At a board meeting, state board member discusses and votes on a matter that impacts a client of his firm. A public employee applies for a job with the company she regulates on behalf of her public agency. Please note that having a conflict of interest is not illegal.
If you want to understand how destructive the 2010 and 2014 midterm elections were to the long-term downballot prospects of the Democratic party, all you need to do is look at this chart via Pew's terrific Fact Tank site. In 2009, Republicans controlled both chambers in just 14 state legislatures. Six years later, they had total control in more than double that number. And that's not even the full, bad story for Democrats. Look at their numbers. In 2009, Democrats had full control in 27 state legislatures; by 2015 that number was down to 11, the lowest ebb for total Democratic control since, at least, 1978.
Washington state has voted for Democratic candidates in the last seven presidential elections and is represented by two Democratic senators. Six of its 10 representatives in the House are Democrats, as are its past three governors. Democrats also control the Legislature. At the other end is Alabama, which has gone Republican in the last seven presidential elections. Both of its senators are Republicans as are six of its seven House members and its governor.