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Opponents of Vermont's controversial civil unions bill that grants marriage benefits to same-sex couples found mixed results in their efforts to send a message to lawmakers with Tuesday.

Five state Republicans lost their primary vote Tuesday, while four other GOP lawmakers and one Democrat targeted for defeat survived. Though the election gave Vermont voters their first opportunity to speak out at the ballot box over the same-sex legislation, the results show what observers already knew — that the state remains deeply divided over the issue.
• Voters Show Anger Over Civil Unions Law (Rutland Herald, 09/13/00)
• A State Divided (The Burlington Free Press, 09/13/00)
• Five Republicans Who Backed Law Are Defeated (Rutland Herald, 09/13/00)
• More Coverage: Vermont State Races

N.H. Governor: Nominees Waste No Time

After vanquishing their primary rivals Tuesday, New Hampshire's two gubernatorial candidates, Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D) and former senator Gordon Humphrey (R), wasted no time in turning their sights on each and to the fall campaign's dominate theme — how to pay for the state's school system.
• Shaheen, Humphrey Off to Quick Start (Associated Press, 09/13/00)
• Shaheen to Face Humphrey (Manchester Union Leader, 09/13/00)
• Shaheen, Humphrey to Face Off (Congressional Quarterly, 09/13/00)

On the eve of Tuesday's election, many GOP voters received an anonymous, anti-Humphrey mailing that not only criticized the former senator's strongly conservative views but invoked old allegations of his wife having been a member of a "cult."
• Accusations Fly Over Anti-Humphrey Flier (Concord Monitor, 09/12/00)
• Anonymous 'Mailer' Upsets Campaigns (Portsmouth Herald, 09/12/00)
• More Coverage: N.H. Governor's Race

N.Y. Senate: Clinton Gets Pointers From an Old Pro

When Rep. Rick Lazio (R) and Hillary Clinton (D) face off in Buffalo Wednesday night for the first debate of their Senate race, the first lady should be well-prepared — thanks to some coaching from her husband, a skilled debater.
• President Giving First Lady Pointers (The Buffalo News, 09/13/00)
• Clinton and Lazio Lock Horns Tonight (New York Daily News, 09/13/00)

The polls keep coming in New York, and the news is not bad for the first lady. A Marist Institute for Public Opinion survey puts the race in a statistical tie, but gives Clinton a 2-point edge, while a new Quinnipiac University poll has Clinton up 49-44 percent.
• Clinton Edges Ahead in New Poll (Albany Times Union, 09/13/00)
• More Coverage: N.Y. Senate Race

N.C. Governor: Cash Boost for Vinroot

Taking advantage of unique campaign finance laws in North Carolina, the national Republican Party is planning to give gubernatorial candidate Richard Vinroot a massive cash infusion in his race against Democrat Mike Easley.
• GOP to Boost Vinroot (Raleigh News & Observer, 09/12/00)
• More Coverage: N.C. Governor's Race

"I could have done stuff. But I don't need to be there (in the Senate)." – Attorney Mike Ciresi, who lost his bid for Minnesota's Democratic Senate nomination despite spending almost $5 million in the campaign.
• Ciresi Taking Loss in Stride
(Minneapolis Star Tribune, 09/13/00)

Jason Thompson can be reached at jason.thompson@washingtonpost.com. Early Returns runs Monday-Thursday.