U.S. Midterm Election Includes Major Republican Gains In States: What Does it Mean?

The historic 2010 midterm election should help put the brakes on President Barack Obama's agenda which opposes Catholic teaching on abortion, family, marriage, homosexuality, subsidiarity, and more. Now, the question is whether they will fare any better on the issues which help to form the moral core of a free society?

P>KNOXVILLE, TN (Catholic Online) - The 2010 midterm election was historic. Not only did the Republicans win big on the national level, they won big on the state level too. According to some reports, Republicans picked up 9 governorships and 680 seats in the state legislatures. These numbers reflect a deep ground swell of change in public opinion. They also put the Republicans in a good position to increase their power in 2012 due to upcoming redistricting opportunities.

Most of the news at the state level seems to be centered around the legislatures. Before the election, the Democrats controlled 60 state legislative chambers throughout the country and Republicans controlled 36. Now, Republicans control 55 chambers and Democrats control 38. In other words, Republicans picked up at least 19 Democrat-controlled state legislatures, and some people believe the number may go as high as 23. The last time that Republicans won so many Democrat-controlled state legislatures was back in 1994 when they won a total of 20.

This is significant because it means that the Republicans now control both chambers in these particular states. Furthermore, Republicans have not filled so many seats in the state legislatures since 1928. Perhaps the most significant news is that since modern remapping of district boundaries began in the 1970's, Democrats have had the upper hand. Republicans are now in the best position they have been in to control congressional redistricting since the remapping changes went into effect.

Redistricting is important. It has to do with establishing the boundaries that effect electoral districts for the U.S. House of Representatives, and other things. For the most part, these boundaries are established by the state legislature every ten years, after the census is taken. However, in many states, the process requires final approval by the Governor. This is one reason why the 9 gubernatorial pickups are so important. Some of them are in states, such as Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania, where redistricting battles are expected to be fought hardest next year.

The bottom line is this. The 2010 election should help put the brakes on President Obama's agenda, which opposes Catholic teaching on abortion, family, marriage, homosexuality, subsidiarity, and more. But that is not all. Due to the strength that Republicans have acquired on the state level, based on their raw numbers and their redistricting opportunities, the results of this election should also help them gain more congressional seats in 2012 and secure their control of Congress for at least the next ten year cycle. Now the question is, will these newly elected public servants fare any better on thoes issues which help to form the moral core of a free society?

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Michael Terheyden was born into a Catholic family, but that is not why he is a Catholic. He is a Catholic because he believes that truth is real, that it is beautiful and good, and that the fullness of truth is in the Catholic Church. However, he knows that God's grace operating throughout his life is the main reason he is a Catholic. He is greatly blessed to share his faith and his life with his beautiful wife, Dorothy. They have four grown children and three grandchildren.

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