Democratic Statehouse Gains Spark Pledges on Medicaid, Other Priorities
Democrats won new control of state governments in Tuesday's midterms, flipping legislative chambers, breaking GOP veto-proof supermajorities and winning a majority of governorships, per Stateline. New Democratic trifectas formed in Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. A University of Chicago policy adviser said the shift gives state Democratic leaders more power to oppose President Trump's agenda, including by bolstering state funding of Medicaid and food stamps, both of which have faced federal cuts. In New Hampshire, where Democrats flipped both legislative chambers and appear to have secured veto-proof supermajorities, Democratic state Rep. Christal Lloyd said she plans to focus on addressing federal Medicaid cuts through state funding, alongside education funding. In Pennsylvania, Gov. Josh Shapiro and Democratic lawmakers pledged to revive policies including a minimum wage increase, abortion rights codification, sexual abuse litigation reform and mass transit funding.