Wins confirmed in Texas, Georgia, Ohio and Iowa

[AP]
[AP]

Democrats seized a majority of US governorships for the first time in 20 years Tuesday (local time), extending their midterm gains beyond Congress to statehouses across the country.

According to the Associated Press and The New York Times, Democrats won governor's races in Texas, Georgia, Iowa and Ohio — states where Republicans had long held power — among the 36 states that held gubernatorial elections Tuesday. Those states are home to roughly 80 percent of the US population.

The wins will expand the number of Democratic-led states from 24 to at least 28 next year, giving the party a majority of the nation's 50 governorships for the first time since 2006.

Democrats rode a wave of voter discontent over high inflation and the war with Iran to deliver a rebuke of President Donald Trump and the Republican-led federal government in the governor's races as well.

In Texas, a traditional Republican stronghold, Democratic candidate Gina Hinojosa defeated incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott, who was seeking a fourth term. It was the first Democratic gubernatorial win in Texas since 1990.

In Georgia, Democratic candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms, a former mayor of Atlanta, defeated Republican Rick Jackson to become the first Black woman elected governor in US history. It was the Democratic Party's first recapture of the Georgia governorship since 1998.

In Ohio, Democratic candidate Amy Acton defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, while in Iowa, Democratic candidate Rob Sand beat Republican Zach Lahn. Both states had not elected a Democratic governor in 20 years.

Democrats also showed strength in states that were battlegrounds in the 2024 presidential election. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, considered a potential future Democratic presidential contender, won reelection, as did Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs. Democrats also prevailed in Michigan, Wisconsin and Nevada.

If Democrats also win in Alaska and Kansas, where results have not yet been called, the number of Democratic-led states would rise to 30.

In Alaska, the Democratic candidate led by 20 percentage points with 73 percent of votes counted. In Kansas, the race remained extremely tight, with the Democratic candidate ahead by just 0.51 percentage points with 95 percent of ballots tallied.

Trump has repeatedly clashed with Democratic governors over the deployment of the National Guard, immigration enforcement, conditions attached to federal funding, and federal control over election administration.

The Associated Press said the Democratic majority among governors would allow the party to mount a stronger challenge to Trump's second-term agenda.


yg@heraldcorp.com