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PrintNovember 3, 2010
State House Tsunami
The GOP had enormous success is taking control of state legislatures last night. This new power will have an impact in redistricting efforts for U.S House seats, and for state legislative districts. It also gives Republicans a bigger role in state fiscal issues- budgets, taxes, spending. It appears that at least 15 State House or Senate chambers had a change in control to the GOP last night, , giving the Party control of more chambers than the Democrats now hold . Here is a link to see the before and after by chamber by state.
With all the national media attention focused on the U.S. Senate a big story was overlooked last night. The GOP may now have more power in the state legislatures than at any time since the 1920s.
- Going into the 2010 elections, Democrats held 60 partisan legislative chambers and Republicans held 36, with a couple of ties.
- It looks like the GOP has picked up an astounding 20 chambers, including both houses in Alabama, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Wisconsin and additional chambers in Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
- In total legislative seats, it is possible that after all the results are posted, Republicans will have won a nationwide majority.
The Minnesota State Senate hasn't been controlled by Republicans since the state made candidates run by partisan designation in 1972. The state legislatures in Alabama and North Carolina have not been controlled by Republicans since Reconstruction. In New England, a place where the GOP was written off as all but dead, the Maine legislature flipped Republican.
There will be 18 states that have either gained or lost a Congressional seat or seats as a result of the 2010 census. Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania will lose seats. Republicans now control at least one house in the legislatures in those states. They also have a lock on the legislature in the big winner in new Congressional seats- Texas.
The Texas and Tennessee Houses went from virtually tied to massive Republican gains. The gains in Texas were so big that the Republicans no longer need the Democrats to get state constitutional amendments out of the state legislature.
As the work of redistricting begins, I'd watch for urban Democrats from states that have lost seats to announce they are retiring from office.
Richard Baehr adds:
The GOP had enormous success is taking control of state legislatures last night. This new power will have an impact in redistricting efforts for U.S House seats, and for state legislative districts. Here is a link to see the before and after by chamber by state.
Richard Baehr adds:
The GOP had enormous success is taking control of state legislatures last night. This new power will have an impact in redistricting efforts for U.S House seats, and for state legislative districts. Here is a link to see the before and after by chamber by state.
