The States Matter: Dems Hit Hundred Year Low in States

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Saturday January 17, 2015 · 10:04 PM PST

2015/01/17 · 22:04

While not nearly as bad as the 2010 Tea Party wave, Republicans have increased number of seats that they hold by 350-450. (A number of states have undecided races still. This showing places Democratic representation in the states at a hundred year low.

Everything went in the direction of the GOP as Republicans seized new majorities in the West Virginia House, Nevada Assembly and Senate, New Hampshire House, Minnesota House and New York Senate, The West Virginia Senate is now tied. All results are unofficial pending recounts...
The lone bright spot for Democrats was holding majorities in the Iowa Senate and Kentucky House.

The overall number of divided state governments will increase with changes in governor in places such as Massachussets, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Maryland along with the legislatures in West Virginia, Minnesota and New York.

The Vermont legislature will have to choose the state's governor because incumbent Democrat Peter Shumlin did not pass the 50 percent threshold. The Democratic General Assembly will almost certainly install Shumlin as governor.

ManfromMiddletown

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday January 17, 2015 · 10:04 PM PST

2015/01/17 · 22:04

With all eyes on Washington, there's a quiet crisis going on in the states. Republicans have taken control of a large number of state legislatures in recent years. In 2010, the GOP took more than 700 seats (>10%) in a Tea Party takeover. Shortly after this, a wave of ALEC model bills (Right to Work, Voter ID, etc) appeared on state legislative agendas. It's almost certain that more of the same is on the way, if Republicans could take more state legislatures.

The Republican landslide in 2010 and the subsequent redistricting process in 2012 gave the GOP control of a nearly unprecedented number of legislative chambers. Today, the party controls 59 of the 98 partisan chambers in 49 states, while Democrats control only 39 chambers (One legislature, Nebraska’s is officially nonpartisan)...
“Whichever state legislative chambers Republicans fail to pick up this Election Day are likely out of the GOP’s reach for a decade,” said Carolyn Fiddler, a Democratic strategist who focuses on legislative seats at The Atlas Project. “Republicans will make their hay while the sun shines this year, but it could be their last chance to do so for quite some time.”

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The States Matter: Dems Hit Hundred Year Low in States

The States Matter: GOP Poised To Control Record # of State Legislatures