Updated November 29 at 11 a.m. MT.
Democrats Make Major Gains in Nation's State Legislatures
DENVER— The two major parties are no longer locked in parity in state legislatures. Wresting control from the GOP in all of the chambers that changed hands outright, the Democrats now control the legislatures and state governments in more states than they have since 1994. And not since that election year have so many of the chamber switches gone one way.
As of 11 a.m. MT on November 29, Democrats control both houses of the legislature in 23 states; Republicans in 15 and 11 are split. This adds up to 49 states because Nebraska's legislature is nonpartisan.
The Montana House, which has changed hands several times since the election, is now in the Republican column. On Nov. 29, a recount left a Republican the winner of a race that appeared tied, giving that chamber 50 Republicans, 49 Democrats and 1 Constitution Party member. On the Senate side, a Republican senator announced that he will switch to the Democratic party, giving Democrats a 26-24 majority in the Senate and taking that chamber out of the tied category.
In Pennsylvania on Nov. 28, a recount of a tight race gave the Democrats a 102-101 majority in the House, putting this Legislature in the "split" category. Previously, it appeared that Republicans controlled both chambers. The Pennsylvania Senate remains under GOP control.
Before the election, Republicans controlled 20 state legislatures; Democrats 19 and 10 were split. Complete pre- and post-election control is at StateVote 2006.
Democrats picked up roughly 322 more state legislative seats, adding up to new majorities in 10 chambers: the Iowa House and Senate, the Indiana House, the Minnesota House, the Michigan House, the New Hampshire House and Senate, the Oregon House, the Pennsylvania House and the Wisconsin Senate. (The Iowa Senate was previously tied.)
After several weeks of switching hands, the GOP grabbed a one-seat majority in the Montana House after recounts in mid November. That chamber was previously tied. Republicans picked up a few seats in the Oklahoma Senate to tie that chambers, but Democrats will likely retain functional control there. In Oklahoma, the Constitution says the lieutenant governor casts deciding votes. And she is a Democrat.
"The voters expressed a real desire for change, and all in one direction," said NCSL's elections expert Tim Storey. "The Democrats have put some light between the two parties. This isn't parity anymore."
Both parties have been at or near even in terms of the number of states controlled since '94.
Storey said the news could have been worse for Republicans this year.
The party of the president has lost seats in every midterm election but one since 1938. George W. Bush bucked the trend in in 2002. He didn't pull that off again, but his party lost a below-average number of seats. In an average midterm election, Storey said, the party of the president loses around 360 seats.
| |
2006 |
1994 |
| Chambers switching parties |
9, R to D.
1, tied to R.
1, tied to D. |
20, D to R.
|
| Chambers that tied |
OK Senate:
D to tied.
|
NV Senate:
D to tied. |
| Seats new majority party gained |
Democrats: 323 |
Republicans: 472 | |
|
Pundits predicted this year would be similar to 1994, in terms of the magnitude of the takeover. In 1994, Newt Gingrich and his "Contract with America" catapulted the Republicans back into play after decades of Democrat power in states.
Before that election, the GOP held both chambers in 8 states. Afterward, that number jumped to 19, as Republicans won 472 additional state legislative seats. Democrats didn't win that many this year. |
Prior to the election, NCSL identified 10 states where one or both chambers would be battlegrounds: the Colorado House and Senate, the Indiana House, the Iowa House and Senate, the Maine House and Senate, the Minnesota House, the Montana House, the North Carolina House, the Oklahoma Senate, the Oregon House, and the Tennessee Senate. Seven of those chambers switched.
NCSL is the bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staff of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.
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