Republican Victories Run Deep

Washington Examiner Editorial

Tuesday was a great day for Republicans, not just because they won a lot of new congressional seats. It was also about which seats they captured. To note just a few of the most prominent examples, grizzled Democratic incumbents such as Minnesota's Jim Oberstar, South Carolina's John Spratt, and Pennsylvania's Paul Kanjorski lost Tuesday after serving for decades in the House. These gains for Republicans are powerful examples of principled opposition trumping entrenched power and money, and they are encouraging.

But while the GOP's major congressional victories will deservedly be examined closely, serious attention ought also be paid to down-ballot results in the state contests. Republicans took control of at least 19 additional state legislative bodies Tuesday for a total of 26 in which the party controls both chambers, compared with 21 for Democrats and with three still up for grabs. Among these are legislatures in Alabama and North Carolina that had not seen elected Republican majorities since the Reconstruction elections of 1876 and 1870, respectively. Those that argued just two years ago the GOP was in danger of becoming a Southern regional party were proved resoundingly wrong as state legislative chambers in New Hampshire, Maine, Wisconsin and Minnesota flipped to GOP control. Republicans even made major inroads and could end up on top of legislative bodies in Oregon and Washington. Republicans won 16 of 30 races for state attorney general, taking five such offices away from Democrats, pulling within four of their opponents' total. The GOP also won 17 of 26 secretary of state races, a gain of six, giving the party a 25-22 edge (three states don't have such offices).

These developments have national implications, especially for redistricting. According to the Republican State Leadership Committee, Republicans now will play a role in redrawing the boundaries of a whopping 314 congressional districts. And lots of new Republicans in power in major swing states -- such as Ohio, Pennsylvania and Colorado -- will undoubtedly help foster a favorable climate for the 2012 GOP presidential contender.

Perhaps the most important takeaway is that while the Tea Party started out as an anti-Washington movement, the outcome of Tuesday's local elections shows that the GOP grass roots is now serious about positive engagement in the political process. With large numbers of political neophytes filling the party's ranks, the GOP's bench of potential candidates could end up as deep as the Marianas Trench, dominating elections for a generation. But Republicans must not forget that, as Florida Sen.-elect Marco Rubio said, "Tuesday's election was not a mandate, it was a second chance." An enduring Republican revival will only happen if these new leaders remain steadfast to the principles of limited government, fiscal responsibility, and accountability and transparency that motivated voters to elect them.