Five governorships flipped, zero lost: Democrats redraw the state map

The five flips

As of 4:17 p.m. ET Wednesday, Ballotpedia had Democrats winning 22 of 36 governor's races to Republicans' 12, with two uncalled. Five seats changed hands, all to Democrats.

• 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, according to NBC News.
• Ohio: Amy Acton won the open seat.
• Iowa: Rob Sand won the open seat.
• Nevada: Aaron Ford defeated Gov. Joe Lombardo.

For 16 years Republicans held most of the nation's governorships, a majority dating to 2010, per Ballotpedia. That run is over.

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.

Trifectas: full control in five more states

A trifecta means one party holds the governorship and both legislative chambers, per Ballotpedia. Democrats gained trifectas in Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Nevada. Ballotpedia reports the breakdown:

• 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.

Why it matters

Governors and legislatures decide abortion access, voting rules, minimum wages and, in many states, redistricting, according to Ballotpedia. Democrats went in needing a net gain of two to win a majority of governorships; Republicans held 26 and Democrats 24 going in. Now Democrats hold the pen in five more capitals.