2014 state legislature (general) elections

[jd1433]

Republicans taking the Minnesota House wasn't that unexpected: http://www.minnpost.com/community-voices/2014/10/why-dfl-will-lose-minnesota-house

It was mostly a loss of rural seats where Democratic turnout clearly cratered. Even Dayton did kind of poorly in these areas all things considered, the map isn't all that impressive considering how safe he was considered, he even lost every non-Twin City metro county, the very bellwether-ish Olmsted county, and even some DFL-leaningish rural ones. Johnson didn't do that bad in hindsight, he basically matched Romney's numbers in fact.

But the good news is we already got marriage equality, medical marijuana and the more progressive tax structure, and the Senate means they can't go crazy with the amendment sh!t as a bypass around Dayton's veto like before.

Actually it was pretty expected. A lot of money flew into that for a state chamber and it was very high on GOP's target list.

[jd1433]

After yesterday's elections, Democrats will control five chambers south of the Mason-Dixon line and east of Colorado/New Mexico:
Delaware House and Senate (2)
Maryland House and Senate (2)
Kentucky House (1)

The West Virginia Senate will be tied, 17 - 17.

All other chambers are Republican controlled:
Virginia (2)
North Carolina (2)
South Carolina (2)
Georgia (2)
Florida (2)
West Virginia (1)
Kentucky (1)
Tennessee (2)
Alabama (2)
Mississippi (2)
Missouri (2)
Arkansas (2)
Louisiana (2)
Texas (2)
Oklahoma (2)
Kansas (2)

If my arithmetic is correct, that is 30 - 5 - 1.

Now, how the Republicans managed to avoid seizing the State H of R is beyond me.  They upped their control of the S Senate to 26 - 12 but still trail in the House 53 -46 - 1 (U).

As reported above WV is now a GOP majority Senate chamber due to party switch. Now reports that the guy "isn't expected to be the only one". So supposedly the GOP might actually have a decent majority in the WV senate of 2 or more seats.

[jd1433]

Dems have slight odds to retain Colorado State House.


After reading the write up on that 18 year old, I found her pretty endearing. I particularly loved how she put $4k of her own money in the race so it "showed others she had skin in the game." Impressive to see someone at 18 be that wise.

At the risk of sounding like a cradle robber (me being 27) I'm kind of curious if she has a boyfriend.