DecodeDC

Actions

GOP picks up four new governorships but does that count as a wave?

Posted at 5:58 PM, Nov 07, 2014
and last updated 2014-11-10 12:55:53-05

Before election day, Republicans held 29 of the nation's 50 governorships. They gained four more on Tuesday night, and news outlets were quick to herald the pickup as an extension of the 2014 GOP "wave." 

But in three of the four states where Republicans took the governor's mansion from Democrats, the two parties have traded power in recent years. In Massachusetts, for example, four of the past five governors have been Republicans.

 

Want to keep up with all the latest DecodeDC stories and podcasts? Sign up for our weekly newsletter at decodedc.com/newsletter.