Government trifecta


In the politics of [the United States], a government trifecta is a political situation in which the same political party controls the President of the [United States|presidency] and both chambers of Congress. The term is primarily used in the United States, where it originated, and is borrowed from horse race betting.
Government trifectas are seen as beneficial by some and as undesirable by others. Those in favor argue that government trifectas are efficient and avoid gridlocks. 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 trigger democratic backsliding. 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.

United States

The term is primarily used in the United States, where the federal government level consists of the president and the Congress with its two chambers, the House and the Senate.

State government trifectas

At the state level, a trifecta means that one party holds the governorship and both legislative houses. The sole exception is in Nebraska, where there is a unicameral legislature.
YearTotalDemRepSpread
2026391623R+7
2025381523R+8
2024401723R+6
2023391722R+5
2022371423R+9
2021381523R+8
2020361521R+6
2019361422R+8
201833726R+19
201731526R+21
201631625R+19
201531724R+17
201430723R+16
2013361224R+12
2012341123R+12
2011321121R+10
201024168D+8
200926179D+8
200823149D+5
200724159D+6
200620812R+4
200520812R+4
200421912R+3
200321912R+3
200220911R+2
200121913R+4
200024815R+7
199923914R+5
199819613R+7
199718612R+6
199621714R+7
199523815R+7
199420164D+12
199321183D+15
199218153D+12

Sources:
A visual representation of US state government trifectas over time: