montpelier vt. still sift wreckage nov. election democratic leaders nationwide struggle find new message claw back support avoid years political wilderness republicans control white house u.s. senate house representatives hold 33 governor offices new england long consider reliably democratic prime example party demise republican phil scott vermont democrat sue minter criticize like presidential nominee hillary clinton fail develop economic message resonate voters worry good-paying job consider liberal bastion vermont tradition sometimes choose republican governor keep one party much control elsewhere republican chris sununu replace democratic governor new hampshire maine massachusetts already republican governors lose governorship freak vermont lament washington-based democratic strategist chris kofinis lose election national rebuke biblical republicans also command 32 state legislatures full control mean hold governor office legislative chamber 24 state include swing state florida ohio michigan wisconsin president barack obama elect 2008 control nine republicans state legislative level ever say tim storey analyst national conference state legislatures republicans score major coup seize senate traditionally liberal minnesota give full control legislature gain full control next-door iowa party message structure apparatus break say kofinis chief staff moderate democratic senator joe manchin west virginia acknowledge years white house obama two term mask crumble party infrastructure obama tenure democrats lose 800 state legislative seat least 13 governorships house congress party insiders reluctant blame popular obama cite plenty reason decline include muddle economic message overemphasis emerge demographic group minorities millennial expense white voters perception party elitist align wall street reluctance embrace progressive populism senator bernie sanders former presidential hopeful failure field strong candidates key state emerge consensus add party focus win national race invest enough local campaign along grudge admission republicans do good job compete grind result poor performance democrats 2010 midterm elections give republicans control statehouses across country allow redraw legislative map fashion district would help ensure long-term electoral success think foundation build back 2010 wisconsin governor scott walker tell reuters big wave many us elect 10 get reelect 14 battleground state wisconsin florida ohio michigan look state key presidential win state republicans well 10 sustain it under-resourced democrats work recover look ahead governor race new jersey virginia next year make lose grind governor offices become crucial another reason republican governors sign voter suppression measure state north carolina democrats believe damage turnout sununu say one first act governor new hampshire would like end state practice allow same-day voter registration redistricting another lever power republicans wield make sure remain majority long time obama say actively support new party initiative national democratic redistricting committee seek restore state-level democratic power mark schauer former michigan congressman senior adviser effort say goal central organization direct resources critical local race schauer lose congressional seat republican legislators excise home county district say deep-pocketed democratic donors always appreciate need support state race state senate race sexy presidential big u.s. senate race schauer say jessica post executive director democratic legislative campaign committee party arm charge oversee state race agree felt under-resourced howard dean former vermont governor presidential candidate run democratic national committee adopt 50-state strategy invest fund every state even ones perceive hostile democrats effort identify viable candidates local office dean plan sole reason democrats election successes 2006 2008. dean leave dnc strategy fade party fortunes state level begin decline dean candidate run dnc say revive strategy elect post happen result decades smart organize conservatives simply pour resources talent energy create infrastructure state local national level say bill lofy long-time democratic strategist vermont say governor-elect scott effective make generic sense kitchen-table economic issue way parallel presidential race like trump say scott spend little time talk go implement policies propose scott tell voters trust side democrats search answer stem spread republican tide