From wsj.com:

The Republican State Leadership Committee created the Redistricting Majority Project, whose sole purpose is “dedicated to keeping or winning Republican control of state legislatures that will have the most impact on Congressional redistricting in 2011.” The group is on pace to raise and spend $40 million to help GOP candidates in state races.

The state races can be critical in determining control of Congress.

In 1980, California’s congressional delegation was evenly split, 22 Democrats and 21 Republicans. After the 1980 census, which gave the state two additional congressional districts, Democrats took advantage of redistricting to create a huge majority that still endures. The 1982 election produced 28 Democrats and just 17 Republicans.

Texas leaned Democratic since Reconstruction, until Republicans used a statehouse majority won in 2002 to launch a mid-decade redistricting plan.

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