Democrats gain full control of five state governments, further expanding the party’s power

Democrats secured unified control across at least five state governments following significant victories in Tuesday's midterm elections, establishing majorities in both legislative branches alongside governor seats in multiple key swing states.

According to Associated Press projections reported by NBC News, the party achieved governing trifectas in Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The performance coincided with national Democratic wins that flipped both chambers of Congress and delivered the party a majority of the nation's governorships for the first time in 16 years.

The outcome marks a notable shift after years of widespread Republican dominance in statehouses. Mandara Meyers, executive director of The States Project, described the vote as the most consequential evening for state legislatures since the nationwide Republican sweep in 2010.

In Wisconsin, Democratic candidate David Crowley won the governorship alongside running mate Sarah Godlewski, while the party took majorities in both the state Assembly and Senate. The sweep gave Democrats total leadership in the state for the first time in 16 years, aided by revised voting districts adopted after the state Supreme Court invalidated previous Republican-drawn boundaries.

Pennsylvania Democrats established their first full statehouse control since 1993. The party flipped the state Senate and increased its narrow hold on the state Assembly, providing newly re-elected Gov. Josh Shapiro with aligned legislative majorities for his upcoming term.

In Michigan, Democrats re-established a trifecta after losing one two years ago, taking the state House and widening their margin in the Senate as Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson won the governor's race to succeed Gretchen Whitmer. In Minnesota, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar won the governorship to succeed Tim Walz, while Democrats expanded majorities in both chambers.

Nevada saw Democrats defend their legislative majorities while capturing the governor's office, as Attorney General Aaron Ford defeated incumbent Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo. The party could add an additional trifecta in Arizona, where Gov. Katie Hobbs secured re-election and Democrats expressed confidence in winning both legislative branches, though race outcomes there remained uncalled.

Beyond complete control, Democrats dismantled several longstanding Republican state strongholds. In Texas, state Rep. Gina Hinojosa defeated incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott, marking the first Democratic gubernatorial victory in the state since 1995 and ending two decades of total GOP rule. In Georgia, Keisha Lance Bottoms captured the governor's mansion, ending a 24-year Republican run in the office.

Democratic gubernatorial wins in Iowa and Ohio likewise severed longstanding Republican trifectas. The party also gained control of North Carolina's state House for the first time in 16 years and secured enough legislative seats to dismantle Republican supermajorities in Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, and South Carolina.