Democrats Sink to Pre–Great Depression Levels in State Legislatures

NRO ^ | November 5, 2014 8:14 AM | John Fund

[GonzoII]

In addition to the GOP gains in the U.S., Senate, House and governorships it was an historic night for the party in state legislatures.

Here is the summary by Tim Storey of the National Conference of State Legislatures:

The Republican wave that swept over the states left Democrats at their weakest point in state legislatures since the 1920s.

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.

Control of several legislative chambers was still up in the air early Wednesday as counting continued in several tight races that will determine control of the Colorado Senate, New Mexico House and Maine Senate.

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.

UPDATE: Republicans have taken control of the Colorado senate and the New Mexico house. They also have a chance to win the Colorado house and the Washington house, after mail-in ballots are finally counted. The state legislative chambers now stand at 65 Republican, 23 Democrat, 1 tie, and 4 undecided.

[GonzoII]

Let's build on it.

[Steely Tom]

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.

I thought last night was all about turning out the incumbents.

I'd like to see a comparison of the number of Democrat incumbents defeated against the number of Republican incumbents defeated.

[goldstategop]

In Colorado, the Senate as well as House is now GOP. This is excellent news even with Beauprez going down.

[GonzoII]

"Republicans have taken control of the Colorado senate and the New Mexico house."

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[MNDude]

I remember reading that in 2010 many of the defeated democrats went into VERY deep depression and had to go see shrinks for weeks.

I sure hope many of them are suffering the same way again.

[cotton1706]

Fantastic!! I was waiting to hear on this!

[9YearLurker]

A rather mixed message in NH.

[donozark]

Do you know if a recount will happen in Co. Gov race? Some say yes, some say no???

[goldstategop]

It will be automatic.

[JSDude1]

This is why the 17th Amendment should be repealed.

[Dilbert San Diego]

Significant events can happen at the state level.

In recent years, we have seen cutbacks in abortion, and new policies such as Walker’s efforts in Wisconsin to cut back the power of public employee unions.

Both of these are changing the debates in this country on these issues. And they are happening in the state legislatures, not in Washington, DC.

Don’t under estimate the power of states to make positive changes in the direction of the country. Not everything important has to happen in Washington, DC.

[donozark]

Perhaps we can pull this out yet. Virginia is doubtful given all the fraud, but we may have a chance in CO. Always love seeing gun-grabbers tossed out of office...

[apillar]

West Virginia really surprised me, not only did they turn the entire congressional delegation Republican and send Shelly Moore-Capito to the senate (leaving poor lonely Joe Manchin as the ONLY WV democrat in a federal office), but WV also elected a Republican State house, for the first time since 1930...and not by a slender margin, 63-36 at current count, they also went took a 17/17 tie in the State Senate, which nobody was predicting, giving them essentially ideological control of the Senate considering their a few conservative democrat State Senators that will vote with the Republicans or might switch parties altogether.

[Tennessean4Bush]

Complete and utter wipeout.

[Rainier1789]

A top agenda item for states with Republican legislatures and governors should be to take on public employee unions and their budget-busting pensions, work rules and wages. Make joining voluntary and make the unions bill directly for the dues.

So far I have seen only Scott Walker (Wisconsin) in the news for doing this. Now several other state governments should stand up to NEA, AFSME, SEIU and CWA while they have the chance.

[Luke21]

They said 1994 was anti-incumbent too.

[laplata]

Thanks, GonzoII.

[Slyfox]

I am looking forward to Hussein doing stuff now. Anything he does now will be because he and Jarrett have decided how they are going to respond to our tantrum.

WE ARE BIGGER THAN HIS PEN AND HIS PHONE.

[Slyfox]

Democrats Sink to Pre–Great Depression Levels in State Legislatures

That was when old Calvin Coolidge was in office. Ronald Reagan would be so proud.

[laplata]

FYI