Democrats made major gains in state-level elections, taking control of several governors’ offices and legislative chambers from Republicans. The shift erased the Republican advantage in unified state government, or “trifecta” control, and could create more opportunities for climate and clean-energy legislation.
Democrats gain ground in governor’s races
Before Tuesday’s election, Republicans held more governorships and state legislative seats than Democrats. That advantage helped give the party greater control over state governments.
Democrats swept many of the key state-level contests, taking the governors’ offices from Republicans in Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, Nevada and Texas. Democrats now hold a 29–19 advantage in the governors’ races. Kansas remains too close to call, while Alaska’s result could take additional time to determine.
The party is also on track to gain several hundred state legislative seats, potentially giving Democrats more nationwide control than Republicans for the first time in more than a decade. At the start of the election, Republicans held 4,072 seats and Democrats held 3,257, according to Multistate, a research and lobbying firm.
Multistate reported that Democrats had recorded a net gain of more than 350 seats on Tuesday, with hundreds more potentially changing hands as vote counting continues.
Democrats expand control of state governments
Democrats gained unified control of state government—known as a trifecta, consisting of the governor’s office and both legislative chambers—in Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Arizona is likely to become the sixth addition once officials finish counting the votes.
Those victories give Democrats trifecta control in 22 states. Republicans hold unified control in 18 states, while nine states have divided government. Kansas remains undecided.
Before the election, Republicans held trifectas in 23 states, Democrats held them in 16, and 11 states had split control.
The source account describes Republicans as losing “three straight states” while listing Iowa, Georgia, Texas, New Hampshire and Ohio among the states where they lost ground.
Potential impact on climate and energy policy
The election results could have significant consequences for climate and energy policy, said Caroline Spears, executive director of the advocacy group Climate Cabinet.
“States have undergone a generational shift in political windows to improve people’s lives, lower costs, and reduce climate pollution at the same time,” she said during a conference call.
Source: arstechnica.com