Government trifecta
In the politics of the United States, a government trifecta is a political situation in which the same political party controls the presidency and both chambers of Congress. The term is primarily used in the United States, where it originated, and is borrowed from horse race betting.[2]
Government trifectas are seen as beneficial by some and as undesirable by others. Those in favor argue that government trifectas are efficient and avoid gridlocks. Opponents argue that trifectas discourage policing of those in power by the opposition and that they do not limit spending and the expansion of undesirable laws, which sometimes can even trigger democratic backsliding.[3] Opponents also argue that government trifectas do not tend to lead to compromise since one party can simply implement its goals unopposed. Consequently, the incumbent party may alter the structure of executive agencies to prepare for when it is bound to lose its incumbency.[4]
United States
The term is primarily used in the United States, where the federal government level consists of the president and the Congress with its two chambers, the House and the Senate.
State government trifectas
At the state level, a trifecta means that one party holds the governorship and both legislative houses. The sole exception is in Nebraska, where there is a unicameral legislature.
| Year | Total | Dem | Rep | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 39 | 16 | 23 | R+7 |
| 2025 | 38 | 15 | 23 | R+8 |
| 2024 | 40 | 17 | 23 | R+6 |
| 2023 | 39 | 17 | 22 | R+5 |
| 2022 | 37 | 14 | 23 | R+9 |
| 2021 | 38 | 15 | 23 | R+8 |
| 2020 | 36 | 15 | 21 | R+6 |
| 2019 | 36 | 14 | 22 | R+8 |
| 2018 | 33 | 7 | 26 | R+19 |
| 2017 | 31 | 5 | 26 | R+21 |
| 2016 | 31 | 6 | 25 | R+19 |
| 2015 | 31 | 7 | 24 | R+17 |
| 2014 | 30 | 7 | 23 | R+16 |
| 2013 | 36 | 12 | 24 | R+12 |
| 2012 | 34 | 11 | 23 | R+12 |
| 2011 | 32 | 11 | 21 | R+10 |
| 2010 | 24 | 16 | 8 | D+8 |
| 2009 | 26 | 17 | 9 | D+8 |
| 2008 | 23 | 14 | 9 | D+5 |
| 2007 | 24 | 15 | 9 | D+6 |
| 2006 | 20 | 8 | 12 | R+4 |
| 2005 | 20 | 8 | 12 | R+4 |
| 2004 | 21 | 9 | 12 | R+3 |
| 2003 | 21 | 9 | 12 | R+3 |
| 2002 | 20 | 9 | 11 | R+2 |
| 2001 | 21 | 9 | 13 | R+4 |
| 2000 | 24 | 8 | 15 | R+7 |
| 1999 | 23 | 9 | 14 | R+5 |
| 1998 | 19 | 6 | 13 | R+7 |
| 1997 | 18 | 6 | 12 | R+6 |
| 1996 | 21 | 7 | 14 | R+7 |
| 1995 | 23 | 8 | 15 | R+7 |
| 1994 | 20 | 16 | 4 | D+12 |
| 1993 | 21 | 18 | 3 | D+15 |
| 1992 | 18 | 15 | 3 | D+12 |
A visual representation of US state government trifectas over time:
See also
References
- ^ "Party Government Since 1857". US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ Hounshell, Blake (12 November 2022). "In the States, Democrats All but Ran the Table". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
- ^ "Would Divided Government Be Better?". Cato Institute. Archived from the original on 30 June 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
- ^ Moe, Terry (1989). "The Politics of Bureaucratic Structure". Retrieved 4 May 2016.
- ^ "Ballotpedia: Who Runs The States".
- ^ "2018 election analysis: State government trifectas". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 7 November 2018.