Republicans suffered another devastating blow in Tuesday’s midterm elections that has largely been overshadowed by Democrats’ takeover of Congress, according to CNN’s Jeff Zeleny.
The network’s chief national affairs correspondent pointed Friday to sweeping Democratic victories in state legislatures, including several longtime Republican strongholds.
“State legislative races were absolutely fascinating,” Zeleny said during a CNN panel examining overlooked election developments.
The results, he explained, represented a dramatic shift in political power across the country.
“Look at Arizona, for example, for the first time, Democrats are controlling the legislature, for the first time in 60 years,” Zeleny said.
He also highlighted Wisconsin, where Republicans had long dominated state politics.
“For all that we have talked about over the years about Republican control of legislatures there, led to so much more via gerrymandering, Democrats control that as well,” the CNN correspondent said Friday.
The losses extended into traditionally Republican territory.
"The Texas House, for example, flipped to Democratic. The North Carolina House also flipped Democratic,” Zeleny noted.
Zeleny went on to warn that the consequences could extend well beyond this election, particularly as states prepare for future redistricting battles.
“That matters for redistricting. It matters for races going forward,” he said.
“To me, that is an underappreciated impact of this wave,” Zeleny concluded. “The Democratic wave was wide, and it was deep.”