State's GOP wins counter national legislative trend

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The expansion of the Republican majorities in the Missouri Legislature in last week's elections ran counter to the national trend that saw Democrats post modest statehouse gains.

Of 7,382 state legislative seats across the country, Democrats now hold 10 more than Republicans, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, a bipartisan policy group based in Denver. Heading into Election Day, the GOP had a 64-seat edge.

The Republican ascendancy in statehouses nationally in recent years appears to have been halted, said Tim Storey, an elections analyst for the conference.

"Parity is the theme of the day," Storey said. "Republicans made gains in the South, but those gains were offset by Democratic gains in the West, Midwest and New England."

The shifting political wind in the South is particularly interesting, Storey said. Republicans now control half of the region's legislative chambers. Just 14 years ago, they held none.

Missouri traditionally has been politically aligned with the South. Missouri's conservative Democrats have followed the shift by their counterparts in the South to the Republican Party.

Missouri Republicans made a net gain of seven seats for a 97-66 advantage in the House of Representatives and picked up three Senate seats for a 23-11 chamber majority.

Republicans now control the legislatures in 20 states, including Missouri and neighboring Kansas. Democrats hold power in 19 statehouses, with Illinois and Arkansas among them.

Democrats made a net pickup of two statehouses, while Republicans suffered a net loss of one. Ten state legislatures are divided, including Iowa, Oklahoma, Kentucky and Tennessee. The unicameral Nebraska legislature is officially nonpartisan.

Perhaps the most telling sign of the strong political divisions in America is the fact that the same party controls the executive and legislative branches in just 19 states.

"The big conclusion is divided government is here to stay," Storey said.

When Secretary of State Matt Blunt becomes governor in January, Missouri will be one of 12 states where Republicans dominate state government. Democrats will control both branches in seven states, including Illinois.

In 29 other states, the governor will be of one party with the other party controlling one or both legislative chambers.

Democrats will control the Washington Legislature, but the governor's race is still undecided, with the Democrat holding a slim lead. Nebraska has a Republican governor to go with its nonpartisan legislature.

Missouri Republican Party spokesman Paul Sloca said the performance of the Republican majorities in the two years they've controlled both legislative chambers helped the state buck the national trends.

"Success breeds additional success," Sloca said. "The Republican legislature had a solid record to run on. That record of accomplishment turned into additional seats."

mpowers@semissourian.com

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