Dust settles with no radical change in statehouses

Votes are still being counted across the country as state legislatures lean into the status quo, with the general balance of power appearing mostly unchanged after an election that saw strong enthusiasm for change at the federal level.

“Going into Election Day, Republicans held 57 legislative chambers nationwide, and Democrats held 41, a Republican edge that we’ve seen nationally since the Tea Party wave in 2010,” said NCSL’s Ben Williams.

“We have as of right now, 54 chambers with Republican control, 35 chambers with Democratic control. We have one chamber that looks like it is going to be tied, and then we have eight chambers that NCSL has not yet characterized as having a winner.” 

In addition to taxes and bonds, abortion rights, legalizing marijuana and voting measures received a good deal of attention. There was no movement in the ratio of Republican to Democrat in the governors’ races.  

“Nothing changed,” said Williams. “It was 27 to 23 going in. It was 27 to 23 coming out. There was only one competitive race and that was in New Hampshire.”  

As the new presidential administration takes shape, the states, trade groups, and cities, are already coming up with a wish list for Washington including a renewed commitment to funding for infrastructure projects.  

“NLC and local leaders from across the country look forward to working with President-Elect Trump and his transition team to ensure cities, towns and villages have a seat at the federal decision-making table including appointing local officials to key administration positions,” said the National League of Cities president David Sander and mayor of Rancho Cordova, California.

“Good governance starts at the local level. We look forward to partnering with President-Elect Trump to continue strengthening our work with the federal government, especially as it relates to direct funding for infrastructure projects.” 

Industry trade groups are also pushing for reauthorizing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.  

“Under IIJA, states and local agencies have initiated more than 11,200 transit projects across the nation to modernize and expand operations,” said American Public Transportation Association president and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. 

“The industry’s impact extends far beyond major metropolitan areas. Manufacturing facilities in states like Indiana, Kentucky, and Alabama produce essential components for the nation’s public transit systems, creating stable employment and boosting local economies.” 

According to APTA, election day saw voters supporting, “19 out of 26 measures in favor of public transit, providing more than $25 billion in dedicated, long-term funding for community investments.”    

Surface transportation is also vying for attention from the incoming administration. “Our focus on ensuring transportation safety for everyone, along with the critical task of reauthorizing the IIJA, will be central to our efforts over the next year,” said Garrett Eucalitto, the newly elected president of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. 

AASHTO’s backup plan is to lobby for a federal surface transportation bill that doesn’t include money for drinking water, wastewater infrastructure, ports and waterways, airports and rail. Without a reauthorization the IIJA will expire at the end of fiscal year 2026. 

The Highway Trust Fund and state funding for roads are both being affected by the proliferation of electric vehicles which don’t pay into road funds via motor fuel taxes.  

The federal gas tax is 18.4 cents per gallon on gas, 24.4 cents on diesel, neither is indexed to inflation and they haven’t changed since 1993. States add on their own taxes ranging from just over 14 cents in Alaska to nearly 67 cents in California. 

The states have created workarounds for the shortages via per mile fees for EVs, toll lanes and retail delivery fees. 

President-Elect Trump has signaled his distaste for electric vehicles and has promised to roll back federal incentives to buy them and take the cap off Inflation Reduction act created and EPA mandated emission standards for gasoline powered cars.