2019 election analysis: State government trifectas

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State government trifectas
Trifecta Image-Balance of Power.jpg
Current trifecta status
Historical and potential changes in trifectas
Trifecta vulnerability in the 2019 elections
Trifecta vulnerability in the 2018 elections

Updated November 18, 2019

This content is part of Ballotpedia's analysis of the 2019 elections. For comprehensive election results, click here.

As a result of the 2019 elections, Democrats gained one state government trifecta in Virginia. A state government trifecta exists when one political party controls the governorship, a majority in the state senate, and a majority in the state house in a state's government. Republicans also lost a trifecta following incumbent Gov. Matt Bevin's (R) defeat in Kentucky. The new trifecta count stands at 15 Democratic trifectas, 21 Republican trifectas, and 14 divided governments.

Prior to the 2019 elections, Republicans had eight more state government trifectas than Democrats: of 36 states with trifectas, 22 were Republican and 14 were Democratic. Democrats saw a net gain of one trifecta and Republicans lost one trifecta. The number of states with divided government (i.e. no trifecta for either major party) remained at 14.

For comparison, following the 2017 elections, Republicans controlled 26 trifectas to Democrats' eight, leaving 16 states without a trifecta. Following the 2014 midterm election, Republicans had 24 trifectas, Democrats had 13, and 13 states had no trifecta advantage for either major party. After the 2010 midterms, 25 states had no trifectas, Republicans had nine, and Democrats had 16.

The new Democratic trifecta in Virginia was formed after the party won majorities in the state Senate and state House. Heading into the election, Republicans held a 20-19 majority with one vacancy in the Senate and a 51-48 majority with one vacancy in the House. Democrats won a 21-19 majority in the state Senate and a 55-45 majority in the state House.

The total number of trifectas—36—is the highest number since 2014, when there were 37 trifectas.

Change in state government trifectas, 2019 elections
Trifecta status Before After Net
Democratic trifectas Democratic Party 14 15 +1
Republican trifectas Republican Party 22 21 -1
Divided government 14 14 --


The maps and charts below show the pre- and post-2019 election state government trifectas and the percentage of the population living under trifecta control.

Percent of the U.S. population living under trifectas as of Election Day 2019
Total Democratic trifectas Republican trifectas Divided governments
Population 326,464,979[1] 111,656,588 137,380,514 77,427,877
Proportion (%) 100% 34.2% 42.1% 23.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau




Percent of the U.S. population living under trifectas following the 2019 elections
Total Democratic trifectas Republican trifectas Divided governments
Population 326,464,979[2] 120,174,273 132,912,112 73,378,594
Proportion (%) 100% 36.8% 40.7% 22.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau


See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Excludes the 702,455 inhabitants of Washington, D.C.
  2. ↑ Excludes the 702,455 inhabitants of Washington, D.C.
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