the Informer

Election day came and went on Nov. 3 without so much as a bang, or at least after the to-do that last year's election brought, that's how it seemed. However, lots of hot topics were brought to the table this year, the results of which are surprising to politicians and political advocates across the board.

In Maine voters overturned the state's same-sex marriage law that was approved just six months prior to the election.

Opposition of the gay rights movement celebrated and put another notch in their victory belts in the name of marriage. On the other side, supporters of the law were reduced to tears after seeing a moment they had worked to hard to create crumble before them.

According to the Boston Globe, one same-sex couple living in Maine that had been married in Massachusetts was distraught about not having their marriage recognized. Although Susan McCray and Yvette Pratt were defeated Tuesday, they are hopeful that someday their marriage will be recognized where they live.

In Boston, Mayor Thomas Michael Menino practically waltzed into his fifth term in office, making him the longest-running mayor in Boston's history. Defeating his opponent with 57 percent of the vote and the highest voter turnout since 1993, Menino echoes 16 years of success with another four years in office, spending $2 million versus his opponent, Michael Flaherty Jr.'s $1.3 million.

GOP candidate Christopher Christie took the New Jersey Governorship after defeating Democrat and incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine.

Citing this victory as a blow against Obama, Republicans believe this win could hinder Obama's ability to pass major legislation, according to The Boston Globe.

The GOP held strong in Virginia with another victory for Republican Robert McDonnell, who defeated the eight-year Democratic veteran Creigh Deeds. McDonnell held strong with 59 percent of the vote to Deeds' 41 percent.

Michael Bloomberg also pulled another victory in New York City, winning his third term in office, but not without a fight from Democratic candidate Bill Thompson. Winning with 51 percent of the vote to Thompson's 46 percent, Bloomberg spent $33 million in television advertisements versus Thompson's $2.66 million.

Bloomberg's continuity in office can be attributed to the change in the city's constitution to lift a two-term limit, according to CNN.com.

Runoffs will be taking place in two cities: Houston and Atlanta. In Houston, candidates Annise Parker and Gene Locke are both polling for historical positions. If she wins the runoff, Parker will be Houston's first openly gay woman to become mayor of Houston, while Locke will be the city's second black mayor.

In Atlanta, a candidate needs more than 50 percent of the vote to win the mayoral election. Neither Mary Norwood, with 45 percent of the vote, nor Kasim Reed, with 37 percent, fulfilled this requirement.

Bringing us back to Maine, early results see expansion of the use of medical marijuana looking promising. With a whopping 59 percent voting "yes" on the expansion, it looks as though the list of conditions medical marijuana can be used to treat will be revised. This measure also creates state-licensed dispensaries, says CNN.com.

In Washington State, voters approved the "everything but marriage" bill by 51 percent to 49 percent. CNN.com reports that this bill gives registered domestic partners additional state-granted rights that are currently only given to married couples.