These State Races Could Be the Sleeper Issue of the Midterms
So much attention is understandably focused on whether Democrats can take back control of Congress this year. But little-noticed state legislative races could be just as consequential. If Democrats retake Congress, they can block Trump’s MAGA agenda. But if Democrats retake control of the states, they can actually begin to reverse it. Back in 2010, […]
In the upcoming midterms, state legislative races could prove to be the crucial issue, according to a recent report. While Democrats' efforts to reclaim Congress are receiving significant attention, the impact of these state races could be even more far-reaching. If Democrats succeed in retaking control of the states, they might be able to initiate the reversal of President Trump's MAGA agenda.
In 2010, Republicans gained approximately 700 state legislative seats, which later led to their domination of key swing states for the subsequent 15 years, thanks to the implementation of heavily gerrymandered maps. Currently, Republicans hold 57 state legislative chambers, compared to Democrats' 39. However, 2026 could turn out to be a reversal of 2010, as reported by my colleague Tim Murphy last year.
Democrats are aiming to secure 500 state legislative seats in 42 chambers across 27 states this year, potentially dismantling GOP majorities in six states (Florida, Georgia, Iowa, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Texas) and acquiring new majorities in seven states (Alaska, Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin).
The significance of state legislatures becomes apparent when considering the implications of various decisions made by these bodies. For instance, the attempt to overturn the 2020 election at the state level and the enactment of numerous abortion bans in GOP-controlled states after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade could be influenced by the outcome of state legislative races.
Additionally, mid-decade gerrymandering, carried out by Republicans in response to pressure from Trump to redraw their maps prior to the midterms, and the weakening of the Voting Rights Act by the Roberts court, highlight the crucial role of state legislatures in shaping important issues. Despite their substantial influence, state legislative races often receive far less attention compared to federal races, even though their balance of power is frequently determined by a relatively small number of votes.
Written by urgent.news from Mother Jones's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
