I don't think this has been covered yet in the diaries, but I think the Dems picking up control of several statehouses rivals the major gains in congressional races last night.
According to the excellent Stateline.org news organization, the Democratic wave swept over the 6,119 state legislative races last night. It reported final results will show whether Dems "were able to break a near-even split in partisan control of state legislatures."
Democratic gains vastly outnumbered Republican gains in the nation's state legislatures Nov. 7, enough to take control of legislative chambers in at least six states - including the New Hampshire House for the first time since at least 1922.
In New Hamphire, Dems gained more than 60 seats to take majority of the 400-member House and also picked up six Senate seats to gain control of that chamber. Coupled with Gov. Lynch's easy win, the Dems are in full control of what was once an identifiable and undeniable Red State.
In Iowa, Dems took control of both chambers of Iowa's legislature in addition to Chet Culver's win to keep the governership.
Other states where Republicans lost control to Democrats include:
The Indiana House, where Democrats won control with a 51-49 majority in a chamber that has changed hands in seven of the past 10 elections, including 2004 when the GOP prevailed. Republicans held their 33-17 majority in the state Senate.
Michigan Democrats took control of the state House for the first time in 12 years, gaining six seats for a 58-52 majority. Results for the Michigan Senate, where Republicans had a majority, were not yet available.
In Minnesota, Democrats will now control both legislative chambers after winning 20 seats to take an 86-48 majority in the House and keeping control of the state Senate.
The Wisconsin Statehouse will be split between the parties, with Democrats taking control in the state Senate but the GOP maintaining a majority of the House.
Dems also widened majorities in the Colorado, Kentucky and North Carolina statehouses, according to Stateline.org. The GOP only won in Oklahoma and even then gained only two seats to get a tie in the state Senate.
Going into last night's races across 46 states, the parties were essentially even in statehouse control.
Nationally, Democrats held just 21 more seats than the GOP going into the midterm election. Republicans had majorities in both legislative chambers in 20 states, while Democrats controlled 19 statehouses. Ten statehouses were split between the parties, and Nebraska has the nation's only non-partisan, unicameral Legislature.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, there are four chambers too close to call: Montana House and Senate, Oregon House and the Pennsylvania House.
I've heard some folks say that state legislatures are considered the minor leagues for congressional seats. True to a degree, but state legislatures hold great power - financially and otherwise - that have a much greater effect on people's daily lives than Congress.