Post-Election Analysis: Blue Wave In The States

Last week’s Post-Election Analysis outlined the surprising, interesting and important races from the midterm elections. While the “blue wave” headlines of midterm election results were focused on Democrat gains in the U.S. House, the 2018 elections also brought a sharp political shift in states across the country. And though Republicans kept control of the U.S. Senate, there was no split decision in the states—Democrats gained ground, from Nevada to Wisconsin, from Kansas to Maine.

Democrats took control of six chambers, seizing the senates of Colorado, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Maine, and winning control of the Minnesota and New Hampshire houses. Democrats also gained seven governorships, capturing Nevada, New Mexico, Kansas, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine, while losing one in Alaska.

This reversed a significant shift to the right that had occurred in 2016. After Donald Trump’s historic win, Republicans controlled both the governor’s seat and the legislature in 25 states, while Democrats had unified control of only eight states. In the wake of the 2018 midterms, Democrats have come much closer to leveling the playing field, controlling 14 states to the Republicans Party’s 21. In 15 states, control is split.

For both parties, these results will reverberate for a long time. Even though state governments sometimes escape notice beneath the layers of American government, their decisions are vital to both the key policy issues of today and political battlegrounds of tomorrow.

Thanks to the traditionally nonpartisan support for the RV industry’s key priorities, the results are more of interest than of concern. The RV Industry Association’s biggest priorities in the states remain consistent: enact RV specific franchise laws; create Offices of Outdoor Recreation in states; and defend against any onerous legislation affecting the RV industry. See the full State Legislative Agenda here.