Sen. Russell Pearce will lead the Arizona Senate next year after colleagues elected him to be president of the chamber during a closed-door meeting Nov. 3.

The Republican dominance of statewide contests appeared to include two seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission. Republicans Brenda Burns and Gary Pierce held comfortable leads over two Democrats, two Green Party candidates and a Libertarian.

Gov. Jan Brewer dominated the governor’s race, winning a full term on the Ninth Floor with a 14-point win over Democratic Attorney General Terry Goddard.

Nationally, Democrats suffered disaster in the general election. In Arizona, it was even worse. For the first time since 1994, Republicans swept Arizona’s statewide offices. Even the Attorney General’s Office, which has been in Democratic hands for the past 12 years, couldn’t withstand the Republican tsunami.

Republicans Kimberly Yee and Rep. Jim Weiers were victorious in the House Legislative District 10 race, keeping both seats in GOP control.

Republicans regained a seat in Legislative District 20. Jeff Dial, on his third attempt to get elected, finished slightly ahead of fellow Republican Bob Robson.

Sen. Linda Gray, a Republican from Glendale will retain her seat after fending off Democrat Justin Johnson in Legislative District 10.

Flagstaff dentist and political newcomer Paul Gosar is leading incumbent Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick by 10 points in the battle over Arizona’s 1st Congressional District.

Republican challenger Steve Smith has defeated incumbent Sen. Rebecca Rios by nearly 5,000 votes to capture a seat in Legislative District 23 that has been held by the Rios family since the district was first created a decade ago.

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ campaign declared victory over Republican challenger Jesse Kelly late Nov. 5 after expanding her lead to more than 3,600 in the latest count.