Democrats secured a majority of US governorships for the first time since 2010 in Tuesday’s midterm elections. They flipped five Republican-held states and took the lead in the nationwide count of state chief executives, NBC News and the Associated Press reported.
Governors control state budgets, veto power and the administration of elections. The shift gives Democrats a stronger hand in state capitals after 16 years in the minority. It also extends the party’s gains in states that voted Republican in recent presidential elections.
Five flips decide the majority of US governorships
Democrats flipped governorships in Texas, Georgia, Iowa, Ohio and Nevada, according to NBC News. Republicans entered the election with a 26-24 edge, and 36 governorships were on the ballot. The flips gave Democrats a majority of US governorships.
Gina Hinojosa defeated Governor Greg Abbott in Texas. She became the first Democrat to win the state’s governor race in 32 years, NBC News reported. Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated Rick Jackson in Georgia. She became the first Black woman elected governor in US history. Bottoms also became the first Democrat to win the office in Georgia since 2002, NBC News reported.
Rob Sand defeated Zach Lahn in Iowa. He became the first Democrat to win the office in two decades, according to NBC News. Amy Acton defeated Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio. She became the first Democrat to win there in 20 years. Aaron Ford’s win in Nevada completed the set of five flips, NBC News reported.
Decision Desk HQ projected Democrats to hold 28 governorships by 10 a.m. on Wednesday. It projected 20 for Republicans, according to Stateline. The races in Alaska and Kansas remained uncalled at that time.
Democrats also held governorships in Maine, Michigan and Wisconsin, NBC News reported. Four Black governors will serve at the same time, a first, according to Stateline. They include Bottoms in Georgia and Byron Donalds in Florida. Donalds became the first Black Republican elected governor.
Republicans had controlled a majority of US governorships since 2010, Stateline reported. The Associated Press said the gains will shift power in state government. It said the gains will bring pressure on Democrats to deliver results. The Associated Press also reported that Democrats won a majority in the US House for the first time since 2022.
What remains uncalled
The Associated Press had not called the governor’s race in Kansas. Democrat Cindy Holscher claimed victory with a lead of 5,557 votes over Republican Ty Masterson, according to USA Today. Masterson said he wanted another look at the count, USA Today reported.
Confirmed so far are the Democratic majority of US governorships, the five flips and the 28-20 split with two races uncalled. The final total will be known when Alaska and Kansas are called. The new governors take office in 2027.
