Election Day yielded significant changes. For DiversityInc readers, the biggest news is the Michigan decision to ban affirmative action in public education, employment and contracting.

Democrats gained a House majority for the first time in 12 years, propelled by an unpopular Iraq war and a slew of GOP scandals. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is poised to become the first female Speaker of the House. The Democrats' Senate majority hinges on two tight races in Virginia and Montana, where Democratic candidates lead by slim margins.

Here's What You Need to Know

·    Affirmative Action

Michigan voted to ban affirmative action, 58 percent to 42 percent, with the majority of votes coming from white male conservatives, based on exit polls. Both men and women of color strongly opposed the so-called Michigan Civil Rights Initiative (MCRI), but lacking representation in the electorate diluted the power of their votes. Suburban and rural regions, which accounted for nearly three-quarters of the electorate, voted "yes."

The Supreme Court upheld affirmative-action policies at the University of Michigan Law School just three years ago. Despite the disheartening results of yesterday's election, University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman issued a statement reaffirming her commitment to "sustain excellence by recruiting and retaining a diverse community of students, faculty and staff."

This will not be the last we hear of Ward Connerly, who led the campaign to end affirmative action in Michigan after doing so in California and Washington state. No projections have been released about where he may campaign next, but a pending Supreme Court case on voluntary integration in Louisville, Ky., suggests his next stop might be in that state.

However, in Michigan, Democratic incumbents Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, both of whom campaigned vigorously against the MCRI, were re-elected by wide margins.

·    Same-Sex Marriage

Of eight states voting on proposals to ban same-sex marriage, Arizona is the only state likely to defeat it. Opponents of the Arizona proposal lead 51 percent to 49 percent, with 99 percent of precincts reporting. Same-sex marriage now is illegal in Colorado, Idaho, South Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Wisconsin. Colorado is also on track to outlaw domestic partnerships, with proponents leading 53 percent to 47 percent with 88 percent of precincts reporting.

·    Stem-Cell Research

Republican Senatorial Candidate Jim Talent conceded to Democrat Claire McCaskill, who supports stem-cell research, early this morning. Missouri passed Amendment 2 by a 2-point margin, which means any stem-cell research permitted under national law will also be permitted in the state.

·    Immigration

California Republican incumbent Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger won by a landslide, thanks to white and Asian constituents. Blacks and Latinos both favored the Democratic candidate by wide margins. Nationally, a Democratic House is good news for Latinos, many of whom oppose the GOP's hard-line immigration policies. A guest-worker program would also be good for businesses desperate to integrate undocumented immigrants into the mainstream economy.

·    Who Won

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deval Patrick defeated Republican opponent Kerry Healy to become the first black governor of Massachusetts and the second black governor in the nation. Patrick is an ardent supporter of gay rights and received majority support from both white and black voters for a landslide win of 19-point margin.

·    Who Lost

Democratic hopeful Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran, conceded the 6th Congressional District of Illinois to Republican Peter Roskam. Polls show Roskam leads by a 2-point margin with 91 percent of precincts reporting. (See also: Tammy Duckworth: A National Hero)

Harold Ford, Tennessee's Democratic candidate for Senate, trails Republican Bob Corker by a 3-point margin, but he has not yet conceded defeat. Corker leads by fewer than 50,000 votes with 99 percent of precincts reporting. If elected, Ford would be the first black senator elected in the state since Reconstruction.

Democratic candidate Ben Cardin claimed victory late last evening over Republican Michael Steele in a tight race for the Maryland Senate seat. Steele, who is black, attempted to sway voters by tugging on racial/ethnic heartstrings and social issues. Cardin plans to make healthcare, education, foreign policy and the economy his top priorities.

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