text: WASHINGTON (AP) — As Republicans make gains in the House and Senate, one of the potential Republican presidential contenders in 2016 has survived a challenge in Wisconsin. 
   
   Gov. Scott Walker was a top target of Democrats, after angering labor groups by enacting a measure reducing the power of public sector unions. He survived a recall attempt two years ago. 
   
   Republicans have been steadily advancing toward a Senate majority, while also strengthening their House advantage. 
   
   GOP gains in the House include victories over some veteran Democratic lawmakers. Republican Evan Jenkins, a former Democrat, knocked out 19-term lawmaker Nick Rahall in West Virginia. He'd been one of the last white Democrats who had survived despite the GOP stranglehold on the South. And Rick Allen prevailed over another Southern Democrat, five-term Rep. John Barrow of Georgia. ||||| Just One More Thing... 
   
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target: – Florida Gov. Rick Scott will not hand his job back to former Gov. Charlie Crist. The Republican Scott fended off the challenge from Republican-turned-Democrat Crist tonight in one of the higher-profile races of the 36 gubernatorial contests on the ballot. Elsewhere, Wisconsin's Scott Walker defeated Mary Burke to keep his seat and, as the AP notes, remain a viable presidential candidate for 2016. In Texas, Wendy Davis' rise in state politics hit a major barrier, with state Attorney General Greg Abbott easily defeating the abortion rights advocate, reports the Austin American-Statesman. As one analyst observes, Davis probably could have won the red-state race only if Abbott made a major gaffe, and he didn't oblige. Also: Pennsylvania: Democrat Tom Wolf beat incumbent Republican Tom Corbett. Kansas: Republican incumbent Sam Brownback defeated Democrat Paul Davis, even though Brownback's conservative agenda had some members of his own party backing Davis. Maryland: After a surprise win over Democratic Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, Republican businessman Larry Hogan will succeed Democrat Martin O'Malley. Massachusetts: Republican Charlie Baker won, defeating Democrat Martha Coakley's bid to become the first woman elected governor in her state. Illinois: Republican businessman Bruce Rauner prevailed in a tight contest to unseat incumbent Democrat Pat Quinn. Georgia: Jimmy Carter's grandson, Jason Carter, failed to unseat Republican Nathan Deal.