Republicans picked up 680 seats in state legislatures, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures -- an all time high. To put that number in perspective: In the 1994 GOP wave, Republicans picked up 472 seats. The previous record was in the post-Watergate election of 1974, when Democrats picked up 628 seats.
The GOP gained majorities in at least 14 state house chambers. They now have unified control -- meaning both chambers -- of 26 state legislatures.
That control is a particularly bad sign for Democrats as they go into the redistricting process. If the GOP is effective in gerrymandering districts in many of these states, it could eventually lead to the GOP actually expanding its majority in 2012.
Republican gains in 2010 eclipsed Democrat advancements in the direct aftermath of Watergate -- yet the White House continues to insist the midterms were in no way a reflection on, or a rejection, of this president.