2019 Preview.

• Author: Mahoney, John
• Position: ELECTIONS - Gubernatorial and legislative elections in some states

The national news media are fixated on next year's presidential and congressional races, but in less than two months voters in five states will weigh in on legislative and gubernatorial contests, providing an early reading of the nation's political mood.

Four states--Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey and Virginia--will have legislative races Nov. 5, with Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi also holding gubernatorial elections. Of the nation's 7,383 state legislative seats, 538 will be up for election.

If there's drama on election night, it's likely to be in Virginia. Republicans control both chambers of the General Assembly, but by tight margins--just 21-19 in the Senate and 51-49 in the House. If Democrats flip both chambers, Virginia would become the 14th state government under Democratic control. Republicans currently control 22 states.

Polling data in the three states with gubernatorial elections suggests the races will be competitive. Louisiana will hold a first round of voting Oct. 12 and a runoff Nov. 16, if necessary. In...