Overall, Beshear campaigned that he would restore "respect" and "Kentucky values" to the governor's office along with protecting Medicaid expansion and education funding, making the race a referendum on state and local issues, instead of the nationalized vote Bevin wanted.
In Virginia, Democrats' victories showed that the commonwealth is moving away from its swing state status and more firmly into the blue column. The legislative wins give Democrats unified control, as they now hold the governorship along with the Virginia General Assembly.
Those new Democratic majorities could lead to greater gun control measures, further expansions to Medicaid and a shot at becoming the final state needed to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. New court-ordered lines redrawn earlier this year in the House helped Democrats flip the chamber, and now that they're in control, they can help firm up congressional and legislative lines in the future.
The battle for control of the statehouse in Virginia attracted big money some individual races have raised more than $2 million apiece and big names just last weekend Vice President Pence and former Vice President Joe Biden held events in the state for their respective parties.
Democrats were able to pull off the victory, despite scandals among the three top statewide officials in their party. Gov. Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring both admitted earlier this year to wearing blackface when they were younger, and two women have accused Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax of sexual assault, which he denies.
Republicans did have a good night in Mississippi, keeping the open seat race in their column as Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves defeated Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood for the seat.
The race was closer than usual in Mississippi, with Hood playing up his conservative positions on abortion and guns while also campaigning to expand Medicaid in the state, which Reeves opposed.
But Reeves' campaign got a boost when President Trump campaigned in Tupelo, Miss., for him last Friday ahead of the election. The GOP also swept all the down-ballot races marking the first time since Reconstruction that Republicans will hold all statewide offices in Mississippi.