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Fiscal Worries Shadow State Elections

Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire, a Democrat, and her Republican challenger, Dino Rossi, right, watch as debate moderator Enrique Cerna tosses a coin to determine the order of their opening statements for their Oct. 1 debate in Yakima, Wash. Ms. Gregoire, who narrowly defeated Mr. Rossi in the 2004 election, won the toss and elected to give her opening statement after her opponent.

—Photo by Gordon King/Yakima-Herald Republic/AP

New Governors, Legislators to Face K-12 Funding Hurdles

By Michele McNeil

The new class of governors and state legislators to be elected Nov. 4 will inherit financial problems that pose both immediate and long-term threats to existing education programs, while constraining their ability to mount new initiatives.

The prospect of a deepening economic slowdown—with state-level budget deficits already totaling more than $40 billion nationwide—will hang over voters as they pick governors in 11 states and legislators in 44.

At least 12 states have made targeted cuts to education, including Delaware, which faces a $200 million deficit and where the candidates vying to replace a term-limited Democratic governor are clashing over how best to tighten...