Democrats win Arizona House, Senate and governor’s office for first time since 1966

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Democrats took control of both state legislative chambers and retained the governorship, giving the party its first trio in the state since 1966 as Democrats made major gains nationally in this week’s elections and took control of both chambers of Congress.

During her first term, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed more than 540 measures passed by the Republican-led Legislature on policies including taxes, immigration and election laws. Hobbs said she seeks to address water and affordability issues, and combat fraud and abuse in the state’s school voucher program.

The Associated Press has called enough legislative races to confirm that both chambers flipped on Friday. The news organization calls races individually and it can take several days after voting, depending on when election officials count votes and how close the election is. There have been no conflicts or major disruptions this year.

In Arizona, Republicans have occupied the House of Representatives for 60 years and the Senate since the early 1990s.

Overall, Democrats took full control — of both state chambers and governors’ offices — in at least six states where they previously shared power with Republicans. Besides Arizona, these victories took place in the battleground states of Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Wisconsin.

READ MORE: Democrats Win Full Control of More State Government and the Texas House

The reversals have not occurred only in normally competitive states. Democrats took control of the Texas House, which Republicans have held since 2003, and elected Gina Hinojosa as the state’s first Democratic governor since George W. Bush ousted Ann Richards in 1994. Republicans retained the state Senate.

Democrats also flipped the lower houses of the Maine and North Carolina legislatures as well as both chambers in New Hampshire, where Republican Kelly Ayotte won re-election. The count could increase as results are tallied in other states.

The National Council of State Legislatures says this will likely be the election with the most legislative seats and chambers changing parties since the 2010 elections, when Republicans took power across the country in the midst of the Great Recession.

Democrats will also hold the governorship in at least 28 states. Results are still awaited in Alaska and Kansas.