The Seat Realignment

The Republican strategy of targeting the most Republican districts regardless of how popular the congressman was bore a lot of fruit. After the 2004 election Republicans had 23 seats Democratic leaning seats. Democrats had 31 Republican leaning seats. Before the 2010 election Republicans were down to 10, while the Democrats had 69 of the GOP's seats. While the Democrats took most of the Democratic skewing seats, they had to take Republican skewing seats to amass such a huge number. Overall


There are a few districts pending, but as of now the GOP has 17 Democratic skewing districts, while the Democrats are down to 14 Republican skewing districts. Seventy-one percent of Democratic gains were in Republican districts, while only 17% of Republican gains were in Democratic districts. The Republicans actually dropped from having four D+5+ districts to one. This election mostly put Republican districts in Republican hands and vice-versa. Republicans should have an easier time defending these seats than they did those in 2004. If they win a few of the undecideds they'll have a majority just with the Republican leaning districts.

Of course the Democrats could take Republican districts like they did in 2006 and 2008, but this is harder unless you have a wave.