ALEXANDRIA, VA – In an election-night predicted to bring significant Republican gains, the GOP exceeded all expectations across the country taking control of at least 19 state legislative chambers and winning dozens of races for lieutenant governor, attorney general and secretary of state.
“Election Day proved to be an even bigger ‘wave’ election than anyone anticipated,” said Ed Gillespie, Chairman of the Republican State Leadership Committee. “Voters went to the polls and swept Democrats from office. As we enter a time with huge policy and political implications, new Republican officeholders will be given an opportunity to demonstrate common-sense conservative leadership and implement solutions that promise real results and positive change for voters.”
In comparison to past elections, all indications are that Republicans had more success than either party has seen in modern history. As of 8:30 a.m. ET, Republicans had gained more than 500 state legislative seats nationwide, outperforming the 472-seat Republican gains of 1994 and the 322-seat Democratic gains of 2006. Before yesterday’s elections, Democrats controlled 60 of the country’s state legislative chambers, Republicans 36. After yesterday’s elections, at this point, Democrats control 40 chambers, Republicans 55 and one evenly divided (the Oregon House).
Candidates for offices supported by the Republican
State Leadership Committee (RSLC) benefited from this national wave:
§ Republicans won 16 of 30 races for Attorney General (California outstanding) taking five (AZ, OK, GA, OH and KS) from the Democrats.
§ Republicans won 10 of 12 races for independently elected Lieutenant Governor netting three (taking AR, OK, LA and AL from the Democrats and losing California).
§ Republicans won 17 of 26 races for Secretary of State taking six (AR, OH, NM, CO, IA and KS) from the Democrats.
§ There are now 26 states where Republicans hold majorities in both legislative chambers, up from 15.
“This year’s mid-term elections played out the conventional wisdom that voters are fed up with the Democrats’ policies of higher taxes and out-of-control spending at the federal and state level. Today is a new day marked with new leadership following voters’ decisive actions,” said Tom Reynolds, RSLC Vice Chairman and Head of REDMAP.
The RSLC is the largest caucus of Republican state
leaders and the only national organization whose mission is to elect
down ballot, state-level Republican office-holders. Since 2002,
the RSLC has been working to elect candidates for the office of
attorney general, lieutenant governor, secretary of state and state
legislator. The RSLC has more than 100,000 donors in all 50
states. In February, The RSLC announced the creation of REDMAP which
is on pace to raise record amounts dedicated to winning seats and
legislative majorities that will critically impact redistricting in
2011.
RSLC: GOP CEMENTS RECORD SETTING STATE LEGISLATIVE MAJORITIES
As Results Continue to Finalize, They Indicate Strong Showing Where The Republican State Leadership Committee Was Involved
ALEXANDRIA, VA – As outstanding results continue to come in from across the country, they continue to show that Republicans made history this week by surpassing Democrats’ gains in the post-Watergate 1974 election and more than doubling their 2006 gains.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, “Republicans gained at least 680 seats on Tuesday” outperforming the 628-seat Democratic gains in 1974, the 472-seat Republican gains of 1994 and more than double the 322-seat Democratic gains of 2006. In addition, the NCSL reports “Republicans now hold about 3,890, or 53 percent, of the total state legislative seats in America, the most seats in the GOP column since 1928.”
“As we analyze these results and the state legislative gains, it becomes very apparent that Democrats cannot expect to recover anytime soon from this wave that swept them from office. This is not simply another cycle where some seats went back and forth and will soon move back the other way. This election doubled the Democrats’ 2006 performance and the next round of redistricting is likely to further cement these results,” observed RSLC Chairman Ed Gillespie.
More than a year ago the RSLC begin planning for the 2010 election
cycle, designing a strategy to maximize impact on Congressional
redistricting. That plan called for focusing resources on states
projected to gain or lose Congressional seats based on the most recent
Census data. The RSLC devoted resources to these states and won
complete victories in the Michigan House, Ohio House, Pennsylvania
House and the Wisconsin House and Senate. The New York Senate is
still to be determined, but appears likely to be a Republican pick-up
as well.
Specifically the RSLC:
- Spent $1.4 million targeting four New York State Senate seats, winning two and potentially controlling the New York State Senate (GOP currently ahead in enough seats to gain control, but recounts are expected).
- Spent nearly $1 million in Pennsylvania House races, targeting and winning three of the toughest races in the state (House Districts 39, 54, 130).
- Spent nearly $1 million in Ohio House races, targeting six seats, five of which were won by Republicans. Additionally, five of these six legislative districts were carried by President Obama in 2008.
- Spent $1 million in Michigan working with the Michigan House Republican Campaign Committee and Michigan Republican Party to pick up 20 seats in Michigan.
- Spent $750,000 in Texas as part of an effort that resulted in 22 House pick-ups.
- Spent $1.5 million in Wisconsin to take control of the Senate and Assembly, including spending $500,000 to target Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker. The RSLC was the only group to target Decker who was defeated soundly by Republican Pam Galloway.
- Committed resources to Colorado (over $550,000), North Carolina (over $1.2 million), and Alabama ($1.5 million).
The RSLC also invested more than $3 million across a number of other states including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Tennessee, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, Washington, Nevada, New Jersey and Oregon. In total, the RSLC raised more than $30 million for the 2009-2010 cycle, spending $18 million after Labor Day alone.
About the RSLC
The RSLC is the largest caucus of Republican state leaders and the only
national organization whose mission is to elect down ballot,
state-level Republican office-holders. Since 2002, the RSLC has
been working to elect candidates for the office of attorney general,
lieutenant governor, secretary of state and state legislator. The
RSLC has more than 100,000 donors in all 50 states.
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