Colorado House District 23-- Max Tyler
Status: Democratic Incumbent (appointee)

Why this Race Matters: The GOP nominee in this district moved there from Denver just five days before the deadline to file for office, and Rep. Tyler has deeper roots in the community. Still, this is a politically-competitive district in a key redistricting battleground.

Colorado Senate District 20-- Cheri Jahn
Status: Democratic Open Seat

Why this Race Matters: Defeating incumbents is almost always more difficult than capturing open seats, so keeping SD-20 in Democratic hands would indicate a good night for Democratic candidates elsewhere in Colorado. And as a top redistricting battleground, a Democratic Senate majority would likely prevent Republicans from gerrymandering up to three new GOP congressional seats.

Indiana House District 46-- Bionca Gambill
Status: Democratic Open Seat

Why this Race Matters: HD-56 is a traditionally-conservative district left open by a well-liked Democratic Representative. This district closely resembles those held by several vulnerable Democratic Representatives, so holding this open seat would be a very good sign for other vulnerable districts. The Democratic majority in the Indiana House is currently the only thing preventing the defeat of three Democratic members of congress through gerrymandering.

Iowa House District 74-- Scott Ourth
Status: Republican Open Seat

Why this Race Matters: Iowa political observers expect HD-74 to be one of the closest races in the Iowa House this year and a bellwether for Democratic chances elsewhere. National Republicans are hinting that they’ll overrule Iowa’s highly-respected independent redistricting commission if they re-take the legislature. Democratic leaders have pledged to uphold the commission’s recommended maps.

Iowa Senate District 37-- Staci Appel
Status: Democratic Incumbent

Why this Race Matters: In what’s shaping up to be the highest-profile State Senate race in Iowa, Sen. Appel’s opponent has made opposition to marriage equality a top issue. Sen. Appel has focused on highlighting her efforts to create jobs and protect education. Iowa is the gold standard for non-partisan redistricting, but national Republicans are threatening to overturn that process if they capture the legislature.

Kentucky Senate District 38-- Marty Meyer
Status: Republican Incumbent

Why this Race Matters: Most state legislative races are decided on state and local issues, but that’s especially true in Kentucky. That local focus has helped Kentucky Democrats pick up two overwhelmingly conservative State Senate districts in special elections since 2008, putting them within striking distance of winning a majority in time for redistricting.

Michigan House District 62-- Kate Segal
Status: Democratic Incumbent

Why this Race Matters: The Republican is a Tea Party supporter who previously ran for State Senate from the right as an Independent candidate. A Democratic victory would help retain a State House majority in a critical redistricting battleground state.

Michigan Senate District 6-- Glenn Anderson
Status: Democratic Incumbent

Why this Race Matters: With only 8 incumbents running in the 38-seat Senate (because of term limits), the entire chamber is essentially up for grabs. Sen. Anderson, as a freshman legislator in a competitive district, is the only Democratic incumbent considered at all vulnerable. Therefore, holding his seat is the first step to closing the Republicans’ 16-22 advantage in time for redistricting.

Missouri House District 121-- Courtney Cole
Status: Republican Incumbent

Why this Race Matters: Incumbent Republican Denny Hoskins, who won his first election by just 122 votes in 2008, ran for office as a fiscally-conservative CPA, until local media discovered he had $20,000 in unpaid taxes. After that news came out, Hoskins got in a fight on the House floor. This is unquestionably House Democrats’ best pickup opportunity, the first of several pickups they’ll need to close the GOP advantage.

Montana House District 100-- Willis Curdy
Status: Republican Open Seat

Why this Race Matters: The State House epitomizes Montana’s history of close legislative elections, currently tied at 50 seats apiece and led by Democratic Speaker Bob Bergren. A one-seat gain for either party would mean unambiguous control of the chamber, and the open-seat HD-100 is a prime pickup opportunity for the Democrats.

Montana Senate District 25-- Kendall Van Dyk
Status: Republican Incumbent

Why this Race Matters: Montana’s legislative elections might be the most competitive in the country – both chambers usually end up closely divided, and just a two seat gain would pull Democrats to a tie this year in the State Senate.

Nevada Senate District 5-- Joyce Woodhouse
Status: Democratic Incumbent

Why this Race Matters: Barring a major upset, this is the one and only vulnerable Democratic seat in the Nevada State Senate. Sen. Woodhouse defeated a GOP incumbent in 2006, and her district has trended more Democratic since then. Holding this seat allows Democrats to make a play for a 2/3 majority in the State Senate, guaranteeing control of redistricting in 2011.

New York Senate District 40-- Mike Kaplowitz
Status: Republican Open Seat

Why this Race Matters: The New York Senate Republicans’ statewide campaign committee called the GOP nominee in this district “erratic,” said he “has some serious issues,” and even accused him of “stalking” his ex-girlfriend. Capturing this swing district would cement Democratic control of the State Senate just in time for redistricting.

North Carolina House District 115-- Patsy Keever
Status: Democratic Incumbent (appointee)

Why this Race Matters: Primary challenges can sometimes cause bad blood between the candidates, but that wasn’t the case in HD-115. Patsy ran a positive campaign and won through grassroots efforts. Afterward, Democratic incumbent Bruce Goforth graciously resigned (after the legislative session) so that Patsy could be appointed to the seat and begin building seniority. She was sworn in on September 16th, and she’s now facing a tough GOP challenge.

North Carolina Senate District 19-- Margaret Dickson
Status: Democratic Incumbent (appointee)

Why this Race Matters: North Carolina is a critical redistricting state where Democrats are fighting to retain legislative majorities this year, and Sen. Dickson is facing her first election in this swing district. Democrats are defending several open Senate seats this year, but not enough are competitive to flip control of the chamber. That means GOP hopes depend on defeating Democratic incumbents like Sen. Dickson.

Ohio House District 21-- David Robinson
Status: Republican Open Seat

Why this Race Matters: As a Republican open seat in a swing area of suburban Columbus, HD-21 is an opportunity of Ohio House Democrats to generate offense in a tough electoral climate. A win here gives majority Democrats some additional breathing room in one of the top redistricting battlegrounds in the Country.

Oregon Senate District 26-- Brent Barton
Status: Democratic Open Seat

Why this Race Matters: Only half of the State Senate is up for election in 2010, but three-quarters of the seats up this year are held by Democrats. Defending open seats like SD-26 is the first key to protecting the Democrats’ 18-12 advantage in an important redistricting chamber.

Pennsylvania House District 131 -- Mike Horton
Status: Republican Open Seat

Why this Race Matters: The best defense is a good offense, and that’s certainly true in Pennsylvania this year. Picking up even one or two Republican-held districts like this one would give democrats an excellent chance to retain their narrow State House majority and prevent the GOP from repeating their infamous gerrymander of 2001.

Tennessee House District 36-- Keith Clotfelter
Status: Republican Open Seat

Why this Race Matters: The Knoxville News-Sentinel recently profiled this race as one of the closest in Tennessee – and they’re spot on. Winning open seats like this one is House Democrats’ best hope of re-building their majority in time to prevent a GOP gerrymander aimed at making Democrats a permanent minority in the state.

Texas House District 113-- Jamie Dorris
Status: Republican Incumbent

Why this Race Matters: This was a competitive race even before local media discovered that the GOP incumbent has allegedly spent the last 18 years skimming taxpayer money for travel expenses – for a total of nearly $50,000 that should not have gone in his own pocket. Democrats need only three more seats to win a majority in the Texas House, which would give them the chance to undo Tom DeLay’s infamous mid-decade gerrymander in 2003.

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