2026 state and local election roundup: Implications for afterschool programs

Momentum has continued to grow at the state level for afterschool and summer programs, with 29 states plus the District of Columbia now having established funding streams dedicated to afterschool and summer learning. Afterschool, and even education, was not a widespread theme of many campaigns during this election cycle, but affordability and the economy was top of mind for many voters and candidates, and the cost of child care was one of those affordability barriers cited by many candidates on the campaign trail.

We published our federal election blog last week analyzing how the midterm elections will reshape Congress beginning in January. But let’s explore how elections shifted power at the state level.  

Governors

Republicans entered Election Day with a 26-24 advantage, but Democrats held all states and flipped governorships in Georgia, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio, and Texas and are expected to flip Alaska and hold Kansas once more votes are counted. If those results stand, Democrats will hold more governorships (30) than Republicans for the first time since before 2010.

The last time Georgia had a Democratic governor was before the 2000 election, while Ohio and Iowa last had Democratic governors before the 2010 election. Texas hasn’t had a Democratic governor since before the 1994 election. Flips in Georgia and Texas also come with their respective lower chamber flipping from Republican to Democratic control.

The Nevada governor’s mansion flipped from red to blue. Both chambers of the Nevada Legislature were already controlled by Democrats, giving the party a trifecta in the state. This means there are five new states with Democratic trifectas: Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.  North Carolina’s Senate control is still not determined, with one outstanding race determining whether the State Senate is controlled by Republicans or tied.

Chief State School Officers

According to the Education Commission of the States, eight states held elections for their Chief State School Officer. Four new Chiefs were elected in Arizona, California, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Wyoming. Additionally, eight states, plus Washington, DC, and the U.S. Virgin Islands held elections for their state boards of education.

Attorneys General

30 states held election for their state chief law enforcement officer this November, and new leadership also swept through these offices. Five offices changed parties, all from Republican to Democratic: Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, and Texas. Democrats will now hold 29 attorney general offices beginning next year. Attorneys General have been leading the efforts to hold social media companies accountable in recent years, with the Meta settlement reached in late summer with 47 states and additional lawsuits against Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube beginning soon. AG’s will be important partners in efforts to protect youth on these platforms.

State Legislatures

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, voters in 46 states chose 6,139 state legislators, deciding over 83% of all legislative seats nationwide. Results are still outstanding in some of these states, but Democrats were poised to make significant gains in legislative chambers across the country Wednesday morning. 

• Arizona House and Senate: Democrats flipped both houses and now have a trifecta in state government.  
• Georgia House: Flipped to Democrats, who haven’t held the House since before the 2004 election.
• Minnesota House: Flipped to Democrats, after being tied between the two parties since the 2024 election. Democrats have regained their trifecta in the state.
• Michigan House: Flipped to Democrats. The Michigan Senate and the governor’s office were already controlled by Democrats, once again giving the party the trifecta that it lost in the 2024 election.
• New Hampshire House and Senate: Both house flipped to Democrats. The state now has divided control after Gov. Ayotte (R) won reelection.  
• North Carolina House: Flipped to Democrats. Going into the election, Republicans were one seat short of a supermajority in the chamber. The State Senate is not yet determined with one race determining whether the chamber is tied or in Republican control. 
• Pennsylvania Senate: The state senate flipped to Democrats, and democrats grew their majority in the House. This gives the state a trifecta after Gov. Shapiro (D) won reelection. 
• Texas House: Democrats flipped the House and all statewide elected offices. Republicans maintained control of the Senate.  
• Wisconsin Senate and House: Both legislative chambers flipped to Democratic control for the first time since 2010. This gives the state aa Democratic trifecta after David Crowley (D) won election as Governor.  

More can be found on the NCSL website.

Ballot measures

Our partners at the Children’s Funding Project have the full rundown of state and local ballot measures from across the country. We’ve pulled a few examples that are relevant to afterschool and summer below.

Colorado

Colorado passed Proposition NN, which could raise billions for K-12 education by raising the cap on tax revenue that was instituted by voters in 1992 through the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR). It also includes a huge investment in early childhood in the form of a dedicated Children's Fund which will make a transformational investment in Colorado's youngest children as well.

Florida

Florida voters have approved Amendment 3, a major change to the state’s property tax system by expanding the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes. This will reduce the amount of revenue local governments collect and will likely impact programs for children and families, including afterschool programs, libraries, and recreation centers.

San Diego

Voters in San Diego, CA approved Measure B, creating an $88 million annual fund for child care, and the largest local children’s fund since 2020. The fund will be dedicated to expanding access to infant and toddler care, supporting families on child care waitlists, and ensuring that members of the early childhood workforce receive fair compensation.

Buchanan County, MO

Voters passed a ballot measure to establish Missouri’s 12th children's services fund, dedicating $4.5 million annually from a quarter cent sales tax to mental health and well-being services for children and youth.

Marin County, CA

Voters approved Measure P, which will raise funds from a “parcel tax” for buildings. Revenue will be utilized to raise early educator compensation and expand access to affordable child care.