Democrats win big prizes in state legislatures

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Democrats won some big prizes in U.S. state legislative elections, gaining control of legislatures in New York, Delaware, Nevada and Wisconsin, as well as the Ohio House, a bipartisan group said on Wednesday.

Republicans also scored victories in Tuesday's elections, taking both chambers in Tennessee and Oklahoma along with the Montana Senate.

"It's a bit of a stalemate," said Tim Storey, an elections analyst at the National Conference of State Legislatures, who noted the vote gave both parties "something to crow about."

The outcomes were significant because they affect the way the country's political map will be redrawn after the 2010 census, a once-a-decade event in the United States.

When the results of the 11 governors' races are included, Democrats now control of all of state government in 17 states, while Republicans have eight states and 24 are divided, the NCSL reported.

Storey said Democrats probably eked out a relatively small gain in overall legislative seats, but increased their control of both chambers in legislatures to 27 states from 23 prior to the election.

Republican's held legislatures in 14 states, although Montana was undecided as control of the House was up in the air.

The number state legislatures with control split between the political parties shrunk to seven from 12. Nebraska's single-chamber legislature is nonpartisan.

"I don't think that indicates any kind of major transition or change at the legislative level," said Alan Rosenthal, professor of public policy at Rutgers University, adding that the impact of Democrat Barack Obama's victory as president was diluted further down the ticket.

But in states like New York, Ohio and possibly Wisconsin, the results could give Democrats a leg up in the redistricting process that allows legislatures to redo the borders of congressional districts, Rosenthal added.

Redistricting enables the party in power to solidify or expand its control by drawing the voting district lines to favor election of its candidates.

"In New York, if Democrats keep control it means Republicans are going to be in big trouble when redistricting comes along," Rosenthal said.

The Democrats' capture of the New York Senate, which Republicans have held since 1966, marks the first time since 1935 that Democrats control both the legislature and the governor's office in that state, Storey said.

(Editing by John O'Callaghan and Jackie Frank)