Democrats claimed victories in two governors’ races Tuesday, Nov. 8, keeping their hold on the seats in New Jersey and Virginia .

U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine easily won the top job in New Jersey raking in 54 percent of the vote while the Republican candidate, businessman Doug Forrester, tallied 43 percent, with more than half of the precincts reporting.

In Virginia , a last-minute campaign push from President George W. Bush wasn’t enough to carry Republican Jerry Kilgore, the former state attorney general, past Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine.

Kaine claimed 51 percent of the vote to Kilgore’s 46 percent, with nearly 90 percent of the precincts reporting. Kaine, who pledged a fast start regarding transportation issues, will replace outgoing Gov. Mark Warner who was barred by law from seeking a second term.

Kaine campaigned that he would make transportation a priority without raising taxes. Both candidates proposed using the general fund to help pay for transportation projects. Both said they would prevent the transportation trust fund from being raided for other uses.

Corzine takes over for Democratic Acting Gov. Richard Codey, who stepped in for James McGreevey when he resigned last November after admitting to an affair with a man. Codey, the state’s Senate President, chose not to run for the governor’s seat.

The governors’ races allowed Democrats to keep hold of their 22 governorships. Republicans hold the top office in 28 states. In 2006, 36 states with elect governors.

Elsewhere, six of the 24 most populous U.S. cities elected mayors.

In New York , Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg won a second term in blowout fashion over former Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer.

Houston Mayor Bill White easily won re-election with his popularity soaring after the city took in refugees from Hurricane Katrina and took measures to protect residents from Hurricane Rita.

Boston ’s three-term mayor, Thomas Menino, fended off the challenge from longtime City Councilwoman Maura Hennigan.

In Detroit , Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was given a second term over opponent Freman Hendrix, deputy mayor under Kilpatrick’s predecessor.