Besides Prop 8 in California, there were other States went to the ballot box to decide gay rights.

All results are based on CNN Election Center Data.

In Arizona, voters decided on Prop 102, which is a ban on gay marriage.  Fifty-six percent voted for the ban and 44 percent voted against.

Arkansas had Initiative 1, which is a ban on gay couples adopting children.  Fifty-seven percent voted for and 43 percent voted against.

Floridians voted on Amendment 2, a ban on gay marriage.  Sixty-two percent voted yes, 38 percent voted no.

As reported earlier, Prop 8 in California, which would eliminate the right for same sex couples to marry has passed.

From an editorial in the UK’s Guardian:

“So often crudely caricatured by others, the American people yesterday stood in the eye of history and made an emphatic choice for themselves and for the world.”

With 60 percent of the vote tallied, according the the CA Secretary of State, 53.1 percent has voted “yes” on Prop 8, while 46.9 percent has voted “no.”

Prop 8 eliminates the right of same sex couples to marry.

As earlier reported, the spending on the proposition exceeded $70 million, almost evenly split between those for and those opposed.  Of this money, 30 percent came from out-of-state.

-DM

With four Senate races still undecided, the Democrats now control 56 seats.  The Republicans control 40. Some of the major races, those where states changed parties, where reported earlier. 

Power changed hands from a Republican to a Democrat in this year’s Senate race in the following states:

In Colorado Mark Udall won, while his cousin Tom won in New Mexico.  In Virginia, Mark Warner won.  In North Carolina, Kay Hagan won, and in New Hampshire, Jeanne Shaheen takes over.

Now that Barack Obama is the new president-elect, he’s got his work cut out for him.

Due to the current economic crisis, two wars, and a smattering of other tough issues, Obama is going to meet with his transition team tomorrow at noon.

Past president-elects have usually enjoyed a brief honeymoon after a campaign season.

Among Obama’s most pressing issues are appointing an economic security team and assuming the role of commander-in-chief, according to analysts.

-DM

President-Elect Barack Obama just finished his victory speech.

Following his acknowledgment of the bravery and sacrifice of his opponent, Senator John McCain, Obama used his speech as a call to action.

He relayed a story of a 106-year-old voter from Atlanta.  From the Depression to World War II, from Civil Rights to the current financial crisis – America has seen tough times before.  Today, once again, she got to vote for change.

Obama moved the crowd in Chicago and moved Americans across the country.

The crowd answered Obama’s call to action with a ubiquitious, “Yes we can.”

BY SHALEECE HAAS // A small group of Emeryville residents gathered near the Watergate polling station to encourage voters to reject Proposition 8. One activist, Richard Berger, spent 14 hours waving a campaign sign and calling out to passersby. Watch the video below to see what some Proposition 8 opponents had to say.

Read the full story