Losses in state, federal legislative races likely to have long-term impact on Democratic Party

Despite polling data suggesting Democrats would see gains in their legislative majority on Election Day, voters seemed to have a different plan in mind.

Instead of increasing their advantage in the House of Representatives and on the state level, the party ended up losing seats. Considering the fact that 2020 is a census year, that could serious consequences for Democrats going forward.

“For decades to come”

As RedState’s Jennifer O’Connell recently argued, the election results are likely to be a “good thing” for Republicans when state legislatures are tasked with drawing up new congressional districts in 2021.

“Because of the shift and exodus of people out of California, this state is looking to lose at least one congressional seat, and potentially two,” she wrote.

As O’Connell further noted, the GOP “now controls most of the nation’s state houses,” which gives the party increased opportunity to redraw districts that benefit its members. In fact, she asserted that Republican influence in deciding these district lines could “change the electoral map for decades to come.”

O’Connell wrote that the impact is likely to be “huge” in Texas, for example, following its increase to a projected 39 congressional seats.

As for the U.S. House of Representatives, the Democratic Party is similarly coming to grips with underwhelming election results in races nationwide.

“Members we shouldn’t have lost”

Although House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is expected to retain her title and a slim majority for her party, progressive and moderate factions on that side of the aisle are trading blame for the loss — or near-loss — of races they expected to win handily.

For her part, moderate Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) sounded off on party leaders for the far-left shift in the Democratic platform.

“From a congressional standpoint, it was a failure,” she said. “It was not a success. “We lost members we shouldn’t have lost.”

Going forward, she urged fellow Democrats to “commit to not saying the words ‘defund the police’ ever again'” and similarly stay away from “the words ‘socialist’ or ‘socialism.'”

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) defended the far-left wing she has helped define in recent years, telling Spanberger: “Don’t blame myself and others who are fighting for issues that matter to our communities. We need to do a real autopsy and dig through it.”

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