Democrats are celebrating sweeping gains in state legislatures across the country, from New Hampshire to Wisconsin, as the party capitalizes on a favorable political climate to flip chambers and secure unified control in several key states.
According to the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), the party is on track to flip at least a dozen state House and Senate chambers as vote counting continues. Decision Desk HQ has not yet formally projected many of these races, but Democrats are already touting these victories as a check on President Trump's agenda, alongside their capture of Congress.
New Hampshire and Wisconsin: Full Flips
In New Hampshire, Democrats are poised to take both legislative chambers. State Navigate forecasts Democrats will win 253 seats in the House, with Republicans holding 147, while the state Senate is expected to split 14-10 in favor of Democrats. Although the Associated Press has not called majorities in either chamber, several news outlets have declared Democratic victories. Governor Kelly Ayotte, a Republican, won reelection, meaning Democrats will have to navigate a divided government in the Granite State.
Wisconsin saw record Democratic gains, driven in part by the state Supreme Court's 2023 decision to redraw legislative maps. The AP projects Democrats will hold an 18-15 edge in the Senate and a 53-46 majority in the Assembly, giving the party its first trifecta in the state since 2010. Governor Tony Evers, a Democrat, won a third term, and Democrat David Crowley won the race to succeed him, according to the AP.
Republicans attributed their losses to a tough political environment, Democratic investment in state races, and the impact of top-of-the-ticket contests. "With the 2028 elections and the next round of congressional redistricting approaching, Republicans must confront the challenges ahead and make a sustained commitment to winning back and defending our majorities," said Edith Jorge-Tuñón, president of the Republican State Leadership Committee.
Trifectas Across the Map
Democrats have clinched or are projected to clinch trifectas in at least five states. In Minnesota, Senator Amy Klobuchar is projected to win the governorship, and the party is set to expand its majorities in both chambers, ending divided government under outgoing Governor Tim Walz. The AP projects Democrats will hold at least 35 Senate seats and 73 House seats.
Michigan Democrats are projected to flip the state House, ending Republicans' 58-52 advantage, while Democrat Jocelyn Benson is set to succeed Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The party is projected to win at least 22 Senate seats and 60 House seats.
In Nevada, Democrat Aaron Ford defeated Republican Governor Joe Lombardo, and Democrats are projected to retain their legislative majorities. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro won reelection easily, and Democrats are set to flip the state Senate, giving the party its first trifecta in the Keystone State since 1993, according to Ballotpedia.
Inroads in Red-Leaning States
Democrats also made significant progress in traditionally Republican states. In Arizona, the final tally is still pending, but Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs won a second term, and the party could tie or win the state Senate, with the House too close to call. Republicans currently control both chambers.
In North Carolina, the AP projects Democrats will win the state House, though the Senate remains uncalled. Democrats also flipped three GOP-held House seats in the state, according to recent reports.
"By flipping hundreds of seats and the largest number of chambers in a single night for Democrats since the 1980s, we have put Democrats in a stronger position all across the map," said DLCC President Heather Williams. "Our victories have shattered Republicans' grip on our statehouses, and with two years left in the Trump administration, it is clear that voters trust Democratic state legislators to both stand as a bulwark against Republicans' MAGA agenda and to fight on their behalf to make progress, lower costs, and invest in their communities."
The Democratic gains come as the party also swept Congress, fueling market rallies and setting the stage for aggressive corporate oversight in the next session. With redistricting on the horizon, these statehouse victories could have long-lasting implications for the next decade of American politics.
