Republicans won big in state legislatures last week – the biggest since 1920, according to data compiled by the National Conference of State Legislatures
The group estimates Republicans will have a net gain of 300 to 500 seats, controlling more than 4,100 of the nation’s 7,383 legislative seats.
That’s the party’s best showing since 1920.
It was a sweeping victory.
“Republicans gained seats in every region of the country and in all but about a dozen legislative chambers that were up this year,” the NCSL reported.
“Remarkably, given the Republican wave that swept across the nation, Republicans emerged from the election controlling exactly the same number of state governments as they controlled before the election. Democrats lost many chambers and governors, but most of those states now have divided state government. “
And, it noted “The sharp increase in divided state governments could lead to gridlock. Legislators and governors, however, are more likely to seek compromise especially when it involves the budget since all states but one must pass balanced budgets every year.”
Sixty-eight of the nation’s legislative chambers will be Republican-run, while 30 are controlled by Democrats. Nebraska’s unicameral legislature is nonpartisan.