HotAir documents and important stat that I didn’t know about… WE ROCK in other words:
Of all the stories of the great Republican wave election of 2010, one of the stories that didn’t get wide play is just how dominant the GOP was in state elections. Republicans claimed a record 680 state legislative seats around the country, 52 more than the old record, set by Democrats in 1974 and 208 more than they picked up in the 1994 Gingrich Revolution. The right now controls both chambers of 26 state legislatures.
And the hits just keep coming. In the past couple of weeks, at least 11 Democratic state legislators have switched sides — one in South Dakota, one in Maine, , one in Louisiana, two in Georgia, and four in Alabama. In Louisiana, the switch gives Republicans control of one house of the government for the first time since Reconstruction; in Alabama, the Republicans control both houses for the first time since 1874.
The obvious reason these wins are important is that 44 states will start redrawing their Congressional districts next year. Many of the states in the South now controlled by Republicans will pick up House seats and few of them will be inclined to treat Democratic incumbents well. The lines drawn next year could help cement Republican control of the house not only in 2012 but perhaps for the next decade or more….
And from the Virtuous Republic (where the above graphic is from) breaks down said graphic:
Republicans have added over 675 seats to their ranks in this election, dramatically surpassing 1994 gains. This number could go even higher as the tallies in the undecided races are determined. The chamber switches thus far are all Democratic to Republican except for Montana House which was tied and is now Republican, and the Oregon House which was Democratic and is now tied. Changes are:
GOP gains:
Alabama – House and Senate
Colorado – House
Indiana – House
Iowa – House
Maine – House and Senate
Michigan – House
Minnesota – House and Senate
Montana – House
New Hampshire – House and Senate
North Carolina – House and Senate
Ohio – House
Pennsylvania – House
Wisconsin – Assembly and Senate
Tied: Oregon House; Alaska Senate
Three chambers still undecided: New York – Senate; Oregon – Senate; Washington – Senate
(click map at top of post to read more)
