State Legislatures and Redistricting

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Yeah there was a lot of close seats, especially in the suburbs. We probably won the popular vote but meh.

At least we dodged a serious bullet since Dayton is still ahead. We're facing a mandatory recount, but it won't be another 2008-style debacle because Dayton's lead is much bigger. I'm a little worried about them passing an anti-gay marriage amendment though because Dayton can't veto that...

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Considering that the Arkansas Dems currently hold a few seats that even Bill Clinton couldn't win, that is quite epic fail indeed.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Minnesota has a chance of having full Republican control.

Not a very high chance.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Regionalism is actually a big deal in Maine. I think this is why they have the split electoral votes. The GOP holds only a four seat majority in the State House, meaning it'd take only two crossovers to kill a map. I suspect that with how small State House seats are in Maine there are at least two Reps who'd vote against a map shoving their areas into the Portland-area seat.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Where's a map of that seat? And how much did it give Obama?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Uh, wow. That probably sets a record for State Senate districts held by Republicans nationwide.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

The strongest seat for Obama won by a Republican I can find in Minnesota is 57A which was open and gave Obama 56.57%. Obviously the guy who won it is probably doomed in 2012 unless it changes hugely in redistricting.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

That Louisiana party switcher is quite odd. You'd assume he was a Dixiecrat from some part of the state that hasn't voted Dem in forever, but he actually represents this district. He's probably losing next time.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Party switchers tend to be blatant opportunist pricks in Louisiana. Well I suppose everywhere, but in Louisiana especially so. That guy who ran against Landrieu in 2008 wasn't even a conservative Democrat initially, he ran for Senate in 2004 as the more liberal candidate.