Ed Kilgore: “Even in an era of increasing partisan polarization and straight-ticket voting, state elections have their own logic and rhythm, in part because salient issues at the state level can be different from those prevailing nationally and also because some state pols — notably governors — are news-commanding celebrities in their own right.”“But the national political environment still affects downballot elections if only by affecting turnout patterns. So Democrats anticipate at least modest gains in the 36 gubernatorial elections being held this year and in the 88 state legislative chambers with some or all of their members facing voters in November.”