Republicans gain one state government triplex in 2019 elections
Three states—Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi—held elections for governor, secretary of state, and attorney general in 2019. When one party holds those three positions in a state’s government, we describe that party as having a state government triplex.
Heading into 2019, 18 states had a Republican triplex, 17 states had a Democratic triplex, and 15 states were under divided control. One state—Mississippi—went from divided control to a Republican triplex as a result of the 2019 elections. Once the newly-elected officials are sworn in, the new count will be 19 Republican triplexes, 17 Democratic triplexes, and 14 divided states.
Mississippi became a Republican triplex as a result of the 2019 elections. Tate Reeves (R) defeated Jim Hood (D) to become the state’s governor. Lynn Fitch (R) was elected attorney general and Michael Watson (R) was elected secretary of state. Mississippi was most recently a triplex in 2004 when Democrats held all three positions.
Both Kentucky and Louisiana remained divided triplexes. In both states, Republicans won the elections for attorney general and secretary of state, while a Democrat won the gubernatorial contest.
Kentucky was most recently a triplex in 2015 when Democrats held all three positions. On Nov. 5, Attorney General Andy Beshear (D) defeated Gov. Matt Bevin (R) in the gubernatorial election, Daniel Cameron (R) was elected attorney general and Michael Adams (R) was elected secretary of state.
Louisiana was most recently a triplex in 2015 when Republicans held all three positions. Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) won a second term, defeating Eddie Rispone (R) in the Nov. 16 general election. In the secretary of state election, incumbent Kyle Ardoin (R) defeated Gwen Collins-Greenup (D). State Attorney General Jeff Landry (R) won re-election in the primary Oct. 12.
Thirteen states—Delaware, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia—will hold elections in 2020 for at least one office which could result in a change in triplex status. These states are 4 Republican triplexes, 3 Democratic triplexes, and 6 divided states.
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