Dems could lose more governorships in 2016

RGA 2015-16 map_thb

by NW Spotlight

Roll Call had some good news last week – Democrats are at risk of losing more governorships in 2015 and 2016.

And the picture is already pretty bleak for Dems: “Republicans now control 31 governorships compared with the Democrats’ 18 — their lowest total since the wake of the 1994 elections. (Alaska Gov. Bill Walker is an independent.)”

Part of that bleak picture includes GOP control of state legislatures. As we reported from Real Clear Politics back in January, “The GOP now controls 68 out of 98 partisan state legislative chambers — the highest number in the history of the party.”

Roll Call notes that the bleak Dem governorship picture could get even worse. “Democrats are at risk of sinking lower this year [2015],” in Kentucky and “There isn’t a lot of brighter news for Democrats next year either,” with “good [GOP] takeover opportunities in West Virginia and Missouri” and “potential targets in New Hampshire and Washington.”

The Republican Governors Association provides the following on 2016 gubernatorial pick-up opportunities “2016 presents numerous opportunities for GOP pick-ups with Democrats facing four open seat contests in Delaware, Missouri, Vermont and West Virginia. Democrat incumbents are also ripe for defeat in Montana, Washington, Oregon and New Hampshire.”

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