Due to a recent development, the Democratic Party has a legitimate chance of gaining two more seats in the California Senate to take a two-thirds supermajority in the state legislature.

The last time a party held a majority of two-thirds in the Senate in California was when President Johnson was busy sending U.S. troops to Vietnam, the Governor of California was Pat Brown and the city of Los Angeles was trying to recover from the riots in Watts. All that took place in 1965. Close to 50 years later, the Democrats hope they can take the supermajority, when the national election takes place on November 6.

By just winning two new seats, the supermajority would go to the Democrats, and put them 50% of the way to their goal of absolute power in the finances and policies in California. To raise taxes or overturn vetoes by the governor amongst other actions, a two-thirds vote from each house is required.

In this year’s election, neither party is expected to make it to that threshold in the Assembly. Nevertheless, Democrats in the past in that house have been successful in producing votes from Republican for increases in taxes. The Assembly last had a supermajority during the 1970s when it was held by the Democrats.

The opportunity of the Democrats to get the supermajority in the Senate stems from the independent redistricting process that took place last year. The process created more areas that could change from one party to another. In addition, there has been a large decline across California in voter registration of Republicans.

Currently 25 of the 40 seats in the State Senate are held by Democrats. In three races they believe they can win, the Democrats are spending thousands of dollars in television ads and in mailings. Republicans have begun to fight back by warning voters what a one party rule would mean to them.