After years of slumber, Democrats are finally waking up and realizing that one of the most powerful prizes in American politics — the control of state governments — has slipped from their grasp. It is likely to be many years before they have a chance of getting it back.
The Republican wave on Tuesday was a huge setback at the state level, giving the party control of 11 legislative chambers that had been controlled by Democrats, along with a net gain of three governorships. Republicans picked up more than 300 legislative seats and now have 55 percent of all the seats in the country, their highest number since 1920.
As a result, Republicans now fully control the legislatures in 30 states, compared to 11 for Democrats. (Eight are split.) In 23 states, Republicans control both the governorship and the legislature, compared to seven with full control for Democrats.
These aren’t just abstract victories. Republican control is the reason why only 28 states have expanded their Medicaid program, and 27 states have refused to set up insurance exchanges. It’s why some states have been able to restrict abortion rights, let industries damage the environment, make it much harder to unionize, and — with the goal of keeping Republicans in power — discourage people from voting through voter ID laws and other restrictions.
For years, state control has been the not-so-secret weapon of conservatives, who have taken advantage of the lack of popular interest in state politics to enact their policies with impunity. The death of local news organizations has made it possible for many of these policies to be enacted with little coverage, leaving citizens in the dark about the activities of their elected representatives.Their vehicle for doing so has been the American Legislative Exchange Council, which distributes right-wing bills that favor business at the expense of consumers and the poor, and then encourages its members to pass them in capitals around the country.
One of its most destructive creations is the Stand Your Ground law, now on the books in 30 states, which allows citizens to use lethal force to defend themselves whenever they say they feel threatened.
ALEC has been around since 1973, but only now have Democrats decided to create something similar. As Politico reported today, liberal activists are trying to raise millions to establish their own version of ALEC, to be known as the State Innovation Exchange. The group will write model legislation to raise the minimum wage, improve environmental protection, and expand voting rights, backing up these bills with the data and arguments that legislators will need to make their case.
“It’s the biggest missing piece in the progressive infrastructure,” the group’s leader, Nick Rathod, told Politico. Mr. Rathod was President Obama’s liaison to the states and also worked for Mayor Michael Bloomberg in New York.
It’s a great idea, but it’s so long overdue that it may be too late. If things continue at this rate — thanks largely to Democratic voters who don’t bother to participate in state elections — there may not be enough liberal legislators left to influence.