GOP Inroads Projected in Tuesday's State Legislative Elections

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Nov 01, 2010, 09:30 ET

MADISON, Wisc., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Republican Party is poised to make significant gains in state legislatures on November 2nd, according to election projections released by Ballotpedia.

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Ballotpedia analysts say that the GOP is in a position to gain control of up to 18 state legislative chambers on election night. Going into Tuesday's state legislative elections, Democrats control 28 state senates while Republicans control 20. Ballotpedia predicts that Republicans will gain control of the Alaska and Iowa senates. Meanwhile, Alabama, Maine, New Hampshire New York, North Carolina and Wisconsin are still too close call and remain a toss-up.

The GOP is poised to pick-up at least five state houses and could win as many as 10 on election night, according to Ballotpedia's assessment. Democrats currently control 32 state houses to the GOP's 16. Republicans are expected to win a majority in Indiana, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. In addition, Democratic-controlled houses in Alabama, Colorado, North Carolina, New Hampshire and Iowa rest in the toss-up category.

Ballotpedia's state legislative editor Geoff Pallay draws attention to the impact of the election results on redistricting. "This year's state legislative elections appear to echo the theme at the Congressional level -- that Republicans appear poised to pick up a large number of seats," explains Pallay. "These elections are especially important because of the coming redistricting. Prior to this election, there are 8 states that have a Republican trifecta – meaning one-party control of the governorship, state senate, and state house -- and 16 states with a Democratic trifecta. The party that picks up the greatest number of combined governorships, senates and houses will be well positioned to redraw districts in their party's favor."

Of the 99 state legislative chambers in the United States, 88 are holding state legislative elections on November 2, 2010. Democrats control the majority in 52 of the chambers that are up for re-election while Republicans are the majority in 33.

Ballotpedia.org is sponsored by the non-profit, non-partisan Lucy Burns Institute (LBI) based in Madison, Wisconsin.

Link: http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/GOP_inroads_projected_in_Tuesday%27s_state_legislative_elections

SOURCE Ballotpedia