By Ahmed Abdelsalam
Democrats secured secretary of state victories in four presidential battleground states and made gains in Republican-leaning states during Tuesday's midterms, positioning the party to oversee elections in key states for the 2028 presidential race.
Battleground state victories
Democratic incumbents Adrian Fontes in Arizona and Cisco Aguilar in Nevada won re-election, defeating far-right Republican challengers who promoted election conspiracy theories. Both candidates improved their margins compared to their 2022 races.
Georgia flip
Democrat Penny Brown Reynolds flipped the Georgia secretary of state office, succeeding Republican Brad Raffensperger. Reynolds, a former family court television judge and Biden administration official, defeated state Rep. Tim Fleming, a former aide to Gov. Brian Kemp who was endorsed by Donald Trump. Fleming acknowledged 'irregularities' in the 2020 election and called for new mail voting restrictions.
Michigan transition
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist won the Michigan secretary of state race, succeeding Democrat Jocelyn Benson, who was elected governor. Gilchrist defeated Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini, criticizing him for sharing voter data with the Trump administration and hiring a Jan. 6 protester.
Texas governor's race impact
Democrat Gina Hinojosa's victory in the Texas governor's race is expected to give Democrats authority over election administration, as the Texas secretary of state is appointed by the governor.
Red-state gains in Indiana and Ohio
Democrats captured secretary of state offices in Indiana and Ohio. In Indiana, Beau Bayh, a 30-year-old member of a prominent Democratic family, defeated Republican state Rep. Max Engling after spending more than $8.6 million on advertising. In Ohio, state Rep. Allison Russo defeated Republican state Treasurer Robert Sprague, coinciding with Democratic flips in the state's Senate and gubernatorial races.
Close race in Kansas
The Kansas secretary of state contest between Democratic state Rep. Jennifer Day and Republican state Rep. Pat Proctor remained too close to call as of Wednesday.
Republican holds in Iowa and South Carolina
Republican incumbents retained their positions in Iowa and South Carolina. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate defeated Democrat Ryan Peterman, while South Carolina Secretary of State Mark Hammond beat Democratic challenger Jason Belton.
