First some numbers
Well first a little prediction validation. The House – I said “196/239 GOP – a solid majority.” There are still some races to be finalized, but the Republican count presently sits at 239. I’m no Nate Silver, but I’m pretty pleased with that.
On the Senate, I said “final tally 51/49 Dems. +8 for the GOP”. It stands at +6 with the Washington and Colorado races to go. Unfortunately I think the Dems will end up taking both of those.
I didn’t do governors here, but at another site, Liberty Pundits, I said the GOP would go 31 –18-1 in total governorships. Right now it stands at 27 – 15 – 1 with 7 yet to be called. In those 7, 4 have the GOP candidate with a slight lead and 3 have Dems with a slight lead. If they finish that way, the total will be 31-18-1.
Some numbers no one paid much attention too but are tied in with the governors races – what happened in some statehouses. Don’t forget this is a reapportionment year since we’ve had a census. So the GOP has positioned itself very well with the governorships it has won (or will win). Yesterday, movement in state legislatures all went to the right.
State Senates shifting control from [Democrats to Republican]: MN, WI, ME, NH, NY, NC, AL. From [GOP to Democrats]– zero. State Houses shifting control from [Democrats to Republicans]: ME, NH, PA, OH, IN, MI, WI, IA, OR, NC, AL. From [GOP to Democrats]– zero.
That’s big.
More to come.
~McQ
Since the No. Carolina General Assembly has gone (R) for the first time since Reconstruction, I have fond hopes that the ridiculous 12th CD, which looks like a snake dropped in the middle of a map of the state, will be redrawn in a more sensible manner.
My, the next couple of years are going to be interesting!
Yes, the Dems will win those two Senate races left. The ballot boxes are already in trunks awaiting discovery
Sad but true.
The action in the states is destined to have a much bigger impact over the long run. First, these Republican led states can be turned into models of fiscal effectiveness and a more limited government approach. Second, it sets up the basis for a national comparison. Democrats governing in the big blue states versus Republicans governing in the the other regions of the country. Third, as one of the smart guys noted on TV last night, the states are the farm system of national politics. Finally, the Democrats may come to regret some of the hard choices they face. Which argument would you rather make: We are cutting the state budget by 5% OR We have to cut the state budget by 5% and we have to raise your taxes to pay for pensions.