50% of GOP State Legislative Incumbents Presently Unchallenged, GOP Challenging 78% of Democratic Incumbents

Nice numbers from GOPAC (which is getting back to, you know, its mission of helping to elect Republicans after being led for a couple years by Michael Steele):

Republican state legislative campaign committees and state parties have filed a record number of candidates for state legislative seats in key chambers across the United States, according to a study conducted by GOPAC. After a review of filings in 10 key chambers where filing deadlines have closed, Republicans have filed to run for 678 of 812 seats up for election this year — nearly 10 percent more seats than Democratic candidates. Equally impressive, Republican candidates are contesting 289 of a possible 368 state legislative seats currently held by Democratic incumbents who are seeking reelection in 2010 for a challenge rate of 78 percent. Democrats, by contrast, are contesting 172 of a possible 344 seats currently held by Republican incumbents who are seeking reelection in 2010 for a challenge rate of 50 percent.

Geraghty adds:

When I saw "record number of candidates," I wondered how much the number was being boosted by multiple candidates in GOP primaries; in some House districts, you've got small armies of candidates competing for the nomination, with a certain number certain to finish in the low single digits.

What impresses me about this is that it isn't counting multiple candidates; this is just making sure that as many Democratic incumbents earn it as possible.

Good news for redistricting come 2011.