While the media focuses on short-term success stories for Democrats in Ohio and Kentucky, the fundamentals in two more states shifted significantly toward Republicans. The big story is that Republicans were finally able to overcome signficant firewalls in redistricting established by long term Democratic legislatures. As a result, the GOP will gain control of the legislative and redistricting process in those states. “Long term” is adequately defined as being held by the Democratic Party since Reconstruction. Mississippi Republicans capped off a noticeable political shift in the South, defeating the Democrats previous 68 to 54 majority in the lower chamber. This victory is more poignant because it gives Mississippi Republicans control over the redistricting process. Republicans are quick to celebrate control for the first time in 140 years. In Virginia, Republicans gained large victories but GOP control is still up in the air. Republicans needed only a gain of three seats to gain control of the Senate. Technically Virginia Republicans only need two seats in order for split in the Senate, leaving Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling to cast the tie vote. Some Republicans are grumbling about the results, but the current Virginia districts, which Democrats drew, obviously assisted the party with making the election as close as it was. “Dave Wasserman, House editor of the Cook Political Report, was stunned by the efficiency of redistricting, pointing out that in the state-senate races, Democrats had won only 420,000 votes to Republicans’ 661,000, roughly 39 percent of the total. Yet they were likely to win 52.5 percent of the seats.” Essentially, redistricting matters……As far as yesterday’s elections, Republicans have way more reasons to cheer than mourn
The entire story here: excerpt below,