Act has largely succeeded in delivering on President Obama’s main promises, even as it fell short in some ways and gave birth to a new and powerful conservative movement.

A Perfect Fit for Some, but Not Others

For the past year, The New York Times has asked readers to share their experiences purchasing and using health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Here is a selection of their stories.

Share Your Story of Detroit

New York Times journalists would like to hear from current, former and new residents of Detroit about their experiences living in the city.

Contribute to Our Reporting

The Times would like to hear from Americans who have signed up for health care under the Affordable Care Act.

National Columnists

Dan Barry

“This Land” explores obscure and well-known corners of the United States.

Adam Liptak

“Sidebar” covers and considers developments in the world of law.

From Opinion
Op-Ed Contributor

Election 2014: How the Turks See Us

Republican criticism of Obama’s foreign policy finds unexpected echoes among Turkey’s public.

Election 2014: Europe Looks Beyond Obama

The midterms have one simple message for the European chancelleries: Plan for America’s next president.

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