http://governing.com/articles/10elect.htmFrom Governing’s October 2004 issue
Whatever Happened to Competitive Elections?
By ALAN GREENBLATT
<snip>
Nearly 80 percent of all state legislative seats are up for election around the country this year. On paper, legislative politics look as close as they could possibly be. In 2002, Republicans pulled ahead of Democrats in the total number of seats held nationally for the first time in half a century, but by the narrowest of margins — only about five dozen, out of 7,400 total across the 50 states. This year, there are 23 legislative chambers where a switch of three seats or fewer would change the party that holds the majority.</snip>
<snip>
But, as in past decades, the 10-year redistricting calendar is certain to slow any reformer’s momentum. “Because we’re in the middle of the decade, there’s no urgency to it,” says Tim Storey, of the National Conference of State Legislatures. “On the heels of redistricting, there’s gnashing of teeth and complaints that we have to do something about it, but then the energy dissipates because it’s six or eight years until the next round of redistricting.”</snip>
My hundredth post! Hooray!