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By Krystal Ball

For many voters and political observers, the big question inÌýÌýis which party will end up inÌý. The answer will impact presidential nominations, future legislation and greatly influenceÌý. But real policy changes in this country will happen at the state level, with massive implications for all ¾«¶«Ó°Òµns, and especially ¾«¶«Ó°Òµn women.

These elections should not be ignored, for in this country,ÌýÌýoften rests in the hands of state legislatures.

Remember the 2010 midterms? I was running forÌýÌýat the time so every detail of that cycle is indelibly stamped on my brain. TheÌýÌýwas terrible (as opposed to merely bad as it is now). The bloom was not yet off, theÌýÌýrose, and candidates were coming up with all sorts of innovative ways to explain just how big the national debt was (if you stacked dollar bills to the moon … ).

Of course we all remember the end result onÌý.ÌýÌýcame to an unceremonious end; Republicans moved into governors’ mansions across the country and notably, Republicans gained control of an unprecedented number of state legislatures.Ìý,,Ìý,Ìý,ÌýÌýand more all had legislative chambers flip to GOP control. Republicans picked up more than 675 legislative seats, the largest swing of any party since 1938.

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