GOP rises to power in 2010 election

Republicans will control both houses of the legislature in Michigan, Pennsylvania,   Ohio, Wisconsin and Indiana after Democrats entered the election with control of the lower house and Wisconsin’s Senate, according to Stateline. All those states also will have Republican governors come January, giving the party sizable opportunities to implement policy.

A complete interactive map of the 2010 election results can be found at The Washington Post.

Illinois
With 99 percent of the vote counted Tuesday, Republican Congressman Mark Kirk had 48 percent to Democrat Alexi Giannoulias’ 46 percent in the race for President Obama’s former Senate seat, according to The Huffington Post.

Republican Randy Hultgren defeated Rep. Bill Foster in the 14th District and Rep.  Debbie Halvorson was easily defeated by Republican Adam Kinzinger in the 11th District.

Gov. Pat Quinn did surprise critics by defeating Republican Bill Brady by a slim margin. Brady conceded to Quinn Friday, Nov. 5.

Full election results can be found at The Chicago Tribune.

Ohio
According to The Washington Post, former representative John R. Kasich, a Republican, beat Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland, in the gubernatorial race.

Former congressman and George W. Bush administration budget director Rob Portman cruised past the Democrat, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher in his Ohio Senate seat win.

Full election results can be found at The Columbus Dispatch.

Michigan
Along with Rick Snyder’s win over Democrat Virg Bernero, Republicans won at least a five-vote majority in the state House and increased their majority in the state Senate, according to The Detroit Free Press.

This reversal of power now puts the GOP in control over the state’s upcoming redistricting process.

Full election results can be found at The Detroit Free Press.

Minnesota
Minnesota’s House changed from 87-47 DFL control to a 72-62 GOP majority, pending three recounts, according to The Star Tribune.

Full election results can be found at The Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Wisconsin
Independents moved sharply to the right as Republicans are poised to take control of Wisconsin politics, according to The Washington Post.

Republican Scott Walker defeated Tom Barrett to win the Wisconsin governors race and Sen. Russell Feingold was defeated by Ron Johnson in the Wisconsin senate election.

Full election results can be found at The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Judicial Elections
According to a Justice at Stake analysis,   Election Day 2010 brought a new round of special interest money, nasty ads and wedge issue politics into America’s courtrooms, breaking several spending records and spreading costly, ideological hardball campaigns into new states.

For the full list of judicial races in each state, visit The National Center for State Courts.