Republicans have retained their control over a majority of governorships and could add a seat pending the outcome of the Washington state race.

Both parties picked up two seats in Tuesday’s election but the outcome between Republican Dino Rossi and Democratic Attorney General Christine Gregorie in Washington is a dead heat. A count of absentee and provisional ballots will determine the victor.

Republicans still maintain a six-seat majority among the nation’s governors with the Washington outcome undecided. The state’s seat is open because Democratic Gov. Gary Locke decided not to seek a third term.

Four governorships changed political hands.

Republicans nabbed two prizes in the Midwest, recapturing the executive mansions in Missouri and Indiana, where Mitch Daniels unseated Democratic Gov. Joe Kernan. Kernan took over last year after the death of Gov. Frank O'Bannon.

In Missouri, Matt Blunt, the Republican secretary of state and son of U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, won a close race against Claire McCaskill, the Democratic state auditor, who beat incumbent Gov. Bob Holden in the party primary.

Democrats offset those pick-ups with victories in Montana and New Hampshire. Businessman John Lynch narrowly defeated Republican Gov. Craig Benson in New Hampshire. In Montana, Democrat Brian Schweitzer, a farmer-rancher,beat Bob Brown, the Republican secretary of state, giving Democrats control for the first time in 16 years.

Other gubernatorial contests where the party in power retained the office included:

Delaware – Democratic Gov. Ruth Ann Minner won a second term, defeating Bill Lee, a retired judge.

North Carolina – Democratic Gov. Mike Easley defeated Patrick Ballantine, a state senator, to win a second term.

North Dakota – Republican Gov. John Hoeven cruised to a second term over Joe Satrom, a former state tourism director.

Utah – Republican Jon Huntsman, a former ambassador to Singapore, bested Democrat Scott Matheson, dean of the University of Utah Law School.

Vermont – Republican Gov. Jim Douglas easily won a second term, defeating Peter Clavelle, the mayor of Burlington.

West Virginia – Democratic Secretary of State Joe Manchin easily defeated Monty Warner, a retired Army colonel turned real estate developer