Democrats took control of the House of Representatives in Georgia after also securing the governorship in last week’s midterm elections, giving the party control of each for the first time in more than 20 years.
The reversal gives Democrats control of at least 12 new legislative chambers across the United States after their major gains across the board.
It was the largest gain for either party in a single election since Republicans won a majority in 20 chambers in 2010, amid the Great Recession and the rise of the conservative Tea Party movement.
After officials are sworn in later this year and in early 2027, Democrats will have the triumph — control of both legislative chambers and the governor’s office — in at least six states where they currently share power with Republicans.
The party that runs a state’s government can have a major impact on issues like tax bills, the progress of data center development and Medicaid health insurance eligibility requirements.
The Associated Press, which was calling elections since 1848determined the outcome of enough races in Georgia on Monday to declare that Democrats had won the lower house.
The news organization has not yet determined who will control the North Carolina state Senate or either Alaska chamber.
Georgia turnaround ends two decades of total GOP control
Republicans have controlled the House of Representatives in Georgia since 2005, and the Senate and the governor’s office since 2003.
Democrats have made progress. In 2020, for example, Joe Biden narrowly won a majority in the presidential election and Democrats prevailed in both U.S. Senate elections. Donald Trump won in 2016 and 2024.
This year, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms won the governorship, and Democrats won a House in which Republicans had a comfortable 99-80 majority before the election.
As of Monday, Democrats had won 91 House seats and Republicans had won 86. Three had not been convened, including one in which the secretary of state is investigating the late downloading of a memory card containing nearly 400 votes.
The Republicans retained control of the Senate.
Although the government split will likely prevent Democrats from passing some legislation, it opens up many areas for negotiation.
Races were not held in 2 states where power is unclear
In North Carolina, Democrats took over the House and retained the governorship, with Josh Stein’s term extended by two years.
As of Monday, the AP had not called a single Senate race. If the GOP gets it, the party would have a majority of 26 to 24. A Democratic victory would mean a tie, and Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt, a Democrat, would cast the deciding vote.
Alaska’s two legislative chambers are currently controlled by multi-party coalitions. With several elections uncalled, it’s unclear how this will play out in 2027. The AP also has not called the gubernatorial race between Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins and Republican Bernadette Wilson.
Resounding results give full powers to Democrats in some states
Currently, there are Republican governors in 26 states and Democratic governors in 24.
Democrats will hold at least 28 of those jobs next year, with the Kansas race also still to be called.
Democrats took control of four more state Senates in Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, bringing the total they lead to 24. They will have majorities in at least 27 lower chambers, up from 19, after reversals in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin.
Electoral gains in Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, the Democrats will triumph in all these states.
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