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.
There are more states controlled by Republicans, but the more populous states other than Texas are controlled by Democrats. Plenty of states have mixed control: a Republican Governor and Democratic or mixed legislature, or vice-versa. State control has been important in National politics, Iâll get to that. The Republicans won a majority in the House of Representatives in 2010, and they have held it ever since. Right now, in the 114th Congress, the Republicans have the largest majority since 1929. At this point in time, itâs nearly impossible for the Democrats to win the House.