GOP in need of moral victory

Republicans aren't expecting to regain control of the state Senate or Assembly tonight, but picking up some seats might at least help improve party morale. The GOP has lost seats in the Legislature in every election since 1991. They have held their own in the Senate three times, but they have never gained ground in either the Senate or the Assembly.
At their peak in 1994, Republicans had a 53-27 majority in the Assembly and a 24-16 advantage in the Senate - plus the governship. Today, the Democrats have a 50-30 edge in the Assembly and a 22-18 margin in the Senate.
The most lopsided modern-day Legislature was in 1974, when Democrats controlled the Assembly 66-14 and the Senate 29-10, with one independent. Brendan Byrne was governor at the time. Just four years earlier, Republicans had a 59-21 edge in the Assembly and a 31-9 advantage in the Senate. William Cahill was the governor.