Democrats clinch a majority of governorships for first time in 16 years

Democratic candidates flipped control of governorships in four races while maintaining power in several other states, further punctuating the party’s success in Tuesday’s elections.

Seizing on a broadly toxic political climate for Republicans, Democrats notched victories in perennial battleground and deep red states across the map.

Democratic candidates wrested control of governor’s mansions in Georgia, Iowa, Texas and Ohio.

The most shocking flip came in Texas — a state Donald Trump won two years ago by nearly 14 points, where the last Democratic governor was elected more than three decades ago.

Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa defeated three-term GOP Gov. Greg Abbott, overcoming a massive spending deficit to become the state’s first Latina chief executive.

Democrats also made history in Georgia, where former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated Republican Rick Jackson, flipping control of the battleground state office for the first time in 24 years. Bottoms’ victory means she will become the first Black female governor in U.S. history.

Bottoms is one of three Black gubernatorial candidates who won Tuesday, along with Democratic Gov. Wes Moore in Maryland and Republican Byron Donalds in Florida. There has never been more than one Black governor serving at a time before.

In Iowa, State Auditor Rob Sand beat Republican Zach Lahn, making him the first Democrat to be elected to lead the state in two decades. Trump won Iowa in 2024 by 13 points.

And in Ohio, Democrat Amy Acton beat Republican businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, succeeding Republican Mike DeWine.

Republicans entered Tuesday’s midterms with a 26-24 advantage in governor’s offices, but that majority appeared to be at risk early Wednesday. Thirty-six gubernatorial contests were on the ballot this year.

“This incredible milestone marks a new era of Democratic leadership in states across the country,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, said in a statement. “Democratic governors and the DGA pulled off this amazing turnaround by competing and winning everywhere, staying focused on the biggest issues impacting Americans every day, and always standing up for our values.”

Democrats also held on to gubernatorial power in critical swing states.

In Wisconsin, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley defeated GOP Rep. Tom Tiffany to succeed two-term Democrat Tony Evers.

And in Pennsylvania, Gov. Josh Shapiro won re-election by more than 20 percentage points.

Democratic candidates remain locked in tight races in Arizona, Nevada and Michigan early Wednesday.

In Arizona, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs led Republican Rep. Andy Biggs, while in Kansas, state Sen. Cindy Holscher was locked in a tight contest with Republican Ty Masterson. Despite Kansas’ history as a solidly Republican state, it has had a Democratic governor for the last eight years.

In battleground Nevada, state Attorney General Aaron Ford is facing off against GOP Gov. Joe Lombardo.