THE STATES: The Governors

Their ranks gravely broken at the national level, Republicans fared better at the state line, but not enough for any consolation prizes. In the 32 states that elected Governors, Republicans picked up four seats, lost seven for sure, with two more still in doubt. Key results:

Arizona: Riding in Senator Barry Goldwater's wake. Republicans turned a predicted loss into an unexpected gain, elected Republican Paul Fannin, 51, over State Attorney General Robert Morrison, whose youthful jail term (for bad checks) got plenty of campaign publicity.

Colorado: By a 2-to-1 majority, Democratic Incumbent Stephen L. R. McNichols won reelection, dragged all but one of the state party slate along with him.

Connecticut: In a record-busting burst of bipartisanship, voters handed Incumbent Abraham Ribicoff, 48, the biggest plurality for a Democrat in state history —and his second term.

Iowa: Democratic Incumbent Herschel Loveless' corn-belt syntax and his rumpled common-man appeal, plus rural discontent with Ezra Taft Benson, all combined to give Loveless the nod over Republican William G. Murray, whose polished professorial phrases were largely wasted on Iowa ears.

Kansas: For the first time since it became a state, Kansas handed a second term to a Democratic Governor. The winner, Banker George Docking, shrewdly spent his first two years building a smooth-running donkey engine in this G.O.P. stronghold, won friends in thrifty Kansas by vetoing a state sales tax increase, relied on bounteous crops and rural content, neatly knocked down promising Republican Contender Clyde Reed Jr.

Maryland: In a no-personality contest between longtime (17 years) State Comptroller J. Millard Tawes and Republican Congressman James P. S. Devereux, ex-Marine war hero, Democratic Workhorse Tawes coasted all the way in to recapture the Governor's chair for Democrats.

Massachusetts: Running on his generally undistinguished two years in office, Democrat Foster Furcolo piled up an early 2-to-1 victory margin.

Michigan: Democrat "Soapy" Williams, who has the habit, was tidily re-elected to his sixth term.

Minnesota: Relaxed behind a tradition of Democrat-Farm-Labor Party strength, Incumbent Democrat Orville L. Freeman, 40, seized an early and commanding lead over Republican George MacKinnon, held it.

Nevada: Swept under in the Democratic wave: Republican Governor Charles H. Russell, beaten by Democrat Grant Sawyer.

New Hampshire: Normally Republican, the state stayed that way, elected Republican Wesley Powell to fill the shoes of retiring Governor Lane Dwinell.

New Mexico: An outside hope to hang on to his seat, three-time Republican Governor Edwin L. Mechem, 46, fell before Democrat John Burroughs, 51, a peanut processor from Portales.