By Matt Vespa | Townhall.com
Source: AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Elections matter at all levels. We know this. From
governor to seats in the state legislature, these are all key. Controlling the
state legislatures is essential for a host of reasons, not least being that it
determines the congressional maps. While COVID, the 2020 presidential race, and
other issues dominated the cycle, this year, a census year, was where a change
in these institutions could determine the power map regarding the House of
Representatives for the next ten years. Democrats were hopeful—and they
failed miserably to flip state legislatures. So, while the votes are
being counted in the presidential race still, here’s the bloodbath that ensued
in the battle for the state capitols. It also showed the Trump is not toxic to
the GOP ticket. Even Democrats were saying he was a "buoy" not an
anchor and overperformed allowing these candidates to win their races
(via Politico)
[emphasis mine]:
An
abysmal showing by Democrats in state legislative races on Tuesday not only
denied them victories in Sun Belt and Rust Belt states that would have
positioned them to advance their policy agenda — it also put the party at a
disadvantage ahead of the redistricting that will determine the balance of
power for the next decade.
The
results could domino through politics in America, helping the GOP draw
favorable congressional and state legislative maps by ensuring Democrats remain
the minority party in key state legislatures. Ultimately, it could mean more
Republicans in Washington — and in state capitals.
By
Wednesday night, Democrats
had not flipped a single statehouse chamber in its favor. And it
remained completely blocked from the map-making process in several key states —
including Texas, North Carolina and Florida, which could have a combined 82
congressional seats by 2022 — where the GOP retained control of the state
legislatures.
[…]
“It’s
clear that Trump isn’t an anchor for the Republican legislative candidates.
He’s a buoy,”
said Christina Polizzi, a spokesperson for the Democratic Legislative Campaign
Committee, on Wednesday. “He overperformed media expectations, Democratic and
Republican expectations, and lifted legislative candidates with him.”
Democrats
had a disappointing night in congressional and state legislative races across
the country, as they realized the suburban revolt against Trump did not
extend in 2020.
[…]
Votes
are still being tallied, but it appears Democrats missed nearly all of their
top targets —
though there's a slight chance they could gain control in the Arizona House and
Senate. Party operatives concede they are not on track to win the Michigan or
the Iowa houses, either chamber in Pennsylvania or the Minnesota state Senate,
which was their most promising target this cycle.
Democrats
did not flip the two seats needed to claim the majority in Minnesota’s upper
chamber,
which would have given them trifecta control of both chambers and the
governor’s office. That outcome gives them less of an opening to protect some
of the Democratic incumbents clustered around the Twin Cities next year when
Minnesota is likely to lose a seat in the next redistricting.
The
biggest disappointment came in the seat-rich state of Texas, Democrats needed
nine seats to reclaim the majority after flipping a dozen in the midterms.
Though some races remain uncalled, so far Democrats were able to unseat one
incumbent and Republicans offset that with another pickup.
It goes to what Cortney wrote about Rachel Maddow
lamenting now this wasn’t a blue wave year. It wasn’t even a ripple. In
2018, yes, suburban voters and even a good chunk of the Trump coalition voted
for Democrats. That did not carry over into 2020. It doesn’t get a lot of
attention, but these races for state legislatures do matter. During the Obama
years, the state Democratic parties were utterly
decimated. It’s a problem Democrats have
known they had for a long time but rebuilding here will be tough. And
it’s now all the more difficult with this gut-punch of a year for Democrats at
this level. This was the big push regarding redistricting—and it fell way
short. Put it this way, in deep-blue Vermont and Rhode Island, the statehouse
speakers in those respective states both lost their re-election bids.
