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In thepolitics of the United States, agovernment trifecta is a political situation in which the same political party controls thepresidency and both chambers ofCongress. The term is primarily used in theUnited States, where it originated, and is borrowed fromhorse 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 avoidgridlocks. 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 triggerdemocratic 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]
The term is primarily used in the United States, where the federal government level consists of thepresident and theCongress with its two chambers, theHouse and theSenate.
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At thestate level, a trifecta means that one party holds thegovernorship and bothlegislative houses. The sole exception is in Nebraska, where there is aunicamerallegislature.
| 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:
 | This graph was using thelegacy Graph extension, which is no longer supported. It needs to be converted to thenew Chart extension. |