REPUBLICAN WAVE SWEEPS THROUGH LEGISLATIVE, GOVERNOR RACES

Nicholas Riccardi
The Sun
November 4, 2010

DENVER -- The huge GOP gains in this election weren't limited to congressional and gubernatorial campaigns. Republicans won more than 600 state legislative races, taking control of at least 18 chambers across the country and positioning themselves for years of electoral advantage through control of redistricting.

The GOP now holds more state legislative seats than it has since 1928, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Coupled with the strong showing in governor races - the party claimed 11 new seats while losing two to Democrats - Republicans now hold an edge in the once-a-decade battle for power that involves redrawing congressional and state legislative districts.

This year "will go down as a defining political election that will shape the national political landscape for at least the next 10 years," said Tim Storey, elections specialist with the state legislatures conference.

Even the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee could not put much of a positive spin on the results.

"It does essentially give them a leg up on the redistricting process," spokeswoman Carolyn Fiddler said.

Ed Gillespie, chairman of the DLCC's Republican counterpart, noted that before Tuesday night, Democrats had controlled 60 state chambers and Republicans 36. Now, he said, Democrats have 40.

Notable was GOP dominance in key swing states like Ohio. Former Rep. John Kasich ousted the incumbent Democratic governor.

Other key Rust Belt states now completely under GOP control include Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. In all three, Republicans took over the legislature and replaced a Democratic governor with one of their own party. They also won a key victory in Florida, where Republican businessman Rick Scott narrowly defeated Democratic state Treasurer Alex Sink for governor.

In another tight race, Connecticut's Dan Malloy created a transition team to become governor, the first Democrat to hold the office in two decades. Unofficial results showed Malloy defeating Republican Tom Foley by a little more than 3,000 votes out of more than 1.1 million cast. Foley also announced he was forming a transition team but said it was too early to decide whether he will challenge the results in court.

News services contributed.
Remap masters?

Republican strategist Ed Gillespie says Tuesday's vote means the GOP will control the redrawing of 40 of the nation's 70 most competitive congressional districts.