Democrats gain governnors’ seats, but GOP retains some states
Republicans maintain control of Florida, Ohio and Iowa, likely to be crucial in 2020 presidential race
Republicans fended off strong Democratic challenges on Tuesday to hold on to the governorships of Florida, Ohio and Iowa, maintaining their control of three states likely to be crucial in the 2020 presidential elections.
But Democrats seized governorships in three states now controlled by Republicans: Illinois, Michigan and, in a surprising outcome in a Republican stronghold, Kansas.
The results expanded the number of states with Democratic chief executives — an important consideration as Legislatures begin the process of drawing congressional district lines. But they fell short of what many party leaders were hoping for and reflected a night of mixed tidings for the party out of power.
The victory in Florida by Ron DeSantis, a Republican supporter of Trump, turned back the historic effort by Andrew Gillum, the Tallahassee mayor, who was seeking to become the first African-American ■ governor of his state.
Republicans took another important battleground state with a victory in Ohio by Mike DeWine, the attorney general, who defeated Richard Cordray, a Democrat and former federal regulator. And in Iowa, Governor Kim Reynolds, a Republican, defeated Fred Hubbell, a Democrat and wealthy businessman, in a tossup contest that had hinged on local issues including the state’s health care system and its economy.
But the loss in Kansas by Kris Kobach, a deeply conservative secretary of state and also a staunch ally of Trump, marked a setback for the party in one of the most conservative regions in the country.
Democrats also captured Republican-held gubernatorial seats in Illinois and Michigan. In Colorado, Jared Polis, a Democratic member of Congress, became the first openly gay man elected governor.