Forget D.C., look what Republicans won in state legislatures

LA Times ^ | 11/3/10 | Andrew Malcolm

[FTJM]

So much of the national media's attention is focused Wednesday, shockingly, on Washington, where they live and work and where Republicans captured a half-dozen new Senate seats and five dozen new House seats. But out where most regular Americans live and work, voters also made historic changes -- to the long-lasting benefit of Republicans.

This is especially important in years ending in '00 because these newly elected governors and state legislators will (with the exception of California) be the ones redrawing legislative and congressional district lines that will stand for the next decade until the 2020 census. And occupying the governor's mansion puts that party in control of an immense statewide political apparatus to help its presidential ticket two years hence.

Come January, Republicans will now run crucial governors' offices in.... ...major presidential battleground states like Florida (Rick Scott), Ohio (John Kasich), Pennsylvania (Tom Corbett) and Iowa, where former Gov. Terry Branstad returns.

New Mexico voters elected their first female governor, Republican Susana Martinez, a Latino. Sometimes-maligned South Carolina voters chose Nikki Haley, who is not only the state's first female governor but only the nation's second of Indian American descent (Louisiana's Bobby Jindal being the other.) Oklahoma also picked its first female governor, Republican Mary Fallin.

According to the authoritative Stateline.org, the country's contests for governor and lieutenant governor cost $850 million. Heading into 2012, the GOP will control at least 29 of the 50 governor's suites.

Perhaps more importantly, the Republican wave at the national level was also felt at the grass-roots level, where Republicans gained control of at least 19 more state legislative chambers, possibly two dozen as vote-counting continues.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

” I’ve been telling anyone who will listen that the real Slaughterhouse wasn’t in Washington, it was in the State Capitals. “

Absolutely.
It’s going to take awhile to sink in, but, what happened on the state levels is absolutely catastrophic for the Democrats .
And a scenario that not even the most optimistic conservative Republican could have predicted.
It’s historic and epic.

[Michael.SF.]

braggart.

;)

[lapsus calami]

 

I’ve been saying that the real victory, although winning the House was great, was the wins at lower levels of government, this is where we have to start if we are going to ever take America back for real

 

Absolutely - this is the big story no one is covering. I flitted from thread to thread last night, looking at what was going on in various states and locales, and the big picture has yet to be fully described. Pundits have been agonizing over the House/Senate situation in D.C. as if that's the center of everything, but it's not. Anyone who focused solely on the D.C. races has missed out on the true scale of the tsunami that hit last night. There was a shakeup all the way down to county commissioners and justices of the peace. The city councils, county governments, state legislatures, governor's, attorney general and secretary of state's offices are where the battle will be joined - there has been much complaint and worry that there hasn't been any tangible counter-balance against the oppression coming out of D.C., but yet there is, here in the states. Losing control of the House is just one of many bad things that happened to the commiecrats.

 

 

[sergeantdave]

This Marxist moron thinks of collectivist groups. I think we elected Americans.

[rabidralph]

The same thing happened in Wisconsin and not since 1998.

[SamAdams76]

I agree. The state legislators of today are tomorrow’s congressman, senators...and presidents.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Remember the old days: ‘As Maine goes so goes Vermont’, as the only states to vote GOP for President?

[OrioleFan]

Ohio:

Governor
Treasurer
Secretary of State
Attorney General
State Auditor
State House

A Real Republican to replace a RINO in the US Senate
Picked up 5 US House seats (now 13-R, 5-D)

In addition the entire State Supreme Court is Republican including the Chief Justice.

As a result, the Reapportionment Board will have 4 Republicans and 1 Democrat.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Wisconsin here. I was all set to move to TX if WI did not turn red. It did big time. Republican Gov, Republican Senator, 5 out of 8 Congressional districts are Republican, and the entire legislature is Republican.

These victories at the local and state level are important, because they're breeding grounds for Washington. Look at how much younger Republicans are vs Democrats in Washington.

[TChris]

Once again, the party has a huge opportunity.

...if they can only manage not to screw it up.

Don't play compromise bingo with liberals. Don't fall for Lucy's trick any more! We have NEVER gained ANYTHING from compromising with the Left.

Stick with proven, conservative principles and preserve an honorable character in everything you do.

Don't let the Left frame/spin conservative principles as "mean spirited", but always be ready to explain why it's the right thing to do.

Conservatism is the Right Thing, and it works every single time!

[CharlesMartelsGhost]

Also NC and Alabama for the first time since the 1870s.

[rbmillerjr]

marked

[magna carta]

I was hoping Tancredo would win so he and Brewer could carpool to the 9th circuit & SCOTUS together.

[arrogantsob]

1875 Wow.

[calex59]

I read some guy today, can’t remember who, who said that over 1,000 democrats lost their seats in state races last night and some were still being decided. That is a huge amount of dimwits to kick out of government and the country can only be better for it.

[SuperLuminal]

"Ohio:

Gee! Who is our vietnam hero with the Heinz ketchup backbone going to whine about in 2012?

[tenger]

Any real convincing reason we're still stuck at 435 for all these years? nothing in the constitution about 435, is there? Don't recall.

Thirty Thousand.

Instead of 1:700,000 constituents, why not 1:30,000 people? Just a thought.