The Republican Party's State-Level Dominance Strategy: A 60-Year Evolution (1967-2025)

Part IV of The Grand Scheme of the Great Takeover of Government

[2025 State Partisan Composition - Legislature and Governor Control](https://www.ncsl.org/about-state-legislatures/state-partisan-composition)

The Republican Party's systematic approach to gaining and maintaining control of state legislatures represents one of the most consequential yet underappreciated political developments in modern American history. Beginning in the late 1960s and continuing through today, Republicans have implemented a series of strategic initiatives to build power at the state level, which in turn has provided significant advantages in federal politics. This strategic focus has transformed the American political landscape, creating durable Republican strongholds across numerous states and enabling policy influence that extends far beyond state borders.

The Nixon Era: Foundations of State-Level Strategy (1967-1974)

The Republican path to state dominance began during a period of Democratic control. In 1967, Democrats controlled 24 state legislatures while Republicans controlled only 15, with 6 under split control^[1]. This Democratic advantage reflected decades of Roosevelt coalition dominance that had persisted through the 1960s.

Richard Nixon's 1968 presidential campaign marked a pivotal moment in Republican strategy development. Nixon's rhetoric emphasizing "law and order" was carefully calibrated to appeal to white voters concerned about civil unrest following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and the subsequent riots across more than 150 American cities in 1967 alone^[2]. In his acceptance speech at the 1968 Republican National Convention, Nixon declared: "We shall re-establish freedom from fear in America so that America can take the lead in re-establishing freedom from fear in the world"^[2-1].

While Nixon publicly insisted that "law and order" was a universal American desire disconnected from racial politics, this messaging created a template for Republican candidates at all levels of government, including state legislative races^[2-2]. The strategy proved effective as Nixon won the presidency and Republicans began strengthening their position in state legislatures, particularly in the South.

The Evolution of Party Infrastructure and Messaging

By 1977, Republicans held only 31% of state legislative seats nationwide compared to Democrats' 68%^[3]. This disparity highlighted the significant challenge Republicans faced, but also represented an opportunity. The party recognized that cultivating state-level power could provide multiple advantages: creating a talent pipeline for higher office, serving as laboratories for conservative policy development, and controlling the redistricting process that would shape congressional districts.

The Southern Strategy and Realignment (1970s-1990s)

The Republican push for state legislative control became intertwined with the party's broader "Southern strategy" - though historians debate the precise nature and timing of this approach. While some critics have characterized it as a "secretly coded message to Wallacites and segregationists," political scientists note that the Republican transformation of the South was more gradual and complex^[3-1].

Rather than primarily appealing to racial resentment, historians like Matthew Lassiter argue that Republican gains depended more on "the middle-class corporate economy and on the top-down politics of racial backlash"^[3-2]. The growth of suburban communities around metropolitan areas like Atlanta and Charlotte provided fertile ground for Republican messaging focused on economic growth, reduced regulation, and social conservatism.

The South's transition to Republican control happened incrementally: first in presidential elections, then in Senate races, followed by gubernatorial contests, and finally in state legislatures. Georgia was the last Southern state to fully shift to Republican control, with Sonny Perdue winning the governorship in 2002^[3-3].

The Strategic Focus on State Legislatures (1990s-2010)

Through the 1990s, Republicans continued to make steady gains in state legislatures, though Democrats maintained an overall advantage. The Republican leadership increasingly recognized that controlling state legislatures offered multiple strategic advantages, including:

1. The ability to shape state policy on education, healthcare, taxes, and social issues

2. Creating a talent pipeline for higher offices

3. Building party infrastructure in previously Democratic regions

4. Controlling the redistricting process following each decennial census

By the early 2000s, Republicans had nearly reached parity with Democrats in state legislative control, setting the stage for a more coordinated and ambitious effort to secure dominance.

REDMAP: The Redistricting Revolution (2010-2012)

The most strategic and consequential Republican state-level initiative emerged in 2010 with the Republican State Leadership Committee's REDistricting MAjority Project (REDMAP). This program represented a sophisticated recognition of how controlling state legislatures could translate directly into federal power through the redistricting process.

As described by the RSLC, "As the 2010 Census approached, the RSLC began planning for the subsequent election cycle, formulating a strategy to keep or win Republican control of state legislatures with the largest impact on congressional redistricting as a result of reapportionment"^[4]. The rationale was straightforward: "Controlling the redistricting process in these states would have the greatest impact on determining how both state legislative and congressional district boundaries would be drawn"^[4-1].

REDMAP strategically targeted resources toward state legislative races in states projected to gain or lose congressional seats following the 2010 Census. The 2010 midterm elections-coinciding with the Tea Party movement and backlash against President Obama's healthcare legislation-provided an ideal environment for this strategy. Republicans won historic victories across state legislatures, gaining control of numerous chambers that would oversee redistricting.

The Impact of Redistricting Control

The redistricting process following the 2010 Census allowed Republicans to draw district boundaries that maximized their electoral advantages. By carefully drawing districts that concentrated Democratic voters while spreading Republican voters more efficiently, the party was able to create durable legislative majorities at both state and federal levels.

As the RSLC itself acknowledged, this approach "allowed a Republican House of Representatives to return to Washington as an important check and balance of power in our nation's capital"^[4-2]. The strategy effectively translated state-level control into federal power, as Republicans maintained control of the U.S. House through much of the following decade despite sometimes receiving fewer total votes nationwide than Democrats.

Contemporary Republican State Dominance (2013-2025)

The Republican investment in state politics has continued to yield significant results. As of May 2025, Republicans control 55.65% of all state legislative seats nationally, while Democrats hold 43.64%^[5]. Republicans maintain majorities in 57 state legislative chambers compared to Democrats' 40 chambers (with Nebraska's unicameral legislature being officially nonpartisan)^[6].

This dominance extends beyond mere seat counts. Half of all states have veto-proof Republican majorities in their legislatures, allowing the party to override Democratic governors in divided government situations^[6-1]. Following the 2022 midterm elections, Republicans maintained full control of government (legislature and governorship) in 22 states^[6-2].

ALEC and Policy Coordination

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has played a significant role in coordinating conservative policy across state legislatures. ALEC creates model legislation that Republican legislators can introduce in their states, creating a unified conservative policy approach across multiple jurisdictions. In 1995 alone, ALEC could claim 231 state enactments based on their model bills, with Virginia (21 bills), Arkansas (12), Indiana (11), Illinois (11), and Montana (10) leading in adoptions^[7].

States with the highest success rates for ALEC bills included Indiana, Montana, Virginia, and Idaho, suggesting that Republican legislative strength translates directly into policy implementation^[7-1]. This coordinated policy approach allows Republicans to effectively test and implement conservative policies across multiple states simultaneously.

Federal Impact of State-Level Control

The Republican dominance at the state level has enhanced federal power in several significant ways:

1. Congressional Redistricting

The most direct impact comes through Congressional redistricting. By controlling the drawing of congressional district boundaries in multiple states, Republicans have been able to create electoral maps that favor their candidates, helping maintain Republican control of the House of Representatives even when Democrats win more total votes nationally.

2. Policy Laboratories and Federal Advocacy

Republican-controlled states have functioned as laboratories for conservative policies that later gain traction at the federal level. Successful state-level policies on taxation, regulation, abortion restrictions, and election administration have provided templates for federal legislation and executive actions.

3. Legal Challenges and Judicial Strategy

Republican state attorneys general have coordinated legal challenges to Democratic federal policies, effectively using the courts to block or limit federal initiatives. This strategy has become increasingly effective as Republican presidents have appointed more conservative federal judges.

4. Political Talent Pipeline

State legislatures have served as training grounds for Republican politicians who later seek federal office. The experience, name recognition, and donor networks developed at the state level provide significant advantages when running for Congress or higher office.

Conclusion: The Strategic Value of State-Level Dominance

The Republican Party's six-decade journey from minority status to dominance in state legislatures represents one of the most successful long-term political strategies in American history. By recognizing the strategic value of state control-particularly for redistricting purposes-Republicans built a durable advantage that continues to shape American politics at all levels.

While Democrats have recently made modest gains in state legislatures, flipping four chambers in the 2022 elections, Republicans maintain a substantial advantage^[6-3]. This enduring state-level strength provides Republicans with significant structural advantages in federal politics that transcend the pendulum swings of presidential elections.

The Republican state-level strategy demonstrates how control of seemingly local institutions can dramatically reshape national politics. As partisan polarization continues and federal gridlock persists, state legislatures will likely remain crucial battlegrounds for determining the future direction of American governance.

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1. https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2011/compendia/statab/131ed/tables/12s0418.xls↩︎

2. https://library.cqpress.com/cqalmanac/document.php?id=cqal67-1311489↩︎↩︎↩︎

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Republican_Party_(United_States)↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎

4. https://www.redistrictingmajorityproject.com

5. https://ballotpedia.org/Partisan_composition_of_state_legislatures↩︎

6. https://www.quorum.us/data-driven-insights/republicans-now-control-more-state-legislatures-than-any-point-in-u-s-history/↩︎↩︎↩︎↩︎

7. https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/02/politics/law-and-order-donald-trump-protest-riots/index.html↩︎↩︎

Note about sources: this post was generated by Perplexity AI using the following prompt, and an earlier draft created using Chat GPT within [TheBrain](https://www.thebrain.com/)

• Prompt (using deep research):
  Describe the history of the Republican Party program to gain legislative and political control of the States of the USA, beginning in 1967, and describe how this state control has enhanced federal legislative and political control. Consider the attached PDF file, Republican Control of State Politics, as a starting draft, but do not be limited to the content or structure.