You wouldn’t know it by following the Senate-control-centric coverage of the midterm elections emanating from Washington, but we could well be headed toward a historic gubernatorial election in 15 days. 
 
 Not since 1984 have more than six sitting governors lost in any one election. But, 30 years after that gubernatorial carnage, a look at this year’s races puts 11 incumbents in various levels of peril — suggesting that history may be in the making. 
 
 Only one incumbent, however, is a goner for sure: Pennsylvania’s Tom Corbett (R). Even the likes of Maine’s Paul LePage (R) and Illinois’ Pat Quinn (D), both of whom were left for dead months ago, appear to have a path — albeit not a wide one — to victory. 
 
 The striking competitiveness of so many races — and in such typically non-competitive places such as Kansas and Connecticut — has led to massive amounts of spending on TV ads. 
 
 According to the Center for Public Integrity, $379 million has been spent on commercials in the 36 gubernatorial races this fall — $58 million more than has been spent on ads in the 36 Senate races. That includes a stunning $62 million in ads in the Florida race between Gov. Rick Scott (R) and former governor Charlie Crist. In Illinois, Quinn and wealthy businessman Bruce Rauner (R) have spent almost $53 million on TV. And eight of the 10 candidates who have spent the most money on campaign commercials this cycle are running for governor. 
 
 History-making ain’t cheap, after all. 
 
 The races below are ranked in the order of a likely party switch. 
 
 13. Georgia (Republican-controlled): Gov. Nathan Deal (R) and state Sen. Jason Carter (D) are very close in the polls. With the libertarian candidate polling as high as 6 percent, it’s much more likely that Deal and Carter would go to a Dec. 2 runoff. And such runoffs are not kind to Democrats. 
 
 12. Massachusetts (Democratic-controlled): The most recent Boston Globe poll shows Democrat Martha Coakley and Republican Charlie Baker tied at 41 percent. Baker has been outraising Coakley and stockpiling cash. This is a real race. 
 
 11. Alaska (R): Independent Bill Walker, who is running on a fusion ticket with former Democratic nominee Byron Mallott as his lieutenant governor, leads Gov. Sean Parnell (R) in most recent polls. But a Fox News poll showed Parnell up five points. And as the Senate race in Kansas showed us, independents can compete in red states if the Democrat drops out, but it can be hard to maintain that momentum once the GOP starts pegging you as the de facto Democrat. 
 
 10. Wisconsin (R): Just when it looked like Gov. Scott Walker (R) might be starting to build a lead, a new Marquette University Law School poll showed him tied with Democratic challenger Mary Burke. 
 
 9. Michigan (R): A string of recent polls show Gov. Rick Snyder (R) up on Mark Schauer (D). Republicans might be losing hope in the Wolverine State’s Senate race, but they should feel pretty good about where they are in the governor’s race, considering how big a target Snyder has had on his back all cycle. 
 
 8. Colorado (D): Democrats insist Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) has righted the ship by focusing on the economy, and they note that he has been drastically outspending former congressman Bob Beauprez (R) on TV. Sure. But the Real Clear Politics polling average gives the incumbent the smallest of edges — and suggests that Beauprez is still in the game. 
 
 7. Illinois (D): Quinn has survived by the skin of his teeth before, and it looks as if he might do it again. After polls showed him basically a goner, he has staged a pretty healthy comeback and has led within the margin of error in the last three polls. 
 
 6. Connecticut (D): Gov. Dan Malloy (D), running in a deep blue state, is one of the few Democrats who stand to benefit by associating himself with President Obama. But Obama canceled a campaign appearance last week to deal with the threat posed by Ebola. The most recent polls show Malloy recovering and drawing about even with Tom Foley (R). 
 
 5. Kansas (R): Don’t look now, but Gov. Sam Brownback (R) appears to be in slightly better shape. The most recent surveys from three pollsters that have regularly examined the race — Public Policy Polling, Fox News and SurveyUSA — all show Brownback gaining on Paul Davis (D), to varying degrees. 
 
 4. Florida (R): The big story last week was the bizarre argument over a fan at a debate. Scott, who showed up to the debate seven minutes late after a dispute over whether Crist could use the fan, probably came off looking worse. Meanwhile, this race is very tight. In the last three polls, the candidates have essentially been even. 
 
 3. Maine (R): In a two-way race, LePage (R) could never be reelected. Lucky for him, he faces not only Rep. Mike Michaud (D) but also independent Eliot Cutler. It’s still tough to see LePage winning, though; he has been remarkably controversial and is almost certainly too conservative for the state. 
 
 2. Arkansas (D): Democrats were thrilled when they lured former congressman Mike Ross (D) into this open-seat race. But it appears as though the conservative nature of the state is too much for him. Polling suggests that former congressman Asa Hutchinson (R) has a mid-single-digit lead and is likely to win. 
 
 1. Pennsylvania (R): Tom Wolf (D) hasn’t had a very high profile since cruising to a primary win in the spring. That’s a smart move because his opponent, incumbent Corbett (R), is extremely unpopular. Wolf is measuring the drapes in the governor’s mansion — and rightly so. ||||| Republicans’ decisive win Tuesday is likely to ensure that President Obama’s final two years in office are marked by a level of gridlock and stagnation that surpasses even the last four turgid years. And it raises the question of how the GOP will handle its new power. 
 
 RELATED: GOP takes the Senate 
 
 The GOP capitalized on Americans’ frustration with Washington to gain full control of Congress for the first time since 2006, while enlarging its House majority and winning several key governor’s races. 
 
 Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, 72, who held off a strong challenge from Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes, is in line to be the new Senate majority leader. 
 
 Close video Mitch McConnell: ‘We have a duty’ to work with Democrats After winning re-election, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., makes an appeal to help fix Congressional gridlock, saying “we do have an obligation to work together on issues where we can agree. I think we have a duty to do that.” embed like save share group 
 
 Still, Republicans have essentially refused to pass major legislation since taking the House in 2010, and, despite McConnell’s promises, the chances of getting anything significant accomplished are now even lower. That means pressing, national issues like immigration, climate change, the growing wage gap and infrastructure upgrades are set to remain on hold. 
 
 Instead, Obama will likely make frequent use of his veto pen in response to legislation passed by the GOP Congress. Whether that will include a repeal of Obamacare is uncertain, since few Republicans made the law a major campaign issue. 
 
 RELATED: Midterm voters not enthusiastic about 2016 presidential outlook 
 
 There were signs that the takeover of the Senate could embolden the GOP’s tea party wing and push the party even further to the right. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas refused to say in an interview with CNN that he would back McConnell for majority leader. And in a statement, House Speaker John Boehner didn’t even mention immigration as an issue that the Republican Congress might address. 
 
 “We are humbled by the responsibility the American people have placed with us, but this is not a time for celebration,” said Boehner. “It’s time for government to start getting results and implementing solutions to the challenges facing our country, starting with our still-struggling economy.” 
 
 PHOTO ESSAY: Voters, young and old, take to polls 
 
 The loss of the Senate also puts at risk one power that Obama had largely continued to enjoy even after Republicans took the House in 2010: his ability to get judicial nominees confirmed. That means any potential vacancies on the U.S. Supreme Court could turn into protracted political battles. 
 
 The impact on the 2016 presidential race is less clear. Republicans’ increased ability to stymie Obama’s agenda could ratchet up voters’ discontent even further, making them more eager to make a change by handing the White House to the GOP. But it could also make Republicans appear to be part of the problem, especially if they overreach in an effort to play to their conservative base. 
 
 RELATED: An Election Day tilt toward Republicans 
 
 The night was almost as complete a Republican victory as the famous “thumping,” in Obama’s words, that the GOP inflicted on Democrats in 2010. Exit polls suggested the results were driven by the president’s low approval ratings, and by dissatisfaction with an economic recovery that, despite the numbers, many Americans still aren’t feeling. 
 
 On the bright side, Republicans elected two female senators, one black senator, and one black, female representative. 
 
 Democratic Senate incumbents went down to defeat in Arkansas, Colorado, and North Carolina, with Republicans also picking up seats in Montana, West Virginia, Iowa, and South Dakota. 
 
 Many of the Senate races had appeared for much of the campaign to be headed for close finishes. And even going into election night, it looked very possible that control of the Senate wouldn’t be decided for weeks or months, with potentially decisive runoffs looming in Louisiana and Georgia, and Kansas independent Greg Orman declining to say which party he’d caucus with if elected. 
 
 Close video House Republicans set party record, 250 seats An msnbc panel discusses Republicans winning the largest majority they have ever held in the House of Representatives and whether John Boehner will be able to keep his more extremist colleagues in line. embed like save share group 
 
 But states like Kansas, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky , Iowa, and Colorado seemed to move en masse toward the GOP in the final weeks and days, with Republican candidates doing everything they could to make the contest about the president. 
 
 It’s not hard to see why. According to the NBC News national exit poll, the president’s approval rating was just 45% with voters, down nine points from when he won re-election two years ago. 
 
 Meanwhile, a whopping 70% of voters said the economy is not in good shape, with just 29% saying it’s doing well. 
 
 In races for governor, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker held off a challenge from Democrat Mary Burke, while Ohio’s John Kasich strolled to re-election. Those results put both men in potentially strong positions for 2016 presidential bids. 
 
 RELATED: The Obama factor in the 2014 midterm election 
 
 In Florida, Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican, held off Democrat Charlie Crist, who had previously served as governor of the state as a moderate Republican. In Texas, Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott cruised to victory over Democratic state Sen. Wendy Davis — who once ignited her party’s hopes of making the country’s largest red-state competitive. In Illinois, Republican Bruce Rauner defeated incumbent Democrat Pat Quinn. And in a rare bright spot for Democrats, businessman Tom Wolf ousted the deeply unpopular Republican governor of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett. ||||| Democrats made steady gains in gubernatorial contests in Tuesday’s midterm elections, expanding their power at the state level as they reclaimed the majority in the House of Representatives -- but nevertheless fell short in key contests where they had hoped to flip Republican seats. 
 
 As of late Tuesday, Democrats had flipped at least six gubernatorial seats in Kansas, Maine, Illinois, Nevada, Michigan and New Mexico, with likehilhood of flipping Wisconsin too. 
 
 But Democrats experienced disappointing losses Tuesday in states like Florida, where Democrat Andrew Gillum fell short in his bid to become Florida’s first African-American governor. Gillum conceded to Republican Ron DeSantis, an outspoken supporter of President Trump, in the race to succeed outgoing GOP Gov. Rick Scott. 
 
 FULL MIDTERM RESULTS 
 
 Democrats are also projected to lose a hard-fought gubernatorial contest in Ohio, where former Republican Sen. Mike DeWine will defeat Democrat Richard Cordray, who served as President Obama’s first director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. DeWine will succeed term-limited Republican Gov. John Kasich. 
 
 Heading into Tuesday's vote, Republicans controlled 33 of 50 governorships across the country, while Democrats held just 16. With 36 governors races up for grabs this year, Democrats made gains. 
 
 Those victories include Kansas, where Democratic state senator Laura Kelly is projected to defeat Republican Kris Kobach in the state’s governor’s race. Kobach, the secretary of state in Kansas, in August defeated incumbent Gov. Jeff Colyer in the state’s Republican primary. 
 
 In Illinois, Democratic billionaire J.B. Pritzker, whose family owns the Hyatt hotel chain, is projected to unseat Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner in the Illinois gubernatorial contest. That will make Pritzker the richest governor in U.S. history. 
 
 In New Mexico, Democratic Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham is projected to beat Republican Rep. Steve Pearce to succeed term-limited Republican Governor Susana Martinez, turning the governor’s mansion from red to blue. 
 
 In Maine, Democratic Attorney General Janet Mills is projected to defeat Republican businessman Shawn Moody to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Paul LePage. 
 
 In Michigan, Democrat Gretchen Whitmer is projected to defeat Republican Bill Schuette, breaking years of Republican control in the state, to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Rick Snyder. 
 
 In Nevada’s gubernatorial election, Democrat Steve Sisolak, chairman of the Clark County Commission, defeated Republican Attorney General Adam Laxalt in a battle to succeed term-limited GOP Governor Brian Sandoval. 
 
 Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who unsuccessfully sought the presidency as a Republican in 2012, is trailing Democrat Tony Evers, the education superintendent, in the state's gubernatorial race. The Associated Press declared Evers the winner early Wednesday, but a Walker spokesperson says “we need the official canvass for military ballots to be counted before any decision.” 
 
 In Georgia, Democrat Stacey Abrams, who is vying to become the first African-American female governor in U.S. history, has yet to concede though returns show her falling short of defeating Republican Secretary of State Brian Kemp to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Nathan Deal. Abrams, the former minority leader of the Georgia House of Representatives, in recent days sought to turn out black voters, with high-profile appearances in Georgia on her behalf by Oprah Winfrey and former President Barack Obama. 
 
 For Republicans, holding on to control of state houses is vital, considering that’s where real policy changes may take place if Washington effectively deadlocks with Democrats winning the House. 
 
 Despite the Democratic pickups, Republican incumbents in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic held on to seats Tuesday. 
 
 Maryland Republican Gov. Larry Hogan is projected to win a second term by defeating Democrat Ben Jealous, the former president of the NAACP. In Massachusetts, Republican Gov. Charlie Baker is projected to win a second term by defeating Democrat Jay Gonzalez. In Vermont, Republican Gov. Phil Scott is projected to defeat Democratic challenger Christine Hallquist. And in New Hampshire, Republican Gov. Chris Sununu will win a second term by defeating Democrat Molly Kelly. 
 
 As expected in New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who defeated “Sex and the City” actress Cynthia Nixon seven weeks ago in the Democratic primary, is projected to win a third term by beating Republican Marc Molinaro. California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, is also projected to defeat Republican John Cox in the race to succeed term-limited Democratic incumbent Governor Jerry Brown. 
 
 And in Colorado, Democratic Rep. Jared Polis is projected to become the first openly gay man to win a gubernatorial election in U.S. history by defeating Republican Treasurer Walker Stapleton to succeed term-limited Democratic Governor John Hickenlooper. 
 
 Ahead of the vote, Democrats called the election the "biggest day for governors races in a decade." 
 
 “With 36 seats up, Democrats have a historic opportunity to elect new governors who can innovate on progressive policies, build the future of the Democratic Party, and stop Republican gerrymandering after the 2020 Census,” the DGA said in a statement. 
 
 Republicans, though, expressed optimism that they would hold on to seats, even in a tough year for the GOP. 
 
 “Polling shows that Democrats could have a good night, but there’s no clear evidence of a blue wave,” Jon Thompson, a spokesman for the Republican Governors Association, said ahead of the vote. “Republicans’ record fundraising and strong candidate recruitment gives the party a high chance of victory in numerous races.” 
 
 Fox New's Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.
– 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.