The results of off-year elections are difficult to predict, contrary to conventional wisdom. This year's results in two of them in the Northeast are perfect examples.

To all the Mainers who stood up and voted for equality for all families, we extend our condolences that equality did not win the day this time. The forces fighting to perpetuate second-class citizenship for lesbian and gay people prevailed this time, but by a narrower margin than ever before.

In a constitutional and representative democracy, it is the job of courts and legislatures to protect the rights of minorities. Maine's legislators and Gov. John Baldacci did their job, only to see it undone. They are on the right side of history, and they know it, and we applaud their tireless efforts.

The fight to achieve and maintain equality in civil marriage for families in Maine, in Vermont, and in all of America is not over. In Vermont, we need to ensure that the legislators who voted for marriage equality are re-elected to their seats.

The fight to achieve and maintain equality in civil marriage for families in Maine, in Vermont, and in all of America is not over. In Vermont, we need to ensure that the legislators who voted for marriage equality are re-elected to their seats. We can all take heart from what President Barack Obama said when he signed the Matthew Shepard and Robert Byrd Jr. Violence Prevention Act last month: "The rights afforded every citizen under our Constitution

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mean nothing if we do not protect those rights -- both from unjust laws and violent acts."

Our own Senator Patrick Leahy was very instrumental in getting this bill passed and attended the signing of the legislation into law. "More than a decade after Senator Kennedy began the effort to enact this legislation, we have finally acted to ensure that violence against members of any group because of who they are will not be tolerated," Leahy said after the ceremony. "It is one more step forward in protecting the civil rights of all Americans."

We can all take heart from what President Barack Obama said when he signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Violence Prevention Act: "The rights afforded every citizen under our Constitution mean nothing if we do not protect those rights -- both from unjust laws and violent acts."

Meanwhile, in the special election for a congressional seat in New York's 23rd District, voters made history by electing a Democrat for the first time since 1872. Bill Owens' victory came in the face of a conservative parade of famous - or perhaps notorious - conservative ideologues from out-of-state endorsing a candidate who did not live in the district and showed no knowledge whatsoever of the district's issues and concerns. It is a victory for Democrats, and for all the residents and voters of the 23rd District, from Plattsburgh on Lake Champlain to Oswego on Lake Ontario.

In supporting Owens, Republican former candidate Deirdre Scozzafava faithfully discharged her duty to her constituents by asking them to send someone to Congress who will represent all of them, and not just a few in the service of a fringe ideology. We join New Yorkers in appreciating the courage it took for the New York State Assemblywoman to cross party lines for the good of her District.

In electing Owens, upstate New Yorkers chose a candidate who is a neighbor and businessman and understands what's important to a rural northern populace. Voters chose not to be seduced by the ranters and ravers who wanted to use them to "send a message" to Washington. We applaud the voters of the 23rd District for their common sense and congratulate Bill Owens, New York's newest congressman.

Judy Bevans is chairwoman of the Vermont Democratic Party.