State battles are hot; election isn't just about White House - National Democratic Redistricting Committee

State battles are hot; election isn’t just about White House

October 18, 2016

After years of losses left them at historic lows in state legislatures, Democrats this year are seeking to wrest control of as many as a dozen chambers from Republicans

Former Attorney General Eric Holder was announced Monday as chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, a newly created alliance of Democratic leaders, unions and progressive groups with a goal of boosting Democrats’ chances in time for the 2021 redistricting.

Republicans made big gains in state capitols in 2010, just in time for the last round of redistricting. During the 2012 elections, Democratic candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives actually received about 1.4 million more votes than their Republican opponents, yet the GOP won a 33-seat House majority, partly because Republican-dominated state legislatures had drawn districts to their favor. Republicans made even more gains in 2014.