DENVER—In 20 of the past 28 presidential-cycle elections, the party
winning the White House has gained seats in state legislatures. Thanks
in large part to a Democratic gain of more than 100 seats in the New
Hampshire House, it will be 21 of 29 winning years for the presidential
party.
In the first state legislative election since redistricting, voters
cast ballots in 44 states for men and women running for 6,034 state
legislative seats. Democrats appear to have regained control of seven
chambers that they had lost in 2010, but Republicans claimed four
chambers previously controlled by the Democrats.
The biggest surprise of the election night was the New Hampshire House
where Democrats won a majority. The preliminary numbers for the Granite
State House are 217-177 (six undecided). Going into the election
Republicans had a 288-102 margin, so the Democrats appear to have
picked up at least 115 seats.
Thanks to an apparent historic victory in Arkansas, Republicans gained
control of the old South, turning the once solidly Democratic 11 states
of the Confederacy upside down.
Arkansas was probably the biggest prize for the GOP at the state level.
Republicans switched the Senate, and the House has a tentative 51-49
Republican majority, including one seat with a 44-vote margin that is
subject to a recount. If the House numbers hold, this will be the first
time since Reconstruction that Republicans have controlled the
Razorback State.
Republicans won back the Wisconsin Senate while holding onto the
Assembly. The Badger State Senate had only been in the hands of
Democrats for a few months since recalls switched Senate seats back in
the summer.
The Alaska Senate and the Oregon House were both tied headed into
Tuesday. In 2012, the Republicans took the Alaska Senate and Democrats
took the House in Oregon.
Democrats appear to have gained a narrow majority in the New York
Senate. If this is the case, it is the second time since 1966 that
Democrats have taken control of this chamber. Democrats now control
both legislative chambers and the governor’s mansion in the Empire
State for only the second time since 1935, a feat they also
accomplished from 2008 to 2010.
Democrats won back the Colorado House 37-28, giving the party control
of the House, Senate and governor’ office. And Democrats have seized
back control of both chambers in Minnesota and Maine. All four of those
chambers went to Republicans in the wave election of 2010.
The 2012 state legislature partisan composition shows that the nation
may have the lowest number of divided state legislatures in more than
30 years. Only Iowa, Kentucky, New Hampshire and Virginia have divided
legislatures, but in Virginia, the lieutenant governor casts the
tie-breaking vote, so it is fair to qualify Virginia as a unified
Republican legislature leaving just three states with divided
legislatures. The last time there were fewer divided legislatures was
in 1928 when there were two.
The nation also gained one additional state legislative seat. The New
York Senate grew from 62 to 63 as a result of a redistricting change,
bringing the total number of state legislators to 7,383.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 7, here are the big numbers:
NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs 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.