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By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Tuesday, September 21, 1999

Although off-year elections pale in comparison to the hype already surrounding next year's presidential contest, there are several key votes this year that could have national implications. The fall election season begins today with a special primary election in southern California to fill the House seat vacated by the death of Rep. George E. Brown Jr. That race could give national political strategists an idea of how the gun-control issue might play with the type of Reagan Democrats that dominate the district.

"What will it take for me to win the nomination? A miracle." – Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), at a St. Louis book-signing. (The Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, Sept. 21)

The top finisher from each party in the open primary will face off in a Nov. 16 run-off.
• Live Election Returns (San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters, Sept. 21, 8 p.m. PDT)
• Voters May Cast Ballot Today in District Race (The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Ontario, Calif., Sept. 21)
• House Race Tests Gun-Control Issue
(The Sacramento Bee, Sept. 20)
• Texas Shooting May Affect House Race (The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Ontario, Calif., Sept. 18)

Various gambling issues helped sweep Democratic governors into office across the South last year, and the battle continues. In October, Alabamans will go to the polls to register their opinions on whether to create a state lottery to fund education. A November referendum in South Carolina aims to restrict the state's booming video poker industry. An education lottery could figure strongly in next year's North Carolina gubernatorial race.
• Lottery: Plenty of Facts, Much Unclear (Mobile Register, Sept. 19)
• Lottery Vote Will Test the Power of the Pulpit (Mobile Register, Sept. 19) • Video Poker Referendum (South Carolina State Election Commission)

Kentucky, Mississippi and Louisiana all have gubernatorial elections this year, but perhaps the most interesting state political battle is in Virginia, where Democrats and Republicans could trade control of the House and Senate.
• GOP May Control House, Lose Senate
(The Richmond Times-Dispatch, Sept. 12)

Mayoral races are also hot in San Francisco, Philadelphia and Indianapolis.
• Mayoral Poll Finds No One Doing Well
(San Francisco Chronicle, Sept. 20)
• Philadelphia Mayoral Race (Yahoo!)
• Mayoral Race in Dead Heat (Indianapolis Star-News, Sept. 19)

Ryan Thornburg can be reached at ryan.thornburg@washingtonpost.com