Democrats flip state legislatures in Wisconsin, Michigan and more

In addition to taking control of the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the majority of governorships on Tuesday, Democrats have also assumed control of the majority of state legislatures across the country for the first time in over a decade.

Heading into the election, Republicans controlled 28 of the nation’s 49 bicameral state legislatures, compared with 18 controlled by Democrats, while three states had divided control. Democrats now control both chambers in 24 states, compared with 22 for Republicans. North Carolina and Texas have split legislatures, while races in Alaska and Georgia remain pending. Even if Republicans win the uncalled chambers in the pending states, Democrats will still control more state legislatures than Republicans.

Nebraska is included in the Republican count because its officially nonpartisan, unicameral legislature is led by a Republican majority.

Democrats scored major victories in several pivotal battleground states during the 2026 midterms, flipping legislative chambers and securing full control of state governments in places that will shape redistricting and election rules ahead of 2028. In Wisconsin, Democrats captured both the Assembly and Senate for the first time in years, pairing the wins with the governorship to create a trifecta.

DEMOCRATS SEIZE MAJORITY OF GOVERNORS’ OFFICES IN ELECTION-NIGHT SHIFT

Democrats seized control of the majority of state legislatures across the country on Tuesday night in addition to taking control of Congress and the majority of governorships. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images ; JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images)

Similar gains unfolded in Michigan, where the party flipped the House and expanded its Senate majority alongside a Democratic governor, and in Minnesota, where Democrats reclaimed the House, held the Senate, and won the governorship. Pennsylvania Democrats flipped the Senate while retaining the House, and Arizona voters handed Democrats majorities in both chambers. New Hampshire also saw Democrats flip both houses of the legislature, while the party picked up the House in Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas.

The shift gives Democrats significantly more power to shape policy across the country as state lawmakers play a central role in setting election rules, drawing congressional maps, approving budgets and advancing laws on issues ranging from abortion and guns to education and labor.

The change could also have major implications for redistricting. States will redraw congressional and legislative maps after the 2030 census, and the party controlling state government will have greater influence over how those districts are designed. Democratic control could also lead to legal battles over existing maps and efforts to alter election administration rules ahead of future presidential contests.

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Breakdown of who holds power in state legislatures across the country after Tuesday’s midterm elections. (Fox News)

Democrats could similarly revive efforts to pass stricter gun laws, increase funding for public education and expand labor protections. Depending on the state, lawmakers could also target voting restrictions, expand access to mail-in and early voting, or change how elections are administered.

Results confirming Democrat control of the majority of state legislatures comes days after the party captured control of both chambers of Congress and the majority of governorships.

Axios reports that 75% of Americans now live in a state with a Democratic governor and 53% live in a state where Democrats control the legislature and the governorship.

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The sun shines on the Minnesota State Capitol on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024, in St. Paul, on the opening day of the 2024 session of the Minnesota Legislature. Lawmakers have a relatively modest agenda ahead after a momentous 2023 session that saw Democrats use their newfound full control of the statehouse to enact an ambitious list of their priorities. (Steve Karnowski/Associated Press)

«In a historic victory, Democrats now hold more than half of the seats at the state legislative level nationwide,» Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams said in a press release. «These victories reinforce the DLCC’s national strategy to build power for Democrats all across the country. Whether competing for new majorities, breaking GOP supermajorities, or gaining seats to give Democrats more leverage to fight for their constituents, when these races have the resources they need, we can deliver wins in red, blue, and purple states alike.»

Additionally, Democrats may now have the necessary votes to move forward with the National Popular Vote plan, which would bypass the electoral college, Fox News Digital reported on Sunday.

The economy, government corruption, war in Iran and increasingly negative views of President Donald Trump’s job performance created a perfect storm for Democrats, Fox News voter polling showed.

Voters cast their ballots with a bleak view of the country in their minds. Three-quarters said they felt dissatisfied or angry about how things were going, while just a quarter were satisfied or enthusiastic.

Three-quarters rated the economy negatively, a stark reversal from this point in Trump’s first term, when positive ratings outnumbered negative ones by 2-to-1, as shown in the 2018 Fox News Voter Analysis survey (66% positive, 34% negative).