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Republicans Expand Domination of State Legislatures

Trump wave buoys GOP to an all-time high

Kentucky Republican Gov. Matt Bevin will have more leeway with GOP control of both state houses. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Kentucky Republican Gov. Matt Bevin will have more leeway with GOP control of both state houses. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Donald Trump’s presidential victory not only helped preserve the Republican Party’s majority in the Senate, but it also buoyed the GOP’s control of state legislatures.

Republicans now hold an all-time high of 68 out of 99 state legislative chambers, The Associated Press reported. Republicans also have control of both chambers in 33 states, up from 31.

In Kentucky, Democratic House Speaker Greg Stumbo was ousted along with 15 other Democratic incumbents, effectively ending 95 years of control of the state house.

[Tea Party-Aligned Kentucky Gov May End 95-Year Democratic Reign]

With the state Senate already in Republican control, Republican Gov. Matt Bevin, the state’s third Republican governor since World War II, has much more leeway.

Similarly, in Iowa, Republicans won control of the state Senate and won two more seats in the state House, where they already held the majority. Iowa’s Democratic Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal was defeated in the wave.

Republicans also won full control of the Minnesota legislature, by winning the state Senate. They already held the state House. 

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