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Under former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, the GOP moved aggressively to make state offices more partisan, pumping cash into down-ballot races.

"One of the shortcomings I believe of our national party committees is that they focus almost exclusively on just one election cycle with no longer term arc to their work. The DNC focus is primarily just on federal races, and while we have to win federal races for sure we also cannot ignore down-ballot races, state legislative bodies, local government races, frankly, where we're seeing a lot of disastrous public policy being passed in this country."

But down-ballot races offer a solid case for Democratic optimism.

If Vice President Kamala Harris decides to run for California governor, she would seismically reshape the race and cause ripple effects on down-ballot contests.

Most speculated that a Harris entry would cause some other candidates in the race to scatter, creating further upheaval in down-ballot races as a roster of ambitious politicians scramble for other opportunities.