Democrats Win Arizona House, Senate & Governor’s Office for 1st Time Since 1966/ NEWSLOOKS/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Democrats won both chambers of Arizona’s Legislature and retained the governor’s office, securing their first state governing trifecta since 1966. The victories give Gov. Katie Hobbs a Democratic Legislature after a first term marked by hundreds of vetoes. Arizona joins five other battleground states where Democrats gained full control during this year’s elections.
Quick Look
- Historic trifecta: Democrats will control Arizona’s House, Senate and governorship for the first time since 1966.
- Results confirmed: AP race calls Friday established Democratic majorities in both legislative chambers.
- Republican streaks end: The GOP had controlled the House for 60 years and the Senate since the early 1990s.
- Hobbs’ priorities: Water security, affordability and oversight of school vouchers are on her agenda.
- Six state gains: Democrats also secured trifectas in Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Wisconsin.
- Texas shift: Democrats captured the Texas House and governorship, while Republicans retained the Senate.
- Governor count: Democrats will hold at least 28 governorships, with Alaska and Kansas unresolved.
Deep Look
Arizona Democrats Secure Historic Governing Control
PHOENIX — Democrats captured both chambers of Arizona’s Legislature and retained the governor’s office, establishing their first governing trifecta in the state since 1966.
The Associated Press called enough legislative races Friday to confirm that both chambers had changed hands.
The results end 60 years of Republican control in the Arizona House and a GOP Senate majority dating to the early 1990s.
They also give Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs a substantially different governing environment after a first term spent confronting Republican legislative priorities.
Hobbs Looks Toward Water and Affordability Measures
During her first term, Hobbs vetoed more than 540 measures approved by Republican lawmakers, including proposals involving taxes, immigration and voting rules.
She has identified water issues and affordability as priorities, alongside efforts to address fraud and abuse in Arizona’s school voucher program.
Democratic legislative majorities could make it easier to advance that agenda, although the supplied report did not provide final seat totals or specific legislative proposals.
Legislative Results Took Several Days to Confirm
The confirmation came three days after Election Day as officials continued counting ballots.
AP determines winners in individual races, with the timing dependent on counting schedules and the closeness of each contest.
There were no major disputes or disruptions reported in Arizona’s election this year.
Six Battleground States Gain Democratic Trifectas
Arizona’s results formed part of a broader Democratic expansion in state governments.
Democrats gained full control in at least six states where they had previously shared power with Republicans: Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Wisconsin.
Those victories accompanied the party’s capture of both chambers of Congress.
Democrats will also hold at least 28 governor’s offices. Gubernatorial results remained pending in Alaska and Kansas.
Texas and Other States Add Legislative Gains
The Democratic advance extended beyond traditional battlegrounds.
In Texas, Democrats won the state House for the first time since Republicans took control in 2003. Gina Hinojosa also won the governorshipending a Democratic drought dating to Ann Richards’ defeat by George W. Bush in 1994.
Republicans retained the Texas Senate, preventing a Democratic trifecta.
Democrats also flipped the lower legislative chambers in Maine and North Carolina and both chambers in New Hampshire. Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte won reelection in New Hampshire, preserving divided government there.
According to the National Council of State Legislatures, the election is likely to produce the most legislative seats and chambers changing parties since the Republican wave of 2010.
Additional results could expand the tally as counting continues.
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