Liberals freak out that Republicans might win in state house races

State legislatures have grown in influence and power over the last two decades, leading to a patchwork of laws around the country on reproductive rights, voter registration, health care, education and guns.

“The decisions made in state capitals probably have a greater impact on people’s routine activities than many of the decisions made in Washington, D.C.,” says Peverill Squire, professor of political science at the University of Missouri.

Some of that is unintentional, as gridlock in Congress slowed down the pace of federal legislation, he says. Some of it is explicit, as when in 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down parts of the Voting Rights Act and allowed states to make changes to election law without prior federal approval.

When it comes to abortion rights, a change of power in some state chambers could either give the GOP the edge to override vetoes by Democratic governors to institute new restrictions – for example in North Carolina – or could put more Democrats in a position to preserve abortion rights, in states such as Pennsylvania and Michigan.

“States and state legislatures in particular are setting the tone and direction for our country … while the rest of us are distracted by the shiny objects inside the Beltway,” says Squadron.