Democrats seized a dozen state legislative chambers and toppled Republican supermajorities in several states in Tuesday's midterm elections, apparently ending the GOP's control of most state legislatures and governorships that began in 2010.
Tracking by the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee on Wednesday showed 12 chambers flipped so far, the most since 2008, giving Democrats more than half of the nation's legislative chambers. The committee called it the party's best showing since Watergate. The gains came alongside Democrats' capture of Congress.
Several flips broke long droughts. Unofficial results show Democrats taking the Arizona legislature for the first time in 60 years and North Carolina's House for the first time since 2010. Democrats are poised to win the Texas House for the first time in over 20 years and Georgia's House for the first time in more than two decades.
The National Conference of State Legislatures said current results point to new Democratic trifectas, meaning both chambers plus the governor's office, in Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Republican trifectas fell in Georgia, Iowa, Ohio and Texas.
Republicans also lost two-thirds majorities in the Indiana House, the Kansas House, both Missouri chambers, the Ohio House and the South Carolina House. In Florida, losing the supermajority strips the GOP of its power to override the governor's veto and rules on procedure and debate.
Leaders fall in red states
In Kansas, Democrats flipped as many as 20 House seats. If preliminary counts hold, the Republican edge drops from 88-37 to 68-57, the narrowest since 1992, and House Majority Leader Chris Croft lost to Democrat Megan Phillips, 51% to 49%.
South Carolina Democrats flipped 10 House seats, according to unofficial state Election Commission results, though one faces an automatic recount. House Majority Leader Micah Caskey trailed Democrat Joe Madge by about 110 votes; Republicans still hold 79 of 124 seats.
Utah Democrats lead for 15 House seats and unaffiliated candidates for two, leaving Republicans a projected 44 of 75 seats. The House has not lacked a GOP supermajority since 1993. Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore trailed Democrat Shana Anderson by nearly 14 points.
In Washington, Democrats are on course for 66 of 98 state House seats, a supermajority able to override gubernatorial vetoes and advance constitutional amendments. The party last held one in 1949.
Gains reached deep-red states that stayed in Republican hands. Idaho Democrats picked up six legislative seats, though the GOP keeps supermajorities in both chambers. New Mexico Democrats ousted four Republican incumbents and will hold 47 of 70 House seats.
Explaining the wave
The Republican State Leadership Committee blamed a historically difficult political environment and said Democrats poured unprecedented resources into legislative contests. Its president, Edith Jorge-Tuñón, said top-of-the-ticket races hurt GOP candidates in battleground states.
Political observers offered several causes. Utah strategists from both parties cited frustration with the Republican legislature over redistricting, ballot initiatives and data centers, plus anger at President Donald Trump. University of Georgia professor Trey Hood called the results a national repudiation of Trump, saying Democrats tied high gas prices from the war in Iran to the White House.
Some South Carolina Republicans read the losses as a turnout problem. Freedom Caucus chairman Jordan Pace said GOP voters did not show up, and Ways and Means Chairman Bruce Bannister said they were uninspired by Republican candidates.
There’s a big wave of Republicans choosing not to vote.
Bruce Bannister, South Carolina House Ways and Means chairman
Georgia House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley, in line to become speaker, said Democrats' first session will focus on affordability, which she called voters' top issue.
