Reasons for hope as Democrats prevent Trump-led red wave in state races

Democrats had braced for a disaster but state results show a much more nuanced picture than the party had feared

After watching Kamala Harris lose the White House and Republicans wrest back full control of Congress, Democrats were bracing for disaster in state legislatures. With the party defending narrow majorities in several chambers across the country, some Democrats expected that Donald Trump's victory in the presidential race would allow a red wave to sweep through state legislatures.

And yet, when the dust had settled after election day, the results of state legislative elections presented a much more nuanced picture than Democrats had feared.