Democrats reclaimed governors’ offices Tuesday from the Northeast to the Rockies and even in the South, giving them control of the top political job in a majority of states for the first time in 12 years and an edge in places critical to the 2008 White House race.

A string of victories in Massachusetts, Ohio, New York, Arkansas, Colorado and Maryland means Democrats will control the governorship in at least 28 states. They also held onto vulnerable seats that had been targeted by Republicans in Iowa, Michigan, Oregon and Wisconsin.

Massachusetts Democrat Deval Patrick will be the first black governor of his state – and just the second elected black governor of any state. In Ohio, Democratic Rep. Ted Strickland easily defeated Republican Ken Blackwell. New York, as expected, chose Democrat Eliot Spitzer, the attorney general who crusaded for Wall Street and corporate reform.

In Colorado – which voted Republican for president in the last three elections – Democrat Bill Ritter defeated GOP Rep. Bob Beauprez for the seat left open by term-limited GOP Gov. Bill Owens. Arkansas chose a Democrat – attorney general Mike Beebe over Republican Asa Hutchinson – for the first time since 1992.

And Democrats turned out GOP Gov. Robert Ehrlich, of Maryland, the lone party switch that wasn’t in an open seat. Martin O’Malley, the Baltimore mayor, was the winner there.

A tight race emerged for Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty in Minnesota, who was pulling ahead of Democrat Mike Hatch, attorney general, as votes continued to be counted into this morning.

Two Democratic governors in the Great Lakes beat back well-funded Republican challenges. Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, long targeted by the GOP, defeated millionaire Dick DeVos, even though he put more than $35 million of his own money toward his campaign. Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle defeated GOP Rep. Mark Green.

Democrat Ted Kulongoski also beat back a tough challenge in Oregon.

The geographical reach of the victories will be critical for the next White House race and for redistricting of congressional seats, which are typically controlled by the governor and the legislature, said New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who won re-election – and is also exploring a presidential run.

“It makes us more a national party. In the past, the Democratic party was strong in the Northeast and California, and that was about it,” he said. “Now we’re a more centrist, national party who can show victories across the country.”

Republicans got good news in Florida, where Republican Charlie Crist, the state attorney general of Florida, defeated Democratic Rep. Jim Davis in the contest to replace term-limited GOP Gov. Jeb Bush.

In California, the nation’s best-known governor, Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger, easily won re-election. The former action star defeated Democrat Phil Angelides, the state treasurer.

And Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican, won re-election. He fended off challengers including musician and writer Kinky Friedman.

Republicans went into Election Day holding 28 governorships to 22 for the Democrats.