In races for governor, Wolf wins Pa., Walker takes Wis.

Associated Press

HARRISBURG, Pa.

Democrat Tom Wolf, who gave $10 million of his own money to underwrite an early TV ad campaign that endeared the businessman and first-time candidate to voters, unseated Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett on Tuesday, sending the unpopular incumbent to a historic defeat.

In a $73 million-and-counting race that smashed Pennsylvania’s campaign spending record, Corbett became the first governor to go down in defeat in the four decades since the state’s chief executive was allowed to run for a second term. The former two-term state attorney general could not overcome a rocky first term — in particular, Corbett struggled to defend budget-balancing cuts in aid to public schools.

The economy also loomed large for two other Midwestern governors. In resurgent Ohio, Republican Gov. John Kasich cruised to a second term in a key battleground state. In Michigan, GOP Gov. Rick Snyder was in a tight race with Democratic challenger Mark Schauer.

Both states are among a handful of important presidential battlegrounds, including Colorado, where governors were on the ballot Tuesday.

Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker won re-election over Democratic challenger Mary Burke Tuesday, overcoming fierce opposition from organized labor for his third election victory in four years .