Virginia's Republican Gov.-elect, Bob McDonnell, said he got a friendly congratulatory phone call from President Barack Obama after Tuesday's victory.

Republican Bob McDonnell ends an eight-year Democrats' streak in Virginia's governor's race as independent voters who last year helped deliver the state to President Barack Obama handed the party a convincing sweep of statewide offices.

Republicans wrested political control of Virginia from the Democrats on Tuesday and New Jersey's unpopular Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine was fighting for his political life as independent voters swung behind the GOP in both states. It was a troubling sign for President Barack Obama and his party heading into an important midterm election year

Ken Cuccinelli, one of Virginia's most conservative legislators, has been elected attorney general.