With the redistricting process just a few election cycles away, Democrats are hoping to parlay a Clinton rout in November into down-ballot wins that help to trim the GOP's huge advantage in state legislatures nationwide. Republicans currently hold a majority in at least 69 of 99 state chambers, which hold the key to the 2020 redistricting process that could help level the playing field for Democrats in the U.S. House. Reid Wilson reports:
Republicans have total control of the redistricting process in 20 states, including Florida, Wisconsin, Michigan, Texas and North Carolina. Democrats have total control of the redistricting process in just four states, only one of which — Illinois — is home to a significant number of Republican members of Congress. [...]
Democrats have decent chances to win 11 Republican-held legislative chambers. Six of those chambers, state Senates in Colorado, Nevada, New York, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia, would change hands if Democrats are able to win only a single seat.
Democrats hope to make more substantial gains in the Maine Senate and in state House chambers in Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico and Pennsylvania.
Democratic strategists say finishing the year with control of 40 state legislatures is the goal. To that end, Dems will be painting all GOP candidates with the broad brush strokes of Trump, who has thus far proven repellant to many important voting blocs.
In the meantime, Republicans are targeting gains in Iowa, where Democrats have just a two-seat advantage in the state senate, and Kentucky, where Democrats maintain a six-seat advantage in the House.