Republicans won a veto-proof supermajority in the Missouri House on Tuesday, picking up at least four seats and shrinking Democratic power in the state legislature to an historic low.
The new alignment will likely mean several bills that died thanks to Gov. Jay Nixon's veto pen will get new life, most prominently one mandating voters show photo ID to cast a ballot and another making it more difficult to prove discrimination cases against former employers. Other issues that stalled because of Democratic opposition or threats of a veto by the governor, such as changes to the state's labor laws, could also be back on the table.
Nixon, a Democrat, easily won re-election Tuesday.
"We're going to sit down with our caucus, and any areas where we can work with the governor we certainly will," said Rep. John Diehl, a Town and Country Republican who is expected to be chosen as House Majority Leader. "But we are going to take advantage of our new majority. Voters sent a pretty clear message tonight that the legislature is going to have a significant say over what happens in this state over the next couple years."
Republicans appear to have won 110 seats in the chamber to only 53 for Democrats. It takes 109 votes to overturn a governor's veto. In the Missouri Senate, Republicans held on to their veto-proof majority and hold 25 of the chamber's 34 seats.
Most -- including Republican leaders -- had predicted Democrats could make marginal gains this year after they suffered staggering defeats in 2010 that saw the party lose 17 seats and give the GOP its biggest majority in history.
Democrats pointed to several factors that hurt them on election night: a massive GOP fundraising advantage, party infighting, and a newly drawn legislative map that includes far more GOP-leaning districts. Some also complained that Nixon, after building a big lead in his race and a massive campaign war chest, should have done more to help his fellow Democrats in tough legislative races.
Local results:
Senate District 17 -- Republican Ryan Silvey defeated Democrat Sandra Reeves.
Senate District 21 -- Republican David Pearce defeated Democrat ElGene Ver Dught.
Senate District 31 -- Republican Ed Emery defeated Democrat Charles Burton.
House District 13 --Republican Nick Marshall defeated Democrat Gerry Byrne.
House District 14 -- Republican Ron Schieber defeated Democrat Eric Pendell.
House District 15 -- Democrat Jon Carpenter defeated Republican Kevin Corlew.
House District 16 -- Republican Noel Shull defeated Democrat Jim Sweere.
House District 17 -- Republican Myron Neth defeated Democrat Mark Ellebracht.
House District 20 -- Democrat John Mayfield defeated Republican Brent Lasater.
House District 21 --Democrat Ira Anders defeated Republican Vicki Riley.
House District 24 -- Democrat Judy Morgan defeated Republican Jonathan Sternberg.
House District 25 -- Democrat Jeremy LaFaver defeated Republican Sally Miller.
House District 28 --Democrat Tom McDonald defeated Republican Jim Aziere.
House District 29 --Republican Noel Torpey defeated Democrat John Sutton.
House District 30 --Republican Mike Cierpiot defeated Democrat Shere Alam.
House District 31 --Republican Sheila Solon defeated Democrat Dale Walkup.
House District 32 --Republican Jeanie Lauer defeated Democrat Sherbaz Khan.
House District 33 --Republican Donna Pfautsch defeated Democrat Ron Harvey.
House District 37 --Democrat Joe Runions defeated Republican Nola Wood.
House District 38 --Republican T.J. Berry defeated Democrat Kevin Morgan.
House District 55 --Republican Rick Brattin defeated Democrat Jim White.
House District 56 --Republican Chris Molendorp defeated Democrat Patty Johnson..
