Trifecta states are pushing bills to damage public schools in unison as part of an agenda to dismantle and privatize public education. When you read about where this legislation is being passed, check to see if the state is under trifecta republican rule. A state government trifecta is a term that describes single party government, when one political party holds the governor’s office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government.
In states where majority party trifecta rule is present, that means all committees have two to three times the number of majority members, so there is no way for the minority party to oppose any piece of legislation except from a position of weakness, such as being forced to sacrifice a key party priority to get the majority to back down. Even then, respecting such a deal is never, ever guaranteed. Electing a healthy balance of parties is the only way to ensure that the voices of all people receive true representation.
Alabama 2011– present GOP Trifecta
Between 1992 and 2021, Alabama was under the following types of trifecta control: Democratic trifecta: 1993-1994, 1999-2002; Republican trifecta: 2011-2021; Divided government: 1992, 1995-1998, 2003-2010. Alabama Party Control: 1992-2021 Six years of Democratic trifectas • Eleven years of Republican trifecta
Trifecta History https://ballotpedia.org/Alabama_State_Senate
Arizona 2008– present GOP Trifecta
Republicans in Arizona gained a state government trifecta following the 2008 elections. From 1992 to 2017, Republicans held trifecta status for 17 years, from 1993 to 2001 and from 2009 to 2017. The table below shows state government trifectas in Arizona from 1992 to 2019. Arizona Party Control: 1992-2021 No Democratic trifectas • Twenty-one years of Republican trifectas
Trifecta History https://ballotpedia.org/Arizona_State_Senate
Arkansas 2014– present GOP Trifecta
Republicans in Arkansas gained a state government trifecta as a result of the 2014 elections when they recaptured the governor’s office and retained control of the state legislature. Democrats had trifectas in the state from 1992 to 1997 and 2007 to 2013. The table below shows state government trifectas in Arkansas from 1992 to 2019. Arkansas Party Control: 1992-2021 Eleven years of Democratic trifectas • Seven years of Republican trifectas
Trifecta History https://ballotpedia.org/Arkansas_State_Senate
Florida 1999– present GOP Trifecta
Florida became a Republican trifecta following the 1998 elections when the Republican Party took control of the governor’s office and retained control of the Legislature. The table below shows state government trifectas in Florida from 1992 to 2019. Florida Party Control: 1992-2021
One year -1992- of a Democratic trifecta • Twenty-two years of Republican trifectas
Trifecta History https://ballotpedia.org/Florida_State_Senate
Georgia 2004– present GOP Trifecta
Georgia became a Republican trifecta following the 2004 elections when the Republican Party took control of the state House. The table below shows state government trifectas in Georgia from 1992 to 2019. Georgia Party Control: 1992-2021 Eleven years of Democratic trifectas • Seventeen years of Republican trifectas
Trifecta History https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia_State_Senate
Idaho 1995– present GOP Trifecta
Republicans in Idaho gained a state government trifecta as a result of the 1994 elections when they took control of the governor’s office and retained control of the state legislature. Republicans held their trifecta every year from 1995 to 2017. The table below shows state government trifectas in Idaho from 1992 to 2019. Idaho Party Control: 1992-2021 No Democratic trifectas • Twenty-seven years of Republican trifectas
Trifecta History https://ballotpedia.org/Idaho_State_Senate
Indiana GOP 2005-06; 2011-present GOP Trifecta
Between 1992 and 2021, Indiana was under the following types of trifecta control: Democratic trifecta: None; Republican trifecta: 2005-2006, 2011-2021; Divided government: 1992-2004, 2007-2010
Indiana Party Control: 1992-2021 No Democratic trifectas • Thirteen years of Republican trifectas
Trifecta History: https://ballotpedia.org/Indiana_State_Senate
Iowa 2017– present GOP Trifecta
Republicans in Iowa gained a state government trifecta as a result of the 2016 elections. Democrats had trifectas in the state from 2007 to 2010. Republicans previously held a Republican trifecta from 1997 to 1998. Iowa Party Control: 1992-2021 Four years of Democratic trifectas • Seven years of Republican trifectas
Trifecta History: https://ballotpedia.org/Iowa_State_Senate
Mississippi 2012 – present GOP Trifecta
Democrats held a trifecta for four years between 2000 to 2003. Republicans held a trifecta for six years from 2012 to 2017. The table below shows state government trifectas in Mississippi from 1992 to 2019. Mississippi Party Control: 1992-2021 Four years of Democratic trifectas • Ten years of Republican trifectas
Trifecta History https://ballotpedia.org/Mississippi_State_Senate
Missouri 2017 – present GOP Trifecta
Between 1992 and 2021, Missouri was under the following types of trifecta control: Democratic trifecta: 1993-2000; Republican trifecta: 2005-2008, 2017-2021; Divided government: 1992, 2001-2004, 2009-2016. Missouri Party Control: 1992-2021 Eight years of Democratic trifectas • Nine years of Republican trifectas
Trifecta History https://ballotpedia.org/Missouri_State_Senate
Montana 2021 flipped back in the 2020 election
Republicans in Montana held a state government trifecta for 10 years between 1992 and 2017. The table below shows state government trifectas in Montana from 1992 to 2019. Montana Party Control: 1992-2021 No Democratic trifectas • Eleven years of Republican trifectas
Trifecta History https://ballotpedia.org/Montana_State_Senate
Nebraska 1992-2017 GOP Trifecta;
Republicans in Nebraska held a state government trifecta for 21 years between 1992 and 2017. During the same period of time, Democrats held a trifecta for seven years. Nebraska Party Control: 1992-2021
Seven years of Democratic trifectas • Twenty-three years of Republican trifectas
Trifecta History https://ballotpedia.org/Nebraska_State_Senate_(Unicameral)
New Hamshire: 10 years of GOP Trifecta – flipped to GOP Trifecta in 2020
Republican Chris Sununu was elected to the office in 2016. Prior to Sununu’s election in 2016, Republicans had only held the governor’s office for seven years between 1992 and 2016. Sununu’s victory made the state a Republican trifecta, meaning Republicans controlled both chambers of the legislature and the governor’s mansion. New Hampshire Party Control: 1992-2021 Four years of Democratic trifectas • Ten years of Republican trifectas
Trifecta History https://ballotpedia.org/New_Hampshire_State_Senate
North Dakota 1995 – present GOP Trifecta
Republicans in North Dakota held a state government trifecta for 23 years between 1992 to 2017. The table below shows state government trifectas in North Dakota from 1992 to 2019. North Dakota Party Control: 1992-2021 No Democratic trifectas • Twenty-seven years of Republican trifectas
Trifecta History https://ballotpedia.org/North_Dakota_State_Senate
Ohio 2011– present GOP Trifecta
Republicans in Ohio gained a state government trifecta as a result of the 2010 elections by taking control of the state House and governorship. The table below shows state government trifectas in Ohio from 1992 to 2019. Ohio Party Control: 1992-2021 No Democratic trifectas • Twenty-three years of Republican trifectas
Trifecta History https://ballotpedia.org/Ohio_State_Senate
Oklahoma 2011– present GOP Trifecta
Republicans in Oklahoma gained a state government trifecta as a result of the 2010 elections by taking control of the governor’s office, which remains in place to date (2021). Oklahoma Party Control: 1992-2021 Five years of Democratic trifectas • Eleven years of Republican trifectas
Trifecta History https://ballotpedia.org/Oklahoma_State_Senate
South Carolina 2003 – present GOP Trifecta
Republicans in South Carolina gained a state government trifecta as a result of the 2002 elections by taking control of the governorship. South Carolina Party Control: 1992-2021 No Democratic trifectas • Nineteen years of Republican trifectas
Trifecta History https://ballotpedia.org/South_Carolina_State_Senate
South Dakota 1995 – present GOP Trifecta
Republicans in South Dakota gained a state government trifecta as a result of the 1994 elections by taking control of the state Senate. South Dakota Party Control: 1992-2021 No Democratic trifectas • Twenty-eight years of Republican trifectas
Trifecta History https://ballotpedia.org/South_Dakota_State_Senate
Tennessee 2011 – present GOP Trifecta
Republicans in Tennessee gained a state government trifecta as a result of the 2010 elections by taking control of the governorship. Tennessee Party Control: 1992-2021 Five years of Democratic trifectas • Eleven years of Republican trifectas
Trifecta History https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_State_Senate
Texas 2003 – present GOP Trifecta
Republicans in Texas gained a state government trifecta as a result of the 2002 elections by taking control of the state House. Texas Party Control: 1992-2021 Three years of Democratic trifectas • Nineteen years of Republican trifectas
Trifecta History https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_State_Senate
Utah 1985 – present GOP Trifecta
Looking back to 1992, Republicans in Utah maintained a state government trifecta in every year. Utah Party Control: 1992-2021 No Democratic trifectas • Thirty years of Republican trifectas
Trifecta History https://ballotpedia.org/Utah_State_Senate
West Virginia 2017 – present GOP Trifecta
In 2016, West Virginia elected a Democratic governor, Jim Justice, to a four-year term. On August 3, 2017, Justice announced that he would switch to the Republican Party effective August 4, 2017. Justices’ party switch made West Virginia a Republican state government trifecta. West Virginia Party Control: 1992-2021 Nineteen years of Democratic trifectas • Four years of Republican trifectas
Trifecta History https://ballotpedia.org/West_Virginia_State_Senate
Wyoming 2011 – present GOP Trifecta
Republicans in Wyoming gained a state government trifecta in the 2010 elections. They previously had a trifecta in the state from 1995 to 2002. Wyoming Party Control: 1992-2021 No Democratic trifectas • Nineteen years of Republican trifectas
Trifecta History https://ballotpedia.org/Wyoming_State_Senate
