Republicans Gain Control in State Houses, Governor Offices

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Republicans were not only victorious in the U.S. House but also in state houses across the country.

The new GOP power will give the party its largest number of seats in state legislatures since the Great Depression, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).

Republicans now hold about 3,890, or 53 percent, of the total state legislative seats in America, the most seats in the GOP column since 1928. The GOP will now control at least 54 of the 99 state legislative chambers, its highest number since 1952. As a result, state legislatures will likely reflect a more conservative political agenda when they convene in 2011, NCSL reported.

Additionally, the election results could mean new faces in state insurance regulator spots. Overall, 11 state commissioners are elected nationwide; the rest of the nation’s commissioners are appointed, most by governors or entities controlled by the governor. Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Wyoming, Oregon, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Rhode Island are among the states where incumbents did not run, so the new governors may choose to name new commissioners.

In Hawaii for instance, former commissioner J.P. Schmidt had resigned in June 2010, anticipating a change in office. Chief Deputy Insurance Commissioner Gordon Ito was then appointed by outgoing Gov. Linda Lingle to fill the top regulator spot. Lingle, a Republican who was term-limited in her position, will be replaced by Democrat Neil Abercrombie in 2011, who may make staffing changes.

Oregon’s Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) Director Cory Streisinger announced in October she would leave her position at the end of Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s term, Jan. 10, 2011. While no other personnel changes in the Insurance Division have been announced, DCBS spokeswoman Lisa Morawski said the recently elected governor Democrat John Kitzhaber can decide whether any additional staffing changes are necessary once he takes office.

In New Mexico, the public elected three people to the Public Regulation Commission, a five-member board that oversees electric, gas and water utilities, as well as some telecommunications, transportation, pipeline and insurance companies. Republican Patrick Lyon will represent District 2, Republican Ben Hall will represent District 5, and Democrat Theresa Becenti-Aguilar will represent District 4.

The GOP picked up about 10 state corner offices;.at least 29 states will be run by Republican governors, NCSL reported.

Voters elected new Republican governors in the following states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii and New York elected new Democratic governors, while Rhode Island elected a former Republican turned Independent, Lincoln Chafee.

The GOP now controls 18 legislative chambers and 54 percent of the seats.

Tim Storey, elections specialist with NCSL, said, “2010 will go down as a defining political election that will shape the national political landscape for at least the next 10 years.”

Storey said Democrats were overwhelmed by an “enthusiasm gap.” Of the roughly 11,000 candidates running for the 6,115 legislative seats up this year, the GOP had 822 more Republicans running for office than in 2008. Democrats actually had 50 fewer candidates than two years ago.

Legislative chambers that switched include: