AS OF 9AM ET
Chambers Flipped: 7 | Seats Flipped: 350 | Trifectas: +6
As results come in, here’s what you need to know:
The DLCC and state Democrats have changed the face of power in state legislatures across the country. So far this cycle, the DLCC has regained majorities in seven chambers and flipped 350 seats from red to blue nationwide. Democrats have also gained six new trifectas. The DLCC invested a record $35 million in our efforts to flip chambers, elect state Democrats, and rebuild the Democratic Party from the ground up.
CHAMBER FLIPS
COLORADO
The DLCC and Colorado Senate Democrats have flipped the Colorado State Senate from red to blue. All five women candidates known as the “Fab Five” won last night – Jessie Danielson in SD-20, Kerry Donovan in SD-5, Brittany Pettersen in SD-22, Tammy Story in SD-16, and Faith Winter in SD-24. House Democrats won two seats and four races are still pending. With a new trifecta in the state, Democrats will be poised to move progressive legislation and will be in a strong position to hold this chamber heading into redistricting in 2021.
MAINE
The DLCC and Maine Senate Democrats have flipped the chamber from red to blue. With Governor-elect Janet Mills’ victory, Maine now has a Democratic trifecta. The DLCC featured on its Spotlight Races page strong candidates like Senators-elect Ned Claxton, a family physician fighting to protect health care and address the opioid crisis, Louis Luchini, a former Maine House Representative who is a champion of fair elections, and Erin Herbig, the former House Majority Leader and a dedicated defender of Maine families.
MINNESOTA
The DLCC and Minnesota House Democrats have flipped 17 seats from red to blue in the state House, flipping the chamber to Democratic control. The DLCC invested over $800,000 in the state to recruit strong candidates, run paid communications, and partnered with in-state allies to execute a record-breaking field program that knocked on over 1.7 million doors, driving turnout in key districts.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
The DLCC and New Hampshire House and Senate Democrats have flipped both the chambers. Senator-elect Melanie Levesque became the first African American elected to the state Senate. Representative-elect Gerri Cannon will become the first openly transgender elected official to serve in the legislature.
NEW YORK
The DLCC and New York Senate Democrats have flipped eight state Senate seats from red to blue. Senator-elect Anna Kaplan will become the first Iranian-American to serve in the state Senate and Senator-elect John Liu will become the first Asian American elected to the state Senate.
BUSTED REPUBLICAN SUPERMAJORITIES
MICHIGAN
The DLCC and Michigan Senate Democrats have busted Republicans’ supermajority in the state Senate by picking up five seats. House Democrats have gained three seats so far, with several races still pending. With Governor-elect Gretchen Whitmer’s victory, Republicans’ trifecta of power in the state has been broken. Senator-elect Jeremy Moss is the first openly LGBTQ elected member of the Michigan Senate. More updates to come.
NORTH CAROLINA
The DLCC and North Carolina Democrats have broken state Republicans’ supermajorities in the state House and in the state Senate. Democrats flipped 10 House seats from red to blue, and six Senate seats, putting both chambers in a strong position to flip in 2020. The DLCC featured Representatives-elect Sydney Batch and Brandon Lofton, and Senator-elect Natasha Marcus on its Spotlight Races page.
DEMOCRATIC SUPERMAJORITIES
DELAWARE
The DLCC and Delaware Democrats have flipped a seat from red to blue in the state Senate, solidifying a Democratic majority in the chamber. In the state House, Delaware Democrats also picked up a seat, gaining a supermajority.
HAWAII
Hawaii Democrats maintained their supermajorities in both the state House and the state Senate.
ILLINOIS
House Democrats won a supermajority after gaining four seats last night. Senate Democrats maintained their supermajority and flipped one seat from red to blue. In each chamber, two races remain too close to call. More updates to come.
MARYLAND
Maryland Democrats maintained their supermajorities in both the state House and the state Senate.
MASSACHUSETTS
Massachusetts Democrats expanded their supermajority in the state House, and are on their way to expanding their supermajority in the state Senate. Representative-elect and DLCC Spotlight candidate Tram Nguyen flipped HD Essex 18 from red to blue.
NEVADA
Democrats picked up two seats and now have a supermajority in the Nevada Assembly and defeated two Republicans in districts that Donald Trump won in 2016. After battling a failed recall attempt by Republicans, Nevada Senate Democrats picked up two additional Republican seats last night. Now, Democrats are only one seat away from gaining a supermajority. With Steve Sisolak winning the Governor’s race, Nevada now has a Democratic trifecta. The DLCC also featured candidates running in critical races on its Spotlight Races page, including Assemblymembers-elect Lesley Cohen, Sandra Jauregui, Brittney Miller, Selena Torres, and Howard Watts, and Senators-elect Melanie Scheible and Marilyn Dondero Loop.
OREGON
Oregon Democrats have secured supermajorities in both the state House and the state Senate. With Governor Kate Brown, DLCC Board Chair and Speaker of the Oregon House Tina Kotek, and Senate President Peter Courtney leading the state, Oregon will continue to be a key part of Democrats’ “blue wall” against the Trump administration’s detrimental policies.
RHODE ISLAND
Rhode Island Democrats maintained their supermajorities in both the state House and the state Senate.
VERMONT
Vermont House Democrats maintained their supermajority coalition in the Vermont House.
STRONG GAINS
ARIZONA
Arizona House Democrats now hold 27 seats in the chamber, three away from the majority. Currently, Democrats lead in both of the undecided state House races, which could pull Democrats within two seats of the majority. More updates to come.
INDIANA
With his election to the Indiana Senate, Senator-elect JD Ford will become the first openly LGBTQ member of the Indiana Legislature, in a seat Democrats haven’t held since 1972.
IOWA
The DLCC and state Democrats picked up six seats in the state House. Democrats need five more seats to flip the chamber, and are on a strong path to winning a Democratic majority in 2020.
FLORIDA
The DLCC and Florida state Democrats have flipped seven seats from red to blue in the Florida House, including Representative-elect Anna Eskamani, who will become the first Iranian-American to serve in the Florida Legislature. In the state Senate, Janet Cruz is up in SD-18. Some recounts could be possible in both chambers, more updates to come.
KANSAS
Kansas House Democrats need two seats to break the supermajority, and there are six seats that are still too close to call, including four Democrat-held seats that will determine the final margin. More updates to come.
NEW MEXICO
The DLCC and New Mexico House Democrats picked up seven seats last night, and two more races are headed into recounts. With Gov.-elect Michelle Lujan-Grisham’s victory, Democrats now have a trifecta in New Mexico.
OHIO
Ohio House Democrats gained four seats last night, and recounts could be possible in some districts. More updates to come.
PENNSYLVANIA
The DLCC and state Democrats have flipped 14 seats from red to blue in the state House and five seats from red to blue in the state Senate, breaking Republicans’ supermajority in the chamber. Both chambers will be in a strong position to take back majorities in 2020.
TEXAS
Tonight all of the DLCC’s Spotlight Race candidates won their races! And Texas Democrats flipped 12 seats from red to blue in the state House and two seats from red to blue in the state Senate.
WEST VIRGINIA
West Virginia House Democrats pick up five seats and are now 10 seats away from the majority in 2020. The GOP Majority Leader-designate, Riley Moore, lost his election to DLCC Spotlight candidate Democrat John Doyle. In the Senate, Democrats gained two seats and are now only three away from the majority. Republicans’ Majority Leader, Sen. Ryan Ferns lost to Democrat William Ihlenfeld.
WISCONSIN
Some state Senate and Assembly races are still pending or too close to call, and Democrats are preparing for a possible recount in at least one Assembly seat. More updates to come.
Follow@TheDLCC on Twitter and @DLCC.org on Facebook for real-time updates and stay tuned for another Election Update later today.
