GOP controls all Dixie legislatures

GOP controls all Dixie legislatures

By Hastings Wyman

Before last Tuesday, Republicans had a majority in 25 of the 26 Southern legislative chambers, with Democrats in control of only one, Kentucky’s House of Representatives. On Election Day, the GOP won a majority in the lower chamber of the Bluegrass State, and now controls both houses of all 26 Southern legislatures. Overall, buoyed by Donald Trump’s strong showing through most of the region, the Republicans gained five state Senate seats over the post-2015 election line-up, the Democrats gained three, a net of two state Senators for the GOP. On the House side, Republicans gained 30, Democrats 13. These numbers are from the National Conference of State Legislatures.

State Senates

Rep – Dem Change

AL       26         8         –

AR       26        9       +2D

FL       25        15      +1D

GA      38        18         –

KY      27        11        +1R

LA      25        14        +1R

MS     32        20         –

NC     35        15        +1R

OK     42         6        +2R

SC      28         18          –

TN     28          5           –

TX     20         11           –

VA     21          18           –

State Houses of Representatives

AL     72         32       +1D

AR     73         27      +9R

FL     79         40      +1R

GA    118       62       +3D

KY     64        36       +10R

LA     60        42       +1D

MS     72       48       +6R

NC     74       46       +1R

OK     75       26       +3R

SC     80      44        +2D

TN    74      25        +1R

TX    94     56         +6D

VA    66     32         -1R