In November 6050 state legislative seats are up for election. Democrats are running in 5314 of those races. Republicans are running in 4783 districts.
In the past I have been critical of Democrats allowing Republicans to run unopposed. It is so discouraging to walk into a polling place and find that your party doesn’t even have a candidate on the ballot. I understand it is sometimes not easy to find what is, in effect, a sacrificial lamb to run in a Republican district. Also, stuff happens. This year the Democrats had a candidate to run against State Rep. Jerry Knowles from Schuylkill County, but he dropped out when it was too late to recruit anyone else.
Wyoming, a dark red state, illustrates the problem. 75 seats are up in November; the Democrats have candidates for 32 of those seats; the Republicans have candidates for 71. Even if every Democratic candidate won his or her election, Democrats would still be in the minority in the legislature.
In Pennsylvania 228 seats are up for election. Democratic candidates are running in 204 of those districts; Republicans in 168. The Republicans will probably maintain control of the state legislature, but this time they will have to earn it.
Information for this post is from Ballot Access News, Nov. 1, 2018. I have touted Ballot Access News before. It contains amazing data. If you want to subscribe ($16.00 a year), email me at <hiramc@ptd.net>.
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