Gubernatorial and Legislative Party Control

STATELINE INFOGRAPHIC POLITICS Republican Rule, Deeper Divides Despite some key Democratic victories at the state level in the 2012 elections, Republicans remain dominant. Republicans hold the majority of governorships and state legislative seats nationwide and will have the opportunity to enact their party's agenda in far more places. POWER INDEX The Power Index measures the ease with which Democrats and Republicans can pass legislation. To do so, it takes into account the party of the The election also reinforced a long-term trend: Democratic states are becoming more Democratic and Republican states are becoming more Republican, leaving few states where power is divided. governor, the percentage of Democrats and Republicans in each chamber of the legislature and the state's veto-override threshold. Strong 24 Republican WA MT ND ME OR MN Strong Democrat 13 ID SD WI NY WY MI IA PA NV NE* Close to even Он IL IN UT DE CA Co VA KS MO KY Leaning 4 Republican NC TN OK AZ AR NM SC MS AL Leaning Democrat GA TX LA States that are "strongly Democratic" or “strongly FL Republican" have one- party control of the legislature and governorship. Where control is divided, if one party needs far fewer votes from the opposition to pass legislation, the state "leans" toward that party. *While Nebraska's unicameral legislature is officially non-partisan, the Omaha World-Herald reported after the election that the membership will be 30 Republicans, 17 Democrats and 2 independents. State *** Power Shifts gubernatorial reach 19 governors 30 governors lead states with 184 million people lead states with 128 million people legislative control a occupy 3,479 legislative seats оссиру 3,814 legislative seats hold 47% of legislative power hold 52% of legislative power united control have united control in have united control in 13 states with 30% of the 25 states with 53% of the 50-state population 50-state population gained united control in Colorado, Minnesota and Oreg gained united control in Alaska, North Carolina and Wisconsin lost united control lost united control in Arkansas in Maine since 2003 23 legislatures became more Democratic 26 legislatures became more Republican New Hampshire shifted most toward the Democrats, followed by Delaware, Vermont, Hawaii and Nevada Alabama shifted most toward the Republicans, followed by Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana in 16 of the 18 states Democrats in 20 of the 22 states Republicans carried in each of the last carried in each of the last four presidential elections, the legislature has become more Democratic four presidential elections, the legislature has become more Republican Notes: United control is control of the governorship and both houses of the legislature in a state. Sources: National Conference of State Legislators, Stateline research. Stateline infographic by: Carla Uriona, Evan Potler and Josh Goodman January 22, 2013