State Government Trifectas

A trifecta is where one political party holds the governorship as well as control of both branches of the state legislature. Nebraska is included when one party holds the governorship and control of the unicameral (single body) legislature. 

There are currently 22 Republican (including Nebraska) and 17 Democratic trifectas. The most recent change to this total occurred as the result of the 2022 elections. Democrats gained four trifectas, while each party lost one. This increased the number of trifectas nationwide from 37 to 39 states. For details on these shifts, see the table below the map.

In eight of the 11 states where there is no trifecta, it is because the governor is of a different party than the one with full control of the legislature. Only Alaska, Pennsylvania and Virginia are different. In the latter two, each party controls one chamber. In Alaska, both legislative bodies are governed by a bipartisan coalition.

2022 Elections: Trifecta Impacts

Six states saw a change in their trifecta status as a result of 2022 elections.