Report Predicts Democrats Will Not Capture a Single Legislative Chamber; Republicans Will Take Four With 12 More ‘In Play’
ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC), through its REDistricting MAjority Project (REDMAP), announced the launch, today, of the first REDMAP Report, a state-by-state breakdown that explores the Republicans’ path to success in 2010 state legislative races. The report finds that, as of today, not only will Democrats not take control of a single state legislative chamber in 2010, Republicans will pick up at least four chambers with another 12 Democratically controlled chambers in play.
“There is little doubt that the political landscape continues to favor Republicans at all levels this election cycle. Voters are looking to Republicans who will move their states in a direction of smaller government and less spending and who will protect them from what is becoming the repeated Democrat over-reach,” said RSLC Chairman Ed Gillespie. “This report spells out how fragile Democrat majorities will quickly turn into Republican-led chambers resulting in common sense conservative policies.”
The report predicts Republicans will hold chambers such as the Texas House and Michigan Senate and will definitely pick up the Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana Houses and the Wisconsin Senate. Of the remaining 12 legislative chambers that are in play, if Republicans pick up only half, it will result in a net gain of 10 legislative chambers in states that are key for congressional redistricting.
“The Republican Party has an opportunity to impact the redrawing of dozens of congressional districts across the country following this election cycle,” said Tom Reynolds, Vice Chair of the RSLC and head of REDMAP. “In the end, we will see an effect that lasts for the next decade.”
According to National Public Radio’s June report, 33 of the 75 most competitive congressional districts are located in REDMAP targeted states this year. If REDMAP achieves its goals, nearly half of the traditionally swing congressional districts will be redrawn by Republicans before the 2012 election cycle. The remaining seats will either be subject to Democrat control or part of a partisan-neutral redistricting process.
“This year will not be a typical election cycle in terms of shift in partisan control,” the report concludes. “As of today, it appears that 2010 will be more successful for Republicans than 1982 was for the Democrats and could even rival the Republican successes seen on the state level in 1994.”
The RSLC is the largest caucus of Republican state leaders and the only national organization whose mission is to elect down ballot, state-level Republican office-holders. Since 2002, the RSLC has been working to elect candidates for the office of attorney general, lieutenant governor, secretary of state and state legislator. The RSLC consistently raises and spends an average of more than $20 million, per two-year cycle, from more than 80,000 donors and from all 50 states. In February, The RSLC announced the creation of REDMAP which is on pace to raise record amounts dedicated to winning seats and legislative majorities that will critically impact redistricting in 2011.