Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN TEXAS The 2010 midterm elections are shaping up not just as the biggest Congressional victory for the GOP since 1938 but also the largest victory in State Capitals since 1928. The GOP victories mean much more than a sharp blow against Democrats after two years of control of the House Senate & White House.
They also portend enormous Republican influence over the redistricting process that will redraw congressional boundaries for 2012. The stage is now set for a massive partisan showdown in just two years for both the legislative & executive branches of government.
But the results are more than historically significant.
They are politically significant because state legislatures control the redistricting process which gets underway early next year re-drawing boundaries for the House of Representatives in 2012. While there are strict laws to prevent purely political gerrymandering the controlling party in state legislatures can generally influence congressional boundaries often with the approval of the states governor.
With the 2010 Census results largely complete legislatures across the country will turn their attention to redistricting next year.
In Texas for instance political boundaries were re-drawn in this decade to change a 17-15 advantage in the House delegation for Democrats to a 21-11 advantage for Republicans. The Texas case was ultimately litigated and went to the U.S. Supreme Court where the statewide re-drawing of boundaries was upheld though the boundaries of one congressional district 
were struck down.
Now Republicans will have unilateral control over the redrawing of 195 congressional districts whereas Democrats can control just 45 according to Tim Storey a redistricting expert at the NCSL.
I think you can overstate and you can understate it" he told National Public Radio. I think the truth is in the middle somewhere."
With some election results still being tabulated:
In New Hampshire the GOP has reportedly taken over 100 seats.
In North Carolina Republicans captured the Senate for the first time since 1870.
And in Alabama Republicans won control of both houses for the first time since Reconstruction.
The political significance can be dramatic.
Generation America (Gen-A) is a dynamic member-based organization for people 50 years and older. Our organization is grounded in the principles upon which our Great Nation was founded such as limited government free enterprise solutions and personal freedom.
- Republicans gained at least 64 seats in the U.S. House already making this the biggest win of any House takeover for a single party since 1948.
- The 2010 elections reversed a series of Republican losses in the lower chamber of Congress. And
- Republicans had lost a total of 55 seats in the previous two Congressional elections.
- GOP added 12 governorships and held onto another 11.
- Democrats gained three governorships and held onto eight.
- Republicans also took control of at least 19 Democratic-controlled state legislatures with a gain of at least 650 seats.
- Republicans havent seen such gains since 1994 when they captured 20 state legislatures.
In New Hampshire the GOP has reportedly taken over 100 seats.
In North Carolina Republicans captured the Senate for the first time since 1870.
And in Alabama Republicans won control of both houses for the first time since Reconstruction.
The political significance can be dramatic.
Generation America (Gen-A) is a dynamic member-based organization for people 50 years and older. Our organization is grounded in the principles upon which our Great Nation was founded such as limited government free enterprise solutions and personal freedom.
