Re: [EL] Changes in Statehouses

That party switch underscores an important reality to what seems to go on in several states, especially the South - -when a switch happens, it sticks. Contrary to the lore that a two-party system results in regular rotation in party control -- "thrown the bums out when they don't do a good job" we're seeing literally century-long control of legislative chambers by one party. After more than a century of Democratic control of the Georgia state legislature, Republicans are now five years into what promises to be many decades of dominance there -- party-switchers helped cement that. Alabama's likely heading that direction now, and South Carolina and probably several other states too. North Carolina will be important to watch, as Republicans just took over the state senate for the first time since Reconstruction.

If anyone has tracked how many years parties have controlled each of the state's 99 chambers, I'd be intrigued -- Democrats of course have their share of dominant legislatures too, including my state of Maryland.

(And for those who know me, you can guess that behind this is the fact that use of some alternative to winner-take-all voting would promote more legislative accountability in such situations, both for individual legislators and for leadership accountability.)

Rob Richie

On Mon, Nov 22, 2010 at 5:22 PM, John Tanner <john.k.tanner@gmail.com> wrote:

Today there were 4 post-election party switches in the Alabama House
(D to R).
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20101122/NEWS/101122014/Four-Democrats-switch-parties
Is anyone aware of party switches in other states?

Also, I welcome any information on any state -- offline if you like --
identifying any districts previously held by a minority state
legislator or city or county official in which a minority candidate
was defeated or was seriously contested.

Many thanks

On Mon, Nov 22, 2010 at 3:50 PM, Smith, Brad <BSmith@law.capital.edu> wrote:
> Matt,
>
> The maps at Governing shows the same info as the NCSL map, but also gives
> you the pre-election numbers in each chamber:
> http://www.governing.com/blogs/politics/2010-state-elections-legislatures-results.html.
>
> Bradley A. Smith
>
> Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault
>
> Designated Professor of Law
>
> Capital University Law School
>
> 303 East Broad Street
>
> Columbus, OH 43215
>
> (614) 236-6317
>
> bsmith@law.capital.edu
>
> http://www.law.capital.edu/faculty/bios/bsmith.asp
>
>
>
> From: election-law-bounces@mailman.lls.edu
> [mailto:election-law-bounces@mailman.lls.edu] On Behalf Of Mathew Manweller
> Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 11:56 AM
> To: Election Law
>
> Subject: Re: [EL] Changes in Statehouses
>
>
>
> I was wondering if anyone on the list knew of a single location that reports
> the changes in the partisan make up of each of the 50 statehouses following
> the 2010 elections. I know the GOP picked up about 650 seats but I am
> looking for a state-by-state breakdown.
>
>
>
> Also, is there a single place that reports the turnout for each state? Off
> list replies are fine.
>
>
>
> Thank you,
>
>
>
> Matt Manweller
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Central Washington University
> Assoc. Professor of Political Science
> manwellerm@cwu.edu
> 509-963-2396
>

> _______________________________________________
> election-law mailing list
> election-law@mailman.lls.edu
> http://mailman.lls.edu/mailman/listinfo/election-law
>
>

_______________________________________________
election-law mailing list
election-law@mailman.lls.edu
http://mailman.lls.edu/mailman/listinfo/election-law

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Respect for Every Vote and Every Voice"

Rob Richie
Executive Director

FairVote
6930 Carroll Avenue, Suite 610
Takoma Park, MD 20912
www.fairvote.org rr@fairvote.org
(301) 270-4616

Please support FairVote through action and donations -- see http://fairvote.org/donate. For federal employees, please consider a gift to us through the Combined Federal Campaign (FairVote's CFC number is 10132.) Thank you!