Election results, 2023: State government triplexes

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Elections results and analysis
Election results, 2023 Election Analysis Hub, 2023 Trifectas Triplexes Legislatures Governors State executive officials Attorneys General Secretaries of State State financial officers State supreme courts

After the November 2023 elections, there were 25 Republican triplexes, 20 Democratic triplexes, and five divided governments where neither party held triplex control. Republicans gained one triplex, Democrats neither gained nor lost any triplexes, and there was one less divided government. Before the 2023 elections, there were 24 Republican triplexes, 20 Democratic triplexes, and six divided governments.

A state government triplex is a term to describe when one political party holds the following three positions in a state's government: governor, attorney general, and secretary of state. In states where the attorney general or secretary of state is appointed by the governor, Ballotpedia considers the office to be held by the governor's party for the purposes of defining triplexes.

In 2023, there were three triplexes—one Republican and two divided governments—on the ballot. Louisiana was the only triplex to change partisan control. It changed from a divided government to a Republican triplex after Jeff Landry (R) was elected governor, and Republicans retained control of the attorney general and secretary of state offices.

Kentucky retained a divided government after Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (D) and Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams (R) won re-election, and Russell Coleman (R) won the Kentucky Attorney General election. Mississippi retained a Republican triplex after Governor Tate Reeves (R), Attorney General Lynn Fitch (R), and Secretary of State Michael Watson (R) all won re-election.

Triplexes on the ballot in 2023

In 2023, there were two triplexes—one Republican and one divided government—on the November 7 ballot. There was one divided government triplex on the ballot on November 18. The table below highlights the partisan balance of those three triplexes before and after the election.

Triplexes partisan breakdown
Party	As of the 2023 elections	After the 2023 elections
Democratic	0	0
Republican	1	2
Divided governments	2	1

The table below lists each triplex office on the ballot in 2023.

Triplex offices, pre-election 2023
State	Governor	Election in 2023	Attorney general	Election in 2023	Secretary of State	Election in 2023
Kentucky	Andy Beshear	Yes	Daniel Cameron	Yes	Michael Adams	Yes
Louisiana	John Bel Edwards	Yes	Jeff Landry	Yes	Kyle Ardoin	Yes
Mississippi	Tate Reeves	Yes	Lynn Fitch	Yes	Michael Watson	Yes

The map below highlights states that held elections for governor, attorney general, and secretary of state in 2023 by the party of the winning candidate.

Partisan balance of all triplexes

Heading into the 2023 election, there were 24 Republican triplexes, 20 Democratic triplexes, and six divided governments where neither party held triplex control. The table below highlights the triplex status of all 50 states before and after the 2023 elections.

Triplexes partisan breakdown
Party	As of the 2023 elections	After the 2023 elections
Democratic	20	20
Republican	24	25
Divided governments	6	5

The map below highlights each state by triplex status before and after the 2023 elections. Click the blue links above the color key to switch the view between pre-election and post-election partisan control.

Log of triplex election results

Election results (November 7-18, 2023)

November 18

• Nancy Landry (R) won the Louisiana Secretary of State election.
• Liz Murrill (R) won the Louisiana Attorney General election.

November 7-8

• 12:31 a.m.: Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves (R) won re-election, meaning Mississippi retained a Republican triplex.
• 9:30 p.m.: Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch (R) and Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson (R) won re-election.
• 9:15 p.m.: Russell Coleman (R) won the Kentucky Attorney General election.
• 9:00 p.m.: Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (D) won re-election, meaning Kentucky retained a divided government.
• 8:00 p.m.: Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams (R) won re-election.

2022

Non-election changes in 2022

On January 10, 2022 David Scanlan (R) was sworn in as New Hampshire Secretary of State after William Gardner (D) retired. Scanlan's swearing-in created a Republican triplex in New Hampshire.

Non-election triplex changes in 2022
State	Old triplex control	New triplex control
New Hampshire	Divided control	Republican

2021

The 2021 state executive elections led to the following results:

• The Republican Party gained a triplex in Virginia, which had previously been a Democratic triplex.

Triplex changes as a result of the 2021 elections
State	Pre-election triplex status	Post-election triplex status
Virginia	Democratic	Republican

Non-election changes in 2021

On November 22, 2021, Steve Hobbs (D) was sworn in as Washington Secretary of State after Kim Wyman (R) resigned to take a job in the Biden Administration. Hobbs' swearing-in created a Democratic triplex in Washington.

Non-election triplex changes in 2021
State	Old triplex control	New triplex control
Washington	Divided control	Democratic

2020

The 2020 state executive elections led to the following results:

• The Republican Party gained a triplex in Montana.
• The Democratic Party gained a triplex in Oregon

Triplex changes as a result of the 2020 elections
State	Pre-election triplex status	Post-election triplex status
Montana	Divided control	Republican
Oregon	Divided control	Democratic

2019

The 2019 state executive elections led to the following results:

• The Republican Party gained a triplex in Mississippi.

Triplex changes as a result of the 2019 elections
State	Pre-election triplex status	Post-election triplex status
Mississippi	Divided control	Republican

2018

The 2018 state executive elections led to the following results:

• The Democratic Party gained a net six triplexes, while the Republican Party lost a net four triplexes.
  • Five states (Colorado, Illinois, Maine, New Mexico, and Wisconsin) that had been under divided control gained Democratic triplexes.
  • Four states (Arizona, Kansas, North Dakota, Nevada) that previously had Republican triplexes lost those triplexes.
  • Alaska's independent triplex was replaced by a Republican triplex.
  • Michigan's Republican triplex was replaced by a Democratic triplex.

Triplex changes as a result of the 2018 elections
State	Pre-election triplex status	Post-election triplex status
Alaska	Independent	Republican
Arizona	Republican	Divided control
Colorado	Divided control	Democratic
Illinois	Divided control	Democratic
Kansas	Republican	Divided control
Maine	Divided control	Democratic
Michigan	Republican	Democratic
North Dakota	Republican	Divided control
Nevada	Republican	Divided control
New Mexico	Divided control	Democratic
Wisconsin	Divided control	Democratic

2017

The 2017 state executive elections led to the following results:

• The Democratic Party gained a triplex in New Jersey, which had previously been a Republican triplex.

Triplex changes as a result of the 2017 elections
State	Pre-election triplex status	Post-election triplex status
New Jersey	Republican	Democratic

Non-election changes in 2017
On August 3, 2017, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice changed his party affiliation from Democratic to Republican, giving the Republican Party a triplex in the state.

Non-election triplex changes in 2017
State	Old triplex control	New triplex control
West Virginia	Divided control	Republican

2016

The 2016 state executive elections led to the following results:

• The Republican Party gained one triplex, while the Democratic Party lost a net of two triplexes.
  • Democratic triplexes were replaced with divided control in three states (New Hampshire, Oregon, and Vermont)
  • Two states with divided control were replaced with triplexes (Missouri, which gained a Republican triplex, and North Carolina, which gained a Democratic triplex)

Triplex changes as a result of the 2016 elections
State	Old triplex control	New triplex control
Missouri	Divided control	Republican
North Carolina	Divided control	Democratic
New Hampshire	Democratic	Divided control
Oregon	Democratic	Divided control
Vermont	Democratic	Divided control

2015

The 2015 state executive elections led to the following results:

• The Democratic Party and the Republican Party each lost one triplex. No party gained a triplex.
  • In Kentucky, a Democratic triplex was replaced with divided control.
  • In Louisiana, a Republican triplex was replaced with divided control.

Triplex changes as a result of the 2015 elections
State	Old triplex control	New triplex control
Kentucky	Democratic	Divided control
Louisiana	Republican	Divided control

2014

The 2014 state executive elections led to the following results:

• The Republican Party gained a net one triplex, while the Democratic Party lost a net one triplex.
  • In three states (Illinois, Massachusetts, and Maryland), Democratic triplexes were replaced with divided control.
  • In two states (Arkansas, Nevada), divided control was replaced with Republican triplexes.
  • In Alaska, the Republican triplex was replaced with an independent triplex.

Triplex changes as a result of the 2014 elections
State	Old triplex control	New triplex control
Alaska	Republican	Democratic
Arkansas	Divided control	Republican
Illinois	Democratic	Divided control
Massachusetts	Democratic	Divided control
Maryland	Democratic	Divided control
Nevada	Divided control	Republican
Pennsylvania	Divided control	Democratic

Non-election changes in 2014
The Tennessee Supreme Court appointed Herbert H. Slatery (R) to succeed Robert E. Cooper, Jr. (D) as Attorney General. Slatery was sworn in on October 1, 2014, giving Republicans a triplex.

Non-election triplex changes in 2014
State	Old triplex control	New triplex control
Tennessee	Divided control	Republican

2013

The 2013 state executive elections led to the following results:

• In Virginia, a Republican trifecta was replaced with a Democratic trifecta.

Triplex changes as a result of the 2013 elections
State	Old triplex control	New triplex control
Virginia	Republican	Democratic

Non-election changes in 2013
On May 30, 2013, Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee, who had been elected as an independent, registered as a Democrat. The change gave Rhode Island a Democratic triplex.

Non-election triplex changes in 2013
State	Old triplex control	New triplex control
Rhode Island	Divided control	Democratic

2012

The 2012 state executive elections led to the following results:

• The Democratic Party lost three triplexes and the Republican Party lost one.
  • In Pennsylvania, the Republican triplex was replaced with divided control.
  • In three states (Montana, North Carolina, and West Virginia), Democratic triplexes were replaced with divided control.

Triplex changes as a result of the 2012 elections
State	Old triplex control	New triplex control
Montana	Democratic	Divided control
North Carolina	Democratic	Divided control
Pennsylvania	Divided control	Republican
West Virginia	Democratic	Divided control

Non-election changes in 2012
On December 4, 2012, the Maine State Legislature appointed Janet T. Mills (D) as attorney general and Matthew Dunlap (D) as secretary of state, breaking the state's Republican triplex.

Non-election triplex changes in 2012
State	Old triplex control	New triplex control
Maine	Republican	Divided control

2011

Non-election changes in 2011
On February 3, 2011, Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell, who was elected as a Democratic, registered as a Republican. The change gave Louisiana a Republican triplex.

On January 7, 2011, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear (D) appointed Elaine Walker (D) to replace Trey Grayson (R) as Secretary of State. The change gave Kentucky a Democratic triplex.

Non-election triplex changes in 2011
State	Old triplex control	New triplex control
Louisiana	Divided control	Republican
Kentucky	Divided control	Democratic

2010

The 2010 state executive elections led to the following results:

• The Democratic Party lost a net of two triplexes, while the Republican Party gained a net of seven triplexes.
  • In four states (Arizona, Florida, Georgia, and Pennsylvania), divided control was replaced with Republican triplexes.
  • In three states (Arkansas, Iowa, and New Mexico), Democratic triplexes were replaced with divided control.
  • In four states (California, Connecticut, Minnesota, and Vermont), divided control was replaced with Democratic triplexes.
  • In Hawaii, a Republican triplex was replaced with a Democratic triplex.
  • In four states (Kansas, Maine, Ohio, and Oklahoma), Democratic triplexes were replaced with Republican triplexes.

Triplex changes as a result of the 2010 elections
State	Old triplex control	New triplex control
Arkansas	Democratic	Divided control
Arizona	Divided control	Republican
California	Divided control	Democratic
Connecticut	Divided control	Democratic
Florida	Divided control	Republican
Georgia	Divided control	Republican
Hawaii	Republican	Democratic
Iowa	Democratic	Divided control
Kansas	Democratic	Republican
Maine	Democratic	Republican
Minnesota	Divided control	Democratic
New Mexico	Democratic	Divided control
Ohio	Democratic	Republican
Oklahoma	Democratic	Republican
Pennsylvania	Divided control	Republican
Vermont	Divided control	Democratic

Analysis of state elections, 2023

See also: Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2023

State legislative elections

See also: State legislative elections, 2023

Eight of the country's 99 state legislative chambers held regularly-scheduled elections in 2023. Elections in those eight chambers represented 578 of the country's 7,386 state legislative seats (7.8%). This was the most seats up for election in an odd-numbered year since 2011.

General elections in Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia took place on November 7, 2023. General elections in Louisiana took place on November 18, 2023.

• Democrats gained one state legislative chamber by winning partisan control of the Virginia House of Delegates. Democrats maintained control of the state Senate. Virginia's trifecta status remained divided.
• Republicans were guaranteed simple majorities in both Mississippi's House and Senate and Louisiana's House and Senate due to the number of districts where candidates from only one political party ran.
• Democrats maintained partisan control of both chambers of the New Jersey state legislature.

Analysis

• State legislative special elections
• Impact of term limits
• Primary competitiveness
• Incumbents defeated
• Contested primaries
• Open seats
• Incumbents in contested primaries
• Major party competition
• Annual report
• Veto-proof state legislatures and opposing party governors
• Rematches in 2023 general elections
• Ballotpedia's Top 15 Elections to Watch, 2023
• Election results, 2023: State legislative veto-proof majorities
• Uncontested races by state
• Incumbent win rates by state
• Results of elected officials seeking other offices
• Minor-party candidates who won more than the margin of victory
• State legislative seats that changed party control
• State legislative races decided by fewer than 100 votes
• State legislative elections without a Democratic or Republican candidate, 2023
• Margin of victory analysis
• Candidates with the same last names
• Trends in the margins of victory for incumbents of three or more terms, 2018-2024

State executive elections

See also: State executive official elections, 2023

Analysis

• State executive official elections overview
• Gubernatorial elections
• Secretary of State elections
• Attorney General elections
• Historical and potential changes in trifectas
• Trifecta vulnerability
• State government trifectas
• States with multiple statewide offices up for election
• State executive official elections without a Democratic or Republican candidate, 2023
• Impact of term limits
• Annual State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2023
• Ballotpedia's Top 15 Elections to Watch, 2023
• Uncontested races by state
• Incumbent win rates by state
• Trends in the margins of victory for incumbents of three or more terms, 2018-2024

State judicial elections

See also: State judicial elections, 2023

A total of 15 state appellate court seats were up for election in 2023. This includes:

• 2 supreme court seats
• 13 intermediate appellate court seats.

The number of state supreme court and intermediate court elections is subject to change if judges retire or are appointed.

Ballotpedia provided coverage of supreme court and intermediate appellate court elections, as well as local trial court elections for judges within the 100 largest cities in the United States as measured by population.

Analysis

• State supreme court elections, 2023
• State judicial elections, 2023
• Ballotpedia's Top 15 Elections to Watch, 2023
• Uncontested races by state
• Incumbent win rates by state
• Trends in the margins of victory for incumbents of three or more terms, 2018-2024

See also

• Election results, 2023
• Election results, 2023: Governors
• Election results, 2023: State executive officials
• State legislative elections, 2023
• State government triplexes

Footnotes

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