Rep. Ernie Fletcher easily won the Kentucky governor’s race Tuesday, ousting Democrats from power after 32 years. Washington lobbyist Haley Barbour was leading in his bid to unseat Mississippi Democratic Gov. Ronnie Musgrove as the GOP sought to build on gains in the South.

Republicans went into the election holding seven of 11 governorships in the South, having turned out Democratic chief executives in Alabama, South Carolina and Georgia last year. With Arnold Schwarzenneger’s victory in California last month and Fletcher’s win, Republicans will hold 28 governorships nationwide.

In Philadelphia, one of three big-city mayoral races, Democratic incumbent John Street handily defeated Republican businessman Sam Katz, 59 percent to 41 percent. Mayoral contests in Houston and San Francisco appeared headed for runoffs.

Street got a bounce in the polls after it was learned that the FBI bugged his City Hall office; Street and his supporters have portrayed the investigation as an attempt by the Bush administration to bring down a black politician.

Elsewhere, Maine voters rejected a $650 million gambling resort that opponents said would tarnish the state’s outdoorsy image. Colorado also turned down a proposal to allow slot machines at racetracks. In Indiana, however, voters approved a riverboat casino in French Lick, hometown of basketball great Larry Bird, a potential investor.

In Denver, a “peace initiative” to reduce stress lost by a more than 2-1 margin. The proposal championed by former Transcendental Meditation teacher but scoffed at by several council members.

Voters in Tucson, Ariz., and Kansas City, Mo., rejected light-rail measures.