By ED WHITE, Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) — Gretchen Whitmer won the race for Michigan governor on Tuesday and Debbie Stabenow won a fourth term in the Senate as the Democratic Party took aim at the Republican Party's hold on most statewide offices with a slate of female candidates.

Whitmer pledged to fix the state's rickety roads and reverse a retirement tax, while her opponent, Bill Schuette, had hoped a solid economy would convince voters to stick with a Republican. GOP Gov. Rick Snyder couldn't run because he reached a two-term limit. Stabenow turned aside a challenge from Republican John James, a businessman and Iraq War veteran who was making his first bid for political office.

Democratic women ran against Republican male incumbents in two closely watched U.S. House races in eastern and southern Michigan. There also are three statewide ballot questions, including one that would legalize recreational marijuana.