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Five governorships flipped, zero lost: Democrats redraw the state map
Texas, Georgia, Ohio, Iowa and Nevada went blue, and Democrats picked up full control of five state governments.
As of 4:17 p.m. ET Wednesday, Ballotpedia had Democrats winning 22 of 36 governor's races to Republicans' 12, with five seats flipping to Democrats and none to Republicans. Democrats also gained trifectas in Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Nevada.
For 16 years Republicans held most of the nation's governorships, a majority dating to 2010, per Ballotpedia. That run is over.
The five flips
Every one of these was called by Ballotpedia:
- Texas: Gina Hinojosa defeated Gov. Greg Abbott. Texas hadn't elected a Democratic governor since 1990, the Texas Tribune notes.
- Georgia: Keisha Lance Bottoms won the open seat (NBC News).
- Ohio: Amy Acton won the open seat.
- Iowa: Rob Sand won the open seat.
- Nevada: Aaron Ford defeated Gov. Joe Lombardo.
As of 4:17 p.m. ET Wednesday, Democrats had won 22 races and Republicans 12, with two uncalled. Five seats changed hands, all to Democrats, Ballotpedia reports. Democrats went in needing a net gain of two to win a majority of governorships; going in, Republicans held 26 and Democrats 24.
Holding the line in Trump country
Democrats were defending five governorships in states Trump won in 2024: Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Ballotpedia called holds for Katie Hobbs in Arizona, Jocelyn Benson in Michigan, Josh Shapiro in Pennsylvania and David Crowley in Wisconsin, per Ballotpedia.
Trifectas: where Democrats can now actually govern
A trifecta means one party holds the governorship and both legislative chambers. Ballotpedia reports Democrats gained trifectas in:
- Michigan, after the state House went Democratic
- Minnesota, after the state House went Democratic
- Pennsylvania, after the state Senate went Democratic
- Wisconsin, after the state Senate went Democratic
- Nevada, after the governorship went Democratic
Republican trifectas ended in Texas, Ohio, Iowa and Georgia, which now have divided governments.
Going in, there were 23 Republican trifectas, 16 Democratic and 11 divided. As of 2:16 p.m. ET Wednesday, 36 of 46 states with trifecta offices on the ballot were decided: 16 Democratic, 14 Republican and 6 divided. Nine states changed status, five to Democratic trifectas and four to divided government, with none going to a Republican trifecta, per Ballotpedia.
Why it matters
Governors and legislatures decide abortion access, voting rules, minimum wages and, in many states, redistricting. Now Democrats hold the pen in five more capitals.
Gina Hinojosa Keisha Lance Bottoms Rob Sand
Sources
- Election results, 2026 — Ballotpedia
- Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeats Greg Abbott for Texas governor — The Texas Tribune
- Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms fends off GOP Rick Jackson in Georgia's governor's race — NBC News