Democrats Win Governorships in Florida, Texas; 7 States Undecided : Statehouses: At least three incumbents are ousted. No single issue dominated the races.

Democrats Tuesday strengthened their hand heading into next year’s congressional reapportionment, wresting control of governorships in rapidly growing Florida and Texas from the GOP.

But both parties continued to sweat out results from seven gubernatorial races, including Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska and the richest prize on the ballot: the tight California governor’s race between Republican Sen. Pete Wilson and former San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein.

Those states will determine whether Democrats expand their current 29-21 margin in governorships.

On a night with little turnover in Congress, the battle in the statehouses proved far more turbulent, with at least three incumbents being ousted and seven open seats changing party control.

Democrats had the most to cheer about, marking gains in all parts of the country.

In Florida, former Democratic Sen. Lawton Chiles crushed GOP Gov. Bob Martinez, leading 1,829,444 to 1,420,418, or 56% to 44%, with 94% of the vote counted.

In Texas, Democratic state Treasurer Ann Richards roared past Republican Clayton W. Williams Jr., leading 1,804,091 to 1,690,692, or 52% to 48%, with 94% of the vote counted.

In Kansas, Democratic state Treasurer Joan Finney ousted Republican Gov. Mike Hayden, who was weakened by an unpopular hike in property taxes. With 96% of the vote in, Finney led 370,895 to 321,431, or 54% to 46%.

In Oklahoma, where Republican Gov. Henry Bellmon is stepping down, Democrat David Walters overwhelmed GOP candidate Bill Price 504,867 to 283,403, or 64% to 36%, with 97% of the vote counted.

In Rhode Island, the third time proved a charm for Democratic businessman Bruce G. Sundlun who defeated Republican Gov. Edward DiPrete, after losing in both 1986 and 1988. Sundlun won decisively, capturing 254,391 votes to DiPrete’s 87,573 with 99% of the vote in. In New Mexico, former Democratic Gov. Bruce King captured the seat being vacated by Republican Gov. Garrey E. Carruthers. With 92% of the vote in, King defeated Republican Frank Bond 204,318 to 169,788, or 55% to 45%.

For Republicans, the best early news came from Ohio, where former Cleveland Mayor George V. Voinovich defeated Democratic Atty. Gen. Anthony J. Celebrezze Jr., by 1,874,792 to 1,489,700, or 56%to 44%, with 98% of the vote in.

In Massachusetts, former U.S. Atty. William F. Weld defeated Democrat John R. Silber. Weld led 830,608 to 809,438 with 77% of the vote in.

Former Republican Sen. Lowell P. Weicker Jr., running as an independent, won election in Connecticut, attracting 455,381 votes, or 40%, to 423,034, or 38%, for Republican Rep. John G. Rowland, and 232,048, or 21% for Democratic Rep. Bruce A. Morrison, with 99% of the vote in.

With control of redistricting at stake, both parties devoted unusually heavy attention to governor’s races this year. With results in California and Arizona unclear, Democrats enter the decennial redistricting controlling the governorships in at least five of the seven states expected to gain seats; with Illinois and Michigan still too close to call, Democrats now hold the governorship in six of the 13 states slated to lose seats.

Overall, 36 governor’s seats were contested Tuesday--20 of them currently held by Democrats, 16 by Republicans. These included some of the year’s most closely watched campaigns. In particular, the battles for control of Florida, Texas and California--the three states expected to gain the most new congressional seats in next year’s reapportionment--drew enormous national focus and set spending records.

For Republicans, the Florida race became a long-shot as soon as Chiles entered the contest earlier this year. After a bruising primary victory over Rep. Bill Nelson, Chiles virtually coasted to victory over Martinez, who had suffered through a rocky first term.

The Texas gubernatorial campaign was as chaotic as the Florida race placid. Spending millions of dollars of his own money, Williams held a double-digit lead through most of the fall. But a series of gaffes in early October undermined his support. CNN exit polls showed an enormous gender gap in the race, with men favoring Williams by 10 points, but women giving Richards an insurmountable 61-39 margin.

Verbal fireworks also dominated the gubernatorial race in Massachusetts, where tart-tongued Democrat Silber outraged liberals with a series of acerbic remarks dubbed “Silber shockers.” Exit polls showed Weld winning half the vote of self-described liberals, and nearly 40% of Democrats.

In the other large industrial states, Democratic Govs. Mario M. Cuomo of New York and Robert P. Casey of Pennsylvania won reelection, though Cuomo’s margin of 53% represented a substantial drop from his record-setting 65% tally four years ago. But Michigan Democratic Gov. James J. Blanchard struggled against Republican John Engler in early returns. And Republicans were in a strong position to hold Illinois; with 72% of the vote in, Secretary of State Jim Edgar led Democratic Atty. Gen. Neil F. Hartigan 1,156,267 to 1,094,606.

No single issue dominated the governors’ races. Abortion appeared to have somewhat less of an impact than originally expected.

In 20 states, voters chose between candidates who differed on the abortion issue. But those seats split between candidates who favored and opposed abortion rights. Democrats Chiles and Richards, both supporters of abortion rights, defeated Republicans who opposed abortion in Florida and Texas. But in Kansas and Ohio anti-abortion candidates swept to victory.

Perceptions of the local economy seemed to be more decisive. In 10 states where control of governorships changed party, 72% of those surveyed by CNN rated the local economy weak. But only 40% were so pessimistic in the 18 states where the same party has already kept control of the Statehouse.

Both parties were also keeping a close eye on state legislative races in the major states expected to gain or lose seats in next year’s reapportionment. Currently, Democrats control 69 state legislative chambers, and Republicans--who have been frustrated in attempts to translate their national success into local gains over the past decade--just 29, six fewer than in 1980.