Democrats could flip control of several state legislatures in key battlegrounds in Tuesday's midterm elections, as Nate Silver said the latest rounds of polls from The New York Times point to a “blue tsunami.” Republicans currently hold a majority of state legislatures. But Democrats are hopeful that could change on Election Day, when the GOP is facing increasingly difficult national headwinds fueled by President Donald Trump’s declining approval rating and voter frustrations with the state of the economy. The latest ratings from Sabato’s Crystal Ball gave Democrats a chance of winning legislative majorities in states like Arizona, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin.
There are more than 6,000 legislative seats up for grabs, according to State Affairs. Nearly all states have an upper chamber, known as the state Senate, and a lower chamber, either the state House or Assembly. Currently, Democrats control 39 of those chambers, while Republicans control 56 chambers.
Four others are either tied, nonpartisan or run by a bipartisan coalition. Democratic flips in these key races could have major implications for local and state policy issues over the coming years. Newsweek reached out to the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee and the Republican State Leadership Committee for comment via email.
Historically, the party in the White House loses seats up and down the ballot in the midterms, particularly in cases when the president is unpopular. With Trump’s polling numbers falling to record lows in recent months, Democrats have been increasingly optimistic about their chances of having a strong showing. Here is a look at the most competitive state legislatures that Democrats could flip, according to the Sabato’s Crystal Ball ratings.
Additionally, three Democratic-held legislative bodies are also seen as being potentially competitive—Maine House (Leans Democratic), Michigan Senate (Toss-Up) and the Minnesota Senate (Toss-Up). Currently, Republicans hold a 33-27 majority in the Arizona House and a 17-13 majority in the Arizona Senate. Additionally, Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs is favored for reelection in the polls.
The Georgia House has 99 Republicans and 81 Democrats. Its state Senate is seen as less competitive, with Sabato’s Crystal Ball classifying it as Likely Republican. Republicans control the Michigan House by a 58-52 margin, while Democrats hold a 20-18 margin in the Michigan Senate.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
