Democrats take control of 26 governorships
The party flipped key states including Texas and Ohio, securing a majority of state leadership for the first time since 2010.
By Olivia Miller ·
Statehouses across the country changed hands on Tuesday, giving Democrats a majority of governorships for the first time in 16 years.
The party entered the election cycle holding 24 of the 50 seats. They exited with 26 after winning four races in states that President Donald Trump carried in 2024. Democratic candidates secured victory in Georgia, Iowa, Texas, and Ohio.
The shift in Texas marked a historic break from recent state history. State Representative Gina Hinojosa defeated three-term Governor Greg Abbott to become the state’s first Latina chief executive. Abbott had led the state for three terms, and the last Democrat to hold the office was elected more than three decades ago. Trump won the state by nearly 14 points in 2024.
In Georgia, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated Republican Rick Jackson. Her win makes her the first Black female governor in U.S. history and flips a state that has not elected a Democrat to the top post in 24 years. She joins Democratic Governor Wes Moore of Maryland and Republican Byron Donalds of Florida as one of three Black governors elected or re-elected on Tuesday. No more than one Black governor has served at the same time in the past.
Iowa and Ohio also shifted to Democratic control. State Auditor Rob Sand defeated Republican Zach Lahn in Iowa, becoming the first Democrat elected to lead that state in two decades. Trump won Iowa by 13 points in 2024. In Ohio, Democrat Amy Acton defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy to succeed Mike DeWine.
Democrats also held power in several swing states. David Crowley defeated Tom Tiffany in Wisconsin to succeed Tony Evers. Katie Hobbs won re-election in Arizona over Andy Biggs. Josh Shapiro won re-election in Pennsylvania by more than 20 points. In Michigan, Democrat Jocelyn Benson defeated John James to succeed Gretchen Whitmer.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, called the result a new era of Democratic leadership in a statement. He said the group focused on daily issues for Americans. The DGA noted that Democratic governors will represent a majority of states for the first time since 2010. Thirty-six gubernatorial contests were on the ballot this year. Races in Nevada and Kansas remained close early Wednesday, with Aaron Ford facing Joe Lombardo in Nevada and Cindy Holscher competing against Ty Masterson in Kansas.
