Historical and potential changes in triplexes

Party Control of State Government
Trifectas
A trifecta is when one political party holds the governorship, a majority in the state senate, and a majority in the state house in a state's government.
Current trifecta status Party control of state government Historical and potential changes in trifectas
Triplexes
A triplex is when one political party holds the positions of governor, attorney general, and secretary of state in a state's government.
Current triplex status Conflict between governors and AGs Conflict between governors and SoS
Analysis
Trifecta vulnerability in the 2024 elections Trifectas and triplexes Trifectas and legislatively referred constitutional amendments Who Runs the States report

A state government triplex occurs when the governor, attorney general, and secretary of state in a given state are all members of the same political party. If a state does not have all three triplex offices, Ballotpedia considers that state a triplex if one party controls both triplex offices in that state.

This page details changes in triplex status across the country from 2010 to the present.

Changes in state triplexes

The following chart displays how many triplexes each party held between 2010 and 2025. Because newly-elected officeholders are not sworn in until December of the election year or January of the following year, changes in trifecta status as a result of general elections are reflected in the following year's numbers.

State	Change	Triplex Change	Date
Louisiana	Gubernatorial race won by Republican candidate	Republican triplex gained	January 2024
Arizona	Gubernatorial and attorney general races won by Democratic candidates	Democratic triplex gained	January 2023
Iowa	Attorney general election won by Republican candidate	Republican triplex gained	January 2023
Maryland	Gubernatorial election won by Democratic candidate	Democratic triplex gained	January 2023
Massachusetts	Gubernatorial election won by Democratic candidate	Democratic triplex gained	January 2023
Pennsylvania	Democratic governor appointed Republicans to vacant attorney general and secretary of state offices	Democratic triplex lost	January 2023
New Hampshire	Secretary of state resigned, successor appointed	Republican triplex gained	January 2022
Washington	Secretary of state resigned, successor appointed	Democratic triplex gained	November 2021
Virginia	Gubernatorial and attorney general races won by Republican candidates	Democratic triplex lost, Republican triplex gained	November 2021
Oregon	Secretary of State race won by Democratic candidate	Democratic triplex gained	November 2020
Montana	Gubernatorial race won by Republican candidate	Republican triplex gained	November 2020
Mississippi	Attorney General race won by Republican candidate	Republican triplex gained	November 2019
Alaska	Gubernatorial race won by Republican candidate	Republican triplex gained	November 2018
Arizona	Secretary of State race won by Democratic candidate	Republican triplex lost	November 2018
Colorado	Attorney General and Secretary of State races won by Democratic candidates	Democratic triplex gained	November 2018
Illinois	Gubernatorial race won by Democratic candidate	Democratic triplex gained	November 2018
Kansas	Gubernatorial race won by Democratic candidate	Republican triplex lost	November 2018
Maine	Gubernatorial race won by Democratic candidate	Democratic triplex gained	November 2018
Michigan	Gubernatorial, Attorney General, and Secretary of state races won by Democratic candidates	Democratic triplex gained	November 2018
Nevada	Gubernatorial and Attorney General races won by Democratic candidates	Republican triplex lost	November 2018
New Mexico	Gubernatorial race won by Democratic candidates	Democratic triplex gained	November 2018
Wisconsin	Gubernatorial and Attorney General races won by Democratic candidates	Democratic triplex gained	November 2018
New Jersey	Gubernatorial race won by Democratic candidate	Democratic triplex gained	November 2017
West Virginia	Governor changed party affiliation	Republican triplex gained	August 2017
Missouri	Gubernatorial and attorney general races won by Republican candidates	Republican triplex gained	November 2016
New Hampshire	Gubernatorial race won by Republican candidate	Democratic triplex lost	November 2016
North Carolina	Gubernatorial race won by Democratic candidate	Democratic triplex gained	November 2016
Oregon	Secretary of State race won by Republican candidate	Democratic triplex lost	November 2016
Vermont	Gubernatorial race won by Republican candidate	Democratic triplex lost	November 2016
Kentucky	Gubernatorial race won by Republican candidate	Democratic triplex lost	November 2015
Louisiana	Gubernatorial race won by Democratic candidate	Republican triplex lost	November 2015
Alaska	Gubernatorial race won by independent candidate	Democratic triplex gained	November 2014
Arkansas	Gubernatorial and attorney general races won by Republican candidates	Republican triplex gained	November 2014
Illinois	Gubernatorial race won by Republican candidate	Democratic triplex lost	November 2014
Massachusetts	Gubernatorial race won by Republican candidate	Democratic triplex lost	November 2014
Maryland	Gubernatorial race won by Republican candidate	Democratic triplex lost	November 2014
Nevada	Secretary of State and attorney general races won by Republican candidate	Republican triplex gained	November 2014
Pennsylvania	Gubernatorial race won by Democratic candidate	Democratic triplex gained	November 2014
Tennessee	New attorney general appointed by state Supreme Court	Republican triplex gained	October 2014
Virginia	Gubernatorial and attorney general races won by Democratic candidates	Democratic triplex gained	November 2013
Rhode Island	Governor changed party affiliation	Democratic triplex gained	May 2013
Maine	New attorney general and secretary of state appointed by state Legislature	Republican triplex lost	December 2012
Montana	Attorney General race won by Republican candidate	Democratic triplex lost	November 2012
North Carolina	Gubernatorial race won by Republican candidate	Democratic triplex lost	November 2012
Pennsylvania	Attorney general race won by Democratic candidate	Republican triplex lost	November 2012
West Virginia	Attorney general race won by Republican candidate	Democratic triplex lost	November 2012
Louisiana	Attorney general changed party affiliation	Republican triplex gained	February 2011
Kentucky	New Secretary of State appointed to fill vacancy	Democratic triplex gained	January 2011
Arkansas	Secretary of State race won by Republican candidate	Democratic triplex lost	November 2010
Arizona	Attorney General race won by Republican candidate	Republican triplex gained	November 2010
California	Gubernatorial race won by Democratic candidate	Democratic triplex gained	November 2010
Connecticut	Gubernatorial race won by Democratic candidate	Democratic triplex gained	November 2010
Florida	Gubernatorial race won by Republican candidate	Republican triplex gained	November 2010
Georgia	Attorney general race won by Republican candidate	Republican triplex gained	November 2010
Hawaii	Gubernatorial and attorney general race won by Democratic candidates	Democratic triplex gained	November 2010
Iowa	Gubernatorial and secretary of state races won by Republican candidates	Democratic triplex lost	November 2010
Kansas	Gubernatorial, attorney general, and secretary of state races won by Republican candidates	Republican triplex gained	November 2010
Maine	Gubernatorial race won by Republican candidate	Republican triplex gained	November 2010
Minnesota	Gubernatorial race won by Democratic candidate	Democratic triplex gained	November 2010
New Mexico	Gubernatorial and secretary of state races won by Republican candidates	Democratic triplex lost	November 2010
Ohio	Gubernatorial, attorney general, and secretary of state races won by Republican candidates	Republican triplex gained	November 2010
Oklahoma	Gubernatorial and attorney general races won by Republican candidates	Republican triplex gained	November 2010
Pennsylvania	Gubernatorial race won by Republican candidate	Republican triplex gained	November 2010
Vermont	Gubernatorial race won by Democratic candidate	Democratic triplex gained	November 2010

2025

The 2024 state executive elections resulted in no triplex changes.

2024

The 2023 state executive elections led to the following results:

• The Republican Party gained a triplex in Louisiana that had previously been under divided control.

Triplex changes in 2023
State	Old triplex control	New triplex control
Louisiana	Divided control	Republican

2023

The 2022 state executive elections led to the following results:

• The Democratic Party gained triplexes in three states—Arizona, Maryland, and Massachusetts—that had been under divided control.
• The Republican Party gained a triplex in Iowa that previously had been under divided control.
• The newly-elected Democratic governor in Pennsylvania appointed Republicans to fill vacancies in the offices of attorney general and secretary of state. That state had previously been a Democratic trifecta.

Triplex changes in 2023
State	Old triplex control	New triplex control
Arizona	Divided control	Democratic
Iowa	Divided control	Republican
Maryland	Divided control	Democratic
Massachusetts	Divided control	Democratic
Pennsylvania	Democratic	Divided control

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 indepdent 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

See also

• State government triplexes
• Governor
• Attorney General
• Secretary of State

Footnotes

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