Rising number of states seeing one-party rule

The Washington Times ^ | November 10, 2012 | Keely Brazil

[george76]

In a little-noticed footnote to last week’s election, state legislature elections this year have produced the highest number of states with one-party rule in 60 years. Democrats or Republicans now have sole control of the governorship and both legislative chambers in 37 state capitals around the country.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), which tracks party representation in the country’s 50 state governments, Democrats now control all three bases of power – the governorship and both houses of the state legislature – in 14 states and Republicans in 23, with only 12 states sharing power. (Nebraska’s unicameral legislature is considered nonpartisan.)

Regional power bases are also emerging, with Democrats increasingly dominating state governments across New England.

Conversely, after last week’s vote, the GOP for the first time since 1872 now controls the Arkansas House and Senate. Just 20 years ago, Republicans didn’t have a majority in a single legislative house in the states of the old Confederacy – now they control all 11.

The number of states with divided government is down from 31 just 16 years ago to 12 today, prompting speculation on the country’s evolving partisan geography.

[WildHighlander57]

Also paper ballots, purple ink voters’ fingers to stop voting twice, locked boxes with audit trails, count ballots right at the local polling place.

ID is only one piece of the solution.

Need to ensure the COUNT is not fraudulent.

[entropy12]

Can we divide this country in two? Cessation baby!

[entropy12]

All good suggestions!

[Dapper 26]

There are a lot if ice cream vendors out there giving away free ice cream.

[no-to-illegals]

Really bad news this AM (maybe unrelated) .. Large Blast In Indy ... http://news.yahoo.com/indy-blast-2-homes-destroyed-more-afire-061319439.html;_ylt=Aqjdnf5zQ9eoc4FTvnc9Z2MJVux_;_ylu=X3oDMTIxNTFwdjhlBG1pdANBVFQgSG9tZSBXaWRnZXRyb24gVGVzdCAxBHBvcwM0BHNlYwNNZWRpYUF0dFdpZGdldHJvbkFzc2VtYmx5;_ylg=X3oDMTFpNzk0NjhtBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3

[Eagles6]

dems control the political power bases. Republicans control where the food and energy are produced. Let’s play chicken.

[Roccus]

Battle lines are being drawn.

And what exactly would be your demarcation? On which side would you place a state that has not voted for a RAT Presidential cxandidate in 16 years, that is one of only three states where Zer0 didn't win a single county last Tuesday and yet for decades has been (and remains) firmly under RAT control?

[UnwashedPeasant]

We can have a peaceful secession the way they did it when Norway and Sweden split in 1905. Norway wanted out, and the Swedes were happy to let them go.

Democrats think the Republican states are all backward hillbillies and will be glad to let them go.

[Dusty Road]

Is it time to split the electorial votes between districts and finally give the people in outlying areas a little representation?

[doberville]

Unless we get rid of The Mikes we are doomed.

[Malesherbes]

My guess is that you are speaking of West Virginia.

Just like Arkansas, it will eventually come around. The epiphany will come when Jay Rockefeller is finally dumped.

[Roccus]

The epiphany will come when Jay Rockefeller is finally dumped.

The corruption and dysfunctionality of the WV GOP makes that an event I would bet my life savings against ever happening.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

We almost always have one-party rule in my state, and it’s always the wrong party!

Maryland “Freak State” PING!

[Impy]

To recap the state leg races

We won both Houses in Arkansas for the first time since the Grant Administration. We barley have the House 51-48 with a former Harlem globetrotter winning one seat as a Green (you can’t make this stuff up, he was a former rat state rep who was forced out for some reason). As with other southern states we can probably expect some party switches to pad the majority.

We won the Alaska State Senate which had been tied and even before the tie was controlled by a disgusting rat-rino coalition. At least 13 (out of 20 seats) Republicans were elected with rat leader Hollis French narrowly ahead in one outstanding race. They elected new leadership and put the coalition to an end.

We won back the Wisconsin Senate as expected (we lost it thanks to those lame ass recalls).

And now the losses

Both Houses in Maine.

Both Houses in Minnesota (I think the Senate is a 4 year term)

The New Hampshire House (we kept the Senate 13-11) Obama lovers voting straight ticket dem in NH.

The New York Senate, again ( :( )

The Colorado House which we narrowly had won in 2010.

And we lost the tie we had in the Oregon House.

And it looks like fraud keeps democrats in charge of the Iowa Senate.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

The court finds no problem with how the Congressional districts in Maryland were gerrymandered. If you look at the areas carried by Romney, how can the court find that “fair” representation is provided in Maryland?

I know TSR, “Forget about it JVb’s, it's Maryland.”

[who knows what evil?]

I live in Idaho where we DO have voter I.D. We went about 70/30 for R and R. FUBO!!!

Dozens of red counties in Tennessee had similar results. Conservatives...get to a red state...there is strength in numbers.

[who knows what evil?]

Also paper ballots, purple ink voters’ fingers to stop voting twice, locked boxes with audit trails, count ballots right at the local polling place.

Get RID of 'early voting'. I am a big fan of paper ballots...I can wait a few days for the results on an HONEST election. The one last week was NOT honest, and we all know it.

[campaignPete R-CT]

Nh House is bizarre. How can you go from 70% to minority? Perhaps there is no franking, so incumbents have little advantage. it also means they did not work their districts hard during their term. Of course, the pay is minimal so it is very part time.

I met Speaker O’Brien during the Newt campaign. Not impressed. Not at all. So if he gets the blame, that is fine. It is depressing for the conservatives who live in Nh that they are under complete assault, both by the RINO GOP leadership and then the inundation of liberalism into their state. They should have passed tough border control laws and immigration restrictions years ago when the MASS border was less porous.

[who knows what evil?]

It is depressing for the conservatives who live in Nh that they are under complete assault, both by the RINO GOP leadership and then the inundation of liberalism into their state.

I have lobbying conservatives to get out of Red Hampshire for several years. NH Freepers kept arguing their case..."look what 2010 did for the State Legislature...Republicans everywhere...NH is back on the road to conservative rule.'

Oops.

They have been conspicuously silent the past week or so...they have NOTHING to hang their hat on...except Lindsay Graham's new BFF, Kelley Ayotte. (snicker)

[AuH2ORepublican]

I take it that we need to get more beermakers to run as Republicans, since they’re the only ones who won last Tuesday? I mean, that’s what I assume you meant when you wrote:

“We barley have the House 51-48”

And, a few minutes earlier:

“Who won in an Obama state? Heller, barley.”

: )