1.   Incumbents were re-elected in all gubernatorial contests except Iwate, Saga and Osaka.

2.   Feinstein would be considered a favorite in the gubernatorial contest for several reasons, including her experienced statewide campaign network and her ability to raise money.

3.   For the first time since Nelson Rockefeller was governor, Democrats are heading into a gubernatorial contest without an obvious front-runner who is widely known.

4.   In an off year for politics, the race will be one of only two gubernatorial contests in the country.

5.   In the gubernatorial contest, both incumbent Gov. Pete Wilson and Democratic challenger Kathleen Brown concentrated on Southern California voters.

6.   Much more is at stake next year than in the two gubernatorial contests this year.

7.   Panetta said he had kept in close touch with Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who polls show would be the favorite in the gubernatorial contest should she run.

8.   The activists will be dispatched to states with important gubernatorial contests this fall.

9.   While Republicans lost the California governorship, they defeated Democrats in gubernatorial contests in the seven other most-populous states, most of them in landslides.