Why Terry McAuliffe barely won  —  How the heck did that happen?  —  Most public polls leading up to Election Day had Terry McAuliffe coasting to victory, some by double digits, in the Virginia governor's race.  Instead he squeaked by, beating Republican Ken Cuccinelli by less than 3 percentage points.

Chris Christie Coasts to 2nd Term as Governor of New Jersey  —  Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey won re-election by a crushing margin on Tuesday, a victory that vaulted him to the front ranks of Republican presidential contenders and made him his party's foremost proponent of pragmatism over ideology.

51ST STATE QUESTION ANSWERED “YES” IN 6 OF 11 COUNTIES CONTEMPLATING SECESSION  —  Weld County Commissioner Sean Conway, center, with other elected officials address a group of supporters of the 51st State Initiative during an election result watch party at the Historic Fort Lupton Fort, November 5, 2013.

Not Republicans, who opposed it openly and honorably.  —  One of the excuses for the technical incompetence of ObamaCare is that the president and his team were the victims of “sabotage” by congressional Republicans.  Todd Purdum, a leftist longtime New York Times reporter …

Democrats' Anxiety Grows Over Obamacare Problems  —  When a loyal leader on your own team says there is a “crisis of confidence” surrounding your signature initiative, you've got trouble.  —  That's the phrase Democratic Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski of Maryland used repeatedly Tuesday morning …

Sources: Runyan won't seek re-election in 2014  —  Jon Runyan, the former pro football player turned congressman, will not seek a third term in the House of Representatives next year, according to multiple sources familiar with the congressman's plans.  —  The sources said the Mount Laurel …

De Blasio Is Elected New York City Mayor in Landslide  —  Bill de Blasio, who transformed himself from a little-known occupant of an obscure office into the fiery voice of New York's disillusionment with a new gilded age, was elected the city's 109th mayor on Tuesday.

In Bond v. U.S., the Supreme Court will decide if a treaty trumps state police powers.  —  The Supreme Court hears its most consequential case so far this term on Tuesday, and the question boils down to this: Can the federal government use a treaty with foreign nations to vitiate police powers …

Pictured with the man who shot him dead moments later: RAF policeman grins alongside rogue Afghan policeman who opened fire on him and comrade  —  An unwitting British soldier who posed for a photograph with a rogue Afghan policeman was shot dead by him seconds later.

Virginia Gun Shop Handed Out Free AR-15 Magazines To Voters  —  In an attempt to get out the vote on Election Day, Quantico Tactical in Woodbridge, VA handed out free 30-round AR-15 magazines to anyone who showed a Virginia voter ID or active duty military ID.

Sebelius Rejects Bipartisan Calls for Delay in Health Law  —  WASHINGTON — Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services, categorically rejected bipartisan calls to delay parts of the new health care law during testimony Wednesday before a Senate committee.

Jennifer Johnson beats husband in Waterville warden race  —  Husband versus wife battle for Ward 1 seat drew statewide attention and, the competitors hope, attention to the election process  —  WATERVILLE — Jennifer Johnson won the Ward 1 warden position over her competitor and spouse, David Johnson, on Tuesday night 127-76.

Virginia voters turn out to cast ballots in contentious race  —  After two decades of dwindling voter turnout for governor's elections in Virginia, this year's contentious race drew a slightly higher number of registered voters than in 2009, according to early estimates.