The extent of the Democrats' 2010 wipeout in state legislatures never ceases to shock. Very good @kzernike piece tracing the collapse on abortion rights to that moment: https://t.co/y6u87yrfyU

And the Republican effort to win those legislatures--netting 680 seats in total--cost only $30 million, less than Democrats have spent on individual losing Senate races in recent years.

Many here are noting backlash to the first Black president as a major cause for the 2010 wipeout. Yes, definitely.
But also: anger over Wall Street bailouts/lack accountability after financial collapse.
And the success of McConnell's stonewalling: drag out ACA etc, sour voters.