Wisconsin Rep. Tammy Baldwin on Tuesday defeated her Republican rival to become the nation's first openly gay senator. Wisconsin Rep. Tammy Baldwin on Tuesday defeated her Republican rival, former Governor Tommy Thompson, to become the nation's first openly gay senator. The AP called the race for Baldwin around 10PM ET. Baldwin replaces retiring Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl. ?The people who had faith that this was possible made it possible,? Baldwin said before voting in Madison. The 50-year-old Baldwin announced her decision to enter the race in an email to supporters, ending months of speculation. Baldwin first ran for Congress in 1998 after serving 8 years in the Wisconsin Assembly. While Baldwin is a perennial favorite among the constituents in her district, her highest hurdle in running for the Senate was lack of name recognition outside her district. That is something Thompson has in spades, having served as United States secretary of health and human services under George W. Bush

New Jersey's decision to allow voters displaced by superstorm Sandy to cast ballots by email has prompted a flood of warnings over security, secrecy and a potential for legal entanglements.

Muppets are not normally associated with US politics but they popped up in this year's election campaign thanks to a popular culture phenomenon known as the "meme", which has stormed the Internet.

Nearly all New York schools were set to reopen Monday in another sign of things getting back to normal in the wake of superstorm Sandy, but authorities faced a new challenge posed by frigid weather.

Florida, famous for the presidential election debacle 12 years ago which required the hand-counting of thousands of ballots, is facing new election-related problems ahead of Tuesday's White House vote.

Tens of thousands of people whose homes were destroyed or damaged by superstorm Sandy faced a new crisis in New York as temperatures plunged, raising the specter of people freezing to death.

Eight LGBT candidates are running for Congress, including the nation's first Senate candidate. Eight LGBT candidates are running for Congress ? a new record ? including the nation's first Senate candidate. Wisconsin Rep. Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat, and former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson are competing to replace retiring Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl. According to a poll released last week, Baldwin has a 4 point lead, 47 to 43 percent. Two weeks ago, Thompson held a slim 1 point lead. Mark Pocan, a small business owner and a Wisconsin state representative, is running to fill the 2nd Congressional seat being vacated by Baldwin. His Republican challenger, Chad Lee, ran an unsuccessful bid against Baldwin in 2010. Pocan, 48, married his husband, Phil, in Canada in 2006. In Massachusetts, Richard Tisei is campaigning to become the House's first openly gay Republican member. Tisei has an unlikely ally in his corner: House Speaker John Boehner, an ardent opponent of gay rights. The 50-year

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's support for gay marriage is being blamed for causing superstorm Sandy. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's support for gay marriage is to blame for causing superstorm Sandy, Pastor Luke Robinson of Quinn Chapel AME Church in Frederick, Maryland claimed on Sunday. At a rally sponsored by the Maryland Marriage Alliance, the group working to defeat passage of Question 6, which would uphold a gay marriage law approved by Maryland lawmakers, Robinson noted Bloomberg's support for the measure, which included donating $250,000 of his own money towards Question 6 and traveling to Baltimore to campaign on the issue with Governor Martin O'Malley and Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. ?While he was here, he got word that he needed to go back to New York because a storm was going to hit New York and he needed to go back and make preparations,? Robinson is quoted as saying by gay weekly the Washington Blade. ?On October 28, a storm hit New York. An

New Jersey state governor Chris Christie, who is touted as a possible future Republican presidential contender, said Sunday he still has no electricity at home nearly one week after superstorm Sandy.

Severe fuel shortages on Sunday threatened New York's attempt to recover from superstorm Sandy as cold temperatures added to almost a week of misery exacerbated by flooded homes, limited public transportation and fraying tempers.

With the tight White House race headed for what could be a photo finish Tuesday, analysts warn the United States could once again be forced to wait weeks to find out who is going to be president.

Severe fuel shortages on Sunday threatened New York's attempt to recover from superstorm Sandy as cold temperatures added to almost a week of misery exacerbated by flooded homes, limited public transportation and fraying tempers.

Electricity finally returned to Manhattan on Saturday but severe petrol shortages threatened New York's attempt to recover from superstorm Sandy and cold temperatures added to almost a week of misery.

Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley is calling out opponents of Question 6, calling their tactics 'deceptive'. Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley is calling out opponents of Question 6, calling their tactics ?deceptive.? In a 45-second ad released Saturday by Marylanders for Marriage Equality, the group working to approve the ballot question which would uphold a gay marriage law approved by lawmakers, O'Malley makes a final pitch to voters. ?It's sad that the opponents of Question 6 are trying so hard to scare people with their misleading and deceptive tactics,? O'Malley said. In the final days of the campaign, opponents have released ads claiming that the law would limit religious freedoms and harm children. ?But the truth is very simple. Question 6 treats everyone equally under the law, and fairly. It allows 2 adults to commit to someone they love. That's it. No one is forced to do anything. And there are strong religious freedom protections for people of all faiths.? ?That's why leader

Electricity finally returned to Manhattan on Saturday and the subway was running more smoothly, but severe gasoline shortages threatened New York's attempt to recover from superstorm Sandy.

The lights finally came back on in Manhattan Saturday, but a severe shortage of gasoline continued to hamper efforts to get the New York area back on its feet after Hurricane Sandy.

Fuel shortages caused exasperation to spill over into anger Friday amid a desperate race to get power restored and get stricken US cities moving again after the devastating superstorm Sandy.

New York state governor Andrew Cuomo warned utility companies Thursday against price-hiking after superstorm Sandy, as he announced further reopening of subway lines and trains servicing the suburbs.

President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney sprinted back onto the campaign trail Thursday, touting rival visions for America to the faithful and the undecided just five days from polling day.

New York on Thursday started handing out one million meals to poor and elderly people struggling in the dark fallout of superstorm Sandy.