RSLC Sees Republicans Picking Up Six Chambers with 11+ in Play

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC), through its REDistricting MAjority Project (REDMAP), released the September edition of the REDMAP Report today, finding that the 2010 state legislative elections have become a referendum on the Democrat approach to the recessional and budgetary matters, leading to an even larger pick-up of legislative chambers than previously thought.

“In state after state, Democrat Governors and Legislatures responded to the economic crisis by increasing taxes and failing to cut spending, mirroring the approach so aggressively pursued by President Barack Obama and Congressional Democrats. The result is that in numerous legislative districts across the country that President Obama won in 2008 and are held by incumbent Democrats, voters have dramatically moved away from the Democrat Party and in the direction of a strong crop of fresh new Republican candidates seeking office,” the REDMAP Report states.

The report cites at least 30 legislative seats won by President Obama in 2008 that could determine control of the Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania Houses where the Democrat incumbent voted for larger state budgets and massive tax increases in the face of a recession.

In addition, the report increases the number of expected Republican pick-ups to six legislative chambers – adding the North Carolina House and Michigan House, with at least 11 Democrat controlled chambers solidly in play – adding the Illinois House since the last report. The finding that Democrats will not take control of a single state legislative chamber, including key REDMAP chambers such as the Texas House, Michigan Senate and Tennessee House and Kentucky Senate, remains unchanged.

This report has previously stated that if Republicans win only half of the legislative chambers in play, the result will be a net gain of 10 legislative chambers. This projection is starting to look more and more conservative as each week passes.

To view the complete REDMAP Political Report, follow this link.

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.