Republican Gains in State Legislatures, Governorships Lead to Increase in One-Party Governments

With about 82 percent of all U.S. state legislative seats up for election on Tuesday, Republicans took control of 11 chambers previously held by Democrats, according to the National Council of State Legislatures (NCSL). As of Wednesday, state legislative chambers stood at 68 Republican and 30 Democrat, with Nebraska’s unicameral legislature as non-partisan. Republicans gained majorities in the Colorado Senate (pending recounts), Maine Senate, Minnesota House, Nevada Assembly and Senate, New Hampshire House, New Mexico House, New York Senate, Washington Senate, and West Virginia House and Senate. Over the past decade, the number of divided state governments, with different parties in power in the legislature and the governorship, has trended downward. With Republican victories in several Democratic strongholds, that trend continues. Read updates from NCSL…