The Associated Press projected a Democratic majority of U.S. governorships after calling four Republican-held offices for the party in Tuesday’s midterm elections, shifting the balance of state leadership.
Republicans held 26 of the 50 governorships before Election Day, when 36 states held governor races, AP reported. The gains came alongside reelection wins by Democratic governors in Illinois, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Democrats last gained a majority of governorships in 2006; Republicans regained it in 2010, according to AP.
In Ohio, AP called the race for Democrat Amy Acton over Republican Vivek Ramaswamy. Its Iowa call went to Democrat Rob Sand over Republican Zach Lahn.
Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa unseated Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in Texas, according to AP. Republicans have held the governorship since George W. Bush took office in 1995.
In Georgia, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated Republican Rick Jackson in AP’s call and is set to succeed Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. Bottoms is the first Black woman elected to govern a U.S. state.
The shift comes as governors and the Trump administration dispute immigration operations, conditions on federal aid and election requirements, AP has reported.
AP called Florida’s race for Republican U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds over Democrat David Jolly. The Florida Division of Elections also lists Donalds ahead in its unofficial returns. The state is scheduled to certify the results Nov. 17.
